Four-way connector, drainage system, cleaning device and cleaning system

Abstract

Provided are a four-way connector (1), a drainage system, a cleaning device and a cleaning system. The four-way connector (1) comprises a main pipe (11), a first branch pipe (12), and a second branch pipe (13). The main pipe (11) comprises a first pipe port (111), a second pipe port (112), and a third pipe port (113). A partition portion (114) is provided inside the main pipe, and the partition portion (114) separates the first pipe port (111) from the third pipe port (113). The first branch pipe (12) and the second branch pipe (13) are both in communication with the main pipe (11) by means of the third pipe port (113). The four-way connector (1) optimizes the connection structure of a piping system in a cleaning device, and improves the structural rationality of the piping.

Description

Four-way connectors, drainage systems, cleaning equipment and cleaning systems Cross-references to related applications

[0001] This disclosure claims priority to Chinese patent applications No. 202411637998.6, No. 202411637999.0, No. 202411639016.7, and No. 202411639016.7, filed on November 15, 2024, and No. 202521206052.4, filed on June 12, 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of electrical technology, and more particularly to a four-way connector, a drainage system, a cleaning device, and a cleaning system. Background Technology

[0003] With the development of smart homes, various cleaning devices have been widely used in households, reducing people's cleaning burden. In related technologies, cleaning devices include multiple cleaning modules with different cleaning functions. Each module has a sewage discharge requirement and is equipped with its own sewage discharge pipe. To achieve unified sewage discharge management, multiple T-joints are generally used to connect the sewage discharge pipes of each module to the main sewage discharge pipe. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a four-way connector, a drainage system, a cleaning device, and a cleaning system, aiming to optimize the connection structure of the pipeline system in the cleaning device and improve the structural rationality of the cleaning device.

[0005] An embodiment of the first aspect of this disclosure provides a four-way connector, comprising: a main pipe including a first port, a second port and a third port, the main pipe having a partition portion that separates the first port and the third port; a first branch pipe connected to the main pipe and communicating with the third port; and a second branch pipe connected to the main pipe and communicating with the third port.

[0006] In some embodiments, a first branch pipe is disposed on a main pipe, and a second branch pipe is disposed on a first branch pipe.

[0007] In some embodiments, the first branch pipe is vertically disposed on the main pipe, and / or the second branch pipe is obliquely disposed on the first branch pipe.

[0008] In some embodiments, the four-way connector includes a mounting plate disposed on the main pipe for connecting external components.

[0009] In some embodiments, a mounting plate is disposed on the side of the main pipe facing the first branch pipe and is arranged parallel to the main pipe, with the first branch pipe passing through the mounting plate.

[0010] In some embodiments, along the extension direction of the main pipe, the first branch pipe and the mounting plate are located in the middle of the main pipe.

[0011] In some embodiments, the four-way connector includes two mounting plates spaced apart, with a clamping gap between the two mounting plates.

[0012] In some embodiments, at least one mounting plate is provided with mounting holes for mounting fasteners.

[0013] In some embodiments, the edge of the partition is connected to the inner wall of the main pipe, the third port is located between the first port and the second port, one end of the partition is flush with the second port, and the other end of the partition is located between the first port and the third port.

[0014] An embodiment of the second aspect of this disclosure provides a drainage system for use in a cleaning device. The drainage system includes a four-way connector, a first drain pipe, a second drain pipe, an overflow pipe, and a sewage pipe as described in any embodiment of the first aspect. The first drain pipe is used to connect the clothing cleaning module of the cleaning device to a first pipe opening. The second drain pipe is used to connect the base station module of the cleaning device to a first branch pipe. The overflow pipe is used to connect the base station module and the second branch pipe of the cleaning device. The sewage pipe is connected to the second pipe opening.

[0015] An embodiment of the third aspect of this disclosure provides a cleaning device, comprising: a housing; a clothing cleaning module disposed in the housing, including a first drain pipe; a base station module disposed in the housing, including a sewage tank, a clean water tank, a second drain pipe, and an overflow pipe, wherein the second drain pipe is connected to the sewage tank and the overflow pipe is connected to the clean water tank; a sewage pipe disposed in the housing for discharging waste from the cleaning device; and a four-way connector as described in any embodiment of the first aspect, wherein a first port is connected to the first drain pipe, a second port is connected to the sewage pipe, a first branch pipe is connected to the second drain pipe, and the second branch pipe is connected to the overflow pipe.

[0016] In some embodiments, the enclosure includes a rear panel, a sewage pipe, a four-way connector and at least a portion of a first drain pipe disposed on the outer wall of the rear panel, and a second drain pipe and an overflow pipe disposed inside the enclosure.

[0017] In some embodiments, the four-way connector includes two mounting plates disposed on the main pipe, the two mounting plates being respectively clamped on the inner and outer sides of the rear panel, the main pipe being connected to the mounting plate on the outer side of the rear panel, a first branch pipe passing through the rear panel and the two mounting plates and extending into the interior of the housing, and a second branch pipe being connected to the first branch pipe and located inside the housing.

