Filter unit for the intake connector in the dirty-water tank of a floor-cleaning machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter units and float valves in floor-cleaning machines are not reliably preventing foam and dirt from entering the suction turbine, and often fail to be correctly re-fitted by users, leading to potential damage to the suction turbine.
Innovation Solution
A filter unit with a sleeve-shaped main body, an annular float body, and a filter element made from filter material, which is easy to mount and ensures reliable prevention of foam and dirt entry by automatically closing off the inlet when the dirty-water level rises, indicated by a change in motor current or sensor signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter unit with float valve is provided on the intake connector, then dirt particles can be prevented from passing into the suction turbine, but the filter unit is not reliably re-fitted by users and foam can still pass into the suction turbine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the float valve and filter unit into a single integrated assembly that is pre-mounted on the intake connector. This merging ensures that the float valve and filter element are always correctly positioned relative to each other, eliminating the problem of incorrect re-fitting by users. The integrated design maintains reliable prevention of both dirt and foam entry while simplifying user operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element is nested within the filter unit housing, and the float valve is integrated into the same assembly. This nested structure ensures that all components are pre-assembled in the correct configuration, preventing user error during re-fitting while maintaining the protective functions of both the filter and float valve.
2Reliability
If a filter unit is provided on the intake connector, then dirt particles can be filtered, but foam can still pass into the suction turbine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the float valve function with the filter unit structure, creating a single integrated component that provides both filtration and foam prevention. This combination achieves reliable foam prevention without significantly increasing device complexity, as the float valve is integrated into the existing filter unit housing rather than being a separate assembly.
3Device complexity
If the float body is arranged in the annular space between main body and filter element, then the construction is compact, but the float body may be lost during filter element removal
Solution Approach 1:
The float valve assembly is merged with the filter unit housing, creating a single integrated component. This ensures that when the filter element is removed for cleaning, the float body remains securely attached to the housing and cannot be lost. The integration maintains compact construction while guaranteeing component retention.
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 filter unit effectively prevents foam and dirt from entering the suction turbine, ensuring the machine's operation is protected, and is designed for easy fitting and maintenance, with a compact construction that prevents loss of components during cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially annular float body (77), which is arranged around the main body (39) and is displaceable along the main body between a closed position and an open position
Implementation Method 2
The filter element (69) is formed at least partially from a filter material such that a fluid can pass through the filter material, while particles contained in the fluid are separated out at the filter material
Data Source
AI summary
A floor cleaning machine with a filter unit for a suction connector in a dirty-water tank. The filter unit has a substantially sleeve-shaped main body, which has an inlet opening at a face end, a substantially annular float body, which is arranged around and is displaceable along the main body between a closed position and an open position, a cover, which is arranged on the face end and has an entry opening that is configured to be selectively closed off by the float body. A fluid channel is provided in the cover and is configured to allow a fluid to flow from the entry opening into the inlet opening, and a sleeve-shaped filter element. The float body is arranged around the main body in an annular space between the main body and the filter element.