Device for cleaning a surface, comprising at least one rotatable brush
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning technologies require additional means like wipers, suction, or scraping edges to achieve effective cleaning and drying, which increase power consumption, wear on brushes, and risk surface damage.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable brush with flexible elements having a linear mass density of less than 150 g per 10 km and accelerated to at least 3,000 m/sec2 during contact-free periods, allowing for self-cleaning without additional tools by leveraging centrifugal and deformation forces to pick up and expel dirt and liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If scraping edges are applied to ensure proper continuous cleaning of brushes, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but power consumption increases and wear and tear on brushes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the scraping edges from the brush system entirely. Instead of using scraping edges to clean the brushes, the patent uses centrifugal force generated by rotating the brushes at high speed to automatically eject collected dirt particles into a collection container, thereby eliminating the need for power-consuming scraping mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The brushes clean themselves through centrifugal ejection. The rotation of the brushes generates sufficient centrifugal force to automatically eject collected dirt particles without requiring external scraping edges or additional cleaning mechanisms, making the system self-sufficient
2Reliability
If scraping edges are applied to clean the brushes continuously, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but wear and tear on brushes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the scraping edges that cause mechanical wear on brush elements. By using centrifugal ejection instead, the brushes are no longer subjected to the mechanical stress and friction of scraping edges, thereby extending their operational life
Solution Approach 2:
The brushes perform their own cleaning function through centrifugal force without requiring contact with scraping edges, thereby avoiding the mechanical wear that would otherwise reduce their lifespan
3Productivity
If high acceleration forces are applied to brushes during rotation, then dirt pickup efficiency is improved, but surface damage risk increases due to friction and heat
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses periodic high-speed rotation of the brushes to create centrifugal force for ejecting dirt particles. The brushes rotate at high speed only during the ejection phase, while during the cleaning phase they contact the surface at lower speeds, thereby achieving effective dirt removal without continuous high-speed friction that would cause surface damage
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potentially harmful centrifugal force into a beneficial ejection mechanism. Instead of using continuous high-speed rotation that would cause friction and heat, the system uses periodic high-speed rotation to create centrifugal force that ejects dirt particles into a collection container, transforming what could be a harmful force into a useful cleaning mechanism
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 enables efficient dirt and liquid removal, preventing re-deposition and minimizing surface damage, while reducing power consumption and wear on the brush, achieving effective cleaning and drying of surfaces without additional equipment.
Implementation Method 1
tips of the brush elements which are used for picking up dirt particles and liquid... acceleration at tips of the brush elements... at least 3,000 m/sec2... period in which the brush elements are free from contact to the surface, and first move away from the surface and subsequently move towards the surface again
Implementation Method 2
The bristles are bent backwards. As a result, an area contact is achieved instead of a line contact. The bending of the bristles comes to an end when the bristles, during continued rotation, lose contact with the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A device for cleaning a surface (11) comprises at least one rotatable brush (3,4) which is provided with flexible brush elements (18) for contacting the surface (11) and picking up dirt particles (10) and liquid which are present on the surface (11) during a dirt pick-up period of each revolution of the brush (3, 4), and means for driving the brush (3, 4). A linear mass density of the flexible brush elements (18) is chosen such as to be lower than 50 g per 10 km, at least at tip portions, and an acceleration at tips of the brush elements (18) is set such as to be at least 3,000 m/sec2, at least at some time during another period of each revolution of the brush (3, 4) than the dirt pick-up period, namely a period in which the brush elements (18) are free from contact to the surface (11).