[0018] An embodiment of the fourth aspect of this disclosure provides a cleaning system including a ground cleaning device and a cleaning device as described in any embodiment of the first aspect, wherein the ground cleaning device can be housed within the compartment of a base station module. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the four-way connector provided in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0021] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the four-way connector shown in Figure 1.

[0022] Figure 3 is a top view of the four-way connector shown in Figure 1.

[0023] Figure 4 is a rear view of the four-way connector shown in Figure 1.

[0024] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cleaning equipment provided in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0025] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the cleaning equipment shown in Figure 5 after the housing has been removed.

[0026] Figure 7 is a rear view of the cleaning equipment shown in Figure 5.

[0027] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cleaning equipment shown in Figure 5 after the partial removal of the housing.

[0028] Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the structure shown in Figure 8, A.

[0029] Reference numerals: 1000, Cleaning equipment; 100, Clothing cleaning module; 200, Base station module; 1, Four-way connector; 11, Main pipe; 111, First pipe opening; 112, Second pipe opening; 113, Third pipe opening; 114, Divider; 115, First channel; 116, Second channel; 12, First branch pipe; 13, Second branch pipe; 14, Mounting plate; 141, Clamping gap; 142, Mounting hole; 21, First drain pipe; 22, Second drain pipe; 23, Overflow pipe; 24, Sewage pipe; 3, Box body; 31, Back panel; 4, Cleaning cylinder; 51, Chamber body; 52, Sewage tank. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this disclosure clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0031] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.

[0032] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this disclosure, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise expressly specified.

[0033] In this disclosure, references to "one embodiment," "some embodiments," or "embodiment" mean that one or more embodiments of this disclosure include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, phrases such as "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. Furthermore, in one or more embodiments, specific features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner.

[0034] The cleaning equipment includes a laundry cleaning module and a base station module. The laundry cleaning module is used to wash or dry clothes, while the base station module houses floor cleaning devices such as sweepers. The laundry cleaning module requires wastewater discharge during operation and is equipped with an independent wastewater discharge pipeline. The base station module requires both wastewater discharge and water replenishment during operation and is equipped with independent wastewater discharge pipelines and overflow protection pipelines. To achieve unified wastewater management, existing technologies commonly use multiple T-joints to connect the wastewater discharge pipelines and overflow protection pipelines of each module to the main wastewater discharge pipe. However, this approach has significant drawbacks. First, the design of multiple T-joints increases the complexity of the piping system, and too many connection points may introduce sealing risks, affecting the reliability of the cleaning equipment's drainage system. Second, multiple T-joints occupy a large installation space, hindering the optimal layout of the equipment's internal space and reducing the integration of the cleaning equipment.

[0035] Currently, four-way connectors can be used to replace multiple three-way connectors to connect pipelines. However, existing four-way connectors have shortcomings. During use, they cannot achieve sewage isolation between multiple modules. This can cause whistling noises when each module operates independently due to different sewage discharge needs, which can affect the noise level of the cleaning equipment and thus the user experience.

[0036] This disclosure provides a four-way connector, a drainage system, a cleaning device, and a cleaning system, aiming to solve the technical problems in related technologies where setting multiple three-way connectors not only increases the complexity of the piping system but also occupies a large installation space, which is detrimental to the internal spatial layout of the cleaning device. The aim is to optimize the drainage pipe connection structure within the cleaning device, improving the structural rationality and product performance of the cleaning device.

[0037] Referring to Figures 1-4, an embodiment of the first aspect of this disclosure provides a four-way connector 1, including a main pipe 11, a first branch pipe 12, and a second branch pipe 13. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the main pipe 11 includes a first port 111, a second port 112, and a third port 113. The main pipe 11 has a partition 114 inside, which separates the first port 111 and the third port 113. The first branch pipe 12 is connected to the main pipe 11 and communicates with the third port 113. The second branch pipe 13 is connected to the main pipe 11 and communicates with the third port 113.

[0038] The main pipe 11 refers to the main pipe of the four-way connector 1. The main pipe 11 can be of various shapes and sizes. In some embodiments, the main pipe 11 can be cylindrical or prismatic. The cross-sectional shape of the channel inside the main pipe 11 can be circular, semi-circular, square or other irregular shapes. The main pipe 11 can also be a straight pipe or a curved pipe. The main pipe 11 can be made of various materials. In some embodiments, the main pipe 11 can be made of plastic or corrosion-resistant metal.

[0039] The first port 111 is located at one end of the main pipe 11 and can be used to connect the sewage pipe of the independent cleaning module and serve as a sewage inlet; the second port 112 is located at the other end of the main pipe 11 and can be used to connect the main sewage pipe and serve as a sewage outlet; the first port 111 and the second port 112 are connected, and a sewage flow channel is formed between the first port 111 and the second port 112; the third port 113 is located on the pipe wall of the main pipe 11 and can be used to connect the branch pipe so that the branch pipe is connected to the channel in the main pipe 11.

