A liquid transfer device, a base station, a cleaning robot, and a cleaning system

Abstract

This application provides a liquid transfer device, a base station, a cleaning robot, and a cleaning system. The liquid transfer device includes: a pipe for transferring liquid under the power provided by a power unit of the cleaning system; the pipe includes a non-expanded section and an expanded section arranged along its axial direction; a first cavity connected to and communicating with the expanded section of the pipe; and a first component disposed on and communicating with the first cavity; wherein the first component is also in communication with the atmosphere, and along the radial direction of the pipe, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the first cavity and the expanded section is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the non-expanded section. This application can reduce the noise transmitted by the liquid transfer device and improve the user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of cleaning technology, specifically relating to a liquid transfer device, a base station, a cleaning robot, and a cleaning system. Background Technology

[0002] As a representative product of smart homes, cleaning robots can automatically complete floor cleaning tasks, greatly saving users' time and energy. After the cleaning robot finishes cleaning the floor, it usually needs to use clean water from a base station to clean the cleaning components of the robot, such as the mop or roller brush. Then, the wastewater is transferred, for example, to the wastewater tank of the base station or directly discharged into the sewer.

[0003] However, currently available base stations generally generate significant noise during the process of removing the aforementioned contaminants, disrupting users' normal lives and affecting their user experience. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application aims to provide a liquid transfer device, base station, cleaning robot, and cleaning system to solve the problem of excessive noise during liquid transfer.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application is implemented as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, this application discloses a liquid transfer device, comprising:

[0007] A pipe for transporting liquid under the power provided by a power unit of a cleaning system, the pipe including a non-expanding section and an expanding section arranged along its axial direction;

[0008] The first cavity is located in the expansion section of the pipeline and is connected to the pipeline;

[0009] And a first component, disposed in the first cavity and communicating with the first cavity;

[0010] The first component is also connected to the atmosphere, and along the radial direction of the pipe, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the first cavity and the expanded section is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the non-expanded section.

[0011] Secondly, this application also discloses a base station, which includes a base station body and the liquid transfer device described in any of the above claims;

[0012] The base station body is provided with a first accommodating cavity and a second accommodating cavity that are isolated from each other. The first accommodating cavity is used to contain the liquid, and the pipe is disposed in the second accommodating cavity. The inlet end of the pipe extends into the first accommodating cavity and is used to transport the liquid. The liquid includes sewage or clean water.

[0013] One end of the first component is connected to the first cavity, and

[0014] The other end of the first component is connected to the first receiving cavity, which is connected to the atmosphere; or,

[0015] The other end of the first component is connected to the second receiving cavity, which is connected to the atmosphere.

[0016] Thirdly, this application also discloses a cleaning robot, including a cleaning robot body and a liquid transfer device as described above.

[0017] Fourthly, this application also discloses a cleaning system, including the base station described in any of the above claims and / or the cleaning robot described above, wherein the cleaning robot body is self-moving and can be placed in the first receiving cavity of the base station.

[0018] In this embodiment, since the first component on the first cavity is connected to the atmosphere and the first cavity, and the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the first cavity and the expansion section along the radial direction of the pipe is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the non-expansion section, the cavity acoustic mode in the pipe can be destroyed. At the same time, the sound waves entering the first cavity through the pipe will have their sound energy reduced after multiple refractions and reflections in the first cavity. Therefore, this embodiment can reduce the noise transmitted outward by the liquid transfer device and improve the user experience.

[0019] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a liquid transfer device in related technologies;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a simplified structural diagram of the liquid transfer device in the embodiments of this application;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the liquid transfer device in the embodiments of this application;

[0024] Figure 4 This is one of the schematic diagrams of the working scenario of the liquid transfer device in the embodiments of this application;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the communication between the first component and the first receiving cavity in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the communication between the first component and the second receiving cavity in an embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the blocking member in the embodiments of this application;

[0028] Figure 8 This is a second schematic diagram of the working scenario of the liquid transfer device in the embodiments of this application;

[0029] Figure 9 This is the third schematic diagram of the working scenario of the liquid transfer device in the embodiments of this application;

[0030] Figure 10 This is the fourth schematic diagram of the working scenario of the liquid transfer device in the embodiments of this application;

[0031] Figure 11 This is a simplified structural diagram of the cleaning system in the embodiments of this application.

[0032] Reference numerals: 100 - Liquid transfer device, 10 - Pipe, 101 - Inlet end, 102 - Outlet end, 103 - Baffle, 11 - Non-expansion section, 111 - Inlet pipe, 112 - Outlet pipe, 12 - Expansion section, 20 - First cavity, 21 - Side wall, 22 - Top wall, 30 - First component, 40 - Blocking component, 41 - Flow section, 42 - Blocking component, 200 - Power unit, 300 - Base station, 301 - First receiving cavity, 3011 - Sewage tray, 302 - Second receiving cavity, 400 - Cleaning robot, 1000 - Cleaning system. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The embodiments of this application will now be described in detail. Examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0034] The terms "first" and "second" in the specification and claims of this application may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more. Furthermore, "and / or" in the specification and claims indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0035] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0036] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; 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; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0037] With the rapid development of technology and the continuous improvement of users' quality of life, smart home products are being used more and more widely in users' lives. Among them, self-cleaning devices, as a representative product of smart homes, can automatically complete the floor cleaning task, greatly saving users' time and energy, and have been favored by consumers. Self-cleaning devices can transfer dust, sewage and other dirt to a dust collection box or sewage tank through the inlet end of the pipe to achieve effective floor cleaning.

