DE102016002334A1 - Device for cleaning water surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a floating surface skimmer comprising a float and a catching device for receiving and collecting impurities floating on a water surface. The safety gear has a catching lip, a collecting portion for collecting trapped impurities, and a rise connected to the collecting portion and the float.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning water surfaces and near-surface water layers, especially in enclosed waters, for example in swimming pools, swimming ponds, ponds and lakes.

Water surfaces are exposed to recurring contamination by continuous entry of mostly unwanted foreign matter, such as leaves, petals, dust, insects, feathers, hair and the like. Therefore, regular cleaning is required especially for smaller bodies of water such as swimming pools, swimming ponds, ponds and smaller lakes.

Impurities can be removed manually, for example with the aid of a netting, from the water. However, since working time is expensive, this solution is not desirable for businesses or privately used waters. Rather, an automated cleaning is preferable.

For larger amounts of water this permanently installed, usually complex filter and pump systems are used, the drive water from the water through a filter system and then direct the filtered water back into the pool. However, in addition to a considerable financial outlay, this solution often requires a certain minimum volume of water throughput, so these systems are not compatible with smaller waters.

Alternatively, floating surface skimmers are offered that move freely across the surface of the water, collecting impurities in the upper layers of water. US 2006/0104720 A1 discloses such a solar powered device.

However, previous automated water purification devices have in common that they make no distinction between living and dead or non-living contaminants. As a result, smaller animals, especially beneficials such as bees and bumblebees that have fallen into the water or move across the water surface and are covered by the cleaning mechanism, unnecessarily come to death. This process, which is undesirable in itself, also contributes to an increased contamination volume of a body of water, which leads to an increased cleaning or maintenance effort.

It is therefore an object of the present invention, a surface skimmer for cleaning the water surface and the near-surface water layers of waters, but especially not exclusively of swimming pools, swimming ponds and ponds up to a surface of for example 2 m ² to 50 m ² , preferably 5 m ² to 20 m ² and for example 10 m ² , whereby the death rate of the living beings covered by the surface skimmer is reduced.

This object is achieved by the surface skimmer according to claim 1. The surface skimmer according to the invention floats and has a catching device for receiving and collecting impurities at and / or near a water surface. The safety gear has a catching lip, a collecting section for collecting trapped impurities, and a rise suitable for land animals following the collecting section. The catch lip can cover the full 360 ° or only part of the possible directions of movement of the surface skimmer parallel to the water surface. Due to the surface skimmer according to the invention, ascended creatures are offered an ascent and thus an escape route for self-rescue.

If an impurity in the area of the water surface meets the catch lip of the surface skimmer with sufficient relative speed, the contaminant is conducted from the catch lip into the collecting section of the safety gear. As long as the capacity of the collection section is not exhausted, a once collected impurity is highly likely to remain in the collection section regardless of the direction of movement of the surface skimmer until the surface skimmer is manually emptied. Such a collected living being, for example, a bee or bumblebee, can escape the collecting section again by rescuing from the collecting section on the rise. The ascent is conveniently preferred as a non-steep ramp that provides sufficient grip to run, and extends from below the water surface in the connected collection section to a safe height, preferably at least 10 mm, above the highest water surface in the immediate vicinity. The animal can dry on the ramp at a safe distance from the water and then fly on its own or wait for its rescue at the next inspection of the surface skimmer.

The buoyancy of the surface skimmer requires a buoyancy of the surface skimmer adapted to the weight of the surface skimmer. The buoyancy is by one or more suitably sized floating body, which may for example be formed as a polystyrene body and / or watertight closed hollow body can, generated. Alternatively or additionally, a portion of the Oberflächenskimmers, which primarily has a different function, be made as a water-sealed hollow body and / or have floating material and thus assume the function of a floating body.

The safety gear of a surface scoop according to the invention is preferably at least partially permeable to water. The safety gear can be designed as spanned by shaping struts network. The safety catch may catch over any number of struts, with one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight struts being preferred. The struts are preferably made of a material of low density, preferably plastic and / or wood, and may be formed as a hollow body. The network preferably comprises plastic, metal, a wire mesh and / or cotton. Alternatively, the safety gear may have an inherently dimensionally stable sieve and / or rake, which preferably comprises plastic, rubber, metal, a wire mesh, cotton and / or wood. The rise preferably has a net-like and / or otherwise structured surface. The safety gear may have a lipophilic surface.

