Cleaning device for a drinking straw
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cleaning drinking straws is typically time-consuming and inefficient due to the use of special, thin brushes or tools.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device for drinking straws with a connection section for attachment to a faucet, an action section that manipulates fluid flow to increase velocity and create vortices, and an outlet section for receiving the straw, allowing for efficient cleaning by enhancing fluid dynamics and dirt removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If special thin brushes or similar tools are used to clean drinking straws, then cleaning can be performed, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses water flow dynamics to clean the drinking straw. The action section is designed to manipulate fluid flow, creating high-velocity water jets that automatically clean the straw interior when water is poured through the device, eliminating the need for manual brushing and significantly reducing cleaning time.
Solution Approach 2:
The action section creates dynamic fluid flow patterns including vortices and high-velocity jets that adapt to the straw's geometry. This dynamic water flow efficiently removes dirt and debris from the straw interior without requiring static brushing tools, improving cleaning efficiency and speed.
2Ease of manufacture
If a simple cleaning structure is used, then the device is easy to manufacture, but cleaning effectiveness may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention achieves effective cleaning through clever fluid dynamics design rather than complex mechanical components. The action section uses water flow manipulation to create self-cleaning effects, maintaining simplicity in manufacture while ensuring reliable cleaning performance through hydrodynamic principles.
Solution Approach 2:
The action section changes the parameters of water flow (velocity, direction, pressure) to optimize cleaning effectiveness. By manipulating fluid flow characteristics rather than using complex mechanical structures, the device maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving reliable cleaning results.
3Productivity
If the flow cross section is reduced in the action section, then fluid velocity increases and cleaning effect improves, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The action section implements local quality changes by creating specific flow conditions (high velocity, vortices) only in the critical cleaning zone where the water contacts the straw. This localized approach achieves effective cleaning without requiring complex structures throughout the entire device, balancing cleaning effect with structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The action section uses dynamic flow manipulation to achieve high cleaning effectiveness. By creating moving water patterns and vortices rather than relying on static structures, the device improves cleaning effect while maintaining relative structural simplicity through fluid dynamics rather than mechanical complexity.
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 significantly improves the cleaning efficiency of drinking straws by increasing fluid velocity and introducing rotational components, effectively removing dirt and debris, thus simplifying the cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
The action section has a dynamic device for manipulating the fluid flow through the cleaning device... a flow dynamic of the fluid is increased by the dynamic device as it flows through the acting section
Implementation Method 2
a rotary movement component can be introduced into the fluid flowing through the cleaning device. The rotary movement component preferably causes a whirlpool-like spiral movement of the fluid
Implementation Method 3
the action section and/or the dynamic device is/are designed such that a flow cross section through the action section between the input cross section and the output cross section is reduced completely or at least in sections or throughout monotonically. This causes a fluid flowing through the cleaning device to be manipulated particularly efficiently... by introducing vortices, rotations and/or increasing flow velocities
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cleaning device for drinking straws. The cleaning device is subdivided into a connection portion, an outlet portion and an impingement portion lying therebetween. The connection portion is fluidically connected to the outlet portion via the impingement portion. The connection portion can preferably be designed to produced a secure, but removable connection between the cleaning device and a water tap. The outlet portion is designed with a receiving arrangement for receiving a drinking straw. To achieve this, the receiving arrangement has a sealing surface allowing a drinking straw to be sealingly received as it lies against said sealing surface. In addition, the cleaning device, the connection portion and/or the outlet portion can be configured such that the ratio of the entry cross-section to the exit cross-section is more than 10, in particular more than 15, preferably more than 20, especially preferably more than 23, and/or less than 40, in particular less than 35, preferably less than 30, especially preferably less than 28, and/or approximately 25.