Dual-Chamber Filter with Reverse Flow for Pool Cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Swimming pool cleaners often experience filter clogging during operation, leading to reduced hydraulic performance and frequent interruptions for maintenance, as they are not optimized to adapt to varying dirt levels across the pool surface, resulting in inefficient cleaning and potential re-deposition of debris.
Innovation Solution
A swimming pool cleaner design featuring a dual-chamber filter system that allows debris to be temporarily stored in a secondary chamber during operation, enabling reverse flow to clear the primary chamber and maintain hydraulic efficiency, along with a dirt detection system to adjust cleaning programs based on dirt levels, ensuring more focused cleaning efforts on dirty areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the filter volume is increased to accumulate more debris, then the time between cleanings is extended, but the filter becomes more prone to clogging and hydraulic performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is divided into two separate chambers: a first chamber that accumulates debris during normal operation and a second chamber that receives debris during reverse flow. This segmentation allows each chamber to be optimized for its specific function, extending the time between cleanings while maintaining hydraulic performance by preventing clogging in the primary filtration path.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically reverses the pump flow direction to flush debris from the first chamber into the second chamber. This inversion of the normal flow direction clears the primary filter chamber, restoring hydraulic performance without requiring manual intervention or reducing the overall debris accumulation capacity.
2Productivity
If the cleaner operates continuously without interruption, then productivity is improved, but filter clogging causes frequent stoppages and reduces cleaning efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates in periodic cycles, alternating between normal forward flow mode (accumulating debris in the first chamber) and reverse flow mode (flushing debris into the second chamber). This periodic action maintains continuous operation by automatically clearing the filter before clogging occurs, ensuring uninterrupted productivity while maintaining reliable hydraulic performance.
3Productivity
If the pump operates at high power to maintain strong water flow, then cleaning capacity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reverse flow operation is performed periodically rather than continuously, applying excessive action (reverse flow) only when needed to clear debris. During normal operation, the pump operates at standard power levels for efficient cleaning, while the periodic reverse flow cycles maintain hydraulic performance without requiring sustained high energy input.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design extends the time between filter cleanings, reduces the risk of the cleaner stopping due to clogging, and optimizes energy consumption by adapting cleaning routes and intensity based on dirt detection, ensuring a more thorough and efficient cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
said pump being arranged to be able to displace water from said water inlet to said water outlet through said filter
Implementation Method 2
said pump being arranged to be able to produce a reverse flow of liquid from said water outlet to said water inlet through said filter so as to remove debris from said filter
Data Source
AI summary
A filter for a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner includes a first chamber, a second chamber and a partition wall separating the first and second chambers to define first and second filter enclosures. A non-return device is placed in correspondence with the partition wall. The filter and non-return device are configured to receive a first flow of water and debris from the swimming pool into the first chamber so the debris is retained in the first chamber and filtered water is discharged into the swimming pool during a first cleaner operation mode, and receive a second flow of water from the swimming pool to displace the debris in the first chamber to the second chamber during a second cleaner operation mode. The non-return device is arranged such that the displaced debris cannot return from the second enclosure to the first enclosure when the cleaner is operating in the first operation mode.