Abstract: An improved pool cleaner hose is provided for use in supplying water under pressure to a water-powered in-the-pool cleaner device for swimming pools and the like. The hose is formed from one or more elongated spiral wound strips of flexible plastic material or the like with adjacent turns interconnected by a continuous laser weld to define an elongated, flexible, and relatively buoyant hose construction. The hose is coupled between a supply of water under pressure and the pool cleaner device, with weights of selected mass being mounted upon the hose at selected positions near the cleaner device to cause the hose to trail the cleaner device with a relatively low profile thereby minimizing drag effects upon the cleaner device as it moves throughout the pool.

Abstract: A water-driven scrubber device is used particularly in scrubbing wall and floor surfaces of a swimming pool or the like. The scrubber device comprises a compact housing adapted for connection to a supply of water under pressure and encasing a water-driven turbine wheel in combination with reduction gear elements for rotatively driving removable scrubber members, such as brushes. In one operational mode, a mounting yoke is carried by the housing for connection to a standard pool service utility pole to manipulate the scrubber device over pool surfaces, wherein the mounting yoke can be installed on the housing in either of two positions to permit or prevent pivoting motion relative to the housing, as desired. A retractable stabilizer wheel is also provided on the housing to facilitate accurate and smooth movement of the scrubber device over pool surfaces. In another operational mode, a portion of the housing defines a handle for easy grasping and direct manual movement of the scrubber device over pool surfaces.

Abstract: An improved fixture and related method are provided for making spiral wound hose from elongated strips of thermoplastic material. The fixture includes feed rollers for spirally winding inner and outer interlocking strips from opposite directions onto a rotating mandrel. As the strips are wound together, a laser integrally fuses the strips to each other along a continuous line of contact to form an elongated hose. Rotating channeled guide rollers are spaced circumferentially about the mandrel to advance the formed hose continuously off the mandrel.

Abstract: An improved pool cleaner is provided of the type for submerged random travel generally along the floor and sidewalls of a swimming pool to dislodge and collect debris. The pool cleaner comprises an hydraulically contoured housing consisting of a limited number of shell shaped housing portions designed for rapid assembly about an integrated drive assembly having a water-powered drive train encased within the housing and rotatable wheels outside the housing for supporting and driving the pool cleaner. Water under pressure is supplied through a water supply mast detachably mounted on the housing for flow into a pressure manifold from which individual water flows are coupled through appropriately sized nozzles to drive a water turbine of the drive train and through a plurality of jet pump orifices opening generally upwardly about the inner diameter of an open central suction mast through which debris is drawn upwardly into a collection bag.

Abstract: An improved pool cleaner is provided of the type for submerged random travel generally along the floor and sidewalls of a swimming pool to dislodge and collect debris. The pool cleaner comprises an hydraulically contoured housing consisting of a limited number of shell shaped housing portions designed for rapid assembly about an integrated drive assembly having a water-powered drive train encased within the housing and rotatable wheels outside the housing for supporting and driving the pool cleaner. Water under pressure is supplied through a water supply mast detachably mounted on the housing for flow into a pressure manifold from which individual water flows are coupled through appropriately sized nozzles to drive a water turbine of the drive train and through a plurality of jet pump orifices opening generally upwardly about the inner diameter of an open central suction mast through which debris is drawn upwardly into a collection bag.

Abstract: A flow control valve assembly is provided for timing and regulating fluid flow from a valve inlet to primary and secondary fluid flow outlets. The valve assembly comprises a regulator valve which, upon initiation of fluid flow to the valve assembly, is spring-biased to open the primary and secondary outlets and to modulate the primary outlet flow in a manner maintaining the secondary outlet flow at a predetermined minimum fluid pressure. Upon elapse of a predetermined time interval, a timer assembly responsive to the secondary outlet flow triggers an alteration in the spring bias acting on the regulator valve to permit fluid pressure at the valve inlet to shift the regulator valve to a position closing the secondary outlet and fully opening the primary outlet for the remaining time of a fluid flow cycle. When fluid flow through the valve assembly is halted, a return spring resets the regulator valve to its initial state.

Abstract: A device for measuring small units of force or weight, such as the tracking force of a phonograph cartridge, includes an elastic flexure member having an electric contact for engagement with an encoder. As the flexure member is deflected by an amount proportional to the force being measured, contacts on the encoder are sequentially activated to provide an electric signal used to drive on analog, digital or numeric visual display or readout of the measured force. The device of the invention may also include a mechanism for providing a second point of support for the flexure member and a second visual scale to provide a greater range of measurement.

Abstract: A print element for use in high speed printing machines, having a plurality of metallic print characters which are substantially flat and are flexible. The characters are struck by a hammer surface which is curved so as to conform to the curvature of the platen upon which the characters strike. The characters are struck by the curved hammer surface and thereby temporarily deformed to conform to the curvature of the platen, thus producing a character of uniform density on the printing surface.