Load-Adaptive Resonant Cleaning Appliance for Gum Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric cleaning and care appliances face challenges in maintaining high mechanical efficiency and reducing energy consumption while ensuring effective cleaning and protecting gums from excessive pressure, particularly as load conditions change.

Innovation Solution

The appliance incorporates a driver with transducer elastic members that increase natural frequency with load, shifting the resonance oscillation region to larger frequencies, and a pressure alarming circuit to monitor and adjust the cleaning element's amplitude and current, ensuring optimal performance and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the drive frequency is adjusted dynamically to match resonant frequency, then mechanical efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transducer elastic members automatically adjust their natural frequency in response to load changes without requiring external control signals. The system self-regulates by exploiting the inherent property that the natural frequency of elastic members increases with applied load, thereby maintaining resonance conditions automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent exploits the change in natural frequency parameter of the transducer elastic members as a function of load. By designing the elastic members with specific geometric parameters (thickness, width, length) and material properties, the natural frequency automatically shifts to higher values as load increases, maintaining optimal operating conditions without active control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the cleaning element amplitude is increased for better cleaning effect, then cleaning performance is improved, but gum damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectVSAvoidgum damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure alarming circuit continuously monitors the load on the cleaning element and provides feedback control. When the load exceeds a predetermined threshold indicating potential gum damage, the circuit automatically adjusts the drive parameters to reduce cleaning element amplitude, thereby preventing harm while maintaining effective cleaning within safe limits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct mechanical pressure control with an electrical control system. Instead of mechanically limiting the cleaning element motion, the system uses electrical signals from the pressure alarming circuit to control the driver, which in turn adjusts the cleaning element amplitude electronically based on detected load conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If the transducer elastic members are designed with higher natural frequency characteristics, then mechanical efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical efficiencyVSAvoidelastic member geometry tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different geometric characteristics to different regions of the transducer elastic members. By optimizing local parameters such as thickness distribution, width variation, and support conditions along the length of the elastic members, the design achieves higher natural frequency while distributing manufacturing tolerance requirements across multiple localized features rather than requiring uniform high precision throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This configuration enhances mechanical efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and provides maximum cleaning effect at reasonable loads while protecting gums by adjusting the amplitude in response to varying loads, with a simple and cost-effective structure.

Implementation Method 1

When an alternating current flows through the drive coil, permanent magnets provided on the transducer are subjected a reaction force of the electromagnetic force and drive the transducer to make reciprocating rotary motion at the frequency of the alternating current

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 2

The left and right side transducer elastic members are at an angle of 180°, and are approximately equal in length and in section modulus in bending such that the deflection amplitude of the left side transducer elastic member and the deflection amplitude of the right side transducer elastic member are approximately equal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance oscillation: Resonance

Implementation Method 3

engage in the resonance oscillation motion with bending strain characteristics

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBending strain: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP3542754B1Electrical appliance for cleaning and providing care
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 SHANGHAI SHIFT ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3542754B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3542754B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3542754B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electrical appliance for cleaning and providing care, a pressure alarming method using the appliance, and a pressure alarming apparatus. Transducer elastic members (222, 223) of the appliance engage in harmonic motion with bending strain characteristics and are symmetrically distributed at the left and right sides of the longitudinal axis (L2) of a drive shaft, the section moduli in bending and the lengths thereof being approximately equal, the deflection amplitudes being approximately equal while the flexure directions are opposite, the included angle between the longitudinal axis (L1) of a cleaning member and the normal of the transducer elastic member plane (M) being 0°-60°; the frequency of the alternating current in a drive coil (214) is equal to the fixed value of f0max-n, where n is a certain fixed value in the range of -0.3(f0max-f0min) to 0.85(f0max-f0min), and f0max is the current frequency of the drive coil (214) corresponding to the maximum value of the average voltage of a current sensing resistor, and f0min is the current frequency of the drive coil (214) corresponding to the minimum value of the average voltage of the current sensing resistor; therefore, the care appliance has a higher mechanical efficiency, a simple structure and a lower cost.