Base station, foot bath equipment and drainage control methods

Abstract

This invention belongs to the technical field of foot bath equipment, and discloses a base station, foot bath equipment, and drainage control method. The base station includes a base station body, a base station base, and a drainage unit. The base station base is located on the front side of the base station body, and a water inlet is provided at the upper end of the base station base. The drainage unit is provided with a drainage pipe connected to the water inlet. The drainage unit also includes a main drainage pump, an auxiliary drainage pump, and a controller. The controller controls the start of the main drainage pump and / or the auxiliary drainage pump based on predetermined rules. Both the main drainage pump and the auxiliary drainage pump are connected to the drainage pipe, and the first suction inlet end face of the auxiliary drainage pump is lower than the second suction inlet end face of the main drainage pump. Through the coordinated operation of the main drainage pump and the auxiliary drainage pump, the drainage process is decomposed into two stages: high-speed emptying and silent emptying. This ensures that the efficiency of the main drainage pump is fully utilized when the water level is high, and that the auxiliary drainage pump is switched to work in a timely manner at the critical point of low water level, thus ensuring drainage efficiency while minimizing noise pollution.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of foot bath equipment technology, and in particular to a base station, foot bath equipment, and drainage control method. Background Technology

[0002] In intelligent foot bath robot systems, the base station, as a key auxiliary device working in conjunction with the main unit, is responsible for the automatic discharge of wastewater from the main unit's tank. Existing solutions rely on gravity for natural drainage, but this often results in incomplete drainage. Residual water in a closed, humid environment easily breeds bacteria, mold, and other microorganisms, producing odors and affecting the hygiene and safety of the equipment. To address the wastewater drainage problem, a pump is used as the power source for suction. However, as the water level gradually decreases, the pump blades are partially exposed to the air, leading to gas-liquid mixing within the pump and inducing cavitation. Cavitation not only significantly increases fluid noise and mechanical vibration, severely impacting the user experience, but it can also cause cavitation damage to the pump chamber, shortening the equipment's lifespan. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a base station, a foot bath device, and a drainage control method that ensures drainage efficiency while minimizing noise pollution.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A base station, comprising: Base station body; A base station base is located on the front side of the base station body, and a water inlet is provided at the upper end of the base station base. The drainage unit is provided with a drainage pipe connected to the water inlet. The drainage unit is also provided with a main drainage pump, an auxiliary drainage pump and a controller. The controller controls the start of the main drainage pump and / or the auxiliary drainage pump based on a predetermined rule. The main drainage pump and the auxiliary drainage pump are both connected to the drainage pipeline, and the first suction port end face of the auxiliary drainage pump is lower than the second suction port end face of the main drainage pump.

[0005] As a preferred technical solution for the base station, the drainage unit further includes a water storage cavity, which is connected to the drainage pipe. The first suction port end face and the second suction port end face are both disposed in the water storage cavity, wherein the lower end face of the water storage cavity is lower than the upper end face of the water inlet in the vertical direction.

[0006] As a preferred technical solution for the base station, the bottom surface of the inlet of the drainage pipe is lower than the top surface of the outlet.

[0007] As a preferred technical solution for the base station, the area of ​​the second suction inlet end face of the main drainage pump is smaller than the flow area of ​​the water inlet.

[0008] As a preferred technical solution for the base station, the main drainage pump is an impeller pump, and the auxiliary drainage pump is a diaphragm pump or a peristaltic pump.

[0009] As a preferred technical solution for the base station, the predetermined rules include: when the water level in the base station reaches a high water level threshold, the controller controls the main drainage pump to start; when the water level in the base station is lower than a low water level threshold, the controller controls the auxiliary drainage pump to start and controls the main drainage pump to shut down.

[0010] As a preferred technical solution for the base station, a high water level detection device is provided inside the water storage chamber. The high water level detection device is used to detect whether the water level in the water storage chamber reaches the high water level threshold. The high water level detection device is communicatively connected to the controller; and / or A low water level detector is installed in the water storage chamber. The low water level detector is used to detect whether the water level in the water storage chamber is lower than the low water level threshold. The low water level detector is communicatively connected to the controller.

