Floor Cleaning Nozzle Airflow Control for Dirt and Liquid Pickup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices fail to effectively vacuum and mop floors simultaneously due to unwanted turbulent air blow caused by rotating brushes, which leads to dirt and liquid being blown away and not ingested by the vacuum cleaner.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle arrangement with a single rotating brush equipped with flexible bristles, a squeegee element, and a combination of a deflector and restriction element to manage air flow and pressure, ensuring efficient ingestion of dirt and liquid particles while minimizing the size and cost of the vacuum aggregate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two rotating brushes are used to pick up dirt and liquid, then cleaning performance is improved, but turbulent air blow is generated that blows dirt away from the brushes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful turbulent air blow generated by the rotating brushes into a beneficial under-pressure effect. By positioning deflectors that redirect the air flow generated by brush rotation into the nozzle housing, the previously harmful turbulence is transformed into a useful suction force that enhances dirt and liquid pickup, eliminating the need for a separate vacuum aggregate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces deflectors as intermediary elements between the rotating brushes and the nozzle housing. These deflectors mediate the air flow generated by brush rotation, redirecting it into the nozzle housing to create under-pressure, thereby transforming the harmful direct air blow into a controlled beneficial suction effect.
2Productivity
If deflectors are used to compensate for air flow, then under-pressure is created, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the deflectors serve multiple functions: they redirect air flow to create under-pressure, structurally support the brush assembly, and potentially guide dirt and liquid particles into the nozzle housing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, offsetting the complexity increase with functional consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the air flow redirection function with the structural support function by integrating the deflectors into the nozzle housing structure. This combination reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies assembly, partially compensating for the added complexity of introducing deflectors into the system.
3Device complexity
If a single brush is used instead of two, then device complexity is reduced, but cleaning performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by leveraging the air flow generated by a single rotating brush to create under-pressure within the nozzle housing. This pneumatic effect compensates for the reduced mechanical cleaning action of using only one brush, allowing the single brush to achieve cleaning performance comparable to two brushes by combining mechanical agitation with air flow-induced suction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the single brush, specifically increasing its rotational speed to generate sufficient air flow for under-pressure creation. By adjusting this parameter, the single brush compensates for the loss of a second brush, maintaining cleaning effectiveness through enhanced aerodynamic effects.
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 effective cleaning of floors by preventing the blowing effect, enabling the simultaneous pickup of dirt and liquid, and reducing the need for powerful vacuum aggregates, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
flexible brush elements having tip portions for contacting the surface to be cleaned and picking up dirt and/or liquid particles from the surface during the rotation of the brush
Implementation Method 2
a deflector for contacting the brush and deflecting the brush elements during the rotation of the brush
Implementation Method 3
a restriction element for at least partly restricting air from getting sucked into the nozzle housing
Implementation Method 4
An under-pressure, usually generated by a vacuum aggregate, is used to ingest the collected dirt particles and liquid
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a nozzle arrangement (10) for a cleaning device (100) for cleaning a surface, the nozzle arrangement comprising: - a brush (12) rotatable about a brush axis (14), the brush being provided with flexible brush elements (16) having tip portions (18) for contacting the surface to be cleaned (20) and picking up dirt and/or liquid particles (22, 24) from the surface (20) during the rotation of the brush (12), wherein the brush (12) is at least partly surrounded by a nozzle housing (28) and protrudes at least partly from a bottom side (30) of the nozzle housing (28), - a squeegee element (32) which is spaced apart from the brush (12) and attached to the bottom side (30) of the nozzle housing (28) on a first side (31) of the brush (12) where the brush elements (16) enter the nozzle housing (28) during the rotation of the brush (12), wherein the squeegee element (32) is configured for wiping dirt and/or liquid particles (22, 24) across or off the surface to be cleaned (20) during a movement of the cleaning device (100) - a deflector (150) for contacting the brush (12) and deflecting the brush elements (16) during the rotation of the brush (12), and - a restriction element (27) for at least partly restricting air from getting sucked into the nozzle housing (28) at a second side (29) of the brush (12) where the brush elements (16) leave the nozzle housing (28), wherein the restriction element (27) is, seen in a rotation direction (26) of the brush (12), arranged behind the deflector (25), such that the brush elements (16), during the rotation of the brush (12), contact the deflector (25) before passing the restriction element (27) and then leaving the nozzle housing (28) at the bottom side (30), and the restriction element (27) comprises a mechanically flexible element that is, due to its flexibility, configured to follow an outer surface of the brush (12) and to contact the tip portions (18) during the rotation of the brush (12).