Pool Cleaner Middle Roller Curved Bottom Steps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated pool cleaning vehicles (PCVs) struggle to effectively clean pool surfaces with irregular shapes, such as steps, due to their design limitations, which can lead to incomplete cleaning and frequent filter bag changes.
Innovation Solution
A PCV with a specialized structure featuring a middle roller and a curved bottom, along with additional water intakes, allows for thorough cleaning of irregular surfaces without altering the conventional size parameters, using a vacuum system to collect dirt and debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat and straight bottom is used in the PCV, then the housing structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the PCV cannot effectively clean irregular surfaces such as steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the bottom of the housing, transforming it from a flat surface to a curved configuration. This curved bottom enables the PCV to conform to and effectively clean irregular pool surfaces such as steps, while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard curving processes.
2Reliability
If a curved bottom is used in the PCV, then the PCV can clean irregular surfaces effectively, but the interior space of the housing shrinks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a middle roller assembly that divides the housing interior into functional zones. This segmentation allows the curved bottom to maintain its cleaning effectiveness on irregular surfaces while preserving adequate interior volume for the filter bag and debris collection by creating a dedicated cleaning zone at the front and a storage zone at the rear.
3Reliability
If the curvature of the bottom is increased to overcome steep steps, then the PCV can clean steeper surfaces, but the housing becomes excessively large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a middle roller assembly that can dynamically adjust and rotate, allowing the PCV to adapt to varying step angles and irregular surfaces. This dynamic mechanism enables the housing to maintain a compact size while still overcoming steep steps, as the rotating middle roller provides the necessary adaptability without requiring excessive housing curvature or size.
4Reliability
If a middle roller assembly is added to the PCV, then the PCV can thoroughly clean irregular surfaces, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The middle roller assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as a cleaning element for irregular surfaces, provides structural support for the curved bottom configuration, and serves as a rotation point that enables the PCV to navigate steps. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while maintaining cleaning thoroughness.
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
The solution enables thorough cleaning of dirt and debris from pool surfaces, including steps and other irregular surfaces, while maintaining the conventional size and reducing the frequency of filter bag changes, ensuring efficient and complete pool maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a housing (30) with a central opening (39) defining an interior where a vacuum is created
Implementation Method 2
intake means (40) associated with each rolling member and each middle roller assembly (70) for facilitating the sucking up of dirt and debris into the housing (30) through the vacuum created therein
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an automated pool cleaning vehicle (PCV) having a middle roller. The PCV having a housing. The housing defines an interior. Located within the interior is a pump and a filter bag. The housing also includes a bottom, which is generally curved in a concave manner. The housing further includes a chassis. The pump creates a vacuum for sucking up dirt and debris into the filter bag through intakes in the housing. The housing including first and second pairs of wheels connected to the chassis. Between the front and second wheels is a middle roller, also connected to the chassis. In a first embodiment, the middle roller includes a single roller, which is approximately the same diameter as the wheels of the first and second pairs of wheels. In other embodiments, the wheels of the middle roller are larger or smaller. In yet another embodiment, the middle roller includes a series of wheels.