Patent Application
20240068258
The invention relates to systems and apparatuses for cleaning water-containing vessels such as swimming pools and spas and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to automatic swimming pool cleaners (APCs).
Numerous cleaning devices capable of autonomous movement within swimming pools and spas currently exist. The most common of these devices are APCs, which often are either hydraulic or robotic in type. Hydraulic cleaners vary water flow for movement, while robotic cleaners typically employ electric motors to cause motion. Hydraulic APCs, furthermore, subdivide into “pressure-side” and “suction-side” cleaners, with pressure-side cleaners being fluidly connected to outputs of pumps of pool water circulation systems and suction-side cleaners being fluidly connected to inputs of such pumps.
Embodiments covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various embodiments and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim.
According to certain embodiments, an APC for a swimming pool or spa includes an associated water sensing means.
According to various embodiments, an APC for a swimming pool or spa includes a water sensing system.
According to certain embodiments, a method of managing water of a swimming pool or spa includes managing the water based on information from a water sensing system on or proximate to an APC.
According to some embodiments, an APC for a swimming pool or spa includes an onboard water sensing system.
According to various embodiments, an APC for a swimming pool or spa includes a water sensing probe proximate to a body of the APC.
According to certain embodiments, a water sensing system for an APC includes a water sensing probe configured to be on or proximate to the APC.
Various implementations described herein can include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which cannot necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.
The specification makes reference to the following appended figures, in which use of like reference numerals in different figures is intended to illustrate like or analogous components.
Described herein are APCs for swimming pools or spas with water sensing systems on or proximate to the APC. In some embodiments, the water sensing systems described herein include one or more water sensing probes onboard the APC. In some embodiments, the water sensing system may be provided natively with an APC, while in other embodiments, the water sensing systems described herein may allow for an APC to be retrofit with a water sensing system.
Additionally, or alternatively, the water sensing systems described herein may include one or more water sensing probes proximate to the APC, such as but not limited to on cabling for the APC. Optionally, the water sensing probes may be detachable from the APC. APCs with water sensing systems described herein may be able to inform a user of the quality or characteristics of the water of the swimming pool or spa. In some embodiments, APCs and/or other equipment associated with the swimming pool may be controlled based on the information gathered by the water sensing systems associated with the APC. In this way, water of the swimming pool may be treated and/or otherwise managed using the APC or other equipment according to the information gathered by the water sensing systems. Various other benefits and advantages may be realized with the devices and methods provided herein, and the aforementioned advantages should not be considered limiting.
The water sensing system 12 may include one or more water sensing probes 18 provided on and/or proximate to the APC 10. The water sensing probe 18 may be various types of water sensors as desired, including but not limited to oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) sensors, pH sensors, temperature sensors, conductivity sensors, salinity sensors, other types of water sensors, and/or combinations thereof. In the embodiment illustrated in
In various embodiments, the water sensing probes 18 optionally are communicatively coupled with the controller of the APC 10 via a wired or wireless connection. The controller of the APC 10 may use the information gathered by the water sensing probes 18 to control the APC 10 (e.g., adjust or initiate a cleaning cycle), and/or the controller of the APC 10 may cause the information from the water sensing system 12 to be communicated to an external device (e.g., a user device, smartphone, etc.) using the communication module of the APC 10. Such communication using the communication module may be wired communication and/or wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, etc.).
Additionally, or alternatively, the water sensing system 12 may include a communication module itself such that the water sensing system 12 may communicate via wireless communication with an external device (e.g., a user device, smartphone, etc.). In such embodiments, data gathered by the one or more water sensing probes 18 may be transmitted to the external device and displayed on the external device using various techniques as desired. In some examples, the data gathered by the one or more water sensing probes may be displayed and/or provided to a user via an application on the external device. As mentioned, the water sensing system 12 and/or any components thereof may be provided natively with an APC, while in other embodiments, the water sensing systems 12 and/or components thereof may be retrofit with an existing APC.
In some embodiments, the water sensing probes 18 may be powered by the batteries or other on-board power source of the APC 10. However, in other embodiments, the water sensing probes 18 may be self-powered and/or may include a dedicated power source such as dedicated batteries.
The information from the water sensing system 12 may be used to perform various processes as desired. As non-limiting examples, the information from the water sensing system 12 may be communicated to a user, may be used to control the APC 10, and/or may be used to control equipment associated with the swimming pool or spa for treating and/or otherwise managing water quality of the swimming pool. As a non-limiting example, the information from the water sensing system 12 may be utilized by the controller of the APC 10 to control a cleaning operation and/or other operation of the APC 10, such as but not limited to controlling a cleaning cycle of the APC 10, controlling a location of cleaning by the APC 10, controlling a type of cleaning performed by the APC 10, causing the APC 10 to climb a wall, causing the APC 10 to dock with a docking station, cause the APC 10 to communicate with other equipment, and/or as otherwise desired. Additionally, or alternatively, the information from the water sensing system 12 may be utilized to control other equipment. As non-limiting examples, the information from the water sensing system 12 may be communicated to a user on an external device and/or to a control system for a pool environment, and based on the information, other equipment may be controlled. Such other equipment may include heaters, pumps, filtration systems, skimming systems, floor cleaning systems, pool lights, chemical treatment systems, combinations thereof, and/or as other equipment as desired. In various embodiments, the other equipment may be controlled to treat and/or manage water by performing various cleaning and/or water treatment operations, such as but not limited to increasing or decreasing a temperature using the heater, controlling a pumping speed of the pump, initiating, controlling, and/or ceasing skimming operations of the skimming system, initiating, controlling, and/or ceasing floor cleaning operations of the floor cleaning system, and/or as otherwise desired.
In yet other embodiments, a control response based on the information from the water sensing system 12 need not control other equipment. As a non-limiting example, an alert or other notification may be generated on the external device and/or as otherwise desired.
In the embodiment of
The housing 30 optionally may include various connectors 34 such that the housing 30 and probe 18 are detachable from the cabling 32 as desired. The connectors 34 may be various suitable connectors as desired, including but not limited to male/female connectors, threaded connectors, snap-fit connectors, etc. In certain embodiments, the housing 30 with connectors 34 may allow for the water sensing probe 18 to be disconnected from the APC 10 while keeping the water sensing probe 18 connected to the cabling 32 and immersed in water for data collection.
The aforementioned examples of APCs with water sensing systems and water sensing probes are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered limiting.
Exemplary concepts or combinations of features of the invention may include:
These examples are not intended to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or restrictive in any way, and the invention is not limited to these example embodiments but rather encompasses all possible modifications and variations within the scope of any claims ultimately drafted and issued in connection with the invention (and their equivalents). For avoidance of doubt, any combination of features not physically impossible or expressly identified as non-combinable herein may be within the scope of the invention. Further, although applicant has described devices and techniques for use principally with APCs, persons skilled in the relevant field will recognize that the present invention conceivably could be employed in connection with other objects and in other manners. Finally, references to “pools” and “swimming pools” herein may also refer to spas or other water containing vessels used for recreation, training, or therapy and for which cleaning of debris is needed or desired.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/401,428, filed on Aug. 26, 2022, and entitled AUTOMATIC SWIMMING POOL CLEANER WITH WATER SENSING, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63401428 | Aug 2022 | US |
