Dovetail Battery Assembly for Autonomous Robot Alignment and Locking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous mobile robots face challenges in aligning and securing battery assemblies efficiently, requiring users to manage horizontal and vertical alignment of electrical terminals, which can be cumbersome and prone to misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A battery assembly with a dovetail joint mechanism that includes a vertically extending projection and socket portion, along with a deflectable arm, ensures horizontal and vertical alignment of the battery assembly with the robot's cavity, allowing for easy insertion and secure locking without separate locking mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional battery mounting methods are used, then the battery can be secured to the robot, but the alignment of electrical terminals becomes cumbersome and prone to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric dovetail joint geometry with tapered surfaces that guide the battery assembly into proper alignment with the cavity. The asymmetric shape provides inherent directional guidance, ensuring that the battery can only be inserted in the correct orientation, thereby eliminating alignment difficulties while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The dovetail joint acts as an intermediary mechanical structure between the battery assembly and the robot cavity. This intermediate component translates the insertion motion into both positional alignment and electrical terminal engagement, simplifying the overall operation by providing a single guided motion path that simultaneously achieves mechanical securing and electrical connection alignment.
2Strength
If separate locking mechanisms are used to secure the battery, then the battery can be firmly attached, but the insertion process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the locking function with the insertion motion itself through the dovetail joint design. As the battery assembly is inserted into the cavity, the tapered surfaces of the dovetail joint automatically engage and lock the battery in place through friction and geometric interlocking. This eliminates the need for separate locking mechanisms, allowing users to secure the battery simply by completing the insertion motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The dovetail joint geometry is pre-configured with tapered surfaces that create automatic engagement during insertion. The locking action occurs preliminarily as part of the insertion process itself, rather than requiring a subsequent separate locking step. The geometric design ensures that once the battery is inserted to the correct position, the joint structure automatically provides the necessary holding force.
3Ease of operation
If the battery assembly allows horizontal movement during insertion, then the electrical terminals can be aligned, but misalignment and insertion errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric dovetail joint geometry provides inherent alignment guidance by allowing motion only along the tapered insertion path. This asymmetric design physically prevents horizontal misalignment during insertion, as the battery assembly can only move in the direction dictated by the joint geometry. The alignment is achieved through the constrained motion path rather than requiring manual adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The dovetail joint serves as an intermediary alignment mechanism that translates the insertion motion into precise positioning of the electrical terminals. The joint structure ensures that as the battery assembly moves into the cavity, the electrical terminals are automatically guided into proper alignment through the geometric constraints of the dovetail interface, eliminating the need for separate alignment adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous mobile cleaning robot includes a cavity along a bottom portion of the robot, and a drive configured to support the robot above a floor surface. The drive is configured to propel the robot along the floor surface. The robot further includes a first electrical terminal disposed in the cavity and connected to electrical circuitry of the robot, a battery assembly, and a dovetail joint. The battery assembly includes a battery housing, a battery contained within the battery housing, and a second electrical terminal mounted to the battery housing and configured to engage with the first electrical terminal. The dovetail joint includes a vertically extending projection portion and a vertically extending socket portion.