Reconfigurable Vacuum Attachment for Pool Skimming and Wall Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pool maintenance tools are inadequate for efficiently cleaning both the water surface and pool walls, as they either struggle with maneuverability or are limited to collecting large particulates, failing to effectively address contaminants like dirt, pollen, and microorganisms.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable vacuum attachment with a bell-shaped housing, a brush assembly, and buoyant components that allow it to be used as both a skimmer and a vacuum for the pool surface and walls, utilizing a hose-interface to couple with a vacuum hose and convert water flow into torque for effective cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fine mesh net is used to capture smaller contaminants, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the maneuverability and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the cleaning function into two distinct components: a fine-mesh skimmer portion for capturing small contaminants at the water surface, and a vacuum portion with brush assembly for cleaning pool walls and floors. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall maneuverability through the modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines multiple functions into a single attachment: it can skim the water surface using the fine-mesh portion, vacuum debris through the vacuum hose connection, and clean pool walls using the brush assembly. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate tools while maintaining ease of operation through a unified design.
2Reliability
If separate attachments are used for skimming and vacuuming, then the specialization for each function is improved, but the device complexity and time to switch between functions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges the skimmer attachment and vacuum attachment into a single integrated unit. The housing contains both the fine-mesh skimmer portion and the vacuum hose connection, with a brush assembly that can be positioned to contact pool walls. This combination maintains functional specialization while eliminating the need to switch between separate attachments.
Solution Approach 2:
The single attachment performs multiple specialized functions: the fine-mesh skimmer portion captures surface contaminants, the vacuum hose connection enables debris removal, and the brush assembly cleans vertical surfaces. This multi-functionality provides the reliability of specialized tools without the complexity of managing multiple separate attachments.
3Manufacturing precision
If a vacuum attachment is designed to clean pool walls with brushes, then the cleaning capability is improved, but the adaptability between different cleaning modes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The brush assembly is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing it to be positioned to contact pool walls when needed and retracted or adjusted when wall cleaning is not required. This dynamic configuration enables the device to adapt between different cleaning modes (surface skimming, wall cleaning, floor vacuuming) while maintaining effective wall cleaning capability when the brush is engaged.
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 reconfigurable vacuum attachment efficiently vacuums both the water surface and pool walls, effectively removing debris and contaminants, improving pool maintenance by providing a versatile and efficient cleaning solution.
Implementation Method 1
A buoy may be attached to the housing to provide a buoyant force when in water
Implementation Method 2
The brush driver may be configured to hydraulically couple with the vacuum hose and convert water flow into a 'torque' (motion) and spin the bristles
Implementation Method 3
A ballast may be attached to the bell-shaped housing such that the skimmer-aperture is aligned with the surface of the water when the buoy is floating the bell-shaped housing
Implementation Method 4
The water to be purified is sucked in through the dirt collecting container by a pump arranged downstream
Data Source
AI summary
A reconfigurable vacuum attachment may include a bell-shaped housing. The bell-shaped housing may have a bell-opening and a hose-interface. The hose-interface may be configured to hydraulically couple with a vacuum hose. A skimmer-plate may be attachable to the bell-opening and include a skimmer-aperture extending through the skimmer-plate. The reconfigurable vacuum attachment may further include a removable brush assembly. The brush assembly may host a rotatable brush coupled to a brush driver. The brush driver may be configured to hydraulically couple with the vacuum hose and convert water flow into a torque and spin the bristles. A buoy may be attached to the housing allowing the reconfigurable vacuum attachment to be used as a pool skimmer. The reconfigurable vacuum attachment is useful for skimming a pool surface and dislodging and vacuuming matter from a pool wall.