Variable Cross-Section Inlet for Pool Cleaner Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swimming pool cleaning devices suffer from unstable filtration performance due to clogging issues, requiring frequent maintenance and varying service periods, especially when dealing with large debris, and often require powerful pumping motors, leading to high costs and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
A swimming pool cleaning device with a liquid inlet conduit having a non-constant cross-section, featuring a convergent portion to accelerate debris and a divergent portion to slow them down, preventing clogging of the filtering device, combined with a removable filtering casing for easy maintenance, and an electric drive system for reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the filtering device is arranged immediately downstream of the liquid inlet to minimize hydraulic path, then pressure losses are reduced and pumping efficiency is improved, but the filtering walls become clogged with debris and filtration performance becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid inlet conduit is divided into multiple sections: a first section with constant cross-section near the inlet, and a second section with increasing cross-section towards the filtering device. This segmentation allows different flow characteristics in different zones, reducing debris velocity near the filtering device while maintaining efficient hydraulic path overall.
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit cross-section is made variable along its length, transitioning from constant to increasing area. This dynamic geometry adapts the flow characteristics along the conduit, slowing debris before they reach the filtering device while maintaining overall hydraulic efficiency.
2Productivity
If a powerful pumping motor is used to move liquid through the filtering device, then liquid flow is maintained, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit cross-sectional area parameter is changed along its length, increasing towards the filtering device. This geometric parameter change reduces debris velocity and prevents clogging, allowing the use of a less powerful pump while maintaining liquid flow rate.
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 device achieves stable filtration performance over time, reduces clogging risks, and lowers operational costs by using a less powerful pumping motor, resulting in improved performance and longer maintenance intervals, while maintaining equivalent suction and cleaning efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid inlet conduit (15) having a non-constant cross-section, featuring a convergent portion to accelerate debris and a divergent portion to slow them down
Data Source
AI summary
Detailed is a device for cleaning an immersed surface including a body and members for driving the body over the immersed surface in a main direction of advance; a filtration chamber which is provided in the body and which has: a liquid inlet conduit which extends inside the body and which has a lower end which forms a liquid inlet and an opposing upper end which opens into a filtering device; a liquid outlet out of the body; a hydraulic circuit for the flow of liquid between the inlet and the liquid outlet through the filtering device, wherein the inlet conduit has a regular cross-section whose surface-area varies from the lower end thereof up to a maximum value at the upper end thereof which opens in the filtering device.