Surface treatment machine with speed control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surface treatment machines with liquid treatment face challenges in accurately determining the residual liquid in the reservoir, leading to unpredictable treatment range and inefficient route planning, especially when liquid delivery is not constant due to factors like gravity feeding or pump sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A surface treatment machine equipped with a speed sensor and control unit that adjusts the flow rate of liquid supply in response to the machine's speed, optimizing liquid delivery through a piloted valve or pump, and displaying the residual range to the operator, allowing for real-time route planning and maximizing the machine's range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the liquid is fed by gravity or a non-positive displacement pump, then the machine structure is simpler and less expensive, but the flow-rate of liquid changes as the reservoir is emptied, reducing treatment precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the feeding duct section adjustable rather than fixed. The operator can modify the opening value of the feeding duct section to compensate for changing flow conditions as the reservoir empties, thereby maintaining consistent liquid delivery despite using simpler gravity or non-positive displacement pump systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the feeding duct section (opening value) to compensate for flow-rate variations. By adjusting this parameter, the system maintains adequate liquid flow to the treatment element even as reservoir level changes, resolving the contradiction between simple delivery systems and flow consistency.
2Productivity
If the machine speed is increased to improve productivity, then more surface can be treated per unit time, but the amount of supplied liquid versus treated surface changes, requiring feeding duct adjustment that reduces machine range
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding duct section is made dynamically adjustable based on machine speed. The operator can optimize the opening value for different speed conditions, ensuring adequate liquid supply at higher speeds while conserving liquid at lower speeds, thus extending machine range without sacrificing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows changing the feeding duct opening parameter according to operating speed requirements. This enables the machine to maintain optimal liquid-to-surface ratio across varying speeds, resolving the trade-off between productivity and operational range.
3Reliability
If the feeding duct opening is increased to ensure sufficient liquid in unfavorable situations, then treatment effectiveness is maintained, but the machine range is reduced due to faster liquid consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding duct opening is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed at a conservative high setting. The operator can optimize the opening value based on actual operating conditions, ensuring sufficient liquid supply when needed while minimizing liquid consumption during normal operation, thus extending machine range without compromising treatment reliability.
4Duration of action of moving object
If the reservoir capacity is increased to extend machine range, then fewer replenishments are needed, but the machine size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes liquid consumption by allowing adjustment of the feeding duct opening parameter. This enables more efficient liquid usage, extending machine range with smaller reservoir capacities, thus avoiding the need for larger, heavier reservoirs.
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
Ensures effective liquid delivery versus treated surface area, maximizes the machine's range by maintaining a constant flow rate, and allows operators to plan optimal routes without unnecessary replenishments, reducing costs by eliminating the need for a pump and improving operational efficiency.
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
program means, resident in said control unit and configured to set the adjustment element so that a flow-rate of liquid is supplied in an increasing way responsive to an increase of said speed optimizing the flow-rate
Data Source
AI summary
A surface treatment machine, comprising a frame configured to translate with respect to a surface to treat, a surface treatment element connected to said frame and configured to treat with liquid a surface, a reservoir connected to the frame arranged to provide liquid to the surface treatment element through a delivery mouth; an adjustment element arranged to feed adjustably the liquid supplied from the reservoir to the delivery mouth. It is then provided a sensor configured to measure the speed of the frame with respect to the surface to treat. A control unit receives from the sensor a signal proportional to a speed for adjusting the adjustment element 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.