US3868739A - Pool vacuum apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable pool vacuum apparatus where as the water and debris is drawn through a vacuum head into a filtration chamber within a casing, the water is passed through a plurality of spaced apart cartridge filters and into a manifold type of chamber, the water then drawn into a pumping apparatus and discharged exteriorly thereof back into the pool.

Description

o v United States Patent 7 [1 1 [111 3,868,739 Hargrave Mar. 4, 1975 POOL VACUUM APPARATUS 3.525.435 8/1970 Conner, Jr. 210/169 [76] Inventor: Rob rt argra e, 7727 L o, 3,755,843 9/1973 Goertzen et al. l5/1.7

Canoga Park, Calif. 91306 Primary E.\'aminerGranvllle Y. Custer, Jr. [22] Flled: 1973 Assistant E.\'aminerCraig R. Feinberg [2]] APPL No: 329,302 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jack C. Munro [52] US. CL, 1.5/1.7, 210/169. 210/323 [57] ABSTRACT 3 A portable pool vacuum apparatus where as the water and debris is drawn through a vacuum head into a filtration chamber within a casing."the water is passed through a plurality of spacedap art cartridge filters [56] References Cited and into a manifold type of chamber, the water then UNITED STATES PATENTS drawn into a pumping apparatus and discharged exte- 2,893,047 7/1959 Swihart 15/347 riorly thereof back into the pool. 3.0l9,462 2/1962 Nash et al l5/l.7 Y 3,132,364 5/1962 Oxley l5/l.7 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAR 41915 3.868.739

sumlqfz Fig. l.

PATENTEU 4|975 1 POOL VACUUM APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a swimming pool cleaning apparatus and more particularly to a portable swimming pool cleaning apparatus which is completely separate from the normal swimming pool filtering apparatus.

In swimming pool installations, it is common practice to employ a filtration circulation system whereby the pool water is continuously drawn from the pool by a pump and through a main filter and returned to the pool. This conventional circulation system for a swimming pool normally includes a drain at the deepest portion of the pool and a skimmer with a secondary drain located near the water surface. Conduits from these drains are joined to the pump which returns the water to the pool. A filtering system is normally interposed within the system so as to extract foreign material such as dirt, leaves and the like from the pool water.

Various automatic pool cleaning equipment has been proposed. The common form of such previous equipment uses a jet stream of water on the end of hoses to stir up the water and loosen the dirt so that it will be in suspension to flow through the drain. Another type of previous apparatus crawls along on wheels or tracks at the bottom of the pool and vacuums the bottom of the pool as it travels. Each of the previous devices employs the installed filtration system within the pool. This means that the dirt and other foreign material is being added within the filtering system of the pool thereby necessitating that the pool filtration system be more frequently cleaned and the filtration medium being more frequently replaced. If the pool cleaning apparatus could be separate from the pool filtration system, the useful life of the filtration medium (such as diatomaceous earth and filter cartridges) of the pool could be substantially extended. In actual practice it has been found thatto employ a separate pool vacuuming apparatus will double the period of time that is required for cleaning and/or replacement of the filtration medium.

Additionally, the vacuum devices of the prior art usually require that a hose be connected to a poolvacuum head which is submerged in the water and then have the hose be connected to the pool filtration system. The necessity of having to use a hose of considerable length for the entire pool is quite annoying and inconvenient. For those who are in the business of pool cleaning services, it is undesirable to carry around this extended length of hose as well as it being a time consuming procedure to connect the hose to the pool filter system each time a. pool is to be cleaned. Further, it is not uncommon for the pumps of the pool filter system to be defective and therefore do not pump the necessary pressure to clean the pool efficiently in the shortest possible time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The pool vacuum system of this invention is to be designed into a single, smalLsized, portable unit of relatively light weight. The unit comprises a vacuum head which is attached to a casing. The casing includes a filtration chamber and a discharge chamber. The filtration chamber is separated from the discharge chamber by means of a housing which prevents leakage of fluid and solid material therebetween. Within the filtration chamber is mounted a plurality of filter cartridges. These cartridges are connected to the housing with water being adapted to pass through the filters and interiorly of the housing. The water is then removed from the housing by pumps which extend within the discharge chamber. The water is then discharged exteriorly of the pumps and back into the pool. The casing and vacuum head each include rollers so as to permit low frictional movement of the unit across the surfaces of the pool. An electrical wire, which is connected to the pumps, extends exteriorly of the casing and is to be connected to a source of electrical energy such as a battery. The battery is to be normally carried by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus of this invention showing the connection of such to a battery;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view through the apparatus of this invention taken alongline 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the apparatus of this invention taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the apparatus of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOWN EMBODIMENT Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 theapparatus 10 of this invention which is ba sically composed of ahandle 12 which is connected to theunit 14. Abattery 16 is to be attachable by abracket 18 to the belt of the person operating theunit 14. Thebattery 16 is to supply the power to drive the pumps within theunit 14. It is to be understood that thehandle 12 is to'be long enough so as to extend exteriorly of the pool regardless of pool depth.

