IP Library Granted Patent US 11,236,523
Granted Patent B2
US 11,236,523 · App. 16/786,765 · Granted Feb 1, 2022

Pool cleaner with cyclonic flow

Inventors: Graham M. Hayes (Bermuda Run, NC); Scott Teuscher (Advance, NC)
Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
E04H4/1654B01D21/267B04C5/185B04C5/24B04C5/28B04C9/00C02F1/385B04C2009/002B04C2009/005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,236,523
App. No.
16/786,765
Granted
Feb 1, 2022
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (50)

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;

an inlet in fluidic communication with the intake, the inlet allowing fluid to tangentially 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; 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 canister subassembly comprises a filtering medium assembly disposed within the canister body, and wherein the cyclonic flow is generated between the canister body and the filtering medium assembly.

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

5. The pool cleaner of claim 3 , wherein the filtering medium assembly is configured to separate large debris particles from a fluid flow during the cyclonic flow.

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

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

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

9. The pool cleaner of claim 7 , wherein the central radial extension defines an inner chamber configured and dimensioned to maintain small debris particles separated from a fluid flow.

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

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

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

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

14. The pool cleaner of claim 13 , wherein said chamber in which said cyclonic flow is generated is within said cyclone container within said canister body.

15. The pool cleaner of claim 13 , wherein said chamber in which said cyclonic flow is generated is external to the cyclone container but internal to the canister body.

16. The pool cleaner of claim 13 , 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.

17. The pool cleaner of claim 13 , wherein the cyclone block includes a plurality of cyclone containers.

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

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

20. The pool cleaner of claim 17 , 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.

21. The pool cleaner of claim 17 , 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.

22. The pool cleaner of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of cyclone containers is configured to separate small debris particles from a fluid flow.

23. The pool cleaner of claim 17 , 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.

24. The pool cleaner of claim 23 , 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.

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

26. The pool cleaner of claim 24 , wherein each of the plurality of perimeter flaps are hingedly connected to a polygonal perimeter of the central portion.

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

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

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

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

31. The pool cleaner of claim 29 , comprising a debris separator ring disposed between a filtering medium assembly and the large debris container.

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

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

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

35. The pool cleaner of claim 33 , wherein the top cap comprises a plurality of rounded lobes defining a chamber extending to the outlet.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST (SECOND LIEN) Recorded May 3, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.; GSG HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056122/0218 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Nov 18, 2020
From: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.; GSG HOLDINGS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 054457/0919 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Nov 18, 2020
From: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.; GSG HOLDINGS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 054457/0930 →
ABL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Nov 18, 2020
From: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.; GSG HOLDINGS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 054458/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2020
From: HAYES, GRAHAM M.; TEUSCHER, SCOTT
To: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 051774/0228 →
ASSIGNEE CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Feb 10, 2020
From: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 051871/0606 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,543,905