Cleaning device and method for basins

Abstract

Device for cleaning a basin comprising a side wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being divided into n transverse zones each comprising a series of at least one rotating nozzle, each of the n series of at least one rotating nozzle being downstream of a control valve, of a series of n control valves, characterized in that the control valves are downstream of the same channel, called bottom channel, of a diverter valve comprising another channel, called wall channel, upstream of a wall nozzle and an inlet channel.

Description

Title of the invention: Device and method for cleaning pools Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for cleaning a swimming pool type basin and to a method for cleaning said basin. It relates more specifically to an automatic cleaning installation equipped with said device. The invention also relates to a method for maintaining the water of a swimming pool using said device. Presentation of the invention

[0002] Public or private swimming pools are equipped with a water filtration circuit which takes water from the swimming pool both through a bottom drain and through surface orifices generally referred to by the English term "skimmers".

[0003] Water collection is generally carried out using a pumping means which draws water through the skimmers and the bottom drain and discharges the water into the discharge nozzles via a sand filter. The pumping means and the skimmers may be equipped with pre-filters.

[0004] The filtration circuit thus constituted requires cleaning operations of the pre-filters and the sand filter. Furthermore, this filtration circuit does not allow all the debris that fouls the pool to be captured. The heaviest debris sinks and settles on the bottom. This problem is reinforced in pools that use liners as a waterproof coating. These plastic coatings are made by assembling pieces of plastic material by thermal welding in which the debris becomes blocked. As a result, the aesthetics of the pool is not good, because large dark lines are created along these welds.

[0005] The most common solution to this aesthetic problem is to use a robot. But unfortunately, these robots remain heavy and bulky and must be handled every day to maintain the aesthetics of the pool.

[0006] In the prior art, solutions have been envisaged so that the filtration system can push the debris to the bottom suction nozzles. One of these systems is known to those skilled in the art as the POOL VALET® system. These systems have the disadvantage of requiring a significant operating time to clean the bottom due to the reverse currents they create. We speak of reverse current when the water currents of the cleaning system move the debris away from the bottom suction drains instead of bringing them closer. They also have the disadvantage of the risk of leakage brought about by the large number of hydraulic circuits added to the basic circuit described above.

[0007] The present invention aims to propose a system improving the devices proposed in the prior art. This improvement is obtained in particular by the use of a particular arrangement between the valves and the different elements of the device, as well as by the use of a control box. Summary of the invention

[0008] Thus the present invention relates to a device for cleaning a basin, comprising a side wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being divided into n transverse zones each comprising a series of at least one rotary nozzle, each of the n series of at least one rotary nozzle being downstream of a control valve, of a series of n control valves, remarkable in that the control valves are downstream of the same channel, called the bottom channel, of a switching valve comprising another channel, called the wall channel, upstream of a wall nozzle and an inlet channel.

[0009] In the context of the present invention, the term "divided" refers to a virtual separation of the entire surface of the bottom of said basin into distinct zones. The term "divided" does not refer to a separation physically materialized on the bottom of the basin. Preferably, said division between two zones is a line extending perpendicular to one of the edges of the bottom wall of the basin according to the invention. In the case where the basin is not rectangular, said division is a line extending perpendicular to one of the sides of the rectangle in which the bottom of said basin according to the invention is inscribed.

[0010] In the context of the present invention, the term "transverse" is intended to designate the fact that said zone extends from a first edge to the opposite edge of said first edge of the bottom of the basin.

[0011] In the context of the present invention, the term "rotary nozzle" refers to a pipe end piece comprising a pressure-sensitive mouthpiece intended to allow a fluid to pass towards the outside of said pipe parallel to the surface of the bottom of said basin. By "pressure-sensitive" is meant to indicate that said mouthpiece opens under the effect of the pressure of a fluid in the pipe and that each pressure / depression alternation in the pipe causes a rotation of said mouthpiece by an angle δ. Preferably, said rotary nozzle only emerges from the surface of the bottom of the basin according to the invention when a pressure, greater than a predetermined pressure, is present in the pipe upstream of said nozzle.

[0012] In the context of the present invention, the terms "upstream" / "downstream" refer to the direction of circulation of the water in the basin according to the invention under normal conditions of use. This direction of circulation goes from the diverter valve to the control valve and then to the rotary nozzle.

[0013] In the context of the present invention, the term "way" refers to one of the fluid inlets or outlets of a valve.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said wall nozzle is positioned in said side wall.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, the term “positioned” is intended to mean that said nozzle opens flush with said side wall.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device according to the invention further comprises at least one bottom swallower upstream of the input track of said switching track.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device according to the invention further comprises a filter arranged downstream of the bottom swallowers and upstream of said switching valve.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device according to the invention further comprises a pump.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said pump is arranged between said bottom swallowers and said switching valve.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device according to the invention further comprises an automated control device.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said automated control device controls the operation of the pump, the switching valve and the n control valves.

