Porous Cleaner Head for Low-Power Wet Liquid Pick-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wet cleaning apparatuses face inefficiencies in delivering and picking up cleaning liquid, often resulting in inefficient liquid use and excessive wetting of surfaces, particularly when low-power pick-up systems are used, and can hinder movement on wet surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A cleaner head with a protruding element made of porous material, such as microfiber fabric or foam, that reduces resistance by minimizing contact with the surface and assists in liquid pick-up through surface tension, combined with an underpressure generator that maintains efficient suction without high power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a low-power pick-up system is used, then power consumption is reduced, but the ability to pick up cleaning liquid effectively deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner head uses a porous material layer in direct contact with the surface to be cleaned. This porous layer enables liquid pick-up through capillary action and surface tension, allowing effective liquid removal without requiring high-power suction systems. The porous structure creates numerous small channels that facilitate liquid transport at low pressure differentials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the conventional high-power mechanical suction system with a combination of passive capillary action in the porous material and minimal active suction. The porous material performs the primary liquid transport function passively, while the low-power generator only needs to maintain slight underpressure to assist the process.
2Productivity
If cleaning liquid is delivered to the surface, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but excessive wetting of the surface occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the cleaning liquid delivery function and the liquid pick-up function into a single integrated cleaner head assembly. The porous material layer serves dual purposes: it allows cleaning liquid to pass through to the surface for cleaning while simultaneously providing immediate pick-up capability to remove excess liquid, preventing pooling and excessive wetting.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous material layer continuously performs liquid transport in both directions - allowing cleaning liquid to pass through during application and immediately picking up excess liquid during the return stroke or continuous movement. This continuous dual-action ensures the surface remains adequately cleaned without excessive wetting accumulation.
3Area of stationary object
If the cleaner head contacts the wet surface extensively, then cleaning coverage is improved, but movement resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous material layer enables effective liquid interaction with minimal contact pressure. The capillary action within the porous structure allows liquid uptake without requiring the cleaner head to press firmly against the surface, thereby reducing friction and movement resistance while maintaining effective cleaning coverage.
4Device complexity
If a conventional non-porous cleaner head is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but liquid pick-up efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner head incorporates a porous material layer that provides numerous capillary channels for liquid transport. This porous structure significantly enhances liquid pick-up efficiency by creating multiple pathways for liquid movement through the material, allowing efficient cleaning without complicating the overall device structure.
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 solution enables effective liquid pick-up and delivery while minimizing surface wetting and power consumption, allowing for efficient and compact wet cleaning operations.
Implementation Method 1
the protruding element comprises a porous material; at least one dirt inlet for receiving dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned when suction is applied to the at least one dirt inlet, said porous material covering the at least one dirt inlet
Implementation Method 2
at least one dirt inlet for receiving dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned when suction is applied to the at least one dirt inlet
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
Provided is a cleaner head (100) for a wet cleaning apparatus. The cleaner head has a portion (120) for facing a surface to be cleaned, and a protruding element (252) mounted adjacent the portion. The protruding element protrudes from the cleaner head in the direction of the surface to be cleaned. In some non-limiting examples, the cleaner head is permitted to be rocked on the protruding element to cause the portion to contact the surface to be cleaned. The protruding element comprises a porous material (168). The cleaner head also has at least one dirt inlet for receiving dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned when suction is applied to the at least one dirt inlet. The porous material covers the at least one dirt inlet. Further provided is a wet cleaning apparatus comprising the cleaner head.