[0040] The dividing section 114 refers to a solid water-blocking rib structure disposed within the main pipe 11. In any case, the dividing section 114 and the pipe wall of the main pipe 11 can be an integral structure, or they can be separate structures assembled together by snap-fit, adhesive, or other methods. The dividing section 114 separates the first port 111 and the third port 113. This separation can be understood as the first port 111 and the third port 113 not being directly connected, and the fluid flow path from the first port 111 to the second port 112 does not pass through the third port 113. Understandably, in some cases, the dividing section 114 extends along the length of the main pipe 11, and can separate independent first channels 115 and second channels 116 within the main pipe 11. The first channels 115 and second channels 116 are used to form independent sewage discharge paths; wherein, the first channel 115 serves as the main channel within the main pipe 11 for sewage discharge, and the second channel 116 serves as a branch channel within the main pipe 11 for sewage discharge from the first branch pipe 12 and the second branch pipe 13.

[0041] The first branch pipe 12 refers to a branch pipe connected to the main pipe 11. The first branch pipe 12 can be of various shapes and sizes. In some embodiments, the first branch pipe 12 can be cylindrical or prismatic. The cross-sectional shape of the channel inside the first branch pipe 12 can be circular, semi-circular, square, or other irregular shapes. The first branch pipe 12 can also be a straight pipe or a curved pipe. The first branch pipe 12 can be made of various materials. In some embodiments, the first branch pipe 12 can be made of plastic or corrosion-resistant metal.

[0042] The second branch pipe 13 refers to a branch pipe provided on the main pipe 11. The second branch pipe 13 can be of various shapes and sizes. In some embodiments, the second branch pipe 13 can be cylindrical or prismatic. The cross-sectional shape of the channel inside the second branch pipe 13 can be circular, semi-circular, square or other irregular shapes. The second branch pipe 13 can also be a straight pipe or a curved pipe. The second branch pipe 13 can be made of various materials. In some embodiments, the second branch pipe 13 can be made of plastic or corrosion-resistant metal.

[0043] The four-way connector 1 provided in the above embodiment, by setting a main pipe 11 and connecting a first branch pipe 12 and a second branch pipe 13 to the main pipe 11, can realize the connection and convergence of four pipes. By setting a partition 114 inside the main pipe 11 to separate the first port 111 of the main pipe 11 and the third port 113 used to connect the branch pipes, it can prevent the fluid in the main pipe 11 from flowing back into the branch pipes and prevent the whistling when the fluid flows through the third port 113. The above-mentioned four-way connector 1 can be applied to drainage systems and cleaning equipment 1000. A single four-way connector 1 can replace multiple traditional connectors to realize complex pipe connections, thereby reducing the assembly difficulty of pipe connections, saving assembly space, and also optimizing the drainage and noise performance of the product.

[0044] Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, in some embodiments, the edge of the partition 114 is connected to the inner wall of the main pipe 11, the third port 113 is located between the first port 111 and the second port 112, one end of the partition 114 is flush with the second port 112, and the other end of the partition 114 is located between the first port 111 and the third port 113.

[0045] A first channel 115 is formed between the first port 111 and the second port 112, and a second channel 116 is formed between the third port 113 and the second port 112. The cross-sectional dimensions of the first channel 115 and the second channel 116 can be designed according to the actual situation. For example, in some cases, the four-way connector 1 is used in the cleaning equipment 1000, wherein the first channel 115 is used for drainage of the clothes cleaning module 100, and the second channel 116 is used for drainage of the base station module 200. The drainage requirement of the clothes cleaning module 100 is greater than that of the base station module 200, so the cross-sectional dimension of the first channel 115 is required to be no less than the cross-sectional dimension of the second channel 116.

[0046] In the above embodiments, by reasonably designing the partition 114, the spacing effect between the first port 111 and the third port 113 can be improved, thereby effectively reducing the mutual interference between the fluid flowing into the first port 111 and the fluid flowing into the third port 113, and further reducing the risk of whistling.

[0047] Referring to Figures 1 and 3, in some embodiments, the first branch pipe 12 is disposed on the main pipe 11, and the second branch pipe 13 is disposed on the first branch pipe 12.

[0048] The first branch pipe 12 and the main pipe 11 can be an integral structure, or they can be separate structures assembled together by means of threaded connection, welding, snap-fit, etc. The second branch pipe 13 and the first branch pipe 12 can be an integral structure, or they can be separate structures assembled together by means of threaded connection, welding, snap-fit, etc. As an example, the four-way connector 1 can be made of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and integrally molded by injection molding process.