The plan view of a surface scoop according to the invention is preferably polygonal, particularly preferably square, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal or octagonal. Floor corners can be bevelled and / or rounded. Alternatively, the floor plan may take any other shape, such as oval, round or an irregular shape.

The surface skimmer may be equipped with a container suitable for containing pool cleaning tablets and / or other chemicals. The chemicals may be in solid and / or liquid and / or gaseous state and in dissolved and / or undissolved state. The container is preferably made at least partially permeable to water, such as a basket and / or mesh and / or water and chemical permeable membrane, so that the chemicals are released gradually to the water. Furthermore, it is preferred that the container with the remaining surface skimmer is reversibly, for example via a plug connection or a screw thread, connected and can be solved for the purpose of filling and re-attached. Alternatively or additionally, the container has a filling opening with closure.

In another embodiment, the surface skimmer may include one or more water quality and / or water temperature monitoring devices. In such a device, chemical, mechanical and / or electrical methods can be used. Preferably, a device for displaying the measured water quality and / or the measured water temperature is integrated. The display may include an electronic display, such as a light, an LED, and / or a display for displaying text and / or symbols. The display may additionally or exclusively have a mechanical component, such as a pointer and / or a liquid column, and / or a chemical display, each optionally with a scale. For example, the surface skimmer can measure and display the pH of the water, for example by means of indicator paper or sticks. Also possible is a pH measurement and display by means of a pH meter. Furthermore, the surface skimmer may include an electronic or a liquid column based thermometer. Furthermore, the surface skimmer may have a device for measuring the chlorine content in the water and / or a device for displaying the chlorine content in the water.

In one embodiment, the surface skimmer uses external forces, such as air and / or water currents, to move across the water surface to collect contaminants. In a further embodiment, to increase its efficiency, the surface skimmer may have its own drive system which generates propulsion of the surface skimmer. The drive system preferably includes a motor that preferably uses electrical energy to move the surface skimmer. The propulsion of the surface skimmer is preferably generated by the engine driving a suitably scaled propeller and / or operating a pump that draws water from the water and expels it through an outlet, thereby producing a jet of water and thus a recoil for propulsion is being used. The drive system is preferably constructed so that the inflowing water passes first the catch lip and the collecting portion of the safety gear before it passes through the propeller or the pump. Alternatively or additionally, the incoming water passes through a water-permeable safety filter, which shields the propeller or the pump from the environment. As a result, on the one hand damage to the surface skimmer by larger and / or particularly hard objects and other injuries to humans, animals and / or other objects such as toys or plants are avoided.

Preferably, a self-propelled surface skimmer generates waves on the surface of the body of water with the water moved for the purpose of propulsion, making the surface more perceptible to living beings. This will already reduced the rate of entry of animals into the water, so that the cleaning or rescue effort is reduced. Furthermore, oxygen is supplied to the water by the generation of surface waves, which in particular favors the preservation of the ecological balance of swimming ponds, ponds and lakes.

The drive system of the surface skimmer is preferably designed in such a way that propulsion in several directions can be generated. The different propulsion directions are preferably generated by the use of multiple propellers and / or outlets for water jets, which generate different strong propulsion forces depending on the desired direction. Alternatively or additionally, a propeller and / or an outlet is movable, so that one and the same propeller or the same outlet can produce propulsion in several directions. Alternatively or additionally, different propulsion directions are generated by different positions of a tail below the water surface.

Preferably, the surface skimmer autonomously changes its propulsion direction at adjustable regular and / or random intervals, so as to gradually descend the entire surface of the body of water. Preferably, two directly successive directions of movement differ at least regularly by 90 ° to 270 °, more preferably by 110 ° to 250 °, particularly preferably by 135 ° to 225 °. This ensures that the surface skimmer does not get trapped in corners and / or small bays of swimming pools and / or ponds.

A further preferred embodiment of the surface skimmer has a detection system which detects an obstacle in the direction of movement of the surface skimmer. Upon detection of an obstacle, the drive system is controlled such that the surface skimmer changes its propulsion direction. The detection system can be mechanically or electronically coupled to the drive.

