Floor Treatment Pulley Layout for Single-Drive Head and Housing Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor treatment apparatuses for stone or stone-like materials face complexity in efficiently managing the rotational speeds of grinding heads and housing, often requiring separate drives and resulting in cumbersome designs.

Innovation Solution

A floor treatment apparatus where the housing rotation power is derived from the main belt through an auxiliary pulley system, allowing for adjustable rotational speed ratios between the heads and housing, with pulleys positioned to minimize height and optimize space, enabling counter-directional motion for improved operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If separate drives are used for heads and housing, then rotational speed control is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational speed controlVSAvoiddrive system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the drive functions for both heads and housing into a single integrated belt drive system. The main drive belt simultaneously transmits power to the head pulleys and the housing auxiliary pulley, eliminating the need for separate motor drives and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining independent rotational speed control through pulley diameter variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single main drive belt serves multiple functions: it drives the grinding heads through head pulleys and simultaneously drives the housing rotation through the auxiliary pulley. This multi-functional drive system replaces what would traditionally require separate drive mechanisms, achieving both head rotation and housing rotation from one power source.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Speed

If first auxiliary pulley is added for housing rotation, then housing rotation is enabled, but apparatus height increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing rotational speedVSAvoidapparatus height
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of positioning the auxiliary pulley vertically below the base plate (which would increase height), the patent positions it in the horizontal plane on the same side of the base plate as the head pulleys. This lateral arrangement allows the auxiliary pulley to engage the main drive belt without requiring additional vertical space, thus enabling housing rotation while maintaining a compact apparatus height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Length of moving object

If head pulleys and auxiliary pulley are on same level, then height is minimized, but space arrangement becomes constrained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase plate heightVSAvoidspatial arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric positioning of pulleys on the base plate, with the auxiliary pulley strategically located to optimize belt routing and power transmission. This asymmetric arrangement allows all pulleys to operate at the same level without interference, minimizing height while managing the spatial constraints through careful geometric configuration of the drive system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 provides a simple, reliable, and compact design that allows for efficient operation by directly utilizing the main belt for housing rotation, ensuring similar conditions for head pulleys and reducing the need for additional height, thereby enhancing the apparatus's stability and ease of handling.

Implementation Method 1

the main belt is slung around the drive pulley, the head pulleys and the first auxiliary pulley in such a way that they are in contact with one and the same side of said main belt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

the auxiliary belt can slung around the second auxiliary pulley and the fixed pulley in such a way that they are on the same side of the auxiliary belt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2329914B1Floor treatment apparatus with solitary drive pulley
Publication Date: 2015.04.01 DESIGN TECH LLC
  • EP2329914B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2329914B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2329914B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A floor treatment apparatus comprises a frame, a housing which is rotatable with respect to the frame according to a main axis, at least three head pulleys which are rotatable with respect to the housing according to respective head axes which are regularly spaced around, and which are parallel to, the main axis, a motor supported by the frame and a main belt drivable by the motor and being slung around the drive pulley and the driven head pulleys. Furthermore, the main belt is slung around a first auxiliary pulley and a second auxiliary pulley. The second auxiliary pulley is driven by the first auxiliary pulley. An auxiliary belt is slung around a fixed pulley connected to the frame and around the second auxiliary pulley for rotating the housing with respect to the frame.