Conduit 20 is connected to thebattery 16 and extends within thecasing 22 of theunit 14. Thecasing 22 is divided into atop 24 and abottom 26. The top 24 and thebottom 26 are held together in a closed position by a plurality oflatches 28. Each of thelatches 28 will normally comprise a simple toggle latch and are not described here in detail. Thehandle 12 is pivotally mounted toextensions 58 of thebottom 26 by means ofpins 60.

With thetop 24 and thebottom 26 latched together bylatches 28, the casing is divided into adischarge compartment 30 and afiltration compartment 32. Ahousing 34 separates thecompartments 30 and 32 and cooperates with thetop 24 and thebottom 26 to form a substantially water-tight seal between the compartments. Thehousing 34 is shown to be substantially rectangular in configuration and includes a'hollow interior chamber, not shown. On one side of thehousing 34 are a plurality of separateinlet opening connectors 36. Theinlet connectors 36 extend within thefiltration compartment 32. On the opposite side of thehousing 34 and integrally connected thereto are a plurality ofoutlet connectors 38. Theoutlet connectors 38 extend within the confines of thedischarge compartment 30.

From thebattery 16 and passing throughconduit 20 areelectrical wires 40 and 42. Wire 40 is connected topump 44 withwire 42 being connected topump 46. Thepumps 44 and 46 are conventional and need not be described here in detail. Basically, thepumps 44 and 46 are what is termed to be centrifugal type of pumps which are capable of being submerged in water.Pump 44 includes adischarge tube 48 with thepump 46 similarly including adischarge tube 50. It is to be understood that thepumps 44 and 46 are identical in construction. Although there are two pumps being shown, it is considered to be within the scope of this invention to employ only a single pump or to employ more than two pumps.

Each of thepumps 44 and 46 are connected to a respective saidoutlet connector 38. It is to be understood that thepumps 44 and 46 are located within adischarge compartment 30. Tube 48 is of sufficient length so as to extend through opening 52 located within thetop 24. In a similar manner,discharge tube 50 is sufficient to extend throughopening 54 in the top 24. Snugly fitted on each of the inlet connectors 36 (there being four in number shown) is afilter cartridge 56.

Thecartridges 56 are located within thefiltration compartment 32.

Formed within the underside of the bottom 26 are a plurality ofwheel wells 62. Rotatably mounted by means ofa shaft, not shown, within each of thewells 62 is aroller 64. As a result, thecasing 22 is capable of low frictional movement on the surface of a pool by being moved along uponrollers 64.

Thecartridges 56 can be of any type of cartridge structure. However, the cartridge which is envisioned to be employed is to be a specific cartridge which is designed to remove foreign material dust particles down to five microns in size.

Mounted upon thecasing 22 adjacent thefiltration compartment 32 is avacuum head 66. Thevacuum head 66 includes aguide housing 68 and a bottom 70. Theguide housing 68 is essentially a shell and is con nected to thecasing 22 so as to close off three sides of the opening into thefiltration compartment 32. Actually, the interior of thehousing 68 functions as an extension of the filtration compartment and also serves to collect debris such as leaves. Extending through the bottom 70 is anelongated opening 72. The bottom 70 is shown to be substantially concave and extending into theguide housing 68. The sides of the bottom 70 are tapered toward each side. Therefore a smooth surface funnel type of structure is formed to guide debris and water towardopening 72.

The bottom 70 is fixedly mounted within aframe 74. Theframe 74 includes anupper extension 76 which facilitates mounting to thecasing 22. Mounted upon the fore and aft edges of theframe 74 are rubber strips 78. The rubber strips 78 are to deflect during movement of theunit 14 across the surface of the pool and to concentrate the suction which will be created to the area of the pool located directly adjacent the bottom 70. It

is to be noted that there are no rubber strips on the sides of theframe 74. It is to be further noted that theopening 72 is displaced from the ends of the bottom 70 and located more toward the middle of the bottom 70. By the proper location of theopening 72 it has been found to not be necessary to put rubber strips on the sides of theframe 74 and debris will be sucked in through the sides.

Attached to the forward edge of theframe 74 arewheel wells 80. Each of thewheel wells 80 rotatably supports aroller 82 in a manner similar to the mountingofrollers 64.

