Mist-Generating Cleaning Implement for Airborne Dust Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum cleaners and dusting tools generate airborne particulates and malodors during operation, posing health risks and unpleasant experiences for operators, especially those with allergies or respiratory sensitivities.
Innovation Solution
A modular mist generating system that can be integrated with vacuum cleaners, dust mops, and hand dusters, which uses a tank, atomizer nozzle, and air pump to create a finely atomized liquid mist to suppress dust, allergens, and odors, and can apply treatments like detergents or sanitizers to the cleaning surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotatably-driven agitator is used to agitate debris on a surface, then debris is released from the surface and more easily ingested, but dust and debris trapped on carpet fibers are disturbed and float upwardly polluting the ambient air
Solution Approach 1:
The mist generating system activates before the agitator begins rotating, creating a liquid mist barrier on the carpet surface. This preliminary action suppresses dust particles before they can be disturbed and become airborne during the agitation process, while still allowing the agitator to effectively release debris from the surface
Solution Approach 2:
A liquid mist serves as an intermediary substance between the agitator and the carpet surface. The mist particles coat the carpet fibers and trapped dust, increasing their weight and preventing them from becoming airborne when disturbed by the agitator, while still allowing effective debris removal
2Productivity
If the working airflow is increased to improve debris ingestion, then more debris can be entrained and collected, but malodors are released more intensely as air flows through the system
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid mist acts as an intermediary that contacts odorous particles and malodors in the working airflow. The liquid absorbs or neutralizes these contaminants, allowing high airflow rates to maintain productivity while reducing the intensity of released malodors
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potentially harmful effect of high airflow (which releases malodors) into a beneficial effect by using the same airflow to distribute liquid mist that neutralizes odors. The high velocity airflow that would normally spread malodors instead helps atomize and distribute the odor-suppressing liquid throughout the cleaning area
3Ease of manufacture
If a conventional dust mop or hand duster is used to dust surfaces, then dust particles are removed from the surface, but the same particles are disturbed and float upwardly polluting the atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pneumatic principles by employing an air pump to generate pressurized air that flows through the liquid reservoir, atomizing the liquid into a fine mist. This pneumatic delivery system effectively distributes the dust-suppressing liquid without requiring manual application, maintaining ease of operation while preventing dust particles from becoming airborne
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 system effectively reduces airborne particulates and odors by agglomerating dust and allergens, improving air quality and user experience while applying beneficial treatments to the cleaning surface without excessive moisture.
Implementation Method 1
an air pump in fluid communication with the tank inlet for supplying air to the tank, wherein, when the air pump has pressurized the supply of liquid in the tank
Implementation Method 2
an atomizer nozzle in fluid communication with the first outlet and having a nozzle outlet for spraying a mist
Data Source
AI summary
A mist generating system for a cleaning implement is adapted to generate a finely atomized liquid mist for suppressing dust, allergens, and other airborne particulates. The mist generating system can be adapted to fit many cleaning implements such as vacuum cleaners, wet extraction cleaners, floor mops, and dusters to suppress airborne dust and particulates generated during operation and the cleaning process.