# US 2017/0197595 A1 · Robotic wheel cleaner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0197595 A1 - Document ID: US20170197595A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/324,154 - Filed: 2015-07-07 - Published: 2017-07-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-07 - Assignees: Arkk Engineering - Applicants: Arkk Engineering - Inventors: Kevin R. KERWIN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170197595A1 ## CPC - B08B 1/10: characterised by the type of cleaning tool - B08B 1/143: {Wipes} - B08B 1/32: using rotary cleaning members - B25J 11/0085: {Cleaning} - B60S 3/042: {Wheel cleaning devices (integral with vehicle B60S1/00)} - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A robotic wheel cleaner configured for performing a cleaning operation on a wheel is disclosed. The robotic wheel cleaner comprises a selectively moveable arm that is operatively connected to a body portion at a first end thereof. A cleaning tool is operatively connected to a second end of the moveable arm. The cleaning tool further comprises cleaning pad configured for selectively engaging at least a first predetermined location of a wheel. The cleaning tool is selectively movable along a first predetermined pathway to clean at least a predetermined portion of the wheel. The robotic wheel cleaner can further be actuated to move the cleaning tool to position the cleaning pad at least a second predetermined location of the wheel and to selectively move the cleaning pad along a second predetermined pathway to clean at least a second predetermined portion of the wheel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A robotic wheel cleaner configured for performing a cleaning operation on a wheel, comprising: a selectively moveable arm that is operatively connected to a body portion at a first end thereof; and a cleaning tool that is operatively connected to a second end of the moveable arm; wherein the cleaning tool further comprises cleaning pad configured for selectively engaging at least a first predetermined location of a wheel, wherein the cleaning tool is selectively movable along a first predetermined pathway to clean at least a predetermined portion of the wheel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The robotic wheel cleaner of claim 1, wherein the cleaning tool further comprises a mounting bracket to which a holder element is attached, wherein the cleaning pad is mounted to the holder element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The robotic wheel cleaner of claim 2, wherein the cleaning pad is removably attached to the holder element to allow for selectively replacement of the cleaning pad. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The robotic wheel cleaner of claim 2, wherein the mounting bracket may further include a channel therethrough that receives at least one fastener element to selectively position the holder element along the mounting bracket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The robotic wheel cleaner of claim 4, wherein the mounting bracket may further comprise indicia that is indicative of various sized wheels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The robotic wheel cleaner of claim 1, wherein the moveable arm is configured to move to a second predetermined location of the wheel, wherein the cleaning tool is selectively movable along a second predetermined pathway to clean at least a second predetermined portion of the wheel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The robotic wheel cleaner of claim 6, wherein the second predetermined pathway is positioned approximately 180° from the first predetermined pathway. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The robotic wheel cleaner of claim 6, wherein the first predetermined pathway is an arc that is less than 90 degrees from a center point in the wheel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The robotic wheel cleaner of claim 6, wherein the first predetermined pathway is an arc that is less than 45 degrees from a center point in the wheel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The robotic wheel cleaner of claim 6, wherein the second predetermined pathway is an arc that is less than 90 degrees from a center point in the wheel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The robotic wheel cleaner of claim 6, wherein the second predetermined pathway is an arc that is less than 45 degrees from a center point in the wheel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The robotic wheel cleaner of claim 1, further comprises a force feedback sensor operatively connected to the cleaning tool. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The robotic wheel cleaner of claim 12, wherein the force feedback sensor is operatively connected to a controller and the controller will prevent the cleaning tool from moving along the first predetermined pathway unless a threshold of force is detected by the force feedback sensor. ### Claim 14 A method of performing a cleaning operation for a wheel, comprising: positioning a robotic wheel cleaner below an open end of a wheel; moving an arm of the robotic wheel cleaner upwardly such that a cleaning pad of a cleaning tool operatively attached to the arm is brought into engagement with a first plane cleaning start position; moving the cleaning pad along a predetermined pathway along the first plane until the cleaning pad reaches a first plane cleaning stop position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising lowering the arm to move the robotic wheel cleaner into a non-cleaning configuration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising moving the arm of the robotic wheel cleaner such that the cleaning pad of the cleaning tool is brought into engagement with a second plane cleaning start position, and moving the cleaning pad along a predetermined pathway along the second plane until the cleaning pad reaches a second plane cleaning stop position before lowering the arm into the non-cleaning configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the second plane cleaning start position is positioned approximately 180 degrees from the first plane cleaning start position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein moving the cleaning pad along a predetermined pathway along the first plane until the cleaning pad reaches a first plane cleaning stop position involves moving the cleaning pad less than 90 degrees from a center axis of the wheel along the predetermined pathway. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein moving the cleaning pad along a predetermined pathway along the second plane until the cleaning pad reaches a second plane cleaning stop position involves moving the cleaning pad less than 90 degrees from a center axis of the wheel along the predetermined pathway. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting a position of a holder element that holds the cleaning pad for a predetermined wheel size.