Pump for removing fluids from floor coverings and related methods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for removing liquid from floor coverings, such as absorbent materials and electrical vacuums, are inefficient and pose risks like fluid displacement or electrocution, respectively.
Innovation Solution
A pump system with a piston, biasing members, diverting valve, and nozzle plate that uses a reciprocating motion to both push and suck fluid from the floor covering, creating suction deeper within the covering to effectively remove liquids without electricity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electrical vacuum is used to draw fluid out of the floor covering, then fluid removal is achieved, but the suction source must be filtered from the fluid to avoid electrocution, which reduces available suction and reduces effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful element (electrical components) from the fluid extraction system. The pump uses a mechanical piston-driven mechanism instead of an electrical motor, eliminating the risk of electrocution while maintaining effective fluid removal capability through pure mechanical action
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical vacuum system with a mechanical pump system. The electrical motor is substituted with a manually or mechanically operated piston that creates suction through reciprocating motion, eliminating electrical hazards while preserving the fluid extraction function
2Productivity
If absorbent material is placed on top of the floor covering and pressure is applied, then fluid absorption occurs, but at least some fluid is pushed further into the floor covering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by using suction instead of pressure to remove fluid. Rather than pushing fluid into absorbent material with pressure, the system creates negative pressure (suction) that draws fluid out of the floor covering, preventing further penetration while maintaining high removal efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles through a piston-driven pump system that creates controlled suction forces. The reciprocating piston generates alternating pressure zones that draw fluid out of the floor covering through nozzles, using fluid dynamics rather than direct mechanical pressure to achieve fluid removal
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 pump system efficiently removes liquids from floor coverings by creating deeper suction, avoiding fluid displacement and electrocution risks, and is safer for use with larger fluid volumes compared to conventional vacuums.
Implementation Method 1
A pump system with a piston, biasing members, diverting valve, and nozzle plate that uses a reciprocating motion to both push and suck fluid from the floor covering, creating suction deeper within the covering
Implementation Method 2
A pump system with a piston, biasing members, diverting valve, and nozzle plate that uses a reciprocating motion
Data Source
AI summary
A pump for removing fluid from a floor covering includes a piston chamber, a piston disposed within the piston chamber, a nozzle plate for pressing against the floor covering and having a plurality of nozzles extending therefrom, a reservoir for storing fluid removed from the floor covering, and a diverting valve having an interior. The diverting valve defines a first fluid flow path, a second fluid flow path, and a third fluid flow path. A method of removing fluid from a floor covering includes causing a piston to move in a first direction within a piston chamber, drawing fluid through a plurality of nozzles of a nozzle plate and into the piston chamber, causing the piston to move in a second direction within the piston chamber, and pushing fluid from the piston chamber and into a reservoir extending circumferentially around the piston chamber.