Multifunction vacuum cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vacuum cleaners either lack the efficiency of filtration and steam production or require multiple devices for comprehensive cleaning and sanitizing, leading to increased costs, maintenance, and inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A multifunction vacuum cleaner that integrates suction, steam production, and sanitizing functions in a single apparatus, featuring a water filtration system with UV-C rays for bacterial elimination, and adjustable power settings, allowing for precise cleaning and environmental sanitation without the need for separate devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vacuum cleaners are equipped with both steam production and water filtration systems, then cleaning efficiency and sanitizing capability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines steam production, water filtration, and sanitizing functions into a single integrated vacuum cleaner system. The water tank serves dual purposes as both filtration medium and steam source, while the heating element converts water to steam for both cleaning and sanitizing operations, eliminating the need for separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum cleaner is designed with multi-functionality to perform suction, steam cleaning, and sanitizing operations through a single apparatus. The system can switch between different modes (vacuuming, steam injection, UV sanitizing) using the same core components, particularly the water tank and heating system.
2Reliability
If multiple separate devices are used for vacuuming, steam production, and sanitizing, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but cost, maintenance requirements, and storage space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal device that replaces multiple specialized appliances. The vacuum cleaner incorporates steam generation and UV sanitizing capabilities alongside its primary suction function, allowing one device to perform the work of three separate appliances (vacuum cleaner, steam generator, and sanitizing device).
3Reliability
If a water filtration system with UV-C rays is used, then bacterial elimination capability is improved, but energy consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the UV-C sanitizing function with the existing water tank and heating system. The UV-C lamp is positioned to irradiate the water in the tank and the air around the outlet, utilizing the same spatial envelope as the steam generation system, thereby adding sanitizing capability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
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 thorough cleaning and sanitizing in bacterially contaminated environments, provides steam for additional uses like ironing, and regulates performance based on cleaning demands, reducing the need for multiple appliances and improving efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the presence of a UV-C-ray lamp is also provided, disposed above the free surface of the liquid, to eliminate the bacterial loads that are transported by the flows of air sucked in
Implementation Method 2
a boiler in which a dose of is loaded, which is heated until it transforms into steam
Implementation Method 3
heated until it transforms into steam
Implementation Method 4
a suction unit, indicated as a whole with 6, which, in a less powerful version, comprises a single motor 7
Implementation Method 5
in which the flow of air sucked in bubbles, said air coming from a suction opening obtained in the body
Implementation Method 6
a substantially circular turbulent motion is created in the latter and is oriented by means of undulating walls which are located in the tank and which force the liquid, thrust by the suction action generated by the motor, to be violently mixed
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The multifunction vacuum cleaner comprises: a container body (2, 3) which houses a suction unit (6) of air flows from the outside; filtering means (VI) of the air flows sucked from the outside; an accumulation tank of materials sucked from the outside and filtered by said filtering means; said container body further comprising a steam production unit (23) and means (29) to send steam to the outside of said container body.