Cleaning Device With Simultaneous Fluid Supply and Underpressure Drain

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning devices face challenges in simultaneously operating vacuum and steam functions effectively, leading to reduced effectiveness and convenience due to moisture issues and dirt collection problems, and they often require frequent fluid replenishment and disposal.

Innovation Solution

A compact cleaning device with a surface interaction layer that supplies cleaning fluid and drains dirty fluid using underpressure, eliminating the need for fluid storage and ensuring clean fluid usage by separating cleaning and dirty fluid containers, and utilizing materials like microfiber cloths or chamois for efficient fluid management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If cleaning fluid is stored in a reservoir for repeated use, then fluid consumption is reduced, but the cleaning fluid becomes contaminated with dirt and loses effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning fluid consumptionVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically discards contaminated cleaning fluid from the surface interaction layer through a drain and recovers only clean fluid from the reservoir, ensuring continuous supply of uncontaminated cleaning fluid without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The drain extracts and removes dirty fluid from the surface interaction layer separately from the clean fluid reservoir, preventing contamination of the stored cleaning fluid while maintaining a continuous supply of clean fluid

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If vacuum and steam functions operate simultaneously, then cleaning productivity increases, but moisture travels into air flow conduits forming grime and reducing effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning speedVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous operation of both vacuum and steam functions simultaneously, with the surface interaction layer continuously receiving clean fluid and draining dirty fluid, ensuring uninterrupted cleaning action without functional interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning device segments the fluid management into separate clean fluid supply and dirty fluid drainage pathways, preventing moisture from the steam function from contaminating the vacuum function's air flow conduits while allowing both functions to operate simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If a single block substrate structure is used for applicator, scrubbing, and collecting functions, then device complexity is reduced, but fluid separation becomes difficult and grime forms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidfluid separation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The surface interaction layer is segmented into distinct functional zones: a cleaning fluid supply interface, a surface cleaning interface, and a dirty fluid drain interface, enabling effective fluid separation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If cleaning fluid is applied frequently from a bucket, then clean fluid is always available, but operational convenience is reduced and time is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclean fluid availabilityVSAvoidoperational convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically supplying clean cleaning fluid from the reservoir to the surface interaction layer and automatically draining dirty fluid back to the reservoir through the pump and drain system, eliminating the need for manual fluid replenishment during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The pump and fluid supply system operates continuously to maintain a constant supply of clean cleaning fluid to the surface interaction layer and continuous drainage of dirty fluid, ensuring uninterrupted cleaning operation without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 device provides continuous cleaning with clean fluid, reduces mess and operational inconvenience, and enhances cleaning efficiency by maintaining clean fluid interaction with the surface throughout the process.

Implementation Method 1

a dirty fluid drain in communication with the surface interaction layer and the cleaning fluid container and arranged to drain dirty fluid from the surface interaction layer back into the cleaning fluid container by means of underpressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUnderpressure: Pressure Drop

Data Source

PatentUS11864696B2Cleaning device

Publication Date: 2024.01.09 VERSUNI HLDG BV

AI summary

A cleaning device comprises a surface interaction layer (ML), a cleaning fluid supply (CFF) provided with a cleaning fluid channel (CFC) at the surface interaction layer (ML) for supplying a cleaning fluid to a surface (F) through the surface interaction layer (ML) being in contact with the surface (F), and a dirty fluid drain (DFD) having a dirty fluid channel (DFC) at the surface interaction layer (ML) for draining, by means of underpressure, dirty water from the surface (F) through the surface interaction layer (ML) being in contact with the surface (F).