Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for cleaning a water tank

US4518437A · kind A · utility

114Cited by
5References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 5, 1983
Grant dateMay 21, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 5, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE04H4/1654
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus for a pool or tank has caterpillar tracks controlled by steering clutches actuated by a regulating device with a compass as a measured course value sensor, a setting device for the desired course value, a comparator for determining the error between the measured course value and the desired course value. The apparatus follows in oblique path from one travel path to the next by modifying the desired course by a given angle. After a given time, the desired course value is again modified by the same amount in the opposite direction, so that the cleaning apparatus returns parallel to the first path. By setting the angle and duration for the oblique travel, the new travel path can be selected independently of the dimensions of the pool to be cleaned.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.