Extraction Cleaner Wand with Integrated Hose Flush Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extraction cleaners face challenges in efficiently and conveniently removing accumulated debris from the accessory hose, which can lead to unpleasant odors and degrade cleaning performance, often requiring cumbersome and time-consuming processes involving separate components.
Innovation Solution
A wand with integrated fluid and airflow pathways, featuring actuatable valves that allow for selective diversion of cleaning fluid to flush debris from the accessory hose during the cleaning process, utilizing a high-pressure environment for effective hose cleanout without detaching the hose.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate cleaning system is used to flush debris from the accessory hose, then the hose can be cleaned effectively, but the device complexity increases and the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hose cleaning function with the existing wand assembly by integrating a flush valve and fluid delivery pathway directly into the wand. This merging eliminates the need for a separate cleaning system, reducing device complexity while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through the integrated flush capability that directs cleaning fluid through the accessory hose.
Solution Approach 2:
The wand assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the normal cleaning tool connector and the hose cleaning system. The integrated flush valve allows the wand to divert cleaning fluid into the accessory hose for debris removal, making the wand a multi-functional component that eliminates the need for dedicated separate cleaning equipment.
2Reliability
If a separate cleaning system with separate components is used, then the hose can be cleaned, but the ease of operation decreases and components may be lost or broken
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating all cleaning components (flush valve, fluid pathway) directly into the wand assembly, the patent eliminates multiple separate components that could be lost or broken. The unified integrated design simplifies operation to a single valve action while maintaining reliable hose cleaning capability.
3Ease of operation
If cleaning fluid is continuously delivered to the spray nozzle, then cleaning fluid is always available for surface cleaning, but cleaning fluid is wasted when not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The flush valve provides dynamic control over cleaning fluid delivery, allowing the user to switch between different modes (surface cleaning via spray nozzle, hose flushing, or fluid conservation) based on immediate needs. This dynamic valve control optimizes cleaning fluid usage by directing it only where needed and when needed.
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
Facilitates user-friendly and time-efficient debris removal from the accessory hose by integrating hose cleanout functionality into the wand, reducing the need for separate cleaning systems and minimizing odor issues.
Implementation Method 1
The first valve is operable for selectively diverting the liquid stream into the airflow pathway to flush accumulated debris from the accessory hose
Implementation Method 2
The spray nozzle is in fluid communication with the fluid delivery pathway of the wand and configured to direct the liquid stream onto a surface to be cleaned
Implementation Method 3
A suction source located aboard the extraction cleaner generates suction forces to extract spent fluid and entrained debris from the surface
Data Source
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AI summary
An accessory tool (10T) usable with an extraction cleaner (12, 120, 220) having fluid delivery and recovery systems (30, 18) includes a conduit body (51), spray nozzle (55), and first and second valves (69, 68). The conduit body (51) contains a fluid delivery pathway (70) and an airflow pathway (80). The fluid delivery pathway (70) connects to the fluid delivery system (30) at a hose end (46H) of a wand (46). The airflow pathway (80) connects to the fluid recovery system (18) at the same hose end (46H). The spray nozzle (55) is in fluid communication with the fluid delivery pathway (70). The second valve (68) is operable for selectively directing a liquid stream, i.e., cleaning fluid provided by the extraction cleaner (12, 120, 220), to the spray nozzle (55) when the hose end (46H) is attached to the extraction cleaner (12, 120, 220) via an accessory hose (13). The first valve (69) is operable for selectively diverting the liquid stream into the airflow pathway (80) to clean the hose (13).