[0049] In the above embodiment, the first branch pipe 12 is directly connected to the main pipe 11, and the second branch pipe 13 is directly connected to the first branch pipe 12, forming a two-stage confluence structure. When the first branch pipe 12 and the second branch pipe 13 discharge sewage at the same time, they can first mix into the same flow direction before flowing into the main pipe 11. This helps to reduce the impact of fluids when they converge in the main pipe 11, and further reduce noise and vibration problems. At the same time, this structure reduces the number of openings on the main pipe 11 (that is, the joints formed when the branch pipes are connected to the main pipe 11), and also helps to improve the structural strength of the main pipe 11, thereby improving the reliability of the four-way connector 1.

[0050] Understandably, in some other embodiments, the first branch pipe 12 and the second branch pipe 13 can be respectively disposed on the main pipe 11. The first branch pipe 12 / second branch pipe 13 and the main pipe 11 can be an integral structure, or they can be separate structures and assembled together by means of threaded connection, welding, snap-fit, etc.

[0051] Referring to Figures 1 and 3, in some embodiments, the first branch pipe 12 is vertically disposed on the main pipe 11.

[0052] The perpendicular arrangement of the first branch pipe 12 and the main pipe 11 can be understood as follows: at the connection point, the axes of the first branch pipe 12 and the main pipe 11 are perpendicular. As an example, both the first branch pipe 12 and the main pipe 11 are straight pipes, and the extension directions of the first branch pipe 12 and the main pipe 11 are perpendicular.

[0053] In the above embodiments, the first branch pipe 12 and the main pipe 11 are arranged vertically, which can effectively utilize the space on the side of the main pipe 11 and reduce the space occupied by the four-way connector 1. In addition, in some cases, the four-way connector 1 is used in the cleaning equipment 1000, and the sewage pipe connected to the first branch pipe 12 can be designed with a vertically distributed layout structure with the main pipe 11. This is conducive to improving the rationality of the layout of the sewage pipe in the cleaning equipment 1000 and improving the integration and space utilization efficiency of the components in the cleaning equipment 1000.

[0054] Understandably, in some other embodiments, the first branch pipe 12 may be disposed at an angle on the main pipe 11.

[0055] Referring to Figures 1 and 3, in some embodiments, the second branch pipe 13 is inclinedly disposed on the first branch pipe 12.

[0056] The inclined arrangement of the second branch pipe 13 and the first branch pipe 12 can be understood as follows: at the connection point, the axes of the second branch pipe 13 and the first branch pipe 12 intersect and form an acute or obtuse angle. As an example, both the second branch pipe 13 and the first branch pipe 12 are straight pipes, and their extension directions are not perpendicular.

[0057] The angle between the axes of the second branch pipe 13 and the first branch pipe 12 at the connection point can be 30°, 45°, or 60°, but is not limited to these.

[0058] In the above embodiments, by connecting the first branch pipe 12 and the second branch pipe 13 at an angle, the resistance and impact of fluid convergence at the connection between the first branch pipe 12 and the second branch pipe 13 can be reduced, thereby helping to further reduce noise and vibration problems during use.

[0059] Understandably, in some other embodiments, the second branch pipe 13 may be vertically disposed on the second branch pipe 13 or the main pipe 11.

[0060] Referring to Figures 1, 3 and 4, in some embodiments, the four-way connector 1 includes a mounting plate 14 disposed on the main pipe 11, the mounting plate 14 being used to connect external components.

[0061] Mounting plate 14 refers to the connection structure disposed on the four-way connector 1, mainly used to connect the four-way connector 1 to external components and to fix the position of the four-way connector 1. Mounting plate 14 can be of various shapes and sizes. In some embodiments, mounting plate 14 can be a square flat plate. Mounting plate 14 and main pipe 11 can be an integral structure, or they can be separate structures and assembled together by fastener connection, welding, snap-fit, etc.

[0062] As an example, external components can be structures such as the back panel, top panel, and mounting bracket in the cleaning equipment 1000.

[0063] In the above embodiments, by setting the mounting plate 14, the connection and fixation between the four-way connector 1 and the external components can be realized, which is beneficial to improving the reliability of the four-way connector 1. At the same time, the mounting plate 14 is directly integrated on the four-way connector 1, which is also beneficial to reduce the number of fixing parts.

[0064] Referring to Figures 1, 3, and 4, in some embodiments, the mounting plate 14 is disposed on the side of the main pipe 11 facing the first branch pipe 12 and is arranged side by side with the main pipe 11, and the first branch pipe 12 passes through the mounting plate 14.

[0065] The mounting plate 14 is located on the side of the main pipe 11 facing the first branch pipe 12. This can be understood as follows: with the axis of the main pipe 11 as a reference, the mounting plate 14 and the first branch pipe 12 are located on the same side of the main pipe 11.

[0066] The parallel arrangement of the mounting plate 14 and the main pipe 11 can be understood as the mounting plate 14 and the main pipe 11 being arranged in parallel. As an example, the mounting plate 14 is a flat plate with a certain thickness, the main pipe 11 is a branch pipe, and the normal of the mounting plate 14 is perpendicular to the axis of the main pipe 11.

