Pool Cleaning Robot Mode Switching With Shared Inlet Filtration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing swimming pool cleaning robots cannot effectively adjust their position and depth in a liquid environment, limiting their ability to comprehensively clean the bottom, wall surfaces, and water surface, thereby restricting their application range and operating efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device with a mode switching member and buoyancy adjustment assembly that allows it to switch between underwater and water surface cleaning positions, utilizing a filtering mechanism and propulsion assembly for efficient cleaning across various surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the cleaning robot is designed to clean only the bottom of the swimming pool, then the structure is simple, but the application range is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidapplication range
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning robot is designed with multi-functional capabilities to clean the bottom, vertical wall surfaces, and water surface of the swimming pool. The cleaning mechanism can adapt to different cleaning surfaces through adjustable cleaning heads and multiple propulsion methods, allowing a single device to perform multiple cleaning functions rather than requiring separate devices for each surface type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The robot employs a buoyancy adjustment assembly that can dynamically change the buoyancy of the cleaning device body, enabling the robot to switch between submerged and surface-floating states. This dynamic adjustment allows the robot to adapt its position and orientation to suit different cleaning tasks, enhancing versatility without requiring multiple fixed-configuration devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the cleaning robot operates under the water surface to clean bottom and wall surfaces, then cleaning coverage is improved, but position adjustment in liquid environment is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning coverageVSAvoidposition adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The buoyancy adjustment assembly enables dynamic control of the robot's buoyancy, allowing it to easily transition between different depths and positions in the liquid environment. By adjusting buoyancy, the robot can move vertically along walls, position itself at the bottom, or return to the surface without requiring complex mechanical positioning systems, significantly improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The robot uses a hydraulic or pneumatic buoyancy adjustment mechanism to control its position in the liquid environment. By introducing or removing fluid/gas in the buoyancy cavity, the robot can adjust its overall density and buoyancy, enabling smooth vertical movement and position adjustment throughout the water column, from surface to bottom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Ease of operation

If the cleaning robot constantly floats on the water surface, then ease of operation is improved, but cleaning capability is limited to water surface only

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidcleaning capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The robot maintains the ability to float on the water surface for easy operation and deployment, but the buoyancy adjustment assembly allows it to dynamically submerge when bottom or wall cleaning is required. This dynamic transition capability enables the robot to maintain operational simplicity while significantly expanding cleaning capability across multiple surfaces and depths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If separate cleaning devices are used for bottom, wall, and surface cleaning, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but cleaning cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional optimizationVSAvoidcleaning time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple cleaning functions (bottom cleaning, wall cleaning, and surface cleaning) into a single integrated cleaning robot. The device combines cleaning mechanisms for different surfaces, multiple propulsion systems, and a buoyancy adjustment assembly, allowing one robot to perform all cleaning tasks that previously required separate devices, thereby reducing total cleaning time and operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning robot is designed as a universal cleaning device capable of cleaning bottom, wall, and surface areas. By integrating multiple cleaning functions into one device, the system eliminates the need to deploy multiple specialized devices sequentially, significantly reducing the total time required for comprehensive pool cleaning while maintaining functional effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enhances cleaning efficiency and range by enabling flexible operation on both water surfaces and underwater, reducing cleaning costs and time through a single inlet system for garbage collection.

Implementation Method 1

a buoyancy cavity and a buoyancy adjustment part. The buoyancy cavity is configured to accommodate liquid and/or gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP4703538A1Cleaning apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 XINGMAI INNOVATION TECH (SUZHOU) CO LTD
  • EP4703538A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4703538A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4703538A1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a cleaning device, including a cleaning device body, a cleaning cavity, a liquid inlet portion, a filtering mechanism, and a mode switching member. The cleaning cavity is configured to accommodate a first cleaning part. The liquid inlet portion is laterally provided in the cleaning cavity in a length direction of the liquid inlet portion and provided in the cleaning cavity in a width direction of the liquid inlet portion. The filtering mechanism is at least partially provided in a front portion of the cleaning device body. The mode switching member is provided at the front portion of the cleaning device body and at least partially located above the filtering mechanism. A first motion state includes a state of performing underwater cleaning. When the cleaning device performs underwater cleaning, the liquid inlet portion is close to a to-be-cleaned surface. A third motion state includes a state of performing water surface cleaning. When the cleaning device performs water surface cleaning, the liquid inlet portion is at least partially located above a water surface. The cleaning device can perform at least two operating conditions: underwater cleaning and water surface cleaning. In addition, the liquid inlet portion is shared in performing the at least two operating conditions to filter out garbage. This reduces production costs and use costs.