Cleaning Device Movable Guide Element for Dirty Fluid Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices face challenges in maintaining effective cleaning results while minimizing the surface area of support points and preventing dirty fluid from escaping between the device body and the surface, especially when moving in reverse direction.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a movable guide element and a signpost device that automatically adjusts its position based on the direction of movement, ensuring the guide element covers the gap during forward motion to trap dirty fluid and creates a gap during reverse motion to allow fluid to escape, utilizing an access ramp with an inclined surface to navigate step areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the guide element is arranged to cover the gap between the device body and the surface to be cleaned, then dirty fluid is prevented from escaping, but the cleaning device cannot effectively clean step areas on the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The guide element is designed to be movable between a first position (covering the gap) and a second position (lifted off the surface). The signpost device automatically actuates the guide element to the second position when moving over step areas, allowing the cleaning tool to access the step while preventing dirty fluid escape during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The signpost device acts as an intermediary between the cleaning device's movement and the guide element's positioning. It detects step areas and automatically triggers the guide element to switch positions, eliminating the need for manual intervention and enabling seamless adaptation to surface variations
2Reliability
If the guide element is made movable to adapt to different positions, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The signpost device is automatically actuated by the cleaning device's own movement over step areas. The system uses the cleaning device's operational motion to trigger the guide element's position change, eliminating the need for external control mechanisms or additional actuators
Solution Approach 2:
The signpost device replaces complex electronic sensors and control systems with a simple mechanical detection mechanism. The signpost's physical interaction with step areas directly translates to guide element actuation through mechanical linkage, reducing overall system complexity
3Reliability
If the support points have small surface area to improve cleaning result, then the device body is unstable on the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The guide element provides dynamic stability by automatically adapting its position. During normal operation, it covers the gap to prevent fluid escape. When encountering step areas, it lifts to the second position, allowing the cleaning tool to maintain contact with the surface while the guide element hovers above the step, preventing instability
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a cleaning device for cleaning a surface (18) in a forward direction (104), comprising a device body (24) having an underside (28) which faces the surface (18) to be cleaned during a cleaning procedure; at least one cleaning tool (44) which is disposed on the device body (24) and, at least in one partial area, projects beyond the underside (28) of the device body (24); and a dirty fluid guide element (92) which is allocated to the at least one cleaning tool (44) and, with respect to the forward direction (104), is disposed behind the at least one cleaning tool (44) on the device body (24), wherein the guide element (92) is movably disposed on the device body (24) and/or is designed to be movable and comprises at least one first position (122) in which, when in contact with the surface (18) to be cleaned, a gap (120) between the underside (28) of the device body (24) and the surface (18) to be cleaned can be covered, and at least one second position (128) in which the guide element (92) opens a gap (130) to the surface (18) to be cleaned, wherein a directing device (114) is disposed on the guide element (92) and is to be supported on the surface (18) to be cleaned and, upon movement on the surface (18) to be cleaned in the forward direction (104), brings the guide element (92) into the at least one first position (122) and holds said guide element in the at least one first position (122) and, upon movement in a reverse direction (106) counter to the forward direction (104), brings the guide element (92) into the at least one second position (128) and holds said guide element in the at least one second position (128).