Abstract: Fluid-powered devices are detailed. The devices may be utilized as motors or pumps, for example, and are capable to switching dynamically between these functions. They additionally may use surface-area, rather than solely pressure, differentials to produce rotary motion.

Abstract: Devices for cleaning vessels, especially swimming pools, are discussed. The devices may include a non-linear flow path in a gap surrounding an in-line valve. This non-linearity permits lengths of concentric pipes forming the gap to be decreased without sacrificing operational performance of the devices. Valves forming parts of the cleaning devices may be diaphragms but shaped, sized, reinforced, or configured differently than existing valves and may have collapsible segments whose interior shape resembles an ellipse in transverse cross-section. Co-molding of diaphragms and pipes may occur, and inner and outer cups may be used to fix relative positions of various components of the devices.

Abstract: A pressure type pool cleaner includes a head propelled forwardly over a surface. Water pumped to the head drives wheels turbine fashion; inducts debris into a cleaner system; and is ejected via a thrust nozzle onto a guide and thence along a thrust line to thrust the head along the line. A pivoted director mounts the guide and includes a surface member exposed to the water. During forward movement, water pressure on the member counteracts jet stream pressure on the guide and maintains the guide's orientation for the thrust line to pass closely above a wheel rotation axis. When an obstacle stops forward motion, pressure on the member and its counteracting stop, the guide is reoriented and redirects the thrust to well below the axis to pivot the head about the axis to assist the wheels to scale the obstacle.

Abstract: Some embodiments of pool cleaner hoses and methods for making the same may include a flexible hose section associated with a pool cleaner that is flexible, but also able to resist substantial compression along its longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the flexible hose section may be formed from a number of segments.

Abstract: Separate covers for protruding portions of discs of automatic swimming pool cleaners are addressed. The covers may be placed onto protrusions, such as fins, and removed from the fins as needed. Version of the covers are made of material more rigid and having lower coefficient of friction than the fins to discourage lateral bending of the fins and decrease frictional contact of the fins with pool surfaces.

Abstract: Automatic pool cleaners and associated hoses are detailed. Hoses may contract and expand in use and include sections of differing compliancies. Such contractions and expansions may be intensified in more compliant portions and attenuated in less compliant portions. Also discussed are positive locking mechanisms for adjacent hose sections.

Abstract: Discs having recessed areas, or pockets, in their undersides are detailed. The pockets allow provision of increased suction in localized regions, especially useful when the body of an associated cleaner pivots from side to side. Downwardly-extending wear surfaces may be present as well within the pockets.

Abstract: Flexible valves principally (although not necessarily exclusively) for automatic swimming pool cleaners are addressed. The valves have generally parabolic closure regions and do not present linear transverse cross-sections to water flowing through them. The closure regions may extend substantially below the transverse center lines of the valves, which additionally may include teeth at or near hinges of the closure regions. Including the hinges reduces likelihood of undesired wear at or near the outlets of the valves.

Abstract: A pressure type pool cleaner includes a head propelled forwardly over a surface. Different portions of water pumped to the head inducts debris into a cleaner system, and is ejected via a thrust nozzle onto a deflector and thence along a thrust line to thrust the head along the line. The deflector is pivotal via a saddle about a longitudinal axis such as to be displaced laterally relative to the thrust nozzle. The deflector includes obliquely opposed deflection surfaces which are respectively aligned with the nozzle in dependence on its relatively laterally displaced position to deflect the water ejected along the line to respectively different oblique directions to adjust the direction of thrust and to effect lateral steering.

Abstract: Devices for cleaning vessels, especially swimming pools, are discussed. The devices may include a non-linear flow path in a gap surrounding an in-line valve. This non-linearity permits lengths of concentric pipes forming the gap to be decreased without sacrificing operational performance of the devices. Valves forming parts of the cleaning devices may be diaphragms but shaped, sized, reinforced, or configured differently than existing valves and may have collapsible segments whose interior shape resembles an ellipse in transverse cross-section. Co-molding of diaphragms and pipes may occur, and inner and outer cups may be used to fix relative positions of various components of the devices.

Abstract: A swivel connector (10) for a pipeline includes first and second connecting members (12, 14) connectable in the pipeline. The connecting members (12, 14) have round, telescopic pipe sections (32, 42), an annular seal (36, 46) between the pipe sections, and connectors (52, 56) which swivellably, releasably connect the connecting members (12, 14). The seal includes an inwardly proud standing peripheral ridge (36) on the first pipe section (32) which is telescopically outermost, and an aligned, complemental, thin walled, dilatable band (48) on the second pipe section, which is telescopically innermost. Liquid pressure dilates the band (48) to touch the ridge (36) to effect sealing. The connectors include a peripheral shoulder (52) on a collar (50) of the member (12) and a diametrically opposed pair of hooks (56) on the member (14) and which are releasably engageable with, to be relatively swivellable to, the shoulder (52). The sealing and swivelling surfaces can be separated for cleaning and maintenance.