Cleaning Robot Mechanical Steering Volute Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater swimming pool cleaning robots require complex path planning, rely on circuit operations, and lack autonomous direction-changing capabilities, leading to inefficiencies and potential equipment damage when encountering obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning robot with a mechanical steering system using a volute and centrifugal impeller to switch between two operating states, allowing it to change direction autonomously by aligning the volute outlet with different water spraying ports, eliminating the need for pre-planned paths and reducing reliance on circuit operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If path planning is implemented using control units and circuit operations, then the cleaning robot can autonomously navigate, but the equipment cost increases and underwater reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic control units and circuit operations with a purely mechanical steering system. The volute mechanism uses water flow pressure and mechanical linkages to automatically adjust the robot's direction, eliminating the need for complex electronic path planning systems while improving underwater reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical steering system is self-regulating through the volute mechanism. When the robot encounters an obstacle or reaches the pool wall, the water flow naturally redirects through the volute, automatically triggering a direction change without requiring external control signals or electronic sensors.
2Manufacturing precision
If pre-planned paths are used for different swimming pools, then cleaning coverage is ensured, but the operation becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The robot employs a dynamic mechanical steering system that automatically adapts to different pool shapes and sizes. The volute mechanism continuously adjusts the robot's trajectory based on real-time water flow conditions and obstacles, eliminating the need for pre-planned paths while ensuring complete cleaning coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical steering system autonomously navigates the robot through the pool environment, automatically responding to walls, obstacles, and changes in pool geometry. This self-navigating capability simplifies operation to merely deploying the robot, while maintaining accurate cleaning coverage.
3Productivity
If the cleaning robot follows a fixed planned path, then navigation is straightforward, but the robot cannot adapt to obstacles requiring human intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical volute steering system provides continuous dynamic adjustment of the robot's direction. When encountering obstacles or pool walls, the water flow naturally redirects through the volute mechanism, automatically triggering direction changes that enable the robot to adapt to any pool layout and obstacle configuration without human intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates passive feedback through the mechanical linkage of the volute mechanism. The physical interaction between water flow, the volute structure, and the steering linkage automatically provides feedback about the robot's environment, triggering appropriate directional adjustments in response to obstacles and pool boundaries.
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 robot achieves high efficiency and low production costs by automatically adjusting direction and completing cleaning tasks without user intervention, as it cyclically switches between operating states to navigate around obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifugal impeller provided in the volute cavity to drive water to flow
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a cleaning robot and a steering device therefor and a cleaning method thereof. The cleaning robot does not rely on a circuit or sensor for path planning to perform cleaning operations, and has an automatic direction adjustment function by means of a physical structure design, which can improve working efficiency and reduce production costs.