Extractor Duct Door Venting for Cleaning Solution Dwell Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional carpet extractors often have limited control over suction power, which can lead to insufficient dwell time of cleaning solution on heavily soiled areas, affecting cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An extractor with a duct door mechanism that can selectively reduce or interrupt suction at the nozzle, allowing for extended dwell time of cleaning fluid on the surface by venting air into the working air conduit or restricting airflow, and an actuator connected to the duct door for manual or automated control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If normal suction is maintained at the suction nozzle, then the extraction process is efficient, but the dwell time of cleaning solution on heavily soiled areas is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by allowing the user to temporarily interrupt suction at the suction nozzle using a duct door mechanism. This creates alternating phases of solution application (with suction interrupted to extend dwell time) and extraction (with suction restored), enabling both extended chemical action on soiled areas and efficient debris removal without compromising overall productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts suction characteristics at the suction nozzle through the duct door mechanism, which can be moved between positions to either maintain normal suction or interrupt suction. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt suction power to the specific cleaning needs of different surface areas, extending dwell time when required while maintaining extraction efficiency
2Productivity
If suction power is increased to improve extraction, then cleaning efficiency improves, but dwell time of cleaning solution on the surface decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action to alternate between high suction power phases (for efficient extraction) and low/zero suction power phases (for extended dwell time). The duct door mechanism enables this periodic variation, allowing the user to first apply solution with interrupted suction for extended dwell time, then restore suction for efficient extraction, thereby resolving the contradiction between suction power and dwell time
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically controls suction power at the suction nozzle through the duct door mechanism, which can be positioned to either maintain normal suction or interrupt suction. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize suction power based on the current cleaning stage - using reduced suction during solution application to extend dwell time, and full suction during extraction to maintain cleaning efficiency
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
This solution enables increased dwell time of cleaning solution on the surface, enhancing cleaning effectiveness on soiled areas without compromising the extraction process, allowing for improved cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
a suction source in fluid communication with the working air conduit to draw the cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned and through the nozzle and the working air conduit to the recovery tank
Implementation Method 2
a duct door moveably mounted to the working air conduit for movement between a first position at which normal suction at the suction nozzle is reduced and a second position at which normal suction at the suction nozzle is unreduced
Data Source
AI summary
An extractor has a duct door moveably mounted to a working air conduit for movement between a first position at which normal suction at a suction nozzle is reduced and a second position at which normal suction at the suction nozzle is unreduced. An actuator is connected to the duct door for selectively moving the duct door between the first position and second position. In one embodiment, a suction leak hole is formed within the working air conduit and the duct door is moveable with respect to the leek hole to selectively fluidly open and close the leak hole. In another embodiment, the duct door is moveable within the working air conduit to selectively fluidly restrict the working air flow in the working air conduit and the actuator selectively moves the duct door between the first and second positions. The suction reduction selectively increases the cleaning solution dwell time.