Systems and methods for robotic gutter cleaning along an axis of rotation

• US 8,551,254 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Dayton, Douglas C., Park, Sung K., Abele, Karl Eaton, Robinson, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaudhry, Saeed T
• Application Number:
  US12/984,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20110209726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 151/041.5, 15/23, 15/884, 151/049, 134/22.1, 134/22.14, 134/22.18, 134/42, 134/8, 134/22.11
• US Class Current: 134/8
• 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. A gutter-cleaning device, comprising:

a housing containing an impeller drive facility, the housing configured to fit into an open residential gutter;

an impeller, disposed at an end of the housing and driven by the impeller drive facility, the impeller including at least one flexible paddle and at least one stiff bristle brush each oriented about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation arranged at an angle to a direction of travel of the device to aim toward an inside corner of the gutter, the impeller ejecting agitated debris from the gutter and away from the impeller;

a transport drive adapted to automatically transport the device along an interior surface of the gutter; and

a wireless communication facility, operable to receive control signals from a remote control for controlling at least one of the transport drive and the impeller drive facility.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a placement facility for facilitating placement of the gutter-cleaning device into the gutter.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the impeller is formed from at least one of a molded elastomer, neoprene, rubber, plastic, and an electrostatic cloth.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the impeller further includes at least one of a helical bristled brush, a full stiff bristle brush, a spiral stiff bristle brush, a wire brush, a dethatching brush, an alternating paddle brush, a flexible bucket, a multiply vaned impeller, and an alternating flexible blade.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the transport drive drives at least one of a wheel, a snake drive, a worm drive, a crab or walking drive, a scoot-and-compress or accordion drive, and a string of beads drive.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a vision system disposed on the housing for facilitating navigation and programming of the device.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a navigation system to facilitate autonomous control of the device.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a programming facility to set programs for autonomous control.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a remote control facility for communicating with the wireless communication facility to remotely control at least one of the transport drive and the impeller drive facility.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein an antenna of the remote control facility is associated with a placement facility.

11. A method of a gutter-cleaning device, comprising:

configuring a housing containing an impeller drive facility, the housing configured to fit into an open residential gutter;

disposing an impeller at an end of the housing and driving the impeller with the impeller drive facility, wherein the impeller has an axis of rotation arranged at an angle to a direction of travel of the device to aim toward an inside corner of the gutter, the impeller ejecting agitated debris from the gutter and away from the impeller, and wherein the impeller includes one or more flexible paddles and one or more stiff bristle brushes arranged about the axis;

adapting a transport drive to be in contact with the gutter for transporting the housing along an interior surface of the gutter; and

disposing a wireless communication facility in electrical communication with at least one of the transport drive and the impeller drive facility, operable to receive control signals from a remote control for controlling at least one of the transport drive and the impeller drive facility.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a placement facility for facilitating placement of the gutter-cleaning device into a gutter.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the impeller is formed from at least one of a molded elastomer, neoprene, rubber, plastic, and an electrostatic cloth.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the impeller includes at least one of a helical-bristled brush, a full stiffbristle brush, a spiral stiffbristle brush, a wire brush, a dethatching brush, an alternating paddle brush, a flexible bucket, a multiply-vaned impeller, and an alternating flexible blade.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the transport drive drives at least one of a wheel, a snake drive, a worm drive, a crab or walking drive, a scoot-and-compress or accordion drive, and a string of beads drive.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising disposing a vision system on the housing for facilitating navigation and programming of the device.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a navigation system to facilitate autonomous control of the device.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a programming facility to set programs for autonomous control.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising configuring a remote control facility to communicate with the wireless communication facility to remotely control at least one of the transport drive and the impeller drive facility.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein an antenna of the remote control facility is associated with a placement facility.