Pool Cleaner Charging Contacts with Corrosion-Mitigating Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional charging systems for automatic swimming pool cleaners (APCs) face issues with corrosion of electrical contacts due to exposure to water and environmental factors, leading to compromised charging efficiency, safety hazards, and reduced battery life.
Innovation Solution
The development of a charging system with corrosion-mitigating devices, including drying devices and coupling systems, that minimize or prevent corrosion by drying electrical contacts before charging and allowing for easy removal and replacement of contacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional charging contacts are used in water environment, then charging function is achieved, but corrosion occurs leading to reduced reliability and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (corrosion mitigating device) between the electrical contact and the corrosive environment. This device acts as a protective barrier that prevents direct contact between the electrical contact and corrosive elements such as water, chlorine, and salt, thereby maintaining charging efficiency while preventing corrosion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable or replaceable corrosion mitigating devices that can be easily replaced when worn or depleted. These sacrificial protective elements are designed to be consumed or degraded instead of the expensive electrical contacts, providing economical corrosion protection while maintaining system reliability.
2Ease of operation
If electrical contacts remain wet during charging, then charging process is simple, but corrosion risk increases and safety hazards occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-drying or pre-protecting the electrical contacts before the charging process begins. The corrosion mitigating device is applied in advance to create a protective barrier, ensuring that the contacts are not wet or exposed to corrosive elements during charging, thus maintaining both simplicity and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary drying or protective mechanism that mediates between the wet environment and the electrical contact. This intermediary device absorbs moisture or creates a hydrophobic barrier, allowing charging to proceed safely without direct water contact, thereby maintaining ease of operation while eliminating corrosion risks.
3Reliability
If corrosion-resistant materials are used for electrical contacts, then reliability improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the corrosion protection function from the electrical contact itself. Instead of making the entire contact assembly complex and expensive, the solution divides the system into a simple electrical contact and a separate corrosion mitigating device. This segmentation allows the contact to remain simple for manufacturing while the protective device handles corrosion resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary corrosion mitigating device rather than requiring the electrical contact material itself to be highly corrosion-resistant. This intermediary approach allows the use of standard, easily manufactured electrical contacts while adding a separate layer of protection that is applied or attached to the contact surface.
4Stability of the object's composition
If charging contacts are permanently fixed, then connection stability is maintained, but replacement and maintenance become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging contact system into modular components that can be independently replaced. The corrosion mitigating device is designed as a separate, replaceable element that can be easily removed and replaced without affecting the permanent structural connections, thus maintaining connection stability while enabling easy maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a discarding and recovering strategy where the corrosion mitigating device is designed to be easily removed, replaced, or regenerated. The permanent structural connections are maintained while the consumable protective elements can be discarded and replaced, facilitating easy repair and maintenance without compromising connection stability.
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 proposed solution effectively reduces corrosion of electrical contacts, enhances charging efficiency, improves safety by minimizing shock hazards, and extends the life of batteries and charging system components.
Implementation Method 1
The corrosion-mitigating device may include a drying device for drying and/or removing water from the electrical contact prior to charging of the one or more batteries
Implementation Method 2
The corrosion-mitigating device may include a drying device for drying and/or removing water from the electrical contact prior to charging of the one or more batteries
Data Source
AI summary
A charging system for an automatic swimming pool cleaner may a corrosion-mitigating device for an electrical contact. Additionally, or alternatively, a charging system for an automatic swimming pool cleaner may include a charging pin. In some embodiments, the charging system includes a charging pin that is externally removable from the automatic swimming pool cleaner or from a charging station for the automatic swimming pool cleaner.