lawnmowers and lawnmower systems

Abstract

This utility model discloses a lawn mowing robot and a lawn mowing system, relating to the field of lawn mowing equipment technology. The lawn mowing robot is applied to the lawn mowing system, which also includes a base station. The base station is equipped with a power plug. The lawn mowing robot includes a housing and a power connector. The housing is provided with a power port. The power connector is connected to the housing and forms a power plug slot. The slot opening and the power port are arranged in the same direction. In at least one side wall of the power plug slot, the power connector has multiple protruding power terminals for abutting against the flat portion of the power plug's outer periphery. The technical solution provided by this utility model aims to increase the contact area between the power plug and the power connector, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the electrical connection during charging.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of lawn mowing equipment technology, and in particular to a lawn mowing robot and a lawn mowing system. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, the charging connection between lawnmower robots and base stations often adopts a plug-in electrical connection structure. The base station has a charging post, while the lawnmower robot has a corresponding charging port for receiving the power from the post and internal conductive terminals. However, this charging structure suffers from a small contact area, which can easily lead to poor contact, excessive temperature rise, or even charging interruptions during actual use, affecting charging efficiency and system reliability. Utility Model Content

[0003] The main purpose of this invention is to propose a lawn mowing robot and a lawn mowing system, which aims to increase the contact area of ​​the plug and the connector, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the electrical connection during charging.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the lawn mowing robot proposed in this utility model is applied to a lawn mowing system, which further includes a base station equipped with a power outlet. The lawn mowing robot comprises: The housing, wherein the housing is provided with a power socket; and A power connector is connected to the housing and forms a power socket. The opening of the power socket and the power outlet are arranged in the same direction. In at least one side wall of the power socket, the power connector has a plurality of power terminals protruding from it. The power terminals are used to abut against the flat part of the outer periphery of the power outlet.

[0005] In one embodiment, the connecting elements are provided with the connecting terminals in the opposite sidewalls of the plug slot.

[0006] In one embodiment, the power connection terminal is provided along the horizontally distributed sidewall of the power insertion slot.

[0007] In one embodiment, the lawnmower robot is provided with two power contacts and two power outlets distributed in a horizontal direction.

[0008] In one embodiment, the sidewall of the plug slot is provided with a deformation hole, which extends along the width direction of the flat part. One side of the power terminal is connected to the side of the deformation hole near the plug port. The power terminal is elastically protruding, and the other side extends obliquely toward the bottom of the plug slot.

[0009] In one embodiment, the plug slot is formed through the groove sidewall adjacent to the power terminal, and a reinforcing flange is provided around its periphery. The housing is provided with a strip groove, and the reinforcing flange is limited and installed in the strip groove.

[0010] In one embodiment, the power connector has a connecting flange around the periphery of the socket opening, and the connecting flange is connected to the periphery of the socket.

[0011] In one embodiment, the housing includes a charging frame, the power socket is formed in the charging frame, the power connector is connected to the charging frame, and the width of the power socket gradually decreases from the power socket to the opening of the power socket slot.

[0012] In one embodiment, the lawnmower robot further includes a protective member disposed on the charging frame and movably disposed between the power socket and the power receiving member, the protective member being used to open and close the power socket.

[0013] This utility model also proposes a lawn mowing system, which includes a base station and a lawn mowing robot as described above, wherein the power pole is used to be inserted into the power socket of the lawn mowing robot.

[0014] In one embodiment, the plug post is oscillatingly mounted on the base station in the direction opposite to the flat position and the power terminal.

