Suspended Inductive Charging Base for Pool Cleaners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swimming pool cleaning devices face complications and high costs during maintenance operations due to the need to remove and reposition the recharging base, which is often constrained to the pool wall or bottom, requiring expensive and impractical emptying of the pool.
Innovation Solution
A recharging base system where the inductive element is suspended from the pool edge by a flexible rope, allowing easy removal and maintenance, with electric cables connecting to the domestic mains outside the pool, eliminating the need for complex wall engagement and reducing operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the recharging base is constrained to the pool wall or bottom, then the electromagnetic field can be generated at the bottom for recharging, but the maintenance operations become complicated and expensive requiring pool emptying
Solution Approach 1:
The recharging base is divided into two independent parts: a first inductive element fixed to the pool wall, and a second inductive element mounted on the cleaning device. This segmentation allows the cleaning device to be maintained independently without affecting the fixed infrastructure, resolving the contradiction between maintaining recharging reliability and ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The second inductive element is extracted from the fixed base structure and mounted on the mobile cleaning device itself. This extraction allows the inductive coupling to occur between a fixed element and a mobile element, enabling the mobile device to be removed for maintenance while the fixed infrastructure remains in place.
2Ease of operation
If the recharging base is constrained to the pool wall, then the electromagnetic field is generated close to the bottom for easy recharging, but the electric cables must be built into the wall making maintenance impossible without major construction
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection system is segmented into a fixed external cable connection and a mobile inductive element. The fixed part connects to mains power outside the pool, while the mobile part (second inductive element) is mounted on the cleaning device. This eliminates the need for complex in-wall cable installations while maintaining easy recharging operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The direct electrical connection system (mechanical contacts and in-wall cables) is replaced with an inductive coupling system using electromagnetic fields. This substitution eliminates the need for physical cable installations within the pool structure, reducing device complexity while maintaining operational ease.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the first inductive element is part of the recharging base constrained to the wall, then power can be transferred to the device, but removing the base for maintenance requires operating in the swimming pool
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a fixed first inductive element and a mobile second inductive element. The first element remains fixed to the wall for continuous power transfer capability, while the second element moves with the cleaning device. This allows the cleaning device to be removed for maintenance without affecting the fixed power transfer infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static fixed-base design to a dynamic configuration where the second inductive element is mounted on the mobile cleaning device. This dynamic arrangement allows the cleaning device to freely move and be maintained independently while the fixed first inductive element continuously provides power transfer 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
Facilitates fast, inexpensive, and practical maintenance by allowing the recharging base to be easily lifted out of the pool, reducing the complexity and expense associated with maintenance and substitution operations.
Implementation Method 1
One of these techniques uses an inductive coupling between a first inductive element which is part of the recharging base, and a second inductive element which is mounted on the self-propelled device and connected to the power supply unit to be recharged
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An apparatus for cleaning swimming pools comprises a self-propelled device (2) comprising: movement means (4) for moving the self-propelled device (2) in a swimming pool (P); a water recirculation circuit; means for cleaning the surfaces of the swimming pool (P); and a power supply battery for supplying electric energy to one or more out of the movement means (4), the recirculation circuit and the cleaning means; the apparatus also comprises a recharging base (5) for the power supply battery, the base having at least a first inductive element (8) positioned in the swimming pool (P); the recharging base (5) comprising a supporting unit (7) having a first end (7a) integral with the swimming pool (P) and a second end (7b) which is opposite to the first end (7a) and suspended in the swimming pool (P); the first inductive element (8) hanging from the second end (7b) of the supporting unit (7).