Wheel assembly and robot cleaner having same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners face a decrease in contact force of the drive wheel when navigating surfaces with height differences due to changes in the elastic force of conventional elastic members, affecting their traveling performance on various floor conditions.
Innovation Solution
A wheel assembly with a rotation arm and an elastic member where the second end of the elastic member is vertically movable, allowing the drive wheel to maintain contact force by adjusting the angle between the elastic member and the guide, thereby reducing the reduction in contact force when the drive wheel displaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a conventional elastic member (tension coil spring) is used to press the drive wheel against the ground surface, then the drive wheel can generate frictional force for driving the robot cleaner, but the elastic force changes according to drive wheel displacement when navigating height differences, causing contact force to decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the second end of the elastic member vertically movable relative to the rotation arm. This dynamic configuration allows the elastic member to adjust its position as the drive wheel displaces over height differences, maintaining consistent elastic force and contact force on the ground surface despite changes in drive wheel position.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the drive wheel is allowed to displace vertically to navigate height differences, then the robot cleaner can travel over various floor conditions, but the displacement causes reduction in elastic restoring force and contact force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by enabling vertical movement of the elastic member's second end relative to the rotation arm. This dynamic adjustment mechanism ensures that as the drive wheel displaces to navigate height differences, the elastic member repositions itself to maintain consistent elastic restoring force, preventing force reduction during adaptation to various floor conditions.
3Device complexity
If the elastic member is fixed rigidly to the rotation arm, then the structure is simple, but the contact force decreases significantly when the drive wheel displaces over height differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the contradiction between structural simplicity and force maintenance by introducing a vertically movable connection for the elastic member's second end. This dynamic but relatively simple mechanism allows the elastic member to adjust its position without complex structures, maintaining contact force while accommodating drive wheel displacement over height differences.
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 wheel assembly maintains a consistent contact force by increasing torque applied to the rotation arm, reducing the decrease in contact force due to elastic restoring force reduction, ensuring stable performance on different floor heights.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member including a first end installed at the main body and a second end vertically moveably installed at the rotation arm opposite the first end
Implementation Method 2
the drive wheel drives the main body of the robot cleaner using a frictional force generated between the drive wheel and a ground surface
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are a wheel assembly and a robot cleaner including a main body and a wheel assembly coupled to the main body to guide movement of the main body. The wheel assembly has a rotation arm including a first end portion rotatably mounted on the main body, a drive wheel rotatably installed on a second end portion of the rotation arm opposite the first end portion, and an elastic member including a first end installed at the main body and a second end vertically moveably installed at the rotation arm opposite the first end, such that a reduction degree of a contact force due to a descent of the drive wheel.