A locking device of a winding reel, a winding and unwinding device and a window cleaning robot base station

Abstract

The application discloses a locking device of a winding reel, a winding and unwinding device and a window cleaning robot base station, and relates to the technical field of cleaning equipment. The locking device comprises a first gear coaxially fixed to the winding reel, a second gear in constant engagement with the first gear, a mounting seat provided with a sliding groove, the sliding groove having a first end and a second end, a rotating shaft of the second gear slidingly installed in the sliding groove, the rotating shaft being capable of maintaining engagement with the first gear at any position in the groove, an elastic element for providing the second gear with elastic pre-tightening force for maintaining the second gear at a first position, the first position being located at the first end of the sliding groove, a locking tooth part fixedly arranged on the mounting seat, the second gear being engaged with the locking tooth part when the rotating shaft of the second gear is moved to a second position against the elastic pre-tightening force, and the locking being realized, the second position being located at the second end of the sliding groove. The locking device can automatically trigger and timely lock the rotation of the winding reel under the emergency falling working condition of the window cleaning robot, so as to stop the unwinding.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of cleaning equipment technology, and in particular to a locking device for a cable reel, a cable winding and unwinding device, and a base station for a window cleaning robot. Background Technology

[0002] Existing window cleaning robots are typically equipped with a base station with a cable reel that winds up the rope connected to the robot. In the event of an accidental fall while the robot is working outdoors, this rope can be pulled out and tightened to prevent further fall. However, when the robot falls, its gravity causes the reel to spin at high speed and continuously unwind the rope. This uncontrolled rotation not only generates a huge inertial impact, potentially damaging the transmission components inside the base station, but also, if the rope is allowed to extend too far, the robot may still crash into the ground or obstacles due to insufficient drop height in lower-level working areas, resulting in damage. Utility Model Content

[0003] One of the objectives of this invention is to provide a locking device that can be automatically triggered and promptly lock the rotating reel in the event of an emergency fall by a window cleaning robot.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] A locking device for a cable reel includes:

[0006] The first gear is coaxially fixed to the winding reel;

[0007] The second gear is constantly meshed with the first gear;

[0008] The mounting base has a sliding groove with a first end and a second end; the shaft of the second gear is slidably mounted in the sliding groove, and the second gear and the first gear can maintain a meshing relationship when the shaft is in any position in the groove.

[0009] An elastic element is provided to the second gear to provide an elastic preload force that tends to maintain it in a first position; the first position is located at a first end of the groove;

[0010] The locking teeth are fixedly mounted on the mounting base; when the second gear overcomes the elastic preload and moves its shaft to the second position, the second gear meshes with the locking teeth to achieve locking; the second position is located at the second end of the slide groove.

[0011] Furthermore, when the reel rotates to unwind the cable, the preload of the elastic element is configured such that: when the torque generated by the rope tension on the reel is not greater than the holding torque generated by it on the shaft of the second gear, the second gear is held in the first position; when the torque is greater than the holding torque, the second gear is allowed to move from the first position to the second position.

[0012] Furthermore, the mounting base is provided with a receiving cavity for accommodating the second gear, the receiving cavity being open to one side facing the winding reel so that the second gear meshes with the first gear through the opening; the sliding groove is provided on the opposite side wall of the receiving cavity; the locking tooth is provided in the receiving cavity and located at the second end of the sliding groove.

[0013] Furthermore, the locking device also includes a first mounting part, which is spaced apart from and fixed relative to the mounting base; a second mounting part is provided on the shaft of the second gear; the elastic element is an elastic ring (such as a rubber band), and its two ends are respectively sleeved on the first mounting part and the second mounting part.

[0014] Furthermore, the first mounting portion and / or the second mounting portion are provided with a limiting structure (such as an annular groove) for preventing the elastic ring from falling off.

[0015] Furthermore, the first gear is an integrally formed gear ring disposed on the outer periphery of the winding reel.