[0015] This invention features a charging post on the base station with at least one flat portion on its outer periphery for directional guidance and increased contact area. The lawnmower robot has a charging port on its casing, and a connecting component is fixedly connected inside the casing, forming a charging slot around the port. The slot opening is aligned with the charging port to facilitate smooth insertion of the charging post. On at least one side wall of the charging slot, the connecting component has multiple protruding terminals. The position and shape of these terminals match the flat portion on the outer periphery of the charging post. When the charging post is inserted into the charging slot, its flat portion precisely abuts against the multiple terminals, forming a multi-point, large-area surface contact structure. Compared to the point or line contact charging interfaces of existing technologies, this solution increases the conductive contact area, reduces contact resistance, and improves the stability and efficiency of current transmission. Simultaneously, the distributed layout of the multiple terminals enhances the tolerance of the connection structure, ensuring reliable contact of at least some terminals even during slight alignment deviations during the lawnmower robot's recharging process, thus preventing charging interruptions. In addition, the cooperation between the flat part and the power terminal also plays a guiding and anti-rotation role, preventing the plug from rotating or loosening during the plugging or charging process, thus further improving the reliability of the electrical connection. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the lawnmower robot and power pole provided by this utility model; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle; Figure 3 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view showing the central plug, connector, and charging frame separated. Figure 4 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the middle plug post, the connector and the charging frame in combination; Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the intermediate electrical component and the charging frame in cooperation; Figure 6 for Figure 5 Exploded view of the intermediate electrical components and charging frame; Figure 7 for Figure 5 An exploded view of the central connecting component and charging frame from another perspective.

[0018] Explanation of icon numbers: 100. Housing; 110. Charging frame; 120. Power socket; 130. Strip groove; 200. Power connector; 210. Power socket slot; 220. Deformation hole; 230. Reinforcing flange; 240. Connecting flange; 250. Power terminal; 300. Power socket post; 310. Flat part.

[0019] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this utility model will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0021] It should be noted that if the embodiments of this utility model involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0022] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this utility model involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0023] This utility model proposes a lawn mowing robot.

[0024] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4 In one embodiment of this utility model, the lawn mowing robot is applied to a lawn mowing system, which also includes a base station. The base station is equipped with a power pole 300. The lawn mowing robot includes: Housing 100, housing 100 is provided with power socket 120; and A power connector 200 is connected to the housing 100 and forms a power socket 210. The opening of the power socket 210 and the power socket 120 are arranged in the same direction. In at least one side wall of the power socket 210, the power connector 200 is provided with a plurality of power terminals 250. The power terminals 250 are used to abut against the flat part 310 on the outer periphery of the power socket 300.

[0025] The technical solution of this utility model involves providing a power outlet 300 on the base station, with at least one flat portion 310 on the outer periphery of the power outlet 300 for directional guidance and increasing the contact area. The lawnmower robot has a power outlet 120 on its housing 100. A power connector 200 is fixedly connected inside the housing 100 and surrounds the power outlet 120 to form a power outlet groove 210. The opening of the power outlet groove 210 is aligned with the power outlet 120 to allow the power outlet 300 to be smoothly inserted. On at least one side wall of the power outlet groove 210, the power connector 200 has multiple protruding power terminals 250. The position and shape of the power terminals 250 match the flat portion 310 on the outer periphery of the power outlet 300. When the power outlet 300 is inserted into the power outlet groove 210, its flat portion 310 precisely abuts against the multiple power terminals 250, forming a multi-point, large-area surface contact structure. Compared to existing point-contact or line-contact charging interfaces, this solution increases the conductive contact area, reduces contact resistance, and improves the stability and efficiency of current transmission. Simultaneously, the distributed layout of multiple power terminals 250 enhances the tolerance of the connection structure, ensuring reliable contact at least for some terminals even during slight alignment deviations in the lawnmower's recharging process, thus preventing charging interruptions. Furthermore, the cooperation between the flat part 310 and the power terminals 250 also serves as a guide and anti-rotation mechanism, preventing the plug post 300 from rotating or loosening during insertion or charging, further improving the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0026] It should be noted that the power connector 200 can be integrally stamped and then bent to form the power socket 210, or the power connector 200 can be formed separately and then assembled to form the power socket 210. The lawnmower robot has two power connectors 200, corresponding to the positive and negative terminals respectively. Correspondingly, the housing 100 has two power ports for the two power terminals 300 on the base station to be plugged in and connected. Furthermore, for a power socket 210, multiple power terminals 250 are spaced apart along the depth direction of the socket 210 and abut against the corresponding flat parts 310. Here, the multiple power terminals 250 can be spaced apart along the depth direction on the same sidewall of the socket, or they can be spaced apart along the depth direction on different sidewalls of the socket.

