Wheel fastening system for mobile robot with wheels

• US 10,137,727 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2018
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futaihua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Futaihua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sun, Yu-Chun, Lu, Zhan-Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Gurari, Erez
• Application Number:
  US15/863,846
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 30111105, 384 26, 384 91, 384121, 384125, 384303, 384420, 384416, 384440
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/007 mounted on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/145 using washers or distance bushes
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/16 by bolts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/18 Arrangement of bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0038 the motor moving together with the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0046 the motor moving together with the vehicle body, i.e. moving independently from the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric

Abstract

A wheel fastening system for a wheeled mobile robot includes a chassis, a motor, a wheel, and a thrust bearing. The motor is disposed in the chassis, and the motor turns a shaft connected to the wheel. The thrust bearing is an interference fit between the wheel and the chassis and provides axial support for the wheel to hold the position of the wheel. The wheeled mobile robot does not deviate from a chosen path during movement.

Claims

1. A wheel fastening system for a wheeled mobile robot comprising:

a chassis;

a motor disposed in the chassis, and the motor having a shaft;

a wheel centered on the shaft of the motor; and

a thrust bearing interference fit between the wheel and the chassis, and the thrust bearing withstanding axial loads applied to the wheel.

2. The wheel fastening system of claim 1,

wherein the chassis comprises:

a base;

a cover covering the base; and

a chamber defined between the base and the cover; and

wherein the motor is disposed within the chamber of the chassis.

3. The wheel fastening system of claim 2,

wherein the cover has a side wall;

and

wherein the thrust bearing is an interference fit between the wheel and the side wall of the cover, and the thrust bearing has;

a shaft washer abutting the wheel to rotate with the wheel; and

a housing washer abutting the side wall of the cover and not rotating.

4. The wheel fastening system of claim 2,

wherein the base has a slot;

and

wherein the wheel is partially disposed in the chamber of the chassis and partially protrudes out of the slot of the base.

5. The wheel fastening system of claim 3,

wherein the base has a slot;

and

wherein the wheel is partially disposed in the chamber of the chassis and partially protrudes out of the slot of the base.

6. The wheel fastening system of claim 2, wherein the base is oval shaped.

7. The wheel fastening system of claim 3, wherein the base is oval shaped.

8. The wheel fastening system of claim 4, wherein the base is oval shaped.

9. The wheel fastening system of claim 5, wherein the base is oval shaped.

10. The wheel fastening system of claim 1, wherein the wheel has a hub by which the wheel is centered on the shaft of the motor.

11. The wheel fastening system of claim 2, wherein the wheel has a hub by which the wheel is centered on the shaft of the motor.

12. The wheel fastening system of claim 3, wherein the wheel has a hub by which the wheel is centered on the shaft of the motor.

13. The wheel fastening system of claim 4, wherein the wheel has a hub by which the wheel is centered on the shaft of the motor.

14. The wheel fastening system of claim 5, wherein the wheel has a hub by which the wheel is centered on the shaft of the motor.

15. The wheel fastening system of claim 6, wherein the wheel has a hub by which the wheel is centered on the shaft of the motor.

16. The wheel fastening system of claim 10, further comprising a screw, wherein the screw passes through the hub of the wheel and is coupled to the shaft of the motor to secure the wheel to the shaft of the motor.

17. The wheel fastening system of claim 11, further comprising a screw, wherein the screw passes through the hub of the wheel and is coupled to the shaft of the motor to secure the wheel to the shaft of the motor.

18. The wheel fastening system of claim 12, further comprising a screw, wherein the screw passes through the hub of the wheel and is coupled to the shaft of the motor to secure the wheel to the shaft of the motor.

19. The wheel fastening system of claim 13, further comprising a screw, wherein the screw passes through the hub of the wheel and is coupled to the shaft of the motor to secure the wheel to the shaft of the motor.

20. The wheel fastening system of claim 14, further comprising a screw, wherein the screw passes through the hub of the wheel and is coupled to the shaft of the motor to secure the wheel to the shaft of the motor.