Cleaning device with a waste guiding channel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum cleaners face issues with increased size and reduced suction efficiency due to the steep angle of inclination of side guide walls, which leads to debris accumulation and saturation, especially with large waste items like grains of rice or lentils, compromising cleaning performance.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum cleaner design with lateral guide walls having inclined lower edges that gradually increase towards the rear opening, reducing waste movement speed and accumulation, while maintaining a compact size and high suction efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the angle of inclination of the lower edge of side guide walls is made steep to prevent debris accumulation, then debris sliding towards rear opening is improved, but the distance between front edge and suction inlet increases significantly, reducing suction efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedebris guidance reliabilityVSAvoidsuction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different inclination angles to different sections of the guide walls. The lower edges have a first inclination angle that is less steep than the upper sections, creating a gradual transition zone that prevents debris accumulation while maintaining compact dimensions and suction efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The guide wall structure transitions from a static steep inclination to a dynamic multi-section design where the inclination angle varies along the length. This allows the system to adapt to different debris sizes and flow conditions, optimizing both debris guidance and suction performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If the angle of inclination of side guide walls is made steep to facilitate waste sliding, then waste movement speed increases, but the rear opening becomes saturated, impairing cleaning performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste movement speedVSAvoidcleaning performance
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a gradual inclination profile where the lower edge section has a gentler slope compared to the upper sections. This local variation in geometry controls waste acceleration, preventing excessive speed that would cause rear opening saturation while still maintaining effective waste transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the angle of inclination of side guide walls is made steep to prevent debris accumulation, then the cleaning device size in front of suction inlet increases, but compact design is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedebris guidance reliabilityVSAvoidcleaning device size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing a multi-section guide wall with varying inclination angles, the patent achieves effective debris guidance in a compact configuration. The gentler lower edge section prevents the need for excessive horizontal space, maintaining a compact overall device size while ensuring reliable debris transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design effectively guides waste into the suction chamber, minimizing debris accumulation and saturation, ensuring efficient cleaning performance without significantly increasing the device's size.

Implementation Method 1

two lateral guide walls converging towards each other in the direction of the rear opening so as to direct waste, coming into contact with the lateral guide walls during forward movement of the cleaning device, towards the rear opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

waste is guided, notably by sliding against the two lateral guide walls, to the rear opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4473889B1Cleaning device with a waste guiding channel
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 SEB SA
  • EP4473889B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4473889B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4473889B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The cleaning device (2) comprises a main body (3) having a suction inlet (6) and a suction chamber fluidly connected to the suction inlet (6); a waste guide channel (16) which is open downwards and which has a front opening (17), a rear opening (18) opening into the suction chamber, and two lateral guide walls (19) located on either side of the rear opening (18) and converging towards each other in the direction of the rear opening (18) so as to direct waste, which comes into contact with the lateral guide walls (19) during forward movement of the cleaning device (2), towards the rear opening (18). Each of the lateral guide walls (19) has a lower edge (19.1) having an inclination, with respect to a transverse direction, which increases in the direction of the rear opening (18).