Detergent Tank Venting for Leak-Safe High-Pressure Cleaners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-pressure cleaning devices face difficulties in simplifying the replacement of cleaning agent containers and often create negative pressure when removing the cleaning agent, making the process cumbersome and prone to leaks.
Innovation Solution
A high-pressure cleaning device design featuring a detergent container with a membrane-covered opening that can be inserted upside down into a container receptacle, where a mandrel pierces the membrane to allow easy removal of the cleaning agent without creating negative pressure, and includes ventilation and check valves to prevent leaks and overpressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cleaning agent container is inserted with the opening pointing upwards, then the container can be easily filled, but negative pressure is formed when cleaning agent is removed making replacement cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The container is inverted during operation with the opening pointing downwards in the container receptacle. This inversion allows the cleaning agent to flow out completely by gravity while preventing negative pressure formation, as air can enter through the membrane when the container is properly positioned.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is pre-pierced by the mandrel before cleaning operation begins. This preliminary action creates an open flow path that prevents vacuum formation during cleaning agent removal, eliminating the need for manual venting operations.
2Productivity
If the container opening is left open for cleaning agent removal, then cleaning agent can flow out easily, but unintended leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane closes the container opening and is pierced by the mandrel to create a controlled flow path. The membrane remains flexible to allow piercing while maintaining sealing when not in use, preventing leakage during storage and transport but allowing complete drainage during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane closure is extracted/pierced by the mandrel only when needed for operation. This selective removal of the sealing function allows cleaning agent flow while maintaining integrity during non-operational states.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a hose line is added to prevent negative pressure, then negative pressure can be compensated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the container's own structure (membrane + mandrel piercing mechanism) to automatically compensate for pressure changes during operation. No external hose or active pressure control system is needed - the design self-regulates pressure through passive mechanical means.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane acts as an intermediary element between the container interior and exterior. When pierced by the mandrel, it creates a controlled interface that allows pressure equalization without requiring complex external pressure control systems.
4Reliability
If the membrane is made tightly sealed, then leakage is prevented, but cleaning agent cannot be completely removed from container
Solution Approach 1:
The container operates inverted with the opening downwards, allowing gravity to assist complete drainage. The membrane, when pierced, allows the cleaning agent to flow out completely while air enters to replace the volume, preventing vacuum formation and enabling near-total emptying.
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 simple and complete removal of cleaning agents with minimal residue, easy replacement of detergent containers, and prevents unintended leakage or backflow, allowing for the use of different cleaning agents regardless of their fill level.
Implementation Method 1
a mandrel (64) protruding into the container receptacle (58), with the aid of which the membrane (56) can be pierced, so that a flow connection between the cleaning agent container and the motor-pump unit is then ensured via the removal channel (70)
Implementation Method 2
Air can be supplied to the cleaning agent container via the ventilation channel, so that practically no negative pressure is created within the container when cleaning agent is removed
Implementation Method 3
the membrane can be placed sealingly on the outside of the mandrel. This prevents detergent from escaping between the membrane and the mandrel
Implementation Method 4
The detergent container inserted into the container receptacle can thus be emptied in a simple manner, since the container opening points downwards, so that the cleaning agent can flow out of the container completely except for minimal residues
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a high-pressure cleaning device having a motor pump unit for pressurizing a cleaning fluid to which a liquid cleaning agent can be mixed and having a cleaning agent tank (14) implementing a reservoir for liquid cleaning agent and comprising a tank opening that can be sealed closed by a cover (42), wherein the cleaning agent tank is releasably mounted on the motor pump unit and the motor pump unit comprises a removal device for removing cleaning agent from the cleaning agent tank. In order to further develop the high-pressure cleaning device such that the replacement of the cleaning agent tank can be simplified, the invention proposes that the removal device comprises a tank receptacle (58) in which at least one tank segment connected to the tank opening of the cleaning agent tank having a closed tank opening aligned vertically downward can be inserted, and that a mandrel (64) protrudes into the tank receptacle and encloses a removal channel, wherein the cover (42) comprises a membrane (56) that can be penetrated by the mandrel.