Robot Cleaner Dock With Circulating Airflow and Fan Motor Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous navigation robot cleaners face issues with temperature increases due to fan motor malfunctions or extended operation times, leading to potential damage to surrounding components and reduced durability, as well as inefficient dirt discharge processes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a maintenance station with a circulating passage that includes separate inlet and outlet holes for air flow, a second dirt container for storing dirt, and a cooling passage to manage fan motor temperature, along with a radiator to dissipate heat, and an outside air introducing passage to cool the fan motor, enhancing air circulation and cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fan motor operates for extended periods or malfunctions, then the air circulation and dirt discharge function is maintained, but the temperature around the fan motor increases continuously damaging surrounding components
Solution Approach 1:
The air passage is divided into two separate passages: a first air passage for circulating air to discharge dirt, and a second air passage for introducing outside air to cool the fan motor. This segmentation allows the cooling function to be separated from the dirt discharge function, enabling the fan motor to be cooled without interfering with the primary cleaning operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Outside air is introduced as an intermediary cooling medium through the second air passage to cool the fan motor. This external air source acts as a heat sink, absorbing excess heat from the fan motor without requiring changes to the primary dirt discharge system.
2Productivity
If the fan motor temperature increases, then the air circulation continues, but the surrounding components and robot cleaner structure may be damaged or deformed
Solution Approach 1:
The air circulation system is segmented into two independent pathways: one for maintaining productivity (first air passage for dirt discharge) and one for protecting against thermal damage (second air passage for fan motor cooling). This ensures that cooling requirements do not compromise the primary cleaning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The second air passage introduces outside air to cool the fan motor in advance, preventing temperature increases before they can cause damage to surrounding components or the robot cleaner structure. This proactive cooling approach counteracts the harmful thermal effects before they manifest.
3Temperature
If a cooling passage is added to cool the fan motor, then the temperature control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second air passage serves multiple functions: it introduces outside air for cooling the fan motor, and can be configured to discharge cooled air or allow natural convection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, offsetting the complexity increase from adding the cooling passage.
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
This solution effectively prevents temperature increases in the maintenance station and robot cleaner, improving product durability and enhancing cleaning performance by ensuring efficient dirt discharge and cooling of the fan motor.
Implementation Method 1
The draft apparatus includes a draft fan and a fan motor to drive the draft fan and allows air to flow through the circulating passage
Implementation Method 2
a radiator to dissipate heat
Data Source
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AI summary
A cleaning system includes a robot cleaner having an opening unit and a first dirt container funneled to the opening unit, and a maintenance station to which robot cleaner is docked to discharge dirt stored in the first dirt container The maintenance station includes a first inlet hole configured to intake dirt from the first dirt container through the opening unit, a first outlet hole configured to blow air into the first dirt container, a circulating passage provided between the first inlet hole and the first outlet hole, a second dirt container disposed on the circulation passage to store dirt taken in from the robot cleaner, a draft apparatus having a draft fan and a fan motor to drive the draft fan to circulate air through the circulating passage, and a second outlet hole configured to discharge air inside the circulating passage of the maintenance station to an outside.