Floor cleaning device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automated self-propelled cleaning robots are at risk of damage or hazard due to collisions or unexpected faults, which can lead to water intrusion into sensitive electrical components, potentially causing electrical shock or fire.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a solution tank located at the top with a motorized chassis and an electronics compartment protected by splash shields and a drip shield, with protective covers over wire openings to prevent water ingress, and a dry compartment with splash shields and drain holes to manage liquid entry and prevent electrical component damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the solution tank is located at the top side of the cleaning device, then the cleaning solution can be easily distributed to the cleaning components, but the risk of water intrusion into electrical components increases due to potential leaks or collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct wet and dry compartments. The wet compartment houses the solution tank and cleaning components, while the dry compartment protects electrical components. This segmentation isolates the water source from sensitive electronics, allowing the solution tank to remain at the top for easy distribution while preventing water intrusion into electrical components through physical separation and protective barriers.
2Ease of manufacture
If wire openings are provided in the splash shields for wiring, then electrical components can be connected, but water can penetrate through the openings into the electronics compartment
Solution Approach 1:
Protective covers are introduced as intermediary elements that bridge the wire openings and the electronics compartment. These covers allow electrical wiring to pass through while blocking water penetration. The covers act as a mediator between the need for wiring access and the need for water protection, enabling both functions to coexist without compromise.
3Reliability
If splash shields and drip shields are added to protect the electronics compartment, then water intrusion is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple protective functions are merged into integrated shield structures. The splash shields and drip shields are combined to form a unified protective barrier system that prevents water intrusion from multiple directions (splashes from the sides and drips from above). This merging reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining comprehensive protection, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device comprises an upper cleaning solution tank comprising an outlet, a motorized chassis located beneath the solution tank and an electronics compartment defined at least partly by splash shields and a drip shield. The splash shields define a top and sides of the electronics compartment, and the drip shield defines a bottom side of the electronics compartment and includes at least one drip hole smaller than 2 mm in diameter. A wire opening in the splash shields includes a protective cover overlying the opening, the protective covering containing at least one passage facing in a direction opposite to the solution tank allowing a wire to pass through the passage, through the wire opening, and into the electronics compartment. Fluid lines extend from the outlet towards a bottom of the cleaning device and exterior to the electronics compartment. An enclosed electronics unit may also include wire openings and protective covers.