Magnetic Fluid Connector for Combined Brushing and Irrigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toothbrush technologies face high production costs with electro-magnetic drivers and lower speeds with rotating systems, while oral irrigators require separate handles for brushing and irrigating functions, lacking a compact, cost-effective combination solution.
Innovation Solution
A toothbrush design incorporating a motor with an eccentric drive shaft, a power train assembly, and a fluid connector that converts rotary motion into oscillating motion, featuring energy-conserving elements like compressible bumpers and flexible wings to reduce power consumption and stress, with a 360-degree rotatable fluid connector for combined brushing and irrigating functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If electro-magnetic drivers are used to create oscillating motion, then high-speed oscillation is achieved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electro-magnetic drivers with a mechanical power train assembly that uses a continuous rotation motor coupled with an eccentric drive shaft and centering return spring to generate oscillating motion. This mechanical substitution achieves high-speed oscillation while reducing production cost by eliminating complex electro-magnetic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic action through the eccentric drive shaft and centering return spring mechanism, where the continuous rotation of the motor is converted into periodic oscillating motion. The spring stores and releases energy during each oscillation cycle, maintaining high-speed oscillation without requiring electro-magnetic drivers.
2Ease of manufacture
If mechanically-driven systems are used to provide oscillating motion, then production cost is reduced, but oscillation speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using a continuous rotation motor with an eccentric drive shaft and centering return spring to create oscillating motion. The dynamic interaction between the rotating motor and the spring-mass system generates high-speed oscillation, overcoming the speed limitation of traditional mechanically-driven toothbrushes while maintaining lower production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering return spring acts as a counterweight mechanism that balances the oscillating motion generated by the eccentric drive shaft. This allows the system to maintain high oscillation speeds by continuously storing and releasing mechanical energy, achieving performance comparable to electro-magnetic systems at lower cost.
3Reliability
If separate handles are used for toothbrush and irrigation functions, then each function can be optimized, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the toothbrush and irrigation functions into a single integrated device. The power train assembly generates oscillating motion that drives both the brush head and the irrigation tip simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate handles while maintaining optimized performance for both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The device achieves universality by designing a single handle with a power train assembly that can perform both brushing and irrigation functions. The oscillating output shaft can be configured to drive different attachments, allowing one device to replace two separate handles and reduce overall system complexity.
4Device complexity
If continuous rotation motors are used to drive oscillating motion, then power consumption increases, but mechanical simplicity is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies energy recovery by using a centering return spring that stores mechanical energy during the oscillation cycle and releases it back to the system. This reduces the net power consumption of the continuous rotation motor while maintaining mechanical simplicity and high-speed oscillation.
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 provides a cost-effective, compact, and efficient oral cleansing device that combines brushing and irrigating functions with reduced power consumption and extended operational life, offering sonic-speed oscillation with minimal vibration and noise.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid connector includes a magnetic element configured to provide a magnetic attraction to the base unit, thereby assisting in securing the fluid connector to the base unit
Implementation Method 2
A brushing device with a motor-driven eccentric shaft and power train assembly that converts continuous rotation into oscillating motion
Implementation Method 3
The power train assembly converts rotation of the eccentric drive shaft into an oscillating movement of the output shaft
Implementation Method 4
incorporating energy conservation features like compressible bumpers and flexible wings to reduce power consumption and stress
Data Source
AI summary
An oral cleansing device including a handle, a brush head removably connected to the handle at a top end of the handle, a base unit that supports a reservoir to serve as a fluid source, a fluid tube extending from the base unit, and a fluid connector connected to the fluid tube and removably connected to the handle at a bottom end of the handle to connect the handle to the fluid source. The fluid connector includes a magnetic element configured to provide a magnetic attraction to the base unit, thereby assisting in securing the fluid connector to the base unit.