Flat Suction Head Base Plate for Lower Suction Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing suction heads for vacuum cleaners suffer from reduced suction efficiency on carpets, rugs, and hard smooth surfaces due to poor adherence between the base plate and the surface, leading to wasted suction power and inefficiency, especially when using velvet strips which require parallel alignment.

Innovation Solution

A base plate design with a completely flat lower face, where the entire surface lies in a single plane, ensuring improved adherence and suction efficiency by maintaining the suction power, and incorporating velvet strips embedded in this plane for enhanced performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the base plate is designed with a non-flat lower face (inclined surfaces), then the structure allows for velvet strips to be attached at angles, but the adherence between the base plate and the surface deteriorates, causing suction losses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevelvet strip alignmentVSAvoidsuction losses
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the entire lower face of the base plate flat instead of inclined, while the velvet strips are then angled relative to this flat surface. This inversion resolves the contradiction by maintaining full surface contact for adherence while still allowing angled velvet strip configuration for effective carpet cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by having the lower face consist of a flat surface area and an inclined surface area, where the flat area provides full contact for adherence and the inclined area accommodates the velvet strips at the necessary angle for effective cleaning operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the power of the motor is increased to improve suction efficiency, then the cleaning performance improves, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the base plate (making the lower face completely flat) to optimize the adherence between the base plate and the surface, thereby reducing suction losses and improving suction efficiency without increasing motor power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Area of stationary object

If the base plate channel is designed to extend through the whole width of the base plate, then the suction coverage is improved, but the structural stability deteriorates due to the open aperture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction coverage areaVSAvoidbase plate stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a thin-walled base plate structure that can maintain structural integrity despite the large aperture required for full-width base plate channel extension. The thin walls provide sufficient strength while maximizing the suction opening area for improved coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 flat base plate design enhances suction efficiency by minimizing suction losses and allowing effective use of velvet strips, improving cleaning performance on various surfaces without increasing power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

improve the performance of the known suction heads. In particular, the Applicant has noticed the need to increase the suction efficiency on carpets, rugs, doormats, matting or the like as well as on hard and substantially smooth surfaces such as floors consisting of marble, cement, resin, tiles, parquet or the like.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

a suction channel which, during use, is joined to the base plate and is in fluid communication with the base plate channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3207848B1Base plate for a suction head for vacuum cleaners or the like
Publication Date: 2019.04.03 NEW ERMES EURO
  • EP3207848B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3207848B1 patent drawingFigure 2.1
  • EP3207848B1 patent drawingFigure 2.2~2.4

AI summary

A base plate for a suction head for vacuum cleaners or a similar electric household appliance is described, said base plate comprising a lower face configured as to be directed towards the surface to be vacuumed, an opposite upper surface and a base plate channel open towards the surface to be vacuumed, wherein the base plate channel comprises a front edge and a rear edge, wherein at least the surface of the lower face which extends along the front edge of the base plate channel and at least the surface of the lower face which extends along the rear edge of the base plate channel lie in a same plane.