Brush-Head Linkage Steering for Floor Washer Liquid Pickup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Floor washing-drying machines face issues with incomplete liquid collection during turns due to the geometry of the machine and rigid connection of the brush-head, leading to lateral dispersion and increased stress from impacts with obstructions.
Innovation Solution
A brush-head support and swinging system that uses a gearwheel and four-arm linkage mechanism to align the brush-head and wiping device during turns, ensuring complete liquid collection, and incorporates a spring mechanism to absorb impact energy and cushion the brush-head from obstructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the brush-head is rigidly connected to the machine frame, then the structure is simple and stable, but the machine cannot effectively collect liquid during turns and transmits impact stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The brush-head support system transitions from a rigid static connection to a dynamic swinging mechanism. The brush-head can swing laterally on a vertical axis during turns, allowing it to adapt its position dynamically to maintain alignment with the wiping device and effectively collect liquid dispersed by centrifugal force.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid monolithic connection between the brush-head and machine frame is segmented into multiple independent components: the brush-head assembly, the swinging mechanism with gearwheel and four-arm linkage, and the machine frame. This segmentation allows independent movement of the brush-head while maintaining structural integrity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the brush-head is rigidly connected to the machine frame, then the structure is simple, but the machine transmits impact stresses from walls and obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is pre-installed in the brush-head support system to provide cushioning before impacts occur. When the brush-head encounters walls or obstructions, the spring absorbs the impact energy, preventing stress transmission to the machine frame and protecting the steering mechanism from damage.
3Reliability
If side flaps or deflectors are mounted on the head, then liquid conveyance toward the wiping device is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding static side flaps or deflectors to the head structure, the invention uses the dynamic swinging motion of the entire brush-head assembly during turns. This dynamic approach naturally directs liquid toward the wiping device through the brush-head's movement, eliminating the need for additional deflective structures.
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 solution effectively collects all washing liquid during turns and reduces the risk of damage from impacts by allowing the brush-head to move elastically, ensuring efficient operation and machine durability.
Implementation Method 1
incorporates a spring mechanism to absorb impact energy and cushion the brush-head from obstructions
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention refers to a floor washing-drying machine, in particular of the drives-on-board kind, provided with at least a front driving and steering wheel (3), a pair of rear wheels (5), a brush-carrying head (4) positioned between the front driving wheel and the supporting axle of the rear wheels, and a wiping and vacuuming device (6) arranged behind the rear wheels. The brush-carrying head (4) is connected with the machine frame through a support and steering system of four-arm linkage type (X,Y,J,W; 17,19) which is driven by a gear steering device (11,12,14,15). The technical solution allows to solve efficiently the problem of collecting washing liquid and to dampen impacts of the machine against obstacles which it may encounter along its path.