Autonomous planar surface cleaning robot

• US 10,188,254 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecovacs Robotics, Inc. (Ecovacs Robotics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Ecovacs Robotics, Inc. (Ecovacs Robotics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Qian, Dongqi
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG V
• Application Number:
  US15/488,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20170215662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/02 Power-driven machines or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/38 Machines, specially adapted for cleaning walls, ceilings, roofs, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4072 Arrangement of castors or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/06 Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/04 by means of separate power sources
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/06 with tracks without ground wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/16 comprising worm and worm-wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/28 with gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/041 for conveying rotary motion with constant gear ratio
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles

Abstract

A planar surface cleaning system including a main body, at least one vacuum source, and a cleaning component is disclosed. The main body includes a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion defines an outer portion defining a surface area about a perimeter thereof and an inner portion defining a cavity formed within the outer portion. The at least one vacuum source is supported by the main body and is in fluid communication with the cavity. The cleaning component covers the surface area defined on the outer portion and is removably connected to the outer portion. The planar surface cleaning system further includes a handle portion. The handle portion may be connected to the main body via a U portion.

Claims

1. A planar surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a main body having a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion defining an outer portion defining a surface area about a perimeter thereof and an inner portion defining a cavity formed within the outer portion;

at least one vacuum source supported by the main body and in fluid communication with the cavity;

a cleaning component disposed over the surface area defined on the outer portion of the bottom portion of the main body; and

a connector pole comprising;

a handle portion; and

a U portion connected to the handle portion, wherein the U portion is pivotally connected to the main body.

2. The planar surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleaning component is removably connected to the outer portion of the bottom portion of the main body.

3. The planar surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleaning component provides a vacuum seal between a planar surface and the cavity when the cleaning component is applied against the planar surface.

4. The planar surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cleaning component is configured to substantially maintain a vacuum pressure between the cavity and the planar surface during operation of the at least one vacuum source.

5. The planar surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein the vacuum pressure is sufficient to attach the cleaning apparatus to the planar surface while allowing the cleaning apparatus to move about the planar surface.

6. The planar surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface area is defined by an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter of the outer portion, wherein the cleaning component defines an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, and wherein the outer perimeter of the cleaning component is substantially aligned with the outer perimeter of the outer portion.

7. The planar surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface area is defined by an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter of the outer portion, wherein the cleaning component defines an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, and wherein a vacuum sealing area is defined by the outer perimeter and the inner perimeter of the cleaning component.

8. The planar surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of apertures are defined in the surface area of the outer portion, wherein the plurality of apertures are in fluid communication with the cavity, and wherein the plurality of apertures are covered by the cleaning component.

9. The planar surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the outer portion defines first and second sides transverse to a direction of motion, and wherein the plurality of apertures are defined in the first and second sides.

10. The planar surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cleaning component is configured to substantially maintain a vacuum pressure between the cavity and a planar surface when the cleaning component is applied against the planar surface during operation of the at least one vacuum source, and wherein the cleaning component is further configured to expose at least one of the plurality of apertures such that the vacuum pressure decreases when the cleaning component encounters a gap in or an edge of the planar surface.

11. The planar surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleaning component is a duster or a sponge.

12. A planar surface cleaning system, comprising:

a main body including a bottom portion, the bottom portion defining an outer portion defining a surface area about a perimeter thereof and an inner portion defining a cavity formed within the outer portion;

at least one vacuum source supported by the main body and in fluid communication with the cavity;

a cleaning component covering the surface area defined on the outer portion, wherein the cleaning component is removably connected to the outer portion; and

a handle portion.

13. The planar surface cleaning system of claim 12, wherein the cleaning component is configured to substantially maintain a vacuum pressure between the cavity and a planar surface when the cleaning component is applied against the planar surface during operation of the at least one vacuum source.

14. The planar surface cleaning system of claim 13, wherein a plurality of apertures are defined in the surface area of the outer portion, wherein the plurality of apertures are in fluid communication with the cavity, and wherein the plurality of apertures are covered by the cleaning component.

15. The planar surface cleaning system of claim 14, wherein the cleaning component is further configured to expose at least one of the plurality of apertures such that the vacuum pressure decreases when the cleaning component encounters a gap in or an edge of the planar surface.

16. The planar surface cleaning system of claim 13, wherein the vacuum pressure is sufficient to attach the cleaning system to the planar surface while allowing the cleaning system to move about the planar surface.

17. A planar surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a main body having a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion defines;

an outer portion defining an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, wherein the outer perimeter and the inner perimeter define a surface area; and

an inner portion defining a cavity formed within the outer portion,

at least one vacuum source supported by the main body and in fluid communication with the cavity;

a duster disposed over the surface area defined by the outer perimeter and the inner perimeter of the outer portion, wherein the duster defines an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, and wherein a vacuum sealing area is defined by the outer perimeter and the inner perimeter of the duster; and

a handle portion.

18. The planar surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17, wherein the duster is configured to substantially maintain a vacuum pressure between the cavity and a planar surface when the vacuum sealing area is applied against the planar surface during operation of the at least one vacuum source.

19. The planar surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18, wherein a plurality of apertures are defined in the surface area defined by the outer perimeter and the inner perimeter of the outer portion, wherein the plurality of apertures are in fluid communication with the cavity, and wherein the plurality of apertures are covered by the duster.

20. The planar surface cleaning apparatus of claim 19, wherein the duster is further configured to expose one or more than one of the plurality of apertures such that the vacuum pressure is reduced when the duster encounters a gap in or an edge of the planar surface.