Cleaning Head Multi-Stage Transmission for Under-Obstacle Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning machines face limitations in navigating under obstacles due to their design, which restricts their ability to effectively clean areas with varying heights and widths, and they often require more space for the installation of components like motors and gear systems.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning machine with a geometric stepped area on the cleaning head, featuring a two-stage transmission device that allows for torque transmission and speed reduction, enabling the machine to drive under obstacles while maintaining a compact design by positioning the drive motor above the cleaning roller and using a multi-stage gear system to bridge distances between components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional single-stage transmission device is used, then the structure is simple, but the speed reduction range is limited and the installation space cannot be optimized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed reduction rangeVSAvoidtransmission device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission device is divided into multiple stages (first stage and second stage), with each stage performing a portion of the speed reduction. This segmentation allows the system to achieve a greater overall speed reduction range than a single-stage device while keeping each individual stage relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission device utilizes the width direction (transverse to the drive shaft axis) to arrange components spatially. The first and second coupling areas are positioned at different widths, allowing the transmission device to bridge this distance in multiple dimensions, thereby optimizing space utilization and achieving compact installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the cleaning head is designed with uniform height, then the structure is simple, but the ability to drive under obstacles is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to drive under obstaclesVSAvoidcleaning head structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning head features a stepped configuration where different regions have different heights. Specifically, the area above the first coupling area is higher than the area above the second coupling area, creating a stepped structure that provides clearance for driving under obstacles while maintaining a compact overall design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Power

If the drive motor is positioned far from the cleaning roller, then the torque transmission is effective, but the installation space increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque transmission effectivenessVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission device exploits the width dimension (transverse to the drive shaft axis) to connect the drive motor and cleaning roller. By positioning the first and second coupling areas at different widths and using a multi-stage transmission arrangement, the system achieves effective torque transmission over a compact distance, reducing the overall installation space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 enhances the machine's ability to drive under obstacles, reduces the installation space required, and allows for greater flexibility in cleaning options by providing a compact and efficient design that maintains effective torque transmission and speed reduction.

Implementation Method 1

a transmission device, which is torque-effectively coupled to the drive shaft and torque-effectively coupled to the cleaning roller shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear transmission: Gear

Implementation Method 2

the at least two-stage transmission device enables the geometric step area to be formed with improved underdriveability through a corresponding torque transmission while avoiding the free space in the step area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentEP3781010B1Cleaning machine comprising a cleaning head having a transmission device
Publication Date: 2022.05.18 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
  • EP3781010B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3781010B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3781010B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cleaning machine having a cleaning head (40), on which at least one cleaning unit is arranged, wherein the at least one cleaning unit (154, 156) comprises: - a drive motor (76) having an input shaft (96), which can be rotated about an input shaft axis of rotation (98); - a cleaning roller shaft (68); - a cleaning roller (64), which is arranged on the cleaning roller shaft (118), and - a transmission device (104), which is coupled for torque transfer to the input shaft (96) and the cleaning roller shaft (114), wherein the input shaft (96) has a first coupling region (102) for the transmission device (104) having a first end face (100), and the cleaning roller shaft (68) comprises a second coupling region (118) for the transmission device (104) having a second end face (116), and wherein the first end face (100) of the input shaft (96) is spaced at a distance in a direction (82) parallel to the input shaft axis of rotation (98) from the second end face (116) of the cleaning roller shaft (114), wherein a geometric step region (158) having a first region (160) and a second region (162) is formed on the cleaning head (40), wherein the second region (162) has a lesser height in a height direction (74) transverse to the input shaft axis of rotation (98) than the first region (160), and the first coupling region (102) is in the first region (160) and the second coupling region (118) is in the second region (162), and wherein the transmission device (104) is designed with multiple stages and bridges a distance between the first coupling region (102) and the second coupling region (118) in the direction (82) parallel to the input shaft axis of rotation (98).