SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ROBOTIC GUTTER CLEANING ALONG AN AXIS OF ROTATION

• US 20080216869A1
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: Umagination Labs, LP
• Inventors: Robinson, Jason, Dayton, Douglas C., Park, Sung, Abele, Karl Eaton
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/00 Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/049 having self-contained propelling means for moving the cleaning devices along the pipes , i.e. self-propelled
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/051 the cleaning devices having internal motors , e.g. turbines for powering cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/0765 Cleaning tools

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention, a gutter-cleaning device comprises a housing containing an impeller drive facility, the housing configured to fit into a gutter, an impeller, disposed at an end of the housing and driven by the impeller drive facility, and a transport facility for transporting the housing along the gutter

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning a gutter, the apparatus comprising:

a housing adapted to fit into a gutter;

an impeller drive facility connected to the housing;

an impeller connected to the impeller drive facility, the impeller having an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation oriented toward an inside corner of the gutter, the impeller drive facility adapted to rotate the impeller on the axis of rotation; and

a transport drive connected to the housing, the transport drive adapted to transport the housing through the gutter, transport of the housing through the gutter causing the impeller to travel along an axis of motion, the axis of motion differing from the axis of rotation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the impeller includes a blade extending past a rotating joint, the rotating joint between the impeller and the rest of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the impeller includes a flexible blade adapted both to deflect when brought into contact with the gutter and to release when brought out of contact with the gutter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a spherical bearing disposed on the impeller, wherein the impeller is tapered and has a tip, the bearing disposed at the tip.

109. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the impeller is removably connected.

5. A method for cleaning a gutter, comprising:

adapting a housing to fit into a gutter;

connecting an impeller drive facility to the housing;

connecting an impeller to the impeller drive facility, the impeller having an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation oriented toward an inside corner of the gutter, the impeller drive facility adapted to rotate the impeller on the axis of rotation; and

connecting a transport drive to the housing, the transport drive adapted to transport the housing through the gutter, transport of the housing through the gutter causing the impeller to travel along an axis of motion, the axis of motion differing from the axis of rotation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the impeller includes a blade extending past a rotating joint, the rotating joint between the impeller and the rest of the apparatus.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the impeller includes a flexible blade adapted both to deflect when brought into contact with the gutter and to release when brought out of contact with the gutter.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising a spherical bearing disposed on the impeller, wherein the impeller is tapered and has a tip, the bearing disposed at the tip.

110. The method of claim 5, wherein the impeller is removably connected.

9. An apparatus for cleaning a gutter, the apparatus comprising:

a housing adapted to fit into a gutter, the housing having a longitudinal axis;

an impeller drive facility connected to the housing; and

a circuit both disposed inside the housing and operatively coupled to the impeller drive facility, wherein

the circuit is adapted to communicate a control signal to the impeller drive facility, the control signal responsive to a rotation about the longitudinal axis.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control signal is adapted to reduce a torque of the impeller drive facility.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control signal is adapted to reverse a torque of the impeller drive facility.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the circuit contains a sensor selected from the group consisting of a gyroscope and an accelerometer.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a second impeller drive facility both connected to the housing and operatively coupled to the circuit, wherein

the circuit is further adapted to communicate a second control signal to the second impeller drive facility, the second control signal responsive to the rotation about the longitudinal axis.

14. A method for cleaning a gutter, comprising:

adapting a housing to fit into a gutter, the housing having a longitudinal axis;

an impeller drive facility connected to the housing; and

disposing a circuit both inside the housing and operatively coupled to the impeller drive facility, wherein

the circuit is adapted to communicate a control signal to the impeller drive facility, the control signal responsive to a rotation about the longitudinal axis.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the control signal is adapted to reduce a torque of the impeller drive facility.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the control signal is adapted to reverse a torque of the impeller drive facility.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the circuit contains a sensor selected from the group consisting of a gyroscope and an accelerometer.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

connecting a second impeller drive facility to the housing and operatively coupling the second impeller drive facility to the circuit, wherein

the circuit is further adapted to communicate a second control signal to the second impeller drive facility, the second control signal responsive to the rotation about the longitudinal axis.

19-108. -108. (canceled)