Cleaning attachment, suction device

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning attachments for suction devices, such as vacuum cleaners, lack the ability to effectively clean delicate and sensitive parts without causing damage due to high rotational speeds and loud noise, and fail to reach difficult-to-access areas.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning attachment for suction devices featuring a rotating section driven by a gear device that reduces speed, allowing for gentle cleaning of sensitive parts, with a gear unit that adjusts speed and torque, and includes a braking device to further reduce rotation, enabling access to hard-to-reach areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the impeller rotates at high speed to provide sufficient suction power, then the suction performance is improved, but the cleaning element cannot be effectively driven and sensitive parts cannot be cleaned

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction powerVSAvoidcleaning element rotation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent recovers the excess kinetic energy from the high-speed impeller by using a gear device to reduce the rotation speed. The energy that would otherwise be wasted as noise and vibration is converted into useful rotational motion at the cleaning element through the gear reduction mechanism, achieving both suction power and effective cleaning action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The gear device acts as an intermediary between the high-speed impeller and the cleaning element. It mediates the speed difference by reducing the rotation speed from the impeller (40,000 rpm) to a suitable speed for the cleaning element (400-600 rpm), enabling both components to function effectively together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the cleaning element rotates at high speed to provide cleaning action, then the cleaning effect is improved, but the brush bristles spread apart and sensitive parts are damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectVSAvoiddamage to sensitive parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the rotation speed parameter of the cleaning element from high speed to a controlled low speed range (400-600 rpm). This parameter change ensures that the brush bristles remain tightly packed for effective cleaning while generating insufficient force to damage sensitive parts, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the impeller speed is reduced to reduce noise, then the suction power decreases, but the cleaning element cannot be driven effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise levelVSAvoidsuction power
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the speed control function into two independent parts: the impeller maintains high speed for suction power generation, while the gear device separately controls the cleaning element speed for noise reduction. This segmentation allows each component to operate at its optimal speed without compromising the other's performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Speed

If a gear device is added to reduce speed, then the cleaning element can operate at suitable speed, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning element rotation speedVSAvoidtransmission system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex electronic speed control systems with a simple mechanical gear reduction device. This substitution achieves precise speed control (reducing from 40,000 rpm to 400-600 rpm) through purely mechanical means, eliminating the need for motors, sensors, and electronic controllers that would increase device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 provides a quieter and more effective cleaning experience for delicate surfaces by reducing rotational speed and enhancing reach, ensuring thorough cleaning without damage.

Implementation Method 1

the drive device and the rotation section are connected by means of a gear device for speed reduction of the drive device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Implementation Method 2

a drive device rotatably mounted in the connection housing about a suction direction for driving the rotation section, wherein the drive device can be driven by an air stream driven by the vacuum cleaner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction flow: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP4573998B1Cleaning attachment, suction device
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 NEIDLEIN HARALD
  • EP4573998B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4573998B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4573998B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a cleaning attachment (10) for a suction device, comprising a connecting section (12) for arrangement on and/or in a suction line (16) of the suction device extending along a suction direction (14), and comprising a rotating section (18) rotatably arranged on the connecting section (12) for receiving a cleaning element (20), wherein the connecting section (12) has a connecting housing (22) and a drive device (32) rotatably mounted in the connecting housing (22) about the suction direction (14) for driving the rotating section (18), wherein the drive device (32) and the rotating section (18) are connected by means of a gear device (34) for reducing the speed of the drive device (32). The invention further relates to a suction device (100).