Airflow generating device and base station of surface cleaning equipment

Abstract

The utility model provides an airflow generating device which is used for being installed in a base station of a surface cleaning system to form airflow, a centrifugal fan comprises an impeller with a central axis, an airflow suction opening and an exhaust opening, the airflow suction opening and the exhaust opening are in fluid communication with the impeller, and the exhaust opening is provided with a near end close to the central axis and a far end away from the central axis; the air duct assembly comprises an inlet and an outlet, the inlet is hermetically communicated with the exhaust outlet, the outlet is communicated with external atmosphere, and the width of the outlet is larger than that of the inlet; the air duct is positioned between the inlet and the outlet; and the at least one flow guide structure is located in the air duct and used for guiding airflow in the air duct when the centrifugal fan is activated, and the flow guide structure is configured to enable the airflow wind resistance from the near end to be larger than the airflow wind resistance from the far end. The utility model further provides a base station of the surface cleaning equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an airflow generating device and a base station of a surface cleaning device. Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, household surface cleaning devices usually need to dry their cleaning actuators, such as stirring elements, after a cleaning cycle to prevent bacteria from growing due to residual dirt and moisture adhering to them after the last self-cleaning cycle. The stirring elements are usually dried by airflow through an airflow generating device attached to a structure such as a base station or a tray to remove residual moisture. Utility Model Content

[0003] Some aspects of the present disclosure provide an airflow generating device for installation in a base station of a surface cleaning system to form an airflow, a centrifugal fan, comprising an impeller with a central axis, an airflow suction port and an air exhaust port connected to the impeller fluid, the air exhaust port having a proximal end close to the central axis and a distal end away from the central axis; an air duct assembly, comprising: an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being sealed and connected to the air exhaust port, the outlet being connected to the external atmosphere, the width of the outlet being greater than the inlet; an air duct located between the inlet and the outlet; and at least one guide structure located in the air duct, for guiding the airflow in the air duct when the centrifugal fan is activated, the guide structure being configured so that the wind resistance of the airflow from the proximal end is greater than the wind resistance from the distal end.

[0004] Some aspects of the present disclosure provide an airflow generating device for installation in a base station of a surface cleaning system to form an airflow, a centrifugal fan, comprising an impeller with a central axis, an airflow suction port and an air exhaust port connected to the impeller fluid, the air exhaust port having a proximal end close to the central axis and a distal end away from the central axis; an air duct assembly, comprising: an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being sealed and connected to the air exhaust port, the outlet being connected to the external atmosphere, the width of the outlet being greater than the inlet; a generally axisymmetric air duct located between the inlet and the outlet; and at least one guide structure located in the air duct, for guiding the airflow in the air duct when the centrifugal fan is activated, the guide structure being arranged non-axisymmetrically in the air duct.

[0005] Some aspects of the present disclosure provide an airflow generating device for installation in a base station of a surface cleaning system to form an airflow, a centrifugal fan, comprising an impeller with a central axis, an airflow suction port and an air exhaust port connected to the impeller fluid, the air exhaust port having a proximal end close to the central axis and a distal end away from the central axis; an air duct assembly, comprising: an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being sealed and connected to the air exhaust port, the outlet being connected to the external atmosphere, the width of the outlet being greater than the inlet; a generally axially symmetrical air duct located between the inlet and the outlet; and at least one guide structure located in the air duct, for guiding the airflow in the air duct when the centrifugal fan is activated, the guide structure being arranged in the air duct near the central axis.

[0006] Some aspects of the present disclosure provide an airflow generating device for installation in a base station of a surface cleaning system to form an airflow, a centrifugal fan, comprising an impeller with a central axis, an airflow suction port and an air exhaust port connected to the impeller fluid, the air exhaust port having a proximal end close to the central axis and a distal end away from the central axis; an air duct assembly, comprising: an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being sealed and connected to the air exhaust port, the outlet being connected to the external atmosphere, the width of the outlet being greater than the inlet; a generally axially symmetrical air duct located between the inlet and the outlet; and at least one guide structure located in the air duct, for guiding the airflow in the air duct when the centrifugal fan is activated, the inflection point of the guide structure close to the central axis being greater than the inflection point of the guide structure away from the central axis.

[0007] Some aspects of the present disclosure provide a base station for a surface cleaning device, including a shell with an air path formed inside; an air inlet and an air outlet located on the surface of the shell for connecting the atmosphere and the inside of the shell; a centrifugal fan fluidly connected to the air inlet, including an impeller with a central axis, an air flow suction port and an air outlet fluidly connected to the impeller, the air outlet having a proximal end close to the central axis and a distal end away from the central axis; an air duct assembly, including: a first side wall and a second side wall, and an inlet and an outlet formed between the first side wall and the second side wall, the inlet being sealed and connected to the air outlet, the outlet being connected to the air outlet, and the width of the outlet being larger than the inlet; an air duct located between the inlet and the outlet; and at least one guide structure located in the air duct, for guiding the airflow in the air duct when the centrifugal fan is activated, the guide structure being configured so that the wind resistance of the airflow from the proximal end is greater than the wind resistance from the distal end.

[0008] Some aspects of the present disclosure provide a base station for a surface cleaning device, comprising a shell with an air path formed therein; an air inlet and an air outlet located on the surface of the shell for connecting the atmosphere and the interior of the shell; a centrifugal fan fluidly connected to the air inlet, comprising an impeller having a central axis, an air flow suction port and an air outlet fluidly connected to the impeller, the air outlet having a proximal end close to the central axis and a distal end away from the central axis; an air duct assembly, comprising: a first side wall and a second side wall, and an inlet and an outlet formed between the first side wall and the second side wall, the inlet being sealed and connected to the air outlet, the outlet being connected to the air outlet, the width of the outlet being greater than the inlet; an air duct located between the inlet and the outlet; and at least one guide structure located in the air duct for guiding the airflow in the air duct when the centrifugal fan is activated, the guide structure being configured so that the wind resistance of the airflow from the proximal end is greater than the wind resistance from the distal end.