[0011] A foot bath device includes a foot bath robot and a base station as described in any of the above embodiments. The foot bath robot is provided with a drain outlet. After the foot bath robot is connected to the base station, the drain outlet is connected to the water inlet.

[0012] A drainage control method includes: detecting the water level inside a base station; when the water level reaches a high water level threshold, starting the main drainage pump of the base station to drain water at high speed; and when the water level drops to a low water level threshold, shutting down the main drainage pump and controlling the start of an auxiliary drainage pump.

[0013] As a preferred technical solution for drainage control, before detecting the water level inside the base station, the method further includes: determining whether the foot bath robot is connected to the base station, detecting whether the drain valve of the foot bath robot is open, and whether the drain outlet of the foot bath robot is connected to the water inlet of the base station.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention are: The base station provided by this invention includes a base station body, a base station base, and a drainage unit. The drainage unit includes a main drainage pump, an auxiliary drainage pump, and a controller. The controller controls the main drainage pump and / or the auxiliary drainage pump to start based on predetermined rules. The first suction inlet end face of the auxiliary drainage pump is lower than the second suction inlet end face of the main drainage pump. When the foot bath robot docks with the base station and triggers the drainage program, wastewater from the foot bath robot flows into the base station through the drain outlet of the foot bath robot and the interface of the base station base. When the water level in the base station reaches the high water level threshold, the main drainage pump is controlled to start first. The main drainage pump can quickly discharge most of the wastewater. At this time, the water level in the base station is high, the main drainage pump works normally, and the noise is within an acceptable range. When the water level in the base station drops below the low water level threshold, the main drainage pump is controlled to shut down, and the auxiliary drainage pump is controlled to start. Since the first suction inlet end face of the auxiliary drainage pump is lower than the second suction inlet end face of the main drainage pump, the auxiliary drainage pump can work effectively at low water levels, draining the remaining water, and the operating noise is low. By using the main drainage pump and the auxiliary drainage pump in tandem, the drainage process is divided into two stages: high-speed emptying and silent drainage. This ensures that the main drainage pump is fully utilized when the water level is high, and switches to the auxiliary drainage pump in a timely manner when the water level is low. This not only guarantees drainage efficiency but also minimizes noise pollution. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the base station structure from a first-view perspective provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the second view of the base station provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the base station structure with the back cover hidden from a second view, provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the main drainage pump and mounting base involved in the embodiments of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the base station structure from a third-view perspective provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Sectional view along the middle AA.

[0016] In the picture: 10. Base station body; 11. Housing; 111. Accommodation space; 112. Concave surface; 12. Rear cover; 20. Base station base; 21. Water inlet; 30. Drainage pipe; 40. Main drainage pump; 41. Second suction inlet end face; 50. Auxiliary drainage pump; 51. Auxiliary water inlet; 60. Auxiliary water inlet pipe; 61. First suction inlet end face; 70. Mounting base; 71. Water storage chamber. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to the present invention, and not all of the structures.

[0018] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0019] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0020] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper," "lower," "right," etc., refer to the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for ease of description and simplification of operation, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used only for distinction in description and have no special meaning.

[0021] This invention provides a foot bath device, including a foot bath robot and a base station. The foot bath robot is an autonomously movable foot care device with foot bath function. It can move and turn freely on the indoor floor without manual handling and can autonomously move to the user's location. The foot bath robot adopts an autonomous mobile structural design and integrates a navigation system combining lidar and multi-sensor fusion, enabling global positioning, path planning, and intelligent obstacle avoidance in the home environment. The base station serves as the water and power supply mechanism for the foot bath robot, integrating multiple functions such as supplying clean or warm water, discharging wastewater, charging, and positioning the foot bath robot at its origin. It is equipped with corresponding water interfaces, wastewater discharge outlets, and charging contacts. The foot bath robot can interface with the base station and establish fluid and electrical connections. Through the fluid connection, the foot bath robot receives heated foot bath water, foot bath liquid, or cleaning liquid from the base station, and / or discharges wastewater from its interior to the base station; through the electrical connection, the foot bath robot receives charging power from the base station.

