DEVICE FOR GUIDING A SURFACE LINK CABLE FOR A SUBMERGED ROBOT

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for guiding a cable for linking a submerged robot, in particular a robot for cleaning swimming pools, to the device for controlling and powering same, said guiding device comprising: a. a coupling including a rotary connector, connected by one side to a first floating portion of the linking cable extending from the control and power device to said coupling and, by the other side, to a second portion of the linking cable extending from said coupling to the submerged robot; b. a floating mounting including: bi. a float; bii. an interface for mechanically linking the rotary connector to said float; and biii. a hood extending above the surface when the floating mounting is submerged in a liquid and removably connected to the float; c. in which the mechanical link between the float and the rotary coupling is a ball-and-socket link.

Claims

1. A device for guiding a cable for connecting a submerged robot, in particular a robot for cleaning swimming pools, to the device for controlling and powering it, said guiding device including: a. a coupling including a rotary connector, connected by one side to a first floating portion of the connecting cable extending from the control and power supply device to said coupling and, by the other side, to a second portion of the connecting cable extending from said coupling to the submerged robot; b. a floating support including: bi. a float; bii. an interface for mechanically connecting the rotary connector to said float; and biii. a hood extending above the surface when the floating support is immersed in a liquid and removably connected to the float; c. in which the mechanical connection between the float and the rotary coupling is a ball-and-socket connection.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, in which the hood is a smooth and convex dome.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, in which the float is substantially cylindrical, the axis (L) of said cylinder being substantially perpendicular to the flotation plane, the mechanical connection being situated on the axis (L) and on the opposite side to the hood, the float having an increased diameter in the direction of the hood.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, in which the profile of the float follows a diabolo shape.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, in which the hood includes a projecting pillar made of a buoyant material.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, in which the float includes means for removably connecting the hood.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, including: d. a second rotary connector between the float and the first cable portion, said rotary connector allowing one degree of freedom in rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, including: e. means for increasing the resistance to twisting of the second cable portion.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, in which the mechanical connection of the rotary connector with the float is provided by a ball-and-socket with a finger that is prevented from rotating relative to the axis of the cylinder.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] The invention is explained hereinafter according to preferred nonlimiting embodiments and with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front view in partial section of one embodiment of the device according to the invention suitable for use under a pool cover;

[0031] FIG. 2 represents the same view as FIG. 1 of another embodiment of the device according to the invention including a mechanical connection to the rotary connector by means of a ball-and-socket with a finger; and

[0032] FIG. 3 shows the same view as the previous figures of one example of the use of the device according to the invention in a configuration suitable for use in a pool that is not covered.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, the device according to one embodiment of the invention allows connection of a first submerged robot connecting cable portion (110) and a second cable portion (120). The first cable portion (110) is buoyant and extends substantially parallel to the surface (190) of the liquid between the control and power supply device (not shown) of the robot and floatation means (100) and the second connecting cable portion (120) extends substantially vertically between said flotation means (100) and the robot (not shown). The robot is for example a swimming pool cleaning robot.

[0034] According to this embodiment in which the swimming pool has a depth of 3 m, the first portion (110) of the connecting cable has a length between 10 m and 15 m inclusive and the second portion (120) of the connecting cable has a length of 3.5 m. To prevent any twisting the resistance to twisting of the second connecting cable portion is increased by a helical sheath enabling it to retain some flexibility in bending, for example.

[0035] According to this embodiment, the pool is covered by a pool cover (150). The flotation device (100) includes a float (130) of cylindrical shape about an axis (L) substantially perpendicular to the surface (190) of the liquid when said float (130) is immersed therein. Said float is made for example of expanded polystyrene with a density between 15 km/m.sup.3 and 25 kg/m.sup.3 inclusive. The top part of the float includes a hood of convex dome shape (135) in this embodiment that is removably fixed to said float (130), for example by clipping means (136). Said convex dome is smooth and advantageously made of or coated with a material having a low coefficient of friction relative to the material of the pool cover (150). The shape of the float (130) is designed so that its diameter increases toward its top part, out of the water, receiving said hood, so that the buoyancy section and the displaced volume increase if said float is pulled down. The float therefore tends to stabilize in a floating position with the axis (L) substantially vertical. Increasing the buoyancy area increases the return force on the float (130) relative to the pitch and roll axes perpendicular to the axis (L) and therefore tends to maintain the float in a vertical position. The float (130) is advantageously of diabolo shape, which makes it possible to benefit from the effect explained above whilst reducing the displacement of water of the float in motion compared to a straight-sided cylindrical float.

[0036] According to this embodiment, the connecting cable portions (110, 120) are connected to the float by connectors (141, 142) turning about perpendicular axes. These rotary connectors provide continuity of transmission of power and information between the two connecting cable portions (110, 120).

[0037] According to an alternative embodiment, only the second cable portion (120) is connected to the float by a rotary connector (142).

[0038] Said rotary connectors are connected to the float (130) by means of a support part (140) that is connected to the float (130) by a ball-and-socket (143) on the axis (L) of the cylinder.

[0039] Accordingly, in the vicinity of the float, the first cable portion is held substantially parallel to the surface of the water while the second cable portion extends substantially perpendicularly to it. The cooperation of the flotation means and the rotary connectors makes it possible to preserve this configuration regardless of the position of the robot in the swimming pool and regardless of the tension exerted by either cable. The pool cover cooperates with the dome and the float, the dome buoyancy and the weight of the pool cover in contact with the latter being so that the first cable portion cannot pass over the float (130).

[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, according to another embodiment only the second connecting cable portion (120) is connected to the float by a rotary connector (142).

[0041] According to one embodiment, not exclusive of this embodiment, the degree of freedom of the ball-and-socket connection between the support part (140) and the float (130) is limited by a finger (243) entering a groove (244) of the dome (245) of articulation of the ball-and-socket. Said finger (243) prevents the ball-and-socket from turning about the axis (L) of the cylinder. Accordingly, rotation of the robot about an axis substantially parallel to this axis when it is not vertically below the float entrains said float and the first floating portion of the connecting cable so that the second cable portion is not able to pass under said first portion, thus preventing the risk of tangling of the two cable portions.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 3, according to another embodiment of the device according to the invention, suitable for use in a pool that is not covered, the hood (335) consists of a pillar. According to one embodiment, said pillar is a hollow tube 4 cm in diameter and 12 cm high made of expanded polystyrene, for example. Said pillar is connected to the float (130) by the same clipping means as are used for the convex dome. This pillar (335) makes it possible to push away the first connecting cable portion (110) even if the traction exerted by the second cable portion (120) tends to sink the float, with the result that the first cable portion cannot pass under the float even in the absence of the effect of a pool cover.

[0043] The above description shows clearly that by virtue of its various features and the advantages thereof the present invention achieves the target objectives. In particular, no cable tangling occurs after three hours of operation of a cleaning robot provided with a device of this kind.