Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods may be used for wirelessly communicating underwater (or through air) with equipment such as, but not necessarily limited to, automatic swimming pool cleaners (APCs). Such communication avoids any need for conventional wired communication with the APCs. At least some of the devices may be hand-held and capable of having at least portions immersed in water in normal use. The devices preferably do not use radio frequency (RF) signal to communication with APCs, instead employing light-based or other signal types.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 6, 2021
Publication date:
February 10, 2022
Applicant:
ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
Inventors:
Arnaud Besnier, Mehdi Chafik, Arnaud Lancry
Abstract: An automatic swimming pool cleaner (APC) may include a sensor for detecting adjacency of a pool wall or other object. Following such detection, the APC may reorient itself so as to re-approach the wall (or other object) in a manner better suited for cleaning the area. The reorientation may occur through, for example, changing speeds of motors on-board the APC, directions of travel of the cleaner, or both.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 5, 2021
Publication date:
February 10, 2022
Applicant:
ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
Inventors:
Arnaud Besnier, Florent Dallet, Simon Duffaut, E. Keith McQueen
Abstract: Techniques and methods for wirelessly communicating with equipment such as, but not necessarily limited to, automatic swimming pool cleaners (APCs) are detailed. An accelerometer or other sensor on-board an APC may recognize such communications. In some cases, varying operation of a motor or other feedback generator of the APC may provide sonic or other feedback in response to the communications.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 6, 2021
Publication date:
February 10, 2022
Applicant:
ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
Inventors:
Florent Dallet, Simon Duffaut, Louis Favie
Abstract: A swimming pool cleaner may operate within a pool during a cleaning cycle. The duration of the cleaning cycle may be tailored, or optimized, for the pool by determining a maximum length of time between, for example, a rotation of the cleaner and when it next detects a wall of the pool during a designated interval. As another example, deducing information relating to rotation speed of the cleaner also may be useful in determining the tailored cleaning cycle.
Abstract: The invention relates to a device (18) for separating out debris suspended in a liquid, for a swimming pool cleaning apparatus, said cleaning apparatus comprising: —a body (11), —at least one hydraulic circuit circulating liquid between at least one liquid inlet (15) and at least one liquid outlet (16), and through the separation housing (18) that separates out debris suspended in the liquid, —a fluid circulation pump installed in the hydraulic circuit. The device (18) for separating out debris suspended in a liquid comprises means for the centrifugal spinning of the debris suspended in the liquid and a tank for collecting said centrifugally separated debris. The separation device (18) comprises a liquid supply duct (24) opening into a filtration chamber (22) defining a substantially cylindrical volume, tangentially to a cylindrical wall (201) of said filtration chamber, said filtration chamber (22) communicating with the collecting tank (23) that collects the centrifugally separated debris.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 24, 2018
Date of Patent:
September 7, 2021
Assignee:
ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
Inventors:
Philippe Pichon, Philippe Blanc Tailleur, E. Keith McQueen
Abstract: Swimming pool cleaning apparatus may include a cleaning unit intended to be immersed in a swimming pool and at least one liquid filter circuit between at least one liquid inlet and at least one liquid outlet via a filter chamber removable from the body of the cleaning unit. The filter chamber may include a cover and a filter basket. The cover may include components for fastening the filter basket and locking the filter chamber to the body of the cleaning unit. The locking component may be releasable and, when released, may cause an extraction handle to be deployed from the filter chamber and urged toward a predetermined position.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 12, 2021
Publication date:
May 6, 2021
Applicant:
Zodiac Pool Care Europe
Inventors:
Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Faustine Munoz, Philippe Pichon
Abstract: The invention relates to a device for extraction of a swimming pool cleaning robot. The device comprises: a support frame; a plate which can be deployed beyond the support frame and below the latter; means for controlling the deployment of the said plate.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 1, 2020
Publication date:
April 15, 2021
Applicant:
ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
Inventors:
Philippe Pichon, Simon Duffaut, Philippe Blanc-Tailleur
Abstract: The invention relates to a pool cleaning apparatus including: a cleaning unit (100), at least one hydraulic system for circulating a liquid between at least one liquid inlet (103) and at least one liquid outlet (104) and through a filtration device of the cleaning unit (100), a pump suitable for forcing the circulation of water between the liquid inlet (103) and the liquid outlet (104) and through the filtration device, drive and guide means for moving the cleaning unit, and means for controlling said drive and guide means. The pool cleaning apparatus includes at least one debris detection means placed in the hydraulic system of the cleaning unit (100).
Abstract: A swimming pool cleaner may operate within a pool during a cleaning cycle. The duration of the cleaning cycle may be tailored, or optimized, for the pool by determining a maximum length of time between, for example, a rotation of the cleaner and when it next detects a wall of the pool during a designated interval. As another example, deducing information relating to rotation speed of the cleaner also may be useful in determining the tailored cleaning cycle.
Abstract: Swimming pool cleaning apparatus may include a cleaning unit intended to be immersed in a swimming pool and at least one liquid filter circuit between at least one liquid inlet and at least one liquid outlet via a filter chamber removable from the body of the cleaning unit. The filter chamber may include a cover and a filter basket. The cover may include components for fastening the filter basket and locking the filter chamber to the body of the cleaning unit. The locking component may be releasable and, when released, may cause an extraction handle to be deployed from the filter chamber and urged toward a predetermined position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 19, 2019
Date of Patent:
February 9, 2021
Assignee:
ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
Inventors:
Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Faustine Munoz, Philippe Pichon
Abstract: A swimming pool cleaner may include motive elements intentionally driven in an unbalanced manner. This unbalanced driving may allow a cleaner to maintain contact with (“hug”) walls of a pool, allowing the cleaner to, e.g., obtain information allowing mapping of the pool perimeter.
