Pool Cleaner Surface Diverter for Air Suction Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mechanical suction pool cleaners face issues with detecting the pool water surface, leading to potential damage from sucking in air, which can affect filtration systems, especially when climbing in different directions or at shallow angles.

Innovation Solution

A water surface diverter, configured as a wheel-shaped device with neutral buoyancy, attached to the cleaner or hose, ensures it breaks the water surface before the cleaner does, preventing air suction by providing a downward force to counteract the suction force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a ballast is used to prevent the cleaner from climbing out of water, then the cleaner is prevented from breaking the surface, but the ballast may become an obstacle preventing the cleaner from climbing and may damage the pool wall

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of air suctionVSAvoiddamage to pool wall

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The diverter assembly acts as a counterweight mechanism that provides downward force to prevent the cleaner from breaking the water surface. Unlike a fixed ballast, the diverter can be positioned to provide optimal counterbalancing force without creating obstruction on the pool wall, thus preventing air suction while avoiding damage to the pool structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The diverter assembly is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing it to adjust its position and orientation as the cleaner moves along the pool wall. This dynamic capability enables the diverter to maintain effective counterbalancing without becoming an obstacle, unlike a fixed ballast that remains in one position and may interfere with the cleaner's movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the hose is attached at an angle to break the surface first, then air suction is prevented for single-direction travel, but the solution does not work when the cleaner travels in different directions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of air suctionVSAvoidmulti-directional travel capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The diverter assembly is designed with universal applicability to handle cleaners traveling in any direction. The adjustable positioning mechanism allows the diverter to be oriented appropriately regardless of the cleaner's travel direction, making the air suction prevention effective for multi-directional travel rather than being limited to a single direction as with fixed-angle hose attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The diverter assembly incorporates dynamic positioning capabilities that allow it to adapt its orientation based on the cleaner's movement direction. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the diverter consistently breaks the water surface before the cleaner, maintaining air suction prevention effectiveness whether the cleaner travels upward, downward, or changes direction along the pool wall.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a large ballast is used to prevent surface breaking, then air suction is prevented, but the ballast itself becomes an obstacle and may damage the pool bottom

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of air suctionVSAvoidintegrity of pool structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The diverter assembly provides the necessary counterbalancing force to prevent surface breaking without requiring a large ballast. By strategically positioning the diverter to maximize its lever arm and mechanical advantage, sufficient downward force is generated to counteract the suction force pulling the cleaner upward, thereby preventing air suction while avoiding the structural damage risks associated with large ballasts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The diverter assembly provides just enough counterbalancing force to prevent the cleaner from breaking the water surface, avoiding the excessive force that would be required by a large ballast. This partial action approach is sufficient to maintain the cleaner's position below the surface without creating the obstacle effects and potential damage associated with oversized ballasts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Effectively prevents the cleaner from climbing out of the water, maintaining system performance and reducing damage risks by ensuring the diverter breaches the surface before air is sucked in, applicable to both mechanical and electrical cleaners.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP4045738B1Water surface diverter for a pool cleaning system

Publication Date: 2025.12.03 KREEPY KRAULY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

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Figure 5~6

AI summary

A pool cleaner water surface diverter (7) that will break the pool water surface (1) before the pool cleaner (4) reaches the surface, or at least before the suction of the cleaner (4) is able to suck in air. A rim (12) extends beyond a physical envelope of the cleaner, such as being wider than is the cleaner. Ideally the diverter has neutral or near neutral buoyancy in the pool water. A central hub on a pool hose (5) allows rotation of the diverter relative to the hose. compartments/containers may contain a substantially buoyancy neutral fluid or material in water e.g. PVA foam.