Reversible Housing Surface Cleaner for Floor and Elevated Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surface cleaners are limited in their ability to perform multiple uses, as they cannot effectively clean both floor surfaces and surfaces at a distance, such as vehicle underbodies, due to their size and design, which restricts their operational flexibility and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A surface cleaner with a cup-shaped, cylindrical housing that is 180° reversible, allowing the rotor arm and spray nozzles to pivot from a downward-facing position for floor cleaning to an upward-facing position for cleaning surfaces at a distance, using a single chassis and non-reversible swivel castors or sliding elements for both modes, and an articulated high-pressure connection that remains unchanged during operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a surface cleaner uses two different chassis to enable multiple cleaning modes (floor and wall/ceiling), then versatility is improved, but device complexity and size increase, preventing cleaning of closely spaced surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning mode versatilityVSAvoidchassis configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single chassis that can support multiple cleaning modes (floor cleaning, wall cleaning, ceiling cleaning) through the 180° reversible housing. The housing can be rotated to change the orientation of the rotor arm and spray nozzles, allowing one device to perform functions that previously required two separate chassis configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the housing is made large to ensure stable support on the floor surface, then stability is improved, but the ability to clean closely spaced surfaces is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefloor support stabilityVSAvoidoverall height
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the housing reversible through 180° rotation. This dynamic capability allows the device to adapt its orientation based on the cleaning task, enabling it to maintain stability on the floor when needed while also being able to reach elevated surfaces or fit into narrow spaces by rotating the housing to a different orientation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the high-pressure inlet is repositioned for each operating mode, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to additional reconnection effort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating mode adaptabilityVSAvoidhigh-pressure connection effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by integrating the high-pressure inlet connection into a fixed position on the chassis that remains accessible regardless of the housing orientation. The articulated joint allows the housing to rotate independently while maintaining a continuous high-pressure fluid supply, eliminating the need to reposition or reconnect the high-pressure inlet when changing cleaning modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 cleaning of both floor and elevated surfaces with minimal manufacturing and maintenance effort, reducing the overall height for close-space cleaning and maintaining operational flexibility without the need for additional height or reconnection of the high-pressure inlet.

Implementation Method 1

a rotor arm in the interior of an approximately cylindrical housing is driven in rotation under the influence of a high-pressure medium and cleans the cleaning surface with its spray nozzles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHigh-pressure fluid flow: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP3984436B1Multiple use surface cleaner
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 MOSMATIC
  • EP3984436B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3984436B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3984436B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Surface cleaner with connection to a high-pressure medium, consisting of a cup-shaped, open-ended housing (11) in which at least one rotor arm (6) is rotatably mounted on a central pivot joint (5) in the housing, wherein one or more cleaning nozzles (27) are arranged on the rotor arm (6) and are connected to the high-pressure medium guided by the pivot joint (5) in a fluid-conducting manner, wherein for a second operating mode the housing (11) is designed to be reversible by 180 degrees, wherein the surface cleaner can be operated in at least two different operating modes, wherein the first operating mode consists of a surface cleaning operation with the housing (11) directed downwards towards a floor and the cleaning nozzles (27) arranged therein, and the second operating mode is designed as a cleaning operation in which the housing (11) turned by 180 degrees with the upwardly directed cleaning nozzles (27) is directed towards a cleaning surface arranged at a distance from the floor.characterized in that the surface cleaner has a chassis (8, 9, 17) for supporting the housing (11) in the first and second operating positions relative to the floor surface.