Floor Cleaner Carry Handle With Tank Sealing Against Spillage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous floor cleaners with liquid tanks face issues of liquid sloshing and spillage when lifted or carried, especially when emptying the recovery tank, due to the lack of a secure mechanism to block the tank's inlet and outlet during handling.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous floor cleaner equipped with a carry handle that can move between stowed and carry positions, featuring a blocking mechanism with a cap and gasket to seal the tank's inlet and outlet, preventing liquid spillage and allowing for easy lifting and handling of the robot or tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the carry handle is added to enable lifting and carrying, then ease of operation is improved, but liquid spillage occurs due to lack of sealing mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking mechanism is activated in advance by moving the carry handle to the carry position before lifting occurs. This preliminary action seals the tank openings before any liquid spillage can happen during the lifting operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking mechanism acts as an intermediary element between the carry handle and the tank openings. When the handle moves to the carry position, it triggers the blocking mechanism to seal the openings, preventing direct liquid discharge during handling.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the blocking mechanism with cap and gasket is added to prevent spillage, then liquid containment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking mechanism is merged with the carry handle assembly, combining the sealing function with the existing handling mechanism. The cap and gasket are integrated into the handle structure, so the sealing action is performed as part of the handle movement rather than as a separate system.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking mechanism is designed to seal the tank openings automatically when the carry handle is moved to the carry position. The weight of the tank and the mechanical linkage cause the cap to engage with the gasket without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the carry handle is made movable between stowed and carry positions, then adaptability is improved, but mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carry handle is designed as a dynamic component that can move between a stowed position (when not in use) and a carry position (when lifting is required). This dynamic positioning allows the handle to adapt to different operational states while maintaining a compact profile during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable carry handle serves multiple functions: it provides structural support during operation, enables lifting when moved to the carry position, and triggers the blocking mechanism to seal the tank. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function.
4Reliability
If automatic deactivation is implemented when handle is moved, then safety is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system receives feedback from the carry handle position sensor to determine whether the handle is in the stowed or carry position. When the sensor detects the carry position, it automatically triggers deactivation of the floor cleaner, creating a feedback loop that ensures safety during handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic deactivation system monitors the carry handle position and self-regulates the operational state of the floor cleaner. When the handle is moved to the carry position, the system automatically shuts down without requiring manual intervention, ensuring safety while minimizing control complexity.
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 carry handle effectively prevents liquid spillage during lifting and carrying, enhances maneuverability by stowing when not in use, and automatically deactivates the robot when the handle is moved to the carry position, ensuring safe and efficient handling and operation.
Implementation Method 1
The weight of the tank is distributed such that it tends to apply force through the blocking mechanism to compress the gasket
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous floor cleaner can include a housing, a drive system for autonomously moving the housing over the surface to be cleaned, a controller for controlling the operation of the autonomous floor cleaner, a tank adapted to hold liquid, and a carry handle joined with the tank and/or the housing. The carry handle is movable between different positions, including a position in which the autonomous floor cleaner can be lifted via the carry handle while an inlet and/or outlet of the tank is blocked.