Extraction Cleaner Tank Receiver Design for Secure Fluid Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning devices, such as carpet extractors, often face challenges in efficiently delivering and recovering cleaning fluids and debris, particularly in portable and upright configurations, where ease of use and effective separation of air and liquid are compromised.
Innovation Solution
A surface cleaning apparatus with a portable extraction cleaner design that includes a main housing selectively mounting fluid delivery and recovery systems, featuring a supply tank, a recovery tank, and a motor/fan assembly for suction, along with latches for secure tank installation, facilitating easy transport and effective fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the extraction cleaner is designed to be portable and hand-carried, then mobility and ease of transport are improved, but the effectiveness of fluid delivery and recovery may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction cleaner is divided into separable components including a main body, removable supply tank, and detachable nozzle assembly. This segmentation allows the device to be disassembled for easy transport while maintaining full functionality when assembled, resolving the contradiction between portability and cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates adjustable components such as variable suction power settings and flexible hose arrangements that can be adapted to different cleaning scenarios. This dynamic adjustability enables the portable device to maintain effective cleaning performance across various conditions despite its compact design.
2Reliability
If latches are added to secure tank installation, then tank security and fluid management are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is designed as a self-latching system that automatically engages when the tank is properly installed on the main body. This self-service feature provides secure tank retention without requiring additional manual operations or complex control systems, thus improving reliability while minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A simple latch component acts as an intermediary element between the tank and main body, providing a reliable mechanical connection. This intermediary mechanism ensures secure fluid management through straightforward engagement and disengagement, avoiding the need for complex fastening systems.
3Volume of moving object
If the suction source is positioned within the housing, then compactness is improved, but accessibility for maintenance may be worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The suction source is housed in a separate, accessible compartment that can be independently opened or removed from the main housing. This segmentation maintains the overall compactness of the device while providing easy access to the suction source for maintenance and cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction source is designed as a removable module that can be extracted from the housing without disassembling the entire device. This extraction design achieves compact integration during operation while enabling straightforward access for maintenance, resolving the contradiction between compactness and serviceability.
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
Enables efficient delivery and extraction of cleaning fluids and debris, with improved user convenience and tank security through the latches, allowing for effective cleaning of small and larger areas with enhanced fluid management and separation capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a source of suction in fluid communication with the conduit to draw the cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned and through the nozzle and the conduit to the recovery tank
Data Source
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AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus (10, 210) includes a housing (12, 212), a fluid delivery system (14, 214) including a supply tank (18, 218) removably mounted on the housing (12, 212) and a fluid distributor, a fluid recovery system (16, 216) having a recovery tank (30, 230) removably mounted on the housing (12, 212), an extraction nozzle (28, 228), a motor/fan assembly, and a supply tank receiver (72, 272) provided on the housing (12, 212) for receiving the supply tank (18, 218) and comprising a void (74, 274) at least partially defining a seat (75, 275) for the supply tank (18, 218).