[0038] However, most self-cleaning devices on the market currently suffer from significant noise during the sludge extraction process. For example, fans are increasingly used in self-cleaning devices due to their simple structure and ease of maintenance. However, using fans as power units for liquid transfer presents a problem of high noise levels. The sources of noise include: First, noise generated by the fan itself, such as the noise from the high-speed turbine motor in the fan being transmitted to the user side through pipes. Since the fan needs to rotate at a high speed of 10,000-30,000 RPM to generate sufficient negative pressure suction, the motor itself generates high-frequency noise. Low-cost motors may not have undergone precise dynamic balancing calibration, leading to increased vibration, which amplifies the noise through the base station casing when installed there. Furthermore, different types of motors produce different noise levels. Early models used brushed motors that generated additional noise due to carbon brush friction, while newer models use brushless motors, although quieter, still require optimized control algorithms to reduce high-frequency howling. Secondly, noise generated by gas flow within the ductwork, such as turbulent noise similar to a whistling sound when high-speed airflow passes through narrow pipes, filters, or bends; when filters are clogged, airflow is forced through smaller gaps, increasing velocity and raising noise levels, producing a "whistling" sound similar to a vacuum cleaner; furthermore, early models lacked optimized duct structure design, such as right-angle bends in the duct, causing additional noise from airflow colliding with the pipe walls. Thirdly, noise generated by resonance and vibration transmission between the fan and other structures; when the fan is directly fixed to a plastic bracket, vibrations during operation are easily transmitted through the bracket to the entire base station casing, creating a low-frequency "humming" noise. Fourthly, the poor sound absorption of the base station casing material fails to effectively reduce noise levels. Since most base station casings are made of rigid ABS plastic without sound-absorbing cotton or vibration-damping pads, they cannot absorb high-frequency vibration noise, thus transmitting noise to the user side through the ductwork, and so on.

[0039] However, under the aforementioned conditions of significant noise, the liquid transfer devices in the relevant technologies cannot effectively reduce the noise. Specifically, refer to... Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the pipe 10 in the liquid transfer device 100 in the related art, such as... Figure 1As shown, the pipe 10 extends uniformly along its axial direction, with approximately the same cross-sectional area or diameter. In specific applications, a baffle 103 is installed at the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10 to block solid dirt. A water inlet (the opening formed by the lower side of the baffle 103 and the lower side of the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10) and an air inlet (the opening formed by the upper side of the baffle 103 and the upper side of the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10) are also provided for gas and liquid to enter the interior of the pipe 10. In this structure, when noise propagates outward from the pipe 10, it cannot be effectively diffused. Furthermore, when the gas-liquid mixture drawn in from other locations enters the pipe 10 at the baffle 103, it produces a loud gurgling sound. Additionally, users are typically closer to the inlet end, resulting in significant noise interference that affects their daily lives, such as rest and communication, causing considerable inconvenience and distress.

[0040] Based on the above problems, this application provides a liquid transfer device 100, which can be used in a cleaning robot 400 or a base station 300. During the liquid transfer process of the cleaning robot 400 or the base station 300, the design of the liquid transfer device 100 can effectively reduce the noise in the pipe 10, thereby reducing the noise transmitted from the pipe 10 to the inlet end of the cleaning robot 400 or the base station 300 during operation, reducing the interference caused to users by noise problems, and improving the user experience.

[0041] The liquid transfer device 100 provided in the embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0042] Reference Figure 2 The liquid transfer device 100 disclosed in this application may specifically include a pipe 10, a first cavity 20, and a first component 30. The pipe 10 is used to transfer liquid under the power provided by the power unit 200 of the cleaning system. The pipe 10 includes a non-expanded section 11 and an expanded section 12 arranged axially. The first cavity 20 is located in the expanded section 12 of the pipe 10 and communicates with the pipe 10. The first component 30 is located on the first cavity 20 and communicates with the first cavity 20. Along the radial direction of the pipe 10, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the first cavity 20 and the expanded section 12 is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the non-expanded section 11, and the first component 30 is in communication with the atmosphere. It should be noted that the "axial direction" of the pipe 10 in this application refers to the direction of liquid transfer in the pipe 10, i.e. Figure 2 The direction indicated by Y in the diagram is the direction in which the liquid moves from the inlet end 101 to the outlet end 102 of pipe 10, which is the axial direction Y. The "radial" direction of pipe 10 refers to the direction perpendicular to the axial direction, for example, Figure 2The X direction is shown in the diagram. It can be understood that the pipe 10 can be completely straight or have curved sections (but the cross-sectional area of ​​the non-expansion section 11 remains approximately constant). The design or stacking can be tailored to the internal space of the cleaning system, as long as the liquid can be transported by the power unit 200 through the pipe 10. It should be noted that the statement "communicated with the atmosphere" in this application means that the air pressure in the two connected spaces is approximately equal.

[0043] In this embodiment, the pipe 10 is provided with a non-expansion section 11 and an expansion section 12 along its axial direction Y, and the first cavity 20 is connected to the expansion section 12 of the pipe 10. Since the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the first cavity 20 and the expansion section 12 along the radial direction X of the pipe 10 is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the non-expansion section 11, sound waves entering the first cavity 20 through the non-expansion section 11 of the pipe 10 will undergo multiple refractions and reflections within the first cavity 20, resulting in a decrease in sound energy. Simultaneously, the first component 30 on the first cavity 20 is connected to the atmosphere and the first cavity 20, allowing gas in the atmosphere to enter the first cavity 20 via the first component 30, thereby disrupting the cavity acoustic modes within the pipe 10 and the first cavity 20. Therefore, this embodiment can reduce the noise transmitted outward by the liquid transfer device 100, improving the user experience. It should be noted that the first cavity 20 mainly serves to expand the transmission inner diameter of the liquid transfer device 100; that is, it is an expansion cavity. It is understandable that the overall shape of the expansion cavity can be a cuboid or a cube, or it can be an irregularly shaped cavity to fit the containment space of the cleaning system.

