Flexible Hose Unfoldable Profile for Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible hoses for vacuum cleaners, particularly those used with cylinder vacuum cleaners, are heavy due to spring wire or hard plastic coils, leading to increased force requirements for stretching and re-compressing, which can cause the vacuum cleaner to move towards the operator, and may deform if stepped on, limiting extension and affecting dust transfer.
Innovation Solution
A flexible stretch hose with an unfoldable section in its spirally wound profile, featuring a bottom section and rib section design that allows for axial stretching without the need for a spring wire, maintaining hub strength with less plastic material and incorporating a 'shape memory' effect for self-recovery, enabling extended lengths with reduced force requirements and maintaining inner diameter integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spring wire is used to enable hose extension, then the hose can be stretched, but the hose becomes heavy and requires increased force for stretching and re-compressing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the spring wire from the hose structure entirely, extracting the heavy metal component that caused weight increase and force requirements. Instead, it uses an unfoldable profile section made of plastic material that provides extension capability without the drawbacks of spring wire
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from metal spring wire to plastic profile material, and changes the structural parameter from a coiled spring to an unfoldable profile section. This parameter change maintains extension capability while significantly reducing weight and force requirements
2Weight of moving object
If a hard plastic coil is used instead of spring wire, then weight is reduced, but the coil may be deformed if stepped on, causing inside diameter narrowing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different structural qualities to different parts of the profile. The rib section is designed with high rigidity to maintain inside diameter integrity when stepped on, while the bottom section is designed to be unfoldable for extension. This local differentiation of structural properties solves both the weight reduction and reliability concerns
3Strength
If the rib section is made solid to increase hub strength, then compression resistance improves, but flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates local quality differentiation within the profile structure. The rib section is made solid to provide hub strength and compression resistance, while the bottom section is designed to be unfoldable to provide flexibility and extension capability. This allows the hose to have both strength and flexibility in different locations
Solution Approach 2:
The profile is segmented into functionally distinct sections: the rib section for structural strength and the bottom section for flexibility and extension. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the overall hose performance
4Length of moving object
If the hose is stretched to greater lengths, then extension capability improves, but the force required to re-compress the hose increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the spring wire, the invention eliminates the elastic recovery force that opposes compression. The unfoldable profile section requires minimal force to re-compress as it simply folds back into its compact form without the strong elastic rebound characteristic of spring wire
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of high re-compression force into a benefit by using a passive folding mechanism. The unfoldable profile section naturally folds back into its compact form without requiring significant force, transforming the extension mechanism into one that is easy to both extend and retract
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 hose achieves significant extension up to 200% or more with reduced force requirements, minimizes weight, and maintains inner diameter integrity, reducing the risk of the vacuum cleaner being pulled towards the operator and ensuring effective dust transfer without deformation.
Implementation Method 1
The hose according to the invention has, in particular, an unfoldable section in the spirally wound profile by means of which the hose can be stretched in the axial direction under the influence of an axial tensile force
Implementation Method 2
The profile of the hose of the invention has, in cross-section, at least one bottom section and at least one rib section, i.e. one bottom section and one rib section
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A flexible stretch hose with a wall which comprises a spirally wound profile (1; 11; 21) in a plastic material. Consecutive windings of the profile are secured to each other by means of a weld. The profile comprises, in cross-section, at least one bottom section (2; 12) and at least one rib section (4; 14; 24), wherein the rib section of the profile, relative to the bottom section, also forms a protrusion of the wall of the hose which gives the hose a predetermined hub strength. The profile comprises an unfoldable section (5; 15; 25) provided in order to be unfolded under the influence of a tensile; force in the axial direction of the hose, thereby allowing an extension of the hose, wherein the unfoldable section comprises at least two profile sections lying loosely against each other, which sections are interconnected at one end.