[0022] In practical applications, users simply need to issue commands via a mobile app or the top panel of the foot bath robot. The robot will then automatically move from its standby area (e.g., the bathroom) along a planned path to the user's location (e.g., in front of a sofa or lounge chair). After use, the robot returns to its base station, autonomously moves, and precisely docks with the pre-set location. After docking, it discharges wastewater and performs self-cleaning and hot-air drying of the containment chamber and pipes. Once the drainage and cleaning process is complete, the robot automatically connects to the charging contacts on the base station for recharging. The base station also serves as a storage and standby platform for the foot bath equipment, ensuring the robot is always ready and achieving a closed-loop operation without human intervention. This integrated design fully meets the frequent, safe, and convenient foot bath needs in homes, senior living communities, and health centers, significantly improving user experience and equipment automation.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, the base station includes a base station body 10, a base station base 20, and a drainage unit. The front end of the base station body 10 is recessed to form a receiving space 111. The base station base 20 is located on the front side of the base station body 10 and within the receiving space 111. A water inlet 21 is provided at the upper end of the base station base 20. A drain outlet is provided on the foot bath robot. After the foot bath robot is connected to the base station, the drain outlet of the foot bath robot is connected to the water inlet 21 of the base station base 20. Wastewater in the foot bath robot enters the base station through the drain outlet and the water inlet 21. The drainage unit is located inside the base station body 10 and is used to drain the water inside the base station.

[0024] Specifically, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the drainage unit includes a drainage pipe 30, a main drainage pump 40, an auxiliary drainage pump 50, and a controller. The drainage pipe 30 is connected to the water inlet 21. Both the main drainage pump 40 and the auxiliary drainage pump 50 are connected to the drainage pipe 30. The first suction inlet end face 61 of the auxiliary drainage pump 50 is lower than the second suction inlet end face 41 of the main drainage pump 40. The controller controls the main drainage pump 40 and / or the auxiliary drainage pump 50 to start based on predetermined rules. In this embodiment, the predetermined rules include: when the water level in the base station reaches a high water level threshold, the controller controls the main drainage pump 40 to start; when the water level in the base station is lower than a low water level threshold, the controller controls the auxiliary drainage pump 50 to start and controls the main drainage pump 40 to shut down.

[0025] When the foot bath robot connects to the base station and triggers the drainage program, the wastewater in the foot bath robot flows into the base station through the drain outlet on the foot bath robot and the water inlet 21 on the base station base 20. When the water level in the base station reaches the high water level threshold, the main drainage pump 40 is started first. The main drainage pump 40 can quickly discharge most of the wastewater. At this time, the water level in the base station is high, the main drainage pump 40 works normally, and the noise is within an acceptable range. When the water level in the base station drops below the low water level threshold, the auxiliary drainage pump 50 is started, and the main drainage pump 40 is shut down. Since the first suction port end face 61 of the auxiliary drainage pump 50 is lower than the second suction port end face 41 of the main drainage pump 40, the auxiliary drainage pump 50 can work effectively at low water levels, draining the remaining water, and the operating noise is low. By employing a dual-pump system of main drain pump 40 and auxiliary drain pump 50, the drainage process is divided into two stages: high-speed emptying and silent drainage. This ensures that the main drain pump 40 operates efficiently when the water level is high, and switches to the auxiliary drain pump 50 in a timely manner when the water level reaches a critical low. This approach guarantees drainage efficiency while minimizing noise pollution. It should be noted that the low water level threshold is set before the main drain pump 40 begins to draw in air, its efficiency decreases, and its noise increases sharply. The foot bath robot's drain outlet and the water inlet 21 on the base station base 20 work together to drain water. The base station has a water inlet 21 positioned lower than the foot bath robot's drain outlet, which connects to a water collection tank or directly to the drain pipe 30. This pipe design ensures that the water flow can initially collect due to gravity, allowing the water in the foot bath cavity of the foot bath robot to flow out naturally under gravity.

