Sweeper Brush with Automatic Drive Control via Rod Position Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional brooms lack ease of operation and versatility due to complex mechanisms and the need for manual switching of the brush roller drive, making them difficult to use for various cleaning tasks and storage.

Innovation Solution

A broom design featuring a fixing device coupled with a blocking device that automatically stops the brush roller drive when the rod device is locked into a specific position, allowing for easy operation and storage without the need for manual switches, and enabling flexible pivoting for enhanced cleaning capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a manual switch is provided to control the brush roller drive, then the drive can be stopped when the rod assembly is in storage position, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive controlVSAvoidswitch mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically controls the drive motor based on the rod assembly position. The fixing device detects whether the rod assembly is in the fixed storage position and automatically stops or activates the drive motor without requiring manual intervention. This eliminates the need for separate switches and makes the system self-regulating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing device provides feedback about the rod assembly position to the drive control system. When the rod assembly is detected to be in the fixed position, the system receives feedback to stop the drive motor; when moved away, feedback triggers motor activation. This closed-loop control eliminates manual switching complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the rod assembly is made pivotable for height adjustment, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustmentVSAvoidpivot mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rod assembly is designed with a pivot connection to the sweeping head, allowing it to be dynamically adjusted to different heights and angles. This pivotable connection enables the rod assembly to adapt to various user heights and cleaning situations while maintaining structural simplicity through a single rotational degree of freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the rod assembly is made rotatable for lateral positioning, then versatility improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral positioningVSAvoidrotation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The second part of the rod assembly is designed to rotate relative to the first part about a rod rotation axis. This rotational capability allows the sweeping brush to be positioned laterally offset from the operator during cleaning operations, enabling access to difficult-to-reach areas while maintaining a simple two-part rotational joint structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3547871A1Sweeper brush
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG

AI summary

The invention proposes a sweeper brush comprising a sweeper head (12), on which at least one sweeper roller (32) is arranged, comprising a drive motor (30) for driving the at least one sweeper roller (32) in rotation about an axis of rotation (36), comprising a pole device (14) for guiding the sweeper brush, comprising a pivot bearing (46), via which the pole device (14) is connected to the sweeper head (12) and can be pivoted relative to the sweeper head (12) about a pivot axis (48) of the sweeper head, and comprising a fixing device (84), by means of which at least one defined pivot position can be fixed as a fixing position (76; 80) of the pole device (14) in relation to the sweeper head (12) by the sweeper head (12), wherein the fixing device (84) is coupled to an arresting device (118), wherein the arresting device (118), in the at least one fixing position (76; 80), arrests at least one of the following: (i) driving of the at least one sweeper roller (32) in rotation by the drive motor (30); (ii) the ability of a second part (58) of the pole device (14) to rotate relative to a first part (56) of the pole device (14) about an axis of rotation (126) of the pole, wherein the first part (56) is connected to the pivot bearing (46) in a conjointly rotatable manner in relation to the axis of rotation (126) of the pole, and the axis of rotation (126) of the pole is oriented transversely to the pivot axis (48) of the sweeper head.