Abstract: Detailed are fluid flow deflectors principally for use with sweep tail hoses of automatic swimming pool cleaners. The deflectors do not function principally on gravitational forces and need not necessarily employ flexible components or attachments for purposes of effecting deflection. Instead, the deflectors may be rigid and continually position a fixed obstacle in a central portion of a fluid stream. Perforations in a rigid wall, moreover, draw fluid into the deflectors, creating a greater volume of exiting stream when an associated pool cleaner is underwater.

Abstract: Detailed are fluid flow deflectors principally for use with sweep tail hoses of automatic swimming pool cleaners. The deflectors do not function principally on gravitational forces and need not necessarily employ flexible components or attachments for purposes of effecting deflection. Instead, the deflectors may be rigid and continually position a fixed obstacle in a central portion of a fluid stream. Perforations in a rigid wall, moreover, draw fluid into the deflectors, creating a greater volume of exiting stream when an associated pool cleaner is underwater.

Abstract: Fluid-treatment apparatus and methods are detailed. The apparatus may be plumbed in-line and have inlets and outlets near their tops rather than near their bases. They additionally may provide one or more channels through which fluid may flow so as to induce fluid flow through a central region. A platform for raising the (effective) bottom of a chamber of an apparatus above a base thereof further may be included.

Abstract: Wheeled automatic swimming pool cleaners are detailed. These cleaners may include mechanisms for tensioning drive chains associated with one or more of the wheels. They also may drive one or more wheels directly. Water-management systems within the cleaners may locate most or all wearing components so that merely removing a bottom cover causes these components to be accessible for repair or replacement.

Abstract: A bag clip is provided for removably mounting a filter bag onto a suction mast of a pool cleaner to collect and retain debris vacuumed by the pool cleaner from submerged floor and side wall surfaces of a swimming pool. The bag clip includes an inner support collar for reception into an open mouth of a porous filter bag, in combination with an outer clamp ring for releasibly clamping the bag mouth onto the inner support collar. The bag clip additionally includes quick release latch tabs for snap fit mounting onto the pool cleaner suction mast. In use, the outer clamp ring can be quickly and easily opened to permit filter bag removal and disposal of collected debris, followed by re-installation of the same or a replacement filter bag.

Abstract: An improved pool cleaner is provided of the type for random travel over submerged floor and side wall surfaces of a swimming pool or the like to dislodge and collect debris. The pool cleaner includes a hydraulically contoured external housing having a stabilizer float integrated with a carrying handle at an elevated rearward location. The pool cleaner additionally incorporates modular components including a simplified mast unit and related water distribution manifold for delivery of water under pressure to a water turbine drive unit for rotatably driving cleaner wheels to travel over submerged pool surfaces, with a portion of the pressurized water inducing a vacuum action for collecting debris within a porous filter bag. The modular components are mounted on an internal frame which is quickly and easily accessible for service or maintenance by removal of the external housing.

Abstract: A bag clip is provided for removably mounting a filter bag onto a suction mast of a pool cleaner to collect and retain debris vacuumed by the pool cleaner from submerged floor and side wall surfaces of a swimming pool. The bag clip includes an inner support collar for reception into an open mouth of a porous filter bag, in combination with an outer clamp ring for releasibly clamping the bag mouth onto the inner support collar. The bag clip additionally includes quick release latch tabs for snap fit mounting onto the pool cleaner suction mast. In use, the outer clamp ring can be quickly and easily opened to permit filter bag removal and disposal of collected debris, followed by re-installation of the same or a replacement filter bag.

Abstract: An improved pool cleaner is provided of the type for random travel over submerged floor and side wall surfaces of a swimming pool or the like to dislodge and collect debris. The pool cleaner includes a hydraulically contoured external housing having a stabilizer float integrated with a carrying handle at an elevated rearward location. The pool cleaner additionally incorporates modular components including a simplified mast unit and related water distribution manifold for delivery of water under pressure to a water turbine drive unit for rotatably driving cleaner wheels to travel over submerged pool surfaces, with a portion of the pressurized water inducing a vacuum action for collecting debris within a porous filter bag. The modular components are mounted on an internal frame which is quickly and easily accessible for service or maintenance by removal of the external housing.

Abstract: A floating skimmer is provided for use with a pool cleaner of the type powered by a suction or vacuum source, such as by connecting the pool cleaner via a vacuum hose or the like to the suction side of conventional pool water filtration equipment, wherein the floating skimmer is coupled along the vacuum hose and functions to collect debris picked up by the pool cleaner as well as floating debris such as leaves and the like on the pool water surface. The floating skimmer comprises a buoyant housing having a perforated collection basket therein defining a primary debris collection chamber adapted for in-line connection along the vacuum hose to capture debris entrained with water drawn from the suction-powered pool cleaner to the filtration system.

Abstract: A flow control weir valve and method of operating the valve is disclosed. The valve has an inlet, an outlet, a bypass inlet, a pivoting cover and a mechanism for controlling the cover in order to provide a relief flow through the valve. The cover is continuously forced to a first, closed position by one or more resilient springs or other flexible force producing mechanisms. When fluid flows within the valve, the closing force generated by the springs may be overcome by the low pressure generated within the valve, which thus allows the ambient environment to force the cover at least partially open once the fluid flow rate passes a threshold value. A step in the body of the valve can be used to interrupt the fluid flow and create a Venturi effect for further assisting the cover to open. The cover is sufficiently responsive to allow a relief flow through the bypass inlet that satisfies rapid and wide-ranging pressure variations created within a cleaning system to which the valve may be attached.

Abstract: An automatic swimming pool cleaning apparatus includes a steering device for randomly steering the apparatus. The steering device includes a first steering arm projecting from the cleaning head in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the apparatus, a proximal end of the arm being pivotally connectable to the cleaning head about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of movement; a suction device for intermittent application of suction to the surface of the swimming pool, connected to the steering arm at a position spaced from a proximal end thereof; and a mechanism for intermittently causing suction to be applied to the suction device.