FILTERING A FLUID OF A POOL

Description

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent Ser. No. 63/678,000 filing date Jul. 31, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The fluid of a pool needs to be circulated and filtered, and the pool has to be cleaned from debris.

The filtering and circulating is done by a dedicated system located (at least in part) outside the pool and includes a filter and a circulation system that is in fluid communication with a fixed outlet of the pool. The dedicated system require a dedicated pump, a dedicated filter (maybe a sand based filter, a filtering cartridge, and the like). In some cases the dedicate system may include one or more sensors and/or fluid treatment means.

The pool is also cleaned manually or by a pool cleaning robot.

The dedicated circulating and/or filtering system consumes areas outside the pool, and having a pool cleaning robot in addition to the dedicated filtering system is costly.

There is a growing need to improve the effectiveness of pool cleaning and fluid filtering and reduce cost of pool holding, by providing one system for cleaning, circulating and filtering the pool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a pool cleaning robot.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a method.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

According to an embodiment, there is provided a pool cleaning robot (PCR) that is configured to operate in a pool cleaning mode and in a fluid filtering mode. The pool cleaning mode also includes filtering the fluid of the pool.

During the fluid filtering mode, the PCR may be static (or may move). When static—a suction motor (or pump motor) is activated while the driving motor may not be activated.

During the fluid filtering mode, the PCR may operate at a constant filtering rate or at multiple different filtering rates (for example at 2-3 filtering rates).

According to an embodiment, the duration of the fluid filtering mode exceeds the duration of the pool cleaning mode, and the fluid circulation rate of the PCR is lower than the filtering rate applying during the pool cleaning mode.

Filtering the fluid of the pool from different locations within the pool increases the effectiveness of the filtering process enabling full filtering coverage of the pool.

According to an embodiment, the PCR may apply the fluid filtering mode constantly or in a non-continuous mode.

According to an embodiment, the PCR include one of more fluid quality sensors (or may be fed by the readings of external one or more fluid quality sensors)—and the fluid quality may contribute to manner in which the PCR operates in the fluid filtering mode. For example—higher quality fluid may result in a shorter duration of the fluid filtering and/or may reduce the fluid filtering rate.

A fluid quality sensor is any sensor that senses information that can be used to determine the quality of the fluid of the pool. For example—a chemical sensor, a biological sensor. Yer for another example—a camera may be used as a fluid quality sensor—for example by providing information regarding the turbidity of the fluid (assuming that high quality water is transparent)—an example of fluid turbidity estimate is provided in US patent application publication 2024/019359 which is incorporated herein by reference. Yet for another example—the quality of the fluid may be estimated based on the slipperiness of the pool—an example of estimating the slipperiness is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 12,050,170 which is incorporated herein by reference. A sensor that provides an indication regarding a clogging of the filtering unit—for example, the rate of clogging (such a sensor may be a fluid pressure sensor)—may be regarded as a fluid quality sensor—as higher clogging rates are indicative of a lower quality fluid.

According to an embodiment, a PCR that operates in the fluid filtering mode will be equipped with a larger filter (for example—at least 1.2, 2, 2.5, 3 and even more) and/or have a larger battery that a PCR not tasked with the filtering of the pool.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of method 100 for operating a pool cleaning robot.

According to an embodiment, method 100 includes step 110 of filtering, by the pool cleaning robot and while operating in a fluid filtering mode, fluid of the pool to vacuum fine particles. Fine particles may have a size of micron scale—for example have a width and/or length that does not exceed tens of microns—for example do not exceed 50 microns.

Additionally or alternatively, step 110 includes circulating the fluid of the pool.

According to an embodiment, step 110 includes operating in the fluid filtering mode in a non-continuous manner.

According to an embodiment, step 110 includes applying, by the pool cleaning robot, multiple fluid circulation rates while operating in the fluid filtering mode.

According to an embodiment, step 110 includes positioning the pool cleaning robot at multiple locations, while operating in the fluid filtering mode, and filtering the fluid of the pool from the multiple locations while operating in the fluid filtering mode.

According to an embodiment, method 100 includes step 105 of determining the multiple locations by the pool cleaning robot, based on fluid quality measurements made by the pool cleaning robot or according to pool mapping or presetting definitions.

According to an embodiment, step 105 includes determining the multiple locations using a machine learning process.

According to an embodiment, method 100 also includes step 120 of cleaning the pool, by the pool cleaning robot while operating in a pool cleaning mode. The cleaning includes removing debris and coarse particles and filtering the fluid of the pool. The cleaning may include mechanically contacting a surface of a pool using a brush wheel or any other mechanical elements to detach debris, directing one or more fluid jets to detach debris, and the like to remove or vacuum the debris. Yer another example of cleaning includes using a skimmer to collect floating debris such as leaves or insects on the water surface.

According to an embodiment, the coarse particles include settled debris.