Preferably, the surface skimmer has a location for receiving a rechargeable and / or non-rechargeable electrical energy store, which space is preferably watertight to the outside environment. Preferably, electrical contacts are integrated, which are suitable for the connection of the memory for electrical energy and via which the surface skimmer is electrically connected to the memory.

In a further preferred embodiment, the surface skimmer has a solar panel, which is preferably mounted on the upper side of the surface skimmer. The electrical energy generated by the solar panel can be used directly and / or stored for later use in an electrical storage.

The electrical energy that may be provided by a solar panel or by an electrical storage may, for example, be used by the drive system, the detection system and / or water quality and / or water temperature monitoring devices.

In a preferred embodiment, the surface skimmer includes a microprocessor that may be used to execute and / or coordinate user input, measurement, display, propulsion, detection, control, power, power, and / or energy usage as appropriate, and / or or to process and / or control.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the Oberflächenskimmers invention are described in detail with reference to FIGS. Show it:

1A a side view of a Oberflächenskimmers invention;

1B a plan view of the Oberflächenskimmers invention 1A ;

2 a cross section through the safety gear along the line CD of the Oberflächenskimmers invention 1B ;

3 a cross section along the line AB of the Oberflächenskimmers invention 1B ;

4 a perspective view of the Oberflächenskimmers invention 1A , wherein a part of the Oberflächenskimmers is shown cut open.

1A shows the side view of a preferred embodiment of a Oberflächenskimmers invention 2 , The surface skimmer 2 has a safety gear 4 with a climb 6 on. The surface skimmer 2 also has a float 8th on, for example, has polystyrene. The float 8th is dimensioned such that a catch lip 10 the safety gear 4 at or just below the water surface 12 What is one of his functioning optimized immersion depth of the surface skimmer 2 in the water 14 equivalent.

As seen from the top view 1B it can be seen, the embodiment of the Oberflächenskimmers invention 2 a rotating safety gear 4 on, its catch lip 10 Accordingly, the full 360 ° of the possible directions of movement of the surface skimmer 2 parallel to the water surface 12 covers. The embodiment shown here has in plan view according to 1B a square plan with bevelled corners, but in other embodiments, other planforms, z. B. rectangular, round, polygonal or oval, have and with fully encircling or partially rotating safety gear 4 be equipped.

The safety gear 4 the Indian 1A and 1B illustrated embodiment has struts 16 on that a network 18 , which preferably has plastic, tension in its intended form. The network 18 preferably has a mesh size of 0.5 to 2 mm, which on the one hand the capture of impurities and on the other hand, a sufficiently large water flow rate is ensured.

2 shows a schematic cross section through the safety gear 4 along the line CD 1B , The safety gear 4 indicates on the line from D to C a generally S-shaped contour, ie the catch lip 10 bulges out of the water 14 up through the water surface 12 and go into the downward curved collection section 20 over, partially below the water surface 12 located. The collection section 20 goes on the catch lip 10 opposite side into a sloping ramp over which the climb 6 forms and up to the central floating body 8th of the surface skimmer 2 can reach. The climb 6 is preferably not too steep, preferably with a slope of 10% to 60%, and a surface finish that allows animals, such as insects such as bees and bumblebees, to run on it.

The moves in the 1B illustrated embodiment on the water surface 12 Thus, an impurity, such as leaves, petals or an insect, which is at a sufficient relative speed on the catch lip 10 meets, over the catch lip 10 in the collection section 20 promoted. This operating principle applies to every movement direction of the surface skimmer parallel to the water surface 12 because the catch lip 10 the illustrated embodiment covers each of these directions of movement. The S-shape of the safety gear 4 causes a once collected impurity with high probability regardless of the direction of movement of the surface skimmer 2 in the collection section 20 remains until the surface skimmer 20 is emptied manually. If the contamination is an animal, such as a bee or a bumblebee, then the ascent allows 6 in the form of a ramp the animal self-rescue from the collection section 20 ,

At the top of his central float 8th has the in 1B illustrated embodiment solar panels 22 to provide the electrical energy gained from light. This is in the cross section of 3 shown closer. The energy thus obtained is immediately used to generate propulsion or stored for later use in an electrical energy store (not shown). Alternatively or additionally, the energy is used immediately and / or later for the operation of one or more measuring devices and / or displays (not shown in each case).

