Handheld extraction cleaner with liquid movement mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld extraction cleaners face issues with liquid movement and leakage during operation, particularly when tilted or inverted, which can lead to damage to components and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The handheld extraction cleaner incorporates a suction nozzle, a brush element, and a recovery tank with a separator element, such as a funnel or check valve, to inhibit liquid flow outside the operating zone, ensuring liquid is directed away from the suction fan and into the recovery tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the cleaner is tilted or inverted during operation, then the liquid can be emptied from the recovery tank, but liquid may leak out of the tank and reach the suction fan
Solution Approach 1:
A separator element is introduced as an intermediary component between the recovery tank and the suction fan. This separator element selectively allows liquid to pass into the recovery tank while blocking liquid from reaching the suction fan, even when the cleaner is tilted or inverted. The separator element acts as a mediator that manages liquid flow in both directions differently, enabling safe emptying while protecting the fan.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator element creates different flow characteristics at different locations within the cleaner. At the tank inlet, it allows liquid entry into the recovery tank, while at the fan entrance, it blocks liquid progression. This local differentiation of flow permission vs. blockage resolves the contradiction between enabling liquid emptying and preventing fan contamination.
2Reliability
If a separator element is added to prevent liquid from reaching the fan, then component protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separator element is designed to function automatically based on liquid flow direction and pressure differential, without requiring external control systems. Liquid flowing into the recovery tank naturally opens the separator element, while liquid trying to reach the fan is blocked by the same element. This self-regulating mechanism provides protection without adding complex control systems.
3Volume of moving object
If the tank inlet is positioned close to the fan entrance for compact design, then device size is reduced, but liquid can more easily reach the fan when tilted
Solution Approach 1:
The separator element serves as a protective intermediary positioned between the tank inlet and the fan entrance. Even though these components are spaced closely for compact design, the separator element creates a protective barrier that prevents liquid from the tank inlet from reaching the fan entrance, eliminating the harmful effect of close proximity.
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
Prevents liquid from reaching the suction fan, maintaining efficient operation and preventing damage to the cleaner, even when tilted or inverted, by effectively managing liquid flow within the recovery tank.
Implementation Method 1
A suction fan is configured to provide suction to an opposite end of the inlet path from the brush element, such that the inlet path brings liquid and air into the handheld extraction cleaner
Implementation Method 2
A separator element configured to allow liquid to flow into the recovery tank, inhibit the flow of liquid out of the recovery tank, and inhibit liquid from reaching the fan entrance
Implementation Method 3
Some configurations may include a check valve within the funnel, such that the check valve is configured to close and inhibit flow from the recovery tank when the handheld extraction cleaner is outside of an operating zone range
Data Source
AI summary
An extraction cleaner includes a suction nozzle having an inlet path and suction fan configured to provide suction. The inlet path brings liquid and air into the extraction cleaner. Suction fan has a fan entrance, a recovery tank is spaced from the fan entrance. A separator element configured to allow liquid to flow into the recovery tank, inhibit the flow of liquid out of the recovery tank, and inhibit liquid from reaching the fan entrance, or all three. The separator element may be a butterfly valve configured to selectively close the fan entrance. The separator element may be a funnel extending into the recovery tank to block liquid from leaving the recovery tank during inversion. The separator element may be a fan separator adjacent the suction fan, which directs liquid outward, away from the fan separator, within the extraction cleaner, such that liquid is moved away from the suction fan.