Floor Cleaner Nozzle Layout for Balanced Fluid Spraying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional floor cleaners lack a balanced design and effective fluid distribution system, making them uncomfortable to use and inefficient in cleaning surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A floor cleaner with a supply tank, vacuum source, and a base that includes a suction inlet and a distribution nozzle for fluid dispensing, along with a light to illuminate the spray pattern, providing a balanced and efficient cleaning experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional floor cleaner design is used, then the structure is simple, but the balance and comfort during operation are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The floor cleaner is divided into distinct functional modules: a handle assembly, a body assembly containing the vacuum source, a supply tank mounted on the body, and a base assembly with distribution nozzles. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its function while contributing to overall balance and operational comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply tank is positioned on the body assembly above the base, creating a vertical arrangement that improves the center of gravity distribution. The distribution nozzles extend forward from the base, creating a spatial arrangement that balances the weight distribution front-to-back, thereby improving operational comfort without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
2Productivity
If a conventional fluid distribution system is used, then the device complexity is low, but the fluid distribution effectiveness is poor
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple distribution nozzles are positioned at different locations on the base, including front and side positions, to create localized fluid application zones. This ensures that cleaning fluid is distributed effectively across different areas of the floor surface being cleaned, improving overall cleaning efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply tank serves multiple functions: it stores cleaning fluid, provides fluid to multiple distribution nozzles through a fluid distribution system, and its positioning on the body assembly contributes to the overall balance of the device. This multi-functionality improves cleaning effectiveness without proportionally increasing system complexity.
3Loss of information
If no illumination is provided, then the device complexity is lower, but the visibility of the spray pattern is poor
Solution Approach 1:
Illumination sources are incorporated into the base assembly to emit light that highlights the spray pattern of cleaning fluid. The light makes the transparent or semi-transparent fluid visible as it is distributed across the floor surface, providing visual feedback to the operator about fluid application without requiring complex detection systems.
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 floor cleaner is well-balanced and comfortable to operate, ensuring effective fluid distribution and improved cleaning performance with the illumination aiding in fluid visibility during use.
Implementation Method 1
The distribution nozzle sprays the cleaning solution in a spray pattern beyond the front side of the base
Implementation Method 2
The base further includes a light directed toward the front side configured to illuminate the spray pattern
Implementation Method 3
a suction inlet adjacent the front side of the base and in fluid communication with the vacuum source
Data Source
AI summary
A floor cleaner including a base movable over a surface to be cleaned, the base including a front side, a back side opposite the front side, and a brushroll chamber. A supply tank is configured to store a cleaning fluid and a distribution nozzle is in fluid communication with the supply tank, the distribution nozzle operable to dispense the cleaning fluid onto the surface to be cleaned. A brushroll cover is removable from the base to access the brushroll chamber. A brushroll is within the brushroll chamber. The distribution nozzle is disposed adjacent the front side of the base and carried on an upper exterior portion of the base and configured to spray forwardly of the base in a direction from the back side toward the front side.