[0067] The first branch pipe 12 passing through the mounting plate 14 can be understood as follows: the mounting plate 14 is provided with an opening that matches the outer diameter of the first branch pipe 12, and the first branch pipe 12 passes through the opening and is connected to the main pipe 11.

[0068] Regardless of the specific type, the mounting plate 14 can be connected to the first branch pipe 12 and the main pipe 11 via structures such as connecting ribs to enhance the fixing strength of the mounting plate 14 on the main pipe 11.

[0069] In the above embodiments, the mounting plate 14 is located at the position of the main pipe 11 for assembling the first branch pipe 12, which is beneficial to improve the integration of the four-way connector 1, thereby reducing the overall volume and space occupation of the four-way connector 1; at the same time, the mounting plate 14 connects the first branch pipe 12 and the main pipe 11, and can also help fix the first branch pipe 12, thereby improving the overall strength of the four-way connector 1.

[0070] Referring to Figures 2 and 4, in some embodiments, along the extension direction of the main pipe 11, the first branch pipe 12 and the mounting plate 14 are located in the middle of the main pipe 11.

[0071] As an example, the main pipe 11 is a straight pipe, and the first branch pipe 12 and the mounting plate 14 are connected at the middle position along the length of the main pipe 11.

[0072] Mounting plate 14 is used to connect external components and can fix and support four-way connector 1. In the above embodiment, mounting plate 14 is located in the middle of main pipe 11, which is beneficial to improve the stress on four-way connector 1 and make the supporting force on both ends of main pipe 11 more uniform, thereby improving the fixing effect and reliability of four-way connector 1.

[0073] Referring to Figures 1, 3, and 4, in some embodiments, the four-way connector 1 includes two mounting plates 14, which are spaced apart and form a clamping gap 141 between them.

[0074] As an example, the four-way connector 1 can be applied in a cleaning device 1000, which includes a housing 3, a back panel 31, and two mounting plates 14 that can be located on the inner and outer sides of the back panel 31 respectively, and the four-way connector 1 is fixed to the back panel 31 by clamping the back panel 31.

[0075] In the above embodiments, by setting the mounting plate 14 and improving the structure of the mounting plate 14, the difficulty of fixing the four-way connector 1 can be reduced and the assembly efficiency can be improved.

[0076] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the two mounting plates 14 are of different sizes. In a direction perpendicular to the thickness of the mounting plate 14, the mounting plate 14 farther from the main pipe 11 protrudes beyond the mounting plate 14 closer to the main pipe 11. For example, the top of the mounting plate 14 farther from the main pipe 11 is higher than the top of the mounting plate 14 closer to the main pipe 11.

[0077] In some cases, the four-way connector 1 is used in the cleaning equipment 1000 and installed on the rear panel 31 of the cleaning equipment 1000 housing 3. The mounting plate 14 away from the main pipe 11 abuts against the inner side of the rear panel 31, and the mounting plate 14 closer to the main pipe 11 abuts against the outer side of the rear panel 31. The rear panel 31 is provided with a through hole for the first branch pipe 12 to pass through. For ease of installation, the size of the through hole on the rear panel 31 is generally large. After the four-way connector 1 is snapped onto the rear panel 31, there may be an assembly gap between the top of the mounting plate 14 closer to the main pipe 11 and the rear panel 31. By increasing the height of the inner mounting plate 14, this gap can be sealed, reducing the risk of water leakage at the assembly position.

[0078] Referring to Figures 1 and 4, in some embodiments, at least one mounting plate 14 is provided with mounting holes 142 for mounting fasteners.

[0079] The shape, number, and location of the mounting holes 142 can vary. In some embodiments, the mounting holes 142 can be circular holes or U-shaped holes. There can be one, two, or more mounting holes 142, and the mounting holes 142 can be located in the middle or at the edge of the mounting plate 14. As an example, the four-way connector 1 includes two mounting plates 14, which are spaced apart on the side of the main pipe 11 near the first branch pipe 12. Two mounting holes 142 are provided on the mounting plate 14 near the main pipe 11. The mounting holes 142 are U-shaped holes with openings formed at the edge of the mounting plate 14.

[0080] Fasteners can be, but are not limited to, bolts and pins.

[0081] In the above embodiments, fasteners can be used to connect the mounting plate 14 to external components, thereby assisting in positioning the assembly position of the four-way connector 1 and improving the fixing effect of the four-way connector 1.

[0082] Referring to Figures 1 and 4, in some implementations, the outer walls of the main pipe 11, the first branch pipe 12, and the second branch pipe 13 may be provided with structures such as ribs to facilitate pipe connection.

