Brush Roller Suction Mouth Sealing for Pulsed Dust Pickup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Floor care devices with brush rollers face challenges in achieving efficient dust mobilization and removal due to fluctuating sliding forces and inability to maintain short cycle times for seal interruption, which affects dust absorption efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A floor care device with a rotatable brush roller and sealing lips that can be controlled to cyclically interrupt the seal, creating a pulsed volume flow and modulated negative pressure for improved dust mobilization and removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the sealing lip is controlled to cyclically interrupt the sealing to the floor, then dust mobilization and removal is improved through pulsed volume flow, but the sliding forces of the floor care device fluctuate greatly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedust removal efficiencyVSAvoidsliding forces

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing lip is controlled to cyclically interrupt the sealing between the suction mouth and the floor, creating periodic opening and closing actions. This periodic action generates pulsed volume flow that enhances dust mobilization and removal efficiency by creating pressure differentials that actively draw dust into the suction area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing lip is designed with dynamic movement capabilities, allowing it to transition between sealed and open states. This dynamic characteristic enables the system to adapt the sealing intensity and timing, optimizing the balance between maintaining sufficient negative pressure for dust pickup and allowing controlled interruptions to enhance dust mobilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the sealing lip is controlled to cyclically interrupt the sealing, then dust absorption is improved, but it is not possible to achieve short cycle times with reasonable mechanical effort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedust absorption efficiencyVSAvoidmechanical effort for seal interruption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical actuation systems with alternative mechanisms such as pneumatic or elastic systems. The sealing lip can be designed with elastic materials that naturally return to a sealed position, or use pneumatic pressure differentials to control opening and closing, eliminating the need for complex motors, gears, or actuators while achieving rapid cycle times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing lip system is designed to utilize the existing operational parameters of the vacuum cleaner, such as the negative pressure generated by the fan, to assist in the opening and closing actions. The pressure differential itself can drive the sealing lip movement, reducing or eliminating the need for external control mechanisms and simplifying the overall system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

The solution enhances dust mobilization and removal by ensuring a consistent pulsed volume flow, leading to better self-cleaning of the brush roller and increased filter service life through efficient dust pickup and reduced negative pressure fluctuations.

Implementation Method 1

the opening of a previously closed sealing lip (26, 28) results in a sudden release in the floor care device (10) and thus a pulsed volume flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPulsed volume flow:

Implementation Method 2

a pulsed volume flow, possibly a resulting volume flow with a modulated negative pressure fluctuation, brings about a further improved dust mobilization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

A brush roller (12) set in rotation by an electric motor (38) or in another suitable manner serves to improve dust mobilization from the floor covering being vacuumed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 4

the bristles sweeping over the floor and engaging in the floor covering

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 5

the suction area ensures directed dust removal by means of the negative pressure and volume flow generated by the vacuum cleaner fan

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP2893860B1Floor cleaning device comprising a driven brush roller

Publication Date: 2017.03.15 MIELE & CO KG

AI summary

The invention relates to a floor care device (10) with a front and a rear suction mouth edge (16, 18) and a sealing lip (26, 28) that seals the respective suction mouth edge (16, 18) from the substrate (30) in the area of the front and/or the rear edge (16, 18) of the suction mouth, with at least one of the sealing lips (26, 28) being controllable to cyclically interrupt the seal to the substrate (30), with the opening of a previously closed sealing lip (26, 28) leading to an abrupt reduction in a closed sealing lip (26, 28) in the floor care device (10) and thus to an increased volume flow in the floor care device (10) resulting from the cyclical opening and closing of the sealing lip (26, 28) and as a result to increased dust mobilization in the area of the brush roller (12).