Arrangement system of a robot in a swimming pool

Background of the invention

p0001A system for automatically storing a pool cleaner in a location, that location may be for example a housing formed in the wall of the pool or location in the basin.

p0002The document <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US6922855B"><text>US 6922855</text></patcit> describes a system for storing an aspiring robot in a housing provided in the wall of a swimming pool or to exit this robot of this housing so that it cleans the pool. In this system, the vacuum robot is connected to a piston capable of moving in a conduit under the effect of a hydraulic pump connected to this conduit. Specifically, the hydraulic pump is capable of creating an overpressure in the pipe to push the piston and remove the robot from its housing and a vacuum to suck the piston and store the robot into place. In cleaning phase, when the robot is out of its housing, the hydraulic pump creating a depression in the duct, the water sucked by the robot through the piston and up the said conduit to the pump for filtering.

p0003This system has two major disadvantages.

p0004First, it is necessary to provide means for blocking the piston during the cleaning phase, otherwise the piston would also be drawn, which as explained above lead to the storage of the robot into place. The control of these locking means is complex.

p0005Second, it is common that the water sucked by the robot there is dirt that are deposited in the duct and thus impede the movement of the piston in the duct. The document<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US6922855B"><text>US 6922855</text></patcit> piston offers various configurations to work around this problem, but does not avoid the deposit of dirt in the duct.

p0006The invention relates to a storage system that does not present the aforementioned drawbacks.

Purpose and Summary of the Invention

p0007A system for storing a pool cleaner in a location, this system comprising:<ul><li>a release piston connected to the robot capable of moving in a conduit of the pool;</li><li>means for creating, during a cleaning phase of the pool by the robot, an overpressure in said pipe, so as to drive the release piston to a first position of the pipeline; and</li><li>means for creating, during a filtering phase of the water in the pool, when the robot is idle, a vacuum in the pipe, so as to suck the release piston to a second position of said pipeline to storage the robot into the slot.</li></ul>

p0008Thus, and very advantageously, the release piston is not sucked during the cleaning phase and it is not necessary to provide the piston of the locking means. According to the invention, the piston stroke in each direction may be restricted by a simple stop.

p0009The system according to the invention is particularly simple to control because it is enough to switch the filter cleaning phase to phase out or to store the robot's location.

p0010In a particular embodiment, the invention may be implemented using the hydraulic pump of the swimming pool and a single valve for creating a vacuum or an overpressure in said pipe. The control of this valve can be made by a simple timer.

p0011also be noted that during the filtration phase, when the robot is inactive, the depression maintained in the pipe keeps the robot into place. In other words, even if a person, a child, for example, was amused to shoot the robot and out of the location, he would meet some resistance, and the robot is automatically stored as soon as that person ceases to shoot the robot .

p0012This is not the case in the system disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US6922855B"><text>US 6922855</text></patcit> cited.

p0013In a particular embodiment, the system according to the invention further comprises, in a line from the pool filtration system, a storage piston connected to the release piston, and means for creating a vacuum in said conduit during the filtration phase.

p0014In this embodiment, as soon as it is tilted in the filtration phase, the release piston is driven by the storage piston for storage of the robot. This advantageously facilitates the movement of the robot to release the aforesaid second position.

p0015This storage piston is optional.

p0016In another embodiment, the system according to the invention comprises means for closing the pool filtration circuit, the release piston having opening means of the pool filtration circuit when the release piston is in the aforementioned second position.

p0017These closure means may comprise a single valve having a stem, eg stainless steel, let release piston being designed to push the stem and open the valve when it is in second position.

p0018Through this mechanism, the filtration circuit remains closed during the rise of the release piston to the second position, thus avoiding or decreasing the pressure loss in the pipe of the release piston.

p0019This is not the case in the system disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US6922855B"><text>US 6922855</text></patcit> cited above, because in this system the water flows continuously through the piston, forcing to use a powerful pump for storage robot.

p0020In a particular embodiment, the system according to the invention comprises means to prevent the water in pulsed driving of the release piston back in the filtration circuit during the cleaning phase.

p0021These means may be constituted by a single flap positioned to open automatically under the pressure of the water flowing through said filter circuit during the filtration phase.

p0022The invention can be used with all types of robot cleaners.

p0023This is not the case of the system disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US6922855B"><text>US 6922855</text></patcit> which only works with aspiring robots.

p0024In a particular embodiment, when the robot is connected to a suction robot release piston by a pipe, the release piston has a passage for the water sucked by the suction robot placed vis-a-vis a pipe a pool cleaning circuit when said release piston occupies the first position mentioned above.

p0025Those skilled in the art will understand that in the invention, the water sucked by the robot does not go through the duct in which the piston moves. Consequently, only clean water flows through this pipe.

p0026However, it is possible that dirt deposited in the conduct of the release piston on the piston, during the cleaning phase. To avoid this problem, the release piston seals may include marrying the aforementioned conduct and avoid any dirt that these do not block the piston. The skilled person will understand that the dirt will be sucked any event during the following cleaning stage.

p0027The invention thus prevents clogging of this pipe.

