Robotic Pool Cleaner Rotary Brush Traction and Wall Climbing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic pool cleaners face challenges in effectively cleaning pool floor and wall surfaces, filtering water, and efficiently climbing out of the pool, as they often lack sufficient traction and debris removal mechanisms, especially when encountering obstacles or rising above the water level.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled robotic pool cleaner equipped with transport wheels, a rotary brush on a resiliently hinged support arm, and a water pump system that enhances traction by suction and water jet force, allowing the cleaner to traverse and climb pool surfaces, including the ability to exit the pool by using the rotary brush as a supplementary drive element when above water level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a robotic pool cleaner uses only transport wheels for movement, then the device complexity is low, but the traction force is insufficient to effectively clean pool surfaces and climb out of the pool
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transport wheels and rotary brush into a single integrated assembly, where the brush serves dual functions: cleaning pool surfaces and providing additional traction. This merging of functions increases the force available for both cleaning and propulsion without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary brush is designed to perform multiple functions: it cleans pool floors and walls by rotating bristles, and simultaneously acts as a drive element by engaging with pool surfaces to provide traction. This multi-functionality allows a single component to address both cleaning effectiveness and propulsion force
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support arm is rigidly fixed to the housing, then the structural strength is high, but the cleaner cannot adapt to obstacles or varying pool surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The support arm is designed as a resilient, hinged connection rather than a rigid fixed structure. This dynamic design allows the arm to pivot and flex when encountering obstacles or varying pool surfaces, enabling the brush to maintain contact with the cleaning surface while the housing remains stable. The resilience provides adaptability without compromising overall structural integrity
3Productivity
If the cleaner relies solely on water pump suction for traction, then the ease of operation is high, but the productivity is insufficient to effectively clean and climb pool surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the water pump suction system with the rotary brush drive mechanism. The pump provides primary propulsion by creating suction that pulls the cleaner along pool surfaces, while the rotary brush provides supplementary traction and cleaning action. This combination increases overall productivity without requiring a completely complex multi-system design
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 robotic pool cleaner effectively cleans pool surfaces, filters water, and climbs out of the pool by utilizing enhanced traction and debris removal mechanisms, ensuring thorough cleaning and efficient operation across various pool surfaces and conditions.
Implementation Method 1
suction of the internal pump pulling the housing toward the traversed surface
Implementation Method 2
this pump suction draws in pool water and entrained debris therein, filters this water and ejects it out of the top of the pool cleaner
Implementation Method 3
Traction is achieved in part by the friction surfaces of the wheels on pool floor and wall surfaces
Implementation Method 4
a rotary brush carried by the arm to dislodge and/or stir up debris forward or upstream of the cleaner's movement
Data Source
AI summary
A self-propelled robotic pool cleaner includes a housing with a lower portion having an inlet and an upper portion having an outlet, the lower and upper portions define an internal chamber therebetween. A filter and a water pump are mounted in the internal chamber for suctioning pool water into the inlet and discharging filtered water through said outlet. Rotationally-mounted elements are mounted to the housing for supporting and guiding said cleaner on a surface of the pool. An arm assembly extends outward from said housing, and a rotary brush assembly is mounted at a distal end of the arm assembly. An electric motor is coupled to at least one of said water pump, the rotationally-mounted elements and the rotary brush. The pool cleaner is configured to continue climbing upward on a pool wall and tell the rotary brush assembly is above the water level and climbs over the pool coping edge propelling said pool cleaner onto the pool deck.