[0027] In one embodiment, please refer to Figures 2 to 4 , Figure 6In the opposite sidewalls of the plug-in slot 210, each connecting member 200 is provided with a connecting terminal 250. The connecting terminals 250, formed by protrusions from the connecting members 200, are provided on both opposite sidewalls of the plug-in slot 210. When the plug-in post 300 of the base station is inserted into the plug-in slot 210, its outer periphery flat portion 310 simultaneously abuts against the connecting terminals 250 on both sidewalls, forming a symmetrical, bidirectional, multi-point surface contact structure. This not only increases the total effective contact area between the plug-in post 300 and the connecting terminals 250, but also improves the mechanical stability and alignment accuracy during the insertion process through the clamping effect of the terminals on both sides, overcoming the problem of poor contact on one side caused by positioning deviations of the lawnmower robot during recharging or uneven ground. Of course, in other embodiments, the connecting terminals 250 can also be provided on the adjacent sidewalls of the slots.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment, please refer to Figures 2 to 4 , Figure 6 The charging slot 210 has power terminals 250 arranged along its horizontally distributed sidewalls. It should be noted that during the lawnmower robot's return to charging position, the charging post 300 may experience horizontal deviation from the charging port 120. When the base station's charging post 300 is horizontally inserted into the charging slot 210 from the front, its outer flat portion 310 abuts against the power terminals 250 on the horizontal sidewall. This accommodates the horizontal force caused by the horizontal deviation between the charging post 300 and the charging slot 210, ensuring that the insertion action is consistent with the conductive direction of the contact. This fully utilizes the lateral plane of the flat portion 310 of the charging post 300, forming a stable, large-area surface contact, increasing the conductive area and contact pressure, reducing contact resistance, and preventing loosening of the contact due to vertical gravity or vibration, thus enhancing the reliability of the electrical connection during charging. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the charging slot 210 may have power terminals 250 arranged along its vertically distributed sidewalls.

[0029] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The lawnmower robot is equipped with two horizontally distributed power connectors 200 and two power outlets 120. It should be noted that each power connector 200 and power outlet 120 forms a group, and the lawnmower robot has two groups of power connectors 200 and power outlets 120, effectively reducing the single-path current load and temperature rise, while meeting the safety and efficiency requirements of high-power charging. Simultaneously, the horizontally arranged dual power outlets 120 cooperate with the corresponding dual power outlet posts 300 on the base station, helping to accommodate horizontal alignment deviations between the lawnmower robot and the base station, balancing the forces during insertion and removal, and ensuring docking accuracy and stability.

[0030] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 6 and Figure 7The plug slot 210 has a deformation hole 220 on its side wall. The deformation hole 220 extends along the width direction of the flat portion 310. One side of the power connection terminal 250 is connected to the side of the deformation hole 220 near the plug-in port 120. The power connection terminal 250 is elastically protruding, and the other side extends inclined towards the bottom of the plug slot 210. It can be understood that the deformation hole 220 is elongated. When the flat portion 310 is distributed on the horizontal side of the plug post 300, the deformation hole 220 extends vertically. In the depth direction of the plug slot 210, one side of the power connection terminal 250 is fixedly connected to the side of the deformation hole 220 near the plug-in port 120, and the other side extends inclined towards the bottom of the plug slot 210 and is elastically protruding. This allows the terminal 250 to undergo controllable elastic deformation along the tilt direction during insertion of the plug post 300, thereby applying a continuous and stable clamping force to the flat portion 310 on the outer periphery of the plug post 300, ensuring a tight and reliable surface contact between the two. Simultaneously, the deformation hole 220 provides ample elastic deformation space for the terminal 250, effectively buffering the impact of mating caused by manufacturing tolerances, assembly errors, or slight misalignment during robot recharging, preventing terminal wear or breakage due to rigid contact. Furthermore, the terminal 250 is stamped onto the connector 200, ensuring the structural stability of the connector 200 and also contributing to the stability of the contact between the terminal 250 and the plug post 300.