According to an embodiment, method 100 includes operating the pool cleaning robot in the fluid filtering mode for a longer duration than operating the pool cleaning robot in the pool cleaning mode.

According to an embodiment, the pool cleaning mode may be shorter than the fluid filtering mode—for example between 1-3 hours pool cleaning mode to 8-14 hours fluid filtering mode. Any other timing relationship may exist between the duration of the fluid filtering mode and the duration of the pool cleaning mode.

According to an embodiment, the PCR may operate in the fluid filtering mode for predefined periods of time—for example 1, 2, 4, 8 hours a day—and the like.

According to an embodiment the duration and timing of operating in each mode is defined in any manner—for example according to a predefined schedule, in response to an event (for example cleanliness level of the pool, presence of people within the pool, outcomes of previous working in operational modes), and the like. The duration and timing of operating in each mode is defined in any manner—by a user, using a remote control, by a manufacturer of the pool cleaning robot, by a man machine interface of the pool cleaning robot, by a random manner, by a pseudo random manner, by applying machine learning, based on sensed information from one or more fluid quality sensor, and the like.

According to an embodiment, method 100 includes applying, during the fluid filtering mode, a fluid circulation rate that is higher than a fluid circulation rate applied during the pool cleaning mode.

According to an embodiment, the PCR may be more static when operating at the fluid filtering mode—in comparison to the movement associated with the pool cleaning mode. More static—may be static or may move from time to time—whereas the overall movement rate during the fluid filtering mode may be fraction (for example—between 1-20%, or 0.1-30%) of the overall movement rate during the pool cleaning mode.

According to an embodiment, an overall movement rate of the pool cleaning robot while operating in the pool cleaning mode exceeds an overall movement rate of the pool cleaning robot while operating in the fluid filtering mode.

According to an embodiment, the PCR is configured to perform the fluid filtering mode instead of (or in addition to) an external (to the PCR) filtering and circulation system.

According to an embodiment, method 100 includes operating the pool cleaning robot in at least one operating mode while the fluid of pool is being filtered by a pool filtering system external to the pool cleaning robot.

According to an embodiment, method 100 includes step 130 of determining by the pool cleaning robot at least one fluid filtering parameter based on a pool cleanliness parameter. The at least one fluid filtering parameter may include a circulation rate, a duration of the filtering, a location of the pool cleaning robot during the filtering, whether to operate the pool cleaning robot during a filtering by another system, and the like.

According to an embodiment, the determining of step 130 is based on information sensed by one or more fluid quality sensors of the pool cleaning robot.

According to an embodiment, method 100 includes step 140 of dispensing, by the pool cleaning robot one or more chemical agents for improving a quality of the fluid of the pool. An example of assessing fluid quality and/or dispensing one or more chemicals for improving fluid quality are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,286,177 and 11,493,495 both being incorporated herein by reference.

Additionally of alternatively, method 100 includes using a basket having openings, wherein during operation of the swimming pool cleaner, swimming pool water flows through the openings; a treatment material to: kill or harm bacteria, microbes, viruses, mold, fungi, or algae so that they do not thrive in a swimming pool, and/or clarify the swimming pool water, and/or flocculant or other chemicals to clarify swimming pool water, the treatment materials passively treating the swimming pool water as the swimming pool water flows into the basket.

An example of such a basket is illustrated in PCT patent application PCT/IL2025/050388 which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a pool cleaning robot 10 configured to execute method 100.

The pool cleaning robot 10 having cleaning and filtering capabilities, and includes filtering unit 18, coarse particle detachment unit 28 that may include brush wheels 26 or a fluid jet generator, a movement unit configured to move the pool cleaning robot, the movement unit includes drive motor 20 and other elements, and a controller 24 that is configured to select an operational mode of the pool cleaning robot of a fluid filtering mode and a pool cleaning mode; wherein when operating in the fluid filtering mode the pool cleaning robot is configured to use the filtering unit for filtering fluid of the pool to vacuum fine particles; and wherein when operating in the pool cleaning mode the pool cleaning robot is configured to use the filtering unit for filtering fluid of the pool to remove the fine particles and to use the coarse debris detachment unit to remove the coarse particles debris.

FIG. 1 also illustrates battery 14, suction motor or pump motor 16 for rotating an impeller 12 that is used to suck fluid that enters the pool cleaning robot from an opening formed in housing 24 to the filtering unit 18 and also directs filtered fluid from the filtering unit to exit the housing from another opening.

FIG. 1 further shows fluid quality sensor 22 used to sense the quality of the fluid and a dispensing unit 28 that may be used to dispense chemicals. According to an embodiment the fluid quality sensor and/or the dispensing unit 28 are not included in the pool cleaning robot.