[0009] Some aspects of the present disclosure provide a base station for a surface cleaning device, comprising a shell with an air path formed inside; an air inlet and an air outlet located on the surface of the shell for connecting the atmosphere and the interior of the shell; a centrifugal fan fluidly connected to the air inlet, comprising an impeller with a central axis, an air flow suction port and an air outlet fluidly connected to the impeller, the air outlet having a proximal end close to the central axis and a distal end away from the central axis; an air duct assembly, comprising: an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being sealed and connected to the air outlet, the outlet being connected to the external atmosphere, the width of the outlet being greater than the inlet; an air duct located between the inlet and the outlet, at least one heating device being arranged in the air duct; at least one guide structure located in the air duct, for guiding the airflow in the air duct when the centrifugal fan is activated, the guide structure being configured so that the wind resistance of the airflow from the proximal end is greater than the wind resistance from the distal end.

[0010] The base station of the utility model further comprises a first heating device, and the first heating device is located between the upstream air duct and the downstream air duct.

[0011] The base station of the utility model further comprises a second heating device, and the second heating device is close to the outlet.

[0012] The above content is a relatively broad overview of the features and technical advantages of the examples provided according to the present disclosure, so as to better understand the detailed description below. Other features and advantages will be introduced below. The disclosed concepts and specific examples can be used as the basis for modifying or designing other structures or methods at any time to achieve the same purpose of the present disclosure. Such equivalent structures do not depart from the scope of the attached claims. From the following description, the characteristics, organizational structure and operation methods of the concepts disclosed in the utility model, as well as the related advantages, can be better understood in combination with the accompanying drawings. Each figure is provided for the purpose of illustration and description, and is not used to define the scope of the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In order to understand the above features of the present disclosure in detail, reference may be made to certain aspects illustrated in the accompanying drawings for a more detailed description of the features briefly summarized above. It should be noted, however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only certain typical aspects of the present disclosure and should not be considered as limiting the scope thereof, as the present disclosure may include other equally effective aspects. The same reference numerals in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

[0014] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a surface cleaning system according to one aspect of the present disclosure is shown.

[0015] Figure 2 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a base station according to one aspect of the present disclosure is shown.

[0016] Figure 3A schematic top view of a base station according to one aspect of the present disclosure is shown, illustrating the internal structure of the base station.

[0017] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of a centrifugal fan for a base station according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 5 is based on Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the AA direction cross section.

[0019] Figure 6 A schematic top view of a base station according to one aspect of the present disclosure is shown, illustrating an internal guide plate structure of the base station.

[0020] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a control device of a base station according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 8 A flow chart of a base station performing maintenance on a surface cleaning device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The present disclosure is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The various aspects of the present disclosure will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure can be embodied in a variety of different forms and should not be construed as being limited to any specific structure or function introduced in the present disclosure. On the contrary, these aspects are provided to make the present disclosure comprehensive and complete, and to fully illustrate the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Based on the teachings of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover any aspect disclosed herein, whether implemented independently of any other aspect of the present disclosure or implemented in combination with any other aspect of the present disclosure. For example, any aspect of this article can be used to implement a device or implement a method. In addition, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover devices or methods implemented using other structures, functions, or structures and functions in addition to or in addition to the various aspects set forth herein. It should be understood that any aspect disclosed herein can be embodied by one or more elements of the claims.

[0023] In the current market, household floor scrubbers are becoming more and more popular. Self-cleaning after cleaning has become a trend. Self-cleaning can greatly reduce the secondary pollution caused by dirt attached to the fluff of the stirring parts of the surface cleaning equipment, and effectively remove the dirt attached to the stirring parts.

[0024] Since the stirring element is usually washed repeatedly with clean water in the self-cleaning cycle, the fluff on the surface of the stirring element still has a certain humidity after self-cleaning. Even if the rotation speed of the stirring element is increased and the excess water is thrown out by centrifugal action, the water on the fluff of the stirring element cannot be completely removed after the self-cleaning cycle ends, which may lead to the growth of bacteria in a humid environment.

[0025] In response to this situation, the prior art has adopted the method of hot air drying the stirring element after self-cleaning to completely remove the moisture from the fluff of the stirring element, thereby avoiding the possibility of bacteria and microorganisms growing in the fluff of the stirring element. For example, in Chinese patent application ZL202110456057.2, by providing a heat drying mechanism in the base, the roller brush of the cleaning equipment can be heat dried, thereby improving the cleaning efficiency and the service life of the equipment. By controlling the operation of the fan device and the heating body on the base station, the airflow can be heated and dispersed, thereby achieving sufficient heating and heat drying of the cleaning equipment. In addition, by providing a tray portion and an air guide portion, the air outlet of the heat drying mechanism can be directed to the cleaning tank toward the tray portion, thereby improving the heat drying effect.

[0026] At present, thermal drying of wet surface cleaning devices represented by floor scrubbers has become a trend. However, most base stations with thermal drying function on the market currently require a long period of time to completely dry the cleaned parts.

[0027] The base station and maintenance method of the surface cleaning device described herein can be based on improving the efficiency of the thermal drying process of the cleaning parts. In some examples of base stations, the base station can be configured with an airflow generating device. In some examples, the airflow generating device can act on a thermal drying cycle to provide a uniform dry airflow to the cleaning parts of the surface cleaning device.

[0028] In some embodiments, the control device may use various mechanisms and algorithms to determine the maintenance mode, so as to determine different self-cleaning cycle strategies and thermal drying cycle strategies according to the mode selection of the user. The self-cleaning cycle strategy and thermal drying cycle strategy may also be automatically determined according to the changes in the environment, so as to eliminate the excessive maintenance waiting time while ensuring the maintenance efficiency.

