Cylindrical surface locking mechanism using ball gravity potential energy

Abstract

The application provides a cylindrical surface locking mechanism using gravity potential of a ball, comprising a rotating cylinder and a locking assembly; the locking assembly comprises a locking main body, a locking track and a ball, the locking main body is rotationally sleeved outside the rotating cylinder, the locking track is arranged in the locking main body, and the ball is arranged in the locking track and rolls; opposite ends of the locking track are a locking end and a releasing end respectively, the locking track is inclined relative to a central axis of the rotating cylinder along a positive rotation direction of the rotating cylinder, and the releasing end is higher than the locking end along the axial direction of the rotating cylinder; the distance between the rotating cylinder and the ball gradually decreases along the direction from the releasing end to the locking end until the locking state is reached. The application does not need to set many complex mechanisms, and only through the cooperation of the gravity of the ball and the friction between the ball and the rotating cylinder, the one-way locking of the rotating cylinder can be realized, the structure is simple, and the manufacturing cost is low.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mechanical transmission technology, and more specifically, to a cylindrical locking mechanism that utilizes the gravitational potential energy of balls. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of the social economy and the improvement of family living standards, home cleaning equipment is gradually entering an era of intelligence and mechanization. Cleaning robots, represented by robotic vacuum cleaners, can effectively reduce people's workload in home cleaning, freeing them from heavy housework and improving their quality of life.

[0003] Existing robotic vacuum cleaners typically use a rotary module to extend, retract, or steer the mop tray, and a lifting module to raise it. These lifting modules often employ threaded or spiral groove structures. To link the raising and rotating actions of the mop tray together to achieve specific motion logic, components such as overrunning clutches, friction wheels, or magnetic resistance modules are required. For example, the rotating, lifting, and floating device and automatic cleaning equipment disclosed in CN216823237U uses an overrunning clutch to control the rotation and raising / lowering of multiple rotating components with a single motor. While this solution achieves the goal of controlling multiple rotating components with a single motor, it results in an overly complex robotic vacuum cleaner structure, high manufacturing costs, and poor reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this application provides a cylindrical locking mechanism that utilizes the gravitational potential energy of balls.

[0005] This application discloses a cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of a ball bearing, comprising: a rotating cylinder and a locking assembly; the locking assembly includes a locking body, a locking track, and balls; the locking body is rotatably sleeved outside the rotating cylinder, the locking track is formed inside the locking body, and the balls roll within the locking track; the two opposite ends of the locking track are a locking end and a releasing end, respectively; along the positive rotation direction of the rotating cylinder, the locking track is inclined relative to the central axis of the rotating cylinder and along the axis of the rotating cylinder. In the linear direction, the loosening end is higher than the locking end; along the direction from the loosening end to the locking end, the distance between the rotating cylinder and the ball gradually decreases until it enters the locking state; when the rotating cylinder rotates in the forward direction, the rotating cylinder drives the ball to rise against gravity and roll in the locking track in the direction away from the locking end, and the forward rotation does not lock; when the rotating cylinder rotates in the reverse direction, the ball rolls in the locking track in the direction closer to the locking end under the action of gravity, and the ball comes into contact with the outer wall of the rotating cylinder through friction, and the reverse rotation is locked.

[0006] Preferably, along the direction from the loosening end to the locking end, the track depth of the locking track gradually decreases, and the distance between the inner wall of the locking end facing the rotating cylinder and the rotating cylinder is less than the outer diameter of the ball.

[0007] Preferably, there are multiple locking tracks and multiple balls, with multiple locking tracks arranged sequentially at intervals on the locking body, and each locking track containing at least one ball.

[0008] Preferably, the locking assembly further includes multiple opposing tracks, which are sequentially spaced on the locking body. Each opposing track contains at least one ball bearing. The track depth of the opposing tracks gradually increases from the loosening end to the locking end of the locking track. When the rotating cylinder rotates forward or backward in an upright state, the ball bearings in the locking track release or lock the rotation of the rotating cylinder, and the ball bearings in the opposing track become ineffective. When the rotating cylinder rotates forward or backward in an up-and-down flipping state, the ball bearings in the opposing track release or lock the rotation of the rotating cylinder, and the ball bearings in the locking track become ineffective.

