Pivoting Charging Arm Structure for Offset Docking Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous mobile devices often experience misalignment and sticking issues when docking with charge devices due to offsets between the two, limiting smooth charging processes.
Innovation Solution
A charge device design featuring a fixing base, pivoting lever, and charging arm with elastic deformation and adjustable rotational angles, allowing for increased mobility and alignment with the autonomous mobile device, along with electrical connection mechanisms to prevent sticking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the charge device uses a fixed structure, then the structure is simple and stable, but the autonomous mobile device cannot smoothly align due to offset, resulting in docking failure
Solution Approach 1:
The charge device transforms from a fixed structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. The charging arm is connected to the pivoting lever through a rotating connection, allowing the charging arm to rotate and adjust its position. The pivoting lever can also rotate relative to the fixing base, providing multi-degree-of-freedom adjustment capability to accommodate offsets and ensure successful docking.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge device is divided into multiple independent segments: the fixing base, the pivoting lever, and the charging arm. Each segment can move independently, with the pivoting lever rotating relative to the fixing base and the charging arm rotating relative to the pivoting lever. This segmentation enables flexible adjustment to compensate for positioning offsets.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the charging arm has limited rotational angle, then the structure is stable and easy to control, but it cannot accommodate larger offsets between the autonomous mobile device and charge device
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic rotational joints that allow the charging arm and pivoting lever to rotate through larger angles. The rotating connection between the charging arm and pivoting lever, combined with the pivoting lever's rotation relative to the fixing base, creates a dynamic system that can adapt to various offset positions while maintaining stability during charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging arm is nested on the pivoting lever, which itself is nested on the fixing base. This nested structure allows multiple rotational degrees of freedom, where the charging arm can rotate relative to the pivoting lever, and the pivoting lever can rotate relative to the fixing base, collectively providing a larger adjustment range for accommodating offsets.
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
Enables stable and smooth alignment and charging by accommodating larger rotational angles and offset positions, reducing the likelihood of misalignment and sticking during the docking process.
Implementation Method 1
When the pivoting lever rotates relative to the fixing base, the elastic deformation portion is pressed by the ear portion to generate an elastic force for the pivoting lever to return to an original position
Data Source
AI summary
A charge device, including a fixing base, a charging arm pivoting lever, and a pivoting lever, is provided. The charging arm includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The pivoting lever includes a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion is pivotally connected to the fixing base. The pivoting lever is adapted to rotate relative to the fixing base, the second portion is pivotally connected to the first end portion, and the charging arm is adapted to rotate relative to the pivoting lever. A charging system is also provided.