Automatic pool cleaning apparatus and walking mechanism therefor

Abstract

Disclosed are a pool automatic cleaning device and a walking mechanism for the pool automatic cleaning device. The walking mechanism comprises a driving motor, a driving wheel and a driven wheel, the driving motor is in transmission connection with the driving wheel, a track belt is sleeved around the driving wheel and the driven wheel, the track belt comprises an outer layer structure and an inner layer structure, the outer layer structure comprises a first meshing structure in contact or engagement with a walking support surface of the pool automatic cleaning device, and the inner layer structure comprises a second meshing structure in engagement with the driving wheel and the driven wheel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automatic cleaning technology, and specifically to an automatic cleaning device for a water tank and its walking mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] For water features such as swimming pools, automatic pool cleaning equipment can be used for automatic or assisted cleaning. For example, automatic pool cleaning equipment can be designed to move along the bottom, walls, and / or surface of the pool while simultaneously sucking pool water, along with debris or waste, into a trash basket inside the equipment through its inlet. The filtered pool water is then discharged outside the equipment through its outlet, trapping or adsorbing debris within or onto the trash basket, thus achieving pool cleaning.

[0003] However, existing automatic pool cleaning equipment typically uses hard materials for the tracks to contact the wheels and the pool floor for stable transmission. This means that climbing the pool walls relies mainly on the friction of the roller brush rubber. When the roller brush rubber wears down, the friction decreases, and the hard material of the tracks can no longer generate sufficient friction, leading to instability in the automatic pool cleaning equipment's climbing ability. Therefore, there is an urgent need to propose a solution to ensure that the automatic pool cleaning equipment can still climb walls stably even after the roller brush rubber wears down. Utility Model Content

[0004] A walking mechanism for an automatic water tank cleaning device is disclosed, comprising a drive motor, a drive wheel, and a driven wheel. The drive motor is connected to the drive wheel. A track is fitted around the drive wheel and the driven wheel. The track includes an outer layer structure and an inner layer structure. The outer layer structure includes a first engagement structure that contacts or engages with the walking support surface of the automatic water tank cleaning device. The inner layer structure includes a second engagement structure that engages with the drive wheel and the driven wheel.

[0005] In some embodiments, the materials of the first meshing structure and the second meshing structure have different hardness.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first engagement structure includes a flexible structure, and the second engagement structure includes a rigid structure.

[0007] In some embodiments, the rigid structure includes a plurality of first teeth that mesh with the driving wheel and the driven wheel.

[0008] In some embodiments, the flexible structure includes a plurality of second teeth that contact or engage with the walking support surface.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first engagement structure may deform when it comes into contact with the walking support surface.

[0010] In some embodiments, the outer layer and the inner layer are connected together by adhesive or interlocking.

[0011] In some embodiments, the flexible structure is a rubber material.

[0012] In some embodiments, the rigid structure is a thermoplastic polyurethane material.

[0013] An automatic water tank cleaning device was also disclosed, which has multiple walking mechanisms as described above.

[0014] In the walking mechanism of the automatic pool cleaning equipment of this utility model, the track includes an outer layer structure and an inner layer structure. The outer layer structure includes a flexible structure, and the inner layer structure includes a rigid structure. This not only ensures the stability of the track transmission of the walking mechanism but also ensures that the track still has strong grip even after the outer layer structure wears down. Therefore, it at least improves the ability of the automatic pool cleaning equipment to travel on walking support surfaces that are at a certain angle to the horizontal plane, such as the pool wall. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 An exemplary automatic pool cleaning device is schematically shown as an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 2 An exemplary track of an embodiment in this disclosure is illustrated schematically.

[0017] Figure 3 A partial structure of the track in an embodiment of this disclosure is schematically shown. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, identical or equivalent parts are given the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are not repeated.

[0019] To ensure the transmission stability of the walking mechanism of the automatic pool cleaning equipment, the tracks of the walking mechanism can be made of rigid material, and the automatic pool cleaning equipment moves on the walking support surface (e.g., the bottom or wall of the pool) by utilizing the friction between the rigid material and the walking support surface of the automatic pool cleaning equipment. However, the rigid material may gradually wear down over time, resulting in a decrease in friction, which may cause the automatic pool cleaning equipment to be unable to move stably on the walking support surface, such as the pool wall, which is at an angle to the horizontal plane.

[0020] Figure 1An exemplary automatic pool cleaning device 100, hereinafter also referred to simply as "device 100", is schematically shown as an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, the walking mechanism of the device 100 may include a drive motor 200, a drive wheel 300 and a driven wheel 400. The drive motor 200 can be connected to the drive wheel 300 by any suitable means such as a gear set, and a track 500 is fitted around the drive wheel 200 and the driven wheel 300.

[0022] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the track 500 has an outer layer structure 510 and an inner layer structure 520. For example, the outer layer structure 510 and the inner layer structure 520 can be joined together by any suitable means such as adhesive, interlocking, secondary injection molding or two-shot molding.