Brief Description of Drawings

p0028Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description given below, with reference to the accompanying drawings that show an embodiment having no limiting character. In the figures:<ul><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001 f0002 f0003">Figures 1 to 3</figref> show a first implementation of the invention for a suction robot;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0004 f0005 f0006">Figures 4 to 6</figref> show a second implementation of the invention for a suction robot;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002 f0007 f0008">Figures 7 to 9</figref> show a first implementation of the invention for a robot under pressure;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0009">figures 10</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0010">11</figref> show a second implementation of the invention for a robot under pressure; and</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">figures 12</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0011">13</figref> represent an implementation of the invention for an electric robot.</li></ul>

Detailed description of various embodiments

p0029We now describe several embodiments of the invention for storage of a cleaning robot 100A, 100B, 100C in slot 7 of a pool 1.

p0030The location 7 may be constituted by a single recess. It may also be protected by a flap.

p0031According to the invention, the robot cleaner 100A, 100B, 100C is connected to a release piston 110A, 110B, 110C, the structure of the release piston and the bond between the release piston and the robot depending on the type robot ( suction, pressure, electrical).

p0032In general, we always distinguish the phase called "filtration" in which the cleaner 100A, 100B, 100C is inactive and placed in the slot 7, and the phase called "cleaning" in which the robot 100A, 100B , 100C is up and moving in the pool 1.

p0033In this document, the term:<ul><li>"Cleaning pipe" means any pipe in which water flows during the cleaning phase; and</li><li>"Filter pipe" means any pipe in which water flows during the filtration phase.</li></ul>

p0034By this definition, a line can be described as "clean pipe" and "filter pipe" if used in both phases.

p0035The <figref idrefs="f0001"><b>figure 1</b></figref><b>,</b> shows a first embodiment of a system according to the invention wherein the robot cleaner is a suction robot 100A, during a filtering phase.

p0036During this phase, the water circulates in the system according to a filter circuit whose main elements are constituted by:<ul><li>surface 2 of skimmers (in English "skimmer") sealed (s) in the top of the pool 1; </li><li>a main drain 3 sealed in the deepest part of the pool 1 whose role is to draw water from the pool bottom, complementing the skimmers 2;</li><li>a hydraulic pump 4. The pump can suck pond water via 2 skimmers and the main drain 3;</li><li>filtration pipes upstream CF1 linking 2 skimmers and the main drain 3 to the hydraulic pump 4;</li><li>5 place a filter downstream of the hydraulic pump 4 for filtering the water drawn by the skimmers 2 and the bottom plug 3;</li><li>of rammers 6 sealed in the basin for feeding back the water in the basin after filtration by the filter 5; and</li><li>downstream filtration CF2 piping connecting the pump 4 to the hydraulic rammers 6, the filter 5 is placed on one of these pipes, generally just downstream of the hydraulic pump 4.</li></ul>

p0037Known manner during the filtration phase, the hydraulic pump 4 draws water from the pool 1 by 2 skimmers and the main drain 3, the water being fed to the hydraulic pump 4 through lines upstream filter CF1, then discharged into the tank 1 via the pipes downstream filtration and rammers CF2 6, after filtration through the filter 5.

p0038In the embodiment described herein, the vacuum cleaner robot 100A is connected to its release piston 110A via a pipe 120A shown in <figref idrefs="f0002"><b>2</b></figref><b>.</b>

p0039110A the release piston 115A comprises a passage for the water sucked by the vacuum robot 100A.

p0040The <figref idrefs="f0003"><b>3</b></figref>Represents the system of <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> during a cleaning phase.

p0041During this phase, the water circulates in the system according to a cleaning circuit comprising in particular:<ul><li>pipes upstream of CN1 cleaning for conveying water sucked by the suction robot 100A to the hydraulic pump 4; and</li><li>downstream pipe cleaning CN2 for discharging the water in the basin 1 after filtration by the filter 5.</li></ul>

p0042During the cleaning phase, the water of the pool 1 is sucked by the cleaner 100A under the effect of the hydraulic pump 4. The release piston 110A is positioned such that the passageway 115A is located vis-à vis the entry of the cleaning pipe upstream CN1.

p0043The water sucked during the cleaning phase by the robot 100a is filtered by the filter 5 and then fed back into the basin 1 by a 9-discharge provided in the downstream cleaning pipe CN2.

