Removable rotatable driven agitator for surface cleaning head
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum cleaners face difficulties in removing debris from mechanical agitators, such as rotating brush rolls, which can lead to decreased performance and potential damage, and these agitators are often not suitable for all surfaces, limiting the versatility of the vacuum cleaner.
Innovation Solution
A removable rotatable agitator assembly with an openable agitator chamber and a drive mechanism that allows for easy access and removal of the agitator, featuring a splined driven member for engagement with a splined drive mechanism, enabling the use of different agitator elements for various surfaces and conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotating brush roll is used as a mechanical agitator, then agitation performance on carpets is improved, but debris removal becomes difficult and performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The brush roll is segmented into multiple independent bristle sections that can be individually accessed. The brush roll housing includes multiple access ports that allow users to reach different sections of the brush roll without removing the entire component, enabling targeted debris removal from specific entangled areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush roll is designed as a removable component that can be extracted from the vacuum cleaner housing. This allows complete removal of the brush roll for thorough cleaning and maintenance, while also enabling replacement with different brush roll types for various surface conditions.
2Productivity
If a rotating brush roll is used for carpet cleaning, then agitation on carpets is improved, but versatility across different surfaces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum cleaner is designed to accept multiple types of brush rolls that can be interchangeably installed. Different brush roll types (e.g., soft bristles for hardwood, stiff bristles for carpets, rubberized for delicate surfaces) can be removed and replaced based on the surface being cleaned, making the vacuum versatile across multiple surface types.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush roll characteristics can be dynamically changed by replacing the entire brush roll component. This allows the user to adapt the agitation properties to match the specific surface conditions, transitioning from high-agitation brush rolls for carpets to low-agitation brush rolls for delicate surfaces.
3Device complexity
If the agitator is located inside the surface cleaning head, then compact design is achieved, but access for inspection and cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The brush roll housing is segmented with multiple access ports distributed around the housing. These ports provide pathways to different sections of the brush roll, allowing users to inspect and clean entangled debris from various angles without disassembling the entire cleaning head.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush roll is designed as an extractable component that can be completely removed from the housing through the access ports. This provides full access to the brush roll for thorough cleaning and inspection, while maintaining a compact housing design when the brush roll is installed.
Data Source
AI summary
A removable rotatable driven agitator is used in a surface cleaning head and is driven by a drive mechanism that axially engages a driven end of the agitator. The removable rotatable driven agitator may be located in an openable agitator chamber for purposes of removing debris and/or removing the agitator. The openable agitator chamber may be covered by an external cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The removable agitator may be secured in the agitator chamber by the external cover. The removable rotatable agitator may have an end cap mounted on a rotatable bushing at a non-driven end and may have a splined driven member at the driven end to engage a splined drive member on the drive mechanism.