Abstract: A robotic pool cleaner includes a housing with an interior chamber. A filter within the interior chamber filters water drawn through a water inlet provided in a bottom portion of the housing. Filtered water is discharged through a discharge port provided in a upper portion of the housing. Rotatably-mounted supports attached to the housing support and guide the cleaner on the pool surface. An electric motor mounted in the chamber is configured to move the cleaner on a pool surface. A pool cleaner controller electrically connected to the electric motor controls movement of the cleaner and receives communication signals transmitted by a remote power supply over a two-wire electric cable having first and second conductors. The pool cleaner controller is configured to provide uninterrupted electric power to the electric motor while the pool cleaner controller also receives pulsed communication signal from the remote power supply over the two-wire cable.

Abstract: A pool cleaning system for cleaning debris from a submerged surface of a swimming pool includes a self-propelled pool cleaner having rotatably-mounted supports for supporting and guiding the cleaner on the pool surface; an electric motor for enabling the rotation of the rotatably-mounted supports on the pool surface; at least one camera to capture imagery of the pool surface; a controller, in electronic communication with the at least one camera, to determine a cleanliness characteristic of the pool surface on which the cleaner has passed based on the camera imagery and generate a control signal to direct movement of the cleaner based on the cleanliness characteristic of the pool surface, wherein the control signal directs movement of the cleaner to reclean a portion of the pool surface where the cleanliness characteristic fails to satisfy a predefined threshold.

Abstract: A robotic pool cleaner includes a housing with an interior chamber. A filter within the interior chamber filters water drawn through a water inlet provided in a bottom portion of the housing. Filtered water is discharged through a discharge port provided in a upper portion of the housing. Rotatably-mounted supports attached to the housing support and guide the cleaner on the pool surface. An electric motor mounted in the chamber is configured to move the cleaner on a pool surface. A pool cleaner controller electrically connected to the electric motor controls movement of the cleaner and receives communication signals transmitted by a remote power supply over a two-wire electric cable having first and second conductors. The pool cleaner controller is configured to provide uninterrupted electric power to the electric motor while the pool cleaner controller also receives pulsed communication signal from the remote power supply over the two-wire cable.

Abstract: A drive module for submersible autonomous vehicles is disclosed. The drive module includes a propulsion element configured to engage and rotate against a surface, a motor configured to drive the propulsion element, and a controller configured to cause the motor to drive the propulsion element. The drive module also includes a housing configured to be removably, releasably coupled to the exterior of a submersible autonomous vehicle. The motor and the controller are disposed within the housing.

Abstract: A robotic pool or tank cleaner is propelled by water jets, the direction of which is controlled by the direction of rotation of a reversible pump motor that is horizontally mounted in the pool cleaner housing that has a propeller attached to either end of the motor drive shaft which projects from opposing ends of the motor body, each of the propellers being positioned in, or near a water jet discharge conduit that terminates in discharge ports at opposite ends of the housing. Each discharge conduit has a pressure-sensitive flap valve downstream of the respective propellers. When the propellers rotate in one direction, the water is drawn through one or more openings in the base plate, passes through one or more filter assemblies associated with the pool cleaner and is discharged through one of the discharge ports as a water jet of sufficient force to propel the pool cleaner.

Abstract: A waterproof swivel electrical cable connector comprises a first housing including a first electrical connector being rotatably connected to a second housing including a second electrical connector. A first elastomeric washer is intermediate the first housing and the second housing and providing a watertight seal between the first housing and the second housing as the first housing and first electrical connector are rotated relative to the second housing and second electrical connector.

Abstract: A robotic pool or tank cleaner is propelled by water jets, the direction of which is controlled by the direction of rotation of a horizontally mounted pump motor within the pool cleaner housing, having a propeller attached to either end of the motor drive shaft which projects from opposing ends of the motor body, each of the propellers being positioned in a water jet discharge conduit that terminates in discharge ports in opposing ends of the housing. Each discharge conduit has a pressure-sensitive flap valve downstream of the respective propellers. When the propellers rotate in one direction, the water is drawn through one or more openings in the base plate, passes through one or more filter assemblies associated with the pool cleaner and is discharged through one of the discharge ports as a water jet of sufficient force to propel the pool cleaner along the surface being cleaned.

Abstract: A self-propelled cleaning apparatus for cleaning a submerged surface of a pool or tank includes a housing having a front portion as defined by the direction of movement of the apparatus when propelled by a water jet, an opposing rear portion and adjoining side portions defining the periphery of the apparatus, and a baseplate with at least one water inlet. Rotationally-mounted supports are coupled proximate the front and rear portions of the housing to enable movement of the apparatus over the submerged surface. A water pump is configured to draw water and debris from the pool through the inlet for filtering. A stationary directional discharge conduit is in fluid communication with the pump and has at least one discharge opening through which a pressurized stream of water forming the water jet is directionally discharged at an acute angle with respect to the surface over which the apparatus is moving.

Abstract: A self-propelled cleaning apparatus for cleaning a submerged surface of a pool or tank includes a housing having a front portion as defined by the direction of movement of the apparatus when propelled by a water jet, an opposing rear portion and adjoining side portions defining the periphery of the apparatus, and a baseplate with at least one water inlet. Rotationally-mounted supports are coupled proximate the front and rear portions of the housing to enable movement of the apparatus over the submerged surface. A water pump is configured to draw water and debris from the pool through the inlet for filtering. A stationary directional discharge conduit is in fluid communication with the pump and has at least one discharge opening through which a pressurized stream of water forming the water jet is directionally discharged at an acute angle with respect to the surface over which the apparatus is moving.