[0016] The second objective of this utility model is to provide a winding and unwinding device, which includes a winding reel, a motor for driving the winding reel to rotate, and a locking device for the winding reel as described above.

[0017] The third objective of this utility model is to provide a window cleaning robot base station, which includes a base station body and the above-mentioned cable winding and unwinding device is provided on the base station body.

[0018] The locking device of this invention is based on the torque balance principle of rope tension and elastic preload to achieve automatic triggering. During normal operation, the torque generated by the rope tension on the reel, after being transmitted through gear meshing, results in a force that moves the second gear, which is no greater than the holding torque generated by the elastic preload, keeping the second gear stable in the first position. When the window cleaning robot falls, causing a sudden increase in rope tension, the torque it generates on the reel increases dramatically and overcomes the holding torque of the elastic preload, driving the second gear to move along the slide groove until it meshes with the locking teeth fixed to the mounting base, forming a mechanical interlock and forcibly stopping the reel's rotation, achieving instantaneous braking. This process requires no electronic control; the purely mechanical structure is highly responsive and reliable, effectively preventing robot falls and mitigating the risk of equipment damage or robot impact caused by continuous rapid cable unwinding. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 A perspective view of the wire take-up and unwinding device;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the winding reel and locking device;

[0021] Figure 3 A perspective view of the locking device;

[0022] Figure 4 A 3D view of the mounting base;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the elastic element and the first mounting part and the second mounting part.

[0024] In the picture:

[0025] 1 - First gear 2 - Second gear

[0026] 2a - Rotating shaft; 3 - Mounting base

[0027] 3a—Slide groove 3a1—First end

[0028] 3a2 – Second end; 3b – Receptacle cavity

[0029] 4—Elastic element; 5—Locking teeth

[0030] 6 – First Installation Section; 7 – Second Installation Section

[0031] 8 - Cable reel; 9 - Motor

[0032] 10 - Fixed rod; 11 - Bracket. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art, the present invention will be further described below with reference to embodiments and accompanying drawings. The content mentioned in the embodiments is not intended to limit the present invention.

[0034] Example 1

[0035] like Figure 1-5 As shown, this embodiment provides a locking device for a cable reel. This locking device can be automatically triggered and locked in time to stop the cable reel from rotating in the event of an emergency fall of the window cleaning robot, thereby stopping the cable unwinding.

[0036] Specifically, the locking device mainly includes a first gear 1, a second gear 2, a mounting base 3, an elastic element 4, and a locking tooth 5.

[0037] The first gear 1 and the winding reel 8 are coaxially fixedly connected to ensure synchronous rotation. Preferably, the first gear 1 can be designed as a gear ring structure integrally formed with the outer circumference of the winding reel 8. This integrated design not only simplifies the overall structure, reduces the number of parts and assembly steps, but also enhances the rigidity and structural reliability of the transmission components.

[0038] The second gear 2 is constantly meshed with the first gear 1 and is located on its radial side.

[0039] Mounting base 3 is disposed on the outside of winding reel 8, and a groove 3a is formed thereon. The groove 3a has a first end 3a1 and a second end 3a2 opposite to each other. See Figure 4 The shaft 2a of the second gear 2 is slidably mounted within the groove 3a and can move along the groove 3a between the first end 3a1 and the second end 3a2. The size and position of the groove 3a are configured such that the second gear 2 and the first gear 1 are always meshed when the shaft 2a of the second gear 2 is in any position within the groove 3a. Preferably, the groove 3a is a strip-shaped groove, and its extending direction is substantially parallel to the tangential direction of the outer circle of the winding reel 8.

[0040] The elastic element 4 acts on the second gear 2 or its shaft 2a and continuously provides an elastic preload force, which drives the second gear 2 to always have a tendency to move toward the first end 3a1 of the slide groove 3a, so that it is stably maintained in the first position when not driven by an external force.

[0041] The first position corresponds to the first end 3a1 of the slide groove 3a, and the second position corresponds to the second end 3a2 of the slide groove 3a.