[0009] Preferably, the locking assembly further includes multiple opposing tracks, which are sequentially spaced on the locking body. Each opposing track contains at least one ball bearing. The track depth of the opposing tracks gradually decreases from the loosening end to the locking end. When the rotating cylinder rotates forward or backward in an upright position, the ball bearings in the locking tracks release or lock the rotation of the rotating cylinder, and the ball bearings in the opposing tracks become ineffective. When the rotating cylinder rotates forward or backward in an up-and-down flipping state, the ball bearings in the opposing tracks lock or release the rotation of the rotating cylinder, and the ball bearings in the locking tracks become ineffective.

[0010] Preferably, the locking assembly further includes an elastic element, one end of which is located at the release end of the locking track, and the other end of which is connected to a ball bearing.

[0011] Preferably, a separation portion is provided on the side of the release end facing the rotating cylinder, and the separation portion is located between one end of the elastic element and the rotating cylinder.

[0012] Preferably, the locking body includes a locking body and a ball track body. The ball track body is detachably installed on the locking body, the locking body is rotatably sleeved on the rotating cylinder, and the locking track is located inside the ball track body.

[0013] Preferably, the locking body includes a locking body and a locking ring. The locking body is rotatably sleeved on the rotating cylinder, and the locking ring is sleeved on the outside of the locking body. A ball groove is formed inside the locking body, and an inclined surface is formed on the locking ring corresponding to the position of the ball groove. The ball groove and the inclined surface cooperate to form a locking track.

[0014] Preferably, the locking body includes a locking body and a ball track body, the ball track body is integrally formed into the locking body, and the locking track is disposed in the ball track body.

[0015] The advantages of this application are as follows: It eliminates the need for numerous complex mechanisms, achieving one-way locking of the rotating cylinder solely through the weight of the ball bearings and the friction between them. Furthermore, the one-way locking function can be canceled after a 180° rotation, resulting in a simple structure and low manufacturing cost. Additionally, by incorporating elastic elements or opposing tracks, the one-way locking function can be retained even after a 180° rotation, and the locking direction can be reversed. This allows the application to various complex motion scenarios, broadening its scope of application. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of the balls in Embodiment 1.

[0018] Figure 2 This is another structural schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism that utilizes the gravitational potential energy of the balls in Embodiment 1.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the locking main component in Embodiment 1;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the ball bearing track in Example 1;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Embodiment 2.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a disassembly diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of the balls in Embodiment 2.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Embodiment 3;

[0024] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Embodiment 4.

[0025] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Example 5;

[0026] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Embodiment Six;

[0027] Figure 11 This is a disassembly diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Example 6.

[0028] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Example 7;

[0029] Figure 13 This is a disassembly diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of the balls in Example 7.

[0030] Figure label:

[0031] 1. Rotating cylinder; 2. Locking assembly; 21. Locking main body; 211. Locking body; 2111. Ball groove; 2112. Positioning boss; 2113. Mounting port; 2114. Threaded port; 212. Ball track body; 2121. Track body; 2122. Track cover; 21221. Locking port; 213. Locking ring; 2131. Inclined surface; 22. Locking track; 23. Ball; 24. Opposite track; 25. Elastic element. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The following drawings disclose several embodiments of this application. For clarity, many practical details will be described in the following description. However, it should be understood that these practical details should not be used to limit this application. That is, in some embodiments of this application, these practical details are not essential. In addition, for the sake of simplicity, some conventional structures and components will be shown in the drawings in a simple schematic manner.

[0033] It should be noted that all directional indications in the embodiments of this application, such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc., are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture as shown in the attached figure. If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0034] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this application is for descriptive purposes only and does not specifically refer to any order or sequence, nor is it intended to limit this application. They are merely used to distinguish components or operations described using the same technical terms and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the technical solutions of various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only if they are feasible for those skilled in the art. If a combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0035] To further understand the content, features, and effects of this application, the following embodiments are provided, and detailed descriptions are given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0036] Example 1:

