Window cleaning robot comprising a vacuum motor

Abstract

The invention relates to a window cleaning robot (1) for vehicle windows, the robot comprising: a main body (4); propulsion means (19) which are mounted on the main body (4) and are designed to propel the main body (4) along a window of a vehicle; at least one vacuum motor (12) which is arranged in and / or on the main body (4) and is designed to generate a contact pressure pressing the main body (4) against a window; and at least one cleaning element (26) which is mounted on a movable element of the vacuum motor (12) and is designed to apply, at least above an operating point of the vacuum motor (12), a mechanical cleaning action to a window to which the window cleaning robot (1) is attached.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Windscreen cleaning robot with a vacuum motor

[0003] The invention relates to a windshield cleaning robot for vehicle windshields, comprising a base body, propulsion means attached to the base body for propelling the base body along a windshield, and at least one vacuum motor arranged in or on the base body for generating a contact force of the base body against a windshield.

[0004] Robots (so-called windshield cleaning robots) can be used to clean vehicle windows, especially the windows of a motor vehicle. These windshield cleaning robots have one or more cleaning elements (e.g., cleaning felts or lips) designed to transfer mechanical cleaning power to the window on which the robot is positioned. This mechanical cleaning action then enables the mechanical removal of contaminants from the window, specifically by wiping or a similar movement of the respective cleaning element.

[0005] In order to achieve the necessary contact pressure against the glass during cleaning, the glass cleaning robot can have one or more vacuum motors, by means of which the glass cleaning robot is "suctioned" to the glass for better transfer of the mechanical cleaning power of the cleaning elements to the glass.

[0006] A windshield cleaning robot is known from CN 205 162 959 U. This robot comprises a housing in which a vacuum motor for suction against a windshield and rollers for movement along the windshield are integrated. During operation, the underside of the housing, facing the windshield, is covered with a cloth-like cleaning element around an inlet opening of the vacuum motor. This allows the windshield to be cleaned by the propulsion of the windshield cleaning robot provided by the rollers, even with a sufficiently high suction force from the vacuum motor. Additionally, a rocker-like vibrating structure with another cleaning element is arranged on the outside of the housing. This structure can move independently of the roller propulsion along the windshield, enabling the associated cleaning element to scrub the windshield with a higher lateral force.Such windshield cleaning robots, or those with similar construction, therefore have a large number of moving components (rollers for propulsion, vibrating structure, rotor of the vacuum motor), which makes the design comparatively complex and also complicates the maintenance and servicing of the windshield cleaning robot, as rotary bearings must be cleaned and lubricated, etc. However, these moving components are largely indispensable, as cleaning solely using the cleaning element attached to the underside might not be sufficient in individual cases (with particularly stubborn dirt deposits).

[0007] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a windshield cleaning robot for vehicle windshields which achieves high cleaning performance with flexible application possibilities, especially on curved vehicle windshields, and yet is as simple as possible in its construction, maintenance and servicing.

[0008] The aforementioned problem is solved according to the invention by a windshield cleaning robot for vehicle windshields, comprising a base body, propulsion means attached to the base body which are configured to propel the base body along a vehicle windshield, at least one vacuum motor arranged in and / or on the base body which is configured to generate a contact force against a windshield, and at least one cleaning element which is arranged on a movable element of the vacuum motor and which is configured to transmit a mechanical cleaning force to a windshield on which the windshield cleaning robot is mounted, at least above an operating point of the vacuum motor. Advantageous and partly inventive embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description.

[0009] A windshield cleaning robot, as used here, includes in particular any device designed and configured to clean a motor vehicle window, and in particular to provide all the mechanical forces necessary for the cleaning process itself and for the robot to adhere to the window. In particular, the windshield cleaning robot is also designed for cleaning vertical or substantially vertical vehicle windows (with an angle of inclination greater than 70° and preferably greater than 80°, preferably also with an overhang at an angle of inclination of at least 100°, preferably at least 110°) as well as vehicle windows with simple and, more preferably, multiple surface curvature. A window of a motor vehicle is referred to below as a "windshield."In particular, the vehicle disc (hereinafter also referred to simply as "disc") can, as already described, exhibit simple or multiple curvature, as long as the disc has a clearly defined tangent plane everywhere. Simple (surface) curvature means that a disc touches its tangent planes (at least) along a straight line, while multiple curvature means that a disc touches its tangent planes at a single point.

