Idler Mechanism for Hydraulic Pool Cleaners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic swimming pool cleaners require continuous pump operation to maintain movement, making it difficult to temporarily inhibit movement without disconnecting them, which can be inconvenient or inefficient when other pool activities or objects require additional pump force.
Innovation Solution
An idler mechanism that attaches to hoses or conduits, featuring a valve door and a turbine generator, allows water to bypass the motive force creator, effectively preventing cleaner movement without stopping the pump by diverting fluid through a secondary pathway, reducing the fluid draw into the cleaner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pump continues to operate to maintain cleaner movement, then the cleaner remains mobile and functional, but pump force is wasted when other pool activities or objects require additional pump force
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into two separate pathways: a primary pathway that bypasses the cleaner entirely, and a secondary pathway that routes water through the cleaner's turbine. The valve door mechanism allows selective activation of these pathways, enabling the system to divert pump output independently to different destinations based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve door acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls water flow distribution. By positioning the valve door in different states (open/closed), it mediates between the pump output and the two possible pathways (through cleaner or bypass), allowing dynamic allocation of pump force without direct mechanical connection changes.
2Ease of operation
If the cleaner is disconnected from the pump to inhibit movement, then pump force becomes available for other uses, but the cleaner cannot be quickly reconnected and must remain disconnected
Solution Approach 1:
The valve door is designed as a dynamic, movable component that can be quickly positioned between open and closed states. This dynamic mechanism allows instantaneous switching between cleaner operation and bypass modes without requiring physical disconnection or reconnection of hoses, dramatically reducing the time penalty for inhibiting cleaner movement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a valve mechanism is added to enable bypass flow, then the cleaner can be inhibited without pump shutdown, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve door mechanism is merged with the existing bypass inlet structure of the cleaner. Rather than adding a completely separate valve assembly, the invention integrates the flow control function into the existing bypass pathway architecture, reducing overall structural complexity while achieving the desired flow control capability.
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 the temporary inhibition of automatic pool cleaner movement without pump operation cessation, conserving pump force for other uses and preventing interference during pool activities, while maintaining attachment to the pump system.
Implementation Method 1
turbine generator (30')
Implementation Method 2
generator (30')
Implementation Method 3
spring (42') serving to bias latch (34)
Implementation Method 4
pump...creates a low pressure region within the body for drawing pool water therein
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Devices and methods for inhibiting movement of automatic pool cleaners (APCs) are described. Versions of the devices may cause pool water to bypass flowing through bodies of APCs. Alternatively, they may cause water flowing though bodies of APCs to bypass the associated motive force creators. The devices thus may constitute idler mechanisms, as they effectively prevent movement without requiring operation of the ultimate driver (i.e. the pump) to cease.