Multi-Directional Mop Pump Actuator With Cam-Driven Water Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mops are ineffective at cleaning small crevices and floor gaps, and steam cleaners with limited nozzle surface areas and inefficient fabric pad attachments reduce cleaning effectiveness, while existing steam mops require frequent repositioning and lack control over water pumping.
Innovation Solution
A disk-shaped actuator connected to a mop handle that pumps water from a reservoir to a steam generator in response to any directional movement, featuring an arcuate inner camming surface to move a piston within a two-way mechanical pump, allowing for controlled water distribution to the cleaning surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a one-way pump connected directly to the handle is used, then the pump structure is simple, but the pump cannot operate in response to movement of the mop in any direction
Solution Approach 1:
The pump actuator is segmented into multiple functional components: a cam surface portion that converts lateral motion to vertical motion, a piston rod that transmits this motion, and a pump body containing the pumping mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in a specific function, enabling multi-directional operation while maintaining manageable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam surface is designed with a curved, arcuate geometry that converts lateral movement of the handle in any direction into vertical reciprocating motion of the piston. The curved surface acts as a mechanical converter, transforming horizontal displacement into the vertical pumping action needed for the pump to operate regardless of push or pull direction.
2Ease of operation
If electric pumps and switches are used, then water pumping can be controlled, but the device complexity and potential safety hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump actuator is designed to be self-actuating through the mechanical motion of the user handling the mop. The cam surface automatically converts the user's lateral pushing or pulling motion into vertical piston motion, eliminating the need for separate control switches or electrical systems. The system serves itself through the inherent mechanics of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electrical pumping systems with a purely mechanical pump actuator. The cam-driven piston mechanism substitutes for electric motors and control circuits, providing water pumping control through mechanical means alone. This substitution eliminates electrical components while maintaining operational control through the user's natural handling motions.
3Ease of operation
If a push-pull movement actuator is used, then water can be pumped from reservoir to boiler, but the user control over when water is pumped is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pump actuator provides dynamic control where the pumping action occurs continuously during lateral movement of the handle in either direction. The cam surface ensures that any lateral displacement—whether pushing forward or pulling back—immediately triggers piston motion and water pumping. This dynamic response gives users real-time control over water delivery to the boiler, allowing them to regulate steam generation by simply adjusting their handling motions.
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
Enables efficient and controlled steam generation with greater user control over water pumping, improving cleaning effectiveness and safety by eliminating the need for electric pumps and switches, and allowing steam distribution to a larger cleaning area.
Implementation Method 1
One surface of the actuator has a depression with an arcuate inner camming surface that moves a piston in the water pump when the actuator moves in any direction
Data Source
AI summary
A steam mop having a main body including a water pump for pumping water from a water tank to a steam generator in response to any movement of the mop is provided. Movement of the mop causes a pump actuator to slide within a frame. The actuator has a camming surface with a pump piston rod biased against the camming surface that causes the pump piston rod to move in and out of a pump cylinder when the actuator moves. This operates a the pump to pump water to the steam generator for feeding steam to a steam pad mounted on a mop steam frame connected to the steam generator outlet.