Dual Suction Cup Vacuum Sensing for Glass Wiper Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window-cleaning devices with single suction cups face gas leakage due to sliding friction, leading to insufficient vacuum pressure and potential device detachment from surfaces, especially when encountering gaps or bumps.
Innovation Solution
A suction apparatus with an inner and outer suction cup, connected to a vacuum detection unit using a deformable element and strain gauge, which controls the device to stop or redirect if vacuum pressure falls below a threshold, preventing further bumps from entering the inner suction cup and maintaining contact with the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single suction cup is used for window cleaning, then the device structure is simple, but gas leakage occurs due to sliding friction causing insufficient vacuum pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The single suction cup is divided into two independent suction cups (first and second suction cups). Each suction cup maintains its own vacuum pressure independently, preventing gas leakage from affecting the entire system. When one suction cup encounters a bump or gap causing gas leakage, the other suction cup continues to maintain adequate vacuum pressure, ensuring the device remains reliably attached to the glass surface.
2Ease of operation
If a single suction cup is used, then the device is easy to operate, but the device may fall off when encountering gaps or bumps due to atmospheric pressure unbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The suction system is segmented into two independent suction cups that can independently maintain vacuum pressure. This segmentation provides redundancy, ensuring that if one suction cup loses vacuum pressure due to encountering gaps or bumps, the other suction cup continues to provide sufficient attachment force, preventing the device from falling off.
3Device complexity
If vacuum pressure is not monitored, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot respond to vacuum pressure loss and may detach from the surface
Solution Approach 1:
A vacuum pressure detection device is integrated into the system to continuously monitor the vacuum pressure within each suction cup. When the detection device senses that vacuum pressure has dropped below a predetermined threshold, it provides feedback to the control unit, which then responds by adjusting the driving unit's operation or activating an alarm, ensuring the device maintains adequate vacuum pressure and does not detach from the surface.
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 prevents device detachment by maintaining sufficient vacuum pressure and allowing the device to navigate around obstacles, ensuring stable operation on surfaces with varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the deformable element 20 being hermetically attached on an opening 141 on the top of the outer negative pressure chamber 14, the strain gauge 21 being arranged on the deformable element 20
Implementation Method 2
the strain gauge 21 being arranged on the deformable element 20
Implementation Method 3
a cavity inside the inner suction cup 11 forms an inner negative pressure chamber 13 by vacuum-pumping, a cavity between the inner suction cup 11 and the outer suction cups 12 forms an outer negative pressure chamber 14 by vacuum-pumping
Data Source
AI summary
A suction apparatus, a glass-wiping device and a run control method thereof. The suction apparatus comprises a suction cup unit (1). The suction cup unit (1) comprises an inner suction cup (11) and an outer suction cup (12). The inner suction cup (11) is arranged on the inside of the outer suction cup (12). A chamber on the inside of the inner suction cup (11) forms an inner negative pressure chamber (13) via vacuum suction. A chamber between the inner and outer suction cups (11 and 12) forms an outer negative pressure chamber (14) via vacuum suction. The outer negative pressure chamber (14) is connected to a vacuum detection unit. The vacuum detection unit comprises a distensible piece (20) and a distension-sensing piece (21). The distensible piece (20) is sealedly connected onto an opening on the top end of the outer negative pressure chamber (14). The distensible piece (20) has arranged thereon the distension-sensing piece (21). The glass-wiping device is provided with the suction apparatus, when in cases of failure of the outer suction cup (12) in the suction apparatus and of failure of the outer negative pressure chamber (14), the glass-wiping device will take measures immediately to prevent an increased number of small protrusions from entering the inner suction cup (11), thus preventing the phenomenon of the glass-wiping device falling off a wall from occurrence.