Steam Mop Motion Detection for Burn and Floor Damage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaners with steaming functions do not adequately prevent user injuries from high-temperature steam and damage to flooring materials due to prolonged contact and friction between the steam mop and the surface being cleaned.
Innovation Solution
A cleaner with a control unit that monitors the motion and load of a rotating mop, activating safety modes to stop the heater, feedwater pump, and mop motor when the mop is tilted or not moving, thereby preventing steam exposure and surface damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cleaning module is lifted and moved while the mop is rotating at high temperature, then the cleaning position can be changed, but the frictional load decreases sharply causing the mop to rotate faster and centrifugal force scatters high-temperature fluid causing burns to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit stops the mop motor before stopping the heater, preventing the mop from rotating while being lifted and moved. This preliminary action eliminates the harmful centrifugal scattering of high-temperature fluid that would occur if the mop continued rotating during movement
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the operational state of the cleaning module and automatically controls the sequence of stopping the mop motor and heater based on detected conditions, providing feedback-based safety control that prevents user burns from scattered hot fluid
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the cleaning module is left in contact with the surface to be cleaned for a long time, then the cleaning function is maintained, but the high-temperature mop damages the flooring materials
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit periodically monitors the operational duration of the cleaning module and automatically stops both the heater and mop motor after a predetermined time period, preventing continuous contact that would damage flooring materials while allowing effective cleaning during the permitted duration
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit tracks the operational time of the cleaning module and provides feedback-based automatic shutdown of the heater and mop motor, preventing harmful thermal damage to flooring surfaces through time-monitored control
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 user injuries from high-temperature steam and protects flooring materials by ensuring the steam mop is not left in contact with the surface for extended periods or when not in use.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to generate steam to be supplied to the mop from water stored in the water container
Implementation Method 2
a feedwater pump configured to press the water stored in the water container to be pressure-fed into the heater
Implementation Method 3
a mop motor connected to the mop and configured to be driven to rotate the mop
Implementation Method 4
a motion detecting part configured to detect a motion of the cleaning module
Implementation Method 5
a load measuring part configured to measure a rotational load of the mop
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a cleaner with improved safety with respect to a cleaning module. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, changes in postures of the cleaning module may be measured through one or more sensors included in a motion detecting part. Therefore, there is an advantageous effect that a problem for the user to have injuries by a mop containing high temperature steam does not occur. In addition, according to the present disclosure, a planar motion displacement of the cleaning module may be measured through one or more sensors included in the motion detecting part. Accordingly, when a control unit detects that the cleaning module is left in a state of contacting a surface to be cleaned for a long period of time, the drive of a feedwater pump, a heater, and a mop motor is controlled to stop. Therefore, there is an advantageous effect that the flooring of the surface to be cleaned is not damaged.