p0044In the embodiment described here, a valve C2 is positioned substantially at the junction between the upstream filtering pipe CF1 and channeling CN2 downstream cleaning.

p0045It prevents the filtered water will back up into the filter pipe upstream CF1 during the cleaning phase.

p0046This valve C2 is positioned to automatically open under the pressure of the water circulating in the pipe upstream filter CF1 during the filtration phase and to close it during the cleaning phase when the water is directed into the cleaning pipe CN2 downstream.

p0047In the embodiment described here, the system has two valves V1, V2 respectively upstream and downstream of the hydraulic pump 4 and a PC controller capable of controlling these valves to switch between filtration and cleaning phases.

p0048The upstream valve V1 can take:<ul><li>a position called "cleaning" allowing the hydraulic pump 4 to create a depression in the NC1 upstream cleaning line; or</li><li>a position called "filtration" allowing the hydraulic pump 4 to create a depression in the upstream filtering pipe CF1 and in the downstream cleaning pipe CN2, amplified, in this example, by a DV pipe.</li></ul>

p0049The downstream valve V2 can take:<ul><li>a position called "cleansing" for creating an overpressure in the downstream cleaning pipe CN2 where the 110A release piston and pump water filtered by the filter 4 in this line; or</li><li>a position called "filtering" for discharging the flow filtered by the filter 4 in the downstream filtration piping CF2.</li></ul>

p0050To exit the filtration phase and switch to cleaning phase, simply position the upstream valves V1 and downstream V2 "cleaning position", this can be done by a PC controller (PC, timer system, control panel, ...).

p0051Due to the position of the downstream valve V2, the water filtered by the filter 5 is fed back into the tank 1 by the downstream cleaning pipe CN2, causing the piston 110A to a position defined by a stop 801 end this pipe, which lets out the robot 100A of the slot 7.

p0052In this position, the passage 115A 110A piston coincides with the entry of the cleaning pipe upstream CN1, this water being sucked by the hydraulic pump 4 due to the position of the upstream valve V1.

p0053To exit the cleaning phase and switch filtering phase, just to the PC controller to position the valves upstream and downstream V1 V2 "filtering position."

p0054In the embodiment described here, the system comprises a storage piston 200, 110A connected to the release piston via a connection 150, such as a chain.

p0055The storage piston 200 is placed in the filtration line upstream CF1, downstream of the valve C2.

p0056When positioning the upstream valve V1 in the "filter position", the hydraulic pump 4 sucks the water contained in the upstream pipe filter CF1 and the water contained in the downstream cleaning pipe CN2, which makes it possible to result on the one hand the release piston 110A located in the downstream cleaning channel CN2 and secondly the storage piston 200 located in the upstream piping filtration CF1.

p0057The stroke of the piston 110A clearing stops in a second position defined by a stop 802. The cleaner robot 100A is thus drawn into the slot 7.

p0058In the embodiment described herein, the upstream filter circuit CF1 includes a chamber 210 to facilitate the passage of water around the storage piston 200 during the filtration phase.

p0059It is preferable to allow the movement of the storage piston 200 during passage during cleaning to avoid a suction effect in the filtering duct upstream CF1. In the example described here, this function is performed by the DV line.

p0060The <figref idrefs="f0004"><b>figures 4</b></figref><b>and</b><figref idrefs="f0005"><b>5</b></figref> show a second embodiment of a system according to the invention wherein the robot cleaner is a suction robot 100A, respectively during filtration and cleaning phases.

p0061This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it uses no storage piston 200 to bring the suction robot 100A into the slot 7, but a C1 valve mechanism.

p0062Note that in this embodiment, the upstream filter CF1 piping can be simplified due to the absence of the storage piston 200 and the link 150.

p0063In this embodiment, a valve C1 closes the pool filtration circuit, to avoid the loss in the CN2 line during the ascent of the 110A release piston at the transition between the cleaning phase and the filtration phase .

p0064In the embodiment described here, the valve C1 is substantially positioned at the junction between the upstream filtering pipe CF1 and the downstream cleaning pipe CN2.

p0065In this embodiment, the piston 110A release comprises means for opening the filter circuit. In the embodiment described herein, the valve C1 is fixed to a rod 13 that the release piston 110A pushes when it is sucked by the hydraulic pump 4 just before reaching the stop 802. This arrangement is shown<figref idrefs="f0006"><b>6</b></figref><b>.</b>

p0066This valve C1 is kept open by the piston 110A clearance during the filtration phase.

p0067With reference to <figref idrefs="f0002 f0007 f0008 f0009 f0010"><b>Figures 7-11</b></figref><b>,</b> we will now describe the implementation of the invention, in both embodiments, when the robot cleaner is a pressure robot 100B.

