Auxiliary Wheel Mechanism for Stable Floor Cleaner Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning machines for large surfaces, such as floors, require manual inclination and lifting of the cleaning organ during transfer, making it cumbersome to move while maintaining the cleaning organ raised and the frame stable.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of an auxiliary rest means, including a small pirouetting wheel and a stem with a groove system, allowing the frame to oscillate and adjust the position of the cleaning organ relative to the ground, enabling the machine to transition seamlessly between maneuvering and cleaning configurations without manual effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cleaning machine is pushed manually during transfer, then the machine can be moved without active systems, but the cleaning organ must be manually raised and the frame kept inclined, increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The passive wheel automatically performs the function of supporting the frame during transfer without requiring active control systems. The wheel's presence alone enables the frame to self-adjust to the inclined position needed for raising the cleaning organ, eliminating the need for manual inclination maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The passive wheel acts as an intermediary element between the frame and the ground, providing a mechanical advantage that automatically positions the frame in the correct inclined orientation during transfer, thereby simplifying the overall operation
2Ease of operation
If the cleaning organ is raised from the ground during transfer, then the machine can be moved more easily, but the frame requires manual inclination which increases operational effort
Solution Approach 1:
The passive wheel provides a mechanical counterbalance system where the weight distribution and wheel contact point create a natural fulcrum, reducing the force required to raise the cleaning organ by leveraging the frame's own weight and geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves a quasi-equilibrium state during transfer where the frame's inclination and the cleaning organ's raised position are maintained with minimal force input, as the passive wheel creates a stable configuration that balances the gravitational forces acting on the system
3Productivity
If the frame rests on wheels during cleaning, then the machine can be easily positioned, but during transfer the cleaning organ must be manually raised maintaining frame inclination
Solution Approach 1:
The passive wheel system enables dynamic adaptation of the frame's position during transfer, automatically adjusting the inclination angle as the machine is moved, thereby maintaining optimal configuration without requiring static manual adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The passive wheel serves multiple functions: it supports the frame during both cleaning and transfer operations, automatically manages the cleaning organ's position during transfer, and provides mechanical advantage for raising/lowering the cleaning organ, thereby eliminating the need for separate manual adjustment mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning machine for cleaning surfaces, including a support frame holding a rotary cleaning organ to clean the desired surface, first rest for the support frame, auxiliary rest wheel of the support frame movable into assume first and second positions in which it is raised and lowered, respectively, the auxiliary wheel being positioned at a base of a stem slidable in a bushing associated to the support frame with the axis perpendicular to the support frame between a first raised position and a second lowered position. The stem includes a groove defined on a surface thereof and the bushing includes a pin projecting internally thereof and able to slide in the groove. The groove includes first and second upper cusps proximal to the end of the stem that is distal from the wheel, the first and second upper cusps being alternated with first and second lower cusps directed towards the end of the stem proximal to the wheel.