[0010] The windshield cleaning robot can operate fully automatically, meaning it can independently identify the areas of the windshield to be cleaned using optical sensors (and associated image capture) without an external control system. Alternatively, it can be designed and configured to be controlled remotely via a wireless or wired remote control. The windshield cleaning robot can be powered by a battery or an external power supply cable for its vacuum motor.

[0011] The term "base body" of the windshield cleaning robot refers in particular to any mechanically self-contained and / or compact unit that contains essential components of the windshield cleaning robot. In particular, the base body comprises a housing or is at least partially enclosed by such a housing. Preferably, in such a case, the vacuum motor is at least partially enclosed by the housing (especially except for openings for air inlet and / or outlet). In particular, the housing encloses an air duct to an underside of the housing (here and in the following: referring to the intended operating position of the windshield robot on a windshield), through which air can be drawn from the underside of the housing to generate a vacuum on the same surface, or forms such an air duct.

[0012] In this context, a propulsion element is understood to mean, in particular, any mechanical element designed and configured to transmit a force to the vehicle disc for a relative movement of the base body with respect to the disc, i.e., in particular a roller / wheel, a track with associated drive wheels, or a mechanical leg. The propulsion elements may be mounted externally on the base body and, in particular, outside the housing (possibly with the exception of control elements). However, the propulsion elements may also be largely integrated into the base body, i.e., in particular with respect to contact surfaces with the disc, such that, in particular, only a roller segment and / or one side of a track protrudes beyond the base body and / or the housing. In particular, the propulsion elements may be designed for a relative movement of the base body with respect to a (multiply) curved vehicle disc.

[0013] A vacuum motor is understood to be, in particular, any motor designed and configured to provide a suction force or pressure force of the base body against the windshield during operation of the windshield cleaning robot when the base body is positioned as intended. The vacuum motor may, in particular, have one or more rotors or other movable elements, the movement of which preferably generates the pressure force or suction force during operation of the windshield cleaning robot. The vacuum motor is, in particular, an electrically operated motor, with the power supply being provided preferably by a battery located on or in the base body (especially in the housing) and / or via a power cable (so).

[0014] The at least one cleaning element is arranged on a movable element of the vacuum motor, i.e., in the above case, on a rotor. The movable element of the vacuum motor is preferably arranged in the base body and, in particular, within the housing, such that, when positioned as intended, it is located near the disc, and / or the disc is directly accessible from said movable element, and especially in a straight line, via an air duct. The cleaning element can be positioned or extended from the movable element, particularly by a corresponding actuator, thus establishing contact with the disc to transmit the mechanical cleaning action.

[0015] For example, the cleaning element can be recessed in the hub of a vacuum motor rotor as a kind of rotating cushion and extended for cleaning. Alternatively, at least one cleaning element can be a cleaning lip or brush comb attached to a rotor blade, protruding from the underside of the base (and housing) towards the disc.

[0016] Mechanical cleaning performance, in this context, refers specifically to the performance of a mechanical device to remove contaminants from the disc by applying a pushing, pulling, and / or shearing force. The cleaning element transmits this mechanical force, which is provided by the moving element of the vacuum motor, particularly within the scope of its suction power, to the disc and the contaminants deposited thereon. The operating point of the vacuum motor can be determined, in particular, by a specific rotational speed of a rotor or similar component of the vacuum motor, or by a specific suction force or power, such that the mechanical cleaning performance is transmitted to the disc by the cleaning element at least above this rotational speed or suction force / power.This encompasses the two cases where, on the one hand, the mechanical cleaning power is permanently transmitted by the cleaning element (and the latter thus permanently assumes a defined and, in particular, the same position with respect to the moving element of the vacuum motor), and on the other hand, the cleaning element is only moved against the disc to transmit the mechanical cleaning power above a certain rotor speed or suction force or power, either by active actuation (e.g., by extending from a hub of the rotor or by a corresponding active adjustment of the moving element vertically towards the disc) or by a corresponding flow-technical design of the rotor and the cleaning element for "erection" at high speed.

