Floor cleaning head
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steam cleaners for floors often leave surfaces wet, fail to remove dirt and dust effectively, and can leave smears and stains, while existing steam vacuum cleaners are cumbersome and require separate vacuuming and steam cleaning operations.
Innovation Solution
A floor cleaning head with a pivotally attached nozzle that adjusts its orientation based on the direction of movement, allowing for effective suction and steam application in a single pass, ensuring the floor is cleaned and dried without leaving streaks or residual water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a steam outlet is directed at the floor surface to steam clean, then engrained dirt is removed, but the floor surface becomes wet and leaves smears and stains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines steam cleaning and vacuuming functions into a single integrated head assembly. The steam outlet and suction mouth are positioned in close proximity, allowing steam to be applied to the floor surface while simultaneously vacuuming removes the condensed water and loosened dirt, preventing residual moisture and smears
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning head is divided into functional zones with the steam outlet directed at specific areas and the suction mouth positioned to capture the treated area. The blades segment the floor contact area, with front blades for debris collection and rear blades for water removal, creating distinct functional regions that work together
2Ease of operation
If a mop is used to clean and dry the floor after steam, then the floor is dried, but the mop requires frequent cleaning or replacement due to limited absorptive capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for a separate mop by using the vacuum suction to automatically remove and collect the condensed water and debris. The suction mouth and collection system serve themselves by continuously drawing away moisture without requiring manual intervention or mop maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the water removal function from the traditional mop-based system and integrates it directly into the vacuum head. The suction mechanism extracts condensed water and debris at the source, eliminating the intermediary mop component and its associated maintenance requirements
3Manufacturing precision
If separate vacuuming and steam cleaning operations are performed, then dirt and dust are removed, but the process is cumbersome and requires multiple operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges steam cleaning and vacuuming operations into a single simultaneous process within one head assembly. The steam outlet and suction mouth work together in the same operational cycle, allowing both functions to be performed in one pass rather than requiring separate operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by having steam application and vacuuming operate simultaneously and continuously during a single pass. The front blades continuously collect debris while the rear blades continuously remove water, ensuring uninterrupted cleaning action throughout the cleaning process
4Device complexity
If the nozzle is fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but the blades cannot be raised away from the floor surface during bidirectional movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic movement to the nozzle assembly through a pivot mechanism that allows the nozzle to rotate about a transverse axis. This dynamic adjustment enables the blades to be raised away from the floor surface during bidirectional movement while maintaining contact during unidirectional cleaning, optimizing performance for different operating conditions
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 solution allows for a single-pass cleaning that effectively removes dust, dirt, and larger debris, leaving the floor perfectly dry and clean without the need for separate vacuuming or steam cleaning operations.
Implementation Method 1
Steam may be applied to the floor surface through a steam outlet, thereby assisting with the removal of engrained dirt from the floor surface
Implementation Method 2
The head generally contains a device for guiding dust, such as a brush or bladed structure, towards an inlet duct within the head, so that said dust can be drawn into the cleaner by induced airflow
Implementation Method 3
a motor and fan unit and disposed in the body. In use, the motor and fan unit draws a mixture of air, steam, debris and water through the head
Data Source
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AI summary
A floor cleaning head 10 comprises a body portion 12 and a pivotally attached nozzle 16. The nozzle 16 comprises resiliently flexible front and rear extending elongate blades 33, 34 depending from the underside thereof and a transversely extending suction mouth 20 disposed between the blades 33, 34, and intersected by a steam inlet duct 37 to form frontal and rear portions 20F, 20R. The orientation of the nozzle 16 is altered by a mechanism 23, such that the leading blade 33, 34 raises to allow dust and debris to pass beneath, whilst the trailing blade 34, 33 lowers to form a working edge against the floor surface, against which, dust, dirty water and debris gathers for removal by the induced airflow of an attached floor cleaner (not shown). The head 10 is thus configured to perform separate vacuuming and steam cleaning operations simultaneously, in a single pass.