[0022] The present invention also relates to a method for cleaning the bottom of a basin according to the present invention, characterized in that it comprises the successive treatment of the transverse zones, from the transverse zone furthest from the bottom swallowers to the transverse zone closest to the bottom swallowers, each of said treatments comprising the steps: - (i) operate the diverter valve so that the inlet path communicates with the bottom path and open the control valve of the series of at least one rotary nozzle of the area to be treated, the other control valves remaining closed, and - (ii) operate the switching valve so that the inlet track communicates with the wall track, and - (iii) successively repeating steps (i) and (ii) until the at least one rotating nozzle of the transverse area to be treated has completed a complete rotation. Presentation of the drawings.

[0023] [Fig.l] is a schematic representation of a top view of an embodiment of a basin according to the invention.

[0024] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of the position rotating nozzles at the start of an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

[0025] [Fig. 3] is a schematic representation of the movement of the rotating nozzles during the method according to the invention.

[0026] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation of the assembly of the various elements managing the circulation of water in one embodiment of a basin according to the invention.

[0027] [Fig. 5] is a schematic representation of the different positions of the switching valve in one embodiment of a method according to the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0028] Figures 1-5 describe a particular embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

[0029] The basin 1 comprises a substantially horizontal bottom wall 2 and a side wall 3 extending substantially vertically from the edge of the bottom wall 2. The shape and size of said walls 2, 3 can be chosen indifferently by those skilled in the art depending on the needs of the user and the nature of the terrain in which the basin 1 is installed.

[0030] The embodiment described below is a parallelepiped basin 1 with a rectangular bottom wall 2 measuring eight meters by 4 meters. In cases where said bottom wall 2 is not rectangular (e.g. circular, oval), the various references used below can be transferred to the rectangle in which said bottom wall 2 is inscribed.

[0031] The bottom wall 2 of said basin 1 is divided into several transverse zones 5 which will be treated successively by the method according to the invention. Thus the rectangular bottom wall 2 of the illustrated embodiment is divided into four rectangular-shaped zones extending from a first edge to the opposite edge of said bottom wall 2. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the length of said transverse zone 5 is perpendicular to the length of said bottom wall 2. Alternatively, the length of said transverse zone 5 may be parallel to the length of said bottom wall 2.

[0032] At the bottom of the basin 1, in each transverse zone, a series of rotating nozzles 4 is arranged.

[0033] The number of series of nozzles and the number of nozzles per series are adaptable according to the size of the bottom wall 2, the type of rotary nozzles 4 chosen and the flow rate of the pump used. Depending on the flow rate of the pump, each rotary nozzle 4 is capable of covering a circular area of ​​determined diameter. Consequently, according to a preferred embodiment, the number of rotary nozzles 4 per series is equal to the length of said transverse area divided by said determined diameter. According to a very preferred embodiment, the number of rotary nozzles 4 per series is equal to two.

[0034] Advantageously, the rotary nozzles 4 of the transverse zone furthest from the bottom swallowers 10 are arranged at a short distance from the edges of said bottom wall 2. Even more advantageously, said rotary nozzles 4 of the transverse zone furthest from the bottom swallowers 10 are arranged less than 50 cm and even more preferably less than 30 cm from the edges of said bottom wall 2.

[0035] Advantageously, the rotating nozzles of the different transverse zones are arranged along several parallel axes. For example, when each transverse zone comprises two rotating nozzles 4, the latter are arranged along two parallel axes. Preferably, these axes are parallel to the long edge of said bottom wall 2.

[0036] Advantageously, the rotary nozzles 4 of two contiguous transverse zones are separated by a distance at least equivalent to the treatment distance of a rotary nozzle 4. In the context of the present invention, the term "treatment distance" is intended to designate the distance at which said rotary nozzle 4 is capable of projecting the waste to the bottom of the basin 1 under normal conditions of use.

[0037] The rotating nozzles 4 are arranged in the bottom wall 2 so as to emerge from the surface of the bottom of the basin 1 only when a pressure, greater than a predetermined pressure, is present in the pipe upstream of said nozzle 4.

[0038] Most commercially available rotary nozzles 4 include 12 to 18 different angular positions. That is, it takes 12 to 18 pressure / vacuum cycles for the mouth of a rotary nozzle 4 to complete a full rotation.

[0039] Advantageously, the device according to the invention further comprises a pump 7 capable of circulating the water from the pool 1 in the various pipes of the device according to the invention. Preferably, said pump 7 is arranged downstream of the bottom drainers 10 and upstream of the rotary nozzles 4 and the wall nozzles. The power of said pump is chosen by a person skilled in the art as a function of the volume of the pool.