[0037] Reference Figure 1-4 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Embodiment 1. Figure 2 This is another structural schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of the balls in Embodiment 1. Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the locking main component in Embodiment 1. Figure 4 The diagram below illustrates the structure of the ball bearing track in Embodiment 1. The cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of the balls in this embodiment includes a rotating cylinder 1 and a locking assembly 2. The locking assembly 2 includes a locking body 21, a locking track 22, and balls 23. The locking body 21 is rotatably fitted onto the outside of the rotating cylinder 1, the locking track 22 is formed inside the locking body 21, and the balls 23 are rolled within the locking track 22. The two opposite ends of the locking track 22 are the locking end and the releasing end, respectively. Along the positive rotation direction of the rotating cylinder 1, the locking track 22 is inclined relative to the central axis of the rotating cylinder 1, and along the axial direction of the rotating cylinder 1, the releasing end is higher than the locking end. Along the direction from the releasing end to the locking end, the distance between the rotating cylinder 1 and the balls 23 gradually decreases until the locking state is reached. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates in the forward direction, it drives the ball 23 to rise against gravity and roll away from the locking end within the locking track 22. The forward rotation does not lock. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates in the reverse direction, the ball 23 rolls towards the locking end within the locking track 22 under the influence of gravity. The ball 23 comes into contact with the outer wall of the rotating cylinder 1 through friction, and the reverse rotation is locked.

[0038] The cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of the ball bearings in this embodiment is applied to a sweeping robot, specifically to the lifting and rotating modules of the mop tray. Under the influence of gravity, the ball bearing 23 naturally rolls towards the locking end located at one end of the locking track 22. As the ball bearing 23 gradually moves closer to the locking end, the distance between the ball bearing 23 and the rotating cylinder 1 gradually decreases until they are completely in contact. At this point, the ball bearing 23 exerts a certain pressure on the outer wall of the rotating cylinder 1. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates in the forward direction, friction occurs between the rotating cylinder 1 and the ball 23, causing the ball 23 to roll in the direction of the release end within the locking track 22. At this time, the height of the ball 23 continuously increases, and the distance between it and the outer surface of the rotating cylinder 1 gradually increases. The ball 23 and the rotating cylinder 1 tend to disengage from each other until the ball 23 rotates on its own within the release end. At this time, there is no friction or very little friction between the ball 23 and the rotating cylinder 1, and the forward rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is not affected by the ball 23, that is, the forward rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is allowed. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates in the reverse direction, the ball 23 located at the locking end is in close contact with the outer wall of the rotating cylinder 1. Friction occurs between the rotating cylinder 1 and the ball 23, causing the ball 23 to tend to roll towards the locking end within the locking track 22. However, the ball 23 is blocked by the locking track 22. At this time, the ball 23 is squeezed into the locking track 22 by the rotating cylinder 1. The normal pressure between the ball 23 and the rotating cylinder 1 gradually increases, and the friction between the ball 23 and the rotating cylinder 1 gradually increases, thus locking the reverse rotation of the rotating cylinder 1. In this way, this embodiment does not require many complex mechanisms. The unidirectional locking of the rotating cylinder 1 can be achieved solely through the weight of the ball 23 itself and the friction between the ball 23 and the rotating cylinder 1. The structure is simple, the manufacturing cost is low, and the application scenarios are wide. In this application, the rotating cylinder 1 is set vertically, and it rotates in the forward or reverse direction around its own central axis. The forward rotation direction is opposite to the reverse rotation direction. For ease of distinction, this application refers to the clockwise rotation direction of the rotating cylinder 1 in the top view as the forward rotation direction, and the counterclockwise rotation direction of the rotating cylinder 1 in the top view as the reverse rotation direction.

[0039] Rereference Figure 1-4Preferably, the track depth of the locking track 22 gradually decreases along the direction from the loosening end to the locking end, and the distance between the inner wall of the locking end facing the rotating cylinder 1 and the rotating cylinder 1 is less than the outer diameter of the ball 23. In specific applications, the opening of the locking track 22 faces the rotating cylinder 1, and the ball 23 rolls within the locking track 22. When the ball 23 is located at the loosening end of the locking track 22, the entire ball 23 is contained within the locking track 22, and there is no contact between the ball 23 and the rotating cylinder 1. When the ball 23 is located at the locking end of the locking track 22, due to the smaller track depth at the locking end, a portion of the ball 23 extends out of the locking track 22 and contacts the rotating cylinder 1, generating friction. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates forward, the ball 23 is pushed upward by the rotating cylinder 1, thus overcoming gravity. That is, the ball 23 moves along the locking track 22 towards the release end. The ball 23 is contained within the locking track 22 and has little or no friction with the rotating cylinder 1. The forward rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is not affected by the ball 23, and forward rotation is not locked. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates in the reverse direction, the ball 23 is located at the locked end of the locking track 22 due to its own weight. At this time, part of the ball 23 extends out of the locking track 22 and contacts the rotating cylinder 1. The rotating cylinder 1 pushes the ball, causing it to have a tendency to continue its downward motion, but it is blocked by the locking track 22. This causes the pressure and friction between the ball 23 and the rotating cylinder 1 to gradually increase, making the contact between the ball 23 and the rotating cylinder 1 tighter, so that the rotating cylinder 1 cannot continue to rotate in the reverse direction. At this time, the reverse rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is locked. In short, the track depth of the locking track 22 is gradually increasing. The track depth at the release end is greater than the outer diameter of the ball 23, and the track depth at the locking end is less than the outer diameter of the ball 23. For ease of distinction, this application refers to the end of the locking track 22 with a larger track depth as the release end and the end of the locking track 22 with a smaller track depth as the locking end.

