Rotatable Support Finger Stabilizes Track-Wheel Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Track-wheel based devices, such as robotic cleaners for solar panels, are prone to falling from support tracks due to external forces like wind, especially when operating on a single track, and can be obstructed by vertical supports, disrupting their movement.
Innovation Solution
A stabilizing assembly with a rotatable support-finger and biasing member is integrated or retrofitted to the track-wheel based device, allowing the support-finger to sandwich the track for stability and rotate past obstacles, maintaining balance and preventing falls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bottom support is added to prevent falling, then stability is improved, but the support may be blocked by vertical track supports, causing movement interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The support finger is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. It can rotate about a pivot point to move between a first position (providing support) and a second position (clearing obstacles), enabling the device to maintain stability while continuing movement along the track
Solution Approach 2:
The support function is segmented into a separate movable support finger component rather than being integrated into the main device body. This allows the support function to operate independently and be positioned optimally without interfering with the device's primary cleaning functions or being blocked by track obstacles
2Reliability
If a fixed bottom support is used to prevent falling, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support finger is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. It can rotate about a pivot point to move between a first position (providing support) and a second position (clearing obstacles), enabling the device to maintain stability while continuing movement along the track
Solution Approach 2:
The support function is extracted as a separate movable support finger component rather than being integrated into the main device body. This allows the support function to operate independently and be positioned optimally without interfering with the device's primary cleaning functions
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 solution effectively prevents track-wheel based devices from falling and allows them to navigate around obstacles, enhancing operational reliability and reducing maintenance costs by using a minimal number of moving parts and being easily retrofitted to existing devices.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member configured to maintain the support-finger in the first position
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to system for stabilizing a track-wheel based device is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system may include a support track configured to support the track-wheel based device. The system may further include a support-finger coupled to the track-wheel based device via a pivot point, the support-finger being rotatable about the pivot point between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the support-finger may be configured to sandwich the support track between the track-wheel based device and the support-finger. The system may further include a biasing member having a first end and second end. The biasing member may be coupled to the at least one support-finger via the first end, and to the track-wheel based device via the second end. Further, the biasing member may be configured to maintain the at least one support-finger biased in the first position.