Abstract:
Separate covers (10) for protruding portions of discs (14) of automatic swimming pool cleaners are addressed. The covers may be placed onto protrusions/ such as fins, and removed from the fins as needed. Version of th covers are made of material more rigid and having lower coefficient of friction than the fins to discourage lateral bending of the fins and decrease frictional contact of the fins with pool surfaces.
Abstract:
Mobile apparatus, typically in the form of automatic swimming pool cleaners, capable of indicating temperatures (or pressures) of the pool water in which they are deployed are discussed. The indication may, but need not necessarily, occur through change in color of one of more components of the cleaners. Some versions may have floats adapted to provide this color change. These or other versions may include floats that are not spherical in shape as well. Alternatively, temperature (or pressure) indication may be provided by other aspects of a water-circulation system.
Abstract:
Assemblies for control of fluid flow are described. The assemblies permit angular adjustment of resilient biasing mechanisms (30A) through translation of one of their ends (34) along the assembly exteriors (78A, 78C). Although the resilient mechanisms normally facilitate covering a bypass inlet so as to close it with a flap (38), the mechanisms may be latched with the bypass inlet open (94).
Abstract:
Discs having recessed areas, or pockets, in their undersides are detailed. The pockets allow provision of increased suction in localized regions, especially useful when the body of an associated cleaner pivots from side to side. Downwardly-extending wear surfaces may be present as well within the pockets.
Abstract:
Devices for cleaning vessels, especially swimming pools, are discussed. The devices may include repositionable in-line valves (54), with the valves typically moving laterally (from side to side) and changing the initial direction of the main fluid-flow path through the valves and corresponding cleaner bodies. Asymmetric feet may be utilized as part of the devices, whose bottom bearing surfaces may include elongated strips of material placed parallel to the normally- forward direction of travel of the devices. Discs of non-uniform flexibility also may be employed, and blocking tabs or gripping material may be used to inhibit undesired backward movement of a cleaner when its operation commences.
Abstract:
Overmolding of softer materials onto ends of rigid plastic pipes (10) is detailed. The pipes typically are components of automatic swimming pool cleaners and connect to valves (34) made of softer, flexible material. Because of the overmolding, flexing of the valves during operation of the cleaners does not cause significant wear of the valves in the regions where they connect to the pipes.
Abstract:
Separate covers for protruding portions of discs of automatic swimming pool cleaners are addressed. The covers may be placed onto protrusions, such as fins, and removed from the fins as needed. Version of the covers are made of material more rigid and having lower coefficient of friction than the fins to discourage lateral bending of the fins and decrease frictional contact of the fins with pool surfaces.
Abstract:
Automatic pool cleaners and associated hoses are detailed. Hoses may contract and expand in use and include sections of differing compliancies. Such contractions and expansions may be intensified in more compliant portions and attenuated in less compliant portions. Also discussed are positive locking mechanisms for adjacent hose sections.
Abstract:
Devices for cleaning vessels, especially swimming pools, are discussed. The devices may include a non-linear flow path in a gap surrounding an in-line valve (14). This non-linearity permits lengths of concentric pipes (18, 22) forming the gap (G1, G2) to be decreased without sacrificing operational performance of the devices. Valves forming parts of the cleaning devices may be diaphragms but shaped, sized, reinforced, or configured differently than existing valves and may have collapsible segments whose interior shape resembles an ellipse in transverse cross-section. Comolding of diaphragms and pipes may occur, and inner and outer cups may be used to fix relative positions of various components of the devices.
Abstract:
Devices for cleaning vessels, especially swimming pools, are discussed. The devices may include a non-linear flow path in a gap surrounding an in-line valve. This non-linearity permits lengths of concentric pipes forming the gap to be decreased without sacrificing operational performance of the devices. Valves forming parts of the cleaning devices may be diaphragms but shaped, sized, reinforced, or configured differently than existing valves and may have collapsible segments whose interior shape resembles an ellipse in transverse cross-section. Co-molding of diaphragms and pipes may occur, and inner and outer cups may be used to fix relative positions of various components of the devices.