Additionally or alternatively the pool cleaning robot may include other means for improving the quality of the fluid—for example by using a basket having openings, wherein during operation of the swimming pool cleaner, swimming pool water flows through the openings; a treatment material to: kill or harm bacteria, microbes, viruses, mold, fungi, or algae so that they do not thrive in a swimming pool, and/or clarify the swimming pool water, and/or flocculant or other chemicals to clarify swimming pool water, the treatment materials passively treating the swimming pool water as the swimming pool water flows into the basket.

An example of such a basket is illustrated in PCT patent application PCT/IL2025/050388 which is incorporated herein by reference.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a swimming pool water treatment component of a pool cleaning robot comprising: a basket having openings, wherein during operation of the pool cleaning robot, swimming pool water flows through the openings; a treatment material to: kill or harm bacteria, microbes, viruses, mold, fungi, or algae so that they do not thrive in a swimming pool, and/or clarify the swimming pool water, and/or flocculant or other chemicals to clarify swimming pool water, the treatment materials passively treating the swimming pool water as the swimming pool water flows into the basket.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the basket is releasably attached to a predetermined position in or on the pool cleaning robot.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the basket has replaceable treatment filter.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the basket is replaceable, the replacement basket having a replacement treatment filter.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the treatment filter is replaceable.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the pool cleaning robot has a swimming pool water input and a swimming pool water output, and the filter basket is positioned at the swimming pool water output of the pool cleaning robot.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the pool cleaning robot has a mechanical filter, the treatment filter receives swimming pool water after the mechanical filter captures debris and contaminants.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the pool cleaning robot has an outer surface and at least a portion of the outer surface is coated with a disinfectant material.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the treatment filter is selected from a group consisting of ceramic, inorganic polymer, inorganic polymer bonded product, or cementitious material.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the treatment material is incorporated by one or more of a group consisting of: embedded on the treatment filter; and incorporated in the treatment filter.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the replaceable filter basket disinfects the pool and improves the water disinfection by eliminating the addition of chlorine; and/or reducing the addition of chlorine; wherein the swimming pool treatment component reduces the amount of chlorine added as compared to the amount of chlorine added without the operation of the swimming pool treatment component.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the replaceable filter basket is configured to prevent bacteria and algae growth on the pool cleaning robot.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the treatment filter includes a visual indication to illustrate the need for replacement.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the visual indication is a color-changing material.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the treatment filter is configured to be replaced at least every 6 months.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the basket having a top, bottom, sides, and a detachable top.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the basket has openings in one or more sides, bottom and top and is releasably attached to an interior surface of the pool cleaning robot.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the interior surface is selected as at least one of a group consisting of the center of the pool cleaning robot and at least one side of the pool cleaning robot.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the interior of the pool cleaning robot has the center and side surfaces in a water jet channel in the pool cleaning robot.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the basket attached to the side of the pool cleaning robot has openings on the sides and top of the basket, the pool water entering the side openings and exiting the top opening.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a swimming pool water treatment accessory for an existing pool cleaning robot comprising a filter basket having a top, bottom, and sides having openings in at least one of the top, bottom, and sides, wherein during operation of the pool cleaning robot, swimming pool water flows through the openings; and a treatment material to kill or harm bacteria, microbes, viruses, mold, fungi, or algae so that they do not thrive in a swimming pool, the treatment materials passively treating the swimming pool water as the swimming pool water flows into the basket.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the basket and treatment filter are according to at least one of claims of the previous embodiments.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the basket can be attached to interior or exterior surfaces of an existing pool cleaning robot.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the basket attachment is by one of fasteners, adhesives, tabs, and tape.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method for treating pool water with a pool cleaning robot comprising: providing a basket according to previous embodiments; placing a flocculant or other water treatment chemical in the basket, the flocculant configured to dissolve in the pool water; installing the basket in the pool cleaning robot; operating the pool cleaning robot allowing water to enter the basket; deactivating the pool cleaning robot to allow the flocculant to form particles; and reactivating the pool cleaning robot to collect the particles.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the operation of the pool cleaning robot to dissolve the flocculant or water treatment is at least 20 minutes.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the deactivation of the pool cleaning robot to allow particle formation or treatment is at least 60 minutes.

Any reference to the term “comprising” or “having” should be interpreted also as referring to “consisting” of “essentially consisting of”. For example—a pool cleaning robot that comprises certain components can include additional components, can be limited to the certain components or may include additional components that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the pool cleaning robot—respectively.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific examples of embodiments of the invention. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Moreover, the terms “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the boundaries between logic blocks are merely illustrative and that alternative embodiments may merge logic blocks or circuit elements or impose an alternate decomposition of functionality upon various logic blocks or circuit elements. Thus, it is to be understood that the architectures depicted herein are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality.

Any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or “operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality.

Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that boundaries between the above described operations merely illustrative. The multiple operations may be combined into a single operation, a single operation may be distributed in additional operations and operations may be executed at least partially overlapping in time. Moreover, alternative embodiments may include multiple instances of a particular operation, and the order of operations may be altered in various other embodiments.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.