Base station and cleaning system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Water in the water inlet channel of a clean water tank in cleaning apparatus base stations tends to leak when the external pipeline is removed, and existing systems lack effective mechanisms to prevent sewage backflow and impurity blockage in sewage discharge.

Innovation Solution

A water tank assembly with one-way valves in the water inlet and sewage channels, and a pumping and drainage system using a gas source to create negative and positive pressure states for automatic fluid management, eliminating the need for power devices and reducing complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the external pipeline is connected to the clean water tank for automatic water supply, then the convenience for users is improved, but water leakage occurs when the external pipeline is removed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic water supply convenienceVSAvoidwater leakage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A one-way valve is introduced as an intermediary component in the water inlet channel. This valve allows water to flow from the external pipeline into the clean water cavity during normal operation, but automatically closes to prevent water from flowing back out when the external pipeline is removed, thus resolving the leakage issue while maintaining automatic supply convenience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the sewage tank uses a simple open channel structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but sewage backflow and impurity blockage occur during discharge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesewage discharge structureVSAvoidsewage discharge reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A one-way valve is installed in the sewage discharge channel as an intermediary control mechanism. During sewage discharge, the valve opens to allow sewage to flow out through the sewage cavity. When discharge is complete, the valve automatically closes to prevent impurities and sewage from flowing back into the channel, ensuring reliable discharge without requiring complex filtration or blocking structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Prevents water leakage and sewage backflow, simplifies the system, reduces the risk of impeller damage, and enhances user experience by automating fluid handling without the need for power devices.

Implementation Method 1

a one-way valve arranged in the water inlet channel, the one-way valve has a first state and a second state, when the one-way valve is in the first state, water in the external pipeline is allowed to flow to the clean water cavity; when the one-way valve is in the second state, water in the clean water cavity is restricted to flow out along the water inlet channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOne-way valve mechanism: Valve

Implementation Method 2

the sewage cavity is configured to receive the sewage coming through the water inlet channel under a negative pressure inside the sewage cavity introduced by an external air source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure suction: Suction

Implementation Method 3

the tank body is provided with a water inlet channel and a sewage discharging channel both communicating with the sewage cavity; the sewage cavity is configured to receive the sewage coming through the water inlet channel under a negative pressure inside the sewage cavity introduced by an external air source, and is configured to discharge the sewage through the sewage discharging channel under a positive pressure inside the sewage cavity introduced by the external air source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPositive pressure discharge: Pressurisation

Implementation Method 4

a one-way valve arranged in the water inlet channel, when the sewage cavity is in a positive pressure state, the one-way valve is in a closed state, and when the sewage cavity is in a negative pressure state, the one-way valve is in an open state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-activated valve closure: Valve

Data Source

PatentEP4154787B1Base station and cleaning system
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 YUNJING INTELLIGENCE (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP4154787B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4154787B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4154787B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a water tank assembly including a tank body and a one-way valve. The tank body is defined with a clean water cavity which is communicated with an external pipeline through a water inlet channel, and the external pipeline is capable of transporting water to the clean water cavity. The one-way valve is arranged in the water inlet channel, and has a first state and a second state. Water is allowed to flow towards the clean water cavity when the one-way valve is in the first state, and water is restricted to flow out from the water inlet channel when the one-way valve is in the second state. During delivering clean water to the clean water cavity, the one-way valve is in the first state to allow water in the external pipeline to be delivered to the clean water cavity, and when clean water is stopped to supply to the clean water cavity, the one-way valve is changed to the second state to restrict the water in the water inlet channel flowing out, such that outflow of the clean water from the water inlet channel can be blocked when the external pipeline is removed.