Bare floor vacuum cleaner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vacuum cleaners often have inefficient dirt ingestion due to the wide suction aperture and lack of effective agitator mechanisms that can dislodge dirt outside the suction path, leading to incomplete cleaning and increased energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates counter-rotating agitators with a narrower suction inlet and a V-shaped body, where the agitators are mounted on diverging arms, allowing for a focused suction area and improved dirt ingestion by sweeping dirt inwardly towards a central suction aperture, aided by a stationary strip brush for additional dirt collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a wide suction aperture is used, then the suction area is increased, but dirt ingestion efficiency decreases and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuction aperture areaVSAvoiddirt ingestion efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction aperture is segmented into a central narrow opening flanked by two side openings, with the central aperture positioned between counter-rotating agitators. This segmentation allows focused suction at the center while the side apertures capture debris swept by agitators, improving overall ingestion efficiency without requiring a wide single aperture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the suction system have different aperture characteristics - the central region has a narrow aperture for focused suction, while side regions have additional apertures positioned to capture debris from specific zones. This local differentiation optimizes suction efficiency across the entire width without requiring a uniformly wide aperture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If a wide suction aperture is used, then the suction area is increased, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuction aperture areaVSAvoidvacuum motor energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If conventional agitator mechanisms are used, then dirt dislodging is achieved, but cleaning completeness decreases for debris outside suction path

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirt dislodging capabilityVSAvoidcleaning completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The agitation function is segmented between two independent counter-rotating agitators mounted on diverging arms, with each agitator handling debris from its respective side and directing it toward the central suction aperture. This segmentation ensures complete coverage of the cleaning width.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of a single central agitator, the system uses two agitators rotating in opposite directions on diverging arms. The counter-rotation creates opposing sweeping actions that effectively push debris from both sides toward the center, improving completeness of cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Productivity

If extension arms are used to mount agitators, then agitator coverage is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveagitator coverageVSAvoidhousing structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into a central body and two diverging extension arms, with each arm independently mounting an agitator. This segmentation allows the agitators to be positioned optimally for coverage while maintaining a modular structure that is relatively simple to manufacture and assemble.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enhances dirt ingestion efficiency, reduces energy consumption by allowing a smaller vacuum motor, and improves accessibility under furniture with a lower profile foot assembly, enabling effective cleaning with or without electrical power.

Implementation Method 1

a suction source associated with the housing, in fluid communication with the suction inlet to produce a working airflow therethrough

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

The counter-rotating agitators are operable to cooperate with the suction source to direct dust and debris outside the periphery of the housing along a converging debris path, towards the suction inlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9706888B2Bare floor vacuum cleaner

Publication Date: 2017.07.18 BISSELL INC

AI summary

A vacuum cleaner having a housing and a suction inlet thereon, the cleaner comprising a suction source in fluid communication with the suction inlet to produce a working airflow therethrough and a dirt container in fluid communication with the suction inlet and suction source. The housing further comprises a body defined by a central portion and a pair of extension arms that extend laterally outwardly from the central portion, wherein each extension comprises a mount, which receives a rotatable agitator thereon. A drive assembly is configured to counter-rotate each agitator with respect to the other agitator, and wherein the suction inlet is positioned on the housing rearward of, and between, each of the axes of rotation of each agitator. The counter-rotating agitators are operable to cooperate with the suction source to direct dust and debris outside the periphery of the housing along a converging debris path, towards the suction inlet.