[0029] Figure 1 An example of supporting a surface cleaning device to perform maintenance according to various aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The term "surface cleaning device" may be used herein to describe various types of household cleaning devices, including autonomous processing devices configured to provide some semi-autonomous or autonomous capabilities. Examples of household cleaning devices include: a floor scrubber, a vacuum cleaner with mopping function, a sweeping robot with scrubbing function, a window cleaning robot, etc.

[0030] In an embodiment where the surface cleaning device is a floor scrubber, the surface cleaning device may include an onboard processing device configured to receive some information or instructions, such as information or instructions from a human operator (e.g., via a remote computing device), and semi-autonomously operate the surface cleaning device to clean the floor and / or perform base station maintenance of the surface cleaning device based on the received information or instructions.

[0031] Figure 1 1 is a surface cleaning system architecture diagram according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The surface cleaning system 100 can support the mechanism of cleaning and maintenance of the surface cleaning device 210. In some embodiments, the surface cleaning device 210 can be configured to perform a semi-autonomous or autonomous dirty particle collection process. For example, the surface cleaning device 210 can include a wet floor cleaning device. The surface cleaning device 210 can be configured to identify the floor dirtiness within a cleaning cycle and the used time of the cleaning parts of the surface cleaning device 210. Some examples of identifying the floor dirtiness and the use time of the cleaning parts can be based on sensor information. After the surface cleaning device 210 determines that the cleaning parts should be maintained, the operation can be suspended and the current working position of the surface cleaning device 210 can be recorded. The base station 220 of the surface cleaning device 210 can be configured to be used for performing a self-cleaning cycle and a hot drying cycle. The system can start to perform corresponding cleaning and maintenance operations when the surface cleaning device 210 is stored and supported on the base station 220.

[0032] In some embodiments, various mechanisms and algorithms may also be used to determine the maintenance mode of the cleaning parts of the surface cleaning device 210 to adapt to the current working situation. The current working situation may be defined by the user and / or identified by the surface cleaning device using occupancy data related to the environment, such as the area and geographical location of the home that has been cleaned, the dirtiness record of the ground that has been cleaned, etc. The maintenance mode is automatically selected through some mechanisms and algorithms to call the corresponding maintenance mode on the base station 220 to maintain the surface cleaning device, so that the time of pausing operation or waiting can be reduced.

[0033] like Figure 1In some embodiments, the surface cleaning system 100 may further include an access point 110, a server 120, a remote control device 130, a database 140, and a wireless communication link 150. The server 120 may include a data server, a cloud server, a server associated with an automation service provider, a proxy server, a mail server, a web server, an application server, a database server, a communication server, a home server, a mobile server, or any combination thereof. For example, the surface cleaning device 210 may upload data (such as notifications) to an application hosted by the server 120 for publishing data related to the autonomous functions performed by the surface cleaning device 210. For example, a user may view the data published by the surface cleaning device 210 through an application running on the remote control device 130 to view the functions performed by the surface cleaning device 210. The server 120 may also transmit various information to the surface cleaning device 210, such as location information, motion control instructions, and other information, instructions, or commands related to the autonomous operation of the surface cleaning device 210.

[0034] The database 140 can store data, which may include location information, control instructions, consumables information (e.g., stirring element information, filter information), water full information, dirt information, battery information and other operation information, as well as other information, instructions or commands related to the maintenance operation of the surface cleaning device (e.g., the occupied time of the self-cleaning cycle, the occupied time of the hot drying, the charging power of the base station 220 during the maintenance of the surface cleaning device, etc.). The surface cleaning device 210 can retrieve the stored data from the database 140 through the access point 110.

[0035] In some cases, the surface cleaning device may also communicate directly with another device (eg, using a peer-to-peer (P2P) or device-to-device (D2D) protocol), such as a smartphone, a Bluetooth device, a Wi-Fi device, a mobile station, a user station, a mobile client, etc.

[0036] The wireless communication link 150 shown in the surface cleaning system 100 may include an uplink (UL) transmission from the surface cleaning device to the access point 110 or the server 120, and / or a downlink (DL) transmission from the access point 110 or the server 120 to the surface cleaning device. Downlink transmissions may also be referred to as forward link transmissions, and uplink transmissions may also be referred to as reverse link transmissions. The wireless communication link 135 may transmit bidirectional communications and / or unidirectional communications. The wireless communication link 135 may include one or more connections, including but not limited to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, point-to-point, LAN, wireless local area network (WLAN), Ethernet, fiber optic, and / or other connection types associated with wireless communication systems.

[0037] Figure 1Also shown is an example of an environment 200 that supports surface cleaning equipment that performs maintenance on a base station 220 in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The environment 200 can implement various aspects of the surface cleaning system 100.

[0038] In some examples, environment 200 can be part of a structure, such as a residential or commercial building. For example, environment 200 can be a home, in particular, a room, including one or more different ground materials and objects throughout the room. The surface cleaning device can be configured to perform cleaning functions within the scope of the home. For example, the surface cleaning device can perform a semi-autonomous (or autonomous) surface dirty particle collection process within the above-mentioned geographical boundaries under the manual control of the user, including: during operation, the cleaning fluid is supplied from the fluid supply container to the dispenser, and is supplied to the cleaning member from the outlet of at least one dispenser. The fluid flows to the cleaning member so that the surface to be cleaned, such as the exposed floor surface, can be wetted or moistened via the fluid indirectly conveyed by the cleaning member. The recovery system can operate simultaneously with the wetted cleaning member. More specifically, during the operation of the recovery system, the vacuum cleaner sucks the fluid carrying debris through the suction nozzle, and sucks these fluids into the downstream recovery container, in which the debris and sewage are basically separated from the working air. The air flow then discharges the surface cleaning device through the suction source.

