Submerged Surface Cleaning Device with Integrated Wheel-Driven Brushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swimming pool cleaning devices are large, heavy, and energy-intensive due to separate driving and brushing mechanisms, making them difficult to maintain, inefficient, and requiring complex material selection for brushes based on pool surfaces, leading to increased hydraulic drag and ineffective debris collection.
Innovation Solution
A device with a hollow body driven by wheels, featuring a brushing mechanism rotated by a brush pinion engaged with an internally toothed ring, allowing independent replacement and operation, reducing size, weight, and energy consumption, while maintaining effective cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate members for driving the device and rotating the brushing device are used, then the brushing function is independent and effective, but the device becomes large, heavy, and energy-intensive with increased hydraulic drag
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the driving function and brushing rotation function into a single integrated driving member (wheel). The wheel simultaneously propels the device forward and rotates the brushing device through direct mechanical connection, eliminating the need for separate driving mechanisms. This merging reduces the overall number of components, decreases device weight, and lowers energy consumption while maintaining effective independent brushing operation.
2Device complexity
If lateral chains are used for driving and rotating the brushing device, then both movement and rotation are provided by one mechanism, but maintenance becomes complex requiring specialist technicians
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the brushing device into a separate, independently replaceable module that can be easily detached from the driving member. The brushing device is designed as a distinct component with its own mounting structure, allowing users to remove and replace it without disassembling the driving mechanism or chains. This segmentation maintains the integrated driving function while dramatically simplifying maintenance operations.
3Power
If lateral chains are used for driving, then the device can be driven effectively, but the extensive contact surfaces cause significant energy losses due to friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chain-driven mechanical system with a direct wheel-based driving system. Instead of using lateral chains that create extensive friction contact surfaces, the device uses wheels that roll along the pool surface, significantly reducing friction losses. The brushing device is rotated through direct mechanical connection to the wheel, maintaining effective power transmission while minimizing energy losses to friction.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If motorized wheels with roughness occurrences are used for driving and brushing, then a substantial floor guard can be provided, but the brushing effectiveness is reduced as debris are projected towards the rear not towards the liquid inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional wheel-based brushing approach by positioning the brushing device to rotate in the opposite direction or at a different location on the wheel structure. Instead of brushes on the wheel periphery that throw debris backward, the brushing device is arranged to rotate such that debris are propelled forward toward the liquid inlet. This inversion maintains the floor guard capability of motorized wheels while dramatically improving debris collection efficiency.
5Force
If brushes of hard material are used, then traction for the device is provided, but effective brushing is not achieved as the brush does not slide over the immersed surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different materials for different functions: the wheel surface uses hard material for traction, while the brushing device uses softer material that can slide effectively over the pool surface. The brushing device is positioned and oriented such that its contact surface with the pool wall is optimized for sliding action, while the wheel maintains its grip on the pool floor. This localized material differentiation resolves the contradiction between needing hard surfaces for traction and soft surfaces for effective brushing.
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 is smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient, with reduced hydraulic drag, allowing for easy maintenance and effective brushing regardless of brush material, ensuring constant speed and improved cleaning performance without the need for complex disassembly or specialist intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a brush pinion (42) which is engaged in a ring (5) of a wheel (2) and which is connected to the brushing device in such a manner that a rotation of this wheel (2) in one direction brings about a rotation of the brush pinion (42) and a rotation of the brushing device about the brushing axis in the same direction as the rotation direction of the wheel (2)
Implementation Method 2
the contact surfaces between the chains and the immersed surface are extensive, which brings about significant losses of energy owing to friction
Data Source
AI summary
Detailed is a device for cleaning an immersed surface including a body, members for driving this body over the immersed surface in a longitudinal direction, including a wheel, a device for brushing the immersed surface, a mechanism for rotating the brushing device about a brushing axis, wherein the driving mechanism of the brushing device includes: an internally toothed ring which is fixedly joined to a wheel, a brush pinion which is fixedly joined to the brushing device and which is engaged in the ring of this drive wheel in such a manner that a rotation of this drive wheel brings about a rotation of the brushing device about the brushing axis thereof in the same rotation direction.