[0023] The outer structure 510 may include an engagement structure 512 that contacts or engages with the running support surface of the device 100. For example, the engagement structure 512 may include a flexible structure, such as a plurality of teeth made of flexible material that contact or engage with the running support surface of the device 100, such that the engagement structure 512 can deform when in contact with the running support surface of the device 100.

[0024] The inner structure 520 may include a meshing structure 522 that meshes with the driving wheel 300 and the driven wheel 400. For example, the meshing structure 522 may include a rigid structure, such as multiple teeth made of rigid material that mesh with the driving wheel 300 and the driven wheel 400. It should be noted that the materials of the meshing structure 512 and the meshing structure 522 have different hardness.

[0025] The track 500 has an outer structure 510 and an inner structure 520. The inner structure 520, which contacts the drive wheel 300 and the driven wheel 400, is a rigid structure, thereby ensuring the stability of the track 500's transmission. The outer structure 510, which contacts the running support surface of the equipment 100, is a flexible structure, allowing it to maintain strong grip even after wear, thus improving the equipment 100's ability to travel on running support surfaces at an angle to the horizontal plane, such as pool walls.

[0026] Furthermore, the flexible structure is made of rubber. For example, rubber materials include natural rubber or styrene-butadiene rubber, etc. When the flexible structure uses natural rubber, the outer surface of the track has excellent grip, and in slippery underwater environments, especially when climbing walls, it can generate greater friction, assisting the automatic cleaning equipment in the pool to climb walls.

[0027] Furthermore, the rigid structure is made of thermoplastic polyurethane. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is characterized by high strength, high toughness, and wear resistance. When the rigid structure is made of thermoplastic polyurethane, the meshing structure between the inner surface of the track and the wheel is less prone to deformation, ensuring the reliability of the transmission.

[0028] The basic principles of this disclosure have been described above with reference to embodiments. However, it should be noted that the advantages, benefits, and effects mentioned in this disclosure are merely examples and not limitations, and should not be considered as essential features of the various embodiments of this disclosure. Furthermore, the foregoing details are for illustrative and facilitative purposes only, and are not limitations; the foregoing details do not limit the scope of this disclosure to its implementation.

[0029] The block diagrams of devices, apparatuses, devices, and systems disclosed herein are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that they must be connected, arranged, or configured in the manner shown in the block diagrams. In various embodiments, these devices, apparatuses, devices, and systems may be connected, arranged, and configured in any suitable manner.

[0030] Additionally, words such as "including," "containing," and "having" in the text are open-ended terms meaning "including but not limited to," and can be used interchangeably. The words "or" and "and" used here refer to the words "and / or," and can be used interchangeably unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise. The word "such as" used here refers to the phrase "such as but not limited to," and can be used interchangeably.

[0031] It should also be noted that in the apparatus, devices, and methods of this disclosure, the components or steps can be disassembled and / or recombined. These disassemblies and / or recombinations should be considered as equivalent solutions to this disclosure.

[0032] In this article, modifiers without quantifiers, such as "first" and "second," are intended to distinguish different components / parts / circuits / modules / devices / steps, rather than to emphasize order, positional relationship, importance, or priority. In contrast, modifiers with quantifiers, such as "first" and "second," can be used to emphasize the order, positional relationship, importance, or priority of different components / parts / circuits / modules / devices / steps.

[0033] The above description is given for illustrative and descriptive purposes only. This description is not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure to the forms disclosed herein. Although numerous exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those skilled in the art will recognize certain variations, modifications, alterations, additions, and sub-combinations therein.

Claims

1. A walking mechanism for an automatic water tank cleaning device (100), characterized in that, The walking mechanism includes a drive motor (200), a drive wheel (300), and a driven wheel (400). The drive motor (200) is connected to the drive wheel (300) in a transmission manner. A track (500) is fitted around the drive wheel (300) and the driven wheel (400). The track (500) includes an outer structure (510) and an inner structure (520). The outer structure (510) includes a first engagement structure (512) that contacts or engages with the walking support surface of the automatic water tank cleaning device (100). The inner structure (520) includes a second engagement structure (522) that engages with the drive wheel (300) and the driven wheel (400).

2. The walking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The materials of the first meshing structure (512) and the second meshing structure (522) have different hardness.

3. The walking mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first engagement structure (512) includes a flexible structure, and the second engagement structure (522) includes a rigid structure.

4. The walking mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, The rigid structure includes a plurality of first teeth that mesh with the driving wheel (300) and the driven wheel (400).

5. The walking mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, The flexible structure includes a plurality of second teeth that contact or engage with the walking support surface.

6. The walking mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first meshing structure (512) can deform when it comes into contact with the walking support surface.

7. The walking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer layer structure (510) and the inner layer structure (520) are connected together by adhesive or interlocking.

8. The walking mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, The flexible structure is made of rubber.

9. The walking mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, The rigid structure is made of thermoplastic polyurethane material.

10. An automatic water tank cleaning device (100), characterized in that, The automatic water tank cleaning device (100) has a walking mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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