IP Library Granted Patent US 12,013,685
Granted Patent B2
US 12,013,685 · App. 17/514,644 · Granted Jun 18, 2024

Systems and methods for mitigating cable twists for underwater cleaners

Inventors: Graham Hayes (Bermuda Run, NC); Patrick Caty (Lewisville, NC); Michael Armes (Lincoln, RI); Michael Padberg (West Warwick, RI)
Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
G05B19/4155E04H4/1654G05D1/0214G05D1/0875G05D1/617G05D2109/38
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,013,685
App. No.
17/514,644
Granted
Jun 18, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for mitigating cable twists for underwater cleaners are provided. Cable twist mitigation logic is stored in a memory associated with a pool or spa cleaner, and controls operation of the cleaner to mitigate cable twists. A sequence of cleaner orientations is retrieved from memory and compare to one or more pre-defined sequences known to contribute to cable twist. If the sequence of cleaner orientations matches the one or more pre-defined sequences, a twist angle accumulator is incremented by a pre-defined twist angle corresponding to the one or more pre-defined sequences. The system determines whether the cleaner is turning on a surface of a pool or spa, and if so, controls turning of the cleaner using an accumulated angle stored in the twist angle accumulator to mitigate cable twists. A user-definable bias value could also be applied by the system to further mitigate cable twists.

Claims (46)

1. A method for mitigating cable twists in an underwater cleaner, comprising the steps of:

retrieving by a processor a sequence of cleaner orientations;

comparing by the processor the sequence of cleaner operations to one or more pre-defined sequences known to contribute to cable twists;

determining by the processor whether the sequence of cleaner orientations matches the one or more pre-defined sequences;

incrementing by the processor a twist angle accumulator with a pre-defined twist angle corresponding to the one or more pre-defined sequences if the sequence of cleaner orientations matches the one or more pre-defined sequences;

determining by the processor whether the cleaner initiates a turn on a surface of a pool or spa; and

if the cleaner initiates a turn, controlling by the processor turning of the cleaner during the turn using the twist angle accumulator and adjusting the twist angle accumulator.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling by the processor turning of the cleaner during the turn using a bias value.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising allowing a user to set the bias value.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining by the processor whether a current twist angle accumulated in the twist angle accumulator exceeds a balance boundary and performing a turn in a direction opposing cable twist if the current twist angle accumulated in the twist angle accumulator exceeds the balance boundary.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing by the processor movements of the cleaner over a plurality of cleaning cycles.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising allowing the user to specify a setpoint corresponding to untwisting of the cable by a user.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising processing by the processor movements of the cleaner using an artificial intelligence component to predict a degree of cable twisting likely to occur.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising controlling by the processor turning of the cleaner in response to the predicted degree of cable twisting.

9. An underwater cleaner comprising:

a drive subsystem, a processor, a memory, and a cable interconnecting the cleaner to an external power source; and

cable twist mitigation logic stored in the memory and executed by the processor, the cable twist mitigation logic:

retrieving a sequence of cleaner orientations;

comparing the sequence of cleaner operations to one or more pre-defined sequences known to contribute to cable twists;

determining whether the sequence of cleaner orientations matches the one or more pre-defined sequences;

incrementing a twist angle accumulator with a pre-defined twist angle corresponding to the one or more pre-defined sequences if the sequence of cleaner orientations matches the one or more pre-defined sequences;

determining whether the cleaner initiates a turn on a surface of a pool or spa; and

if the cleaner initiates a turn, controlling turning of the cleaner during the turn using the twist angle accumulator and adjusting the twist angle accumulator.

10. The cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the cable twist mitigation logic controls turning of the cleaner during the turn using a bias value.

11. The cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the bias value can be set by a user.

12. The cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the cable twist mitigation logic determines whether a current twist angle accumulated in the twist angle accumulator exceeds a balance boundary and performing a turn in a direction opposing cable twist if the current twist angle accumulated in the twist angle accumulator exceeds the balance boundary.

13. The cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the cable twist mitigation logic stores movements of the cleaner over a plurality of cleaning cycles.

14. The cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the cable twist mitigation logic allows the user to specify a setpoint corresponding to untwisting of the cable by a user.

15. The cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the cable twist mitigation logic processes movements of the cleaner using an artificial intelligence component to predict a degree of cable twisting likely to occur.

16. The cleaner of claim 15 , wherein the cable twist mitigation logic controls turning of the cleaner in response to the predicted degree of cable twisting.

17. An underwater cleaner comprising:

a drive subsystem, a processor, and a cable interconnecting the cleaner to an external power source; and

cable twist mitigation logic stored in a memory in communication with the processor, the cable twist mitigation logic:

retrieving a sequence of cleaner orientations;

comparing the sequence of cleaner operations to one or more pre-defined sequences known to contribute to cable twists;

determining whether the sequence of cleaner orientations matches the one or more pre-defined sequences;

incrementing a twist angle accumulator with a pre-defined twist angle corresponding to the one or more pre-defined sequences if the sequence of cleaner orientations matches the one or more pre-defined sequences;

determining whether the cleaner initiates a turn on a surface of a pool or spa; and

if the cleaner initiates a turn, controlling turning of the cleaner during the turn using the twist angle accumulator and adjusting the twist angle accumulator.

18. The cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the cable twist mitigation logic controls turning of the cleaner during the turn using a bias value.

19. The cleaner of claim 18 , wherein the bias value can be set by a user.

20. The cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the cable twist mitigation logic determines whether a current twist angle accumulated in the twist angle accumulator exceeds a balance boundary and performing a turn in a direction opposing cable twist if the current twist angle accumulated in the twist angle accumulator exceeds the balance boundary.

21. The cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the cable twist mitigation logic stores movements of the cleaner over a plurality of cleaning cycles.

22. The cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the cable twist mitigation logic allows the user to specify a setpoint corresponding to untwisting of the cable by a user.

23. The cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the cable twist mitigation logic processes movements of the cleaner using an artificial intelligence component to predict a degree of cable twisting likely to occur.

24. The cleaner of claim 23 , wherein the cable twist mitigation logic controls turning of the cleaner in response to the predicted degree of cable twisting.

Assignments (4)
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2024
From: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 069066/0268 →
ABL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2024
From: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 069066/0366 →
ASSIGNEE CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Apr 23, 2024
From: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067203/0360 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2022
From: HAYES, GRAHAM; CATY, PATRICK; ARMES, MICHAEL; PADBERG, MICHAEL
To: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 062032/0047 →