[0040] Rereference Figure 1-4Preferably, there are multiple locking tracks 22 and multiple balls 23. Multiple locking tracks 22 are sequentially spaced on the locking body 21, and each locking track 22 contains at least one ball 23. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates in the reverse direction, the multiple locking tracks 22 effectively lock the rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 from multiple different positions, ensuring that the locking force on the rotating cylinder 1, i.e., the frictional force with the balls 23, reaches a state of force balance, preventing radial displacement of the rotating cylinder 1 and ensuring the stability of its rotation. Simultaneously, multiple balls 23 can be arranged within each locking track 22, stacked on top of each other. The upper balls 23 press a portion of their weight onto the lower balls 23, effectively increasing the weight of the bottom ball 23. This increases the pressure and friction between the bottom ball and the rotating cylinder 1, making it easier for the rotating cylinder 1 to enter the locking state in the reverse direction. In this embodiment, there are three ball bearings 23. Of course, in other embodiments, the number of ball bearings 23 can be one, two, four, etc., and different numbers of ball bearings 23 can be set according to the actual locking force required to adapt to different application scenarios.

[0041] Rereference Figure 1-4Preferably, the locking body 21 includes a locking body 211 and a ball track 212. The ball track 212 is detachably installed on the locking body 211. The locking body 211 is rotatably sleeved on the outside of the rotating cylinder 1, and the locking track 22 is located inside the ball track 212. In specific applications, the side wall of the locking body 211 has multiple mounting ports 2113 and multiple threaded ports 2114, with each mounting port 2113 corresponding to one of the multiple threaded ports 2114. The ball track 212 includes a track body 2121 and a track cover 2122 connected to the track body 2121. The outer diameter of the track body 2121 is equal to the inner diameter of the mounting port 2113, ensuring that the track body 2121 does not wobble after being installed on the locking body 211, thus improving its operational stability. The track body 2121 has a receiving groove, in which the ball bearing 23 is located. The receiving groove is open on the side closest to the rotating cylinder 1. The track cover 2122 is located on the side of the receiving groove away from the rotating cylinder 1. From high to low, the depth of the ball groove formed by the track cover 2122 and the receiving groove gradually decreases, thus forming the locking track 22. The track cover 2122 has a locking port 21221 corresponding to the threaded opening 2114. After the track body 2121 is installed in the mounting port 2113, the ball bearing track 212 can be detachably installed on the locking body 211 by passing a screw through the locking port 21221 and the mounting port 2113. Since the ball bearing 23 and the rotating cylinder 1 frequently rub against each other, when the ball bearing 23 wears out, the ball bearing track 212 can be removed from the locking body 211, thereby replacing the ball bearing 23 inside the ball bearing track 212, reducing the difficulty of daily maintenance. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the depth of the ball groove formed by the track cover 2122 and the receiving groove can also be adjusted by adjusting the thickness of the track cover 2122, thereby changing the volume of the ball 23 extending out of the locking track 22 when it is located at the locking end, and thus changing the pressure and friction between the rotating cylinder 1 and the ball 23.

