Hydraulic Timer Disc Assembly for Continuous Pool Cleaner Vacuuming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pool cleaners often have vacuum systems that can only operate during forward motion, limiting their ability to effectively clean pool surfaces during reversing or turning movements, and require scrubber assemblies for debris pick-up, which are essential for driving the cleaners.
Innovation Solution
A pool cleaner design featuring a chassis, housing, and drive wheels with a turbine assembly and a timer disc assembly that controls the flow of pressurized fluid for directional propulsion and vacuum assistance, allowing for forward, backward, and turning movements while maintaining continuous vacuuming capabilities without the need for permanent scrubber assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vacuum systems are integrated with drive systems in conventional pool cleaners, then the cleaner can operate with a unified system, but vacuuming can only occur during forward motion limiting cleaning effectiveness during reversing or turning
Solution Approach 1:
The timer disc assembly dynamically redirects pressurized fluid flow to different outlets based on the desired movement state. During forward motion, fluid drives the turbine for vacuuming; during reverse or turn, fluid is redirected to thrust jets for propulsion while the turbine continues rotating via惯性, maintaining vacuuming capability across all movement states
Solution Approach 2:
The turbine assembly serves multiple functions: it drives the drive wheels during forward motion for propulsion, and simultaneously drives the vacuum system during all movement states. The system is designed so the turbine can maintain rotation during reversing and turning through fluid inertia, enabling universal vacuuming capability regardless of movement state
2Adaptability or versatility
If scrubber assemblies are used as wheels for driving robotic cleaners, then debris pick-up is facilitated through agitation, but the cleaner cannot operate without these assemblies present as they are essential for driving
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the scrubber assemblies from the essential driving function by implementing a turbine-based drive system. The turbine, driven by pressurized fluid, directly powers the drive wheels without requiring scrubbers as intermediate driving elements. Scrubbers become optional auxiliary components for enhanced cleaning rather than mandatory driving components, allowing the cleaner to operate independently of their presence
3Ease of operation
If a timer disc assembly controls fluid flow for directional propulsion, then precise directional control is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timer disc assembly is passively driven by the flow of pressurized fluid itself, eliminating the need for external motors, sensors, or complex control systems. As fluid flows through the assembly, it naturally rotates the timer disc, which in turn directs fluid to appropriate outlets for the desired movement. The system uses the working fluid's own energy to operate the control mechanism, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precise directional control
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
Enables precise directional control, enhanced suction, and continuous debris pick-up during all movement states, improving cleaning efficiency and coverage without the dependency on scrubber assemblies for propulsion.
Implementation Method 1
conventional pressure side cleaners and suction cleaners often use hydraulic turbine assemblies as drive systems
Implementation Method 2
The timer disc assembly controls a flow of pressurized fluid away from the housing in a forward direction for backward propulsion assistance
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments, a pool cleaner includes a chassis, a housing supported by the chassis, at least one drive wheel supported by the chassis, and a turbine assembly that rotates in one of a first direction and a second direction to drive the at least one drive wheel. The pool cleaner also includes a timer disc assembly with at least one rotating timer disc. The timer disc assembly controls a flow of pressurized fluid away from the housing in a forward direction for backward propulsion assistance of the pool cleaner during a first time period, a rearward direction for forward propulsion assistance of the pool cleaner during a second time period, and a sideways direction for turning propulsion assistance of the pool cleaner during at least a portion of one of the first time period and the second time period. The timer disc assembly also controls a flow of pressurized fluid to the turbine assembly through a first opening for driving the turbine assembly in the first direction during the first time period and a second opening for driving the turbine assembly in the second direction during the second time period.