Cleaning Device for Ponds

Abstract

A cleaning device for ponds (1) for interaction with at least one pond filter for removal of solids (2) from the pond (1) has a sediment swirling device (3) with a pump (11) which sucks in a swirling medium and discharges the latter through at least one ejector channel (4, 5) in the area of sedimented solids (2). The cleaning device is self-floating and is provided with a motion drive (14) and a location determination device for the purpose of directional control.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A cleaning device for a pond, the cleaning device comprising: a sediment swirling device comprising a pump and further comprising one or more ejector channels, the pump configured to suck in a swirling medium and eject the swirling medium through the one or more ejector channels in an area of sedimented solids in the pond.

15. The cleaning device according to claim 14, wherein the sediment swirling device comprises at least one floating body.

16. The cleaning device according to claim 14, wherein the sediment swirling device comprises an air intake connected to the one or more ejector channels.

17. The cleaning device according to claim 14, wherein the sediment swirling device is movably supported.

18. The cleaning device according to claim 14, wherein the sediment swirling device comprises a motion drive.

19. The cleaning device according to claim 18, wherein the sediment swirling device comprises a direction guide.

20. The cleaning device according to claim 14, wherein the one or more ejector channels include an angled ejector channel that acts as a jet propulsion drive.

21. The cleaning device according to claim 20, wherein the angled ejector channel is motorically adjustable for direction setting of a movement of the sediment swirling device across the pond.

22. The cleaning device according to claim 14, wherein the one or more ejector channels include a first ejector channel of a first length or range and further include a second ejector channel of a second length or range, wherein the first length or range is different from the second length or range.

23. The cleaning device according to claim 14, wherein the sediment swirling device comprises an energy supply, wherein the pump is driven electromotively by the energy supply.

24. The cleaning device according to claim 23, wherein the energy supply is a rechargeable battery pack.

25. The cleaning device according to claim 14, wherein the sediment swirling device comprises a sender receiver unit for wireless communication with a control unit.

26. The cleaning device according to claim 14, wherein the sediment swirling device comprises location determination means.

27. The cleaning device according to claim 26, wherein the sediment swirling device comprises a motion drive and further comprises an evaluation unit for position information, wherein the evaluation unit is connected to the motion drive to form a navigation system.

28. The cleaning device according to claim 14, further comprising a charging station with a connection configured to connect the sediment swirling device.

Description

[0014] Further advantages and details result from the claims as well as from an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings which will be explained in the following. It is shown in:

[0015] FIG. 1 schematically the cleaning device according to the invention in use;

[0016] FIG. 2 an enlarged illustration of the cleaning device of FIG. 1; and

[0017] FIG. 3 a vertical section of the article of FIG. 2.

[0018] In the situation illustrated in FIG. 1, a pond 1 is illustrated where sediments 2 have deposited at the bottom areas. A sediment swirling device 3 for ponds is floating on the water surface. The illustration is only schematic and is not true to scale. Normally, the pond 1 in relation to the sediment swirling device 3 will be significantly larger than illustrated here. The sediment swirling device 3 sucks in a swirling mediumhere a pond water/air mixtureand discharges the latter again through ejector channels 4, 5 in the area of the sedimented solids 2, also referred to as mulm. For the basic function of the sediment swirling device 3, one ejector channel 4 or 5 is sufficient. The embodiment illustrated here however is provided with an ejector channel 4, which penetrates by a preferably partially flexible tube or e.g. a hose into deeper areas of the pond, while the ejector channel 5 is oriented such that it swirls up sediments 2 in shallower areas and rim areas of the pond. The solids 2 which are swirled up by the swirling medium can then be filtered out from the pond water by a filter, not illustrated here.

[0019] The sediment swirling device illustrated in FIG. 1 is an embodiment which is not provided with a cable. It comprises rechargeable power packs which can be recharged as needed at a charging station 6 preferably in the pond rim area. Arrow 7 indicates the movement direction of the sediment swirling device 3 toward the charging station which can be initiated by the ejection direction of the second ejector channel 5. The charging station 6 is preferably also at least partially movably supported, for example, floatingly, in order to adjust to the water level.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows the sediment swirling device 3 in perspective illustration in a view slightly from below. Here, it can be in particular seen that the second ejector channel 5 is connected at the opposite end with a rudder 8. Because of this and due to the slightly slanted angled arrangement of the ejector channel 5, the latter is acting as a jet propulsion drive with the rudder 8 as a direction guide so that even a sediment swirling device 3 embodied, as herein, with a round outer circumference does not move forward with random rotation but with directed movement. This could be achieved alternatively also by a fin or a daggerboard arranged at the bottom side of the sediment swirling device 3.

[0021] The ejector channel 4 is illustrated in FIG. 2 interrupted in regard to its length and is significantly longer in practice than illustrated here. In particular, it is possible to embody the ejector channel 4 in a telescoping length-variable way. When the lower end of the ejector channel 4 is balanced with respect to its weight such that it is spaced apart from the bottom of the pond by the ejection pressure of the swirling medium, a constant working height for optimal sediment swirling action can be achieved in this way. The lower end of the ejector channel 4 functions thus as a dabbling nozzle.

[0022] The details of the sediment swirling device 3 for ponds can be seen in particular in the section illustration of FIG. 3. Here, it can be seen that the sediment swirling device 3 within its housing 9 is provided with floating bodies 10 that hold the device 3 at the water surface. In the interior of the device 3, a pump 11 is provided which sucks in pond water and discharges it again through the two ejector channels 4, 5. By means of a Venturi effect, air is admixed to this pond water by means of an air intake 12 which increases the action of the thus formed swirling medium and also aerates the pond at the same time. The swirling medium is then discharged again through the ejector channels 4 and 5 wherein in the illustration according to FIG. 3 the long lower area of the ejector channel 4 is not illustrated. Both ejector channels 4, 5 are connected to each other by a connecting line 13 so that both of them can also be supplied by the same pump 11. This is however not mandatory.

[0023] The ejector channel 5 serves at the same time as a jet propulsion drive and is arranged for this purpose at a slant at an angle between 10 and 50, preferably approximately 30, relative to the horizontal and, as illustrated, is rotatably supported. Its direction can be actively controlled by a motion drive 14 with motor. The rudder 8 is also functioning as a directional drive in this context.

[0024] In the upper area of the sediment swirling device 3, a rechargeable battery packhere not illustrated separately in the section illustrationfor energy supply of energy consumers such as the pump and the motion drive can be accommodated as well as optionally an electronic control device for active control of pump 11 and in particular motion drive 14. By means of control of the motion drive 14, the surface of the pond can be traveled across in a targeted fashion or it is possible to have the sediment swirling device 3 move purely by random control in a chaotic system.

[0025] In such a completely automated operation of the cleaning device, the sediment swirling device 3 works as a pond robot. Even for non-automated utilization, the sediment swirling device 3 in cold weather provides due to its movement the additional function of keeping the pond surface free of ice.