[0017] By attaching at least one cleaning element, which transmits the mechanical cleaning power of the windshield cleaning robot to a windshield, to a movable element of the vacuum motor—which is primarily responsible for generating the suction or contact force of the vacuum motor—a separate drive for moving the cleaning element can be eliminated. This simplifies the design and maintenance while maintaining the available cleaning performance. Often, only minimal contact between the cleaning element and the windshield is required for sufficient mechanical cleaning performance, so any friction caused by this contact is negligible and, in particular, does not impair the operation of the vacuum motor.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum motor, as already mentioned, has a rotor with a number of rotor blades as the moving element. A common design for vacuum motors already incorporates such a rotor to generate the suction or contact force. Accordingly, the rotor can advantageously be positioned in an air duct such that a cleaning element attached to or arranged on the rotor is configured to make contact with a disc on which the disc cleaning robot is positioned for operation. In particular, the axial direction of the rotor is parallel to a normal direction of a disc when the disc cleaning robot is positioned on the disc as intended. The cleaning element can, for example, be arranged on a hub of the rotor and, in particular, be designed to be axially adjustable and / or extendable.

[0019] Preferably, at least one cleaning element is arranged on a rotor blade. In particular, the arrangement comprises several cleaning elements distributed symmetrically (especially rotationally symmetrically) over the individual rotor blades of the rotor. By arranging the cleaning element on a rotor blade, the mechanical cleaning power can be transferred to a comparatively large area.

[0020] Advantageously, the operating point is defined as a minimum rotor speed, with the vacuum motor configured to transmit the mechanical cleaning power to the disc only above this minimum speed. This includes, in particular, ensuring that the at least one cleaning element does not touch the disc, or only to a negligible extent, below the minimum rotor speed during operation of the disc cleaning robot, and that mechanical contact is only established above this minimum speed. The contact between the cleaning element and the disc can be established actively (for example, by slightly displacing the rotor axially, and / or by positioning the cleaning element, preferably attached to or molded onto an edge of the rotor blade, using an actuator), or passively through appropriate fluid dynamic design.

[0021] This allows the rotor to start up more easily; in particular, the cleaning element is only brought into contact with the disc when, as a result of the rotor's rotational speed, the suction force of the vacuum motor is sufficiently high to ensure that the disc cleaning robot adheres to it.

[0022] If the window cleaning robot includes a vertical actuator, the cleaning element is advantageously designed to transfer the mechanical cleaning power to a window pane through an active movement of the vertical actuator. The vertical actuator can, for example, move the rotor vertically or extend or unfold the cleaning element from a retracted rest position on the rotor blade to transfer the mechanical cleaning power.

[0023] In an alternative embodiment, the rotor blade and / or the cleaning element comprises an elastic and / or bielastic structure designed to be actuated by an aerodynamic force and / or a centrifugal force. This includes, in particular, the integration of rib- or fin-like structures along the rotor blade and / or the cleaning element. These structures, when the rotor rotates, move the air along the rotor blade in such a way that, above a certain airflow strength, the cleaning element moves into an operating position. At lower rotation speeds and thus lower airflow, it returns to a rest position along the rib-like structure. In the operating position, the cleaning element is configured to transmit the mechanical cleaning power to the disc, while in the rest position, the cleaning element has no or only negligible contact with the disc.In particular, this can be achieved by means of a structure that utilizes a bending-torsion coupling or a similar principle, whereby an aerodynamic force acting on the rotor blade and / or the cleaning element causes an internal stress state that leads to the desired elastic deformation.

[0024] Advantageously, the rotor blade and / or the cleaning element comprises a metallic structure made of a bimetal and / or a shape-memory alloy. The cleaning element can then be actuated, in particular, by preferably resistive heating of the metallic structure or by cooling it due to the airflow.

[0025] It is further advantageous if the cleaning element includes a cleaning lip, and the cleaning lip is integrally molded onto the rotor blade using a multi-component process. In particular, the rotor blade and the cleaning lip can be manufactured together using injection molding or 3D printing processes with different starting materials, with the cleaning lip being elastically deformable and the rotor blade being rigid. Integrating the manufacturing of the cleaning lip into the rotor blade manufacturing process further simplifies production.

