Search

CN-122003200-A - Propulsion system with steering front wheel

CN122003200ACN 122003200 ACN122003200 ACN 122003200ACN-122003200-A

Abstract

A cleaning machine includes a drive assembly, a cleaning element, and a controller assembly. The drive assembly includes a pair of drive wheels, a rear motor, a multi-directional wheel, and a front motor. Each wheel of the pair of drive wheels is configured to be driven independently of the other wheel of the pair of drive wheels. The rear motor is operatively coupled to the pair of drive wheels and is arranged to drive at least one of the pair of drive wheels. The multi-directional wheel is disposed in front of a pair of drive wheels. The front motor is operatively coupled to a steering device arranged to steer the multi-directional wheel. The cleaning elements are arranged in front of a pair of drive wheels. The controller assembly is arranged to control at least one of the rear motor, the front motor or a combination thereof.

Inventors

  • Thomas. J. Sufuluo
  • Kurt Weize
  • Stephen Klopp

Assignees

  • 力奇有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20241004
Priority Date
20231005

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A cleaning machine for cleaning a cleaning surface along an intended direction of use, the cleaning machine comprising: a drive assembly, comprising: A pair of drive wheels, wherein each wheel of the pair of drive wheels is configured to be driven independently of the other wheel of the pair of drive wheels; a rear motor operatively coupled to the pair of drive wheels, wherein the rear motor is arranged to drive at least one wheel of the pair of drive wheels; A multi-directional wheel disposed in front of the pair of driving wheels in the intended use direction, and A front motor operably coupled to the multi-directional wheel, wherein the front motor is arranged to steer the multi-directional wheel; A cleaning member arranged in contact with the cleaning surface, wherein the cleaning member is arranged in front of the pair of driving wheels in the intended use direction of the cleaning machine, and A controller assembly arranged to control at least one of the rear motor, the front motor or a combination thereof.
  2. 2. The cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the controller assembly comprises: A rear controller connected to the rear motor, wherein the rear controller is arranged to communicate with the rear motor, and A front controller connected to the front motor, wherein the front controller is arranged in communication with the front motor.
  3. 3. The cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the multi-directional wheel comprises: a first multi-directional wheel on a first side of the cleaning machine, and A second multi-directional wheel disposed on a second side of the cleaning machine opposite the first side of the cleaning machine.
  4. 4. The cleaning machine of claim 3, wherein the front motor comprises: A first front motor operatively connected to the first multi-directional wheel, wherein the first front motor is configured to rotate the first multi-directional wheel in response to a first signal received from the controller assembly, and A second front motor operatively connected to the second multi-directional wheel, wherein the second front motor is configured to rotate the second multi-directional wheel in response to a second signal received from the controller assembly.
  5. 5. The cleaning machine of claim 1, further comprising: Wherein the cleaning element comprises a scrubber, and Wherein the multi-directional wheel is arranged in front of the scrubber along the intended direction of use of the cleaning machine.
  6. 6. The cleaning machine of claim 5, wherein the scrubber defines an axis of rotation about which the scrubber rotates, wherein a pivot axis of the multi-directional wheel is disposed substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the scrubber.
  7. 7. The cleaning machine of claim 5, wherein the scrubber comprises a cylindrical brush, wherein the cylindrical brush defines an axis of rotation about which the cylindrical brush rotates, wherein a pivot axis of the multi-directional wheel is disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cylindrical brush.
  8. 8. The cleaning machine of claim 1, further comprising a hopper configured to receive dirt from the cleaning elements, wherein the hopper comprises: a tank defining a cavity therein, and An inlet defining an opening arranged to receive dirt from the cleaning element, wherein the opening defines a width extending in a lateral direction of the cleaning machine; wherein the cleaning elements define a width, wherein the width of the cleaning elements is greater than the width of the opening of the inlet of the hopper.
  9. 9. The cleaning machine of claim 8, wherein the cleaning element comprises a broom having a plurality of bristles, wherein a width of the cleaning element is defined along a centerline axis of the broom from a first end of the broom to a second end of the broom.
  10. 10. The cleaning machine of claim 8, wherein the inlet of the hopper comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are disposed on opposite sides of the cleaning machine from each other, wherein the first sidewall is curved and concavely oriented away from the second sidewall, wherein the second sidewall is curved and concavely oriented away from the first sidewall, wherein a width of an opening of the inlet is defined between a point along the first sidewall closest to the second sidewall and a point along the second sidewall closest to the first sidewall.
  11. 11. The cleaning machine of claim 8, further comprising: Wherein the multidirectional wheel comprises: a first multi-directional wheel on a first side of the cleaning machine, and A second multi-directional wheel disposed on a second side of the cleaning machine opposite the first side of the cleaning machine; wherein the inlet of the hopper comprises a first side wall and a second side wall; Wherein the first sidewall comprises a first recess concavely oriented away from the second sidewall, wherein the second sidewall comprises a second recess concavely oriented away from the first sidewall, wherein the first multi-directional wheel is partially disposed within the first recess of the first sidewall, wherein the second multi-directional wheel is partially disposed within the second recess of the second sidewall; wherein the width of the opening of the inlet is defined between a point along the first side wall closest to the second side wall and a point along the second side wall closest to the first side wall.
  12. 12. The cleaning machine of claim 1, further comprising: wherein the rear motor includes: A first rear motor, and A second rear motor; wherein a first drive wheel of the pair of drive wheels is operatively connected to the first rear motor of the pair of motors, and Wherein a second wheel of the pair of drive wheels is operatively connected to the second rear motor of the pair of motors.
  13. 13. The cleaning machine of claim 1, further comprising a sensor connected to the controller assembly, wherein the sensor is arranged to detect a degree of rotation of the multi-directional wheel.
  14. 14. A propulsion system for a cleaning machine having cleaning elements, the propulsion system comprising: a rear wheel assembly, comprising: a first rear wheel; A first rear motor operatively connected to the first rear wheel, wherein the first rear motor is arranged to drive the first rear wheel; A second rear wheel, wherein the second rear wheel is configured to be driven independently of the first rear wheel, and A second rear motor operatively connected to the second rear wheel, wherein the second rear motor is arranged to drive the second rear wheel; A front wheel assembly, comprising: A multi-directional wheel disposed in front of the rear wheel assembly in the intended direction of use of the cleaning machine, and A front motor operatively coupled to the multi-directional wheel, wherein the front motor is arranged to rotate the multi-directional wheel, and A controller assembly connected to each of the first rear motor, the second rear motor and the front motor, wherein the controller assembly is arranged to control each of the first rear motor, the second rear motor and the front motor.
  15. 15. The propulsion system of claim 14, further comprising: Wherein the multidirectional wheel comprises: A first multi-directional wheel, and A second multidirectional wheel, and Wherein the front motor includes: A first front motor operatively connected to the first multi-directional wheel, wherein the first front motor is configured to rotate the first multi-directional wheel in response to a first signal received from the controller assembly, and A second front motor operatively connected to the second multi-directional wheel, wherein the second front motor is configured to rotate the second multi-directional wheel in response to a second signal received from the controller assembly.

