Carpet Extraction Needles for Deep Cleaning With Low Moisture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional carpet extraction methods often fail to effectively clean deep within carpet fibers and backing, leading to prolonged drying times and incomplete removal of soiled fluid, as they typically saturate the carpet and do not efficiently recover cleaning fluid from deep within the carpet structure.

Innovation Solution

A carpet extractor with fluid delivery needles that penetrate the carpet surface to inject cleaning solution directly into the nap, combined with a suction-based fluid recovery system to remove soiled fluid, allowing for deep cleaning without saturating the carpet backing and utilizing detergent foam to maintain cleaning solution within the fibers until extraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cleaning fluid is deposited on the surface of the carpet and the carpet is agitated, then the cleaning process is enhanced, but the carpet fibers and backing become saturated and have a long drying time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoiddrying time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from surface-level cleaning to deep interior cleaning by using hollow needles to deliver cleaning fluid into the third dimension (depth) of the carpet pile. The needles penetrate the carpet surface and deposit fluid at the base of the pile, cleaning from the bottom up rather than saturating the surface, which reduces drying time while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts only the necessary amount of cleaning fluid directly to the base of the carpet pile where it is needed, rather than applying excessive fluid to the surface. The hollow needles deliver precise amounts of fluid to the carpet interior, and the suction mechanism extracts the soiled fluid, preventing over-saturation and reducing drying time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If conventional fluid delivery systems are used, then the cleaning fluid is applied to the carpet surface, but soiled fluid may not be removed from deep within the carpet fibers and from the backing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid applicationVSAvoidfluid removal completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow needles extend into the depth dimension of the carpet pile, delivering cleaning fluid to the base of the pile where embedded soils are located. The suction mechanism similarly reaches into this deep interior region to extract soiled fluid, ensuring complete removal from both the pile base and backing, which conventional surface-level systems cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow needles serve as intermediaries that bridge the gap between the cleaning fluid supply and the deep interior of the carpet pile. They conduct the cleaning fluid directly to the base of the pile, ensuring thorough wetting of the deep fibers without requiring surface saturation, thereby enabling complete soil removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the carpet is saturated with cleaning fluid, then deep cleaning is achieved, but the drying time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning thoroughnessVSAvoiddrying time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts cleaning fluid delivery directly to the base of the carpet pile, providing only the amount needed for effective cleaning. The suction mechanism simultaneously extracts the soiled fluid, preventing over-saturation of the carpet backing. This controlled extraction approach achieves thorough cleaning while minimizing drying time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a pneumatic suction mechanism to remove soiled cleaning fluid from the carpet interior. The suction creates negative pressure that draws the fluid-laden air and suspended particles through the hollow needles and into the recovery container, efficiently removing excess moisture and reducing drying time while maintaining cleaning thoroughness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 approach enables thorough cleaning from the bottom up, reducing drying time and ensuring effective removal of soiled fluid, while avoiding carpet backing saturation, thus achieving a low-moisture extraction process.

Implementation Method 1

a source of suction in fluid communication with the working air conduit to draw the cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned and through the nozzle and the working air conduit to the recovery tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

fluid delivery needles mounted to the housing in fluid communication with the fluid distribution system and positioned to penetrate the pile surface. The needles have at least one outlet opening at a lower portion thereof for delivering the cleaning solution below the surface of the carpet and into the carpet nap

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid delivery through penetration:

Implementation Method 3

The fluid delivery system is configured to deliver a detergent foam to the pile through the fluid delivery needles... the cleaning fluid is a detergent foam that remains suspended in the fibers or the carpet of in the hair of the animal fur after application and does not saturate the carpet backing or the fur

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoam suspension: Foam

Data Source

PatentEP2329754B1Low moisture extraction deep cleaning
Publication Date: 2013.08.14 BISSELL HOMECARE INC
  • EP2329754B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2329754B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2329754B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An extractor (10) has a plurality of fluid delivery needles (32) mounted to a housing in fluid communication with a fluid distribution system (28) and positioned to penetrate a carpet surface to deliver a cleaning solution below the surface of the carpet and into the carpet nap. Soiled cleaning fluid is removed from the surface with suction. A method of cleaning a carpet or a pet coat having a pile comprises injecting cleaning fluid, such as a foam detergent, directly into the pile and removing soiled cleaning fluid from the carpet.