Pool Cleaner Cable Twist Prevention via Compass Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-propelled pool cleaners often form twists and coils in their power cables due to repetitive movements, especially in non-rectangular pools, which can reduce cable length, disrupt cleaning cycles, and lead to equipment damage.
Innovation Solution
A pool cleaner equipped with an electronic compass, microprocessor, and directional controller that uses a scanning algorithm to detect deviations in directional headings and adjust the cleaner's path to untangle the cable, ensuring it follows a preprogrammed pattern and preventing excessive twisting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pool cleaner moves according to a preprogrammed pattern, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but twists and coils form in the power cable
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the cleaner's position and orientation using an electronic compass and tilt sensor, comparing actual movement against the preprogrammed pattern. When deviations are detected that would cause cable twisting, the system automatically adjusts the cleaning path in real-time to prevent harmful cable coiling while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning pattern is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The system adapts the preprogrammed pattern in real-time based on feedback from position sensors, allowing the cleaner to deviate from the original path when necessary to prevent cable twisting, thus making the system flexible enough to handle both cleaning efficiency and cable management requirements
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pool cleaner moves in a random path, then adaptability to pool shapes is improved, but cable twisting cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic compass and tilt sensor provide continuous feedback on the cleaner's orientation and position. This feedback enables the system to maintain adaptability to various pool shapes while simultaneously monitoring and controlling cable twisting by detecting when movement patterns would cause excessive twisting and adjusting accordingly
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cleaner deviates from the preprogrammed pattern, then adaptability to actual pool conditions is improved, but subsequent movement becomes uncontrolled causing excessive twisting
Solution Approach 1:
When the cleaner deviates from the preprogrammed pattern due to pool conditions, the feedback system continuously monitors position and orientation. This allows the system to maintain adaptability to actual pool conditions while preventing uncontrolled cable twisting by detecting deviation patterns that would cause excessive twisting and making corrective adjustments to the movement path
4Length of stationary object
If twists continue to accumulate, then cable extension ability is reduced, but cleaning cycle completion is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action to prevent cable twisting before it becomes a harmful problem. By continuously monitoring position and orientation against the preprogrammed pattern and making proactive adjustments to the cleaning path, the system prevents twist accumulation that would otherwise reduce cable extension ability and interrupt the cleaning cycle
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
Effectively removes and prevents twists in the power cable, ensuring the cleaner can complete its cycle without damage, by compensating for pitch and roll and equalizing turns, thus maintaining efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
an electronic compass, which determines the initial or reference, optionally directional heading and subsequent true or actual directional headings of the pool cleaner
Implementation Method 2
The electronic compass preferably includes a tilt sensor that compensates for any adverse effects caused by pitching and rolling of the pool cleaner as it moves
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus and method is provided for removing undesired mists and loops in a power supply cable attached to a robotic swimming pool cleaner during the cleaner's pre-programmed movement over the bottom and/or side walls of the pool. An on-board electronic compass determines an initial reference directional heading of the pool cleaner and the subsequent true or actual directional heading of the pool cleaner is determined intermittently or continuously as the pool cleaner moves through the program cycle. The subsequent directional headings of the moving pool cleaner are compared to the reference directional heading to provide a cumulative positive or negative value. When the cumulative value indicates that one or more complete 360° turns have been made from the reference directional heading, a correction signal is generated for immediate or delayed transmission to the directional control means to turn the pool cleaner in a direction to remove any twists or loops that have formed in the power cable.