Rotatable Brush Hair Blocking Member to Prevent Bristle Embedding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary brushes in surface cleaning apparatuses often face issues with hair and string debris becoming embedded in bristles, leading to impaired performance and requiring manual removal, which is time-consuming and undesirable.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating leading and trailing hair blocking members, such as flexible elastomeric strips, on the brush roll to prevent hair and string from becoming embedded in the bristles, and optionally using sheaths or internal hair blocking members within bristle tufts to inhibit debris migration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a brush roll with bristles is used to clean surfaces, then debris can be effectively dislodged and directed towards the inlet, but hair and string-like material become embedded in the bristles, impairing performance
Solution Approach 1:
A hair blocking member made of flexible elastomeric material is introduced as an intermediary component between the bristles and the hair/string debris. This blocking member prevents direct contact between the debris and bristles, stopping hair from becoming embedded while allowing the bristles to continue their cleaning function on other types of debris.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush roll is segmented into functional zones: a bristle region for general debris cleaning and a hair blocking member region for preventing hair entanglement. The blocking member is positioned to extend beyond the bristle ends, creating distinct functional areas that work together to solve the embedded hair problem while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
2Productivity
If hair blocking members are added to prevent hair embedding, then debris removal efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hair blocking member is designed to perform multiple functions: it blocks hair from reaching the bristles, guides hair towards the suction inlet, and can be integrated with the brush roll structure. This multi-functionality justifies the added component by providing several benefits simultaneously rather than just one function.
Solution Approach 2:
The hair blocking member is made from flexible elastomeric material that can deform and conform to the brush roll surface and debris characteristics. This flexibility allows the blocking member to adapt to different cleaning scenarios without requiring complex mechanical structures, maintaining simplicity while improving performance.
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 effectively prevents hair and string from embedding in the bristles, making it easier to dislodge debris and reducing the need for manual removal, thus enhancing the brush roll's performance and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
the hair blocking member is flexible. For example, it may be made from an elastomeric material. Accordingly, it may be resiliently deformable.
Implementation Method 2
when the brush rolls continues to rotate such that the bristles and the leading and trailing hair blocking members are no longer in contact with the floor, then the leading and trailing hair blocking members may rebound to their non-deformed shape.
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus includes a rotatably mounted brush associated with a dirty air inlet. A plurality of bristles extend outwardly from a radial outer surface of the rotatably mounted brush. A hair blocking member is positioned between a forward rotational side of the bristles and a rearward rotational side of the bristles.