Rotating Steam Nozzle for Precise Cleaning With Less Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steam cleaning devices often saturate surfaces with water, delaying drying times and being unsuitable for cleaning small areas due to their wide nozzles and inability to regulate steam delivery effectively.
Innovation Solution
A steam nozzle system with a support member and angled, rigid conduits that use pressurized steam to rotate and eject steam at an oblique angle, creating a negative pressure to draw medium from a supplemental reservoir, allowing for efficient steam delivery and debris removal with minimal water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional devices use wide nozzles to deliver steam, then the cleaning coverage area is increased, but the water usage increases and saturation of the cleaning material occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into multiple spray outlets arranged in a circular pattern, with each outlet delivering steam at a specific angle. This segmentation allows the steam to be distributed across a larger area through rotation, reducing the need for each individual outlet to cover the entire area, thus reducing water usage while maintaining coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle incorporates a rotating mechanism that allows the spray outlets to dynamically change their orientation and coverage area. By rotating the nozzle, the same physical structure can cover different areas over time, effectively increasing the cleaning coverage area without requiring a proportionally larger water flow rate.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional devices deliver unregulated steam through wide nozzles, then the steam delivery volume is increased, but the cleaning precision and control are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle system incorporates control mechanisms that regulate steam delivery to each individual spray outlet. The rotation speed and spray patterns can be controlled to achieve precise steam delivery volumes, allowing for regulated and precise cleaning operations rather than unregulated high-volume delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
Each spray outlet is designed with specific angular orientations and spray patterns tailored to its position on the nozzle. This local optimization ensures that steam is delivered with precise control to specific areas, improving overall steam delivery control while maintaining effective cleaning volumes.
3Speed
If conventional devices use direct stream or mist through wide nozzles, then the steam delivery speed is increased, but the drying time of the material is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the steam delivery into multiple angled spray outlets, the steam is distributed more evenly across the cleaning surface rather than concentrating a high-speed stream in one location. This reduces localized saturation and allows faster drying times while maintaining effective cleaning speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle delivers steam in controlled partial streams through multiple outlets rather than a single excessive stream. This partial action approach applies just enough steam to each area through the angled sprays, avoiding over-saturation and reducing drying time while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
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 system enables thorough cleaning with reduced water usage, increased efficiency, and the ability to clean delicate surfaces without fouling or wearing the nozzle, while allowing for precise steam application and reduced drying times.
Implementation Method 1
sufficient eccentric force is produced by the steam to rotate the support member such that steam is ejected from an outlet of the substantially rigid conduit at an oblique angle
Implementation Method 2
Ejection of steam from the outlet of the substantially rigid conduit creates a negative pressure in the reservoir such that medium is drawn from the supplemental reservoir into the substantially rigid conduit
Data Source
AI summary
Steam cleaning spray nozzle systems and methods of use are described herein. The spray nozzle includes a substantially rigid conduit a support member in fluid communication with a steam source. A portion of the conduit is angled. During use, sufficient eccentric force is produced by the steam to rotate the support member such that steam is ejected from the substantially rigid conduit at an oblique angle relative to the center to of the substantially rigid conduit.