Cleaning device for cleaning a surface comprising a brush and a squeegee element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices for hard floors that combine vacuuming and mopping often suffer from inefficiencies, including bulky nozzles, high scratch risk, inability to handle coarse dirt, and poor drying performance, due to the use of double squeegee arrangements which are cumbersome and difficult to clean.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a rotatable brush having flexible, uniformly distributed microfiber elements that form a sealing effect with the nozzle housing, allowing for efficient dirt and liquid pickup without the need for a second squeegee, using a single squeegee element and reduced air leakage to create a suction area with minimal power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a double squeegee arrangement is used to remove cleaning water from the floor, then cleaning performance is improved, but the nozzle becomes bulky and work capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes one squeegee element from the traditional double squeegee arrangement, extracting only the essential cleaning function while eliminating the bulkiness. The single squeegee element is positioned to work in conjunction with the brush, providing effective water removal without the need for a second squeegee, thus reducing nozzle volume while maintaining cleaning performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of the brush and single squeegee element into a coordinated system where the brush agitates and lifts dirt while the single squeegee removes water. This merging of functions into a compact arrangement achieves effective cleaning without requiring separate double squeegee components, reducing overall nozzle bulkiness.
2Productivity
If a double squeegee arrangement is used on both sides of the brush, then cleaning results are improved, but the nozzle becomes bulky and liberty of action is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential cleaning function from the complex double squeegee arrangement on both sides, retaining only a single squeegee element positioned strategically. This extraction maintains effective cleaning results while significantly improving liberty of action by reducing the mechanical complexity and bulk that limited maneuverability in narrow corners.
3Productivity
If double squeegee arrangements are used in constant contact with the floor, then water removal is effective, but scratch load to the floor is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by ensuring the single squeegee element is properly positioned and angled to make controlled contact with the floor only where necessary for water removal. The brush elements are designed to agitate and lift dirt before the squeegee contacts the floor, reducing the scratch load while maintaining water removal effectiveness in the critical contact zone.
4Productivity
If double squeegee arrangements are used, then cleaning performance is improved, but the device requires high suction power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water removal function to be performed primarily by the single squeegee element through mechanical wiping action, rather than relying entirely on suction. This extraction of the water removal function from the suction system reduces the power requirement while maintaining effective cleaning performance.
5Productivity
If double squeegee arrangements are used, then water removal is effective, but the nozzle is difficult to clean and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water removal function to be performed by a single squeegee element, which is significantly easier to clean and maintain compared to a double squeegee arrangement. The simplified structure with fewer components reduces the difficulty of cleaning and maintenance while preserving water removal 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 solution provides improved cleaning performance, reduced nozzle bulkiness, lower power consumption, and self-cleaning capabilities, while effectively picking up both dirt and liquid without leaving the floor wet, and is suitable for various surfaces including hard floors and windows.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum aggregate which is arranged at a suction outlet of the suction area for generating an under-pressure in said suction area for ingesting dirt particles and liquid from the suction inlet
Implementation Method 2
the brush elements, during the rotation of the brush, substantially form a sealing with the housing at a first position where the brush elements leave the housing during the rotation of the brush
Implementation Method 3
contact the surface to be cleaned during the rotation of the brush at a second position for picking up dirt particles and liquid from said surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning a surface (20), comprising: -a brush (12) rotatable about a brush axis (14), said brush (12) being provided with flexible brush elements (16) that are substantially uniformly distributed over the periphery of the brush (12), wherein the brush (12) is at least partly surrounded by a nozzle housing (28) and protrudes at least partially from a bottom side (30) of said nozzle housing (28), which, during use of the device (100), faces the surface to be cleaned (20), wherein the brush elements (16), during the rotation of the brush (12), substantially form a sealing with the housing (28) at a first position (33) where the brush elements (16) leave the housing (28) during the rotation of the brush (12), and contact the surface to be cleaned (20) during the rotation of the brush (12) at a second position (35) for picking up dirt particles (22) and liquid (24) from said surface (20), thereby defining a suction area (34) in a space between the brush (12), said housing (28) and said surface to be cleaned (20) which is at least partly sealed at said first and second positions (33, 35), -a single squeegee element (32) which is spaced apart from the brush (12) and attached to the bottom side (30) of the nozzle housing (28) on a side of the brush (12), where the brush elements (16) enter the housing (28) during the rotation of the brush (12), wherein said squeegee element (32) is adapted for pushing or wiping dirt particles and liquid across or off the surface to be cleaned (20) during movement of the cleaning device (100), thereby defining a suction inlet (36) between the squeegee element (32) and the brush (12) that opens into the suction area (34), -a drive means for driving the brush (12) in rotation, and -a vacuum aggregate (38) which is arranged at a suction outlet (47) of the suction area (34) for generating an under-pressure in said suction area (34) for ingesting dirt particles (22) and liquid (24) from the suction inlet (36).