DOCKING SYSTEM FOR A SELF-PROPELLED WORKING TOOL

• US 20030094922A1
• Filed: 01/07/2003
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Bjorn Spaak, Lars Sundberg, Ulf Petersson
• Inventors: Spaak, Bjorn, Sundberg, Lars, Petersson, Ulf
• Granted Patent: US 6,586,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/02 Docking stations; Docking operations
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2852 Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0265 using buried wires
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0203 Cleaning or polishing vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0208 Lawn mower
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0215 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A system includes a docking station, for location on a surface to be worked, and a self-propelled working tool. The station has a primary transmission part. The tool has a body, a surface-engaging wheel, and a secondary transmission part. The station and the tool can establish contact with each other and the tool can drive up to the station and achieve a docking position wherein the transmission parts contact and cooperate. In one aspect, the secondary transmission part is located on an upper portion of the body. In another aspect, the station includes a part spaced upwardly away from the surface, with the primary transmission part located thereon and directed downwardly. In another aspect, a portion of the body is located beneath a portion of the part upon which the primary part is located and the wheel remains engaged with the surface when in the docking position.

Claims

1. A docking system including:

a docking station for location on a surface to be worked upon, the docking station having a primary transmission part for transfer of energy and/or information; and

a self-propelled working tool for movement on the surface, the tool having a body, a surface-engaging wheel supporting the body, and a secondary transmission part, located on the body, for transfer of energy and/or information, the docking station and the tool can by way of emitted signals establish contact with each other so that the tool can drive up to the docking station and achieve a docking position wherein the primary and secondary transmission parts contact and cooperate to transfer of energy and/or information;

wherein the secondary transmission part being located on an upper portion of the body of the tool.

2. A docking system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the secondary transmission part points upwardly.

3. A docking system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the primary transmission part points downwardly.

4. A docking system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the docking station has a part spaced upwardly away from the surface, and the primary transmission part is located on the part spaced upwardly away from the surface.

5. A docking system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the docking station has a part extending upward from the surface, and the part spaced upwardly away from the surface is located on the upwardly extending part.

6. A docking system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the docking station and the tool are configured such that at least a portion of the tool body is located beneath the part spaced upwardly away from the surface when the primary and secondary transmission parts contact each other in the docking position.

7. A docking system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body of the tool has a nose, and the secondary transmission part is located on the nose of the body.

8. A docking system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first transmission part includes two contact elements, the secondary transmission part includes two contact elements, and the two contact elements of the secondary transmission part are spaced from each other on the nose of the body.

9. A docking system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the nose of the body is squared, and a first contact element of the secondary transmission part is located on a first side of the squared nose and a second contact element of the secondary transmission part is located on a second side of the squared nose.

10. A docking system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first transmission part includes two contact elements, the secondary transmission part includes two contact elements, and the two contact elements of the secondary transmission part are spaced from each other on the body of the tool.

11. A docking system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the docking station and the tool are configured such that at least a portion of the tool body is located above a portion of the docking station when the primary and secondary transmission parts contact each other in the docking position.

12. A docking system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tool has a surface-engaging wheel supporting the body, and the docking station and the tool are configured such that the surface engaging wheel remains engaged with the surface when the primary and secondary transmission parts contact each other in the docking position.

13. A docking system including:

a docking station for location on a surface to be worked upon, the docking station having a primary transmission part for transfer of energy and/or information; and

a self-propelled working tool for movement on the surface, the tool having a body, a surface-engaging wheel supporting the body, and a secondary transmission part, located on the body, for transfer of energy and/or information, the docking station and the tool can by way of emitted signals establish contact with each other so that the tool can drive up to the docking station and achieve a docking position wherein the primary and secondary transmission parts contact and cooperate to transfer of energy and/or information;

wherein the docking station includes a part spaced upwardly away from the surface, the primary transmission part being located on the part and being directed downwardly toward the surface.

14. A docking system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the secondary transmission part points upwardly.

15. A docking system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the docking station has a part extending upward from the surface, and the part spaced upwardly away from the surface is located on the upwardly extending part.

16. A docking system as set forth in claim 15, wherein the docking station and the tool are configured such that at least a portion of the tool body is located beneath the part spaced upwardly away from the surface when the primary and secondary transmission parts contact each other in the docking position.

17. A docking system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the body of the tool has a nose, and the secondary transmission part is located on the nose of the body.

18. A docking system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the first transmission part includes two contact elements, the secondary transmission part includes two contact elements, and the two contact elements of the secondary transmission part are spaced from each other on the nose of the body.

19. A docking system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the nose of the body is squared, and a first contact element of the secondary transmission part is located on a first side of the squared nose and a second contact element of the secondary transmission part is located on a second side of the squared nose.

20. A docking system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the first transmission part includes two contact elements, the secondary transmission part includes two contact elements, and the two contact elements of the secondary transmission part are spaced from each other on the body of the tool.

21. A docking system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the docking station and the tool are configured such that at least a portion of the tool body is located above a portion of the docking station when the primary and secondary transmission parts contact each other in the docking position.

22. A docking system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the tool has a surface-engaging wheel supporting the body, and the docking station and the tool are configured such that the surface engaging wheel remains engaged with the surface when the primary and secondary transmission parts contact each other in the docking position.

23. A docking system including:

a docking station for location on a surface to be worked upon, the docking station having a primary transmission part for transfer of energy and/or information; and

a self-propelled working tool for movement on the surface, the tool having a body, a surface-engaging wheel supporting the body, and a secondary transmission part, located on the body, for transfer of energy and/or information, the docking station and the tool can by way of emitted signals establish contact with each other so that the tool can drive up to the docking station and achieve a docking position wherein the primary and secondary transmission parts contact and cooperate to transfer of energy and/or information;

wherein the docking station includes a part extending upward away from the surface, the primary transmission part being located on the part, and wherein the docking station and the tool are configured such that at least a portion of the tool body is located beneath at least a portion of the part upon which the primary part is located and the surface engaging wheel remains engaged with the surface when the primary and secondary transmission parts contact each other in the docking position.

24. A docking system as set forth in claim 23, wherein the secondary transmission part points upwardly.

25. A docking system as set forth in claim 24, wherein the primary transmission part points downwardly.

26. A docking system as set forth in claim 23, wherein the body of the tool has a nose, and the secondary transmission part is located on the nose of the body.

27. A docking system as set forth in claim 26, wherein the first transmission part includes two contact elements, the secondary transmission part includes two contact elements, and the two contact elements of the secondary transmission part are spaced from each other on the nose of the body.

28. A docking system as set forth in claim 27, wherein the nose of the body is squared, and a first contact element of the secondary transmission part is located on a first side of the squared nose and a second contact element of the secondary transmission part is located on a second side of the squared nose.

29. A docking system as set forth in claim 23, wherein the first transmission part includes two contact elements, the secondary transmission part includes two contact elements, and the two contact elements of the secondary transmission part are spaced from each other on the body of the tool.

30. A docking system as set forth in claim 23, wherein the docking station and the tool are configured such that at least a portion of the tool body is located above a portion of the docking station when the primary and secondary transmission parts contact each other in the docking position.