Edge Cleaner Brush Layout for Compact Surface Cleaning Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning machines with compact designs often fail to effectively clean confined areas such as edges and corners due to their inability to reach and clean these difficult-to-access regions.
Innovation Solution
A portable cleaning apparatus with a housing that includes a solution distributor, a suction nozzle, and an edge cleaner with rotatable pliable elements, such as gear brushes, which dispense and extract cleaning solution and dirt simultaneously, allowing for improved edge cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a compact design is used for the cleaning machine, then the machine portability and simplicity are improved, but the ability to clean edges and corners deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning machine is divided into separate functional modules: a main body housing and detachable edge cleaner assemblies. The edge cleaners can be independently attached to or removed from the main housing, allowing the machine to maintain a compact form while gaining edge cleaning capability when needed. This segmentation enables the machine to be portable in its basic form and adaptable when edge cleaning is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The edge cleaner assemblies are designed to perform multiple functions: they can be attached to the main housing for edge cleaning, and the same assemblies can potentially be used in different configurations or removed entirely when not needed. The pliable elements within the edge cleaners can adapt to various surface types and edge geometries, providing universal cleaning capability across different confined areas.
2Volume of moving object
If the cleaning machine housing is made compact, then the device size is reduced, but the reach to confined areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The edge cleaners extend the cleaning reach in a dimensional sense by projecting pliable elements beyond the housing edges in multiple directions. Rather than simply extending the housing length, the pliable elements create a three-dimensional cleaning zone that can access confined areas from various angles, effectively increasing reach without increasing the main housing volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The edge cleaners incorporate pliable elements that can flex and extend beyond the rigid housing structure. These flexible components can reach into confined spaces and adapt to irregular edge geometries, providing extended reach while maintaining a compact housing. The pliability allows the elements to conform to difficult-to-reach areas without requiring a larger overall machine size.
3Adaptability or versatility
If edge cleaners with pliable elements extending beyond housing edges are added, then edge cleaning capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The edge cleaners are designed as separate, modular assemblies that can be independently attached to the main housing. Each edge cleaner is a self-contained unit with its own pliable elements, simplifying the overall structure by breaking down the complex edge cleaning function into manageable, replaceable modules rather than integrating complexity into the main housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The pliable elements are designed with specific material properties and geometric parameters that allow them to achieve the desired edge cleaning capability without excessive complexity. By optimizing the flexibility, length, and configuration of these elements, the design achieves effective edge cleaning while maintaining structural simplicity and ease of manufacture.
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 apparatus enables efficient cleaning of surfaces by distributing cleaning solution and simultaneously extracting dirt, including from edges and corners, through the use of rotatable brushes that intermesh and extend beyond the machine's edges, enhancing the cleaning performance in previously hard-to-reach areas.
Implementation Method 1
A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and recovery tank for drawing the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank
Implementation Method 2
An edge cleaner is provided at an edge of the housing and includes a plurality of pliable elements for agitating the surface, wherein the pliable elements contact the surface beyond the edge of said housing
Implementation Method 3
a distributor operatively connected to the housing for distributing cleaning solution to the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface is provided and includes a housing for movement along the surface. A solution container is mounted to the housing and contains a solution. A dispensing nozzle is provided on the housing and is fluidly connected to the solution container. The dispensing nozzle dispenses solution beyond the edge of the housing. In one aspect, an edge cleaner is provided at an edge of the housing and includes a plurality of pliable elements for agitating the surface, wherein the pliable elements contact the surface beyond the edge of said housing.