[0042] Example 2:

[0043] Refer to together Figure 5-6 , Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Embodiment 2. Figure 6This is a disassembled schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of rolling balls in Embodiment 2. The difference between this cylindrical locking mechanism and Embodiment 1 is that the locking body 21 in this embodiment includes a locking body 211 and a locking ring 213. The locking body 211 is rotatably fitted onto the rotating cylinder 1, and the locking ring 213 is fitted onto the locking body 211. A ball groove 2111 is formed inside the locking body 211, and an inclined surface 2131 is formed on the locking ring 213 corresponding to the position of the ball groove 2111. The ball groove 2111 and the inclined surface 2131 cooperate to form a locking track 22. In practical application, the ball groove 2111 is inclined relative to the central axis of the rotating cylinder 1, and along the positive rotation direction of the rotating cylinder 1, the higher end of the ball groove 2111 is located to one side of the lower end. An inclined surface 2131 is formed on the side of the locking ring 213 facing the locking body 211, i.e., the inner wall of the locking ring 213. Along the direction from the higher end to the lower end of the ball groove 2111, the height of the inclined surface 2131 relative to the inner wall of the locking ring 213 gradually increases. Through the cooperation of the inclined surface 2131 and the ball groove 2111, a locking track 22 is essentially formed within the ball groove 2111, with the higher end of the ball groove 2111 being the releasing end and the lower end being the locking end. Specifically, the inclined surface 2131 can be a plane or a curved surface. Furthermore, by replacing the locking ring 213 with one having an inclined surface 2131 of different heights, the volume of the ball 23 extending out of the ball groove 2111 when it is at the locking end can be changed, thereby altering the friction and pressure between the ball 23 and the rotating cylinder 1 to adapt to different application scenarios. Once the relative positions of the locking ring 213 and the locking body 211 are determined, the locking ring 213 and the locking body 211 can be connected and fixed by means of positioning pins or fixing screws.

[0044] Rereference Figure 5-6Preferably, the bottom of the locking ring 213 is provided with a positioning boss 2112. The positioning boss 2112 facilitates quick identification of whether the locking body 211 and locking ring 213 are installed upright or flipped, preventing installation errors that could lead to the failure of the one-way locking function. In this embodiment, if the locking body 211 and locking ring 213 are flipped, i.e., after a 180° horizontal flip, the ball 23 descends to the lower end of the ball groove 2111 under gravity. After flipping, the lower end of the ball groove 2111 is the previously released end. At this time, the ball 23 can be completely contained within the ball groove 2111. Regardless of whether the rotating cylinder 1 rotates forward or backward, the ball 23 will not contact the rotating cylinder 1. Therefore, neither forward nor reverse rotation is locked, and the one-way locking function of the locking track 22 and the ball 23 fails. Furthermore, the two ends of the ball groove 2111 can be set to different shapes, for example, the locking end can be set to an arc end and the releasing end can be set to a flat end, so as to quickly distinguish whether the locking body 211 and the locking ring 213 are installed upright or flipped.

[0045] Example 3:

[0046] Refer to together Figure 7 , Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Embodiment 3. The difference between this cylindrical locking mechanism and Embodiment 1 is that the locking body 21 in this embodiment includes a locking body 211 and a ball track 212. The ball track 212 is integrally formed within the locking body 211, and the locking track 22 is located within the ball track 212. In practical application, the locking body 211 and the ball track 212 in this embodiment are physically equivalent to a single unit. The ball track 212 is formed within the locking body 211, essentially creating a groove within the locking body 212, with the opening of the groove facing the rotating cylinder 1. Along the positive rotation direction of the rotating cylinder 1, the groove depth gradually increases, forming the locking track 22. Specifically, the groove depth at the loose end of the groove is greater than the outer diameter of the ball 23, allowing the ball 23 at the loose end to be completely contained within the groove. Conversely, the groove depth at the locking end of the groove is less than the outer diameter of the ball 23, causing a portion of the ball 23 at the locking end to protrude from the groove. This results in the ball 23 contacting and rubbing against the rotating cylinder 1, creating a locking effect against the reverse rotation of the cylinder 1. The bottom of the groove can be flat or curved; a gradually changing groove depth is sufficient, and no limitation is imposed here. The ball track 212 is integrally molded into the locking body 211, improving the overall stability of the locking body 21. The structure is simple and can be applied to integrally molded sweeping robots, while also being easy to manufacture and having low production costs.