[0083] In summary, this disclosure provides a novel four-way connector 1, which can be applied to drainage systems, cleaning equipment 1000 or other household equipment, and can replace multiple traditional connectors to achieve complex pipe connections. It can effectively reduce the assembly difficulty of pipe connections and save assembly space. Furthermore, by providing a partition 114 in the main pipe 11, the four-way connector 1 can effectively reduce the risk of backflow and whistling.

[0084] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, an embodiment of the second aspect of this disclosure provides a drainage system for a cleaning device 1000. The drainage system includes a four-way connector 1, a first drain pipe 21, a second drain pipe 22, an overflow pipe 23, and a sewage pipe 24, as described in any embodiment of the first aspect. The first drain pipe 21 connects the clothing cleaning module 100 of the cleaning device 1000 to the first port 111. The second drain pipe 22 connects the base station module 200 of the cleaning device 1000 to the first branch pipe 12. The overflow pipe 23 connects the base station module 200 and the second branch pipe 13. The sewage pipe 24 is connected to the second port 112.

[0085] The cleaning device 1000 can be a multifunctional household cleaning product that integrates clothing cleaning and floor cleaning functions. As an example, the cleaning device 1000 includes a clothing cleaning module 100 and a base station module 200. The clothing cleaning module 100 includes a cleaning cylinder 4, a first drain pipe 21 connected to the cleaning cylinder 4 and used to discharge the dirt from the cleaning cylinder 4. The base station module 200 includes a housing 51, a wastewater tank 52, and a clean water tank. The housing 51 is used to house the floor cleaning device. A second drain pipe 22 is connected to the wastewater tank 52 and used to discharge the dirt from the wastewater tank 52. An overflow pipe 23 is connected to the clean water tank and used to discharge excess water from the clean water tank.

[0086] The four-way connector 1 includes a main pipe 11, a first branch pipe 12, and a second branch pipe 13. The main pipe 11 includes a first port 111 and a second port 112. The first port 111 can be used to connect to the first sewage pipe 21, and the second port 112 can be used to connect to the sewage pipe 24. The first branch pipe 12 can be used to connect to the second sewage pipe 22, and the second branch pipe 13 can be used to connect to the clean water pipe. Waste from the first sewage pipe 21 enters the first channel 115 through the first port 111 and is discharged to the sewage pipe 24 through the second port 112. Waste from the second sewage pipe 22 enters the second channel 116 of the main pipe 11 through the first branch pipe 12 and is discharged to the sewage pipe 24 through the second port 112. Waste from the overflow pipe 23 enters the second channel 116 of the main pipe 11 through the second branch pipe 13 and is discharged to the sewage pipe 24 through the second port 112. The first sewage pipe 21, the second sewage pipe 22, and the overflow pipe 23 can operate independently.

[0087] In the above embodiments, the four-way connector 1 is used to connect the first sewage pipe 21, the second sewage pipe 22, the overflow pipe 23, and the sewage pipe 24, which can realize the connection and convergence of the four pipes. Compared with the traditional connection method of using multiple three-way connectors, the assembly structure of this pipe connection is simple and the assembly difficulty is low. In addition, due to the reduction of connection points and the number of accessories, the compactness and reliability of the drainage system structure can be improved. Furthermore, the main pipe 11 of the four-way connector 1 is provided with a partition 114, which can effectively reduce the risk of backflow and whistling, thereby improving the drainage and noise performance of the drainage system.

[0088] Referring to Figures 5-9, an embodiment of the third aspect of this disclosure provides a cleaning device 1000, including a housing 3, a clothes cleaning module 100, a base station module 200, and a four-way connector 1 as described in the embodiments of the first aspect. The clothes cleaning module 100 is located in the housing 3 and includes a first drain pipe 21. The base station module 200 is located in the housing 3 and includes a wastewater tank 52, a clean water tank (not shown), a second drain pipe 22, and an overflow pipe 23. The second drain pipe 22 is connected to the wastewater tank 52, and the overflow pipe 23 is connected to the clean water tank. The wastewater pipe 24 is located in the housing 3 and is used to discharge waste from the cleaning device 1000. The first port 111 of the four-way connector 1 is connected to the first drain pipe 21, the second port 112 is connected to the wastewater pipe 24, the first branch pipe 12 is connected to the second drain pipe 22, and the second branch pipe 13 is connected to the overflow pipe 23.

[0089] Referring to Figure 5, the housing 3 refers to the outer shell structure of the cleaning equipment 1000. The housing 3 can have various shapes and sizes; in some embodiments, it can be cubic, cylindrical, etc. The housing 3 is generally made of a high-strength material; in some embodiments, it is generally made of plastic, metal, etc. Indiscriminately, the housing 3 may include structures such as a door, top plate, back plate, and bottom plate. The interior of the housing 3 has a storage space for accommodating and securing some or all components of the clothing cleaning module 100 and the base station module 200, as well as for assembling various drainage or water inlet pipes.

