Cordless Fluid Container Heating for Hot Floor Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices require an external energy source for heating and tempering cleaning liquids, leading to uncomfortable and expensive handling, as they need to be connected to a power source during use.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a heat accumulator that can store energy for heating and tempering cleaning liquids, allowing wireless operation and maintaining a predetermined temperature without an external energy source, using a heating device that can be charged independently and includes phase change materials for extended heat retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If an external energy source is used to heat the cleaning liquid, then the cleaning liquid can be heated to the desired temperature, but the cleaning device requires cable connection and cannot be operated wirelessly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy storage function from the external power source by introducing a battery that can be charged independently. This allows the heating function to be separated from continuous external power dependency, enabling wireless operation while maintaining temperature control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery is charged in advance during a charging period before wireless operation is required. This preliminary energy storage action allows the heating device to function without external power connection during actual cleaning operations, resolving the contradiction between temperature maintenance and wireless operation.
2Temperature
If the cleaning liquid is heated to high temperature, then effective steam cleaning can be achieved, but high pressure builds up inside the container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the heating temperature parameter to achieve effective cleaning (above 100°C for steam generation) while managing the pressure parameter through controlled vapor evolution. The heating device is designed to operate at temperatures that balance cleaning effectiveness with container pressure safety.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the cleaning device is connected to external power source, then continuous heating is possible, but handling becomes uncomfortable and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply from external infrastructure and incorporates it into the device itself through a rechargeable battery. This extraction of the power dependency allows the device to be handled freely without cables while maintaining continuous heating capability through the stored energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The device serves itself by containing its own power source (battery) that can be recharged. This self-service approach eliminates dependency on external power infrastructure during operation, improving handling comfort while maintaining continuous heating through periodic recharging.
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective heating of cleaning liquids to desired temperatures without the need for continuous external power, preventing pressure buildup and allowing for hot or steam applications, while providing a portable and user-friendly cleaning solution.
Implementation Method 1
The heating device can be designed as an electrical resistance heater
Implementation Method 2
The heating device is assigned a heat accumulator, which alone or together with the heating device keeps the cleaning liquid at a predeterminable operating temperature
Implementation Method 3
The heat accumulator can include phase change materials, namely so-called 'phase change materials' (PCM)
Implementation Method 4
Such a dispensing device can be designed as a nozzle or comprise a sponge or a cloth, which transfers cleaning liquid to the floor and/or the surface by capillary forces
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a cleaning apparatus for cleaning floors and/or surfaces, comprising a container (1, 1', 1", 1"') for holding a cleaning fluid (2), a discharge device (3, 3', 3", 3"') for discharging the cleaning fluid (2) onto a floor and/or surface to be cleaned, and a heating device (4, 4', 4", 4"') for heating and/or tempering and/or evaporating the cleaning fluid (2). In the light of the object of designing and developing a cleaning apparatus of the initially mentioned type such that it can easily be supplied with energy for heating and/or tempering and/or evaporating the cleaning fluid, the apparatus is characterized in that it can be operated cordlessly.