Pool Cleaner Sideways Waterline Travel With Pump Thrust Tilt

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pool cleaning apparatuses have difficulty thoroughly cleaning the waterline at the sidewall of a pool, are time-consuming due to continuous climbing, and have poor cleaning efficiency on this area.

Innovation Solution

A pool cleaning apparatus equipped with detecting components and a control system that allows it to enter a sideways movement mode, utilizing differential wheel speeds and water discharge to tilt and move along the waterline, ensuring thorough cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the existing pool cleaning apparatus climbs continuously on the wall of the pool, then it can clean the wall surface, but it is time-consuming and has poor cleaning effect on the waterline

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidtime-consuming
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces sideways movement capability to the pool cleaning apparatus, enabling it to move not only vertically along the pool wall but also horizontally along the waterline. This dimensional expansion allows the apparatus to clean the waterline area efficiently without continuous climbing, thereby improving cleaning efficiency while reducing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the existing pool cleaning apparatus cleans the wall of the pool, then it maintains pool cleanliness, but the waterline cannot be cleaned thoroughly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning coverageVSAvoidcleaning thoroughness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By adding sideways movement capability, the apparatus can now access and clean the waterline area that was previously inaccessible during vertical climbing operations. This dimensional enhancement ensures thorough cleaning of both the wall surface and the waterline, improving overall cleaning coverage and thoroughness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If the pool cleaning apparatus moves sideways along the waterline, then it improves cleaning coverage, but it requires additional control mechanisms for wheel speed differential

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning coverageVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adjusts the rotational speeds of the left and right driving wheels based on the detected need for sideways movement. By implementing dynamic speed control rather than fixed speed operation, the system achieves enhanced cleaning coverage while managing control complexity through adaptive rather than statically complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 apparatus effectively cleans the waterline and adjacent areas without repeated climbing, improving efficiency and coverage, while bypassing obstacles and ensuring thorough pool cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

controlling the discharging pump to discharge water to one side to generate thrust

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThrust: Force

Implementation Method 2

controlling the pool cleaning apparatus to drive the driving wheels on both sides at a target rotational speed difference, so that the pool cleaning apparatus is tilted towards the one side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDifferential rotation: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4663876A1Sideways movement method for pool cleaning apparatus and corresponding pool cleaning apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 AIPER GLOBAL PTE LTD
  • EP4663876A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4663876A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP4663876A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Disclosed are a method for a pool cleaning apparatus to move sideways and a corresponding pool cleaning apparatus. The method may include: if the condition for the pool cleaning apparatus to move sideways is satisfied (S110), controlling the pool cleaning apparatus to enter a sideways movement operating mode, so that the pool cleaning apparatus moves towards one side, and in the sideways movement operating mode, controlling a discharging pump to provide a thrust to a side opposite the one side; in the sideways movement operating mode, controlling the pool cleaning apparatus to drive the driving wheels (31, 32) on both sides at a target rotational speed difference, so that the pool cleaning apparatus is tilted towards the one side (S120).