Portable Hard-Floor Cleaner with Single-Tank Liquid Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning machines for hard surface flooring lack an efficient method for recycling and reusing cleaning liquid, often requiring separate tanks for fresh and waste liquids and relying on pumps for liquid dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A portable cleaning apparatus with a single tank that allows for dispensing and recycling of cleaning liquid through a spigot and vacuum recovery inlet, utilizing gravity for liquid dispensing and a vacuum motor for recovery, with an optional bag filter for soil filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If separate tanks for fresh and waste liquids are used, then cleaning liquid can be recycled and reused, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fresh liquid tank and waste liquid tank into a single integrated tank structure. The tank has a first portion for receiving fresh cleaning liquid and a second portion for receiving waste cleaning liquid, with both portions sharing common walls and structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate tank assemblies while maintaining the ability to recycle and reuse cleaning liquid, thus reducing device complexity while preserving the liquid recycling function.
2Reliability
If pumps are used for liquid dispensing, then cleaning liquid can be dispensed reliably, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spigot device with a valve that allows cleaning liquid to be dispensed through manual operation. The spigot is fluidly connected to the first portion of the tank and includes a valve that can be opened or closed by user action. This self-service dispensing mechanism eliminates the need for electric pumps or automated dispensing systems, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining reliable liquid dispensing through simple manual control.
3Loss of substance
If vacuum recovery is used, then cleaning liquid can be recovered and reused, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a vacuum motor assembly to recover waste cleaning liquid from the flooring surface and return it to the second portion of the tank. The vacuum motor creates negative pressure to draw used cleaning liquid back into the tank where it can be filtered and reused. This recovering mechanism minimizes cleaning liquid loss and extends the life of the cleaning solution, making the energy consumption worthwhile by allowing multiple uses of the same cleaning liquid.
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 recycling and reuse of cleaning liquid across multiple areas without the need for separate tanks or pumps, effectively removing soil and extending the life of the cleaning solution by using gravity for dispensing and vacuuming.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing gravity for liquid dispensing
Implementation Method 2
vacuuming soil and dispensed cleaning liquid from hard surface flooring into the tank interior space via the vacuum recovery inlet
Implementation Method 3
with an optional bag filter for soil filtration
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
One aspect of the invention is directed to a portable liquid-recycling liquid-reusing cleaning apparatus 10 for use in cleaning hard surface flooring may have a cleaning-liquid-dispensing-and-vacuum-recovery tank 18, a spigot 46 fluidly connected to the tank 18, and a vacuum motor assembly fluidly connected to the tank 18. The tank 18 may define an interior space operable to hold cleaning liquid and soil. The tank 18 may have a liquid dispensing outlet 38 fluidly connected to the tank interior space 36, and a vacuum recovery inlet 40 fluidly connected to the tank interior space 36. The spigot 46 may be fluidly connected to the tank interior space 36 via the liquid dispensing outlet 38. The spigot 36 also may be manually adjustable through a range between a fully open position and a fully closed position, whereby when the tank 18 contains cleaning liquid, a user may dispense and regulate the flow of cleaning liquid from the tank 18 through the spigot onto hard surface flooring by manually adjusting the spigot 46. The vacuum motor assembly may be fluidly connected to the tank interior space 36, whereby a user may vacuum soil and dispensed cleaning liquid from hard surface flooring into the tank interior space 36 via the vacuum recovery inlet 40.