Sweeper Suction Device Linkage Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-propelled sweepers face issues with high maintenance costs due to wear and tear of suction shafts guided on wheels or skids, exposure to damage from obstacles, and clogging risks from long suction hoses that restrict operational safety and free space.
Innovation Solution
A suspension system for the suction device connected to the chassis, allowing it to float above the ground with independent wheel suspension, pivotable wheel carriers, and a lever arm mechanism that adjusts the suction device's position relative to the floor, ensuring a stable and adaptable working position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the suction shaft is guided on wheels or skids, then the suction device can maintain contact with the ground surface for effective cleaning, but heavy wear and tear occurs due to contact with the ground surface resulting in high maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
A linkage mechanism with lever arms acts as an intermediary between the wheel carriers and the suction device. The lever arms transfer the vertical movements of the wheels to the suction device, maintaining its position relative to the ground without direct contact between the suction device and ground surface, thereby eliminating wear and tear.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction device is made dynamically adjustable through the linkage mechanism. As the wheels move up and down on uneven surfaces, the lever arms automatically adjust the suction device's vertical position to maintain consistent spacing from the ground, replacing static mounting with dynamic adaptation.
2Productivity
If the suction nozzle is positioned in front of the front axle, then it can effectively collect sweepings, but it is exposed to damage from obstacles resulting in operational interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device is repositioned to a pivotable mounting between the front wheels, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. The linkage mechanism enables the suction device to follow the contour of the ground surface while being protected from direct impact with obstacles by the wheel carriers and linkage structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If a long flat suction hose is connected to the suction nozzle positioned in front of the front axle, then the suction device can be connected to the waste collection container behind the driver's cab, but blockage risk increases and operational safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The suction hose routing is changed from a long horizontal path through the driver's cab to a shorter path that utilizes the vertical and lateral space between the front wheels. The pivotable mounting allows the hose to be routed externally along the chassis in a more direct path, reducing length and blockage risk.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A self-propelled sweeper (1) for cleaning drivable and/or walkable, preferably solid floor surfaces (13) such as traffic areas, roads, airports and industrial plants, consists of a chassis (2) with a motor-driven axle (5) having at least one steerable wheel (16 to 19) to influence the direction of travel, which is aligned transversely to the direction of travel (F) of the sweeper (1) and spaced apart one behind the other, and with a refuse collection container (9) mounted on the chassis (2) for receiving sweepings by means of a suction unit mounted on the chassis (2) having a suction blower, which is connected by a line to a suction device (11) arranged at the front end of a suction air line (11),wherein the suction device (10) formed with a suction nozzle is attached to the chassis (2) projecting downwards at a distance above the ground surface (13), and wherein a driver's cab (7) is mounted on the chassis (2) above the front axle (5) and a sweeping device (15) arranged below this cab, in front of the front axle (5), which gathers the material to be swept, wherein the suction device (10), which is suspended near the ground between two wheels (16, 17) of the front axle (5), which has an independent wheel suspension (8) or a rigid axle, is connected to the wheel carriers (32, 33) forming the wheel suspension of the driving axle (5), which are pivotably supported on the chassis (2) about approximately horizontal axes, in a way that allows it to be raised and lowered, and is guided on a link (38) that is movable in approximately one plane.