IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,736,479
Granted Patent B2
US 10,736,479 · App. 16/121,661 · Granted Aug 11, 2020

Drive-wheel suspension mechanism for smart movable device and smart movable device

Inventors: Xianmin Wei (Suzhou, CN); Xiaogang Xuan (Suzhou, CN)
A47L9/2852A47L9/009A47L11/4072A47L2201/00B60G11/14B60G2300/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,736,479
App. No.
16/121,661
Granted
Aug 11, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drive-wheel suspension mechanism for a smart movable device and a smart movable device, include a drive wheel bracket, a gearbox and a resilient reset member. The drive wheel bracket is provided with at least one set of sliding slot assembly arranged oppositely. The sliding slot assembly includes two first sliding slots arranged opposite to each other, and the first sliding slot extends rearward and an included angle between the first sliding slot and a horizontal plane is greater than or equal to 0 degree.

Claims (33)

1. A drive-wheel suspension mechanism for a smart movable device, the drive-wheel suspension system comprising a drive wheel, a drive wheel bracket, a gearbox and a resilient reset member, wherein

the drive wheel is arranged partially within the drive wheel bracket;

the drive wheel bracket is provided with a first sliding slot assembly arranged at a lower end of the gear box and a second sliding slot assembly arranged at an upper end of the gear box, wherein the first sliding slot assembly comprises a first down sliding slot and a first upper sliding slot, and the second sliding slot assembly comprises a second down sliding slot and a second upper sliding slot, wherein the drive wheel is mounted to an axle disposed at the lower end of the gear box, and the axle is configured to slide in the first sliding slot assembly;

the gearbox is located in the drive wheel bracket, and is provided with at least one sliding shaft configured to slide within the second sliding slot assembly; and

the resilient reset member has a first end fixed to the gearbox and a second end fixed to the drive wheel bracket; and, wherein

when the drive wheel is rotating on a flat surface, the axle is located at a juncture of the down and upper sliding slots of the first sliding slot assembly, the shaft is located at a juncture of the down and upper sliding slots of the second sliding slot assembly, and the resilient reset member is in a non-elastic position; and

when the drive wheel encounters an obstacle, the axle slides across the upper sliding slot of the first sliding slot assembly, the shaft slides across the upper sliding slot of the second sliding slot assembly, and the resilient reset member stretches into an elastic position.

2. The drive-wheel suspension mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the gearbox is further provided with a drive motor configured to control a movement of the axle, the gearbox is arranged obliquely upwards and rearwards, the axle is disposed at a lower end of the gearbox, and the drive motor is disposed at an upper end of the gearbox.

3. The drive-wheel suspension mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the drive wheel bracket comprises a side plate disposed at a front end of the drive wheel bracket, the second end of the resilient reset member is fixed to the side plate, and the resilient reset member is a tension spring.

4. The drive-wheel suspension mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the down sliding slot of the first sliding slot assembly is arranged angularly and downwardly with respect to the front end of the upper sliding slot of the first sliding slot assembly, wherein an angle between the upper sliding slot and the down sliding slot is greater than or equal to 90 degrees.

5. The drive-wheel suspension mechanism according to claim 4 , wherein the down sliding slot is not parallel to the horizontal plane, and the angle between the down sliding slot and the upper sliding slot is greater than or equal to 90 degrees.

6. The drive-wheel suspension mechanism according to claim 4 , wherein the down sliding slot extends rearwards and the angle between the down sliding slot and the horizontal plane is greater than 0 degree, and the upper sliding slot extends forwards and an included angle between the down sliding slot and a vertical plane is greater than 0 degree.

7. The drive-wheel suspension mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the down sliding slot of the second sliding slot assembly is arranged angularly and downwardly with respect to the front end of the upper sliding slot of the second sliding slot assembly, wherein an angle between the upper sliding slot and the down sliding slot is greater than or equal to 90 degrees.

