Vacuum Adhesion Partition Structure for Uneven Wall Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum adhesion devices struggle to maintain stable adhesion on wall surfaces with gaps and irregularities due to reduced adhesion force and the risk of partitions being pulled into the decompression space.
Innovation Solution
The adhesion device employs elastic first and second partitions with connecting members and a decompression device to create a decompression space, which are designed to deform and maintain contact with the wall surface while preventing excessive pulling into the space, using urethane rubber sheets and a restricting member to enhance stability and reduce rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a partition made of less rigid material is used to cope with gaps and irregularities on the wall surface, then adhesion stability is improved, but the partition may be pulled into the decompression space and hinder stable adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The partition is constructed using flexible materials such as elastic bodies or thin-walled tubes that can deform to conform to wall surface irregularities while maintaining structural integrity. This flexibility allows the partition to adapt to gaps and roughness without being pulled into the decompression space, resolving the contradiction between adhesion stability and position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition includes protrusions that extend toward the wall surface before adhesion occurs. These protrusions make initial contact with the wall surface, providing beforehand cushioning that prevents the partition from being suddenly pulled into the decompression space when adhesion force is applied, thus maintaining both adhesion stability and position stability.
2Reliability
If vacuum adhesion is used on wall surfaces with gaps and irregularities, then adhesion force is reduced, but using a partition may cause it to be pulled into the decompression space
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible partition material conforms to wall surface irregularities and gaps, maintaining sealing effectiveness without requiring high adhesion force. This prevents partition intrusion while preserving adequate adhesion force for stable attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions on the partition provide beforehand cushioning by making initial contact with the wall surface, preventing the partition from being pulled into the decompression space and maintaining adhesion force even on irregular surfaces.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid partition is used to maintain structural stability, then partition position is maintained, but it cannot adapt to gaps and irregularities on the wall surface
Solution Approach 1:
The partition uses flexible materials that can deform to adapt to wall surface irregularities and gaps, maintaining both structural stability and adhesion stability. The flexibility allows the partition to conform to the surface while preventing intrusion into the decompression space.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can adapt its shape in response to wall surface conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the partition to maintain position stability while conforming to irregularities for stable adhesion.
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 device achieves stable adhesion on uneven wall surfaces by maintaining contact and reducing the risk of partitions being pulled into the decompression space, ensuring consistent movement and adhesion force.
Implementation Method 1
the air in the space between the robot and the surface to be adhered to is exhausted to depressurize the space, and the robot is adhered to the surface by the difference of pressure between the space and the atmosphere
Implementation Method 2
an first partition and a second partition made with an elastic body or a thin-walled tube
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An adhesion device 10 that defines a decompression space D to be decompressed between a wall surface W and the adhesion device 10, and adheres to the wall surface W, comprises: a base 11 disposed facing a wall surface W at a distance from the wall surface W and connected to a decompression device 14 that depressurizes the decompression space D created between the base 11 and the wall surface W; a first partition 12 disposed on a fringe of the base 11, wherein the first partition 12 forms the base 11 side portion of the peripheral wall of the decompression space D with an elastic member; a second partition 13 disposed on the wall surface W side than the first partition 12, wherein the wall surface W side portion of the peripheral wall of the decompression space D is formed by an elastic member so that the wall surface W side end of the second partition 13 contacts the wall surface W; and a first restricting member 16 formed in a frame shape corresponding to that of the second partition 13 by a member having a higher rigidity than that of the second partition 13, wherein the first restricting member 16 is disposed on the second partition 13 so as to restrict the deformation of the base 11 side end of the second partition 13 being pulled into the decompression space D as the decompression space D becomes negative pressure.