Segmented Vacuum Nozzle Sealing for Smooth Floors With Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smooth floor vacuum cleaner nozzles face challenges in effectively cleaning smooth floors with joints, as they either become stuck on completely flat surfaces or fail to maximize suction air flow through joints, leading to inadequate cleaning performance.
Innovation Solution
A smooth floor vacuum cleaner nozzle design featuring flexible plastic sealing strips segmented by incisions, supported by downward-projecting elements, allowing for a valve-like function that ensures sufficient suction air flow while maintaining a tight seal, especially on floors with deep joints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flexible sealing strips are used to seal against the floor surface, then sealing performance is improved, but the nozzle becomes stuck on completely flat surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible sealing strip is divided into multiple segments through incisions along its length. This segmentation allows the strip to flex and lift locally when encountering resistance on flat surfaces, preventing the nozzle from becoming stuck while maintaining sealing effectiveness against joints and gaps in the floor.
2Ease of manufacture
If the nozzle body is designed as a one-piece injection molded part, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but adaptability to different floor types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
While the nozzle body itself is manufactured as a single integrated injection molded part for cost efficiency, the sealing strip is segmented into multiple sections. This hybrid approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while the segmented sealing component provides the adaptability needed for different floor types, allowing the same nozzle body to effectively seal against joints in various floor configurations.
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 design achieves effective cleaning on both flat and jointed smooth floors by optimizing suction air flow and preventing the nozzle from becoming stuck, ensuring efficient dirt pickup and reduced pushing forces.
Implementation Method 1
flexible sealing strips made of plastic connected to the walls (3, 4) and extending downwards beyond the support elements (12) in a straight orientation
Implementation Method 2
the incisions (6) extend over the entire free height (h) of the flexible sealing strips (5)... ensuring sufficient suction air flow while maintaining a tight seal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
The invention relates to a smooth floor vacuum cleaner nozzle with a nozzle body (1) and a downwardly open suction chamber (2) formed in the nozzle body (1), wherein the suction chamber (2) is bounded along a working direction (x) by a front and rear wall (3, 4) and a flexible and segmented sealing strip (5) made of plastic connected to the walls (3, 4), and in the transverse direction (4) by side walls (9). The nozzle body (1) has a suction channel (10) opening into the suction chamber (2) for conveying a suction airflow. In the area of each of the two side walls (9), a support element (12) is provided, projecting downwards beyond the front and rear walls (3, 4), wherein the sealing strips (5) project downwards over the support elements (12) when in a straight orientation. The successive segments (9) of the sealing strips (5) connect directly to one another or via a gap with a width of less than 1 mm when free of force.