Steam Cleaner Nozzle Layout for Stronger Front Suction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing steam cleaners with complex nozzle mechanisms are costly and inefficient in effectively cleaning floors, particularly in picking up impurities during forward motion.

Innovation Solution

A steam cleaner design featuring a nozzle with a front suction slot and a rear suction slot, where the secondary air circuit's second branch has smaller passage sections than the first branch, promoting greater suction power on the front slot through fixed geometry, and incorporating notches and suspended brushes for enhanced impurity collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex nozzle mechanism is used to direct suction flow, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidnozzle mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by creating unequal passage sections in the secondary air circuit branches. The first branch has a larger passage section than the second branch, which creates asymmetric airflow distribution that prioritizes front suction. This asymmetric design achieves effective impurity removal during forward motion without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms to redirect airflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by varying the passage section dimensions at different locations in the airflow circuit. Specifically, the passage sections in the first branch are designed with larger surfaces compared to the second branch, creating localized differences in airflow resistance that optimize suction distribution across different areas of the nozzle without affecting the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If equal passage sections are used in both branches, then manufacturing is simplified, but front suction effectiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduct manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidimpurity suction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent deliberately introduces asymmetry in the passage section dimensions between the first and second branches. The first branch has larger passage sections optimized for carrying impurity-laden air from the front suction slot, while the second branch has smaller passage sections. This asymmetric design maintains relative manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving front suction effectiveness for impurity removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 provides effective suction and cleaning by prioritizing front suction, ensuring impurities are picked up during forward motion, while maintaining simplicity and reducing costs by eliminating complex mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

suction means, a main suction duct connected to the suction means, a nozzle with a sole comprising a front suction slot, a rear suction slot

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3202299B1Steam cleaner
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 SEB SA
  • EP3202299B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3202299B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Steam cleaner comprising: - suction means, - a main suction duct (10) connected to the suction means, - a nozzle with a sole comprising a front suction slot (14), a suction slot rear (15), and a vapor diffuser (21) arranged between the front suction slot (14) and the rear suction slot (15), - a secondary air circuit with a first branch (11) connecting the main suction duct (10) to the front suction slot (14) and a second branch (12) connecting the main suction duct (10) to the rear suction slot (15), the first branch (11) and the second branch (12) each comprising a plurality of air flow passage sections, each defined by a surface, characterized in that the second branch (12) comprises at least one passage section whose surface is less than or equal to half the area of ​​the smallest of the passage sections of the first branch (11).