Vacuum Cleaning Robot Suction Cup for Obstacle-Sealed Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robots used for cleaning surfaces, such as windows and doors, face issues with unstable center of gravity due to wind, leading to excessive brushing force, potential accidents, and incomplete cleaning due to the inability to maintain airtight contact with the surface when encountering obstacles, resulting in leakage and poor operational force distribution.
Innovation Solution
A robot design featuring a suction cup that can move relative to its body, with a pump module creating negative pressure and through holes for pivot insertion, allowing the suction cup to maintain contact and distribute forces effectively, preventing leakage and ensuring airtight contact even when encountering obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the traveling unit travels on an obstructer, then the robot can navigate obstacles, but the robot tilts or lifts up causing leakage of the closed space
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup is divided into multiple independent suction sub-regions that can deform independently. When the traveling unit encounters an obstacle, certain suction sub-regions can deform to accommodate the obstacle while others maintain sealing contact, preventing overall leakage and maintaining reliable operation.
2Speed
If the ratio of acting force of traveling unit to operational unit is improper, then the robot can travel, but it skids and cannot travel forward effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup's deformability allows the distribution of acting forces to be dynamically adjusted. When encountering obstacles or varying surface conditions, the suction cup deforms to optimize the force ratio between the traveling unit and operational unit, preventing skidding and ensuring effective forward motion.
3Ease of operation
If the operational unit has insufficient acting force, then the robot can travel smoothly, but it cannot clean the operation surface effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable suction cup allows dynamic redistribution of the negative pressure acting force. When cleaning power is needed, the suction cup deforms to increase the force ratio on the operational unit, providing sufficient cleaning power while maintaining traveling capability through the same adaptive mechanism.
4Device complexity
If the suction cup is fixed to the main body, then the structure is simple, but it cannot determine the ratio of acting forces and maintain airtight contact when encountering obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cup is made deformable rather than rigidly fixed, allowing it to adapt its shape and force distribution when encountering obstacles. This dynamic capability enables the system to maintain airtight contact and determine appropriate acting force ratios without requiring complex rigid mechanical structures or additional sensors.
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 robot maintains airtight contact and consistent force distribution, preventing leakage and ensuring effective cleaning by adjusting the acting forces on the traveling devices and suction cup, allowing for stable operation and complete surface cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
The pump module is disposed in the body. The suction cup can move relative to the body. Upon an operation of the robot, the body, the suction cup and the plate form a closed space. The closed space is kept at a negative pressure by use of the pump module.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A robot comprises a body, at least one traveling device, a suction cup and a pump module. The at least one traveling device disposed in the body is for causing the robot to move on a surface of a plate. The suction cup and the pump module are disposed in the body. The suction cup can move relative to the body. Upon an operation of the robot, the body, the suction cup and the plate form a closed space, and the closed space is kept at a negative pressure by use of the pump module.