[0044] refer to Figure 3In some embodiments, the pipe 10 is a cylindrical pipe with a circular cross-section along the radial direction X. This circular pipe structure results in a smoother inner wall, leading to relatively low frictional resistance between the fluid flowing within the pipe and the pipe wall. This reduces flow resistance, improves the conveying efficiency of the pipe 10, and also reduces the probability of turbulence due to high flow resistance, thus lowering noise generated during flow. It is understood that in some embodiments, the cross-section of the pipe 10 can also be square, rhomboid, or other shapes. The pipe 10 includes an inlet end 101 and an outlet end 102 disposed opposite to each other along the axial direction Y. The inlet end 101 is the inlet for the liquid being transported. The liquid enters the pipe 10 through the inlet end 101 and is transported through the pipe 10 to the outlet end 102, where it continues to be transported to a sewage tank, a clean water tank, or a sewer pipe, thereby achieving liquid transfer. The pipe 10 is divided into a non-expansion section 11 and an expansion section 12 along its axial direction Y. The expansion section 12 is located between the inlet end 101 and the outlet end 102 of the pipeline 10. The portion of pipe 10 other than expansion section 12 is non-expansion section 11. Therefore, each side of expansion section 12 includes a non-expansion section 11. The non-expansion section 11 near the inlet end 101 forms an inlet pipe 111 (the inlet pipe 111 is for inlet function relative to the non-expansion section 11), and the non-expansion section 11 near the outlet end 102 forms an outlet pipe 112 (the outlet pipe 112 is for outlet function relative to the expansion section 12). Pipe 10 is connected to a first cavity 20 at the expansion section 12. When the first cavity 20 is connected to the expansion section 12, abrupt changes in cross-sectional area occur at both the starting position (e.g., along the Y direction, the connection position between expansion section 12 and first cavity 20 near the inlet end 101) and the ending position (e.g., along the Y direction, the connection position between expansion section 12 and first cavity 20 away from the inlet end 101). The first cavity 20 can be an independent component. The pipe 10 has an opening at the expansion section 12, and the first cavity 20 can be connected to this opening, allowing communication between the cavity inside the pipe 10 and the first cavity 20. When the first cavity 20 is connected to the opening, it and the pipe 10 together form a cavity for gas-liquid transfer. In specific applications, the first cavity 20 can also be integrally formed with the pipe 10 to simplify the manufacturing process of the liquid transfer device 100, improve production efficiency, and enhance its overall integrity. This reduces the risk of connection failure between the first cavity 20 and the pipe 10, ensuring the performance of the liquid transfer device 100.

[0045] It should be noted that, due to the smaller cross-sectional area of ​​the non-expansion section 11 of the pipe 10, the operating noise from the power unit 200 and the noise generated by fluid flow will be more noticeable. When the sound wave propagates from the non-expansion section 11 of the pipe 10 to the expansion section 12, since the expansion section 12 is also connected to the first cavity 20, and the first cavity 20 is provided with a first component 30 that communicates with the atmosphere and the first cavity 20, and the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the expansion section 12 and the first cavity 20 is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the non-expansion section 11, the sound wave of the noise will be refracted, reflected, and interfered in the first cavity 20. Under the influence of factors such as sound wave reflection and interference, sound wave energy loss, acoustic impedance mismatch, and frequency selectivity, the volume of the noise will be significantly reduced after passing through the first cavity 20.

[0046] More specifically, in some embodiments, provided that the first component 30 is connected to both the atmosphere and the first cavity 20, the silencing principle of the first cavity 20 for silencing the liquid transfer device 100 can specifically include the following aspects: First, sound wave reflection and interference. After the sound waves in the pipe 10 propagate to the first cavity 20, they will undergo multiple reflections and interference through the cavity wall of the first cavity 20. After multiple reflections within the first cavity 20, some of the sound waves will cancel each other out due to mutual interference, thereby reducing the overall sound energy; Second, sound wave energy loss. After the sound waves in the pipe 10 propagate to the first cavity 20, due to the expansion of the cross-section of the first cavity 20, the propagation direction of the sound waves will change non-directionally. In this process, part of the sound wave energy can be converted into heat energy and eddy current energy, thereby reducing the intensity of the sound waves; Third, acoustic impedance mismatch. Acoustic impedance is the resistance of the medium to the propagation of sound waves, which is related to the density of the medium and the speed of sound. When sound waves enter the expansion section 12 and the first cavity 20 from the non-expansion section 11 (specifically the inlet pipe 111), the cross-sectional area changes abruptly, resulting in a significant change in acoustic impedance. For the boundary of discontinuity, the change in acoustic impedance can cause some of the sound wave's energy to be reflected back to the sound source during propagation, thereby reducing noise flowing to the outside. Fourth, frequency selectivity. The first cavity 20 has a selective noise reduction effect on sound waves of different frequencies.

[0047] In some implementations, the frequency of the target noise can be matched by designing the expansion ratio of the expansion section 12 and the non-expansion section 11 of the pipe 10 and the size of the first cavity 20 to eliminate the target noise.

