Surface Treatment Machine Speed-Responsive Liquid Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surface treatment machines with liquid treatment elements face challenges in maintaining a constant liquid delivery rate due to varying reservoir levels and machine speeds, making it difficult for operators to accurately determine the remaining treatment range and optimize their cleaning routes.
Innovation Solution
A surface treatment machine equipped with a speed sensor and a control unit that adjusts the flow rate of liquid delivery through a piloted valve or pump in response to changes in machine speed, ensuring a consistent liquid supply and maximizing the machine's range by optimizing the flow rate and displaying real-time residual range information to the operator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the feeding duct section opening is adjusted to ensure sufficient liquid amount in unfavorable situations, then the treatment effectiveness is improved, but the machine range is reduced due to unsteadiness of flow-rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the feeding duct section opening adjustable and controllable. The opening value can be dynamically modified during machine operation based on actual liquid delivery requirements, allowing optimization of both treatment effectiveness and machine range rather than being fixed at an overly conservative setting
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using sensors to detect actual liquid delivery parameters and machine speed, then using this information to adjust the feeding duct opening. This closed-loop control ensures sufficient liquid amount while maximizing the machine range by avoiding excessive opening values
2Productivity
If the machine speed is increased to improve productivity, then the treated surface area per unit time increases, but the liquid delivery rate becomes insufficient requiring adjustment of feeding duct section
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes both machine speed and feeding duct opening dynamically adjustable and interconnected. When machine speed increases, the system automatically increases the feeding duct opening to maintain adequate liquid delivery rate, allowing sustained high productivity without liquid deficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by linking feeding duct opening value to machine speed. As speed parameter changes, the opening value parameter is adjusted proportionally to maintain the optimal liquid-to-surface ratio, enabling flexible operation across different productivity requirements
3Reliability
If a positive displacement pump is used to maintain constant flow-rate, then the liquid delivery stability is improved, but the machine weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical positive displacement pump system with a simpler gravity-based liquid delivery system combined with a controllable feeding duct section. This substitution achieves flow-rate stability through control of the opening value rather than through complex pump mechanics, reducing weight and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach to flow-rate control from mechanical displacement control to gravitational flow control with adjustable opening parameters. By modifying the opening value parameter, the system achieves stable liquid delivery without the need for heavy positive displacement pump equipment
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 ensures effective liquid distribution across the treated surface, maximizes the machine's operational range, and allows operators to plan optimal routes by providing precise residual range data, reducing unnecessary trips and minimizing costs by eliminating the need for a positive displacement pump.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to measure the translation speed of the frame with respect to the surface to treat and to provide a signal proportional to this speed
Implementation Method 2
in case of feeding the liquid by gravity, as the reservoir is progressively emptied the flow-rate of liquid to the treatment element changes
Data Source
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AI summary
A surface treatment machine (10), comprising a frame (11) configured to translate with respect to a surface (12) to treat, a surface treatment element (13) connected to said frame (11) and configured to treat with liquid a surface (12), a reservoir (14) connected to the frame (11) arranged to provide liquid to the surface treatment element (13) through a delivery mouth (15); an adjustment element (26) arranged to feed adjustably the liquid supplied from the reservoir (14) to the delivery mouth (15). It is then provided a sensor (20) configured to measure the speed of the frame with respect to the surface (12) to treat. A control unit (30) receives from the sensor (20) a signal proportional to a speed for adjusting the adjustment element (26) responsive to this value, in order to deliver the liquid with optimization of the flow- rate. It is possible then to maximize the range of the machine, and to optimize the working time of the operator.