[0090] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the clothes cleaning module 100 refers to the module in the cleaning equipment 1000 used for washing or drying clothes. The clothes cleaning module 100 can be, but is not limited to, a drum washing machine, a top-loading washing machine, a dryer, etc. As an example, the clothes cleaning module 100 can be a drum washing machine, including a cleaning drum 4, a first drain pipe 21, and a water inlet pipe; one end of the first drain pipe 21 is connected to the cleaning drum 4 and is used to discharge dirt from the cleaning drum 4.

[0091] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the base station module 200 refers to the module in the cleaning equipment 1000 used to implement the floor cleaning function. The base station module 200 may include a housing 51, a wastewater tank 52, a second drain pipe 22, a clean water tank, and an overflow pipe 23. The housing 51 is used to house the floor cleaning device; in some embodiments, the housing 51 is used to house a sweeper. The wastewater tank 52 is used to temporarily store the dirt generated during the self-cleaning process of the floor cleaning device. One end of the second drain pipe 22 is connected to the wastewater tank 52 to discharge the dirt from the wastewater tank 52. The clean water tank is used to store the washing water of the floor cleaning device. One end of the overflow pipe 23 is connected to the clean water tank to quickly drain the water when the water level in the clean water tank exceeds a safety threshold.

[0092] The clothing cleaning module 100 and the base station module 200 can be assembled in various ways within the housing 3. In some embodiments, the two modules can be arranged vertically along the height of the housing 3, with the clothing cleaning module 100 positioned above the base station module 200.

[0093] Referring to Figures 2, 8, and 9, the sewage pipe 24 is the main sewage pipe of the cleaning equipment 1000, which can collect the waste generated during the use of the cleaning equipment 1000 and discharge it to the outside of the cleaning equipment 1000. In any case, the end of the sewage pipe 24 extending out of the cleaning equipment 1000 can be used to connect to a sewer pipe.

[0094] The first drain pipe 21, the second drain pipe 22, the overflow pipe 23, and the sewage pipe 24 are connected by a four-way connector 1. The first drain pipe 21, the first channel 115 of the main pipe 11, and the sewage pipe 24 are connected to form the drain path of the clothes cleaning module 100. The second drain pipe 22, the first branch pipe 12, the second channel 116 of the main pipe 11, and the sewage pipe 24 are connected to form the drain path of the sewage tank 52 in the base station module 200. The overflow pipe 23, the second branch pipe 13, the second channel 116 of the main pipe 11, and the sewage pipe 24 are connected to form the drain path of the clean water tank in the base station module 200.

[0095] In the above embodiments, by using the four-way connector 1 in any embodiment of the first aspect to connect the first sewage pipe 21, the second sewage pipe 22, the overflow pipe 23 and the sewage pipe 24, the connection and convergence of multiple sewage pipes and overflow pipes 23 in the cleaning equipment 1000 can be realized. This design effectively simplifies the assembly structure of the drainage system in the cleaning equipment 1000, helps to reduce the assembly difficulty of the drainage system and optimize the structural layout of each component in the cleaning equipment 1000, thereby improving the structural rationality of the cleaning equipment 1000. At the same time, by setting a partition 114 inside the main pipe 11, the four-way connector 1 can effectively reduce the risk of backflow and howling, thereby improving the drainage and noise performance of the cleaning equipment 1000.

[0096] Referring to Figures 6, 7, and 8, in some embodiments, the housing 3 includes a back panel 31, a sewage pipe 24, a four-way connector 1, and at least a portion of a first drain pipe 21 disposed on the outer wall of the back panel 31, and a second drain pipe 22 and an overflow pipe 23 disposed inside the housing 3.

[0097] The back panel 31 refers to the back panel of the housing 3, which is mainly used to support the structure of the housing 3, and can be used to install and fix various functional components of the cleaning equipment 1000 or inlet and outlet pipes, etc.

[0098] The sewage pipe 24, the four-way connector 1 and the first sewage pipe 21 can be fixedly installed on the back panel 31 by means of snap-fit ​​or fastener connection.

[0099] In the above embodiments, the sewage pipe 24, the four-way connector 1, and at least part of the first sewage pipe 21 are located on the outer wall of the back panel 31, which can effectively utilize the external space of the box 3 and reduce the space occupied inside the box 3, thereby making the structure of the cleaning equipment 1000 more compact; at the same time, when the pipeline has problems such as blockage or leakage, it is convenient to carry out inspection, disassembly and replacement, thereby reducing the maintenance difficulty of the cleaning equipment 1000.

[0100] Referring to Figures 3, 8, and 9, in some embodiments, the four-way connector 1 includes two mounting plates 14 disposed on the main pipe 11. The two mounting plates 14 are respectively clamped on the inner and outer sides of the back panel 31. The main pipe 11 is connected to the mounting plate 14 on the outer side of the back panel 31. The first branch pipe 12 passes through the back panel 31 and the two mounting plates 14 and extends into the interior of the housing 3.