[0042] The mounting base 3 is fixedly provided with a locking tooth 5, which is positioned corresponding to the second end 3a2 of the slide groove 3a. When the external force on the second gear 2 overcomes the elastic preload, its rotating shaft 2a moves along the slide groove 3a from the first end 3a1 (i.e., the first position) to the second end 3a2 (i.e., the second position). At this time, the second gear 2 meshes with the first gear 1 and the locking tooth 5, thereby forming a mechanical interlock, forcing the winding reel 8 to stop rotating and achieving locking.

[0043] The preload of the elastic element 4 is set according to the rated load of the reel 8. It is configured such that, during normal operation, the torque generated by the rope tension on the reel 8 is not greater than (less than or equal to) the maximum torque required to maintain the rated load, which is insufficient to drive the second gear 2 to move; when the window cleaning robot falls, causing a sudden increase in rope tension and the torque generated on the reel 8 exceeds the aforementioned maximum torque, the force generated by this torque through gear meshing will overcome the elastic preload and drive the second gear 2 to move to the second position.

[0044] The mounting base 3 has a receiving cavity 3b, in which the second gear 2 is installed. The receiving cavity 3b is open on the side facing the winding reel 8, so that the second gear 2 can maintain meshing with the first gear 1 through the open portion. A groove 3a is formed on two opposing side walls (such as the upper and lower side walls) of the receiving cavity 3b. A locking tooth 5 is fixed in the receiving cavity 3b and is located at the second end 3a2 of the groove 3a.

[0045] The locking device also includes a first mounting portion 6, which is spaced apart from and relatively fixed to the mounting base 3, and is also located on the outside of the winding reel 8. A second mounting portion 7 is provided on the shaft 2a of the second gear 2. In this embodiment, an elastic ring (e.g., a rubber band) is used as the elastic element 4, with its two ends respectively fitted onto the first mounting portion 6 and the second mounting portion 7, providing a preload force to the first end 3a1 of the second gear 2 towards the groove 3a. Both the first mounting portion 6 and the second mounting portion 7 can be bearings or rotatable guide wheels. To prevent the elastic ring from falling off, the first mounting portion 6 and / or the second mounting portion 7 are provided with a limiting structure, such as a surrounding annular groove. Preferably, as... Figure 3 , 5 As shown, a second mounting portion 7 is provided at each of the upper and lower ends of the shaft 2a of the second gear 2. Correspondingly, two first mounting portions 6 are also provided, and they are connected as a whole by a fixing rod 10, which is kept relatively fixed to the mounting base 3. Two elastic rings, as elastic elements 4, are respectively connected between the first mounting portion 6 and the second mounting portion 7 on the same side.

[0046] The locking device in this embodiment is automatically triggered based on the torque balance principle of rope tension and elastic preload. Under normal operating conditions, the torque generated by the rope tension acting on the reel 8 is transmitted through the meshing of the first gear 1 and the second gear 2, and then acts on the shaft 2a of the second gear 2. The resulting driving torque is not greater than (less than or equal to) the preload torque provided by the elastic element 4. Under these conditions, the second gear 2 is stably maintained in the first position of the groove 3a under the constraint of the elastic element 4.

[0047] When the window cleaning robot accidentally falls, the rope tension increases sharply, causing the torque on the reel 8 to exceed a preset threshold. This torque is converted into a driving force acting on the second gear 2 through gear meshing. This driving force overcomes the elastic preload and pushes the shaft 2a of the second gear 2 along the slide groove 3a from the first position (first end 3a1) to the second position (second end 3a2). When the shaft 2a moves to the second end 3a2 of the slide groove 3a, the second gear 2 engages with the locking teeth 5 fixedly mounted on the mounting base 3. This action forms a mechanical interlock, forcibly stopping the rotation of the reel 8, achieving instantaneous and reliable braking, and promptly pulling back the falling window cleaning robot.

