Sweeper Roller Bearing Support to Prevent Brush Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sweeping machines often experience the undesirable release of the roller brush due to the spring force acting on the bearing parts, causing them to be pushed apart and leading to unintended disengagement.

Innovation Solution

The bearing parts on the roller brush support are adjustable for lowering and/or raising the roller brush relative to the mounting surface, with support members diverting the spring force to the roller brush support, preventing the bearing parts from being pushed apart and ensuring the roller brush remains securely engaged.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the spring force is applied to the bearing parts to hold the roller brush, then the roller brush is securely retained, but the bearing parts are pushed apart leading to unintended release

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller brush retentionVSAvoidbearing part position
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A support member is introduced as an intermediary element between the bearing part and the roller brush support. This support member receives the spring force from the bearing part and transfers it to the roller brush support, preventing the bearing part from being pushed apart while maintaining secure retention of the roller brush.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the bearing parts are fixed in position to prevent pushing apart, then the roller brush remains securely engaged, but the ability to adjust the roller brush distance is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller brush engagementVSAvoidroller brush distance adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing part is designed to be movable relative to the roller brush support, allowing dynamic adjustment of the roller brush distance. The support member provides structural support to prevent pushing apart, while the bearing part can still be adjusted to different positions for varying cleaning requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If support members are added to dissipate spring force, then the risk of unintended release is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing part stabilityVSAvoidsupport member structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is designed as a separate, modular component that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows for simplified production and maintenance, reducing the overall complexity despite adding functional elements to the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 effectively reduces the risk of the roller brush being released unintentionally, allows for adjustable distances between the brush roller and the installation area, and facilitates the use of different brush rollers for various cleaning tasks, enhancing the versatility and reliability of the sweeping machine.

Implementation Method 1

the bearing parts being subjected to the spring force of an elastic element supported in the axial direction on the roller brush

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

at least one support member is assigned to at least one of the bearing parts for dissipating the spring force acting on the at least one bearing part to the roller brush support

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce dissipation: Force

Data Source

PatentEP1995383B1Road sweeper
Publication Date: 2016.03.30 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
  • EP1995383B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1995383B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1995383B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a sweeper comprising a driven sweeping roller and a sweeping roller carrier on which two bearing elements are arranged, the sweeping roller being rotatably held on the bearing elements, wherein the bearing elements are subjected to the spring force of an elastic element supported axially against the sweeping roller. To provide such a sweeper in which the risk of the sweeping roller being unintentionally released is reduced, the invention proposes that at least one of the bearing elements be assigned at least one support element for transferring the spring force acting on the at least one bearing element to the sweeping roller carrier.