[0047] Example 4:

[0048] Refer to together Figure 8 , Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of a ball bearing in Embodiment 4. The difference between this cylindrical locking mechanism and Embodiment 2 is that the locking component 2 in this embodiment further includes an elastic element 25. One end of the elastic element 25 is located at the release end of the locking track 22, and the other end is connected to the ball bearing 23. In practical application, each locking track 22 in this embodiment contains only one ball bearing 23 and one elastic element 25, which is a spring. The elastic element 25 effectively replaces the previous method of using multiple balls bearing 23 within the locking track 22, using the elastic force of the elastic element 25 to replace the weight of multiple balls bearing 23, thus saving manufacturing costs. Simultaneously, the elastic element 25 can be detachably installed within the ball bearing groove 2111. By using elastic elements 25 with different elastic forces, the pressure and friction of the balls bearing 23 on the rotating cylinder 1 can be changed, thereby altering the locking force. Furthermore, this embodiment also has two application scenarios: upright state and flipped-over state. In the upright position, the release end of the locking track 22 is higher than the locking end. One end of the elastic element 25 is located at the release end of the locking track 22, and the other end of the elastic element 25 is connected to the ball 23. The ball 23 is close to the locking end. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates in the forward direction, the rotating cylinder 1 pushes the ball 23 to overcome gravity and the elastic force of the elastic element 25 and move towards the release end. The forward rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is allowed. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates in the reverse direction, it is locked. The specific principle and process are as described above and will not be repeated here. When this embodiment is flipped 180°, it can be switched to an up-and-down flip state. In the up-and-down flip state, the loose end of the locking track 22 is lower than the locking end. Due to the elastic force of the elastic element 25, the ball 23 overcomes its own weight and remains close to the higher locking end. At this time, when the rotating cylinder 1 rotates forward, the forward rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is locked because the ball 23 at the locking end extends beyond the locking track 22. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates in the reverse direction, the rotating cylinder 1 pushes the ball 23 to move towards the loose end against the elastic force of the elastic element 25, and the reverse rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is allowed. In short, when this embodiment is flipped 180° from the upright state to the up-and-down flip state, it still has a one-way locking effect. The one-way locking function has not failed, but the locking direction has changed. That is, the forward rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is locked, while the reverse rotation is allowed. Thus, this embodiment can be applied to situations where the locking direction needs to be changed after flipping.

[0049] Rereference Figure 8Preferably, a partition is provided on the side of the release end facing the rotating cylinder 1, and the partition is located between one end of the elastic member 25 and the rotating cylinder 1. By providing the partition, a barrier is created between the elastic member 25 and the rotating cylinder 1 to prevent frictional contact between the elastic member 25 and the outer surface of the rotating cylinder 1, thus avoiding wear caused by friction on either the elastic member 25 or the rotating cylinder 1 and extending their service life. Specifically, the partition is a stop block, which is located on the side of the release end facing the rotating cylinder 1.

[0050] Example 5:

[0051] Refer to together Figure 9 , Figure 9This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of rolling balls in Embodiment 5. The difference between this cylindrical locking mechanism and Embodiment 2 is that the locking component 2 in this embodiment further includes multiple opposing tracks 24, which are sequentially spaced on the locking body 21. Each opposing track 24 contains at least one rolling ball 23. The track depth of the opposing tracks 24 gradually increases from the loosening end to the locking end of the locking track 22. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates forward or backward in an upright state, the rolling balls 23 in the locking track 22 release or lock the rotation of the rotating cylinder 1, and the rolling balls 23 in the opposing track 24 become ineffective. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates forward or backward in an upside-down flipping state, the rolling balls 23 in the opposing track 24 release or lock the rotation of the rotating cylinder 1, and the rolling balls 23 in the locking track 22 become ineffective. In practical application, along the forward rotation direction of the rotating cylinder 1, the opposite track 24 is inclined relative to the central axis of the rotating cylinder 1, with an inclination angle equal to that of the locking track 22. The opposite track 24 also has a locking end and a releasing end. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the direction from the locking end of the locking track 22 to the releasing end of the locking track 22 is opposite to the direction from the locking end of the opposite track 24 to the releasing end of the opposite track 24. That is, the inclined surface 2131 of the locking ring 213 facing the reverse track 24 is a mirror image of the inclined surface 2131 of the locking ring 213 facing the locking track 22. In this embodiment, to facilitate the distinction between the locking end and the releasing end, the locking end is set to an arc shape, and the releasing end is set to a planar shape. In the upright state, the forward rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is allowed, while the reverse rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is locked by the ball bearings 23 within the locking track 22. At this time, the opposite track 24 is ineffective and has no effect on the rotation of the rotating cylinder 1. When this embodiment is flipped 180°, it can switch to an up-and-down flip state. In the up-and-down flip state, forward rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is allowed, while reverse rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is locked by the ball bearing 23 in the opposite track 24. In short, after this embodiment is flipped 180°, forward rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is still allowed, while reverse rotation is still locked, so that this embodiment still has a one-way locking function after flipping 180°, and the locking direction remains unchanged.

