Patents by Inventor Hans Rainer Schlitzer
Hans Rainer Schlitzer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20210198914Abstract: Disclosed herein are a steering system for a suction cleaning device, a locomotion system for a pool cleaner, and a turbine for use in an automatic cleaner. The steering system includes a fluid driven turbine that rotates a cam gear that is interconnected with a cam wheel for directing a drive pinion. The drive pinion is positionable in a plurality of positions to drive a nose cone that steers the suction cleaning device. The locomotion system includes first and second A-frame arms that respectively engage first and second bearings about first and second eccentrics of a turbine. Rotation of the turbine causes the first and second A-frame arms to rotate back and forth driving associated walking pod assemblies. The turbine includes a turbine rotor and a plurality of vanes connected to the turbine rotor. The plurality of vanes including lateral edges having lateral open regions to facilitate debris-removing efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2021Publication date: July 1, 2021Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer, Manuela Rief, Rosemarie Rief, Benoit Joseph Renaud
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Patent number: 10947750Abstract: Disclosed herein are a steering system for a suction cleaning device, a locomotion system for a pool cleaner, and a turbine for use in an automatic cleaner. The steering system includes a fluid driven turbine that rotates a cam gear that is interconnected with a cam wheel for directing a drive pinion. The drive pinion is positionable in a plurality of positions to drive a nose cone that steers the suction cleaning device. The locomotion system includes first and second A-frame arms that respectively engage first and second bearings about first and second eccentrics of a turbine. Rotation of the turbine causes the first and second A-frame arms to rotate back and forth driving associated walking pod assemblies. The turbine includes a turbine rotor and a plurality of vanes connected to the turbine rotor. The plurality of vanes including lateral edges having lateral open regions to facilitate debris-removing efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer, Manuela Rief, Rosemarie Rief, Benoit Joseph Renaud
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Patent number: 10876318Abstract: Disclosed herein are a steering system for a suction cleaning device, a locomotion system for a pool cleaner, and a turbine for use in an automatic cleaner. The steering system includes a fluid driven turbine that rotates a cam gear that is interconnected with a cam wheel for directing a drive pinion. The drive pinion is positionable in a plurality of positions to drive a nose cone that steers the suction cleaning device. The locomotion system includes first and second A-frame arms that respectively engage first and second bearings about first and second eccentrics of a turbine. Rotation of the turbine causes the first and second A-frame arms to rotate back and forth driving associated walking pod assemblies. The turbine includes a turbine rotor and a plurality of vanes connected to the turbine rotor. The plurality of vanes including lateral edges having lateral open regions to facilitate debris-removing efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer, Manuela Rief, Rosemarie Rief, Benoit Joseph Renaud
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Patent number: 10837190Abstract: Disclosed herein are a steering system for a suction cleaning device, a locomotion system for a pool cleaner, and a turbine for use in an automatic cleaner. The steering system includes a fluid driven turbine that rotates a cam gear that is interconnected with a cam wheel for directing a drive pinion. The drive pinion is positionable in a plurality of positions to drive a nose cone that steers the suction cleaning device. The locomotion system includes first and second A-frame arms that respectively engage first and second bearings about first and second eccentrics of a turbine. Rotation of the turbine causes the first and second A-frame arms to rotate back and forth driving associated walking pod assemblies. The turbine includes a turbine rotor and a plurality of vanes connected to the turbine rotor. The plurality of vanes including lateral edges having lateral open regions to facilitate debris-removing efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer, Manuela Rief, Rosemarie Rief, Benoit Joseph Renaud
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Patent number: 10066411Abstract: Disclosed herein are a steering system for a suction cleaning device, a locomotion system for a pool cleaner, and a turbine for use in an automatic cleaner. The steering system includes a fluid driven turbine that rotates a cam gear that is interconnected with a cam wheel for directing a drive pinion. The drive pinion is positionable in a plurality of positions to drive a nose cone that steers the suction cleaning device. The locomotion system includes first and second A-frame arms that respectively engage first and second bearings about first and second eccentrics of a turbine. Rotation of the turbine causes the first and second A-frame arms to rotate back and forth driving associated walking pod assemblies. The turbine includes a turbine rotor and a plurality of vanes connected to the turbine rotor. The plurality of vanes including lateral edges having lateral open regions to facilitate debris-removing efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2014Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer, Manuela Rief, Rosemarie Rief, Benoit Joseph Renaud