In the operation of the apparatus of this invention, the unit is placed within the pool which causes water to be forced by the air pressure through theopening 72 into the filtration compartment through the filters into the interior of thehousing 34 and into thepumps 44 and 46 to prime such. Once the pumps have been primed, thepumps 44 and 46 are turned on by activation of a switch on thebattery 16, not shown. With the pumpingunits 44 and 46 now being operated, the water is caused to be conducted through theopening 72 into thefiltration compartment 32 and from there it is passed through thefilters 56 into thehousing 34 and then into the pumping chamber of thepumps 44 and 46 and then out throughdischarge tubes 48 and 50 and back into the pool. The small particles such as dust particles are normally trapped within or upon the surface of thefilters 56. By the employing of fourseparate filter cartridges 56, it is readily apparent that a substantial filtration surface area is obtained. The larger foreign particle material such as leaves are trapped within thefiltration compartment 32. Heavier foreign material such as sand will fall upon the bottom 26 within thefiltration compartment 22.

Periodically, as theapparatus 10 of this invention is used, it is taken out from the water and the top 24 is removed from the bottom 26 and thefiltration compartment 32 is cleaned as by a hose or the like. Also, during this cleaning procedure, each of thecartridges 56 should be cleaned of debris. Thecartridges 56 can be readily removed to be separately cleaned and backwashed.

What is claimed is:

1. A pool vacuum apparatus comprising:

a casing being divided into a filtration compartment and a discharge compartment;

a completely enclosed hollow housing having an inlet and an outlet providing access into an interior chamber, said housing separating said discharge compartment and said filtration compartment;

a filtration means located within said filtration compartment and connected to said housing, said filtra tion means attached to said inlet whereby water to enter said interior chamber must pass through said filtration means;

pump means attached to said outlet of said housing and receives only water from said interior chamber, said pump means located within said discharge compartment, a discharge means connected to said pump means; and

a vacuum head attached to said casing and located adjacent said filtration means, said vacuum head adapted to permit entry of water and foreign material and guide such towards said filtration means whereby the water is conducted through said filtration means and into said housing and through said pump means and into said discharge means with the foreign material remaining exteriorly of, or caught within, said filtration means.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said inlet comprising a plurality of separate spacedapart inlet openings, said filtration means comprises a plurality of separate filter cartridges, a said filter cartridge surrounds a said inlet opening.

3(Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said housing cooperating with said casing to effect separation of said filtration compartment from said discharge compartment and prevent leakage of water and foreign material about said housing from said vacuum head includes a bottom surface mounted within a frame, a vacuum head guide housing connected to said frame and located about and spaced above said bottom surface, the space formed between said bottom surface and said guide housing comprising a guide chamber, an opening located within said bottom surface thereby providing access into said guide chamber, said bottom surface being substantially concave in configuration and extending within said guide chamber. 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein: said opening having an elongated narrow shape, said guide chamber forming a direct extension of said filtration compartment.

Claims (7)

1. A pool vacuum apparatus comprising: a casing being divided into a filtration compartment and a discharge compartment; a completely enclosed hollow housing having an inlet and an outlet providing access into an interior chamber, said housing separating said discharge compartment and said filtration compartment; a filtration means located within said filtration compartment and connected to said housing, said filtration means attached to said inlet whereby water to enter said interior chamber must pass through said filtration means; pump means attached to said outlet of said housing and receives only water from said interior chamber, said pump means located within said discharge compartment, a discharge means connected to said pump means; and a vacuum head attached to said casing and located adjacent said filtration means, said vacuum head adapted to permit entry of water and foreign material and guide such towards said filtration means whereby the water is conducted through said filtration means and into said housing and through said pump means and into said discharge means with the foreign material remaining exteriorly of, or caught within, said filtration means.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said inlet comprising a plurality of separate spaced-apart inlet openings, said filtration means comprises a plurality of separate filter cartridges, a said filter cartridge surrounds a said inlet opening.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said housing cooperating with said casing to effect separation of said filtration compartment from said discharge compartment and prevent leakage of water and foreign material about said housing from said filtration compartment into said discharge compartment.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein: said pump means comprises a plurality of separate pumping units, said pumping units being driven by electrical energy supplied from a battery.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein: said casing comprises a top and a bottom, said top being removable from said bottom to permit cleaning of said inlet chamber and said filtration means of foreign material.

6. A pool vacuum apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said vacuum head includes a bottom surface mounted within a frame, a vacuum head guide housing connected to said frame and located about and spaced above said bottom surface, the space formed between said bottom surface and said guide housing comprising a guide chamber, an opening located within said bottom surface thereby providing access into said guide chamber, said bottom surface being substantially concave in configuration and extending within said guide chamber.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein: said opening having an elongated narrow shape, said guide chamber forming a direct extension of said filtration compartment.

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