Flexible Suction Head With Brush Array for Floc Re-Suspension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suction devices designed for small swimming pools are inefficient and potentially damaging for large artificial water bodies with irregular and soft bottoms, as they cannot effectively clean large surfaces, avoid re-suspension of settled impurities, or operate at high speeds without causing damage or sediment cloud formation.
Innovation Solution
A flexible suctioning device with V-shaped and lateral brushes, safety wheels, and concentrated suction points, supported by a propelling system, which allows efficient suction of flocs and debris from large artificial water bodies without re-suspension, capable of high-speed operation on irregular and sloped surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional swimming pool bottom cleaners are used, then the bottom can be cleaned, but the cleaning speed is too slow for large artificial water bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The suction head is divided into multiple independent suction nozzles arranged in an array, allowing simultaneous suction from multiple points across the bottom surface. This segmentation enables the device to clean large surface areas much faster than conventional single-nozzle pool cleaners while maintaining effective suction at each point.
2Productivity
If conventional pool cleaners with rotating brushes are used, then debris can be removed, but flocs are dispersed and re-suspended in the water
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the rotating brush component entirely from the suction head design. Instead of using mechanical agitation to loosen debris, the device relies on stationary suction nozzles that gently draw settled flocs and debris into the suction stream without dispersing them, thus eliminating the harmful re-suspension effect while maintaining cleaning productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
A stationary brush array is introduced as an intermediary element between the suction nozzles and the bottom surface. These brushes gently guide flocs and debris toward the suction openings without the aggressive agitation of rotating brushes, serving as a mediator that facilitates debris removal while preventing floc dispersion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional cleaners with small suction heads are used, then they can navigate small pools, but they cannot effectively clean large surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple suction nozzles are merged into a single integrated suction head assembly that can be towed behind a boat. This combination allows the device to cover large bottom surface areas effectively while maintaining the adaptability to navigate various water body sizes, including smaller pools, by adjusting the towing speed and coverage pattern.
4Productivity
If high suction power is applied to remove debris quickly, then cleaning speed increases, but sediment clouds are created
Solution Approach 1:
The suction power is segmented across multiple nozzles rather than concentrated in a single high-power suction point. This distribution of suction force allows for effective debris removal at each nozzle while preventing the creation of intense turbulence and sediment clouds that would occur with a single high-power suction source.
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 device achieves a high surface cleaning rate of 325,000 ft² per 24 hours, is reversible, and reduces operational costs by concentrating suction power and avoiding damage to the bottom surfaces, while maintaining water quality by preventing sediment cloud formation.
Implementation Method 1
a suctioning device for suctioning flocs produced by flocculants or coagulants from a bottom of large artificial water bodies
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of first brushes, where in an embodiment the first brushes are V-shaped brushes configured to direct a bottom water flow into apexes of the V-shaped brushes
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of lateral brushes configured to contain the bottom water flow within the suctioning device and avoid the re-suspension of the bottom water flow in the vicinity of the suctioning device
Implementation Method 4
suctioning flocs produced by flocculants or coagulants from a bottom of large artificial water bodies
Implementation Method 5
efficient flocculation that allows precipitating impurities
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a flexible suctioning device for suctioning floes from the bottom of large artificial water bodies with surfaces larger than 10,000 m and with bottoms covered with plastic liners that do not have centralized filtration systems, and that is able to clean a bottom surface of large artificial water bodies at a surface cleaning rate of 325,000 ft 2 per 24 hours (30,000 m2 per 24 hours) or more, where the bottom surface of the large artificial water bodies can be irregular and sloped, and where the suctioning device is reversible and is supported by a plurality of brushes, comprising first brushes, disposed to provide appropriate support to the suction device and minimize the dispersion and re-suspension of settled floes. The suctioning device is designed in order to concentrate the suction power in a series of suction points, where the suctioning device is connected to an external filtration system that may not be attached to the suctioning device.