Sweeper Hydraulic Transmission for Consistent Brush Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sweepers with two main wheels are less efficient when navigating curved paths compared to straight lines due to varying motor torque distribution, leading to inconsistent performance.
Innovation Solution
A sweeper design utilizing two main wheels connected to hydraulic pumps in parallel, driving hydraulic motors that power accessories such as brushes and a turbine, ensuring consistent power delivery regardless of the path, with speed multipliers and non-return valves to maintain efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional mechanical transmission (belt or chain) is used to drive accessories from main wheels, then the structure is simple, but the transmission efficiency varies when turning and the system is sensitive to dust
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulic transmission by connecting hydraulic pumps to the main wheels and hydraulic motors to the accessories. The hydraulic fluid transmits power from the pumps (driven by wheels) through hoses to the motors (driving brushes and turbine), providing reliable power transmission that is insensitive to dust and maintains consistent performance during turns.
2Speed
If gear transmission with speed multiplication is used in each wheel, then the accessory can be driven at appropriate speed, but the brush speed varies significantly when turning
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system naturally compensates for speed variations during turning. When the sweeper turns, one wheel rotates faster than the other, but the hydraulic fluid distributes power to maintain relatively consistent brush speeds, eliminating the extreme variations caused by direct mechanical gear transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses speed multipliers (gear reductions) between the wheel-driven pumps and the accessory-driven motors to optimize operational speeds. The hydraulic system allows independent control of each accessory's speed parameter, maintaining stability even when wheel speeds vary during turning.
3Productivity
If hydraulic transmission with two pumps in parallel is used, then consistent power delivery is achieved during turns, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into independent modules: two wheel-driven pumps connected in parallel, multiple accessory-driven motors, and connecting hydraulic hoses. This modular segmentation allows consistent power delivery to each accessory independently, maintaining sweeping efficiency during turns while making the system manageable and maintainable.
4Power
If non-return valves and flow dividers are added to the hydraulic circuit, then power distribution is optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Non-return valves and flow dividers act as intermediary components in the hydraulic circuit. The non-return valves prevent backflow and ensure unidirectional power transmission, while flow dividers distribute hydraulic fluid efficiently between parallel pumps and motors, optimizing power distribution without requiring complex control systems.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a sweeper (100) comprising two main wheels (210a, 210b), at least one accessory (410, 420, 440) especially intended for sweeping or suction, a means of driving said accessory via the main wheels, a dust collection bin (430), said accessory being composed of a brush (420) having a horizontal axle intended for sending the dust into the collection bin (430), the brush (420) having a horizontal axle being rotated by a hydraulic motor (520). The sweeper is noteworthy in that the hydraulic motor (520) is coupled to two hydraulic pumps (560a, 560b), which are connected in parallel and respectively rotated by the two main wheels (210a, 210b) or the hydraulic motor (520) is connected to one hydraulic pump (560c), driven by a differential bridge (240) that is driven by the two main wheels (210a, 210b). By virtue of this hydraulic transmission, the sweeper thus uses its two main wheels, in all circumstances, to drive its accessory or accessories. It operates both when it is moved in a straight line or when it follows a curved trajectory.