Brush Mandrel Bore Sizing for Uniform Substrate Cleaning Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional substrate cleaning brushes experience variability in fluid flow through the mandrel, which affects the removal of contaminants and the efficiency of cleaning processes.

Innovation Solution

The design of a brush mandrel with a bore configured to provide uniform aperture flow rates between 200 ml/min and 2 L/min, ensuring consistent pressure distribution across the brush body, using a polymeric material with apertures and a fastener system to attach to a support arm.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional mandrels are used, then the brush can deliver substances to the substrate, but the fluid flow through the mandrel is variable, which negatively impacts contaminant removal and cleaning efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidfluid flow uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mandrel is designed with a specific bore diameter (0.375 inches or 9.525 mm) that creates a particular flow regime. This local geometric quality ensures uniform fluid distribution through the mandrel aperture, directly addressing the flow uniformity problem while maintaining reliable cleaning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If the mandrel bore diameter is reduced to increase aperture flow rates, then fluid delivery to the brush is improved, but pressurization and leaking increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaperture flow rateVSAvoidpressurization and leaking
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mandrel bore diameter is precisely set at 0.375 inches (9.525 mm), which is a specific parameter value that balances aperture flow rate with acceptable pressurization levels. This parameter optimization ensures uniform fluid distribution without excessive pressure that would cause leaking, while still delivering sufficient quantity of cleaning substance to the brush aperture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4588397A1Brushes and systems with improved brush mandrels
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP4588397A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4588397A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4588397A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

An example brush for cleaning of a substrate with a fluid, the brush comprising a polymeric brush body comprising one or more contact surfaces for cleaning the substrate, a mandrel configured to support the polymeric brush body and comprising a plurality of apertures distributed over a surface of the mandrel, and a bore configured to supply the polymeric brush body with fluid via the plurality of apertures, the bore having a diameter sufficient to supply the plurality of apertures with substantially uniform aperture flow rates.