[0048] It should be noted that the expansion ratio of the pipe 10 in the expanded section 12 to the non-expanded section 11 and the length of the first cavity 20 have a certain impact on its noise cancellation performance. In this embodiment, the expansion ratio of the pipe 10 in the expanded section 12 to the non-expanded section 11 refers to the ratio of the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the first cavity 20 and the expanded section 12 to the cross-sectional area of ​​the non-expanded section 11. The length of the first cavity 20 refers to its length along the axial direction Y of the pipe 10. Specifically, a larger expansion ratio results in a higher noise reduction amplitude and a better noise reduction effect in a specific frequency band; a longer length results in a lower noise frequency that can be eliminated. It should be understood that the structural design of the first cavity 20 also needs to consider the structure of the pipe 10. When the pipe 10 is assembled in the base station 300, it also needs to be comprehensively designed in conjunction with the layout space of the base station 300. This application does not specifically limit the expansion ratio of the pipe 10 in the expanded section 12 to the non-expanded section 11 and the length of the first cavity 20. For example, in some embodiments, the expansion ratio of the pipe 10 in the expanded section 12 to the non-expanded section 11 ranges from 1 to 100; the length range of the first cavity 20 may not be specifically limited in this application embodiment. In some embodiments, the aforementioned cross-sectional area is positively correlated with the inner diameter of the pipe 10. The larger the inner diameter of the pipe 10, the larger the corresponding cross-sectional area.

[0049] In some embodiments, the first component 30 is typically used for noise reduction and can be a noise reduction hole or a noise reduction cavity. The first component 30 can be an independent part with an airflow channel connected at both ends. A through hole is formed on the surface of the first cavity 20. The first component 30 can be connected to the through hole of the first cavity 20 later, so that the airflow channel is connected to the through hole, thereby enabling the first component 30 to communicate with the atmosphere, and the first cavity 20 is also connected with the atmosphere. Alternatively, the first component 30 can be integrally formed with the first cavity 20 and jointly connected to the expansion section 12 of the pipe 10. Or, the first component 30, the first cavity 20, and the pipe 10 can all be integrally formed structures, as long as the first component 30 is connected with the atmosphere, and the first component 30 is connected to the first cavity 20 and the pipe 10, so as to improve the overall integrity of the liquid transfer device 100 and ensure the structural strength during use. It should be noted that the first component 30 is in communication with the atmosphere, which means that the end of the first component 30 away from the first cavity 20 cannot be sealed (for example, the end away from the first cavity 20 cannot be connected to the liquid outlet pipe 112) in order to avoid the failure of the silencing function of the first cavity 20.

[0050] like Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the first component 30 is disposed on the first cavity 20. The design of the first component 30 can target the source of noise generation, namely the cavity acoustic mode frequency points within the pipe 10, to reduce noise. The first component 30 and the first cavity 20 work synergistically to jointly optimize the overall noise reduction performance of the liquid transfer device 100. In the pipe 10 system, the cavity acoustic mode frequency points refer to the natural frequencies of the cavities inside the pipe 10. When these frequencies are excited, significant noise is generated. In this embodiment, since the two ends of the first component 30 are connected to the atmosphere and the first cavity 20 respectively, the cavity acoustic modes within the pipe 10 are disrupted, effectively reducing the peak values ​​of the acoustic modes within the pipe 10, thereby further reducing the noise inside the pipe 10. It should be noted that when the first cavity 20 is connected to the first component 30 and is open to the atmosphere, gas will flow within the first component 30. Therefore, the first component 30 will contain a certain mass of air. When sound waves propagate in the pipe 10, this air will vibrate under the influence of the sound waves, creating resistance to pressure fluctuations within the pipe 10. This resistance will alter the propagation characteristics of the sound waves in the pipe 10. Specifically, when the length of the first component 30 increases or the orifice diameter decreases, the airflow resistance within the orifice increases, thus creating a stronger obstruction to the propagation of sound waves. Under these conditions, the pipe 10 approaches a sealed state. Conversely, when the orifice diameter of the first component 30 increases or the length decreases, the airflow resistance within the orifice decreases, and the obstruction to sound waves weakens. This allows the air quality inside the pipe to more easily connect with atmospheric pressure through the first component 30, and the pressure fluctuations caused by sound wave propagation can be more easily dissipated into the external environment through the first component 30. The cavity acoustic modes within the pipe 10 are also more easily disrupted. Therefore, the shorter the length of the first component 30, the better, and the larger the aperture, the better. For example, in this embodiment, the aperture of the first component 30 ranges from 0.5 to 5 mm; the length of the first component 30 ranges from 0.1 to 5 mm.

[0051] It should be noted that in the relevant design, an aperture is provided on the expansion chamber that communicates with the liquid outlet pipe 112 (i.e., this aperture is not connected to the atmosphere). However, this structure causes the expansion chamber to fail to provide noise reduction for the liquid transfer device 100, and the noise transmitted outward is still quite high.

[0052] Unlike related solutions, such as Figure 2 as well as Figure 3As shown, in this embodiment, the two ends of the first component 30 are connected to the first cavity 20 and the atmosphere, respectively, enabling the noise reduction function of the first cavity 20. In this structure, because the first component 30 is connected to the external atmospheric pressure, the height of the liquid within the first cavity 20 is lower than the diameter of the outlet pipe 112. Therefore, the liquid can quickly pass through the outlet pipe 112, reducing the flow resistance and thus lowering the noise of the liquid flow. Simultaneously, because the noise reduction function of the first cavity 20 is implemented, in this embodiment, based on the Snell's principle, the noise within the pipe 10, such as the noise generated by the operation of the fan and the gurgling noise generated by the mixing of gas and liquid within the pipe 10, can be effectively dissipated at the starting and ending positions of the first cavity 20 through refraction, reflection, and scattering.

[0053] In some embodiments, the power unit 200 of the cleaning system 1000 in this application embodiment can be a fan or a water pump. Preferably, the power unit 200 of the cleaning system 1000 in this application embodiment is a fan, and the liquid being transported is sewage. It can be understood that the power unit 200 is located downstream of the axial direction Y of the pipe 10. Sewage located upstream of the pipe 10 is pumped through the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10 and transported to the outlet end 102 of the pipe 10 by the power of the fan.

