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Breaking it Down

          The Creosote and Ash Removal Device (C.A.R.D.)  is a wall-climbing robot that will be capable of cleaning chimney flues after a creosote acid treatment is applied. Wheels modeled after the toe pads of gecko feet allow the device to climb up walls while rotating wire brushes scrub away the hardened creosote. The debris is then vacuumed through a hose and into a pouch waiting outside the chimney. C.A.R.D’s design has five major components: 

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  • Chassis

    • C.A.R.D is designed to fit the limited space provided by most chimneys, this also takes the narrow openings of fire dampers into consideration. The robot's dimensions are 15.6 by 11.43 by

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*Updated Schematics as of 4/7/21

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  • Rotating Wire Brushes

    • Three Forney 72732 wire cup brushes are attached to the chassis and rotate to scrub at the walls of the chimney. These brushes scrub and remove creosote after an acid treatment is applied to the chimney lining. 

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  • Vacuum

    • Because of creosote’s toxicity, it must be collected and disposed of properly. The vacuum tube is connected to the chassis, using a low pressure zone created by a fan to pull ground up debris into an external bag. 

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  • Central Processing Unit (CPU)

    • The CPU uses embedded code and customization based on chimney size through Bluetooth to control C.A.R.D. There is also a voltage regulator which gives the motor power to move as directed by the CPU.

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  • Wheels

    • The wheels enable C.A.R.D. to climb vertically are made of a mixture including butadiene, silicon, and a thermoplastic polyurethane. The most important aspect of the wheels is the tread. Modeled after gecko toe pads, the tread will have microscopic, 3D printed hairs that imitate the effects of the animal’s lamellae, setae, and spatulae. This enables the Van der Wals between the wheels and chimney lining to be maximized, allowing C.A.R.D. to climb effortlessly.

29.94 cm. The 29.94 cm width of the device includes the 3.54 cm thick wheels attached to each side of C.A.R.D. The chassis holds the central processing unit (CPU), the axis for the wheels, the wire brushes, and the vacuum. 

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