Description

Propulsion system with steering front wheel Background The present disclosure relates generally to cleaning machines. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a propulsion system for a cleaning machine. For some existing cleaning machines, a single rear drive/steering wheel is used due to the placement of the broom and dirt hopper for the sweeping function. In such an example, the front wheels of some existing cleaning machines are fixed and cannot rotate. Such a design may require the operator to accommodate a different type of driving experience than the operator is accustomed to. Additionally, such a single rear wheel design may limit the cleaning ability of the cleaning machine in terms of the type and positioning of the cleaning implement. The inventors have recognized a need for an improved system that overcomes the above-described drawbacks of cleaning machines having a single wheel configuration. Disclosure of Invention A cleaning machine includes a drive assembly, a cleaning element, and a controller assembly. The drive assembly includes a pair of drive wheels, a rear motor, a multi-directional wheel, and a front motor. Each of the pair of drive wheels is configured to be driven independently of the other of the pair of drive wheels. The rear motor is operatively coupled to the pair of drive wheels and is arranged to drive at least one of the pair of drive wheels. The multidirectional wheel is disposed forward of the pair of drive wheels in the intended direction of use. The front motor is operatively coupled to the multi-directional wheel and is arranged to steer the multi-directional wheel. The cleaning element is arranged in contact with the cleaning surface and in front of the pair of drive wheels. The controller assembly is arranged to control at least one of the rear motor, the front motor or a combination thereof. A propulsion system for a cleaning machine includes a rear wheel assembly, a front wheel assembly, and a controller assembly. The rear wheel assembly includes a first rear wheel, a second rear wheel, a first rear motor operatively connected to the first rear wheel, and a second rear motor operatively connected to the second rear wheel. The first rear motor is arranged to drive the first rear wheel. The second rear motor is arranged to drive the second rear wheel. The front wheel assembly includes a multi-directional wheel and a front motor operatively coupled to the multi-directional wheel. The multi-directional wheel is arranged in front of the rear wheel assembly in the intended direction of use of the cleaning machine. The front motor is arranged to rotate the multidirectional wheel. The controller assembly is connected to each of the first rear motor, the second rear motor, and the front motor. The controller assembly is arranged to control each of the first rear motor, the second rear motor and the front motor. Drawings Fig. 1A shows a perspective view of a block model of a first cleaning machine with two multi-directional wheels. Fig. 1B shows a bottom view of a block model of a first cleaning machine. Fig. 2A shows a perspective view of a block model of a second cleaning machine with a single multi-directional wheel. Fig. 2B shows a bottom view of a block model of a second cleaning machine. Fig. 3A shows a perspective view of a block model of a third cleaning machine with two different cleaning elements. Fig. 3B shows a bottom view of a block model of a third cleaning machine. Fig. 4 shows a bottom view of a third cleaning machine with a reduced hopper opening. Fig. 5 shows a simplified schematic perspective system view of a propulsion system with wheels, motors and a controller. Detailed Description For existing cleaning machines, sweepers and combination cleaning machines may include a rear propulsion/steering design that requires an operator to accommodate a different type of driving experience (e.g., rear steering) than is typically experienced on a vehicle such as an automobile. In such an example, the front wheels of some existing cleaning machines are fixed and cannot rotate. The inventors have recognized that, among other things, a problem to be solved by existing cleaning machines is to eliminate a single rear wheel arrangement, which may limit the type and number of configurations of cleaning implements that can be utilized by the cleaning machine. The proposed disclosure proposes a new design for a cleaning machine propulsion and steering system with a controlled rear drive wheel and one or more steerable front wheels. The independently controlled rear drive wheels provide propulsion and steering to the cleaning machine. One or more steerable front wheels provide steering of the cleaning machine. The steerable or steerable front wheel may be provided (situated with) as two externally located steerable wheels (e.g., for a sweeping function) or as a single steerable wheel (e.g., centered on the scrubber). A narrower transfer path for guiding dirt from the br