Claims
- 1. A cleaning head for installation in a receptacle disposed in an under-liquid surface of a liquid container such as a swimming pool, the receptacle receiving liquid, the pressure of which is intermittently or periodically cycled between a relatively low pressure and a relatively high pressure, said cleaning head comprising in combination:
- (a) stationary means open at upper and lower ends thereof for removable connection in substantially sealed relation to said receptacle;
- (b) pop-up jet producing means, having an outlet opening, rotatably, indexably disposed in said stationary means, for moving outwardly from the under-liquid surface in response to said relatively high pressure to expose said outlet opening and produce a concentrated, high velocity liquid jet along said under-liquid surface from said outlet opening;
- (c) retracting means connected to both said stationary means and said pop-up jet producing means for retracting said pop-up jet producing means when said liquid pressure is cycled from said relatively high pressure to said relatively low pressure, said pop-up jet producing means rotating to following fixed positions in response to said cycling, thereby producing a plurality of successive, concentrated, high velocity liquid jets to clean a circular pattern around said cleaning head, said retracting means including a coil spring for urging said pop-up jet producing means towards its retracted position, said retracting means also including low-friction spring engaging means engaging opposed ends of said coil spring for transmitting opposed forces from said coil spring to said stationary means and said pop-up jet producing means and also effecting sufficiently low-friction rotational engagement between said pop-up jet producing means and said stationary means by said coil spring to avoid substantial winding of said coil spring as said pop-up jet producing means rotates; and
- (d) first cramming means attached to said stationary means and second camming means attached to said pop-up jet producing means, said first and second camming means engaging each other to cause rotation of said pop-up jet producing means relative to said stationary means each time said pop-up jet producing means moves outwardly from the under-liquid surface in response to said relatively high pressure and/or is retracted by said retracting means.
- 2. The cleaning head of claim 1 wherein said pop-up jet producing means includes a hollow, cylindrical lower section extending into said stationary means and a hollow, cylindrical upper section attached to said lower section, the hollow region bounded by said upper and lower sections being continuous, a top plate being attached to the upper end of said upper section in sealing relation therewith, the lower end of said lower section being open for receiving said pressurized fluid, wherein a diameter of said upper section is sufficiently greater than a diameter of said lower section to ensure that when the pressure of said liquid is equal to said relatively high pressure, portions of said liquid located in outer portions of said upper section adjacent to said cylindrical wall move relatively slowly to effectively aid guiding or funneling of more rapidly moving liquid flowing from said lower section to said upper section toward said outlet opening to produce a concentrated, high velocity liquid jet which is ejected from said outlet opening, said guiding or funneling reducing turbulence in said rapidly moving liquid as it moves toward said outlet opening, thereby resulting in increased velocity and concentration of said liquid jet.
- 3. The cleaning head of claim 1 wherein said low-friction spring engaging means includes means for receiving one of said opposed forces from said coil spring and rotationally engaging a portion of said cleaning head rotating relative to said coil spring, said means engaging said portion in low-frictional rotational relationship therewith.
- 4. A method of operating a cleaning head installed in a receptacle disposed in an under-liquid surface of a liquid container such as a swimming pool, said cleaning head including a stationary means disposed in sealed relationship with said receptacle, the interior of said stationary means being in fluid-receiving communication with said receptacle, said receptacle receiving liquid, the pressure of which is intermittently or periodically cycled between a relatively high pressure and a relatively low pressure, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying said liquid at said relatively high pressure to said receptacle and the interior of said stationary means via a conduit connected to said receptacle;
- (b) causing a pop-up jet producing means that is rotatably, indexably disposed in said stationary means to move sufficiently far outward from the under-liquid surface in response to said relatively high pressure in order to expose an outlet opening of said pop-up jet producing means and allow ejection of a concentrated, high velocity liquid jet along said under-liquid surface from said outlet opening, and causing said pop-up jet producing means to rotate in a first direction from a first fixed position toward a following fixed position in response to said outward movement;
- (c) stopping said applying of said relatively high pressure to said liquid;
- (d) retracting said pop-up jet producing means approximately to its initial level relative to said under-liquid surface by means of a coil spring engaging said stationary means and said pop-up jet producing means to urge said pop-up jet producing means toward its retracted position in the absence of said relatively high pressure and causing said pop-up jet producing means to further rotate in said first direction to said following fixed position in response to said retracting; and
- (e) causing low-friction rotational engagement between said coil spring and a portion of said cleaning head rotating relative to said coil spring in order to prevent winding of said coil spring as said pop-up jet producing means rotates.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation, of application, Ser. No. 194,679, filed Oct. 6, 1980.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
194679 |
Oct 1980 |
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