[0040] Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises bottom swallowers 10. The latter are openings in the bottom wall 2 or at the interface between said bottom wall 2 and the side wall 3. These openings are arranged upstream of the pump and are intended to collect the waste pushed back by the rotating nozzles 4 of the last transverse zone 5 which will then be sucked up and collected by the filter of the basin according to the invention.

[0041] The size and shape of said bottom swallowers can be chosen in particular according to the size of the basin and the surface area of ​​the bottom wall.

[0042] Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises wall nozzles 9. The latter are openings in the side wall 3. These openings are arranged in downstream of pump 7 and are intended for the return of filtered water to basin 1.

[0043] Advantageously, the device according to the invention further comprises a filter 11 directly upstream or downstream of said pump 7. The purpose of this filter is to remove from circulation the waste extracted from the pool via the bottom outlets. The filters 11 are well known to those skilled in the art. Examples include the sand filter, the cartridge filter, the diatomaceous earth filter, the zeolite filter, the bag filter, the glass bead filter, the activated carbon filter and the hydro-anthracite filter.

[0044] Advantageously, the basin according to the invention may further comprise surface swallowers also called “skimmers”. These are openings in the side wall 3, at a height corresponding to the filling level of the basin. These openings are arranged upstream of the pump and are intended to collect the waste floating on the surface which will then be sucked up and collected by the filter of the basin according to the invention.

[0045] Each series of rotary nozzles 4 is downstream of a control valve 6, the opening or closing of which will make it possible to direct the flow coming from the pump 7 towards a particular series of rotary nozzles 2. The control valves 6 which can be used in the context of the invention can be any type of simple solenoid valve.

[0046] When the pump 7 sends water upstream of a series of rotating nozzles 4, it will cause the nozzle 4 to emerge from the bottom wall 2 and rotate through an angle δ. Conversely, an absence of pressure will cause the nozzle 4 to withdraw into the bottom wall 2. It is thus understood that 360 / δ cycles of pressure / absence of pressure will cause a complete rotation of each rotating nozzle 4 of the same series of rotating nozzles 4.

[0047] Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises a switching valve 8 which is preferably a valve comprising at least three ways and even more preferably three ways. One of the ways, called the inlet way, is a liquid inlet, a second, called the bottom way, is an outlet to the rotary nozzles 4 and a third, called the wall way, an outlet to the wall nozzles 9. It is thus understood that the water in the pool coming from the bottom swallowers 10, directly or via the pump 7 and / or the filter 11, will be directed towards the wall nozzles 9 or towards the rotary nozzles 4 depending on the user's needs.

[0048] The device according to the invention therefore makes it possible to control all of the series of rotary nozzles 4 with a single switching valve 8 and therefore represents a simplification compared to the systems of the prior art.

[0049] Advantageously, the control of the pump 7, the switching valve 8 and the control valves 6 is carried out by an automated control device. Preferably, said automated control device further comprises a control interface which may in particular be of the touch screen or keyboard type allowing the user to program the control device. The creation and programming of such a control interface are well known to those skilled in the art who can in particular use Arduino ® type cards. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control interface is remote from said automated control device to allow easier access. Said automated control device can also be programmed to control other devices in the pool such as lighting, pool filling, massage or counter-current swimming devices, chlorine measuring and regulating devices, pH measuring and regulating devices.

[0050] Advantageously, said pump 7, said filter 11, said diverter valve 8, said control valves 6, said electronic device are grouped together in a room adjacent to said pool. The connection between these elements and the rotating nozzles 4, the bottom swallowers 10, the wall nozzles 5 and / or the skimmers can be made by pipes (for example PVC tubes) buried around or under the pool 1 according to the invention. The particular organization of the device according to the invention makes it possible to advantageously reduce the total length of the pipes used.

[0051] In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the set of buried pipes for connecting the rotary nozzles 4 to the control valves 6 is limited to thirty meters, which represents a significant reduction in the length of the buried pipes compared to the devices of the prior art.

[0052] The present invention also relates to a method for cleaning the bottom of a basin 1 according to the present invention, characterized in that it comprises the successive treatment of the transverse zones, from the transverse zone furthest from the bottom swallowers 10 to the transverse zone closest to the bottom swallowers 10, each of said treatments comprising the steps: - (i) operate the diverter valve 8 so that the inlet path communicates with the bottom path and to open the control valve 6 of the series of at least one rotary nozzle 4 of the area to be treated, the other control valves 6 remaining closed, and - (ii) operate the switching valve 8 so that the inlet track communicates with the wall track 5, and - (iii) successively repeating steps (i) and (ii) until the at least one rotating nozzle 4 of the transverse zone of the area to be treated has completed a complete rotation.