[0026] The main drainage pump 40 is an impeller pump. The core working component of the impeller pump is the impeller. When the motor drives the impeller to rotate at high speed in the water, the impeller blades apply centrifugal force to the liquid, throwing the liquid from the center of the impeller to the edge. This centrifugal force, on the one hand, gives the liquid kinetic energy and converts it into pressure energy, and on the other hand, creates a low-pressure zone in the central region of the impeller, thereby continuously drawing in more liquid and ultimately forming a continuous and stable water flow output. Based on the above principle, the impeller pump has significant advantages such as large flow rate per unit volume and high working efficiency, and is especially suitable for scenarios that require rapid and large-volume liquid transportation, such as the rapid emptying of the foot bath robot in the initial stage of drainage. However, the impeller pump has inherent defects: First, before starting, the impeller must be completely immersed in the liquid, otherwise the pump cannot establish a sufficient low pressure difference to draw in liquid; second, in the later stage of drainage, air will be drawn into the pump chamber along with residual water, forming a gas-liquid two-phase mixture in the pump chamber. At this time, some blades are no longer wrapped by liquid and are directly exposed to air, thus causing cavitation, accompanied by high-frequency fluid noise, mechanical vibration, and cavitation damage to the impeller surface. The impeller pump is connected to the drainage pipe 30 and located at the lower end of the drainage pipe 30. The impeller pump has a high head and large flow rate, responsible for rapid and efficient main drainage during high water levels. The auxiliary drainage pump 50 is a self-priming pump. Self-priming pumps (including but not limited to diaphragm pumps, peristaltic pumps, or cam rotor pumps) have self-priming capability, meaning that they do not need to be pre-filled with liquid before starting. They rely solely on their own working mechanism to gradually expel air drawn into the drainage pipe 30 and automatically draw in liquid below the inlet level under negative pressure, establishing normal transport capacity. Even when the water level is below the preset low water level threshold and a large amount of air enters the drainage pipe 30, the self-priming pump can still operate stably, continuously pumping gas-liquid mixtures without any cavitation. Optionally, the auxiliary drainage pump 50 can be connected in parallel or in series with the main drainage pump 40 on the drainage pipe 30. This type of pump features strong self-priming capability, low risk of dry running damage, and significantly lower noise than impeller pumps when operating at low flow rates. It is responsible for fine suction and emptying residual water at low water levels.

[0027] Continue to refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4The drainage unit also includes a water storage chamber 71, which is connected to the drainage pipe 30. The first suction inlet end face 61 and the second suction inlet end face 41 are both located within the water storage chamber 71. After the foot bath robot docks with the base station, wastewater from the foot bath robot flows into the water storage chamber 71 through the foot bath robot's drain outlet, the base station base 20's inlet 21, and the drainage pipe 30. The wastewater collected in the water storage chamber 71 is then discharged by the main drainage pump 40 and the auxiliary drainage pump 50. The lower end face of the water storage chamber 71 is vertically lower than the upper end face of the inlet 21, meaning the lower end face of the water storage chamber 71 is vertically lower than the foot bath robot's drain outlet. This forms a U-shaped pipe principle, ensuring that all wastewater from the foot bath robot flows completely into the water storage chamber 71. Optionally, the height of the foot bath robot's drain outlet is approximately 30mm, or it can be within the range of 25mm-37mm.

[0028] In this embodiment, the main drain pump 40 is mounted on the mounting base 70, and the water storage chamber 71 is formed within the mounting base 70. The main inlet of the main drain pump 40 extends directly into the water storage chamber 71, and the inlet end of the main inlet is the second suction inlet end face 41. An auxiliary inlet pipe 60 is also provided on the mounting base 70. The auxiliary inlet 51 of the auxiliary drain pump 50 is connected to one end of the auxiliary inlet pipe 60 through a pipeline, and the other end of the auxiliary inlet pipe 60 extends into the water storage chamber 71. The end of the auxiliary inlet pipe 60 extending into the water storage chamber 71 is the first suction inlet end face 61.

[0029] In this embodiment, the area of ​​the second suction inlet end face 41 of the main drain pump 40 is smaller than the flow area of ​​the water inlet 21, so as to ensure that the drainage speed of the main drain pump 40 is not greater than the speed at which wastewater enters the water storage chamber 71, thereby avoiding noise problems caused by the water level in the water storage chamber 71 dropping too quickly and air entering the main drain pump 40 due to the main drain pump 40 draining too quickly. Optionally, the diameter of the second suction inlet end face 41 is 13.3±2.5mm, the diameter of the water inlet of the drain pipe 30 is 15.6±5mm, and the diameter of the water inlet 21 is 28±5mm.