Abstract: A self-propelled cleaning apparatus for cleaning a submerged surface of a pool or tank includes a housing having a front portion as defined by the direction of movement of the apparatus when propelled by a water jet, an opposing rear portion and adjoining side portions defining the periphery of the apparatus, and a baseplate with at least one water inlet. Rotationally-mounted supports are coupled proximate the front and rear portions of the housing to enable movement of the apparatus over the submerged surface. A water pump is configured to draw water and debris from the pool through the inlet for filtering. A stationary directional discharge conduit is in fluid communication with the pump and has at least one discharge opening through which a pressurized stream of water forming the water jet is directionally discharged at an acute angle with respect to the surface over which the apparatus is moving.

Abstract: A pool cleaning system utilizes a powered robotic surface cleaning vehicle to travel adjacent water containing surfaces of a pool while submerged within the pool. In one implementation, a camera captures movement of the vehicle. In one implementation, a dry station serve the intermediary across a wide area network between the vehicle and a server which communicates with the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A self directed pool cleaning vehicle comprising a body carrying water inlet and outlet ports with the inlet port being located on the bottom of the body with the body containing a filter is described. A drive mechanism propels the vehicle in two generally opposed directions. Two axles which each carry two wheels support the body and control its direction of movement. One axle is mounted to the body via slots that extend in the directions of motion such that this axle can move toward either end of the slots. A steering structure is provided with a portion that moves to close a portion of one of the slots and can be locked in a position that prevents one end of an axle from traversing its slot. Thus when this axle is the trialing axle it is held at other than a right angle to the two generally opposed directions.

Abstract: An automated self-propelled pool cleaner having a housing, a water pump for moving water through the housing and drive means for moving the pool cleaner over the surface of a salt water pool to be cleaned includes an electrochemical chlorine generator assembly mounted in the housing having an electrochemical cell that is manually releasable from its mounting system in order to permit the cell to be safely secured in place inside the housing for operation and manually removed when necessary for maintenance, repair or replacement by the user without special tools or training.

Abstract: The base plate of a robotic or manually propelled tank or pool cleaning apparatus includes a transverse conduit positioned on the interior surface of the base plate and is in fluid communication with a source of pressurized water that is also located within the pool cleaner's housing, which pressurized water is discharged from the bottom or lower portion of the transverse conduit through a plurality of openings that extend along a line that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pool cleaner's direction of travel, to produce downwardly-directed water jets that are discharged through and below the base plate towards the surface of the pool or tank over which the pool cleaning apparatus is moving to dislodge and suspend dirt and debris that is then drawn into and retained by the pool cleaner's filter.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a cable grasping assembly and an associated waterproof lockable disengaging swiveling electrical cable connector housing structure. The assembly includes and end cap, a cable-holding sleeve and a housing. The end cap threads onto the housing in such a way that it causes fingers of the housing to compress the cable holding sleeve onto a cable which passes through the bores of all three. The structure includes a male housing partially inserted into the bore of a female housing. Each housing has a generally cylindrical body with a cable support structure located within its bore. The two housings are free to rotate about the cylindrical surfaces of each other when locked together via a locking sleeve. The structure also includes a sealing structure carried by one of the housings that establishes a watertight seal between the housings when the male is partially inserted into the female.

Abstract: A self-propelled robotic cleaning apparatus for cleaning a submerged surface of a pool or tank includes a housing defining an interior chamber containing a filter assembly for filtering water flowing through at least one water inlet formed in the base plate. A filter backwash assembly is positioned within the interior chamber and has at least one fluid discharge outlet for providing a pressurized flow of a fluid towards the exterior surface of the filter assembly as a backwash to rinse and dislodge the debris therefrom.

Abstract: A self directed pool cleaning vehicle comprising a body carrying water inlet and outlet ports with the inlet port being located on the bottom of the body with the body containing a filter is described. A drive mechanism propels the vehicle in two generally opposed directions. Two axles which each carry two wheels support the body and control its direction of movement. One axle is mounted to the body via slots that extend in the directions of motion such that this axle can move toward either end of the slots. A steering structure is provided with a portion that moves to close a portion of one of the slots and can be locked in a position that prevents one end of an axle from traversing its slot. Thus when this axle is the trialing axle it is held at other than a right angle to the two generally opposed directions.

Abstract: A robotic pool or tank cleaner is propelled by water jets, the direction of which is controlled by the direction of rotation of a horizontally mounted pump motor within the pool cleaner housing, having a propeller attached to either end of the motor drive shaft which projects from opposing ends of the motor body, each of the propellers being positioned in a water jet discharge conduit that terminates in discharge ports in opposing ends of the housing. Each discharge conduit has a pressure-sensitive flap valve downstream of the respective propellers. When the propellers rotate in one direction, the water is drawn through one or more openings in the base plate, passes through one or more filter assemblies associated with the pool cleaner and is discharged through one of the discharge ports as a water jet of sufficient force to propel the pool cleaner along the surface being cleaned.

Abstract: A self-propelled robotic pool cleaner (100) has a first pair of driven brushes (12, 14) and second pair of free brushes co-axially mounted for rotation on axles (16) at the opposite ends of the pool cleaner. The first pair of brushes are mounted on one side and are driven by a drive motor (110); the second pair of brushes are mounted on the opposite side of the cleaner. A rotational delay clutch (30) is co-axially positioned between each pair of the first and second brushes so that reversing the drive motor causes the first pair of driven brushes to temporarily rotate at an angular rotational velocity that is greater than that of the second pair of brushes, thereby pivoting the pool cleaner through a predetermined angular change in direction before the synchronous rotation of the second pair of dual brushes is initiated by the engagement of the clutch.