[0053] Before the start of a cleaning phase of the bottom wall 2, the rotary nozzles 4 are preferably arranged so that their mouth is directed towards the side wall 3 closest to said rotary nozzle 4.

[0054] The transverse area furthest from the bottom swallowers 10 is first cleaned. In other embodiments, where the bottom swallower 10 is placed between two transverse zones it is possible to consider simultaneously cleaning the two transverse zones furthest from said bottom swallower 10.

[0055] Cleaning of a cross-sectional area is carried out by opening the control valve 6 upstream of the series of rotary nozzles of said area and opening the diverter valve 8 so that the water coming from the basin 1 is directed towards said rotary nozzles 4. This step is maintained for the time necessary for the waste to be pushed back into the contiguous cross-sectional area beyond the rotary nozzles of said area. This time required may vary depending on the rotary nozzle 4 used and the flow rate of the pump.

[0056] To cause the rotary nozzle 4 to rotate, the position of the diverter valve 8 is modified so that the water coming from the basin 1 is no longer directed towards the rotary nozzles 4 but towards the wall nozzles 5, then modified again so that the water is directed towards the rotary nozzles 4.

[0057] These steps are repeated identically until the rotating nozzles 4 have made the necessary rotations so that the mouth of said nozzles 4 have been in all positions facing the contiguous transverse zone in the direction of the bottom swallower 10.

[0058] When the mouth of said rotary nozzles 4 is in the opposite direction to the contiguous transverse zone in the direction of the bottom values ​​10, it is no longer necessary to maintain the jet to avoid pushing the waste away from the bottom swallowers 10. To do this, the time between two modifications of the diverter valve 8 is reduced to a minimum. However, the device according to the invention is preferably adjusted so that the waste is pushed beyond the rotary nozzles 4 of the contiguous zone. Consequently, the reverse currents cannot push waste away.

[0059] When the mouth of the rotating nozzles 4 has returned to its initial position, the cleaning of the adjacent area in which the waste is located can be carried out. To do this, the control valve 8 of the cleaned transverse area is closed and the control valve 6 of the area to be cleaned is opened.

[0060] The new cross-sectional area to be cleaned is treated in a similar manner to that described previously.

[0061] The process is repeated from one cross-sectional area to the next until all cross-sectional areas are treated.

[0062] The waste is finally collected by the bottom swallowers 10 and will be eliminated from circulation by the filter 11.

[0063] In the embodiment shown in the attached figures, using 12-position rotating nozzles, each of the nozzles will be able to rotate in 300 seconds (40 seconds per position in the direction of the bottom swallowers, 10 seconds for the other positions). Each transverse zone will therefore be able to be treated in 5 minutes and the bottom of wall 2 in 20 min.

[0064] The present invention therefore provides an effective and safe solution for cleaning the bottom of swimming pools by considerably reducing the additional length of the hydraulic circuit to the base circuit and also considerably reducing the duration of the cleaning cycle of the systems of the prior art.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for cleaning a basin (1) comprising a side wall (3) and a bottom wall (2), said bottom wall (2) being divided into n transverse zones each comprising a series of at least one rotary nozzle (4), each of the n series of at least one rotary nozzle (4) being downstream of a control valve (6), of a series of n control valves (6), characterized in that the control valves (6) are downstream of the same channel, called the bottom channel, of a three-way diverter valve (8) comprising another channel, called the wall channel, upstream of a wall nozzle (9) and an inlet channel.

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that said wall nozzle (9) is positioned in said side wall.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one bottom swallower (10) upstream of the inlet channel of said switching valve (8).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a filter (11) arranged downstream of the bottom swallowers (10) and upstream of said switching valve (8).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a pump (7).

6. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that said pump (7) is arranged between said bottom swallowers (10) and said switching valve (8).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises an automated control device.

8. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that said automated control device controls the operation of the pump (7), the switching valve (8) and the n control valves (6).

9. Method for cleaning the bottom of a basin (1) using a device according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that it comprises the successive treatment of the transverse zones, from the transverse zone furthest from the bottom swallowers (10) to the transverse zone closest to the bottom swallowers (10), each of said treatments comprising the steps: - (i) operating the switching valve (8) so that the inlet channel communicates with the bottom channel and opening the control valve (6) of the series of at least one rotating nozzle (4) of the area to be treated, the other control valves (6) remaining closed, and - (ii) operate the diverter valve (8) so that the inlet channel communicates with the wall channel, and - (iii) successively repeating steps (i) and (ii) until the at least one rotating nozzle (4) of the transverse zone of the area to be treated has completed a complete rotation.

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