[0054] In this embodiment, the power unit 200 is a blower. It should be noted that when the power unit 200 is a blower, since blowers typically use negative pressure adsorption to pump sewage, and the blower's structure is relatively simple, the failure rate is low, thus improving the reliability of the base station 300. Compared to using a water pump as a power source, blowers do not rely on impellers for sewage pumping, therefore they have a higher tolerance for impurities such as silt and hair in the sewage. Furthermore, at the same power level, they provide more power and are better suited for liquid transfer in larger pipes, and can transfer larger diameter particles in the liquid, thus reducing the risk of failure due to impurity blockage. In addition, after a period of operation, the blower's maintenance typically only requires periodic cleaning of the filter screen, while water pumps require replacement of pump components such as the impeller. Therefore, compared to water pumps, using a blower as the power unit 200 also helps control later maintenance costs.

[0055] In some embodiments, reference Figure 4 When the liquid being transported is sewage, the inlet end 101 of pipe 10 can be connected to the sewage tray of base station 300 in cleaning system 1000, or, refer to Figure 10 When the cleaning robot 400 in the cleaning system 1000 is placed in the base station 300, the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10 can be connected to the sewage tank of the cleaning robot 400.

[0056] In some embodiments, the first component 30 includes a first port and a second port facing away from each other. The first port communicates with the atmosphere, and the second port communicates with the first cavity 20. The diameter of the first port is larger than that of the second port, allowing air entering the first component 30 to more easily flow from the first port into the airflow channel of the first component 30 and into the first cavity 20. This enhances the disruptive effect of the first component 30 on the acoustic modes within the pipe 10. Simultaneously, because the diameter of the second port communicating with the first cavity 20 is smaller, the amount of air entering the first cavity 20 from the atmosphere is effectively controlled, avoiding adverse effects on the sludge extraction efficiency due to increased airflow. In specific applications, the length of the first component 30 and the diameters of the first and second ports can be flexibly designed; this embodiment does not impose specific limitations on these aspects.

[0057] Optionally, the aperture of the first component 30 decreases from the first port to the second port. This allows for a more uniform flow velocity change when the gas in the first component 30 flows between the atmosphere and the first cavity 20, thereby reducing the noise caused by airflow turbulence or impact at the first or second port.

[0058] For example, the first component 30 has an internal cavity structure resembling a frustum of a cone. The diameter of the first component 30 is largest at the first port, and gradually decreases from the first port to the second port (i.e., along the axis of the internal frustum), until it reaches its minimum at the second port. This internal structural design of the first component 30 facilitates manufacturing, and the smooth curvature of the internal cavity walls reduces airflow resistance, ensuring that air within the first cavity 20 can flow smoothly and efficiently out of the first component 30 to the atmosphere, thus guaranteeing the destructive effect on the acoustic modes within the cavity of the pipe 10.

[0059] Optionally, the number of first components 30 may be one or more, with multiple first components 30 spaced apart on the first cavity 20. The design of multiple first components 30 increases the path for gas outflow within the first cavity 20, allowing fluctuations in internal pressure caused by sound waves propagating within the first cavity 20 to be more easily dissipated through the multiple first components 30. This improves the destructive effect and efficiency of the acoustic modes within the cavity of the pipe 10, ensuring the noise elimination effect of the liquid transfer device 100 on the pipe 10. In this embodiment, "multiple" refers to two or more. When the number of first components 30 is one, the gas flow rate entering the first cavity 20 can be reduced, thereby avoiding a decrease in liquid transfer efficiency due to increased local resistance caused by excessive gas entering the pipe 10. In some embodiments, the first component 30 may be simply a hole provided on the first cavity 20.

[0060] In specific applications, the number, size, position and spacing of the first component 30 can be flexibly adjusted according to the specific setting environment of the liquid transfer device 100 to optimize the noise reduction effect of the liquid transfer device 100.

[0061] In some implementations, reference Figure 2 In the world coordinate system, along the radial direction of the pipe 10, the first cavity 20 is located on the side of the expansion section 12 facing away from the ground. In this embodiment, the side of the pipe 10 closest to the ground is the bottom of the liquid transfer device 100, i.e., the lower part of the pipe 10, and the side of the pipe 10 furthest from the ground is the top of the liquid transfer device 100, i.e., the upper part of the pipe 10. The first cavity 20 being located on the side of the expansion section 12 facing away from the ground means that the first cavity 20 is connected above the expansion section 12 of the pipe 10.

[0062] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, by placing the first cavity 20 on the side of the expansion section 12 away from the ground, the structure of the bottom of the pipe 10 is simpler and smoother. When water flows through the expansion section 12 corresponding to the first cavity 20, it is not affected by the shape change of the first cavity 20, and the water flow can be more stable and smooth, avoiding the problem of increased flow resistance caused by structural changes. In addition, the fluid in the pipe 10 in this embodiment can be a liquid such as sewage. For example, if the first cavity 20 is placed on the side of the expansion section 12 closer to the ground, impurities contained in the sewage are likely to be deposited at the bottom of the first cavity 20. In this embodiment, since the first cavity 20 is placed on the side of the expansion section 12 away from the ground, the probability of impurities in the sewage depositing in the pipe 10 can be reduced. In some embodiments, by placing the first cavity 20 on the side of the expansion section 12 away from the ground, liquid can also be prevented from flowing to the outside of the pipe 10 and causing damage to the machine.

