Flexible Steering Shaft for Serviceable Floor Cleaning Housings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor cleaning machines are compact but lack easy access to internal components for maintenance and repair, requiring disassembly of external components which is time-consuming and costly, increasing the risk of damage or loss.
Innovation Solution
A floor cleaning machine design featuring a primary housing with rotatable front and rear housings that allow selective access to internal components without disassembly, along with a flexible steering shaft that remains interconnected during housing rotation, enabling easy maintenance without compromising compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the machine is made compact to suit tight spaces, then the machine size is reduced, but access to internal components becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple removable segments that can be selectively removed to provide access to specific internal components. This segmentation allows the machine to maintain a compact overall size while enabling easy access to internal components when needed for maintenance or repair.
2Ease of operation
If removable housing segments are used to improve access, then component accessibility is improved, but external components must be removed first
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into multiple removable sections, with the front housing segment designed to be removable independently. This allows direct access to internal components through the front housing without requiring removal of external components such as the steering wheel, control panel, or storage tanks.
Solution Approach 2:
The steering wheel, control panel, and storage tanks are extracted as separate removable components that can be independently removed or accessed. This extraction allows maintenance personnel to access internal components through the front housing segment without needing to remove these external components, simplifying the maintenance process.
3Ease of operation
If external components are removed to access internal components, then access is enabled, but time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into segments that can be selectively removed to provide direct access to specific internal components. This eliminates the need to remove external components such as the steering wheel, control panel, or storage tanks, significantly reducing maintenance time and the risk of damage or loss during the maintenance process.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the steering shaft is made flexible to accommodate housing rotation, then housing mobility is improved, but steering precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The steering shaft incorporates a flexible portion that can bend and flex to accommodate the rotation and movement of the front housing segment. This flexible portion maintains the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and steerable wheel while allowing the housing to be rotated for maintenance access, thus preserving both housing mobility and steering functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A floor cleaning machine is provided that includes a chassis that supports at least one cleaning element. The chassis is supported by a plurality of wheels, one which is steerable via a steering wheel that is interconnected to a housing also associated with the chassis. The chassis provided includes a plurality of movable housing members, one of which is associated with the steering wheel. To access the internal components of the floor cleaning machine, the front housing is rotated or moved away from the other housings wherein the steering wheel does not require disconnection to allow this movement.