[0052] Example 6:

[0053] Refer to together Figure 10-11 , Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Embodiment Six. Figure 11This is a disassembly diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Embodiment Six. The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment Five is that in this embodiment, multiple locking tracks 22 and multiple opposing tracks 24 are alternately and sequentially arranged on the locking body 21. This makes the arrangement of the locking tracks 22 and opposing tracks 24 more compact, reducing the volume of the locking body 21 and lowering manufacturing costs. It should be noted that the inclined surface 2131 of the locking ring 213 facing the opposing track 24 is a mirror image of the inclined surface 2131 of the locking ring 213 facing the locking track 22.

[0054] Example 7:

[0055] Refer to together Figure 12-13 , Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Example 7. Figure 13This is a disassembly diagram of the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in Embodiment 7. The difference between the cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls in this embodiment and Embodiment 5 is that in this embodiment, the direction from the locking end of the locking track 22 to the releasing end of the locking track 22 is the same as the direction from the locking end of the opposite track 24 to the releasing end of the opposite track 24. Specifically, the locking component 2 in this embodiment also includes multiple opposite tracks 24, which are sequentially spaced on the locking body 21, and each opposite track 24 contains at least one ball 23. Along the direction from the releasing end to the locking end of the locking track 22, the track depth of the opposite track 24 gradually decreases. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates forward or backward in an upright state, the ball 23 in the locking track 22 releases or locks the rotation of the rotating cylinder 1, and the ball 23 in the opposite track 24 becomes ineffective. When the rotating cylinder 1 rotates forward or backward in its upside-down flipping state, the balls 23 in the opposite track 24 lock or release the rotation of the rotating cylinder 1, and the balls 23 in the locking track 22 become ineffective. It is understood that in this embodiment, multiple locking tracks 22 are sequentially spaced at one end of the locking body 211, and multiple opposite tracks 24 are sequentially spaced at the other end of the locking body 211. The opposite tracks 24 are inclined relative to the central axis of the rotating cylinder 1, and the inclination direction of the opposite tracks 24 is opposite to that of the locking tracks 22. The multiple locking tracks 22 and multiple opposite tracks 24 are symmetrically arranged vertically. In practical application, in the upright state, forward rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is allowed, while reverse rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is locked by the balls 23 in the locking track 22. At this time, the opposite tracks 24 become ineffective and have no effect on the rotation of the rotating cylinder 1. When this embodiment performs a 180° flip, it can switch to an up-and-down flip state. In the up-and-down flip state, the forward rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is locked by the ball bearing 23 in the opposite track 24, while the reverse rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is allowed. In short, after this embodiment performs a 180° flip, the original forward rotation direction of the rotating cylinder 1 is locked, while the original reverse rotation of the rotating cylinder 1 is allowed. That is, because of the 180° flip in this embodiment, the unidirectional locking direction of the rotating cylinder 1 is also interchanged, so as to be suitable for different application scenarios of the sweeping robot and broaden the application range.

[0056] Example 8:

[0057] The difference between this embodiment and embodiment seven is that in this embodiment, multiple locking tracks 22 and multiple opposing tracks 24 are alternately arranged on the locking body 21 at intervals. This makes the arrangement of the locking tracks 22 and opposing tracks 24 more compact, which helps to reduce the size of the locking body 21 and lowers the manufacturing cost.

[0058] In summary, this application eliminates the need for numerous complex mechanisms. It achieves one-way locking of the rotating cylinder solely through the weight of the ball bearings and the friction between them. Furthermore, the one-way locking function can be canceled after a 180° rotation. The structure is simple and the manufacturing cost is low. Additionally, by incorporating elastic elements or opposing tracks, the application can retain the one-way locking function after a 180° rotation and reverse the locking direction, thus enabling its application in various complex motion scenarios and broadening its scope of application.