[0031] In one embodiment, please refer to Figures 5 to 7 In the slot sidewall adjacent to the power terminal 250, the power slot 210 is formed through and has a reinforcing flange 230 at its periphery. The housing 100 has a strip groove 130, and the reinforcing flange 230 is installed within the strip groove 130. It can be understood that, in one example, if the slot sidewall with the power terminal 250 is horizontally distributed, the power slot 210 is vertically formed through to create an opening, and then a reinforcing flange 230 is provided at the periphery of the opening. The reinforcing flange 230 can extend inward or outward. Correspondingly, the housing 100 of the lawnmower robot has a strip groove 130 that matches the reinforcing flange 230. During installation, the reinforcing flange 230 is embedded and confined within the strip groove 130, achieving precise positioning and stable connection of the power connector 200 on the housing 100. Thus, on the one hand, the through-forming reduces the local structural weight and facilitates the provision of elastic deformation space for the electrical terminal 250; on the other hand, the cooperation between the reinforced flange 230 and the strip groove 130 improves the structural rigidity and torsional resistance of the electrical connector 200, preventing loosening, displacement, or even breakage during frequent insertion and removal or robot vibration. Of course, in other embodiments, a limiting guide strip can also be provided on the housing 100, and a long strip guide groove can be provided at the edge of the opening formed by the through-forming of the electrical connector 200, with the limiting guide strip engaging in the long strip guide groove.

[0032] Furthermore, in one embodiment, please refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 The connector 200 has a connecting flange 240 around the opening of the plug slot 210, which is connected to the periphery of the plug port 120. The connecting flange 240 is tightly fitted and fixedly connected to the periphery of the plug port 120 on the housing 100, firmly integrating the connector 200 into the structure of the housing 100. This prevents the connector 200 from loosening, falling off, or shifting due to vibrations during the operation of the lawnmower robot, insertion and removal impacts, or external collisions. At the same time, the continuous structural transition formed by the fit between the connecting flange 240 and the periphery of the plug port 120 helps to evenly distribute the local stress generated when the plug post 300 is inserted, avoiding stress concentration that could cause cracking or deformation at the edge of the plug port 120, and improving the rigidity and sealing of the plug port 120 area. In the case where the power connector 200 runs vertically through the socket, the connecting flange 240 is bent outward on both sides of the horizontal opening of the socket 210. Furthermore, it is easy to connect to the housing 100 by means of snap-fit, screw fastening, welding, etc. In this embodiment, a connecting ear is provided on the connecting flange 240, and the connecting ear is fixed to both sides of the socket 120 by screw fastening.

[0033] In one embodiment, please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 The housing 100 includes a charging frame 110, a power inlet 120 formed in the charging frame 110, and a connector 200 connected to the charging frame 110. The width of the power inlet 120 gradually decreases from the opening of the power inlet slot 210. It can be understood that the connector 200 is fixedly connected to the inside of the charging frame 110, and the power inlet 120, facing outwards, is an everted opening with a gradually increasing width. During the insertion of the power inlet 300, the power inlet 120 provides good guidance. Even if there is a slight alignment deviation when the lawnmower returns to charging, the power inlet 300 can be smoothly inserted at the wide end of the power inlet 120 and gradually constrained to the center position as it goes deeper, ultimately precisely embedding into the power inlet slot 210 and stably abutting against the connector 250, reducing the accuracy requirements for charging alignment. At the same time, it also limits the lateral swaying of the power inlet 300 after insertion, improving the mechanical stability of the connection and reducing the risk of loosening due to vibration or external disturbance.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6The lawnmower also includes a protective component (not shown in the figure). The protective component is located in the charging frame 110 and is movably positioned between the power socket 120 and the power connector 200. The protective component is used to open and close the power socket 120. It can be understood that when the lawnmower is not charging, the protective component automatically closes to cover the power socket 120, preventing external dust, moisture, grass clippings, and foreign objects from entering the power socket 210 and avoiding the power connector 250 from being affected by contamination, oxidation, or short circuits. When the robot returns to the base station for charging, the power socket 300 pushes the protective component inward to flip / slide during insertion, opening the power socket 120 and providing a channel for the power socket 300 to smoothly enter the power socket 210 and reliably connect with the power connector 250. In this way, not only is the protection level and long-term reliability of the charging interface improved in complex outdoor environments, but the automatic opening and closing mechanism of the protective components also achieves "plug and open, pull and close" protection without the need for additional driving components, ensuring the safety and stability of the lawnmower robot's automatic charging process.