[0063] In some embodiments, continue to refer to Figure 2 The first cavity 20 includes a side wall 21 and a top wall 22. The side wall 21 is connected to the pipe 10, and the top wall 22 is connected to the side of the side wall 21 away from the pipe 10. The first component 30 is disposed on the top wall 22, and / or the first component 30 is disposed on the side of the side wall 21 near the top wall 22.

[0064] It should be noted that when the fluid transported in the pipe 10 is liquid, the liquid will flow at the bottom of the pipe 10, while the gas in the pipe 10 will be above the liquid surface. In this embodiment, by setting the first component 30 on the top wall 22 of the first cavity 20, or on the side wall 21 near the top wall 22, it is possible to prevent the liquid from entering the first component 30 during the flow in the pipe 10, thus preventing the liquid from leaking from the first component 30 to the outside of the pipe 10. At the same time, it can also reduce the amount of liquid splashing into the first component 30, which would affect the gas flow efficiency within the first component 30.

[0065] Optionally, along the axial direction of the pipe 10, the pipe 10 includes an inlet end 101 and an outlet end 102 facing away from each other. The expansion section 12 is disposed between the inlet end 101 and the outlet end 102, and is disposed close to the inlet end 101. That is, the first cavity 20 connected to the expansion section 12 is closer to the inlet end 101.

[0066] It is understandable that, since the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10 is closer to the user side than the outlet end 102, if the first cavity 20 is set on the side closer to the outlet end 102, the sound wave enters the first cavity 20 with a large sound energy. Even if the first cavity 20 has a certain sound-absorbing function, the sound wave that propagates from the first cavity 20 to the inlet end 101 will still have a high sound energy. As the sound wave continues to propagate to the inlet end 101, the sound energy cannot be further reduced and may even increase due to factors such as airflow speed and channel area, so that the user will still receive a high level of noise. Conversely, by placing the first cavity 20 on the side closer to the inlet end 101, during the propagation of sound waves from the outlet end 102 to the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10, the sound wave energy will be reflected, refracted, and scattered by the inner wall of the pipe 10 between the outlet end 102 and the first cavity 20, so that the sound energy is initially attenuated in this propagation path. Therefore, the sound wave energy entering the first cavity 20 has been reduced. Furthermore, through reflection, interference, and other effects within the first cavity 20, the noise level can be significantly reduced, thereby ensuring that the noise received by the user is at a low level.

[0067] In summary, the liquid transfer device 100 provided in this application embodiment has at least the following advantages:

[0068] In this embodiment, the pipe 10 is provided with a non-expansion section 11 and an expansion section 12 along its axial direction Y, and the first cavity 20 is connected to the expansion section 12 of the pipe 10. Since the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the first cavity 20 and the expansion section 12 along the radial direction of the pipe 10 is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the non-expansion section 11, the sound waves entering the first cavity 20 through the non-expansion section 11 of the pipe 10 will undergo multiple reflections within the first cavity 20, and the sound energy will decrease after multiple reflections. At the same time, the first component 30 on the first cavity 20 is connected to the atmosphere and the first cavity 20, and the gas in the atmosphere can enter the first cavity 20 through the first component 30, thereby disrupting the cavity acoustic mode of the pipe 10 and the first cavity 20. Therefore, this embodiment can reduce the noise transmitted outward by the liquid transfer device 100 and improve the user experience.

[0069] This application also provides a base station 300, for reference. Figures 5 to 6 The base station 300 in this embodiment includes a base station 300 body and a liquid transfer device 100 as described above. The base station 300 body is provided with a first receiving cavity 301 and a second receiving cavity 302 that are isolated from each other. The first receiving cavity 301 is used to receive the liquid to be transferred. The pipe 10 of the liquid transfer device 100 is disposed in the second receiving cavity 302, and the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10 extends into the first receiving cavity 301 and is used to transfer the liquid. The liquid to be transferred can be sewage or clean water, or other liquids. One end of the first component 30 of the liquid transfer device 100 is connected to the first cavity 20 of the liquid transfer device 100, and the other end of the first component 30 is connected to the first receiving cavity 301 or the second receiving cavity 302.

[0070] For example, the first receiving cavity 301 is provided with a wastewater tray 3011. The first receiving cavity 301 can also be used to accommodate a cleaning robot 400 with a mopping function. After completing the mopping task, the cleaning robot 400 returns to the base station 300 and enters the first receiving cavity 301 to clean the mop. The wastewater from cleaning the mop is stored in the wastewater tray 3011. The second receiving cavity 302 can be used to accommodate some structures of the base station 300, such as circuit boards, base station wastewater tank, base station clean water tank, power unit 200, etc. The pipe 10 of the liquid transfer device 100 is also located in the second receiving cavity 302. The outlet end 102 of the pipe 10 is located in the first receiving cavity 301 and is connected to the base station wastewater tank. The power unit 200 is located near the outlet end 102, and the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10 extends into the first receiving cavity 301. When in use, by turning on the power unit 200, a suction force can be generated from the inlet end 101 to the outlet end 102, thereby drawing the sewage in the sewage pan 3011 into the pipe 10 through the inlet end 101, and further drawing the sewage in the pipe 10 into the base station sewage tank for temporary storage or directly discharging it into the sewer pipe through the outlet end 102.

[0071] In some optional embodiments of this application, such as Figure 5 As shown, one end of the first component 30 is connected to the first cavity 20, and the other end is connected to the first receiving cavity 301. Since the air inside the first component 30 enters from the first cavity 20, this air usually has higher humidity. With the other end of the first component 30 connected to the first receiving cavity 301, the air inside the first component 30 can flow directly into the first receiving cavity 301 along the length of the first component 30. This prevents the high humidity air from entering the second receiving cavity 302, which could cause the circuit boards and other metal structures installed in the second receiving cavity 302 to become damp and corroded. This improves the waterproof performance of the second receiving cavity 302 of the base station 300 body.

