Recovery Tank Central-Axis Probe for Tilt-Resistant Level Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wet and dry vacuum cleaners experience inaccurate water level alarms due to the sensing probe contacting sewage before the recovery tank is full, leading to false positives when tilted during use.

Innovation Solution

A sewage collection and detection mechanism with a recovery tank featuring a water level detector probe located on the tank's central axis, ensuring accurate water level detection regardless of the tank's orientation, and a cover to prevent overflow when tilted.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the sensing probe is placed near the sidewall of the recovery tank, then the structure is simple, but the water level detection accuracy deteriorates when the tank is tilted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection mechanism structureVSAvoidwater level detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing probe is repositioned from a sidewall location to the central axis of the recovery tank, changing the spatial dimension of detection. This central positioning ensures that the probe remains at a consistent vertical depth regardless of tank tilt angle, maintaining measurement precision while keeping the overall structure simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the recovery tank is positioned to accommodate tilted cleaning operations, then the cleaning versatility is improved, but the water level alarm reliability deteriorates due to false positives

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning operation positioningVSAvoidwater level alarm accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By positioning the sensing probe on the central axis rather than near the sidewall, the detection system becomes insensitive to the tank's tilt angle. The probe measures vertical depth from the center, which remains accurate regardless of the tank's orientation, thus maintaining alarm reliability while supporting versatile cleaning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The central axis positioning creates an equipotential detection point where the gravitational reference remains consistent regardless of tank orientation. This ensures that the water level measurement is based on a stable reference point that is not affected by tilting, maintaining reliable detection across different operating positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

Data Source

PatentUS10729302B2Sewage collection and detection mechanism and cleaning device

Publication Date: 2020.08.04 HIZERO APPLIANCES CORP

AI summary

A sewage collection and detection mechanism (10) and a cleaning device (100) are disclosed. The sewage collection and detection mechanism (10) comprises: a recovery tank (11), having an open top and having a tank central axis perpendicular to a horizontal plane. A sewage inlet pipe (12) is connected to the recovery tank (11) and a water level detector (13) is located in the recovery tank (11). The water level detector (13) has a detection probe (131). The detection probe (131) is located on the tank central axis of the recovery tank (11).