Floor cleaning machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor cleaning machines face complexity in replacing the partition wall between fresh and dirty water chambers, requiring disassembly of the container and detachment of sections, which complicates controlled filling of the dirty water chamber.

Innovation Solution

A floor cleaning machine design featuring a flexible membrane attached to the tank wall, allowing for controlled filling of the dirty water chamber through a filling tube with inlet and outlet openings, and enabling easy replacement of the membrane without dismantling the container, using a detachable connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible partition is installed between two sections of the container to separate fresh water and wastewater chambers, then the volumes of these chambers can change dynamically during operation, but the partition replacement becomes complex requiring container disassembly and section separation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume adjustment capabilityVSAvoidpartition replacement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The partition is extracted from the complex container assembly structure and made independently replaceable. The partition can be removed and replaced without disassembling the container or separating container sections, simplifying maintenance while preserving volume adjustment functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The partition is designed as a flexible membrane that can dynamically change shape and position to accommodate varying volumes of fresh water and wastewater chambers during operation, while remaining a simple, replaceable component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of repair

If the partition is made detachable between container sections, then replacement becomes easier, but the structural integrity and sealing between chambers may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepartition replacement easeVSAvoidchamber sealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The partition is implemented as a flexible membrane that provides reliable sealing between chambers while being easily replaceable. The membrane material ensures fluid-tight separation while allowing simple maintenance access and replacement without compromising chamber integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Manufacturing precision

If the outlet opening of the filling pipe is arranged vertically below the inlet opening, then controlled filling of the dirty water chamber is achieved, but the pipe occupies more vertical space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrolled filling capabilityVSAvoidfilling pipe vertical length
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The filling pipe utilizes the vertical dimension effectively by arranging the outlet opening below the inlet opening, enabling controlled filling through gravity-assisted flow direction while accepting the increased vertical space requirement as a necessary design trade-off for precise liquid level control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3730019B1Floor cleaning machine
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 HAKO GMBH
  • EP3730019B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3730019B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3730019B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A floor cleaning machine (1) is shown and described, comprising a machine frame (3), a chassis (5) attached to the machine frame (3) for moving the floor cleaning machine (1) over a floor surface (7) to be cleaned, a container (9) attached to the machine frame (3) in which a fresh water chamber (13) and a dirty water chamber (15) are provided, wherein means are provided for conveying liquid from the floor surface (7) to be cleaned into the dirty water chamber (15), and wherein the dirty water chamber (15) has means for draining liquid from the dirty water chamber (15), and a flexible membrane (17) wherein the membrane (17) is attached to the wall of the container (9) at at least one attachment point (23) which is spaced vertically (25) from a bottom surface (27) of the container (9).such that the fresh water chamber (13) and the wastewater chamber (15) are separated from each other by the membrane (17) between the bottom surface (27) of the container (9) and a horizontal plane (29) running through the attachment point (23), wherein either the fresh water chamber (13) surrounds the wastewater chamber (15) or the wastewater chamber (15) surrounds the fresh water chamber (13), wherein the membrane (17) is attached to the wall of the container (9) below the attachment point (23) in the vertical direction (25) such that an opening (19) in the membrane (17) and an opening (21) in the wall of the container (9) coincide, allowing liquid to flow through the opening (19) in the membrane (17) and through the opening (21) in the wall of the container (9).