[0030] The drainage unit in this embodiment also includes a high-water-level detection device, which is disposed in the water storage chamber 71. The high-water-level detection device is used to detect whether the water level in the water storage chamber 71 has reached the high-water-level threshold. The high-water-level detection device is communicatively connected to the controller. Depending on the actual design requirements, the high-water-level detection device can be any one or more of the following combinations: a liquid level sensor, a float switch, a pressure sensor, an electrode plate, or other detection elements capable of sensing the presence or change in liquid level. Preferably, an electrode plate is used. When the water level reaches the high-water-level threshold, the electrode plate conducts, generating a signal. The high-water-level position is determined according to the machine's water volume and the pump's power. Using an electrode plate can reduce costs. After the foot bath robot is connected to the base station, when the high-water-level detection device detects that the water level in the water storage chamber 71 has reached the high-water-level threshold, the controller controls the main drainage pump 40 to start, initiating the drainage operation. This automatic start-up method based on the water level detection device effectively avoids the main drainage pump 40 from running idle for extended periods, reducing energy consumption and extending the pump's service life.

[0031] The drainage unit in this embodiment also includes a low water level detection element, which is disposed in the water storage chamber 71. The low water level detection element is used to detect whether the water level in the water storage chamber 71 is lower than the low water level threshold. The low water level detection element is communicatively connected to the controller. Depending on the actual design requirements, the low water level detection element can be any one or more of the following combinations: a liquid level sensor, a float switch, a pressure sensor, an electrode plate, or other detection elements capable of sensing the presence or change in liquid level. Preferably, an electrode plate is used. When the water level reaches the low water level threshold, the electrode plate conducts, generating a signal. The low water level position is determined according to the machine's water volume and pump power. Using an electrode plate can reduce costs. When the low water level detection element detects that the water level in the water storage chamber 71 is lower than the low water level threshold, the controller controls the auxiliary drainage pump 50 to start and controls the main drainage pump 40 to stop. This automatic start-up method based on the water level detection element enables the main drainage pump 40 and the auxiliary drainage pump 50 to automatically connect, avoiding waiting time and improving operating efficiency. Water level detection can be set up in the water collection tank of the base station or in key pipeline sections such as the water storage chamber 71, or even in the area of ​​the main drainage pump 40, to detect the water level in real time.

[0032] In this embodiment, the main drainage pump 40 and the auxiliary drainage pump 50 are automatically switched based on the real-time water level signal. That is, the decision is made according to the actual physical water level (drainage status) to ensure that the impeller pump efficiency is fully utilized when the water level is high and the self-priming pump is switched in time at the critical point of low water level. This ensures the thoroughness of drainage and minimizes noise pollution.

[0033] like Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, in this embodiment, the bottom surface of the inlet of the drain pipe 30 is lower than the upper surface of the inlet 21 to ensure that the wastewater in the foot bath robot is completely drained. Optionally, the height of the bottom surface of the inlet of the drain pipe 30 is in the range of 10mm-25mm.

[0034] like Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the main drainage pump 40 is disposed on the bottom plate of the base station body 10 and located on one side of the concave surface 112 at the front end, while the auxiliary drainage pump 50 is disposed on the concave surface 112 at the front end. The main drainage pump 40 is relatively large. By disposing of the main drainage pump 40 on the bottom plate of the base station body 10 and located on one side of the concave surface 112 at the front end, the space inside the base station body 10 on the side of the concave surface 112 can be fully utilized. This allows for the accommodation of the large main drainage pump 40 while avoiding encroachment on the installation positions of other key components, thus achieving a compact design of the overall structure. The auxiliary drainage pump 50 is relatively small. By disposing of the auxiliary drainage pump 50 on the concave surface 112, the narrow space at the concave surface 112 can be fully utilized. The structure is reasonably distributed and will not additionally increase the size of the base station body 10.