[0035] This utility model also proposes a lawn mowing system, which includes a lawn mowing robot. The specific structure of the lawn mowing robot is as described in the above embodiments. Since this lawn mowing system adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be described in detail here. The lawn mowing system also includes a base station, and a power pole 300 is used to be inserted into the power socket 210 of the lawn mowing robot.

[0036] In one embodiment, please refer to Figures 1 to 4 In the horizontal direction, the charging post 300 is oscillatingly mounted on the base station. This oscillating mounting, achieved through a flexible hinge structure, ball joint connection, or flexible support, allows the charging post 300 to adaptively adjust its angle and position according to the robot's actual positioning during the lawnmower robot's recharging and docking process. This compensates for horizontal alignment deviations caused by navigation errors, uneven ground, or accumulated mechanical tolerances. When the robot's charging port 120 approaches the charging post 300, the post 300 can oscillate slightly under contact force, guiding its flat portion 310 smoothly into the charging slot 210 and forming a stable contact with the charging terminal 250, thereby improving the docking success rate and connection reliability. Furthermore, after charging is complete, the oscillating charging post 300 can automatically reset, preparing for the next automatic recharging of the lawnmower robot.

[0037] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the scope of protection of the present utility model. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the technical concept of the present utility model and the contents of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A lawnmower robot, characterized in that, The lawnmower robot is used in a lawnmower system, which also includes a base station equipped with a power pole. The lawnmower robot includes: The housing, wherein the housing is provided with a power socket; and A power connector is connected to the housing and forms a power socket. The opening of the power socket and the power outlet are arranged in the same direction. In at least one side wall of the power socket, the power connector has a plurality of power terminals protruding from it. The power terminals are used to abut against the flat part of the outer periphery of the power outlet.

2. The lawnmower robot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the opposite sidewalls of the plug slot, each of the connecting components is provided with a connecting terminal.

3. The lawnmower robot as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The electrical connection terminals are provided along the horizontally distributed sidewalls of the insertion slot; And / or, the lawnmower robot is provided with two electrical contacts and two electrical ports distributed in a horizontal direction.

4. The lawnmower robot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The side wall of the plug slot is provided with a deformation hole, which extends along the width direction of the flat part. One side of the power terminal is connected to the side of the deformation hole near the plug port. The power terminal is elastically protruding, and the other side extends inclinedly toward the bottom of the plug slot.

5. The lawnmower robot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The plug slot is formed through the groove sidewall adjacent to the power terminal, and a reinforcing flange is provided around its perimeter. The housing is provided with a strip groove, and the reinforcing flange is limited and installed in the strip groove.

6. The lawnmower robot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The power connector has a connecting flange around the periphery of the socket opening, and the connecting flange is connected to the periphery of the socket.

7. The lawnmower robot as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The housing includes a charging frame, the power socket is formed in the charging frame, the power connector is connected to the charging frame, and the width of the power socket gradually decreases from the power socket to the opening of the power socket slot.

8. The lawnmower robot as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The lawnmower also includes a protective component, which is disposed on the charging frame and is movably disposed between the power socket and the power receiving component. The protective component is used to open and close the power socket.

9. A lawn mowing system, characterized in that, The system includes a base station and a lawnmower robot as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the power post is used to be inserted into the power socket of the lawnmower robot.

10. The lawn mowing system as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The plug post is oscillatingly mounted on the base station in the direction opposite to the flat position and the power connection terminal.

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