As in 3 is shown, the embodiment described here at the bottom of a container 24 for the absorption of chemicals 26 , for example, chlorine tablets on. The container 24 can with the surface skimmer 2 be reversibly connected via a plug connection and can be solved for the purpose of filling and re-attached. The chemicals carried during operation 26 are successively, z. B. by a permeable container wall, to the water 14 issued.

Furthermore, the in 3 illustrated surface skimmers 2 preferably at least one electric motor 28 on, the propulsion of the surface skimmer 2 under conversion of electrical energy, which he directly from the solar panels 22 and / or from electrical energy stores (not shown). In the present embodiment, the electric motor operates 28 at least one pump, which by suction of water 14 and its ejection through an outlet generates a jet of water and thus a propulsion based on the recoil principle.

For a better overview, some of the aforementioned components are in 5 shown again in a perspective and cut to a quarter view.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 2006/0104720 A1 [0005]

Claims (14)

Floating surface skimmer ( 2 ), a float ( 8th ) and a safety gear ( 4 ) for picking up and collecting on a water surface ( 12 ) has floating impurities, the safety device ( 4 ) a catch lip ( 10 ), a collection section ( 20 ) for collecting trapped contaminants and one to the collecting section ( 20 ) and the float ( 8th connected ascent ( 6 ) having. Surface skimmer according to claim 1, wherein the collecting section ( 20 ) to the catch lip ( 10 ) and the ascent ( 6 ) to the collecting section ( 20 ) in such a way that the surface skimmer ( 2 ) along a path from the outer edge of the catch lip ( 10 ) via the collection section ( 20 ) until the ascent ( 6 ) has a surface profile which initially rises, then drops and subsequently rises again, and / or wherein the catch lip ( 10 ) and the collection section ( 20 ) have a lipophilic surface, and / or wherein the safety device ( 4 ) is partially permeable to water. Surface skimmer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the collecting section ( 20 ) to the catch lip ( 10 ) and the ascent ( 6 ) to the collecting section ( 20 ), and wherein the catch lip ( 10 ) in an upwardly curved zone the water surface ( 12 ), the collection section ( 20 ) a downwardly arched zone below the water surface ( 12 ) and the rise ( 6 ) from the collection section ( 20 ) out to a height above the water surface ( 12 ), preferably at least 10 mm above the water surface ( 12 ) leads. Surface skimmer according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface skimmer ( 2 ) floats freely. Surface skimmer according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface skimmer ( 2 ) has a drive system suitable for its propulsion, preferably with at least one propeller and / or at least one water jet. Surface skimmer according to claim 5, wherein the movement of water generated by the drive system ( 14 ) to a wave formation at the water surface ( 12 ), where the formation of waves is sufficient for insects to penetrate the water surface ( 12 ) as such. Surface skimmer according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the drive system is designed for propulsion in several directions. Surface skimmer according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the drive system independently changes the propulsion direction in equal and / or randomly determined time intervals. Surface skimmer according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the surface skimmer ( 2 ) has a detection system for the detection of obstacles and wherein the drive system independently changes the direction of advance upon detection of an obstacle such that the surface skimmer ( 2 ) away from the obstacle. Surface skimmer according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface skimmer ( 2 ) has a space for receiving a rechargeable or non-rechargeable electric energy storage, and wherein the surface skimmer ( 2 ) electrical contacts, which are suitable for the connection of the memory for electrical energy has. Surface skimmer according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface skimmer has at least one solar panel ( 22 ) having. Surface skimmer according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface skimmer ( 2 ) at least one container ( 24 ) for receiving and dispensing chemicals ( 26 ) having. Surface skimmer according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface skimmer ( 2 ) has at least one device for monitoring the water quality and / or the water temperature and / or wherein the surface skimmer ( 2 ) has at least one device for displaying the water quality and / or the water temperature. Surface skimmer according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the safety gear ( 4 ) at least one, preferably at least two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight struts ( 16 ), and at least one on the struts ( 16 ) tense network ( 18 ) having.

Images