Submersible Pool Cleaner Buoyancy Control for Stair and Corner Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pool cleaning robots face difficulties in reaching and cleaning hard-to-access areas like stairs and corners, require frequent manual maintenance, and have limited autonomy, leading to sub-optimal performance due to tangled cables and clogged filters.
Innovation Solution
A submersible pool cleaning robot with a ballast tank for buoyancy control, propulsion module, steering module, and navigation system, including a rudder and diving planes, that can hover and move underwater without wheels or tracks, equipped with sensors and a skimmer for efficient surface and floor cleaning, and a detachable base for power and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pool cleaning robots use wheels and/or tracks to traverse floor and wall surfaces, then they can move across surfaces, but they have difficulty reaching certain areas such as stairs, corners or sidewall ledges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional wheel and track mechanical systems with a jet propulsion system that uses water jets to propel and maneuver the cleaning robot. This substitution enables the robot to hover and move freely in three dimensions, allowing it to access stairs, corners, and sidewall ledges that are inaccessible to wheeled or tracked systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional surface traversal (wheels on floor/walls) to three-dimensional hovering movement through water. The jet propulsion system allows the robot to move in multiple directions and positions within the water column, enabling access to previously unreachable areas like pool corners and vertical surfaces.
2Duration of action of moving object
If pool cleaning robots are connected to electrical power cables or suction hoses, then they can operate continuously, but the cable and hose can get tangled and temporarily limit pool usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power cable and suction hose connections from the operating robot, placing the power source and control systems on a stationary base unit. The robot communicates with the base and receives power wirelessly or through periodic docking, eliminating the tangling problem while maintaining continuous operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot autonomously navigates to the base unit for recharging or filter maintenance when needed, without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability ensures continuous operation while eliminating cable management issues, as the robot independently manages its own power and maintenance needs.
3Reliability
If the filter of pool cleaning robot becomes clogged, then cleaning performance decreases, but manual removal and washing is time and effort consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The robot automatically returns to its base unit when the filter requires cleaning. The base unit automatically removes, rinses, and reattaches the filter cartridge, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This self-maintenance system ensures consistent cleaning performance while saving users significant time and effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot monitors its own filter status through sensors and automatically navigates to the base unit when clogging is detected. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal cleaning performance is maintained by proactively addressing filter issues before they significantly impact performance, without requiring user awareness or intervention.
4Productivity
If pool cleaning robots use basic vehicle configuration with wheels and tracks, then they can traverse surfaces, but they require frequent manual intervention for maintenance and operation
Solution Approach 1:
The robot autonomously performs navigation, cleaning operations, and self-maintenance including filter monitoring and base unit docking. The system automatically manages its own operational needs without requiring users to manually guide it through the pool or perform routine maintenance tasks, significantly reducing human intervention while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The replacement of wheels and tracks with jet propulsion enables fully autonomous three-dimensional movement and positioning. This mechanical substitution allows the robot to independently navigate to any area requiring cleaning and to autonomously return to the base unit for maintenance, eliminating the need for manual operation while expanding cleaning coverage.
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 effective cleaning of difficult-to-reach pool areas with reduced human intervention, improved maintenance efficiency, and enhanced operational autonomy by allowing the robot to hover and move underwater, maintaining optimal performance without cable tangling and filter clogging issues.
Implementation Method 1
a ballast tank for controlling a buoyancy of the submarine pool cleaner
Implementation Method 2
a propulsion module that is configured to propel the submersible pool cleaner
Implementation Method 3
a steering module that comprises a rudder and diving planes
Data Source
AI summary
A pool cleaning robot that includes a ballast tank for controlling a buoyancy of the submarine pool cleaner; at least one cleaning element for cleaning debris from an underwater surface of a pool while the pool cleaning robot hovers over the underwater surface; a propulsion module that is configured to propel the submersible pool cleaner; and a steering module that comprises a rudder and diving planes.