[0072] In other alternative embodiments of this application, such as Figure 6As shown, one end of the first component 30 is connected to the first cavity 20, and the other end is connected to the second receiving cavity 302. In this structure, since the pipe 10 is located within the second receiving cavity, the first cavity 20 is also located within the second receiving cavity. The length of the first component 30 can be designed to be relatively small. As mentioned earlier, the longer the first component 30 is, the greater the airflow resistance within it, thus creating a stronger obstruction to sound wave propagation. Under these conditions, the pipe 10 is closer to a sealed state, which affects the destructive effect of the first component 30 on the acoustic modes within the cavity of the pipe 10. Therefore, in this embodiment, the first component 30 is designed to be connected to the second receiving cavity 302. (It can be understood that the second receiving cavity 302 is connected to the atmosphere and is not absolutely sealed. It should be noted that if the other end of the first component 30 is connected to the liquid outlet pipe 112, it is not connected to the atmosphere as described in this application. In other words, the connection to the atmosphere described in this application refers to the air pressure on both sides being approximately equal, for example, the air pressure inside the first component 30 is approximately equal to the atmospheric pressure.) In the case where the length of the first component 30 can be reduced, the destructive effect of the first component 30 on the acoustic mode of the cavity inside the pipe 10 is guaranteed, thus ensuring the noise reduction effect of the liquid transfer device 100.

[0073] Optionally, the liquid transferred by the liquid transfer device 100 in this embodiment is sewage, and the base station 300 also includes a blocking member 40, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the blocking member 40 includes a flow section 41 and a blocking section 42 arranged radially approximately parallel to the pipe 10. The flow section 41 is used to allow water flow in the sewage, and the blocking section 42 is used to block solid dirt in the sewage. Specifically, the blocking member 40 is connected to the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10 so that sewage in the sewage pan can flow through the flow section 41 to the inlet end 101 and enter the pipe 10.

[0074] Optionally, the blocking part 42 is hermetically connected to the base station 300 to prevent gas from entering the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10 via the blocking part 40. Figure 7 As shown, the blocking member 40 in this application is provided with a flow section 41 only at the bottom. The circumferential edge of the blocking member 42 can be sealed to the base station 300. When the blocking member 42 is sealed to the base station 300, gas can be prevented from entering the pipe 10 from the blocking member 40, which would cause a large gas-liquid mixing noise at the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10, thus improving the noise reduction effect of the liquid transfer device 100.

[0075] This application also provides a cleaning robot 400, including a cleaning robot body and a liquid transfer device 100 as described in any of the preceding claims. The cleaning robot body has an internal accommodating space for accommodating the liquid transfer device 100.

[0076] In practical applications, the cleaning robot 400 serves as the main cleaning unit, capable of cleaning dirt from the floor. Specifically, the cleaning robot 400 can be connected to a mopping component, which cleans the floor. After a period of time, the cleaning robot 400 returns to the first receiving cavity 301 of the base station 300 and cleans the mopping component. The wastewater is stored in a wastewater tray 3011. During operation, the power unit 200, such as a fan or water pump, generates suction from the inlet end 101 to the outlet end 102 within the pipe 10, allowing wastewater to enter the pipe 10 from the inlet end 101 and then enter the wastewater tank through the outlet end 102, thus completing the wastewater collection.

[0077] This application also provides a cleaning system 1000, such as Figure 11 As shown, the cleaning system 1000 in this embodiment includes the cleaning robot 400 and base station 300 as described in any of the above embodiments. The cleaning robot 400 is self-moving and can be placed within the first receiving cavity 301. It is understood that the cleaning robot 400 can communicate with a terminal and, under the control of the terminal, achieve self-movement and complete cleaning tasks. The base station can also communicate with the terminal and, under the control of the terminal, perform cleaning and maintenance on the cleaning robot 400.

[0078] The working scenario of the liquid transfer device 100 in the cleaning system 1000 in the present application embodiment is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0079] like Figure 4 As shown in Figure 6, in some optional embodiments of this application, the liquid transfer device 100 is disposed in the base station 300. The base station 300 also includes a base station wastewater tray and a base station wastewater tank. The base station wastewater tray can be used to temporarily store wastewater generated by the cleaning and mopping components. The base station wastewater tank can be used to collect wastewater from the base station wastewater tray. The robot wastewater tray is connected to the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10 of the liquid transfer device 100. The base station wastewater tank or drain pipe is connected to the outlet end 102 of the liquid transfer device 100 so that the wastewater in the wastewater tray of the base station 300 can be transferred to the base station wastewater tank or drain pipe by the liquid transfer device 100 under the action of a power device (especially a fan).

[0080] like Figure 8As shown, in some alternative embodiments of this application, the liquid transfer device 100 is disposed in the base station 300, and the cleaning robot 400 also includes a robot sewage tank, which can be used to store sewage generated by the cleaning robot 400 body during the cleaning process. The base station 300 also includes a base station sewage tank, which can be used to collect sewage from the robot sewage tank. The robot sewage tank is connected to the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10 of the liquid transfer device 100, and the outlet end 102 of the liquid transfer device 100 is connected to the base station sewage tank or the drain pipe, so that the liquid transfer device 100 can transfer the sewage in the robot sewage tank to the base station sewage tank or the drain pipe under the action of a power device (especially a fan).

