Liquid extraction apparatus and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid extraction cleaning devices are often large, bulky, and intimidating, making them difficult for consumers to operate and handle, and they lack flexibility in cleaning various surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A liquid extraction cleaning system with a modular design featuring a body, nozzle, handle, and tanks that can be easily configured for different surfaces, including carpet and hard surfaces, with adjustable nozzles and fluid flow rates, and a control system for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional liquid extraction cleaning devices are designed with large, bulky components, then cleaning power and functionality are improved, but ease of operation and handling deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device is divided into separate modular components including a power unit, recovery tank, and interchangeable nozzles. This segmentation allows the main power unit to be compact while maintaining cleaning effectiveness, and enables users to handle only the lightweight nozzle portion during operation, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning power and ease of operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional cleaning systems are designed with fixed components, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs universal interfaces and interchangeable nozzles that can be attached to different surface types (carpet, hard surfaces). The standardized coupling mechanisms allow a single base unit to serve multiple cleaning functions across various surfaces, achieving both manufacturing simplicity through standardization and adaptability through modularity.
3Device complexity
If conventional cleaning devices use integrated tank designs, then device complexity is reduced, but flexibility in fluid management deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid management system is segmented into separate tanks for clean water and dirty water, each with independent capacity control. This segmentation provides flexibility in fluid management by allowing users to optimize tank sizes based on specific cleaning needs, while the modular design keeps overall device complexity manageable through standardized connections.
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 improves user confidence and flexibility in cleaning various surfaces by providing a compact, user-friendly design that allows for easy operation and efficient cleaning performance across different types of surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
The vacuum motor is configured to cause air, debris, a liquid, or a portion of the fluid to be drawn into the second tank
Implementation Method 2
The fluid pump is configured to supply fluid contained in the first tank
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus includes a body, a first tank and a second tank. The body includes a front side, a back side, a top side and a bottom side. The body also includes a first fluid output, a first air passage, a second air passage, and a third air passage. A nozzle is removably attached to the front side of the body. The nozzle includes a fourth air passage proximate the bottom side of the body and a fifth air passage proximate the top side of the body. The fifth air passage is communicatively coupled with the fourth air passage. The nozzle is attached to the body such that the first air passage and the fifth air passage are substantially aligned. The apparatus also includes a handle coupled with the body, a vacuum motor, a fluid pump and a controller configured to activate the fluid pump and/or the vacuum motor.