[0035] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the base station body 10 includes a housing 11 and a rear cover 12. The housing 11 and the rear cover 12 are detachably connected, for example, by means of a snap-fit ​​structure, screw connection, or magnetic attraction. This design facilitates the disassembly and maintenance of components within the base station body 10, improving assembly efficiency and maintenance convenience, and reducing maintenance costs.

[0036] This invention also provides a drainage control method, comprising: detecting the water level inside the base station; when the water level reaches a high water level threshold, starting the main drainage pump 40 of the base station for high-speed drainage; and when the water level drops to a low water level threshold, turning off the main drainage pump 40 and controlling the auxiliary drainage pump 50 to start.

[0037] Before detecting the water level inside the base station, the process includes: determining whether the foot bath robot is connected to the base station, whether the drain valve of the foot bath robot is open, and whether the drain outlet of the foot bath robot is connected to the water inlet 21 of the base station. If all of the above determinations are correct, the detection of the water level inside the base station begins. Wastewater is automatically triggered to flow to the base station. The base station controller senses the inflow of water through the water level detection unit or receives a drainage command from the robot, and automatically starts the drainage program.

[0038] Alternatively, base station drainage can be achieved by manually or automatically pouring water into the base station's water inlet. As long as the base station detects that the water level has reached the required drainage threshold, it can control the pump to start drainage.

[0039] In another embodiment, a drainage control method is also provided, comprising: The foot bath robot connects to the base station and triggers a drainage program. Wastewater from the foot bath robot flows into the base station through the drain outlet and interface 21. Specifically, the foot bath robot automatically triggers the drainage program after connecting to the base station, or the base station triggers the drainage program after receiving a drainage command from the foot bath robot. After the drainage program is started, the drain valve unit in the foot bath robot opens, the drain outlet is open, and wastewater from the foot bath robot flows into the base station through the drain outlet and interface 21.

[0040] When the water level inside the base station reaches the high water level threshold, the main drainage pump 40 is activated. Specifically, after the high water level detection device detects that the water level in the water storage chamber 71 inside the base station has reached the high water level threshold, the controller activates the main drainage pump 40. The main drainage pump 40 can quickly discharge most of the wastewater. At this time, the water level inside the base station is high, the main drainage pump 40 is operating normally, and the noise level is within an acceptable range.

[0041] When the water level inside the base station falls below the low water level threshold, the auxiliary drainage pump 50 is activated, and the main drainage pump 40 is deactivated. Specifically, after the low water level detection device detects that the water level in the water storage chamber 71 inside the base station is below the low water level threshold, the controller activates the auxiliary drainage pump 50 and deactivates the main drainage pump 40. The auxiliary drainage pump 50 can operate effectively at low water levels, pumping out residual water with low operating noise.

[0042] After all the water in the base station is drained, the auxiliary drainage pump 50 is shut down. Specifically, a water level detector can be used to detect the absence of water in the base station. When the water level detector detects that there is no water in the base station, the auxiliary drainage pump 50 is shut down. Furthermore, the auxiliary drainage pump 50 is shut down only after the water level detector has detected that there is no water in the base station for a set period of time, or after the auxiliary drainage pump 50 has run for a preset time, to ensure that the water in the base station is completely drained.

[0043] The system employs a dual-pump collaborative drainage system architecture: This implementation innovatively integrates two complementary pumps into the base station drainage system: a high-flow impeller pump and a low-noise self-priming pump (such as a diaphragm pump / peristaltic pump). This architecture decomposes the drainage process into two stages at the system design level: "high-speed emptying" and "silent emptying," using the most suitable pump to address the conflicting needs of different stages, achieving an optimal combination of performance and user experience.

[0044] An intelligent pump switching control method based on water level detection: This embodiment uses an automatic pump switching logic based on real-time water level signals at key locations. This method is not a simple timed switching, but rather makes decisions based on the actual physical water level (drainage status). It ensures that the impeller pump efficiency is fully utilized at high water levels and switches to a self-priming pump in a timely manner at the critical point of low water levels, thus guaranteeing thorough drainage while minimizing noise pollution. This is an optimized control strategy that achieves both high efficiency and low noise.

