Single Motor Pool Cleaner Directional Control via Rotational Delay Clutch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pool and tank cleaners require multiple drive motors and complex algorithms to ensure thorough cleaning, which increases costs and mechanical wear, and often fail to cover all surfaces efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A pool cleaner system using a single drive motor with co-axially mounted rotational support members and a rotational delay clutch mechanism, allowing differential angular movement to change direction efficiently and cover all surfaces, including sides and bottoms, with a simple processor program.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple drive motors are used to ensure thorough cleaning coverage, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of multiple drive motors into a single drive motor that rotates the cleaner body. This single motor performs the work that would otherwise require multiple independent motors, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through the body rotation mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic body rotation capability that allows the cleaner to change its orientation and cover different areas. The single drive motor dynamically rotates the entire cleaner body to achieve comprehensive cleaning coverage that would otherwise require multiple fixed motors
2Productivity
If complex algorithms are used to control cleaning patterns, then surface coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner body rotation mechanism serves itself to achieve comprehensive coverage. By rotating the body to different orientations, the single motor-driven cleaner automatically covers various surfaces without requiring complex external control algorithms to coordinate multiple motors
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using multiple motors to achieve coverage, the patent inverts the approach by using a single motor to rotate the entire body, thereby achieving coverage through body reorientation rather than through complex multi-motor coordination algorithms
3Ease of operation
If dual drive motors are used for directional control, then maneuverability is improved, but mechanical wear and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the directional control functions of two motors into a single drive motor that rotates the cleaner body. This eliminates the mechanical linkages between multiple motors, reducing wear points and maintenance requirements while preserving directional control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential directional control function from the dual motor system and implements it through a single motor with body rotation capability, removing the unnecessary complexity and mechanical wear associated with coordinating multiple motors
4Device complexity
If a single drive motor with body rotation is used, then device complexity is reduced, but cleaning speed may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The single drive motor dynamically rotates the cleaner body to different orientations, enabling the cleaner to cover various surfaces efficiently. This dynamic repositioning compensates for the reduced power of a single motor by optimizing the cleaning path and coverage area
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 system effectively covers all surfaces in a shorter time with reduced mechanical complexity and cost, ensuring thorough cleaning without the need for dual motors and complex algorithms, while maintaining traction and preventing slippage.
Implementation Method 1
The rotational delay clutch may comprise a clutch plate attached to the driven brush and a rotating plate attached to the free brush
Implementation Method 2
the driven brush rotates for a predetermined number of revolutions to cause a turning or pivotal movement of the pool cleaner
Data Source
AI summary
A method for accurately controlling the directional and turning movement of a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner while cleaning a pool includes the steps of propelling the pool cleaner in a first direction along a generally straight path from a first sidewall toward an opposing sidewall of the pool, wherein said pool cleaner is propelled to a position in the pool corresponding to a distance greater than the midpoint between the first sidewall and the opposing sidewall and before contacting the opposing sidewall of the pool; stopping the pool cleaner at the position and pivoting the pool cleaner to a predetermined angular change in direction; and reversing direction and resuming propulsion of the pool cleaner, wherein the pool cleaner moves in a second direction along a generally straight path that is angularly displaced from the first direction.