Fluid Jet Device

1. Field of the Invention

A fluid jet device for removing foreign matter from a pool of liquid.

2. Description of Prior Art

With the introduction of swimming pools, various self-cleaning devices and techniques have been developed. One approach for proper cleaning of the water employs circulating and filtering the water drawn over a skimming and into a skim tank. Floating debris passes out of the pool and is collected in a filter like arrangement. Due to evaporation and splashing, the level of water in a pool is not maintained constant. In order to maintain proper flow from the surface of the pool to the filter despite changes of height of the water in the pool where floating wiers have been used.

In such arrangements, the water passing over the skimming weir is received in the tank, which supplies the inlet of a pump which does the recirculating. The floating weir is pivoted on a horizontal axis, and is responsive to the level of water in the tank, and it operates to keep the level constant for any given flow rate determined by the pump. The weir performs this function over an ordinary range of variation of pool water level.

Another technique includes a plurality of spored nozzles disposed in the opposite side walls of the pool for injecting streams of conically-shaped inoculum carrying liquid into the pool to create turbulent mixing regions. Still another example comprises a plurality of rotating jet delivery means adapted to deliver jet streams of water substantially parallel to and in adjacent relation with the inner surface of the pool for washing and cleansing the inner surface.

Prior art examples are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,073,784; 2,088,410; 2,739,939; 3,018,491; 3,090,489; 3,261,371; 3,289,216; 3,778,023; 3,315,692; 3,392,738; 3,432,867; 3,577,571; 3,608,131; 3,675,252; 3,797,508; 3,829,911.

The present invention relates to a fluid jet device for removing foreign matter from a pool of liquid. More specifically the fluid jet device comprises an outer housing having an elongated rotating means rotatably disposed therein by a coupling means.

The outer housing comprises an elongated hollow member having a centrally disposed channel extending the entire longitudinal dimension thereof. The elongated rotating means comprises a substantially cylindrical member having at least one convoluted spiral formed the entire length thereof. The housing is operatively coupled to the coupling or rotary means such as a bearing attached to the wall of a swimming pool or the like. The inner portion of the hollow member comprises an inlet while the outer portion comprises an outlet to provide rapid rotation as fluid is forced through the spiral channel. The outlet may comprise a plurality of outlet ports.

In use the fluid jet device is coupled to a water source to receive water under pressure through the inlet. Normally the fluid jet device is secured near the bottom of a swimming pool to sweep the bottom to clean dirt and debris through the force of water exiting from the outlet. Pressure of the fluid passing through the spiral causes rotation of the device.

Although the fluid jet device is depicted as a cleaning means for a swimming pool, it is envisioned to also function as a sprinkler or fountain.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the fluid jet device.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of the fluid jet device taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the fluid jet device.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the fluid jet device.

FIG. 5 is a top view of still another alternate embodiment of the fluid jet device.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the alternate embodiment of the fluid jet device of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a side view of still another alternate embodiment of the fluid jet device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the fluid jet device generally indicated as 10 for removing foreign matter from a pool of liquid comprises an outer housing generally indicated as 12 having an elongated rotating means 14 rotatably disposed therein by a coupling means generally indicated as 16.

As shown, the outer housing 12 comprises an elongated substantially cylindrical hollow member 18 having a centrally disposed channel 20 extending the entire longitudinal dimension thereof. The elongated rotating means 14 comprises a substantially cylindrical member 22 having at least one convoluted spiral 24 formed entire length thereof. The inner portion of the housing 12 is operatively coupled to the coupling means 16 which comprises rotary means 26. The rotary means 26 such as a bearing includes an outer portion 28 attached to the wall of a swimming pool 30 or the like and an inner portion 32 rotatably mounted thereon to which the inner portion of the hollow member 18 is fixedly attached. The inner portion of the hollow member 18 comprises an inlet 34 while the outer portion comprises an outlet 36 (the axis of the outlet 36 offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the fluid jet device 10 to provide rapid rotation as fluid is forced through the spiral channel 24 as more fully described hereinafter).

In use the fluid jet device 10 is coupled to a water source (not shown) to receive water under pressure through the inlet 24. Normally the fluid jet device 10 is secured near the bottom of a swimming pool (not shown) to sweep the bottom to clean dirt and debris through the force of water exiting from the outlet 36. Pressure of the fluid passing through the spiral 24 causes rotation of the device 10 at any given speed depending upon the size and shape of the spiral 24, the amount of friction caused by indentation or other markings on the spiral 24 and the amount of the pressure of liquid passing through the spiral 24.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment wherein the outlet 36 comprises a plurality of outlet ports 38 formed in the hollow member 18.

An alternate embodiment as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may comprise a hollow member 18 having a spray head 40 mounted on the outer end thereof including at least one channel 42 offset relative to the longitudinal dimension of the substantially cylindrical hollow member 18. The device 10 may be configured to operate with a channel 42 formed on the periphery of the hollow member 18 as shown in FIG. 7.

Although the fluid jet device 10 is depicted as a cleaning means for a swimming pool, it is envisioned to also function as sprinkler or fountain.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,