[0045] In addition, the optimized design for low-level drainage scenarios: This solution is optimized for the specific pipeline configuration of the foot bath robot-base station, where the drain outlet is low and the water inlet is even lower. The powerful self-priming capability and excellent low-liquid-level operating characteristics of the auxiliary low-noise pump are specifically designed to overcome the industry challenge of difficult drainage of the last section of water in this pipeline configuration, while also solving the resulting noise problem.

[0046] Fully automatic drainage triggering and completion judgment: The entire drainage process, from automatically starting upon detecting water inflow, to intelligently switching pump modes based on water level, and then automatically stopping after draining, forms a complete closed-loop control. Users require no operation, achieving a truly "one-stop" fully automatic drainage experience and enhancing the product's intelligence and reliability.

[0047] The entire drainage process, from automatically triggering the drainage program to intelligently switching pump modes based on the water level, and then automatically stopping after the water is drained, forms a complete closed-loop control. Users require no operation, achieving a truly "one-stop" fully automatic drainage experience and enhancing the product's intelligence and reliability.

[0048] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to make various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively describe all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A base station, characterized in that, include: Base station body (10); A base station base (20) is disposed on the front side of the base station body (10), and a water inlet (21) is provided at the upper end of the base station base (20); The drainage unit is provided with a drainage pipe (30) connected to the water inlet (21). The drainage unit is also provided with a main drainage pump (40), an auxiliary drainage pump (50) and a controller. The controller controls the start of the main drainage pump (40) and / or the auxiliary drainage pump (50) based on a predetermined rule. The main drainage pump (40) and the auxiliary drainage pump (50) are both connected to the drainage pipeline (30), and the first suction port end face (61) of the auxiliary drainage pump (50) is lower than the second suction port end face (41) of the main drainage pump (40).

2. The base station according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drainage unit also includes a water storage cavity (71), which is connected to the drainage pipe (30). The first suction port end face (61) and the second suction port end face (41) are both located in the water storage cavity (71). The lower end face of the water storage cavity (71) is lower than the upper end face of the water inlet (21) in the vertical direction.

3. The base station according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom surface of the inlet of the drainage pipe (30) is lower than the top surface of the water inlet (21).

4. The base station according to claim 1, characterized in that, The area of ​​the second suction port end face (41) of the main drainage pump (40) is smaller than the flow area of ​​the water inlet (21).

5. The base station according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main drainage pump (40) is an impeller pump, and the auxiliary drainage pump (50) is a diaphragm pump or a peristaltic pump.

6. The base station according to claim 2, characterized in that, The predetermined rules include: when the water level in the base station reaches the high water level threshold, the controller controls the main drainage pump (40) to start; when the water level in the base station is lower than the low water level threshold, the controller controls the auxiliary drainage pump (50) to start and controls the main drainage pump (40) to shut down.

7. The base station according to claim 6, characterized in that, A high water level detection device is provided inside the water storage chamber (71). The high water level detection device is used to detect whether the water level in the water storage chamber (71) has reached the high water level threshold. The high water level detection device is communicatively connected to the controller; and / or A low water level detection device is provided in the water storage cavity (71). The low water level detection device is used to detect whether the water level in the water storage cavity (71) is lower than the low water level threshold. The low water level detection device is communicatively connected to the controller.

8. A foot bath device, characterized in that, Includes a foot bath robot and a base station as described in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the foot bath robot is provided with a drain outlet, and after the foot bath robot is connected to the base station, the drain outlet is connected to the water inlet (21).

9. A drainage control method, characterized in that, include: The water level inside the base station is detected. When the water level reaches the high water level threshold, the main drainage pump (40) of the base station is started to drain water at high speed. When the water level drops to the low water level threshold, the main drainage pump (40) is turned off and the auxiliary drainage pump (50) is started.

10. The drainage control method according to claim 9, characterized in that, Before detecting the water level inside the base station, the following also includes: Determine whether the foot bath robot is connected to the base station, check whether the drain valve of the foot bath robot is open, and whether the drain outlet of the foot bath robot is connected to the water inlet (21) of the base station.

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