Side Brush Arm Transport Lock Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor cleaning machines require manual intervention or hydraulic systems to secure side brushes during transport, which is time-consuming and costly, and does not allow for easy adjustment of the arm position relative to the vehicle frame.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates rods and vertically spaced bearing surfaces as engagement means, allowing the arm to be securely locked into a transport position without manual intervention, enabling flexible mounting and automatic engagement regardless of the arm's height relative to the vehicle frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual locking of the side brush arm is used, then the arm can be securely locked in transport position, but the operator must exit the machine which is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the arm's own weight and the engagement between rods and bearing surfaces to automatically lock the arm in transport position without requiring manual intervention. The arm's gravity causes the rods to engage with the bearing surfaces when the arm is in the horizontal transport position, creating a self-locking mechanism that secures the arm without operator intervention.
2Reliability
If hydraulic systems are used to hold the side brush, then the arm can be held in position during transport, but the system requires continuous pressurization which is expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the locking function from the complex hydraulic system and implements it through a simple mechanical engagement mechanism using rods and bearing surfaces. This removes the need for continuous hydraulic pressurization while maintaining the position holding capability during transport.
3Ease of operation
If the arm must be raised to a specific level for manual intervention, then engagement can be achieved, but the operator must exit the machine to reach the required position
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the engagement mechanism from requiring vertical positioning (raising the arm to a specific height) to a horizontal engagement system where rods extend in the direction of the arm and engage with bearing surfaces at different pivot positions. This allows engagement to occur at any pivot position without requiring the operator to exit the machine or adjust the arm to a specific height.
4Reliability
If the arm position is fixed relative to the vehicle frame, then transport stability is improved, but the side brush cannot follow surface bumps
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains dynamic capability during cleaning operations through the horizontal pivot axis that allows the arm to follow surface bumps, while achieving static stability during transport through the engagement of rods with bearing surfaces at the horizontal transport position. The system transitions between dynamic and static states based on operational requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A floor cleaning machine is shown and described, comprising a chassis attached to a vehicle frame (7) for moving the floor cleaning machine (1) over a surface to be cleaned, and a rotating side brush (11) which is attached to an arm (17) which is pivotably connected about a vertical axis (19) to a bracket (9) connected to the vehicle frame (7), wherein the arm (17) is pivotable about the vertical axis (19) into a transport position in which it rests against the bracket (9), and wherein the arm (17) is pivotable relative to the bracket (9) about a horizontal pivot axis (21).The task of providing a transport safety device for side brushes that allows the arm holding the side brush to engage with the holder without the operator having to leave the machine is solved by the holder (9) having first engagement means and the arm (17) having second engagement means, and by the first and second engagement means being designed such that, when the arm (17) is moved into the transport position, the first and second engagement means engage in different pivot positions of the arm (17) with respect to the pivot axis (21) in such a way that a pivoting movement of the arm (17) about the pivot axis (21) towards the surface is prevented.