[0101] In the above embodiments, by fixing the four-way connector 1 to the back plate 31, the reliability of the four-way connector 1 can be improved and the risk of the four-way connector 1 becoming detached from the connecting pipeline can be reduced. In addition, by improving the structure of the four-way connector 1, the assembly difficulty between the four-way connector 1 and the back plate 31 can be reduced and the assembly efficiency can be improved.

[0102] In summary, the cleaning equipment 1000 provided in this disclosure can optimize the structural layout of the components within the cleaning equipment 1000, improve the structural rationality of the cleaning equipment 1000, and improve the product performance of the cleaning equipment 1000 by connecting multiple sewage pipes and overflow pipes 23 using the four-way connector 1 in any embodiment of the first aspect.

[0103] An embodiment of the fourth aspect of this disclosure provides a cleaning system including a ground cleaning device and a cleaning device 1000 as described in the embodiments of the third aspect, wherein the ground cleaning device can be housed within the housing 51 of the base station module 200.

[0104] The cleaning assembly provided in this disclosure can optimize the structural layout of each component in the cleaning assembly, improve the structural rationality of the cleaning assembly, and improve the product performance of the cleaning assembly by using the four-way connector 1 in any embodiment of the first aspect to connect multiple sewage pipes and overflow pipes 23.

[0105] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure, and are not intended to limit it. Although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, and should all be included within the protection scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A four-way junction, characterized in that include: The main pipe includes a first port, a second port and a third port, and the main pipe has a partition that separates the first port and the third port. The first branch pipe is connected to the main pipe and communicates with the third pipe opening; The second branch pipe is connected to the main pipe and communicates with the third pipe opening.

2. The four-way junction of claim 1, wherein, The first branch pipe is located on the main pipe, and the second branch pipe is located on the first branch pipe.

3. The four-way junction of claim 2, wherein, The first branch pipe is vertically disposed on the main pipe, and / or the second branch pipe is obliquely disposed on the first branch pipe.

4. The four-way junction of any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The four-way connector includes a mounting plate disposed on the main pipe, the mounting plate being used to connect external components.

5. The four-way junction of claim 4, wherein, The mounting plate is located on the side of the main pipe facing the first branch pipe and is arranged side by side with the main pipe, with the first branch pipe passing through the mounting plate.

6. The four-way junction of any one of claims 4-5, wherein, Along the extension direction of the main pipe, the first branch pipe and the mounting plate are located in the middle of the main pipe.

7. The four-way junction of any one of claims 4-6, wherein, The four-way connector includes two mounting plates, which are spaced apart and form a clamping gap between them.

8. The four-way junction of any one of claims 4-7, wherein, At least one of the mounting plates is provided with mounting holes for mounting fasteners.

9. The four-way cross according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein, The edge of the partition is connected to the inner wall of the main pipe, the third pipe opening is located between the first pipe opening and the second pipe opening, one end of the partition is flush with the second pipe opening, and the other end of the partition is located between the first pipe opening and the third pipe opening.

10. A drainage system characterised in that, Used in cleaning equipment, including a four-way connector as described in any one of claims 1-9, a first drain pipe, a second drain pipe, an overflow pipe, and a sewage pipe, wherein the first drain pipe is used to connect the clothing cleaning module of the cleaning equipment and the first pipe opening, the second drain pipe is used to connect the base station module of the cleaning equipment and the first branch pipe, the overflow pipe is used to connect the base station module of the cleaning equipment and the second branch pipe, and the sewage pipe is connected to the second pipe opening.

11. A cleaning apparatus, characterized by include: Box; A clothing cleaning module, located in the housing, includes a first drain pipe; A base station module, located in the enclosure, includes a sewage tank, a clean water tank, a second sewage pipe, and an overflow pipe. The second sewage pipe is connected to the sewage tank, and the overflow pipe is connected to the clean water tank. A sewage pipe, located in the housing, is used to discharge waste from the cleaning equipment; and The four-way connector as described in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the first port is connected to the first drain pipe, the second port is connected to the sewage pipe, the first branch pipe is connected to the second drain pipe, and the second branch pipe is connected to the overflow pipe.

12. The cleaning apparatus of claim 11, wherein, The enclosure includes a back panel, the sewage pipe, the four-way connector and at least part of the first sewage pipe are located on the outer wall of the back panel, and the second sewage pipe and the overflow pipe are located inside the enclosure.

13. The cleaning apparatus of claim 12, wherein, The four-way connector includes two mounting plates disposed on the main pipe, the two mounting plates being respectively clamped on the inner and outer sides of the rear panel, the main pipe being connected to the mounting plate on the outer side of the rear panel, the first branch pipe passing through the rear panel and the two mounting plates and extending into the interior of the housing, and the second branch pipe being connected to the first branch pipe and located inside the housing.

14. A cleaning system characterized by, A floor cleaning device comprising a cleaning apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11-13, said floor cleaning device being receivable within a sump of said base module.

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