Suction head for mobile robot

• US 7,962,997 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jung, Young-Gyu, Chung, Moon-kee
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/686,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20070214601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 154/151, 154/19, 154/20, 154/221
• US Class Current: 15/415.1
• 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 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00

Abstract

A suction head is provided for removing debris from a surface. The suction head includes a suction nozzle which has a generally semi-circular groove formed on an interior surface of the suction nozzle. Additionally, there is a suction hole formed at a generally central region of a rear surface of the nozzle and communicating with the semi-circular groove. Further, a uniform pressure forming region is provided at a longitudinally extending side of the semi-circular groove, and a suction pipe is mounted to the suction hole to guide air in the semi-circular groove through the suction hole.

Claims

1. A suction head for removing debris from a surface, comprising:

a suction nozzle having a generally semi-circular groove formed on an interior surface thereof, a suction hole formed at a generally central region of a rear surface of the nozzle and communicating with the semi-circular groove, and a uniform pressure forming region provided at a longitudinally extending side of the semi-circular groove; and

a suction pipe mounted to the suction hole to guide air in the semi-circular groove through the suction hole;

wherein the uniform pressure forming region comprises an air distributing groove having a dimension that varies in a direction which extends generally perpendicular to a longitudinal extent of the nozzle, and wherein the dimension narrows as the air distributing groove extends from the central region of the nozzle towards longitudinal ends of the nozzle.

2. The suction head according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle further comprises a pair of suction guide surfaces provided contiguous with the air distributing groove and formed on opposing sides of the suction hole, wherein the suction guide surfaces are inclined with respect to the longitudinal extent of the nozzle.

3. The suction head according to claim 1, wherein the suction pipe includes an inclined region mounted to the suction hole and inclined with respect to the rear surface of the nozzle, and a vertical region extending generally parallel to the rear surface of the nozzle.

4. The suction head according to claim 3, wherein a tapered front end provided on an inner surface of the suction pipe is contiguous with a pair of suction guide surfaces that communicate with the air distributing groove, and wherein the guide surfaces are formed on opposing sides of the suction hole.

5. The suction head according to claim 4, further comprising a brush provided in the interior of the nozzle.

6. The suction head according to claim 5, comprising:

a first angle defined by an angle formed between an outer surface of the inclined region and a bottom surface of the nozzle which extends generally parallel to a surface to be cleaned;

a segment defined by a line that passes through both a radial center of the brush and a center of the suction hole at a point where the tapered front end of the pipe intersects an inner surface of the inclined region; and

a second angle defined by an angle formed between the segment and a bottom surface of the nozzle, wherein the first angle is larger than the second angle.

7. The suction head according to claim 5, wherein the brush has a vertical height extending in a direction generally parallel to the vertical region of the suction pipe and a first point defined on a circumference of the brush at a maximum vertical height thereof;

wherein the suction pipe includes a beveled surface provided opposite an inner surface of the inclined region and a second point defined at an intersection of the beveled surface and the tapered front end; and

wherein the first point is at the same or approximately the same vertical height as the second point.

8. The suction head according to claim 7, wherein a third point is defined at an intersection of the first tapered end and the inner surface of the inclined region;

wherein a fourth point is defined on the circumference of the brush at a minimum vertical height thereof; and

wherein a segment defined by a line passing through the third and fourth points forms an angle of approximately 30 degrees with a surface which extends generally parallel to a bottom surface of the nozzle.

9. The suction head according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of an inner side width of the suction pipe to a horizontal length of the suction nozzle is about 0.13 to about 0.18.

10. A mobile robot comprising:

a motor;

a suction fan driven by a motor to generate a suction force;

a dust tub in communication with the suction fan;

a suction head configured to remove debris by operation of the suction fan;

a suction nozzle mounted to the mobile robot and having a generally semi-circular groove formed on an interior surface thereof, a suction hole formed at a generally central region of a rear surface of the nozzle and communicating with the semi-circular groove, and a uniform pressure forming region provided at an inner side of the semi-circular groove; and

a suction pipe mounted to the suction hole to guide air in the semi-circular groove through the suction hole,

wherein the uniform pressure forming region comprises an air distributing groove having a dimension that varies in a direction which extends generally perpendicular to a longitudinal extent of the nozzle, and wherein the dimension narrows as the air distributing groove extends from the central region of the nozzle towards longitudinal ends of the nozzle.

11. The mobile robot according to claim 10, wherein the nozzle further comprises a pair of suction guide surfaces provided contiguous with the air distributing groove and formed on opposing sides of the suction hole, wherein the suction guide surfaces are inclined with respect to the longitudinal extent of the nozzle.

12. The mobile robot according to claim 10, wherein the suction pipe includes an inclined region mounted to the suction hole and inclined with respect to the rear surface of the nozzle, and a vertical region extending generally parallel to the rear surface of the nozzle.

13. The mobile robot according to claim 12, wherein a tapered front end provided on an inner surface of the suction pipe is contiguous with a pair of suction guide surfaces that communicate with the air distributing groove, and wherein the guide surfaces are formed on opposing sides of the suction hole.

14. The mobile robot according to claim 13, further comprising a brush provided in the interior of the nozzle.

15. The mobile robot according to claim 14, comprising:

a first angle defined by an angle formed between an outer surface of the inclined region and a bottom surface of the nozzle which extends generally parallel to a surface to be cleaned;

a segment defined by a line that passes through both a radial center of the brush and a center of the suction hole at a point where the tapered front end of the pipe intersects an inner surface of the inclined region; and

a second angle defined by an angle formed between the segment and a bottom surface of the nozzle, wherein the first angle is larger than the second angle.

16. The mobile robot according to claim 14, wherein the brush has a vertical height extending in a direction generally parallel to the vertical region of the suction pipe and a first point defined on a circumference of the brush at a maximum vertical height thereof;

wherein the suction pipe includes a beveled surface provided opposite an inner surface of the inclined region and a second point defined at an intersection of the beveled surface and the tapered front end; and

wherein the first point is at the same or approximately the same vertical height as the second point.

17. The mobile robot according to claim 16, wherein a third point is defined at an intersection of the first tapered end and the inner surface of the inclined region;

wherein a fourth is defined on the circumference of the brush at a minimum vertical height thereof; and

wherein a segment defined by a line passing through the third and fourth points forms an angle of approximately 30 degrees with a bottom surface of the nozzle which extends generally parallel to a surface to be cleaned.

18. The mobile robot according to claim 10, wherein the ratio of an inner side width of the suction pipe to a horizontal length of the suction nozzle is about 0.13 to about 0.18.

19. A mobile robot comprising:

a suction head configured to remove debris from a surface;

a suction nozzle mounted to the mobile robot and having a generally semi-circular groove formed on an interior surface thereof, a suction hole formed at a generally central region of a rear surface of the nozzle and communicating with the semi-circular groove, and a uniform pressure forming region provided at an inner side of the semi-circular groove; and

a suction pipe mounted to the suction hole to guide air in the semi-circular groove through the suction hole,

wherein the uniform pressure forming region comprises an air distributing groove having a dimension that varies in a direction which extends generally perpendicular to a longitudinal extent of the nozzle, and wherein the dimension narrows as the air distributing groove extends from the central region of the nozzle towards longitudinal ends of the nozzle.