Pool Cleaning Robot Buoyancy Control for Hovering Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pool cleaning robots face challenges in reaching difficult areas like stairs and corners, require frequent manual maintenance, and have limited autonomy, leading to sub-optimal performance due to tangled cables and clogged filters.
Innovation Solution
A submersible pool cleaning robot with a ballast tank for buoyancy control, propulsion module, steering module, and navigation system, allowing it to hover and clean surfaces without direct contact, and an detachable base for power and support, enabling efficient surface and underwater cleaning with reduced human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pool cleaning robot uses wheels and/or tracks to traverse floor and wall surfaces, then it can move across surfaces, but it becomes difficult or impossible to travel and effectively engage obstacles or reach all areas of the pool
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional wheel/track mechanical system with a jet propulsion system that uses water jets to propel and maneuver the cleaning robot. This allows the robot to hover and move freely in three dimensions without physical contact with pool surfaces, enabling access to stairs, corners, and ledges that are difficult to reach with wheeled systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional surface traversal (wheels on floor/walls) to three-dimensional hovering movement through water. The jet propulsion system enables the robot to move in multiple directions and positions within the water column, allowing it to approach and clean obstacles from various angles and positions that were inaccessible to surface-bound systems.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a pool cleaning robot is connected to electrical power cables or suction systems, then it can operate continuously, but the hose and cable get tangled and may temporarily limit the usage of the pool
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power source and propulsion system from the external cable connection and integrates them into the robot itself. The robot is equipped with its own jet propulsion system and power supply, eliminating the need for trailing cables or hoses during operation. This allows the robot to move freely throughout the pool without creating tangling issues or limiting pool usage.
3Productivity
If a pool cleaning robot uses basic vehicle configuration with wheels and tracks, then it can traverse surfaces, but it has difficulty reaching certain areas like stairs, corners or sidewall ledges
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional surface traversal (wheels on floor/walls) to three-dimensional hovering movement through water. The jet propulsion system enables the robot to move in multiple directions and positions within the water column, allowing it to approach and clean obstacles from various angles and positions that were inaccessible to surface-bound systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a universal cleaning system that can effectively clean multiple types of surfaces and obstacles using the same hovering mechanism. The jet-propelled robot can adapt to clean floors, walls, stairs, corners, and ledges without requiring different mechanical configurations, making the system universally applicable to various pool geometries and obstacles.
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 robot effectively reaches and cleans hard-to-reach areas, reduces manual maintenance needs, and operates autonomously with improved efficiency and reduced cable tangling, enhancing pool cleaning capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a ballast tank for controlling a buoyancy of the submarine pool cleaner
Implementation Method 2
a propulsion module that is configured to propel the submersible pool cleaner
Implementation Method 3
a steering module that comprises a rudder and diving planes
Data Source
AI summary
A pool cleaning robot that includes a ballast tank for controlling a buoyancy of the submarine pool cleaner; at least one cleaning element for cleaning debris from an underwater surface of a pool while the pool cleaning robot hovers over the underwater surface; a propulsion module that is configured to propel the submersible pool cleaner, and a steering module that comprises a rudder and diving planes.