[0048] The entire triggering and locking process is achieved entirely through mechanical structures, without the need for electronic sensors or control systems. This purely mechanical solution is responsive, reliable, and effectively prevents the robot from falling, avoiding the risk of damage to the reel mechanism or robot impact caused by continuous high-speed cable unwinding.

[0049] Example 2

[0050] like Figure 1-5 As shown, this embodiment provides a cable winding and unwinding device, which includes a cable reel 8, a motor 9 for driving the cable reel 8 to rotate, and a locking device as described in Embodiment 1. A rope is wound on the cable reel 8, one end of which is fixed to the cable reel 8, and the other end (free end) is used to connect to external equipment (such as a window cleaning robot). The cable winding and unwinding device also includes a bracket 11, on which the cable reel 8, motor 9, and locking device are all mounted. The mounting base 3 and the fixing rod 10 are spaced apart and both fixed to the bracket 11. See [reference needed]. Figure 1 .

[0051] Example 3

[0052] This embodiment provides a window cleaning robot base station, which includes a base station body and a cable reel-up / deelution device as described in Embodiment 2. A window cleaning robot is placed inside the base station body, and the free end (terminal end) of the rope connected to the cable reel 8 is fixedly connected to the window cleaning robot.

[0053] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this utility model and does not constitute any limitation on this utility model. Any content that does not depart from the technical solution of this utility model shall still fall within the patent scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A locking device for a cable reel, characterized in that, include: The first gear (1) is coaxially fixed to the winding reel (8); The second gear (2) is constantly meshed with the first gear (1); Mounting base (3) is provided with a sliding groove (3a), the sliding groove (3a) has a first end (3a1) and a second end (3a2); the rotating shaft (2a) of the second gear (2) is slidably installed in the sliding groove (3a), and the second gear (2) and the first gear (1) can maintain a meshing relationship when the rotating shaft (2a) is in any position in the groove; An elastic element (4) is used to provide the second gear (2) with an elastic preload force that tends to hold it in a first position; the first position is located at the first end (3a1) of the groove (3a). The locking tooth (5) is fixedly mounted on the mounting base (3); when the second gear (2) overcomes the elastic preload and moves its shaft (2a) to the second position, the second gear (2) meshes with the locking tooth (5) to achieve locking; the second position is located at the second end (3a2) of the slide groove (3a).

2. The locking device for the winding reel according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the reel (8) rotates to release the wire, the preload of the elastic element (4) is configured such that: when the torque generated by the rope tension on the reel (8) is not greater than the holding torque generated by it on the shaft (2a) of the second gear (2), the second gear (2) is maintained in the first position; when the torque is greater than the holding torque, the second gear (2) is allowed to move from the first position to the second position.

3. The locking device for the reel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting base (3) is provided with a receiving cavity (3b) for accommodating the second gear (2), the receiving cavity (3b) being open to one side of the winding spool (8) so that the second gear (2) can mesh with the first gear (1) through the opening; The groove (3a) is disposed on the opposite side wall of the accommodating cavity (3b); The locking tooth (5) is disposed in the receiving cavity (3b) and located at the second end (3a2) of the slide groove (3a).

4. The locking device for the reel according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a first mounting part (6), which is spaced apart from and fixed relative to the mounting base (3); The second gear (2) has a second mounting part (7) on its shaft (2a); The elastic element (4) is an elastic ring, and its two ends are respectively sleeved on the first mounting part (6) and the second mounting part (7).

5. The locking device for the reel according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first mounting part (6) and / or the second mounting part (7) are provided with a limiting structure to prevent the elastic ring from falling off.

6. The locking device for the reel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first gear (1) is a gear ring integrally set on the outer periphery of the winding reel (8).

7. A winding and unwinding device, comprising a winding reel (8) and a motor (9) for driving the winding reel (8) to rotate, characterized in that, It also includes a locking device for the reel as described in any one of claims 1-6.

8. A window cleaning robot base station, comprising a base station body, characterized in that, The base station body is equipped with the cable take-up and release device as described in claim 7.

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