Abstract

A swimming pool cleaner (100) including a body (10) having a debris inlet (11) and a debris outlet (12) and defining an elongate slotted cavity (40) pivotably holding proximal ends (22) of flap members (21 ) forming a segmented skirt (20) which forms with the pool surface (2) a plenum from which water and debris are drawn into the inlet. The slotted cavity is configured for strain-free insertion of the flap-member proximal ends into the cavity. A removable nozzle (30) within the debris inlet and retaining the flap-member proximal ends in the cavity. A method for inlet to control debris-laden water flow. The cleaner further including a tool-free nozzle-mounting structure (50) at the debris inlet removably retaining the nozzle within the debris inlet and a tool-free wheel-mounting assembly. A plurality of removable nozzles are interchangeably secured within the debris inlet.

IPC Classes  ?

• E04H 4/16 - Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for specially adapted for cleaning

Abstract

A swimming pool cleaner (10) interchangeably usable as a suction cleaner (10B) and as a pressure cleaner (10A). The cleaner is of the type movable along an underwater pool surface (11) to clean debris (12) therefrom, the pool cleaner including a body (14) having a debris inlet (20) and a debris outlet (30). The body is adapted at the debris outlet for securement of either a water-suction hose (15) connected to a remote suction system or a debris-collection device (16) entrapping debris and passing water therethrough back into the pool. A venturi-line structure (40) is secured with respect to the body. The venturi-line structure includes a venturi-line inlet adapted for connection of a water-flow line fed by a remote pump and a venturi jet (42) located at the debris inlet to cause accelerated flow substantially thereacross and into the body when the cleaner is used as a pressure cleaner. The body includes a debris-inlet adjuster (21) configured to reduce the debris inlet to adapt the cleaner for use as a suction cleaner.

IPC Classes  ?

• E04H 4/16 - Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for specially adapted for cleaning

Abstract

An automatic vacuum-relief apparatus (10) for liquid suction systems includes a vessel (30) defining a chamber (31) filled with liquid in communication with a liquid flow line (11), a rotary shaft (40) extending through the chamber to support a valve device (20) adjacent to the liquid flow line and to move the valve device to open a relief-air flow channel (14) to relieve increased suction caused by inlet blockage, and a piston (41) on the rotary shaft responsive to suction increases within the liquid flow line and chamber to actuate shaft rotation. The valve device, chamber and relief- air flow channel are configured and arranged to cause a spurt of liquid (110) from the chamber into the inlet (12) while the valve device is moving from its isolating position toward its opening position upon inlet blockage, whereby the spurt of liquid pushes the blockage away from the inlet and the relief air reduces the suction. The valve includes a liquid-flow barrier (22) secured with respect to the liquid flow line such that the barrier is in an open position allowing flow of liquid from the inlet to the outlet during normal operation and in a closed position isolating the inlet from the outlet in response to suction increases upon inlet blockage.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16K 17/32 - Excess-flow valves actuated by the difference of pressure between two places in the flow line acting on a servo-mechanism or on a catch-releasing mechanism