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Publication number: 20180179774Abstract: Disclosed herein are a steering system for a suction cleaning device, a locomotion system for a pool cleaner, and a turbine for use in an automatic cleaner. The steering system includes a fluid driven turbine that rotates a cam gear that is interconnected with a cam wheel for directing a drive pinion. The drive pinion is positionable in a plurality of positions to drive a nose cone that steers the suction cleaning device. The locomotion system includes first and second A-frame arms that respectively engage first and second bearings about first and second eccentrics of a turbine. Rotation of the turbine causes the first and second A-frame arms to rotate back and forth driving associated walking pod assemblies. The turbine includes a turbine rotor and a plurality of vanes connected to the turbine rotor. The plurality of vanes including lateral edges having lateral open regions to facilitate debris-removing efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2018Publication date: June 28, 2018Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer, Manuela Rief, Rosemarie Rief, Benoit Joseph Renaud
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Publication number: 20180179773Abstract: Disclosed herein are a steering system for a suction cleaning device, a locomotion system for a pool cleaner, and a turbine for use in an automatic cleaner. The steering system includes a fluid driven turbine that rotates a cam gear that is interconnected with a cam wheel for directing a drive pinion. The drive pinion is positionable in a plurality of positions to drive a nose cone that steers the suction cleaning device. The locomotion system includes first and second A-frame arms that respectively engage first and second bearings about first and second eccentrics of a turbine. Rotation of the turbine causes the first and second A-frame arms to rotate back and forth driving associated walking pod assemblies. The turbine includes a turbine rotor and a plurality of vanes connected to the turbine rotor. The plurality of vanes including lateral edges having lateral open regions to facilitate debris-removing efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2018Publication date: June 28, 2018Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer, Manuela Rief, Rosemarie Rief, Benoit Joseph Renaud
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Patent number: 9784007Abstract: A swimming pool cleaner including a body having a debris inlet and a debris outlet and defining an elongate slotted cavity pivotably holding proximal ends of flap members forming a segmented skirt which forms with the pool surface a plenum from which water and debris are drawn into the inlet. The slotted cavity is configured for strain-free insertion of the flap-member proximal ends into the cavity. A removable nozzle within the debris inlet and retaining the flap-member proximal ends in the cavity. A method for inlet to control debris-laden water flow. The cleaner further including a tool-free nozzle-mounting structure at the debris inlet removably retaining the nozzle within the debris inlet and a tool-free wheel-mounting assembly. a plurality of removable nozzles are interchangeably secured within the debris inlet, each nozzle having a flow opening sized differently from flow opening(s) of the other nozzle(s) to control debris-laden water flow.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer
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Patent number: 9758979Abstract: A swimming pool cleaner including a body having a debris inlet and a debris outlet and defining an elongate slotted cavity pivotably holding proximal ends of flap members forming a segmented skirt which forms with the pool surface a plenum from which water and debris are drawn into the inlet. The slotted cavity is configured for strain-free insertion of the flap-member proximal ends into the cavity. A removable nozzle within the debris inlet and retaining the flap-member proximal ends in the cavity. A method for inlet to control debris-laden water flow. The cleaner further including a tool-free nozzle-mounting structure at the debris inlet removably retaining the nozzle within the debris inlet and a tool-free wheel-mounting assembly, a plurality of removable nozzles are interchangeably secured within the debris inlet, each nozzle having a flow opening sized differently from flow opening(s) of the other nozzle(s) to control debris-laden water flow.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer
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Patent number: 9593502Abstract: A swimming pool cleaner including a body having a debris inlet and a debris outlet and defining an elongate slotted cavity pivotably holding proximal ends of flap members forming a segmented skirt which forms with the pool surface a plenum from which water and debris are drawn into the inlet. The slotted cavity is configured for strain-free insertion of the flap-member proximal ends into the cavity. A removable nozzle within the debris inlet and retaining the flap-member proximal ends in the cavity. A method for inlet to control debris-laden water flow. The cleaner further including a tool-free nozzle-mounting structure at the debris inlet removably retaining the nozzle within the debris inlet and a tool-free wheel-mounting assembly. a plurality of removable nozzles are interchangeably secured within the debris inlet, each nozzle having a flow opening sized differently from flow opening(s) of the other nozzle(s) to control debris-laden water flow.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2012Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer
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Publication number: 20150059106Abstract: Disclosed herein are a steering system for a suction cleaning device, a locomotion system for a pool cleaner, and a turbine for use in an automatic cleaner. The steering system includes a fluid driven turbine that rotates a cam gear that is interconnected with a cam wheel for directing a drive pinion. The drive pinion is positionable in a plurality of positions to drive a nose cone that steers the suction cleaning device. The locomotion system includes first and second A-frame arms that respectively engage first and second bearings about first and second eccentrics of a turbine. Rotation of the turbine causes the first and second A-frame arms to rotate back and forth driving associated walking pod assemblies. The turbine includes a turbine rotor and a plurality of vanes connected to the turbine rotor. The plurality of vanes including lateral edges having lateral open regions to facilitate debris-removing efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: POOLVERGNUEGENInventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer, Manuela Rief, Rosemarie Rief, Benoit Joseph Renaud
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Publication number: 20150020368Abstract: A swimming pool cleaner including a body having a debris inlet and a debris outlet and defining an elongate slotted cavity pivotably holding proximal ends of flap members forming a segmented skirt which forms with the pool surface a plenum from which water and debris are drawn into the inlet. The slotted cavity is configured for strain-free insertion of the flap-member proximal ends into the cavity. A removable nozzle within the debris inlet and retaining the flap-member proximal ends in the cavity. A method for inlet to control debris-laden water flow. The cleaner further including a tool-free nozzle-mounting structure at the debris inlet removably retaining the nozzle within the debris inlet and a tool-free wheel-mounting assembly. a plurality of removable nozzles are interchangeably secured within the debris inlet, each nozzle having a flow opening sized differently from flow opening(s) of the other nozzle(s) to control debris-laden water flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: POOLVERGNUEGENInventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer
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Publication number: 20150020322Abstract: A swimming pool cleaner including a body having a debris inlet and a debris outlet and defining an elongate slotted cavity pivotably holding proximal ends of flap members forming a segmented skirt which forms with the pool surface a plenum from which water and debris are drawn into the inlet. The slotted cavity is configured for strain-free insertion of the flap-member proximal ends into the cavity. A removable nozzle within the debris inlet and retaining the flap-member proximal ends in the cavity. A method for inlet to control debris-laden water flow. The cleaner further including a tool-free nozzle-mounting structure at the debris inlet removably retaining the nozzle within the debris inlet and a tool-free wheel-mounting assembly. a plurality of removable nozzles are interchangeably secured within the debris inlet, each nozzle having a flow opening sized differently from flow opening(s) of the other nozzle(s) to control debris-laden water flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: POOLVERGNUEGENInventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer
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Publication number: 20140319389Abstract: An automatic vacuum-relief apparatus for liquid suction systems includes a vessel defining a chamber filled with liquid in communication with a liquid flow line, a rotary shaft extending through the chamber to support a valve device adjacent to the liquid flow line and to move the valve device to open a relief-air flow channel to relieve increased suction caused by inlet blockage, and a piston on the rotary shaft responsive to suction increases within the liquid flow line and chamber to actuate shaft rotation. The valve device, chamber and relief-air flow channel are configured and arranged to cause a spurt of liquid from the chamber into the inlet while the valve device is moving from its isolating position toward its opening position upon inlet blockage, whereby the spurt of liquid pushes the blockage away from the inlet and the relief air reduces the suction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: POOLVERGNEUGENInventors: Dieter J. Rief, Hans Rainer Schlitzer, Manuela Rief