Robot cleaner and wheel assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners face difficulties in climbing obstacles like door sills due to wheel damage and motor overload, and existing solutions complicate the structure and increase manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The design of shape-deformable wheels with an outer and inner wheel structure, where the outer wheel deforms when moving forward and the inner wheel deforms when moving rearward, allowing the robot cleaner to climb obstacles without additional structures, and a cover to prevent foreign substances from entering the gap between the wheels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the robot cleaner uses conventional rigid wheels to move on flat surfaces, then the movement is stable and simple, but the wheels cannot climb obstacles and may be damaged or overload the motors
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly is designed to be dynamically deformable, allowing the outer wheel to elastically deform when encountering obstacles during forward movement, enabling the robot to climb obstacles without damaging the wheels or overloading the motors
2Adaptability or versatility
If an auxiliary moving device is added to lift the body for obstacle climbing, then the robot can climb obstacles, but the structure becomes complex and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the obstacle climbing function from a separate auxiliary lifting device and integrates it directly into the wheel assembly through elastic deformation capability, eliminating the need for additional lifting mechanisms and reducing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assembly performs dual functions: it provides both the primary movement function and the obstacle climbing function through its own elastic deformation, making the system self-sufficient without requiring separate auxiliary devices
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wheel structure is made deformable to climb obstacles, then obstacle climbing is enabled, but foreign substances may enter the gap between wheels
Solution Approach 1:
A cover is introduced as an intermediary component that bridges the gap between the inner and outer wheels, preventing foreign substances from entering the deformable wheel assembly while allowing the elastic deformation function to operate
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
Enables the robot cleaner to easily climb obstacles in both forward and backward directions while maintaining a stable structure and preventing foreign substance entry, thus reducing the risk of wheel damage and motor overload.
Implementation Method 1
an outer wheel (144) coupled to the wheel frame (142), wherein the outer wheel (144) includes a plurality of first slits (148) such that the outer wheel (144) is deformed by external force
Implementation Method 2
an inner wheel (150) coupled to the wheel frame (142), wherein the inner wheel (150) includes a plurality of second slits (155) such that the inner wheel (150) is deformed by external force
Data Source
AI summary
A robot cleaner includes: a body having a suction port; a plurality of wheels for movement of the body; and a plurality of driving devices configured to drive the plurality of wheels, respectively, wherein each of the plurality of wheels includes an inner wheel and an outer wheel having a thickness that is larger than a thickness of the inner wheel, and each of the inner wheel and the outer wheel includes a plurality of slits.