Hand Sweeper Pivotable Support Roller for Uneven Terrain
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hand-held sweepers face challenges in handling uneven surfaces and preventing the rear area from lowering excessively, especially when filled with heavy debris, which can lead to contact with the ground and overdetermination.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held sweeper design featuring a pivotable support roller with a fork and rotatable support wheel, allowing the sweeper to tilt and maintain contact with the ground, preventing the rear area from lowering excessively and enabling operation over uneven surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed support wheel is arranged behind the running wheels to prevent the rear area from lowering, then the rear area is stabilized, but the sweeper cannot operate over uneven surfaces due to overdetermination
Solution Approach 1:
The support roller is designed to be pivotable about a pivot axis parallel to its rotation axis, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position between a use position (protruding to prevent rear lowering) and a retracted position (tilted back to allow rear area contact with ground). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the support structure adaptable to different terrain conditions while maintaining stability when needed.
2Volume of stationary object
If the rear area protrudes far beyond the running wheels to accommodate a collection container, then the collection capacity is increased, but the rear area lowers excessively and may contact the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable support roller allows the rear area to be positioned lower to accommodate larger collection containers while preventing excessive lowering. When the container is full or the terrain requires it, the support roller pivots to the use position to prop up the rear area, maintaining proper clearance and preventing ground contact.
3Ease of operation
If a heavy push handle protrudes backwards to improve operator control, then the handling is improved, but the rear area lowers excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable support roller compensates for the rearward protrusion of the heavy push handle by providing dynamic support. When the handle causes the rear area to lower excessively, the support roller pivots to the use position to prevent over-lowering, maintaining proper geometry while allowing the operator to retain control benefits.
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
The pivotable support roller system allows for reliable operation over uneven surfaces by maintaining contact with the ground and preventing the rear area from sinking, ensuring effective debris collection and improved handling.
Implementation Method 1
a spring can be provided, which forces the support roller into the position of use
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a hand-operated sweeper (1) with a housing (10), with at least one sweeping element (3, 4), with two running wheels (2) arranged on opposite sides of the housing (10) behind the at least one sweeping element (3, 4) in the direction of travel, and with at least one support roller (5) arranged behind the running wheels (2) on the housing (10) comprising a fork (50) and a support wheel (52) rotatable on the fork (50) about a pivot axis (54), wherein the fork (50) is pivotably mounted on the housing (10) about a pivot axis (55) arranged parallel to the pivot axis (54) and remains pivotable in use, so that the support roller (5) can be pivoted from a working position to a tilting position in use.