Self-propelled floor processing device with an obstacle detection device having a bumper and at least one impact sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-propelled floor processing devices face reduced sensor sensitivity due to non-uniform displacement and tilting of bumpers during collisions, leading to suboptimal impact detection, especially when forces act transversely to the usual direction of movement.
Innovation Solution
The bumper is mounted to the base body via a swivel joint, allowing for uniform movement in different planes and eliminating the need for elastically resettable materials, with a high hardness material used to complement the tilting rigidity of the swivel joint, ensuring consistent impact detection sensitivity regardless of force direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the bumper is mounted with linear bearings for parallel guidance, then the bumper can be displaced in a controlled manner, but tilting moments cause skewing or canting that reduces sensor sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the linear bearing mechanical guidance system with a swivel joint mechanism. This substitution eliminates the tilting and skewing problems inherent in linear bearings by allowing the bumper to pivot freely while maintaining stable connection to the base body, thereby preserving sensor sensitivity across all impact directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mounting parameters of the bumper by introducing a swivel joint with specific geometric characteristics. The swivel joint's axis orientation and pivot point positioning are optimized to ensure uniform working strokes regardless of impact direction, transforming the bumper's movement characteristics from constrained linear guidance to free pivoting motion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If elastically resettable material is used in the pushbutton element, then transverse impacts can be detected, but component deformation occurs that reduces working stroke uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the elastic resettable material from the pushbutton element, removing the source of deformation and working stroke non-uniformity. The bumper is instead made from high hardness material that maintains dimensional stability, while the swivel joint provides the necessary movement freedom to detect impacts from all directions without relying on material elasticity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite approach by combining high hardness bumper material with the swivel joint mechanism. This combination achieves both detection versatility and manufacturing precision: the hard material prevents deformation while the swivel joint enables uniform movement and consistent working strokes across all impact planes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bumper is designed to follow the outline of the base body in a U-shape, then both frontal and lateral collisions can be detected, but the mechanics require more installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The swivel joint mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides stable mounting, enables uniform movement in all directions, and allows the bumper to detect both frontal and lateral collisions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for elaborate U-shaped configurations, achieving comprehensive collision detection with more compact mechanics.
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 design enhances the sensitivity and reliability of obstacle detection by allowing uniform working strokes and consistent collision detection across all planes, reducing the installation space required and preventing tilting, thus improving the overall performance of the impact sensor system.
Implementation Method 1
the bumper be mounted to the base body via at least one swivel joint... the bumper... is no longer arranged on the base body with bearings for parallel guidance, but rather mounted to the base body via a swivel joint. Due to the tilt-resistant and low-friction bearing via the swivel joint, it is sufficient that one or several impact sensors be arranged in just a single plane in order to be able to detect impacts on all planes of the bumper with enough sensitivity.
Implementation Method 2
the impact sensor is configured to detect a displacement of the bumper relative to the base body
Data Source
AI summary
A self-propelled floor processing device includes a base body, a driving device, and an obstacle detection device for detecting a collision between the floor processing device and an obstacle, wherein the obstacle detection device has a bumper arranged in a protruding position on the base body, as well as at least one impact sensor allocated to the bumper. The impact sensor is configured to detect a displacement of the bumper relative to the base body. In order to create an obstacle detection device that functions optimally independently of a position and direction of a force acting from outside, the bumper is mounted to the base body via at least one swivel joint.