[0039] Typically, in a traditional environment, the cleaning efficiency of a surface cleaning device will decrease after a cleaning cycle or during a cleaning cycle, because the increasing dirt on the cleaning parts exceeds the dirt that is automatically removed from the cleaning parts during cleaning on the surface cleaning device. At this point, it is necessary to suspend the collection process and maintain the cleaning parts on the base station 220. Usually, the maintenance of the base station 220 includes self-cleaning and thermal drying, especially thermal drying, which requires a long time period. Therefore, it will limit the number of areas in which the surface cleaning device can be operated in the environment 200, or cause unnecessary delays due to sudden ground dirty events that need to be cleaned. According to what is described herein, an efficient maintenance mechanism for surface cleaning equipment can be configured on the base station 220. Thereby eliminating the limitations and delays associated with manual intervention.

[0040] Figure 2-6 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a base station 220 related to the present disclosure. Figure 2-6 As shown, the present disclosure provides a base station 220 for docking a surface cleaning device. The base station 220 can not only accommodate the surface cleaning device, but also perform a self-cleaning cycle and a thermal drying cycle for the stirring member of the surface cleaning device docked on the base station 220. In addition, the base station 220 also has the function of providing power to the surface cleaning device docked thereon, and the power provided by the base station 220 is used to charge the rechargeable battery of the surface cleaning device.

[0041] The base station 220 includes key components such as a housing 221, a tray 222 and a storage portion 223. The storage portion 223 is located below the tray 222 and is firmly fixed on the tray 222. The tray 222 and the storage portion 223 together form at least a portion of the outer surface of the base station 220.

[0042] A cleaning area 224 is provided in the housing 221. The cleaning area 224 is located on the tray 222, at the front end of the tray 222. When the surface cleaning device is docked at the base station 220, the stirring element of the surface cleaning device will be accommodated in the cleaning area 224. At this time, the cleaning liquid can be stored in the cleaning area 224, and when the stirring element of the surface cleaning device is running in the cleaning area 224, self-cleaning can be performed.

[0043] like Figure 2 and 3 As shown, in one embodiment, during the self-cleaning process, the heat conducting member 225 transfers the heat generated by the heating assembly 226 in the base station 220 to the cleaning area 224. In this way, the liquid in the cleaning area 224, including the liquid attached to the fluff of the stirring member and the liquid accumulated in the cleaning area 224, will be effectively heated to achieve the purpose of sterilization and disinfection.

[0044] The heat conducting member 225 is at least partially disposed in the clean area 224, and can be stably fixed to at least a portion of the base station 220 through the frame portion. In one example, the frame portion is mounted and fixed to the frame of the heating assembly 226. Since the frame is made of a high temperature resistant and low deformation material, the frame can be embedded in the clean area 224 by an interference fit, and then the sealing effect is ensured by a conventional soft glue sealing method. This design can ensure effective heat conduction and maintain the integrity of the clean area 224 under high temperature conditions.

[0045] In one embodiment, during the thermal drying process, the heating assembly 226 of the present disclosure transfers the heat generated by the heating assembly 226 in the station to the location of the cleaning area 224. In one embodiment, the hot air flow during the thermal drying process is set on the base station 220 to be directed toward the cleaning area 224, especially the heat transfer element 225. In this way, during the thermal drying process, the cleaning element of the surface cleaning device can simultaneously receive the heat transferred from the heat transfer element 225 and the heat transferred from the hot air flow.

[0046] To achieve thermal drying of the stirring member in the cleaning area 224 on the base station 220, as Figure 3 As shown, an airflow generating device (at least including a centrifugal fan 229 ) is disposed inside the shell of the base station 220 , and is used to be installed inside the base station 220 to form a dry airflow.

[0047] like Figure 2 and 3As shown, a cavity structure is formed inside the shell 221 of the base station 220, and the shell 221 has an air inlet 227 and an air outlet 228; one or more centrifugal fans 229 are arranged between the air inlet 227 and the air outlet 228, and the centrifugal fan 229 is arranged in the shell 221. When it is energized, an air pressure difference is generated inside the shell 221, and a negative pressure is generated at the air inlet 227, and the external air flow F is sent into the air inlet 227 under the action of atmospheric pressure; a positive pressure is generated at the air outlet 228, thereby overcoming the atmospheric pressure and sending the air flow F2 inside the base station 220 out of the air outlet 228, and under the continuous action of the centrifugal fan 229, an air flow path flowing from the air inlet 227 to the air outlet 228 is generated.

[0048] like Figure 4 As shown, the centrifugal fan 229 generally includes a motor 2290 for driving an impeller 2292 to rotate around a central shaft 2291. The impeller is the core component of the centrifugal fan, and its design affects the performance and efficiency of the fan. The impeller of a small centrifugal fan is smaller in size and is generally made of lightweight materials. The centrifugal fan includes a casing 2293 for accommodating the impeller 2292 and guiding the flow of air, and its design should ensure smooth flow of air to improve the efficiency of the fan. The centrifugal fan 229 includes an inlet 2294 and an outlet 2295: the inlet 2294 and the outlet 2295 are respectively the channels for the gas to enter and leave the fan.

[0049] When the centrifugal fan 229 is activated, the motor 2290 drives the impeller 2292 to rotate, generating centrifugal force to accelerate the gas and form a high-speed airflow. The accelerated gas increases in pressure in the housing 2293 and is discharged from the outlet 2295 along the centrifugal direction.

[0050] In one example of the present disclosure, the air path of the airflow is restricted by the airflow guide device inside the housing of the base station 220. The airflow flows between the air inlet and the air outlet of the airflow guide device, especially from the air inlet to the air outlet. The airflow guide device is usually located in the middle of the housing of the base station 220 so that the flow trajectory of the airflow does not produce obvious deviation and is evenly dispersed from the air outlet.

