Brush for a self-propelled soil cleaning device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing brushes for self-propelled floor treatment devices have insufficient cleaning performance and drive-over properties due to limited vertical mobility of brush arms, which results in inadequate cleaning of corners and wall areas and difficulty navigating obstacles like cables or deep-pile carpets.

Innovation Solution

The brush arm design allows for vertical and horizontal mobility, with notches and a varying circumference to enhance flexibility, enabling independent movement of each arm and improved interaction with floor objects, allowing for increased cleaning performance and safe navigation over obstacles without getting stuck.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of brush arms is increased to improve cleaning performance, then cleaning performance is improved, but the risk of the device getting stuck on obstacles increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoiddrive-over property
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The brush arm is designed with vertical mobility capability, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position relative to the floor surface. During normal cleaning operation, the brush arm maintains contact with the floor surface. When an obstacle is encountered, the brush arm can deflect vertically to accommodate the obstacle, preventing the device from getting stuck. This dynamic behavior enables the system to safely operate with multiple brush arms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If brush arms are designed with vertical mobility to improve drive-over properties, then drive-over properties are improved, but cleaning performance decreases due to reduced contact stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive-over propertyVSAvoidcleaning performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The brush arm structure incorporates localized flexibility features (notches) in specific regions while maintaining structural integrity in other areas. The notches are positioned to enable vertical deflection when encountering obstacles, but the overall brush arm design ensures sufficient stiffness to maintain cleaning contact with the floor surface during normal operation. This localized quality differentiation allows the brush arm to simultaneously achieve both drive-over capability and cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If brush arms are made rigid to prevent knotting of cleaning elements, then cleaning element stability is improved, but flexibility and mobility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning element stabilityVSAvoidvertical mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The brush arm is divided into multiple structural sections with different mechanical properties. The proximal portion (near the brush core) is designed with higher stiffness to prevent excessive deflection and maintain cleaning element stability. The distal portion (near the cleaning element) incorporates notches and geometric features that provide localized flexibility, enabling vertical mobility when obstacles are encountered. This segmentation allows the brush arm to simultaneously achieve structural stability and adaptive mobility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The enhanced mobility of brush arms improves cleaning performance and drive-over capabilities, enabling effective cleaning of corners and obstacles while preventing jamming and ensuring safe operation over various floor surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

If the self-propelled soil tillage device runs over such an object with the brush, a moment of force is transmitted via the cleaning element to the brush arm. As a result of this power transmission, the brush arm is deflected vertically

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMoment of force: Torque

Implementation Method 2

The brush arm has at least one notch. The indentations cause a partial reduction in the strength of the brush arms. In other words, the flexibility of the brush arms in one direction of movement is increased.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlexibility enhancement through geometric modification: Geometry

Data Source

PatentEP3443863B1Brush for a self-propelled soil cleaning device
Publication Date: 2021.10.13 MIELE & CO KG
  • EP3443863B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3443863B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3443863B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a brush for a self-propelled soil cultivation device, with a brush core on which a brush arm is arranged, wherein a cleaning element is arranged in the brush arm.