Cleaning Nozzle with Rotating Brush and Squeegee
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices that vacuum and mop in one go struggle with efficient cleaning performance, particularly in narrow spaces and corners, due to bulky nozzle designs that leave non-cleaned strips and fail to clean the entire width of the nozzle, and have limited mobility and effectiveness in both forward and backward strokes.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle arrangement with a rotating brush and a squeegee element that includes a liquid supplying arrangement to wet the entire width of the nozzle, using flexible microfiber bristles and side sealing elements to ensure thorough cleaning and prevent liquid and air leakage, allowing for effective cleaning in both directions without leaving wet strips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a double squeegee arrangement on both sides of the brush is used to clean the entire width of the nozzle, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the nozzle becomes bulky and loses mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning function is segmented between the rotating brush (for scrubbing and picking up dirt) and the squeegee element (for lifting and removing liquid). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling the squeegee to be positioned effectively without requiring a bulky dual-squeegee arrangement on both sides of the brush.
Solution Approach 2:
The squeegee element is arranged perpendicular to the brush axis, extending in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle rather than parallel to it. This dimensional reorientation allows the squeegee to span the width of the nozzle housing without increasing the lateral footprint, maintaining mobility while achieving full-width cleaning coverage.
2Reliability
If the nozzle housing is larger than the brush to seal the sides, then liquid leakage is prevented, but a non-cleaned strip is left on the floor
Solution Approach 1:
The squeegee element is designed to be movable relative to the brush, capable of switching between an open position (allowing liquid to pass underneath during backward stroke) and a closed position (lifting and removing liquid during forward stroke). This dynamic positioning enables effective liquid removal without requiring the nozzle housing to extend beyond the brush width, thus cleaning the entire width including corners.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating brush performs preliminary scrubbing and loosening of dirt before the squeegee element lifts and removes the liquid. This preliminary action by the brush prepares the surface, allowing the squeegee to effectively remove liquid and dirt without requiring additional lateral space for sealing elements.
3Productivity
If a forward-only cleaning motion is used with the brush in front of the squeegee, then cleaning efficiency in forward stroke is improved, but backward stroke leaves the floor wet
Solution Approach 1:
The squeegee element is designed to dynamically switch between open and closed positions based on the direction of movement. During backward stroke, it opens to allow liquid to pass underneath; during forward stroke, it closes to lift and remove liquid. This dynamic behavior ensures effective cleaning in both directions without leaving wet strips.
Solution Approach 2:
The squeegee element performs periodic opening and closing actions synchronized with the back-and-forth movement of the nozzle. This periodic action ensures that the squeegee is in the appropriate position (open or closed) during each stroke, maintaining cleaning effectiveness in both forward and backward directions.
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 enables improved cleaning performance across the entire width of the nozzle, ensuring thorough cleaning in corners and narrow spaces with reduced nozzle size and enhanced mobility, while using less suction power and maintaining a uniform wetted area.
Implementation Method 1
flexible brush elements that are arranged on a circumferential surface of the core element, wherein said brush elements are configured to contact the surface to be cleaned and pick up dirt and liquid particles from the surface to be cleaned during a rotation of the rotating brush
Implementation Method 2
flexible microfiber bristles and side sealing elements to ensure thorough cleaning
Implementation Method 3
a squeegee element that extends along a longitudinal direction, which is arranged substantially parallel to the brush axis, and wherein said squeegee element is arranged on a first longitudinal side of the rotating brush
Implementation Method 4
An under-pressure, usually generated by a vacuum aggregate, is used to ingest the collected dirt particles and liquid
Implementation Method 5
a liquid supplying arrangement configured to supply a cleansing liquid to the rotating brush
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a nozzle arrangement (10) of a cleaning device (100) for cleaning a surface (20), comprising: —a nozzle housing (28); —a rotating brush (12) that is rotatable about a brush axis (14) and comprises a substantially cylindrical core element (52) with flexible brush elements (16) that are arranged on a circumferential surface (56) of the core element (52), wherein said brush elements (16) are configured to contact the surface to be cleaned (20) and pick up dirt and liquid particles (22, 24) from the surface to be cleaned (20) during a rotation of the rotating brush (12); —a drive for driving the rotating brush (12); —a liquid supplying arrangement (58) for supplying a cleansing liquid (68) to the rotating brush (12); —a wiping element (32) for wiping dirt and liquid particles (22, 24) across or off the surface to be cleaned (20), wherein said wiping element (32) extends along a longitudinal direction (48), which is arranged substantially parallel to the brush axis (14), and wherein said wiping element (32) is arranged on a first longitudinal side (27) of the rotating brush (12) where the brush elements (16) enter the nozzle housing (28) during the rotation of the rotating brush (12); and—at least one side sealing element (62a, b) for sealing a lateral side (82a, b) of the nozzle housing (28), wherein the at least one side sealing element (62a, b) is spaced apart from a transverse side (80a, b) of the core element (52) that is transverse to the circumferential surface (56) of the core element (52), such that a gap (84a, b) is defined between said transverse side (80a, b) of the core element (52) and the at least one side sealing element (62a, b); wherein the liquid supplying arrangement (58) is configured to also supply cleaning liquid (68) to said gap (84a, b).