Enhanced edge cleaning structures and devices with, selectable, mechanical and/or electro-mechanicaly actuated and/or sensor or map activated air-flow and debris aperatures/doors/debris aperatures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning devices, including vacuums and sweepers, face inefficiencies in particulate size pickup and airflow when cleaning against obstacles like walls and baseboards due to restrictive air channels that cannot handle large debris and bleed air unnecessarily.
Innovation Solution
The development of novel structures and methods for vacuums and non-suction based sweepers, featuring adaptable air pathways and movable components like raisable doors and brushes, which dynamically open to enhance debris removal and airflow only when needed, allowing for effective cleaning of surfaces and obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air channels are kept small to maintain suction in main areas, then suction performance is improved, but debris pickup ability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air channel system transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one with movable doors that can open and close. The doors are positioned at strategic locations along the air channels and can be raised or lowered based on cleaning needs. When cleaning large debris near edges, the doors open to expand the air channel cross-section, allowing both large particles and maintained suction flow. During normal floor cleaning, the doors remain closed to preserve optimal suction performance in the main cleaning area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If air channels are always open to handle large debris, then debris pickup ability is improved, but suction performance in main areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air channel system is segmented into multiple sections with individual controllable doors at different locations. Instead of having a single large open channel, the system divides the air flow path into manageable segments. Each door controls access to a specific segment, allowing selective opening of only the portions needed for particular cleaning tasks. This segmentation enables the system to handle large debris when required while maintaining restricted channels for optimal suction during normal operation.
3Productivity
If air channels are always open, then debris removal capability is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to continuous air bleeding
Solution Approach 1:
The air channel doors operate periodically rather than remaining continuously open. The doors are opened only during specific periods when large debris removal is needed, and closed during other periods for normal cleaning operations. This periodic action eliminates continuous air bleeding and associated energy losses, while still providing the capability to handle large debris when required. The system transitions between open and closed states based on the cleaning situation, optimizing energy efficiency.
4Productivity
If edge cleaning structures are added to improve edge cleaning, then edge cleaning performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable door mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an air channel control element, a structural component of the edge cleaning assembly, and a flow regulation device. By integrating the door system into the edge cleaning structure, the patent avoids adding separate independent components. The same doors that control air channel opening also form part of the edge cleaning geometry, allowing the system to perform both edge cleaning and airflow control functions without proportionally increasing 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
This solution improves debris removal efficiency and maintains maximum airflow during cleaning, enabling effective cleaning of surfaces and obstacles by dynamically adjusting air pathways and brush positions, particularly in robotic vacuums with limited power.
Implementation Method 1
a suction source configured to create a suction force along a suction path
Implementation Method 2
a brush roll in rotational contact with the surface and configured to agitate debris on the surface
Data Source
AI summary
New and novel structure(s) for cleaning surfaces have been disclosed. The structures, configurations and methods disclosed herein are new to this world and functionally and structurally enable that which was not possible previously. The invention at hand uniquely and inventively improves upon the known devices in this field.