Facade Cleaning Mat With Tensioned Guide Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing facade cleaning liquid collection devices face issues with application properties, including the need for protruding clamps that can rust and cause buckling, and the risk of abrasion leading to soiling, as well as inefficiencies in liquid suction due to foreign objects blocking pumps.
Innovation Solution
A collecting device with a traction mechanism that bends the guide surface inwardly, eliminating the need for external clamps and using corrosion-resistant materials, and an abrasion-resistant collecting mat, along with a suction element featuring a fill-level probe and filter to prevent foreign objects from entering the suction chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If externally attached clamps are used to bend the guide surface upwards, then the guide surface can be formed, but the clamps protrude outward and can rust over time
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of the clamps (protruding outward and rusting) is extracted and removed from the system. Instead of using external clamps to bend the guide surface, the patent integrates the bending function directly into the collection mat structure, eliminating the need for separate clamp components that cause corrosion and protrusion issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The bending function and the collection mat structure are merged into a single integrated component. The guide surface is formed as an integral part of the collection mat through internal structural design rather than external attachment, combining the support function and the bending function into one unified structure that eliminates corrosion-prone external elements.
2Force
If steel springs are used in clamps to maintain tension, then the guide surface remains bent, but the steel springs rust over time
Solution Approach 1:
The steel spring component is extracted and removed from the system. The patent replaces the steel spring mechanism with an alternative tensioning solution that does not rely on metallic springs, thereby eliminating the source of rust and corrosion while maintaining the necessary tensile force for guide surface formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction for the collection mat, combining materials with different properties to achieve both the required mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. The composite structure provides the necessary tensile force without using rust-prone steel springs, integrating multiple material advantages into a single corrosion-resistant system.
3Ease of operation
If the collection mat is made flexible for easy handling, then it can be easily installed, but it may buckle under tension
Solution Approach 1:
The collection mat is designed with local quality variations, having different structural properties in different regions. Certain areas are reinforced to provide buckling resistance where structural stability is critical, while other areas maintain flexibility for ease of handling and installation. This localized differentiation allows the mat to exhibit both flexibility and stability as needed in different parts of the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates curved or arched structural elements in the collection mat design, using curvature to inherently resist buckling while maintaining flexibility. The curved geometry provides structural rigidity against buckling forces while the overall mat remains flexible enough for easy handling, leveraging geometric principles to balance stability and flexibility.
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 solution enhances the application properties by preventing rust and buckling, ensuring effective liquid collection and reducing soiling, while improving operational reliability by preventing foreign objects from blocking the suction process.
Implementation Method 1
The invention defines a collection device with a tensioning element that can exert an inward-directed (i.e., towards the center of the mat) tensile force on the guide surface
Implementation Method 2
In its operating state, the collection mat thus forms a channel that collects the cleaning fluid flowing downwards from the wall at the base of a building wall
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a collection device (1) and a system for collecting cleaning fluid generated during the cleaning of facades. The collection device (1) comprises a collection mat (10) with a longitudinal edge (11) that rests against a facade (W), while the opposite longitudinal edge is bent upwards by tensioning elements (15) to form a guide surface (13). Preferably, the surface of the collection mat (10) is abrasion-resistant, at least in certain areas. Furthermore, a suction element (20) is preferably used, the connection nozzle (22) of which for a hose (23) is located above the guide surface (13).