Portable hard surface cleaning device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable hard surface cleaning devices generate significant noise during operation, which is undesirable and affects user experience.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a turbine housing connected to a tank compartment via a turbine outlet part, directing exhaust air into an air outlet space between the tank compartment wall and the dirty liquid tank, allowing for noise reduction by deflecting and dissipating the air through a flow labyrinth, and utilizing a flow-optimized turbine inlet line to minimize noise and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If exhaust air is discharged directly to the surroundings, then the device structure is simple, but noise level is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an air outlet space as an intermediary between the turbine outlet and the external environment. This space allows exhaust air to be deflected and dissipated gradually, reducing noise while maintaining structural simplicity. The air outlet space acts as a buffer zone that mediates between the high-velocity exhaust flow and the surrounding environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the third dimension by creating a volumetric air outlet space rather than a simple linear exhaust path. This three-dimensional space allows for complex flow patterns and deflection paths that reduce noise without requiring additional external components, effectively using spatial arrangement to solve the noise problem.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ventilation slots are used for exhaust air discharge, then noise is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the exhaust air discharge function with the existing tank compartment structure. The air outlet space is formed within the tank compartment volume, eliminating the need for separate ventilation slots or additional housing modifications. This integration reduces manufacturing steps and costs while achieving noise reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The tank compartment serves multiple functions: it houses the dirty liquid tank, provides structural support, and creates the air outlet space for noise reduction. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated ventilation features, simplifying manufacturing while achieving the desired noise control.
3Productivity
If high power suction turbine is used, then suction performance is improved, but energy consumption and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the turbine inlet line geometry to improve airflow parameters, reducing turbulence and pressure losses. This allows the suction turbine to operate more efficiently at lower power settings, maintaining suction performance while reducing energy consumption and associated noise. The flow-optimized design changes the airflow parameters to be more favorable for efficient turbine operation.
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 significantly reduces noise levels and allows for a more cost-effective manufacturing process by eliminating the need for ventilation slots, while also enabling efficient suction with lower power consumption, extending battery life in rechargeable models.
Implementation Method 1
a suction unit (16) which is flow-connected to the suction nozzle for sucking up a liquid/air mixture from the suction opening
Implementation Method 2
a separating chamber (50) which is arranged between the suction nozzle and the suction unit and in which a separating device for separating liquid from the liquid/air mixture is arranged
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A portable hard-surface cleaning appliance (10) for withdrawing, and sucking up, liquid from a hard surface comprises a suction nozzle (62) with a suction opening (66), on which is arranged at least one withdrawal lip (68, 70), also comprises a suction subassembly (16) and a separating-off chamber (50), which is positioned between the suction nozzle (62) and the suction subassembly (16) and in which is arranged a separating-off device (52, 74) for separating off liquid from the liquid/air mixture, and further comprising a dirty-liquid tank (28) for accommodating the separated-off liquid. The dirty-liquid tank (28) is retained in a releasable manner in a tank-accommodating compartment (26) and the suction subassembly (16) has a suction turbine (18) enclosed by a turbine housing (82), which is connected to the separating-off chamber (50) via a turbine-inlet part. In order to develop the portable hard-surface cleaning appliance (10) such that it has a low level of noise development, the turbine housing (82) is connected to the tank-accommodating compartment (26) via a turbine-outlet part, wherein a wall (94) of the tank-accommodating compartment (26) and the dirty-liquid tank (28) bounds an air-outlet space (146), into which the turbine-outlet part opens out and via which the air which is taken in by the suction turbine (18) can be discharged to the surroundings.