[0051] In some examples of the present disclosure, the airflow guiding device generally includes a first side wall 230 and a second side wall 231 symmetrically arranged, and at least a portion of an air duct 250 is formed between the first side wall 230 and the second side wall 231 to guide the airflow of the centrifugal fan 229 to the outside of the base station.

[0052] In one example, the cross section of the air duct 250 constitutes a diffusion structure as a whole, which can meet the need for guiding the airflow while ensuring that the airflow is reflected between the side walls through the reflection principle, ensuring that the airflow can flow out evenly at the air outlet without significantly reducing the flow rate. By providing the airflow guide device 120, the airflow is guided from the centrifugal fan 229 to the heating mechanism 150, which can increase the airflow utilization efficiency of the heating mechanism 150. In the case of not requiring excessive power, the centrifugal fan 229 can meet the required airflow volume and reduce the power consumption of the base 100.

[0053] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the air duct 250 includes a first duct segment 251 and a second duct segment 252. The first duct segment 251 may be partially or entirely disposed in the base station housing, and may extend from the air outlet of the centrifugal fan 229 to the second duct segment 252. The second duct segment 252 may be partially or entirely disposed in the base station housing, and may extend from the first duct segment 251 to the air outlet 228 of the base station. In other configurations, the first duct segment 251 and the second duct segment 252 may be in fluid communication with the air outlet of the centrifugal fan 229 and the air outlet 228 of the base station, rather than physically extending to them.

[0054] Since the centrifugal fans of base stations are usually small fans, the design of their volutes needs to ensure a large curvature to ensure that the airflow obtains a large pressure before being discharged from the air outlet, so as to ensure a high air outlet speed. The air volume of the centrifugal fan outlet 2295 may usually have a certain degree of unevenness in actual situations. In particular, the wind speed of the air outlet on the side close to the central axis 2291 line 2291 will be greater than the wind speed of the air outlet on the side away from the central axis 2291 line, such as Figure 4 shown.

[0055] Although centrifugal fans can produce a large air volume with a small volume, the "deviation" of the wind speed at the centrifugal fan outlet usually causes uneven air volume at the outlet terminal of the base station, that is, the outlet. Uneven air volume usually leads to inconsistent dryness of the stirring parts in the cleaning area in the horizontal direction, affecting the user experience.

[0056] In order to achieve relatively uniform air flow from the air outlet of the base station, it is necessary to interfere with the air volume at the outlet of the centrifugal fan so that the airflow reaches a basically consistent wind speed before reaching the air outlet.

[0057] The air duct 250 of the present disclosure includes an upstream air duct and a downstream air duct which are arranged in communication.

[0058] In some examples of the present disclosure, at least one guide structure is provided in the air duct 250 to guide the airflow in the air duct 250 when the centrifugal fan is activated. The guide structure is configured to interfere with the airflow flowing in the air duct 250 so that the airflow is evenly distributed at the air outlet.

[0059] The guide structure includes a first guide structure and a second guide structure. The first guide structure is arranged in the upstream air duct, and the second guide structure is arranged in the downstream air duct.

[0060] In one example, the guide structure makes the airflow from the centrifugal fan outlet 2295 close to the center axis 2291 line 2291 encounter a greater wind resistance from the guide structure than the airflow from the centrifugal fan outlet 2295 away from the center axis 2291 line 2291 .

[0061] like Figure 6 As shown, at least one guide plate 260 is provided near the centrifugal fan outlet 2295 and extends along the airflow direction. The guide plate 260 is configured to be offset toward the central axis 2291 of the centrifugal fan in the air duct 250. In one example, preferably, the guide plate 260 extends along at least a portion of the length of the air duct 250. In one example, in combination with Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the guide plate 260 preferably extends along at least a portion of the length of the air duct 250 and is close to the second side wall 231, so as to form a narrower channel between the second side wall and the guide plate 260 than between the first side wall and the guide plate 260. This allows the fluid on the side close to the central axis 2291 of the centrifugal fan to enter the narrow path of the outlet channel more difficultly to increase turbulence and / or pressure drop, thereby directing more airflow to the channel between the first side wall and the guide plate 260.

[0062] The first guide structure includes at least one guide vane, which is extended along the airflow direction and is closer to the second side wall than the first side wall. The second guide structure includes a plurality of guide vanes, which are extended along the airflow direction, and the guide vanes closer to the second side wall than the first side wall have more inflection points. The airflow generating device of the present disclosure also includes a splitter vane, which is arranged closer to the outlet than the inlet, and at least an airflow channel is formed between the splitter vane and the guide vane.

[0063] like Figure 3 and 5 As shown, according to an example of the present disclosure, a preheating component 2261 is provided on the flow path through which the airflow wind path flows. The preheating component 2261 is used to receive the airflow F0 from the upstream of the airflow wind path. Figure 5As shown, in one embodiment, the upstream airflow F0 comes from the output airflow of the centrifugal fan 229, and the pre-heating component 2261 is located downstream of the centrifugal fan 229, thereby heating the upstream airflow from the centrifugal fan 229 to form the pre-heating airflow F1.

[0064] The front heated airflow F1 moves downstream under the guidance of the air path. One or more rear heated components 2262 are arranged downstream of the front heated component 2261 to receive the front heated airflow F1 and heat the front heated airflow F1 to form a secondary heated airflow F2. The secondary heated airflow F2 is introduced into the cleaning area 224 through the air outlet 228.

[0065] According to an example of the present disclosure, the front heating component 2261 is arranged in at least a portion of the first pipe segment 251, and the rear heating component 2262 is arranged in at least a portion of the second pipe segment 252. In order to facilitate uniform heating of the airflow segment, it should be ensured that the airflow is uniformly guided before entering the front heating component 2261 and / or the rear heating component 2262.

