High-Pressure Cleaning Device Overflow Safety Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-pressure cleaning devices risk liquid backflow into the drinking water supply network due to float valve malfunctions, leading to potential contamination and excessive heat loss.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a thermally insulating overflow opening with a movable closing element that automatically opens to prevent backflow and minimize thermal losses, positioned below the inlet opening to ensure liquid is diverted out via the overflow before reaching the inlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a float valve is used to control liquid level, then liquid level control is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to malfunction risk
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid level control function is segmented into two independent systems: a float valve for normal operation and an overflow opening with closing element as backup. This segmentation ensures that if the float valve malfunctions, the overflow opening provides a safety mechanism to prevent uncontrolled liquid supply and backflow into the drinking water network.
Solution Approach 2:
The overflow opening with thermally insulating closing element is designed as a pre-prepared safety mechanism that automatically activates when liquid level exceeds the maximum permissible level. This prior cushioning measure prevents catastrophic failures by providing a fail-safe path for excess liquid discharge.
2Reliability
If the overflow opening remains open, then liquid discharge capability is improved, but thermal losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The closing element is designed to be movable between closed and open positions based on liquid level conditions. During normal operation, the closing element remains closed to maintain thermal insulation. When liquid level rises above the overflow opening, the closing element automatically opens to discharge excess liquid, then closes again when liquid level drops, optimizing both thermal efficiency and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing element is actuated automatically by the liquid pressure itself without requiring external control systems. When liquid reaches the overflow opening, the liquid pressure directly moves the closing element to the open position, and when liquid level drops, the element returns to closed position, providing self-regulating thermal management and safety discharge.
3Loss of energy
If the closing element is made of thermally insulating material, then thermal insulation is improved, but automatic opening capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The closing element is designed with heterogeneous structure: the main body is made of thermally insulating material to minimize heat loss through the overflow opening, while specific localized regions incorporate materials or structures with different density characteristics that enable automatic opening when liquid pressure acts upon them. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between thermal insulation and automatic activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing element is designed with density characteristics that create a counterbalancing effect: the thermally insulating material provides buoyancy and thermal insulation, while the element's overall density and geometric design ensure it can be pushed open by liquid pressure when needed, automatically responding to liquid level conditions without external actuation.
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
Prevents liquid backflow into the drinking water supply and maintains low thermal losses during normal operation, ensuring safe and efficient heating and pressurization of the cleaning liquid even in case of device malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid storage tank has thermally insulating walls
Implementation Method 2
the liquid reservoir is designed in the manner of a boiler and has an electric heater for heating the liquid
Implementation Method 3
a pump with a suction inlet which is connected to the liquid reservoir and with a pressure outlet for dispensing pressurized liquid
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a high-pressure cleaning device (10) comprising an electrically heatable liquid reservoir (24) having an inlet opening (28) and thermally insulating walls (61, 62, 63) and a pump (22) having a suction inlet (38) which is connected to the liquid reservoir (24), and having a pressure outlet (40) for dispensing pressurised liquid. In order that even in the event of a malfunction of the high-pressure cleaning device (10) no liquid can flow out of the liquid reservoir (24) via the inlet opening (28), the liquid reservoir (24) has an overflow opening (66) which is can be closed by a thermally insulating closing element (68), wherein the closing element (68) is movably retained on the overflow opening (66) and can be automatically moved out of a closed position into an open position by liquid coming out of the overflow opening (66).