[0026] Advantageously, the propulsion system comprises a number of crawler tracks, and in this case, preferably also associated guide wheels or similar devices for moving the crawler tracks. While rollers can also be used to propel the base body along a vehicle windshield, crawler tracks often offer better grip, especially on smooth and / or dirty windshields. Furthermore, crawler tracks are particularly adaptable to the curvature of curved windshields, which are frequently found on motor vehicles.

[0027] In another advantageous embodiment, the windscreen cleaning robot comprises a plurality of vacuum motors, each of which in turn has at least one cleaning element arranged on a movable element of the respective vacuum motor. This cleaning element is configured to transfer the mechanical cleaning power to the windscreen, particularly above the operating point of the vacuum motor. In other words, the base body has several vacuum motors and thus, preferably on its underside, corresponding rotors with their respective rotor blades, with cleaning elements for mechanical cleaning being arranged on at least some of the movable elements of the vacuum motors.

[0028] For example, the windshield cleaning robot can have three, four, or five vacuum motors with their associated rotors on the underside of the base body, wherein cleaning elements of the type described above are arranged on at least one, preferably several, and particularly preferably all of the rotors. In particular, with four (or five) vacuum motors, only two (or one) of the rotors can have cleaning elements on the rotor blades, and the remaining two (or four) rotors are used solely to generate the suction force.

[0029] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The drawings schematically depict:

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a lower oblique view of a windshield cleaning robot designed for vehicle windshields with cleaning elements on the rotor blades of a vacuum motor.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of the rotor blades equipped with cleaning elements according to Fig. 1, and

[0032] Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a window cleaning robot with four vacuum motors and associated cleaning elements, in a lower oblique view compared to Fig. 1.

[0033] Corresponding parts and sizes are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures.

[0034] Figure 1 schematically depicts a windshield cleaning robot 1 for vehicle windshields in a lower oblique view. The robot has a base body 4 enclosed by a housing 2. On a lower surface 6 of the housing 2, defined with respect to the normal direction of a vehicle windshield (not shown) during operation of the windshield cleaning robot 1, the housing 4 has a substantially square inlet opening 10. A vacuum motor 12 is integrated into this opening. During operation of the windshield cleaning robot 1, the vacuum motor 12 is configured to generate a contact force that draws or pushes the windshield cleaning robot 1 against the normal direction of the vehicle windshield. In the illustration of Figure 1, essentially only a rotor 14 of the vacuum motor 12 is visible, while other motor components, particularly electrical ones, are concealed within the housing 2 and are therefore not shown.Furthermore, the housing 2 has an outlet opening (not shown) on an upper surface 16 facing away from the perspective shown in Figure 1. This outlet opening is fluidically connected to the inlet opening 10, forming an air duct in which the rotor 14 is arranged. An airflow generated by the vacuum motor 12 can be directed through this air duct to the upper surface 16, creating a vacuum on the underside 6. This vacuum draws the base body 4, and thus the windshield cleaning robot 1, against a vehicle windshield, even if the windshield is in a vertical or nearly vertical position.

[0035] Propulsion means 19 are arranged on the side surfaces 18 of the housing 2. These propulsion means comprise crawler tracks 20a, 20b and associated guide wheels 22a, 22b, wherein the crawler tracks 20a, 20b can each be operated via the guide wheels 22a, 22b. The propulsion means 19 are designed to move the windshield cleaning robot 1 along a vehicle windshield, including curved ones, during operation. Independent movements of the crawler tracks 20a, 20b also allow the robot to navigate curves and turns on the vehicle windshield.

[0036] The rotor 14 of the vacuum motor 12 has a plurality of rotor blades 24, at the edges of which cleaning elements 26 in the form of actuable cleaning lips 28 are arranged. In the present embodiment shown in Figure 1, the cleaning lips 28 are arranged in such a way that, in a rest state of the rotor, they do not reach the plane formed by the caterpillar tracks 20a, 20b on the underside 6, and thus would not touch a vehicle window on which the window cleaning robot is mounted.

[0037] During operation of the windshield cleaning robot 1, the vacuum motor 12 first sets the rotor 14 in rotation (around an axis of rotation parallel to the normal direction 8), so that a contact force is generated by the airflow thus produced. This force acts on the windshield cleaning robot 1, which is positioned on a vehicle windshield (not shown), against the normal direction of the vehicle windshield, thus pressing it against the windshield. If the rotational speed of the rotor 14 is sufficiently high or the resulting contact force is sufficiently large, the cleaning lips 28 arranged on the rotor blades 24 of the rotor 14 are activated so that they now reach the plane mentioned above and thus come into contact with a vehicle windshield to which the windshield cleaning robot is attached as a result of the contact force.This allows the cleaning lips 28 to transfer a mechanical cleaning action to the vehicle window, so that it can be mechanically cleaned by passing or scrubbing the cleaning lips 28 past it.