[0066] Accordingly, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the guide plate 260 includes a first guide plate 261 and a second guide plate 262 , which are located at least in the first pipe segment 251 and the second pipe segment 252 , respectively.

[0067] In one example, if Figure 3 The air duct 250 of the present disclosure is arranged in an extended manner as a whole, and the first side wall 251 and the second side wall 252 are generally arranged in an axisymmetric manner to adapt to the shape and size of the exhaust port 2295 of the centrifugal fan and the base station outlet 228. In other examples, the air duct 250 of the present disclosure may also include a first side wall 251 and a second side wall 252 that are arranged in an asymmetric manner.

[0068] In one aspect of the present disclosure, Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, the extended air duct 250 includes a first pipe segment 251 and a second pipe segment 252, wherein the first pipe segment 251 is arranged in fluid communication between the exhaust port 2295 of the centrifugal fan and the inlet of the second pipe segment 252, and the second pipe segment 252 is in fluid communication between the outlet of the first pipe segment 251 and the base station air outlet 228. When the centrifugal fan is activated, the airflow F0 of the exhaust port 2295 of the centrifugal fan is conducted to the base station air outlet 228 through the first pipe segment 251 and the second pipe segment 252, respectively.

[0069] In one example, a first guide plate 261 is provided in the first pipe section 251, and the first guide plate 261 is configured to extend substantially along the expansion direction of the airflow in the first pipe section 251, and has a first end and an opposite second end, and the first end is located downstream of the second end. The first guide plate 261 is configured to be offset toward the central axis 2291 of the centrifugal fan in the air duct 250, and when the centrifugal fan is activated, the airflow near the central axis 2291 of the exhaust port 2295 is guided to preliminarily distribute the airflow into roughly uniform airflow F01 and airflow F02 in the first pipe section 251. In this way, the airflow is preliminarily distributed before reaching the pre-heating assembly 2261.

[0070] Taking into account the overall efficiency of thermal drying of the base station, the first guide plate 261 is configured to not significantly slow down the airflow on the side of the exhaust port close to the central axis 2291 to avoid the airflow failing to reach the base station outlet 228. After the airflow is guided by the first guide plate 261, the flow rate of the airflow F02 will still be greater than the flow rate of the airflow F01. Therefore, the airflow that is about to enter the second pipe section 252 needs to be guided and distributed again.

[0071] Therefore, in one example, more than one second guide plate 262 is provided in the second pipe segment 252, and the second guide plate 262 is configured to be extended substantially along the expansion direction of the airflow in the first pipe segment 251, and has a first end and an opposite second end, and the first end is located downstream of the second end. The second guide plate 262 is configured to be offset toward the central axis 2291 of the centrifugal fan in the air duct 250, and when the centrifugal fan is activated, the airflow near the central axis 2291 at the inlet of the second pipe segment 252 is secondary guided to redistribute the airflow F01 and the airflow F02 initially distributed in the first pipe segment 251.

[0072] In one example, multiple second guide plates 262 are distributed laterally along the second duct segment 252. Along the airflow direction, one or more second guide plates 262 near the second side wall 231 can generate more turbulence than one or more second guide plates 262 near the first side wall. On the basis of not affecting the airflow reaching the base station outlet 228, the airflow is further distributed, so that before reaching the rear heating assembly 2262, the airflow is roughly evenly distributed in the lateral direction of the rear heating assembly.

[0073] In one example, in order to make the airflow turbulent and collide, the airflow F12 passes through more inflection points of the air duct 250 than the airflow F11. The inflection points of the air duct 250 are formed on the above-mentioned multiple second guide plates 262, especially on the side where the symmetry axis of the air duct 250 is closer to the central axis 2291 of the centrifugal fan. The airflow F12 encounters more resistance when passing through the inflection point, and is further decelerated, ensuring that the flow speeds of F11 and F12 are basically the same before reaching the post-heating component.

[0074] In one example, a heating zone is formed in the cleaning zone. The heating zone is implemented by a heat transfer member 225. The heat transfer member 225 is configured so that when the surface cleaning device is located on the base station 220, at least a portion of the cleaning member contacts the heat transfer member 225. The heat transfer member 225 is configured to transfer heat to at least a portion of the cleaning zone during a heat drying cycle of the surface cleaning device to heat residual water in the self-cleaning zone, such as the fluff on the stirring member, to improve the evaporation efficiency of the water, thereby more efficiently achieving heat drying of the stirring member.

[0075] During the operation of the thermal drying cycle, the heat conducting element 225 transfers heat to the cleaning area 224, so that the stirring element accelerates the evaporation of its own residual water during the rotation. This heating effect further improves the evaporation of the residual water of the fluff on the basis of the drying by the secondary heated airflow F2, while reducing the activity of bacteria or directly killing bacteria. Specifically, the heat conducting element 225 is arranged in the cleaning area, and the heat conducting element 225 is in contact with the rotating stirring element placed in the cleaning area, transferring heat energy to the surface of the cleaning element, thereby increasing the temperature of the residual liquid on the surface of the cleaning element. Under the action of the secondary heated airflow F2, the residual liquid can be evaporated in a more efficient manner, achieving the thermal drying effect of the cleaning element in a short time, thereby realizing rapid thermal drying of the stirring element and reducing the waiting time of the user.

[0076] In one aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, in one example, the front heating component 2261 includes a PTC heating element. The PTC heating element is firmly fixed to the inside of the base station 220 shell by a bracket, and the bracket is preferably made of a high-temperature resistant material to prevent deformation after heating and causing functional failure of the heating mechanism. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the rear heating component 2262 includes a PTC heating element. The PTC heating element is firmly fixed to the inside of the base station 220 shell by a bracket, and the bracket is preferably made of a high-temperature resistant material to prevent deformation after heating and causing functional failure of the heating mechanism. In one example, the rear heating component 2262 conducts heat from the inside of the base station 220 shell to the cleaning area 224 through a heat conduction member 225 fixedly connected thereto and having a heat conduction relationship.