p0068The pressurized robot 100B is connected to its piston clearance 110B via a pipe 120B shown in <figref idrefs="f0002"><b>8</b></figref><b>.</b> In this embodiment, the release piston 110B is open at both ends so that water under pressure can drive the robot.

p0069In the first embodiment (<figref idrefs="f0007">figures 7</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0008">9</figref>), The system comprises a storage piston 200 in an upstream pipe CF1 of the filter circuit and a link 150 to pull the 110B release piston at the transition between the cleaning phase and the filtration phase and for the duration of the filtration phase.

p0070The filtration phase is carried out exactly as described above with reference to the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>.

p0071In contrast, the cleaning circuit is different. It is shown in<figref idrefs="f0008"><b>9</b></figref><b>.</b>

p0072In this embodiment, the water in the basin pool 1 is sucked, as during the filtration phase, by 2 skimmers and the main drain 3 under the effect of the hydraulic pump 4.

p0073In other words, CN1 pipes upstream of the hydraulic pump 4, used during the cleaning phase the pipes are used upstream CF1 during the filtration phase.

p0074The sucked water is filtered by the filter 5 and then fed back into the basin 1 by CN2 downstream cleaning pipes consisting of one hand by the downstream filter CF2 pipes leading to the rammers 6 and secondly by the cleaning pipe downstream CN2 in which moves the piston 110B release.

p0075In the embodiment described here, the water sent to the pressure robot 100B is raised in pressure by a booster 10.

p0076In the embodiment described herein, the system comprises a single valve V1 upstream of the hydraulic pump 4 and a PC controller capable of controlling this valve, to switch between the filter stages and cleaning during the starting of the booster 10.

p0077The upstream valve V1 can take:<ul><li>a position called "cleaning" allowing the hydraulic pump 4 and the blower 10 to create an overpressure in the downstream cleaning pipe CN2 where the release piston 110B and a vacuum in the upstream cleaning pipe CN1; or</li><li>a position called "filtration" allowing the hydraulic pump 4 to create a depression in the upstream filtering pipe CF1 and in the pipe downstream of CN2 cleaning.</li></ul>

p0078To move from the filtering stage in the cleaning phase, the PC controller positions the upstream valve V1 in "cleaning position" and starts the operation of the booster 10.

p0079110B The release piston is then driven to the stop 801.

p0080Advantageously, the DV line serves to inject a portion of the pulsed water by the blower 10 in this CF1 pipe, so as to cause the storage of piston 200 to facilitate movement of the piston clearance 110B to the stop 801.

p0081To enter filtration phase, simply position the upstream valve V1 in the "filtering position" so that the hydraulic pump 4 sucks the water in the upstream filtering pipe CF1 resulting storage piston 200.

p0082The stroke of the 110B release piston stops when it encounters the stop 802 for this purpose. 100B robot cleaner is thus drawn into the slot 7.

p0083In the second embodiment (<figref idrefs="f0009">figures 10</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0010">11</figref>), The storage piston 200 and the link 150 are replaced by a valve C1.

p0084As in the case of the suction robot 100A, C1 valve closes the pool filtration circuit, to avoid the loss in the CN2 line during the ascent of the 110B release piston during the transition between the cleaning phase and phase filtration.

p0085This valve C1 is kept open by the piston 110B clearance during the filtration phase.

p0086The <figref idrefs="f0002"><b>figures 12</b></figref><b>and</b><figref idrefs="f0011"><b>13</b></figref><b>,</b> illustrate an embodiment of the invention when the robot cleaner is an electric robot 100C.

p0087In the embodiment described herein, the electric robot 100C is powered by an electrical cord connected location near 7.<ul><li>The <figref idrefs="f0002"><b>Figure 12</b></figref> 110C shows a release plunger which can be used in this embodiment, the latter comprising a pulley 19 for the passage of a power cord 120C.</li><li>The <figref idrefs="f0011">13</figref> represents the filtration phase in an embodiment wherein there is used a valve C1.</li></ul>

p0088In this embodiment described here, the system comprises a valve V1 upstream and a downstream valve V2 similar to those described in reference to <figref idrefs="f0003">figures 3</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0004">4</figref>.

p0089In the situation of <figref idrefs="f0011">13</figref>These valves in the filtration position.

p0090Due to the position of the upstream valve V1, the hydraulic pump 4 to create a depression in the upstream filtering pipe CF1 and in the downstream cleaning pipe CN2, 110C sucking the release plunger until the stop 802.

p0091Of course, the embodiment with storage piston 200 can also be used with an electric robot 100C

p0092In the particular embodiment described here, the clearance 9 has a valve C3 when an exhaust robot 100A or 100C electric robot to avoid a pressure drop in the pipe in which moves the piston clearance 100A, 100C.