[0038] Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the rotor 14 of the vacuum motor 12 according to Figure 1 in the inlet opening 10 on the underside 6 of the housing 2. The cleaning lips 28 are arranged in a rotationally symmetrical manner on the axially outer edges of the rotor blades 24, and can be seen here in the erected state (i.e., at a sufficiently high rotational speed of the rotor 14).

[0039] Figure 3 schematically depicts a lower oblique view of a windshield cleaning robot 1 according to an alternative embodiment to that shown in Figure 1. The windshield cleaning robot 1 according to Figure 3 has four vacuum motors 12, the rotors 14 of which are each arranged in corresponding inlet openings 10 on the underside 6 of the housing 2. Cleaning lips 28 are arranged on the rotor blades 24 of each of the rotors 14 in a manner analogous to the embodiment shown in Figure 1. The air channels starting at the individual inlet openings 10 can lead separately to individual outlet openings (not shown) on the upper side 16 of the housing 2, or they can be combined within the housing 2 to form a common air channel with a single outlet opening. The detailed design depends in particular on details of the flow guidance and the available space in the base body 4.The descriptions relating to Figure 1 essentially apply to the functioning of the cleaning lips 28 of the four rotors 14 according to Figure 3.

[0040] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiment, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. List of reference numerals

[0041] Windscreen cleaning robot

[0042] Housing

[0043] basic body

[0044] Underside (of the case)

[0045] Inlet opening

[0046] Vacuum motor

[0047] rotor

[0048] Top

[0049] side surface

[0050] Propulsion means a / b Crawler tracks a / b Guide wheels

[0051] Rotor blades

[0052] Cleaning elements

[0053] Cleaning lips

Claims

Patent claims 1. Windscreen cleaning robot (1) for vehicle windscreens, comprising a base body (4), propulsion means (19) attached to the base body (4) which are arranged to propel the base body (4) along a windscreen of a vehicle, at least one vacuum motor (12) arranged in and / or on the base body (4) which is arranged to generate a contact force of the base body (4) against a windscreen, and at least one cleaning element (26) which is arranged on a movable element of the vacuum motor (12) and which is arranged to transmit a mechanical cleaning power to a windscreen on which the windscreen cleaning robot (1) is located, at least above an operating point of the vacuum motor (12).

2. Windscreen cleaning robot (1) according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum motor (12) as said movable element comprises a rotor (14) with a number of rotor blades (24).

3. Windscreen cleaning robot (1) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one cleaning element (26) is arranged on a rotor blade (24).

4. Windscreen cleaning robot (1) according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said operating point is given as a minimum speed of the rotor (14), and wherein the vacuum motor (12) is configured to transmit the mechanical cleaning power to the windscreen only above the minimum speed.

5. A window cleaning robot according to claims 1 to 3, further comprising a vertical actuator, wherein the cleaning element (26) is configured to transfer the mechanical cleaning power to a window by means of an active movement of the vertical actuator.

6. Windscreen cleaning robot (1) according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the rotor blade (24) and / or the cleaning element (26) comprises an elastic and / or bi-elastic structure which is configured to be actuated by means of an aerodynamic force and / or a centrifugal graft.

7. Disc cleaning robot (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the rotor blade (24) and / or the cleaning element (26) comprises a metallic structure with a bi-metal and / or a shape memory alloy.

8. Windscreen cleaning robot (1) according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the cleaning element (26) comprises a cleaning lip (28), and wherein the cleaning lip (28) is formed on the rotor blade (24) by means of a multi-component process.

9. Disc cleaning robot (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the propulsion means (19) comprise a number of crawler tracks (20a, 20b).

10. Windscreen cleaning robot (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of vacuum motors (12), wherein at least a number of the vacuum motors (12) each have at least one cleaning element (26) arranged on a movable element, which is each configured to transfer the mechanical cleaning power to the windscreen.

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