[0077] In another example of the present disclosure, the heat conducting member 225 is a part of the body of the rear heating assembly 2262. That is, when designed and assembled, at least a part of the heat dissipation portion on the body of the rear heating assembly 2262 is located in the cleaning zone and contacts the cleaning member of the surface cleaning device during the self-cleaning cycle or the thermal drying cycle.

[0078] Therefore, the rear heating component 2262 can also play a role in the self-cleaning process of the surface cleaning device. By transferring heat, the rear heating component 2262 transfers heat energy to at least a part of the cleaning area, especially for heating the residual water and clean water in the cleaning area, so as to more effectively achieve the self-cleaning of the stirring member. The purpose of this heating effect is to increase the molecular activity of dirty particles, while reducing the activity of bacteria or directly killing bacteria. Specifically, the rear heating component 2262 interacts with the liquid in the cleaning area through the heat conduction member 225, and transfers heat energy to at least a part of the cleaning area through efficient heat conduction. This includes the residual water on the stirring member and the clean water in the cleaning area. The presence of the heat conduction device increases the temperature of these liquids, thereby activating the chemical processes in the cleaning area, such as the enhancement of molecular activity and the reduction of bacterial activity, so that the dirt remaining on the cleaning member can be effectively removed during the self-cleaning process.

[0079] The control device 600 of the base station 220 is described below in conjunction with the drawings of the present disclosure.

[0080] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of example components of a control device 700 , which may include a bus 710 , a processor 720 , a memory 730 , an input component 740 , an output component 750 , and a communication component 760 .

[0081] The bus 710 includes one or more components that can implement wired and / or wireless communication between components of the control device 700. The bus 710 can Figure 3 Two or more components in a computer program product are coupled together, for example, by operational coupling, communication coupling, electronic coupling, and / or electrical coupling. Processor 720 includes a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, a field programmable gate array, an application-specific integrated circuit, and / or other types of processing components. Processor 720 is implemented by hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. In certain embodiments, processor 720 includes one or more processors that can be programmed to perform one or more operations or processes described elsewhere herein.

[0082] The memory 730 includes volatile and / or non-volatile memory. For example, the memory 730 may include random access memory, read-only memory, a hard drive, and / or other types of memory (e.g., flash memory, magnetic memory, and / or optical storage). The memory 730 may include internal memory and / or removable memory. The memory 730 may be a non-temporary computer-readable medium. The memory 730 may store information, instructions, and / or software (e.g., one or more software applications) related to the operation of the control device 700. In some embodiments, the memory 730 includes one or more memories coupled to one or more processors, such as via a bus 710.

[0083] Input component 740 enables control device 700 to receive input, such as user input and / or sensor input. For example, input component 740 may include a touch screen, a button, a microphone, a switch, a sensor. Output component 750 enables control device 700 to provide output, such as through a speaker and / or a light emitting diode. Communication component 760 enables control device 700 to communicate with other devices through wired connection and / or wireless connection. For example, communication component 760 may include a receiver, a transmitter, a transceiver, a modem, a network interface card and / or an antenna.

[0084] The control device 700 may perform one or more operations or processes described herein. For example, a non-temporary computer-readable medium (e.g., memory 730) may store a set of instructions (e.g., one or more instructions or codes) for execution by the processor 720. The processor 720 may execute the instruction set to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. In certain embodiments, execution of the instruction set by one or more processors 720 may cause one or more processors 720 and / or the control device 700 to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. In certain embodiments, hard-wired circuits may be used instead of instructions or in combination with instructions to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. In addition, the processor 720 may also be configured to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. Therefore, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to any particular combination of hardware circuits and software.

[0085] Figure 7 The number and arrangement of components shown in FIG. 7 are provided as examples. The control device 700 may include Figure 7 In addition, or as an alternative, one or more components (e.g., one or more components) of the control device 700 may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of components of the control device 700.

[0086] The control device 700 may perform one or more operations or processes described herein. For example, a non-temporary computer-readable medium (e.g., memory 730) may store a set of instructions (e.g., one or more instructions or codes) for execution by the processor 720. The processor 720 may execute the instruction set to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. In certain embodiments, execution of the instruction set by one or more processors 720 may cause one or more processors 720 and / or the control device 700 to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. In certain embodiments, hard-wired circuits may be used instead of instructions or in combination with instructions to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. In addition, the processor 720 may also be configured to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. Therefore, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to any particular combination of hardware circuits and software.

[0087] Figure 7 The number and arrangement of components shown are provided as examples. The control device 700 may include additional components, fewer components, different components, or components that are different from the components shown in the example. Figure 7 In addition, or alternatively, a set of components (eg, one or more components) of the control device 700 may perform one or more functions that are described as being performed by another set of components of the control device 700.

[0088] FIG8 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 800 for supporting a base station 220 device in performing maintenance of a surface cleaning device according to various aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method 800 may be performed by the base station 220 or its components herein. For example, the operations of the method 800 may be performed by Figure 7 The hardware devices and control components shown are executed. In some examples, the base station 220 can execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station 220 to perform the following functions. In addition or alternatively, the base station 220 can use dedicated hardware to perform various aspects of the following functions.

[0089] At 805, a heating mode command signal is received, which may be triggered by at least one of the surface cleaning device, the base station 220, or the remote operation device; the operation of 805 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, various aspects of the operation of 805 may be performed by device components, such as reference Figure 7 .

