Cleaning Drive Rollers for Obstacle Navigation and Floor Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated cleaning devices face limitations in transmitting sufficient driving force to the floor surface for effective cleaning, especially when equipped with cleaning elements like brushes or cloths, and struggle with navigating obstacles smoothly, leading to inefficient cleaning and reduced coverage of critical areas.
Innovation Solution
A drive system comprising a carrier unit, a drive motor, a drive shaft, and a propulsion device that rotates relative to the carrier unit, allowing for both translational and rotational movement, with drive rollers and an auxiliary roller to enhance friction and navigation around obstacles, coupled with a control unit for direction adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If spherical drive elements are used for random movement, then the cleaning device can navigate obstacles, but the transmission of drive energy is limited due to only one or a few points of contact with the floor surface
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical drive element is segmented into multiple independent drive rollers arranged in a circular pattern. Each roller can independently contact the floor surface, transforming a single-point contact into multiple-point contact. This segmentation increases the total contact area and improves drive energy transmission while maintaining the spherical configuration's navigation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single spherical contact point to a distributed circular arrangement of drive rollers. This dimensional expansion from point contact to area contact in the radial direction enhances the transmission of drive energy to the floor surface while preserving the device's ability to navigate obstacles through spherical motion.
2Productivity
If cleaning elements like brushes or cloths are added for effective cleaning, then the cleaning effect is improved, but the driving force required to move the cleaning device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation of the spherical drive element into multiple drive rollers increases the contact area with the floor surface. This distributed contact allows for more effective transmission of driving force, enabling the cleaning device to overcome the additional resistance introduced by cleaning elements like brushes or cloths without requiring excessive power.
3Productivity
If a cleaning element is used to clean soiled floors, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the friction with the floor surface increases, reducing movement efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The circular arrangement of multiple drive rollers distributes the frictional load across several contact points rather than concentrating it at a single point. This segmentation reduces the frictional resistance at each individual roller, improving overall movement efficiency while maintaining effective cleaning coverage through the use of cleaning elements.
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 drive system enables a higher cleaning effect by increasing friction with the floor surface, smoother navigation around obstacles, and improved coverage of critical areas, ensuring a more thorough cleaning of soiled floors and edges.
Implementation Method 1
a drive motor (2) fixed to the support unit (7)
Implementation Method 2
the propulsion device (15) being coupled to the drive shaft (4) in order to generate propulsion transversely to the extent of the drive shaft (4)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a drive system (1) for driving an automatic cleaning unit, comprising: - a carrier unit (7, 10); - a drive motor (2), which is fastened on the carrier unit (7, 10); - a driveshaft (4), which is arranged in a rotatable manner on the carrier unit (7, 10) and can be driven by the drive motor (2); - an advancement device (15), which is arranged on the driveshaft (4) and can be rotated about the driveshaft, wherein the advancement device (15) is coupled to the driveshaft (4) in order to generate advancement transversely to the extent of the driveshaft (4) and in order, when advancement is stopped, to cause the advancement device (15) to rotate in relation to the carrier unit.