Cleaner Head Deformable Seal for Uneven Surface Pressure Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum cleaners experience reduced pickup performance due to the reduction in pressure differential when the cleaner head is lifted from the surface during movement over uneven surfaces, such as textured hard surfaces or floor transitions, which affects dirt and dust removal efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cleaner head design featuring a hollow deformable seal extending from the rear of the housing, made of resilient material like thermoplastic polyurethane, which conforms to the surface and maintains a pressure differential by deforming to maintain contact and reduce air trapping, ensuring effective dirt and dust pickup even on uneven surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cleaner head is moved across the surface in forwards and backwards strokes, then the cleaner head can cover the cleaning area, but the cleaner head may be partially lifted away from the surface during each stroke, reducing the pressure differential and pickup performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible sole plate that can deform to maintain contact with the cleaning surface. The sole plate includes a deformable section that acts as a flexible shell, allowing the cleaner head to adapt to surface variations and maintain the seal necessary for pressure differential during movement operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaner head design incorporates dynamic elements including the deformable sole plate that can change shape during operation, and a brush bar that rotates to agitate debris. These dynamic components allow the system to maintain effectiveness during the forwards and backwards strokes while adapting to surface conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cleaner head travels over uneven surfaces such as heavily textured hard surfaces or floor transitions, then the cleaner head can access various floor types, but the separation of the cleaner head from the surface reduces the pressure differential and pickup performance
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible sole plate serves as a compliant shell that can conform to uneven surfaces including heavily textured hard surfaces and floor transitions. This flexibility allows the cleaner head to maintain contact and seal integrity across diverse surface types without rigid structural constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable sole plate changes its physical parameters (shape and contact area) in response to surface variations. When encountering uneven surfaces or transitions, the sole plate deforms to maintain optimal contact, dynamically adjusting its configuration to preserve the pressure differential necessary for effective pickup.
3Strength
If a rigid seal is used to maintain the pressure differential, then the seal provides structural support, but the rigid seal cannot conform to uneven surfaces, reducing seal effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid seal structures with a flexible sole plate that combines sealing functionality with adaptability. The flexible shell can conform to surface irregularities while maintaining sufficient structural integrity to support the cleaner head weight and maintain the pressure differential during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal structure transitions from rigid to deformable, allowing it to change its physical parameters (flexibility and shape) based on operational requirements. The sole plate can deform to conform to surfaces while maintaining the necessary structural properties to sustain the pressure differential, effectively adapting its characteristics to balance strength and adaptability.
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 deformable seal effectively maintains a pressure differential across the cleaner head, enhancing dirt and dust removal performance by conforming to uneven surfaces and providing a downward force, thus improving overall pickup performance.
Implementation Method 1
a hollow deformable seal extending from a rear portion of the housing, the hollow deformable seal having a width at least equal to a width of the opening in the sole plate, and having a lower sealing surface that extends in a downward and rearward direction from a rear edge of the housing such that, in use, the hollow deformable seal is biased against and conforms to a surface being cleaned
Implementation Method 2
The hollow deformable seal may be formed of a resilient material. This allows the seal to return to its original position and to provide a biasing force against the floor surface without requiring a separate biasing means
Implementation Method 3
At least part of the perimeter edge of the seal may not be fixed to the housing, such that air is able to enter into and escape from the hollow seal. As a result, air isn't trapped with the seal, causing an increase in pressure as the seal is deformed. Therefore the seal is more easily deformable
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6A
AI summary
A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance, the cleaner head comprising:a housing defining a suction chamber; and a sole plate defining a downwardly-directed opening through which dirt can enter the suction chamber. The cleaner head further comprises a hollow deformable seal extending from a rear portion of the housing, the hollow deformable seal having a width at least equal to a width of the opening in the sole plate, and having a lower sealing surface that extends in a downward and rearward direction from a rear edge of the housing such that, in use, the hollow deformable seal is biased against and conforms to a surface being cleaned in order to maintain a seal between the cleaner head and the surface being cleaned.