[0059] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of a ball bearing, characterized in that, include: Rotation cylinder (1); as well as The locking assembly (2) includes a locking body (21), a locking track (22), and a ball (23). The locking body (21) is rotatably sleeved on the outside of the rotating cylinder (1). The locking track (22) is opened inside the locking body (21), and the ball (23) is rolled inside the locking track (22). The two opposite ends of the locking track (22) are the locking end and the releasing end, respectively. Along the positive rotation direction of the rotating cylinder (1), the locking track (22) is inclined relative to the central axis of the rotating cylinder (1), and along the axial direction of the rotating cylinder (1), the releasing end is higher than the locking end. Along the direction from the releasing end to the locking end, the distance between the rotating cylinder (1) and the ball (23) gradually decreases until it enters the locking state. When the rotating cylinder (1) rotates in the forward direction, the rotating cylinder (1) drives the ball (23) to rise against gravity and roll in the locking track (22) away from the locking end. The forward rotation is not locked. When the rotating cylinder (1) rotates in the reverse direction, the ball (23) rolls in the locking track (22) towards the locking end under the action of gravity. The ball (23) rubs against the outer wall of the rotating cylinder (1), and the reverse rotation is locked.

2. The cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls according to claim 1, characterized in that, Along the direction from the loosening end to the locking end, the track depth of the locking track (22) gradually decreases, and the distance between the inner wall of the rotating cylinder (1) facing the locking end and the rotating cylinder (1) is less than the outer diameter of the ball (23).

3. The cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of locking rails (22) and the number of balls (23) are both multiple. Multiple locking rails (22) are arranged sequentially at intervals on the locking body (21). Each locking rail (22) is provided with at least one ball (23).

4. The cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls according to claim 2, characterized in that, The locking assembly (2) also includes multiple opposing tracks (24), which are sequentially spaced on the locking body (21). Each opposing track (24) contains at least one ball bearing (23). The track depth of the opposing track (24) gradually increases from the loosening end to the locking end of the locking track (22). When the rotating cylinder (1) rotates forward or backward in an upright state, the ball bearing (23) in the locking track (22) releases or locks the rotation of the rotating cylinder (1), and the ball bearing (23) in the opposing track (24) becomes ineffective. When the rotating cylinder (1) rotates forward or backward in an up-and-down flipping state, the ball bearing (23) in the opposing track (24) releases or locks the rotation of the rotating cylinder (1), and the ball bearing (23) in the locking track (22) becomes ineffective.

5. The cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls according to claim 2, characterized in that, The locking assembly (2) also includes multiple opposing tracks (24), which are sequentially spaced on the locking body (21). Each opposing track (24) contains at least one ball bearing (23). The track depth of the opposing track (24) gradually decreases from the release end to the locking end of the locking track (22). When the rotating cylinder (1) rotates forward or backward in an upright state, the ball bearing (23) in the locking track (22) releases or locks the rotation of the rotating cylinder (1), and the ball bearing (23) in the opposing track (24) becomes ineffective. When the rotating cylinder (1) rotates forward or backward in an up-and-down flipping state, the ball bearing (23) in the opposing track (24) locks or releases the rotation of the rotating cylinder (1), and the ball bearing (23) in the locking track (22) becomes ineffective.

6. The cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking assembly (2) further includes an elastic element (25), one end of which is located at the release end of the locking track (22), and the other end of which is connected to the ball (23).

7. The cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls according to claim 6, characterized in that, The side of the release end facing the rotating cylinder (1) is provided with a partition, which is located between one end of the elastic member (25) and the rotating cylinder (1).

8. The cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The locking body (21) includes a locking body (211) and a ball track (212). The ball track (212) is detachably installed on the locking body (211). The locking body (211) is rotatably sleeved on the outside of the rotating cylinder (1). The locking track (22) is located inside the ball track (212).

9. The cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The locking body (21) includes a locking body (211) and a locking ring (213). The locking body (211) is rotatably sleeved on the outside of the rotating cylinder (1), and the locking ring (213) is sleeved on the outside of the locking body (211). A ball groove (2111) is provided inside the locking body (2111), and an inclined surface (2131) is provided on the locking ring (2131) corresponding to the position of the ball groove (2111). The ball groove (2111) and the inclined surface (2131) cooperate to form the locking track (22).

10. The cylindrical locking mechanism utilizing the gravitational potential energy of balls according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The locking body (21) includes a locking body (211) and a ball track (212). The ball track (212) is integrally formed on the locking body (211), and the locking track (22) is disposed in the ball track (212).

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