[0081] like Figure 9 As shown, in some alternative embodiments of this application, the liquid transfer device 100 is disposed in the cleaning robot 400, the base station 300 also includes a base station clean water tank or a water supply pipe, and the cleaning robot 400 also includes a robot clean water tank. Both the base station 300 clean water tank and the robot clean water tank are used to store cleaning water. The inlet end 101 of the liquid transfer device 100 is connected to the base station 300 clean water tank or the water supply pipe, and the robot clean water tank is connected to the outlet end 102 of the liquid transfer device 100. The cleaning robot 400 can transfer (e.g., suck) clean water from the base station 300's clean water tank to the robot clean water tank through the liquid transfer device 100, so that the robot body can use it to clean the mopping components.

[0082] like Figure 10 As shown, in some alternative embodiments of this application, the liquid transfer device 100 is disposed in the cleaning robot 400. The cleaning robot 400 also includes a robot wastewater tank and a robot fan. The robot wastewater tank can be used to store wastewater generated by the cleaning robot 400 during the cleaning process. The robot wastewater tank is connected to the inlet end 101 of the pipe 10 of the liquid transfer device 100. The robot fan is connected between the outlet end 102 of the liquid transfer device 100 and the drain pipe. The robot fan operates to transfer the wastewater in the robot wastewater tank to the drain pipe through the liquid transfer device 100, thereby discharging the wastewater from the robot wastewater tank. It can be understood that in this embodiment, the cleaning robot 400 can directly transfer the dirt to the drain pipe using its own power unit without the assistance of the base station 300 for wastewater discharge.

[0083] In some implementations, during the operation of the blower (i.e., the power unit of the cleaning system), by setting an expansion cavity (i.e., the first cavity 20) in the sewage pipe (i.e., the pipe 10) and setting a sound-absorbing hole (i.e., the first component 30) on the expansion cavity, the noise transmitted between the sewage pipe outlet (i.e., the outlet end 102) and the inlet (i.e., the inlet end 101) is reflected and canceled out in the expansion cavity (i.e., the first cavity 20), and the energy is reduced, thereby effectively controlling the transmission of noise to the front of the base station.

[0084] In some embodiments, due to the provision of the first component 30 and the first cavity 20, the liquid transfer device 100 of this application can eliminate the noise of the fan itself during operation, as well as the noise generated by the airflow during water pumping. That is, the liquid transfer device 100 of this application can not only eliminate the noise during the liquid transfer process, but also eliminate the noise at the source, so that no loud noise will be heard during the actual use of the product, effectively improving the user experience.

[0085] It should be noted that the above embodiments do not constitute a limitation on the working scenarios of the liquid transfer device 100 in the embodiments of this application. In specific applications, the position of the liquid transfer device 100 and its connection structure can be designed according to actual needs to adapt to different working scenarios.

[0086] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0087] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this application, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A liquid transfer device, characterized by, include: A pipe for transporting liquid under the power provided by a power unit of a cleaning system, the pipe including a non-expanding section and an expanding section arranged along its axial direction; A first cavity is located in the expansion section of the pipe and is connected to the pipe; and The first component is disposed in the first cavity and communicates with the first cavity; The first component is also connected to the atmosphere, and along the radial direction of the pipe, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the first cavity and the expanded section is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the non-expanded section.

2. The fluid transfer device of claim 1, wherein, The cleaning system is powered by a fan, and the liquid is wastewater.

3. The fluid transfer device of claim 1, wherein, The first component includes a first port and a second port facing away from each other. The first port is in communication with the atmosphere, and the second port is in communication with the first cavity. The diameter of the first port is larger than the diameter of the second port.

4. The fluid transfer device of claim 3, wherein, The aperture of the first component decreases from the first port to the second port.

5. The fluid transfer device of claim 1, wherein, The number of the first components is one or more, and the multiple first components are spaced apart on the first cavity.

6. The fluid transfer device of claim 1, wherein, Along the radial direction of the pipe, the first cavity is located on the side of the expansion section facing away from the ground.

7. The fluid transfer device of claim 6, wherein, The first cavity includes a side wall and a top wall. The side wall is connected to the pipe, and the top wall is connected to the side of the side wall away from the pipe. The first component is disposed on the top wall, and / or the first component is disposed on the side of the side wall near the top wall.

8. The fluid transfer device of claim 1, wherein, Along the axial direction of the pipeline, the expansion section is located near the inlet end of the pipeline.

9. A base station, characterized by Includes the base station body and the liquid transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 8; The base station body is provided with a first accommodating cavity and a second accommodating cavity that are isolated from each other. The first accommodating cavity is used to contain the liquid, and the pipe is disposed in the second accommodating cavity. The inlet end of the pipe extends into the first accommodating cavity and is used to transport the liquid. The liquid includes sewage or clean water. One end of the first component is connected to the first cavity, and The other end of the first component is connected to the first receiving cavity, which is connected to the atmosphere; or, The other end of the first component is connected to the second receiving cavity, which is connected to the atmosphere.

10. The base station of claim 9, characterized in that, The cleaning system is powered by a fan, which is located inside the second accommodating cavity and near the outlet end of the pipe.

11. The base station of claim 9, wherein, The liquid is sewage, and the base station also includes a blocking component. The blocking component includes a flow section and a blocking section arranged radially approximately parallel to the pipe. The flow section is used for the flow of water in the sewage, and the blocking section is used to block solid dirt in the sewage.

12. The base station of claim 11, characterized in that, The blocking part is sealed to the base station to prevent gas from entering the inlet end of the pipeline through the blocking part.

13. A cleaning robot, characterized in that, It includes a cleaning robot body and a liquid transfer device as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

14. A cleaning system characterized by, Includes the cleaning robot of claim 13 and / or the base station of any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the cleaning robot body of the cleaning robot is self-moving and can be placed in the first receiving cavity of the base station.

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