Liquid extraction apparatus and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid extraction devices are often large, bulky, and intimidating, making them difficult for consumers to operate and handle, with limited flexibility in component manipulation, leading to challenges in transport and maneuverability.
Innovation Solution
A modular liquid extraction cleaning system with a separable design that includes a body, cleaning fluid tank, recovery tank, handle, and accessory attachments, allowing for easier handling and increased suction power without compromising portability, through the use of a handle that can be extended or collapsed and accessories that can be detached for improved maneuverability and service access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional liquid extraction devices are made with larger vacuum motors to increase suction power, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the devices become large and bulky making them difficult to handle and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid extraction device is divided into separable components including a power unit with vacuum motor, a fluid tank, a recovery tank, and a handle assembly. These components can be detached and reattached, allowing the heavy power unit to be separated from other components during transport while still providing high suction power when assembled for cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle assembly includes an extendable/collapsible structure that can be adjusted between extended and collapsed positions. When collapsed, the overall device length is reduced for easier storage and transport. When extended, full operational functionality is restored, allowing the device to adapt its form factor based on operational needs.
2Power
If conventional liquid extraction devices are made with larger vacuum motors to increase suction power, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the devices become intimidating and complex for consumers to operate
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the complex power unit with vacuum motor from other components, the complexity is isolated to a dedicated module. Users interact with simpler components like the fluid tank and handle, while the powerful but complex vacuum motor remains enclosed in the power unit that can be detached if needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The device includes self-contained components with integrated functions. The power unit houses the vacuum motor and related mechanisms in a self-sufficient package, reducing the need for users to understand or service internal mechanisms. Components are designed to be user-friendly with intuitive attachment and detachment mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional liquid extraction devices use fixed component arrangements, then structural stability is maintained, but flexibility in component manipulation and service access is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs separable components connected through standardized interfaces. The power unit, fluid tank, recovery tank, and handle assembly can be detached and reattached in different configurations, providing flexibility for storage, transport, and servicing while maintaining structural stability when assembled for operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle assembly features dynamic adjustability with extendable and collapsible sections. The handle can be positioned in multiple configurations to accommodate different user heights and storage requirements, transforming from a fixed structure to an adaptable component that responds to operational and storage needs.
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 modular design enhances user confidence in handling and transporting the device, allows for increased suction power with a larger vacuum motor, and facilitates easier service access, addressing the limitations of conventional systems by providing a more user-friendly and effective cleaning solution.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum motor housed within the body and configured to cause one or more of air, debris, a liquid or a portion of the fluid to be drawn into the recovery tank
Implementation Method 2
a fluid pump configured to draw the fluid from the cleaning fluid tank and output the fluid through the fluid output
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus comprises a body, a first tank, a second tank, a vacuum motor, a fluid pump, and a controller. The body comprises a handle and an accessory connection receptacle comprising a fluid output and an electrical contact. The first tank comprises a first vessel configured to accommodate a fluid. The second tank comprises a second vessel separated from the first vessel. The controller is configured to activate the fluid pump to cause fluid contained in the first tank to be supplied to the fluid output, and to activate the vacuum motor to draw one or more of air, debris, a liquid or a portion of the fluid into the second tank. The accessory connection receptacle is configured to accommodate a correspondingly shaped accessory connector configured to mate with the accessory connection receptacle and be communicatively coupled with the fluid output and with the electrical contact.