[0090] At 810, a completion signal of a self-cleaning cycle of a surface cleaning device is received. The operations of 810 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, various aspects of the operations of 810 may be described by reference to Figure 7 Describes the operations a component performs.

[0091] At 815, according to the completion signal, the centrifugal fan 229 is started to form an airflow in the air path, and a continuous airflow is formed by circulating outside the base station 220 and inside the base station 220 to continuously provide airflow to the cleaning area (or cleaning part) to accelerate the evaporation of water vapor. The operation of 815 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, various aspects of the operation of 815 can be referred to as Figure 7 Describes the operations that the component performs.

[0092] At 820, according to the heating mode instruction signal, at least the rear heating component 2262 is activated to heat the airflow in the air path to form a heated airflow. In one example, the rear heating component 2262 and the centrifugal fan 229 are activated at the same time. In another example, the rear heating component 2262 can be activated before the centrifugal fan 229 to ensure that the airflow is a hot airflow when it is first output from the inside of the base station 220. The operation of 820 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, various aspects of the operation of 820 can be referred to as Figure 7 Describes the operations that the component performs.

[0093] At 825, the speed of the stirring member is adjusted according to the heating mode command signal. The speed of the stirring member in the heat drying cycle should be less than the speed of the stirring member during the self-cleaning cycle to ensure that heat can be conducted to the surface of the stirring member with higher efficiency. In one example, the speed of the stirring member in the heat drying cycle is not greater than the minimum speed of the stirring member during the self-cleaning cycle. The operation of 825 can be performed according to the method of this invention. In some examples, various aspects of the operation of 825 can be performed by an operation component, such as reference Figure 7 .

[0094] When the rear heating assembly 2262 is activated at 830, at least a portion of its heat is used to heat the active surface. During the thermal drying process, a rear heating assembly 2262 can achieve dual heat conduction of hot air flow and active surface heat, which can ensure that the liquid attached to the stirring element is quickly evaporated.

[0095] The features of several embodiments are summarized above so that those skilled in the art can better understand the various aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should understand that they can design or modify other methods and structures based on the present disclosure at any time to achieve the same purpose and / or achieve the same advantages of the embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art should also recognize that such equivalent structures do not deviate from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and they can make various changes, substitutions and modifications to this article without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An airflow generating device for installation in a base station of a surface cleaning system to form an airflow, characterized in that: include: A centrifugal fan, comprising an impeller having a central axis, an air flow suction port and an air discharge port in fluid communication with the impeller, wherein the air discharge port has a proximal end close to the central axis and a distal end away from the central axis; Air duct components, including: an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is in sealed communication with the exhaust port, the outlet is in communication with the external atmosphere, and the width of the outlet is greater than that of the inlet; an air duct between the inlet and the outlet; at least one flow guiding structure located in the air duct, used for guiding the airflow in the air duct when the centrifugal fan is activated, the flow guiding structure being configured so that the wind resistance of the airflow from the proximal end is greater than the wind resistance from the distal end; The air duct comprises an upstream air duct and a downstream air duct which are connected to each other; the flow guiding structure comprises a first flow guiding structure and a second flow guiding structure, the first flow guiding structure is arranged in the upstream air duct, and the second flow guiding structure is arranged in the downstream air duct.

2. The airflow generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air duct comprises a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are arranged in an axisymmetric manner, and the second side wall is closer to the central axis than the first side wall.

3. The airflow generating device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flow guiding structure is arranged non-axisymmetrically between the first side wall and the second side wall.

4. The airflow generating device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The flow guiding structure is arranged close to the second side wall.

5. The airflow generating device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The guide structure has multiple inflection points. Along the airflow direction, the guide structure close to the second side wall has a greater inflection point than the guide structure far from the second side wall.

6. The airflow generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first guide structure includes at least one guide plate, which is extended along the airflow direction and is arranged closer to the second side wall than the first side wall.

7. The airflow generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second air guide structure includes a plurality of air guide vanes extending along the air flow direction, and the air guide vanes closer to the second side wall than the first side wall have more inflection points.

8. The airflow generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a splitter plate, which is arranged closer to the outlet relative to the inlet, and at least an air flow channel is formed between the splitter plate and the guide plate.

9. A base station for a surface cleaning device, characterized in that: include: The shell has an air path formed inside; An air inlet and an air outlet located on the surface of the shell, for connecting the atmosphere and the interior of the shell; a centrifugal fan in fluid communication with the air inlet, comprising an impeller having a central axis, an air intake port and an air discharge port in fluid communication with the impeller, the air discharge port having a proximal end close to the central axis and a distal end away from the central axis; Air duct components, including: A first side wall and a second side wall, and an inlet and an outlet formed between the first side wall and the second side wall, the inlet being sealedly connected to the air outlet, the outlet being connected to the air outlet, and the width of the outlet being greater than that of the inlet; an air duct between the inlet and the outlet; at least one flow guiding structure located in the air duct, used for guiding the airflow in the air duct when the centrifugal fan is activated, the flow guiding structure being configured so that the wind resistance of the airflow from the proximal end is greater than the wind resistance from the distal end; The air duct comprises an upstream air duct and a downstream air duct which are connected to each other; and flow guiding structures are arranged in both the upstream air duct and the downstream air duct.

10. The base station according to claim 9, characterized in that A first heating device is included, and the first heating device is located between the upstream air duct and the downstream air duct.

11. The base station according to claim 9, characterized in that A second heating device is included, the second heating device being proximate to the outlet.

12. The base station according to claim 9, characterized in that The guide structure includes at least one guide plate located in the upstream air duct, extending along the airflow direction and arranged closer to the second side wall than to the first side wall.

13. The base station according to claim 9, characterized in that The guide structure includes a plurality of guide vanes located in the downstream air duct, which are extended along the airflow direction, and the guide vanes closer to the second side wall than the first side wall have more inflection points.

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