8. A smart movable device, comprising a main frame and a drive-wheel suspension mechanism connected to the main frame, the drive-wheel suspension system comprising a drive wheel, a drive wheel bracket, a gearbox and a resilient reset member, wherein

the drive wheel is arranged partially within the drive wheel bracket;

the drive wheel bracket is provided with a first sliding slot assembly arranged at a lower end of the gear box and a second sliding slot assembly arranged at an upper end of the gear box, wherein the first sliding slot assembly comprises a first down sliding slot and a first upper sliding slot, and the second sliding slot assembly comprises a second down sliding slot and a second upper sliding slot, wherein the drive wheel is mounted to an axle disposed at the lower end of the gear box, and the axle is configured to slide in the first sliding slot assembly;

the gearbox is located in the drive wheel bracket, and is provided with at least one sliding shaft configured to slide within the second sliding slot assembly; and

the resilient reset member has a first end fixed to the gearbox and a second end fixed to the drive wheel bracket; and, wherein

when the drive wheel is rotating on a flat surface, the axle is located at a juncture of the down and upper sliding slots of the first sliding slot assembly, the shaft is located at a juncture of the down and upper sliding slots of the second sliding slot assembly, and the resilient reset member is in a non-elastic position; and

when the drive wheel encounters an obstacle, the axle slides across the upper sliding slot of the first sliding slot assembly, the shaft slides across the upper sliding slot of the second sliding slot assembly, and the resilient reset member stretches into an elastic position.

9. The smart movable device according to claim 8 , further comprising a front wheel disposed to the main frame.

10. The smart movable device according to claim 9 , wherein the smart movable device is a robot vacuum cleaner.

11. The smart movable device according to claim 8 , wherein the gearbox is further provided with a drive motor configured to control a movement of the axle, the gearbox is arranged obliquely upwards and rearwards, the axle is disposed at a lower end of the gearbox, and the drive motor is disposed at an upper end of the gearbox.

12. The smart movable device according to claim 11 , wherein the drive wheel bracket comprises a side plate disposed at a front end of the drive wheel bracket, the second end of the resilient reset member is fixed to the side plate, and the resilient reset member is a tension spring.

13. The smart movable device according to claim 8 , wherein the down sliding slot of the first sliding slot assembly is arranged angularly and downwardly with respect to the front end of the upper sliding slot of the first sliding slot assembly, wherein an angle between the upper sliding slot and the down sliding slot is greater than or equal to 90 degrees.

14. The smart movable device according to claim 13 , wherein the down sliding slot is not parallel to the horizontal plane, and the angle between the down sliding slot and the upper sliding slot is greater than or equal to 90 degrees.

15. The smart movable device according to claim 14 , wherein the down sliding slot extends rearwards and the angle between the down sliding slot and the horizontal plane is greater than 0 degree, and the upper sliding slot extends forwards and an included angle between the down sliding slot and a vertical plane is greater than 0 degree.

16. The smart movable device according to claim 8 , wherein the down sliding slot of the second sliding slot assembly is arranged angularly and downwardly with respect to the front end of the upper sliding slot of the second sliding slot assembly, wherein an angle between the upper sliding slot and the down sliding slot is greater than or equal to 90 degrees.

17. A smart movable device, comprising a main frame and a drive-wheel suspension mechanism connected to the main frame, the drive-wheel suspension mechanism comprising a drive wheel, a drive wheel bracket, a gearbox and a resilient reset member, wherein

the drive wheel is arranged partially within the drive wheel bracket;

the drive wheel bracket is provided with a first sliding slot assembly arranged at a lower end of the gear box and a second sliding slot assembly arranged at an upper end of the gear box wherein the first sliding slot assembly comprises a first down sliding slot and a first upper sliding slot, and the second sliding slot assembly comprises a second down sliding slot and a second upper sliding slot, the first down sliding slot communicating with the first upper sliding slot, the second down sliding slot communicating with the second upper sliding slot;

the gearbox is located in the drive wheel bracket, and is provided with at least one sliding shaft configured to slide within the second sliding slot assembly; and

the resilient reset member has a first end fixed to the gearbox and a second end fixed to the drive wheel bracket.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
From: JIANGSU MIDEA CLEANING APPLIANCES CO., LTD.
To: MIDEA ROBOZONE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056293/0558 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2021
From: JIANGSU MIDEA CLEANING APPLIANCES CO., LTD.
To: MIDEA ROBOZONE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056265/0699 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY DATA BY REMOVE THE SECOND ASSIGEE'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 046917 FRAME: 0643. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT . Recorded May 17, 2021
From: WEI, XIANMIN; XUAN, XIAOGANG
To: JIANGSU MIDEA CLEANING APPLIANCES CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056268/0353 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2018
From: WEI, XIANMIN; XUAN, XIAOGANG
To: JIANGSU MIDEA CLEANING APPLIANCES CO., LTD.; MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 046917/0643 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2018098022 · Aug 1, 2018
Related Publication 20190193499A1 · Jun 27, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,441,145