Pipe Cleaning Robot With Adaptive Wheel Drive for By-Product Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
In semiconductor processes, solid by-products accumulate inside pipes, leading to reduced fluid transport efficiency and potential equipment failure, necessitating manual maintenance that is inefficient and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A pipe cleaning apparatus with a driving module, cleaning module, and joint module, equipped with brushes, cameras, and suction parts, operates autonomously to remove accumulated by-products by rotating brushes, identifying their presence, and suctioning them through a controlled system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual maintenance is performed to remove by-products inside the pipe, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but labor intensity and maintenance time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe cleaning apparatus is designed to autonomously navigate through the pipe, detect by-products using sensors, and remove them using integrated cleaning mechanisms without requiring manual intervention. The system self-propels using wheel assemblies and performs cleaning operations automatically, thereby reducing both labor intensity and maintenance time while maintaining effective cleaning performance
2Device complexity
If a simple driving structure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to pipes of varying shapes and sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The driving module incorporates adjustable wheel assemblies that can dynamically adapt their position and configuration based on the pipe's internal geometry. The wheel assemblies are mounted on adjustable mechanisms that allow them to move radially and position themselves optimally against the pipe wall, enabling the apparatus to navigate pipes of varying diameters and shapes without requiring a completely complex redesign of the driving structure
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assembly design integrates multiple functions into a single component structure. The same wheel assembly serves both as a propulsion mechanism and as an adaptive element that can adjust to different pipe configurations. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining versatility across different pipe types
3Productivity
If multiple wheel assemblies are arranged alternately in the hollow frame, then propulsion effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The propulsion system is divided into multiple independent wheel assembly units that are distributed around the hollow frame. Each wheel assembly operates independently but contributes to the overall propulsion force. This segmentation allows the system to generate effective propulsion through coordinated action of multiple simpler units rather than requiring a single complex propulsion mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple wheel assemblies are combined in an alternating arrangement around the hollow frame, creating a distributed propulsion system. The alternating pattern of wheel assemblies allows them to work in coordination, providing balanced propulsion forces while maintaining structural simplicity. The combined effect of multiple simpler wheel assemblies achieves superior propulsion effectiveness compared to a single complex mechanism
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 apparatus effectively cleans pipes of varying shapes and sizes without manual intervention, enhancing fluid transport efficiency and reducing maintenance burdens by automating the removal process.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic cylinder connected to a first end of the hollow frame; a first slider installed on the hollow frame; a second slider on the hollow frame and spaced apart from the first slider, wherein the second slider is connected to the pneumatic cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe cleaning apparatus includes: a driving module; a cleaning module; and a joint module connecting the driving module and the cleaning module, wherein the driving module includes: a hollow frame extending in a horizontal direction; a pneumatic cylinder connected to a first end of the hollow frame; a first slider installed on the hollow frame; a second slider on the hollow frame and spaced apart from the first slider, wherein the second slider is connected to the pneumatic cylinder; front wheel assemblies on the hollow frame; and rear wheel assemblies on the hollow frame. In a cross-sectional view of the hollow frame, the rear wheel assemblies and the front wheel assemblies are arranged alternately with each other in a circumferential direction, and the front wheel assemblies are connected to the first slider, and the rear wheel assemblies are connected to the second slider.