Squeegee Assembly With Elastic Pivot Arms for Corner Cleaning Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional floor cleaning machines struggle to effectively reach and clean areas near corners and walls due to limitations in the squeegee assembly's ability to pivot inwardly, resulting in incomplete liquid removal and potential collision with obstacles.
Innovation Solution
The squeegee assembly features elastically deformable pivot arms that allow the suction foot base to deviate further inwardly when cornering, enabling better coverage and preventing damage by adjusting its angular position and distance from the pivot axes, thereby enhancing the squeegee's ability to follow the cleaning device and avoid collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the squeegee arrangement is designed with a fixed pivot angle to avoid wall collision, then the squeegee can maintain structural stability, but it cannot reach areas near corners and walls effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the pivot arm elastically deformable rather than rigid. The pivot arm can dynamically adjust its length and angle during operation - extending further when needed to reach corners, and maintaining its normal position during straight-line cleaning. This elastic deformability allows the squeegee to adapt its geometry in real-time, resolving the contradiction between reaching corner areas and maintaining structural stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the squeegee pivots further inward to reach corner areas, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the risk of collision with walls and obstacles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical state of the pivot arm from rigid to elastically deformable. This allows the pivot arm to change its effective length and angular position as needed - extending further inward when approaching corners to improve cleaning coverage, while the elastic nature provides a buffer that reduces collision impact when obstacles are encountered.
3Measurement precision
If the pivot arm is made rigid to maintain precise angular control, then the squeegee positioning is accurate, but it cannot deform to avoid obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by introducing elastic deformability to the pivot arm, making it a dynamic structure rather than a rigid one. The pivot arm can elastically deform to avoid obstacles while still maintaining sufficient angular positioning accuracy through controlled elasticity. The elastic properties allow the arm to flex and adapt to varying conditions while returning to its intended position, combining positioning precision with obstacle avoidance capability.
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 design allows for improved liquid removal around corners and reduced risk of damage during turns, ensuring effective cleaning and preventing the squeegee from being covered with cleaning liquid while maintaining efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
the first pivot arm is configured and arranged to deform elastically following a force exerted along the first pivot axis on the second end of the support frame
Data Source
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AI summary
Shown and described is a squeegee assembly for a floor cleaning machine, constructed to be moved over a floor surface to be cleaned, having a squeegee base from which extend spaced apart front and rear sealing lips, the edges of the front and the rear sealing lip run in a contact plane, and with a holding frame which has a first end and an opposite second end, the first end being designed to be attached to a machine frame of the floor cleaning machine and the second end being connected to the squeegee base , wherein the holding frame is designed such that the suction foot base can be pivoted about a first pivot axis relative to the first end, the first pivot axis running parallel to the contact plane, the holding frame having a first pivot arm which connects the first end of the holding frame to its second end and i.e it is pivotally connected to the first end of the support frame about a second pivot arm axis that is transverse to the first pivot axis, the first pivot arm being constructed and arranged to resist a force exerted along the first pivot axis on the second end of the support frame at a first orientation to deform elastically.