Extraction Cleaner Self-Cleaning Tray for Brush Chamber Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Extraction cleaners, particularly upright and robotic models, often become dirty and difficult to maintain, especially in the brush chamber and extraction pathways, requiring significant user effort for cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A self-cleaning system and method utilizing a cleaning tray or docking station that creates a sealed pathway for cleaning fluid to flush and suction debris from the brush chamber and suction nozzle, leveraging the existing fluid delivery and recovery systems of the extraction cleaner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If extraction cleaners are used for deep cleaning carpets and upholstery, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but maintenance difficulty increases due to dirt accumulation in brush chambers and extraction pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-cleaning system where the extraction cleaner automatically cleans its own brush chamber and extraction pathways. The system uses the existing fluid delivery system to supply cleaning fluid and the recovery system to extract spent fluid and debris, enabling the device to maintain itself without requiring manual disassembly or significant user effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-cleaning function is automatically activated after the extraction cleaner completes its cleaning cycle. The system preliminarily prepares for maintenance by automatically initiating the self-cleaning process, including delivering cleaning fluid to the brush chamber and activating the recovery system to extract debris, before the user needs to intervene.
2Ease of repair
If manual cleaning of brush chambers and extraction pathways is performed, then maintenance is achieved, but user time and effort are significantly consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs maintenance tasks that would otherwise require manual user intervention. The fluid delivery system supplies cleaning fluid to the brush chamber, the agitator continues to rotate to loosen debris, and the recovery system automatically extracts spent fluid and debris, eliminating the need for users to manually clean these components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the existing fluid delivery and recovery systems, originally designed for cleaning external surfaces, to also perform internal self-cleaning of the brush chamber and extraction pathways. This multi-functional use of existing components reduces the need for separate manual maintenance operations.
3Productivity
If extraction cleaners are used frequently, then cleaning productivity increases, but dirt accumulation in critical components accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
The self-cleaning system operates continuously or periodically to maintain the brush chamber and extraction pathways. By continuously removing dirt accumulation through automatic extraction, the system prevents buildup that would occur with infrequent manual cleaning, thereby maintaining optimal performance during frequent use.
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction cleaner automatically counteracts the dirt accumulation problem that worsens with frequent use. The system uses its own fluid delivery and recovery systems to continuously clean internal components, preventing the acceleration of dirt buildup that would normally occur with intensive operation.
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 self-cleaning system significantly reduces user time and effort in maintaining extraction cleaners, allowing for more frequent use by automating the cleaning process and ensuring thorough cleaning of critical components.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid delivery system that delivers cleaning fluid to a surface
Implementation Method 2
a pump in fluid communication with the fluid supply container and in selective fluid communication with the fluid distributor
Implementation Method 3
a source of suction in fluid communication with the working air conduit to draw the cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned
Implementation Method 4
a pump in fluid communication with the fluid supply container and in selective fluid communication with the fluid distributor
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning tray is provided for docking an extraction cleaner, including upright or robot extraction cleaners, for self-cleaning. The cleaning tray may include one or more sprayers for spraying a cleaning fluid toward a suction nozzle, brush chamber, and/or agitator of the extraction cleaner. Systems for self-cleaning extraction cleaners are also provided.