Abstract: Devices for extracting cleaning robots from swimming pools include support frames and plates which can be deployed beyond and below the support frames. The support frames may be supported on rims of the swimming pools.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 14, 2016
Date of Patent:
December 29, 2020
Assignee:
ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
Inventors:
Philippe Pichon, Simon Duffaut, Philippe Blanc-Tailleur
Abstract: Swimming pool cleaners may operate autonomously within pools and spas. The cleaners need not include any external hoses or cords, and their bodies may be oriented at pool waterlines so as to make their on-board filters readily accessible for removal. The cleaners may dock at docking stations for various purposes, including (but not limited to) for charging any on-board battery and communicating electronically with the docking station or other external equipment.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 14, 2019
Date of Patent:
December 15, 2020
Assignee:
ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
Inventors:
Arnaud Lancry, Simon Duffaut, Remi Deloche, Louis Favie, Philippe Pichon
Abstract: Brushes for robotic or other automatic swimming pool cleaners may include circumferentially-spaced blades extending radially from cylindrical cores. The blades beneficially are not longitudinally continuous, however. Instead, some or all of the blades are discontinuous along the lengths of the cores, creating fluid-flow paths tending to reduce the pump blade effect when the cleaners are operating.
Abstract: The invention relates to a swimming-pool cleaning apparatus which comprises: a body; at least one hydraulic circuit for circulating liquid between at least one liquid intake and at least one liquid outlet, and through a filtering device of the cleaning apparatus; a fluid-circulation pump installed in the hydraulic circuit downstream from the filtering device; means for adjusting the pressure inside the hydraulic circuit upstream from the circulation pump, in response to a detected variation of said pressure, said pressure-adjustment means comprising: at least one secondary liquid intake (21) connected to the hydraulic circuit, upstream from the circulation pump, said at least one secondary liquid intake (21) being provided with a valve (22) mounted rotatably movable about an axis of rotation, and with means for driving the valve from an open position to a closed position, said means for driving the valve comprising a float (26), the orientation and/or the force of which depend on the orientation of the cleani
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 3, 2020
Publication date:
May 28, 2020
Applicant:
ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
Inventors:
Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Louis Favie, Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon
Abstract: The invention relates to a swimming-pool cleaning apparatus which comprises: a body; at least one hydraulic circuit for circulating liquid between at least one liquid intake and at least one liquid outlet, and through a filtering device of the cleaning apparatus; a fluid-circulation pump installed in the hydraulic circuit downstream from the filtering device; means for adjusting the pressure inside the hydraulic circuit upstream from the circulation pump, in response to a detected variation of said pressure, said pressure-adjustment means comprising: at least one secondary liquid intake (21) connected to the hydraulic circuit, upstream from the circulation pump, said at least one secondary liquid intake (21) being provided with a valve (22) mounted rotatably movable about an axis of rotation, and with means for driving the valve from an open position to a closed position, said means for driving the valve comprising a float (26), the orientation and/or the force of which depend on the orientation of the cleani
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 28, 2016
Date of Patent:
March 24, 2020
Assignee:
Zodiac Pool Care Europe
Inventors:
Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Louis Favie, Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon
Abstract: A swimming pool heating system, including a heat pump and control of the compressor of the heat pump according to a number of non-zero power levels, is detailed. The system includes, for example, three power levels, the first level being close to 40% of the maximum compressor speed, the second level being close to 70% of the maximum compressor speed, and the third level being close to 100% of the maximum compressor speed.
Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting valve (10), comprising at least four connections (101-104) for fluid circulation tubes, which comprises a single control member (120) designed to allow the selective creation of several configurations of communication pathways within the valve, between certain tube connections; these configurations notably include: • a first configuration in which a first tube connection, referred to as “main inlet” (103) is placed in communication with only a second tube connection, referred to as “main outlet” (104), • a second configuration in which the main inlet is placed in communication with a third tube connection (101), referred to as “bypass outlet”, and a fourth tube connection (102) referred to as “bypass return” is placed in communication with the main outlet, and • a third configuration in which the main inlet is placed in communication both with the main outlet and with the bypass outlet, and the bypass return is placed in communication with the main outlet.
Abstract: Swimming pool cleaning apparatus may include a cleaning unit intended to be immersed in a swimming pool and at least one liquid filter circuit between at least one liquid inlet and at least one liquid outlet via a filter chamber removable from the body of the cleaning unit. The filter chamber may include a cover and a filter basket. The cover may include components for fastening the filter basket and locking the filter chamber to the body of the cleaning unit. The locking component may be releasable and, when released, may cause an extraction handle to be deployed from the filter chamber and urged toward a predetermined position.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 19, 2019
Publication date:
January 9, 2020
Applicant:
Zodiac Pool Care Europe
Inventors:
Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Faustine Munoz, Philippe Pichon
Abstract: A swimming pool cleaner may include at least one light source within its body. The light source may be positioned to project light onto or into (or both onto and into) an on-board filter of the cleaner, facilitating visual examination of the cleanliness of the in situ filter. A transparent region of the body may permit viewing of the on-board filter from outside the body.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 30, 2019
Publication date:
November 7, 2019
Applicant:
ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
Inventors:
Simon Duffaut, Skye Svenningsen, Eugene Keith McQueen