Expandable Hose Routing in Floor Cleaners Across Handle Positions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor cleaning machines lack efficient designs for fluid distribution and recovery, particularly in transitioning between upright and reclined positions, which affects the machine's usability and cleaning effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A floor cleaning machine with a pivotable handle, a supply tank assembly, a suction motor assembly, and an expandable hose that changes configuration between upright and reclined positions to facilitate efficient cleaning fluid distribution and recovery, allowing the hose to wrap around the motor housing in different configurations based on the handle's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the handle is kept in a fixed position, then the hose routing is simple, but the machine cannot adapt to different cleaning positions and surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is made pivotable relative to the body, allowing it to transition between upright and reclined positions. This dynamic configuration enables the hose to adapt its routing automatically based on the handle's position, providing versatility for different cleaning applications while maintaining manageable hose routing through the pivot mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The hose routing is segmented into different paths corresponding to different handle positions. The hose is configured to route along different trajectories when the handle is upright versus reclined, allowing each segment of the hose to follow an optimized path for its specific operational context
2Adaptability or versatility
If the hose is made rigid to maintain stable routing, then the hose routing is predictable, but the hose cannot accommodate handle movement between upright and reclined positions
Solution Approach 1:
The hose is designed as a dynamic component that changes its configuration based on handle position. It features controlled flexibility with defined routing paths that maintain stability within each position (upright or reclined) while allowing smooth transition between positions through the handle's pivot movement
Solution Approach 2:
The hose utilizes flexible material construction that allows it to bend and conform to different routing requirements. This flexibility enables the hose to accommodate handle position changes while maintaining adequate routing stability through its inherent elastic properties and guided path constraints
3Area of stationary object
If the hose is made long to reach all areas, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the hose becomes difficult to manage and store
Solution Approach 1:
The hose routing utilizes three-dimensional space by wrapping around the motor housing portion when the handle is in the upright position. This spatial arrangement allows a longer hose to be compacted into a manageable configuration during storage, while still providing sufficient length for effective cleaning coverage when deployed in the reclined position
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
Enables efficient distribution and recovery of cleaning fluids and dirt across various surfaces, improving cleaning efficiency and ease of use by adapting to different operational positions.
Implementation Method 1
The suction motor assembly is operable to draw fluid and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A floor cleaning machine for cleaning a surface includes a body having a suction nozzle thereon, a handle pivotably coupled to the body and having a motor housing portion, and a suction motor assembly operable to draw fluid and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle. The floor cleaning machine also includes a recovery tank coupled to the handle in fluid communication with the suction motor assembly to receive and store fluid and dirt drawn through the suction nozzle and an expandable hose fluidly communicating the recovery tank and the suction nozzle. The hose is in one of a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration when the handle is pivoted to a substantially upright position, and the other when pivoted to a reclined position. The hose at least partially wraps around the motor housing portion when in the expanded configuration.