Abstract: Automatic swimming pool cleaners and components thereof are described. The cleaners may provide dual filtration of debris suspended in water of pools as well as a fluid path allowing some water to by-pass one of the two filters. They also may include any of all components such as multi-section inlet tubes, Venturi jets, nozzles exhausting water onto rotatable vanes, brushes, downforce turbines, and mechanisms for adjusting water flow through thrust jets or sweep tails.

Abstract: Buoyant, autonomous devices for actively scrubbing upstanding walls of swimming pools and spas at and nearby their waterlines are detailed. The devices may be configured to float on and travel along a surface of water of a pool and include at least one brush or scrubber adapted to contact pool walls. An electric motor may cause the scrubber to rotate about a shaft or axle, with frictional contact between the scrubber and the wall dislodging dirt and debris therefrom. In particular, if a scrubber is conically shaped and angled relative to the vertical direction, its rotating blades may lift water from the pool to hydrate dried debris stuck to the wall, thereby facilitating dislodging of the debris.

Abstract: Automatic swimming pool cleaners and components thereof are described. The cleaners may provide dual filtration of debris suspended in water of pools as well as a fluid path allowing some water to by-pass one of the two filters. They also may include any of all components such as multi-section inlet tubes, Venturi jets, nozzles exhausting water onto rotatable vanes, brushes, downforce turbines, and mechanisms for adjusting water flow through thrust jets or sweep tails.

Abstract: Automatic swimming pool cleaners and components thereof are described. The cleaners may provide dual filtration of debris suspended in water of pools as well as a fluid path allowing some water to by-pass one of the two filters. They also may include any of all components such as multi-section inlet tubes, Venturi jets, nozzles exhausting water onto rotatable vanes, brushes, downforce turbines, and mechanisms for adjusting water flow through thrust jets or sweep tails.

Abstract: Buoyant, autonomous devices for actively scrubbing upstanding walls of swimming pools and spas at and nearby their waterlines are detailed. The devices may be configured to float on and travel along a surface of water of a pool and include at least one brush or scrubber adapted to contact pool walls. An electric motor may cause the scrubber to rotate about a shaft or axle, with frictional contact between the scrubber and the wall dislodging dirt and debris therefrom. In particular, if a scrubber is conically shaped and angled relative to the vertical direction, its rotating blades may lift water from the pool to hydrate dried debris stuck to the wall, thereby facilitating dislodging of the debris.

Abstract: Automatic swimming pool cleaners and components thereof are described. The cleaners may provide dual filtration of debris suspended in water of pools as well as a fluid path allowing some water to by-pass one of the two filters. They also may include any of all components such as multi-section inlet tubes, Venturi jets, nozzles exhausting water onto rotatable vanes, brushes, downforce turbines, and mechanisms for adjusting water flow through thrust jets or sweep tails.

Abstract: Swimming pool cleaners are detailed with filtration components attached at the rears of their bodies. At least some of the components may be external to a body, rather than within it, so as to provide greater surface area for filtered water to exit. They also may allow users to view the quantity of debris trapped in the filter without having to dissemble the cleaner. By contrast with many existing external filter bags, moreover, the components need not protrude materially above (or below) the heights of the bodies, hence avoiding creation of hydraulic drag as the cleaners move within pools, spas, or other liquid-containing vessels.

Abstract: Automatic pool cleaners (APCs) and components thereof are detailed. The APCs may include tracks for movement, with the tracks having teethed internal surfaces. The APCs additionally may supply shift mechanisms for purposes of changing direction of their movement and incorporate bladed scrubbers and easily-opening bodies.

Abstract: Automatic pool cleaners (APCs) and components thereof are detailed. The APCs may turn feet, rather than entire bodies, to change direction and may provide water-flow paths through the bodies that are oriented vertically. Thus, unlike existing disc-based cleaners, the APCs may reduce influence of connected hoses on their movements within pools.

Abstract: Swimming pool cleaners are detailed with filtration components attached at the rears of their bodies. At least some of the components may be external to a body, rather than within it, so as to provide greater surface area for filtered water to exit. They also may allow users to view the quantity of debris trapped in the filter without having to dissemble the cleaner. By contrast with many existing external filter bags, moreover, the components need not protrude materially above (or below) the heights of the bodies, hence avoiding creation of hydraulic drag as the cleaners move within pools, spas, or other liquid-containing vessels.

Abstract: Automatic pool cleaners (APCs) and components thereof are detailed. The APCs may include tracks for movement, with the tracks having teethed internal surfaces. The APCs additionally may supply shift mechanisms for purposes of changing direction of their movement and incorporate bladed scrubbers and easily-opening bodies.

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: Automatic pool cleaners (APCs) and components thereof are detailed. The APCs may turn feet, rather than entire bodies, to change direction and may provide water-flow paths through the bodies that are oriented vertically. Thus, unlike existing disc-based cleaners, the APCs may reduce influence of connected hoses on their movements within pools.

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: A hose joint for a pool cleaner or other apparatus that includes at least two swivels. The first swivel is configured to rotate about a first axis and the second swivel is configured to rotate about a second axis that is different from the first axis. In some embodiments, one of the swivels is configured to rotate approximately 360 degrees about its axis of rotation. In this way, the hose joint has at least two directions of freedom in at least two different planes that help the cleaner move independently from a hose attached to the hose joint.

Abstract: Detailed are components of cleaners of fluid-containing vessels such as pools and spas. The components may incorporate combined discs and footpads and attach to other components of a cleaner other than by receipt of a boundary of a central aperture into a groove. The components nevertheless may continue to include central apertures as appropriate.

Abstract: An encapsulated bulkhead for use as a void filler to secure and protect cargo loads during transportation, such as in rail cars or trucks, is described. The encapsulated bulkhead includes a bulkhead member and an encapsulation or coating. In one embodiment, the bulkhead member includes two planar parallel deck sheets, a planar peripheral side member, and a honeycomb cell core, which may be made of corrugated paper or other paper. In another embodiment, the bulkhead member is a uniform expanded polypropylene. The coating is a water-resistant material which may be an elastomer, such as a polyurea, polyurethane, or polyurethane/polyurea hybrid. A method for encapsulating a bulkhead member is also provided. The method includes the steps of providing a bulkhead member, spraying the bulkhead member with the components of an elastomer to coat or encapsulate the bulkhead, and allowing the components to cure for a period of time sufficient to form the water-resistant elastomer.

Abstract: Devices for cleaning vessels, especially swimming pools, are discussed. The devices may include repositionable in-line valves, with the valves typically moving laterally (from side to side) and changing the initial direction of the main fluid-flow path through the valves and corresponding cleaner bodies. Asymmetric feet may be utilized as part of the devices, whose bottom bearing surfaces may include elongated strips of material placed parallel to the normally-forward direction of travel of the devices. Discs of non-uniform flexibility also may be employed, and blocking tabs or gripping material may be used to inhibit undesired backward movement of a cleaner when its operation commences.

Abstract: Detailed are components of cleaners of fluid-containing vessels such as pools and spas. The components may incorporate combined discs and footpads and attach to other components of a cleaner other than by receipt of a boundary of a central aperture into a groove. The components nevertheless may continue to include central apertures as appropriate.

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.