Pool cleaner with cyclonic flow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12065854-B2
Application number	US-202217581686-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2022
Priority date	Jan 26, 2015
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to pool cleaners that remove debris from water using a plurality of cyclonic flows, or that include a removable impeller subassembly, a check valve for a debris canister, a particle separator assembly having a handle that locks to the pool cleaner, a modular roller drive gear box, or a roller latch that secures a roller to the pool cleaner. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to the check valve and the roller latch themselves. Exemplary embodiments are directed to a filter medium for pool cleaners that includes embossments providing flow channels for water, and to roller assemblies for pool cleaners. Exemplary embodiments are directed to pool cleaners including alternative pump motor engagements. Exemplary embodiments are directed to pool cleaners power supplies that include a potted and contoured power board assembly, and to kickstands therefor. Exemplary embodiments are directed to a pool cleaner caddy, and removable wheels therefor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pool cleaner, comprising:
an intake having an inlet opening;
a drive assembly causing motion of the pool cleaner;
a separator assembly, comprising:
a canister subassembly, the canister subassembly comprising:
a canister body having a chamber therein;
a filtering medium assembly disposed within the canister body;
an inlet in fluidic communication with the intake, the inlet allowing fluid to enter the canister body; and
an outlet, wherein the inlet, the outlet, and the chamber are in fluidic communication;

wherein a cyclonic flow is generated within the chamber between the canister body and the filtering medium assembly; and
wherein said pool cleaner creates a suction effect at the inlet opening receiving debris-laden water from a pool or spa.

2. The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the separator assembly comprises a turbine motor and an impeller in mechanical communication with the turbine motor and being rotationally driven by the turbine motor, wherein the impeller accelerates fluid through the outlet causing the cyclonic flow to be generated within the chamber.

3. The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the filtering medium assembly comprises a filtering medium support and a filtering medium.

4. The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the filtering medium assembly is configured to separate debris particles from a fluid flow during the cyclonic flow.

5. The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the canister subassembly comprises a debris container.

6. The pool cleaner of claim 5 , wherein the debris container comprises a dish and a central radial extension protruding from a bottom surface of the debris container.

7. The pool cleaner of claim 6 , wherein the debris container dish comprises a rounded dish including a central hub.

8. The pool cleaner of claim 6 , wherein the central radial extension defines an inner chamber configured and dimensioned to maintain debris particles separated from a fluid flow.

9. The pool cleaner of claim 8 , wherein the central radial extension is disposed against a dish of a second debris container, the central radial extension maintaining a separation between the debris particles within the inner chamber and debris particles collected in the second debris container.

10. The pool cleaner of claim 9 , comprising a gasket disposed between the dish of the second debris container and the central radial extension, the gasket maintaining separation between the debris particles within the inner chamber and the debris particles collected in the second debris container.

11. The pool cleaner of claim 10 , wherein positioning the second debris container in an open position simultaneously empties the second debris container and the inner chamber of the debris container.

12. The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the canister subassembly comprises a cyclone block having a cyclone container.

13. The pool cleaner of claim 12 , wherein a second cyclonic flow is generated within said cyclone container within said canister body.

14. The pool cleaner of claim 12 , wherein said chamber in which said cyclonic flow is generated is external to the cyclone container but internal to the canister body.

15. The pool cleaner of claim 12 , wherein said chamber in which said cyclonic flow is generated is external to the cyclone container but internal to the canister body, and wherein a second cyclonic flow is generated within said cyclone container.

16. The pool cleaner of claim 12 , wherein the cyclone block includes a plurality of cyclone containers.

17. The pool cleaner of claim 16 , wherein each of the cyclone containers comprises a cylindrical cyclone chamber with a tangential inlet and a debris underflow nozzle.

18. The pool cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the cyclone containers are radially disposed around a central axis.

19. The pool cleaner of claim 16 , wherein each of the cyclone containers comprises a cylindrical top portion, a frustoconical bottom portion, and a debris underflow nozzle at a distal end of the cyclone container.

20. The pool cleaner of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of cyclone containers comprises a first set of radially disposed cyclone containers and a second set of radially disposed cyclone containers positioned around the first set of radially disposed cyclone containers.

21. The pool cleaner of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of cyclone containers is configured to separate debris particles from a fluid flow.

22. The pool cleaner of claim 16 , wherein the canister subassembly comprises a ring of vortex finders, each of the vortex finders positioned within respective cyclone containers of the plurality of cyclone containers.

23. The pool cleaner of claim 22 , wherein the ring of vortex finders comprises a central portion and a plurality of perimeter flaps, each of the perimeter flaps including a vortex finder.

24. The pool cleaner of claim 23 , wherein a top surface of the central portion is recessed relative to surfaces of the plurality of perimeter flaps.

25. The pool cleaner of claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality of perimeter flaps are hingedly connected to a polygonal perimeter of the central portion.

26. The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the canister body defines a cylindrical configuration.

27. The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the inlet is a tangential inlet to the canister body.

28. The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the canister subassembly comprises a debris container hingedly connected to a bottom edge of the canister body.

29. The pool cleaner of claim 28 , wherein the debris container comprises a dish including upwardly angled side walls.

30. The pool cleaner of claim 28 , comprising a debris separator ring disposed between a filtering medium assembly and the debris container.

31. The pool cleaner of claim 30 , wherein the debris separator ring comprises a mesh ring configured to maintain debris particles within the debris container.

32. The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the canister subassembly comprises a top cap disposed over the canister body.

33. The pool cleaner of claim 32 , wherein the top cap comprises a plurality of radially arched tubes defining a chamber extending to the outlet.

34. The pool cleaner of claim 32 , wherein the top cap comprises a plurality of rounded lobes defining a chamber extending to the outlet.

35. The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly comprises one front roller, one rear roller, and two middle rollers.

36. The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly comprises two front rollers, two middle rollers, and two rear rollers.

37. The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly comprises a motor.

38. The pool cleaner of claim 1 having a power source comprised of electricity.

39. The pool cleaner of claim 1 having a power source comprised of positive water pressure.

40. The pool cleaner of claim 1 having a power source comprised of negative water pressure.

Assignees

• Hayward Ind Inc

Inventors

• Hayes Graham M
• Teuscher Scott

Classifications

• E04H4/169

  Pool nozzles · CPC title

• E04H4/1636

  Suction cleaners · CPC title

• B04C5/24

  Multiple arrangement thereof {(combination types according to other /00 groups, B04C7/00)} · CPC title

• C02F1/385

  by centrifuging suspensions (centrifuges B04B) · CPC title

• B04C5/185

  Dust collectors · CPC title