Self-Aligning Brush Head for Glass Cleaning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing glass cleaning systems require time-consuming and labor-intensive alignment of brushes to maintain effective contact with the glass surface, especially for large installations, which hampers efficiency and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A glass cleaning apparatus with rotatably-mounted brushes that utilize gravity to self-align with the glass surface, featuring a drive portion with a bore and a shaft extension, and a brush portion with a ball joint and torque transfer members to ensure proper contact and alignment, allowing for efficient cleaning without manual realignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If brushes are connected directly to a drive shaft and aligned to contact the glass surface, then effective cleaning contact is achieved, but the alignment process becomes time and labor intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning contact effectivenessVSAvoidalignment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The brush portion is made dynamically adjustable through a rotatable connection mechanism with the drive portion. The brush can rotate about an axis perpendicular to the drive shaft axis, allowing it to dynamically adapt its angle and maintain effective contact with the glass surface without requiring precise static alignment during installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The brush assembly is designed to self-align through the rotatable connection mechanism. When the brush contacts the glass surface, it automatically adjusts its position and orientation through rotation, eliminating the need for manual alignment by operators and reducing installation and maintenance time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Area of stationary object

If multiple brushes are used to cover large glass surfaces, then cleaning coverage is improved, but alignment complexity and labor increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning coverage areaVSAvoidalignment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system is divided into multiple independent brush head assemblies, each with its own drive portion and brush portion. Each module operates independently with its own rotatable connection mechanism, allowing them to be installed and aligned separately without affecting other brushes, thus reducing overall alignment complexity despite covering large areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The brush head assembly is designed as a universal module that can be replicated and installed in multiple positions across the glass surface. The standardized drive portion and brush portion configuration with the rotatable connection mechanism allows the same module to function effectively at various locations, simplifying installation and maintenance procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If brushes are rigidly mounted to maintain alignment, then consistent contact is achieved, but the system becomes sensitive to misalignment and requires frequent realignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrush alignment precisionVSAvoidrealignment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable connection mechanism transforms the rigid mounting into a dynamic system. The brush portion can rotate to accommodate variations in glass surface position and orientation, maintaining consistent contact without requiring high manufacturing precision in the initial alignment. This dynamic adjustment capability reduces the frequency of realignment operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If manual alignment procedures are used for brush installation, then proper contact is achieved, but labor costs and installation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrush contact reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable connection mechanism enables the brush assembly to perform its own alignment function. When installed, the brush automatically rotates to achieve proper contact with the glass surface through gravity and contact forces, eliminating the need for manual alignment procedures. This self-aligning capability significantly reduces labor costs and installation time while maintaining reliable contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 enables rapid and effective alignment of brush heads relative to the glass surface, reducing time and labor costs while improving the cleaning process by ensuring consistent contact and coverage.

Implementation Method 1

The brushes utilize gravity to self-align to the glass surface, ensuring proper contact between the brush head and the glass surface and effective cleaning of the glass surface.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS20230381837A1Glass sheet cleaning apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.11.30 CORNING INC

AI summary

A glass cleaning apparatus including a brush head rotatable about an axis of rotation, the brush head having a drive portion slidably coupled to a drive shaft and a brush portion tiltably coupled to the drive portion.