Suction cleaning apparatus and method for operating a suction cleaning apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction cleaning apparatuses face challenges in efficiently separating and managing air-laden dirty fluids, particularly when dealing with foamy media and varying volume flows, often resulting in inefficient foam breakdown and clogged suction openings.
Innovation Solution
A suction cleaning apparatus with a liquid separator featuring a rotatable rotor that generates negative pressure and centrifugal separation, allowing for effective separation of air and liquid, and incorporating a compact design for handheld operation, including a holding tank for collected liquid and an air supply device to maintain volume flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional liquid separator is used, then the apparatus can separate air and liquid, but the construction becomes bulky and cannot be realized as a hand-held device
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor is nested within the liquid separator chamber, with the rotor occupying the central space and the chamber wall forming the outer boundary. This nested arrangement allows the liquid separator to achieve effective separation in a compact volume, enabling hand-held apparatus construction while maintaining separation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from conventional horizontal liquid separators to a vertical configuration where the rotor rotates about a vertical axis and the chamber wall is oriented vertically. This dimensional change optimizes the separation process for compact, portable construction while maintaining effective liquid-air separation
2Volume of moving object
If the channel length from liquid separator to holding tank is long, then the liquid can be transported, but the apparatus construction becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet opening for liquid is positioned at the lower end of the vertical chamber wall, and the holding tank is arranged directly below it, creating a gravity-driven flow path. This equipotential arrangement eliminates the need for complex pumping mechanisms and minimizes channel length, achieving both compactness and efficient liquid removal
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid separation and collection functions are segmented into distinct components: the rotor for generation, the chamber for separation, the outlet opening for liquid discharge, and the holding tank for storage. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall compactness through direct fluidic connection
3Reliability
If the rotor rotates at high speed for effective foam breakdown, then the foam separation improves, but the suction opening may become clogged
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor performs preliminary action by rotating at high speed to break down foam structure and separate liquid droplets from air bubbles before the mixture reaches the suction opening. This preliminary foam breakdown prevents clogging by ensuring that only separated air and minimal liquid reach the suction area
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid separator chamber extracts and removes liquid from the air-laden foam mixture through centrifugal separation. By taking out the liquid component in the chamber before it can reach the suction opening, the system prevents blockage while maintaining high-speed rotor operation for effective foam breakdown
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 apparatus achieves effective foam breakdown and efficient liquid separation, enabling effective cleaning of surfaces with varying volume flows and preventing suction opening blockages, while maintaining a compact and portable design.
Implementation Method 1
a negative pressure is generated by a rotor of a liquid separator, by means of which an air-laden dirty fluid is sucked into a chamber of the liquid separator
Implementation Method 2
liquid droplets (which are dirtied when a dirty fluid is sucked in) are propelled by centrifugal forces against the peripheral wall and can then be discharged through the at least one outlet opening
Implementation Method 3
the liquid separator acts as a centrifugal separator via the rotating rotor, with separated liquid being discharged to a holding tank for liquid
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a suction cleaning apparatus including an acting device for acting on an area to be cleaned, a suction unit device for generating a suction flow, and a liquid separator, wherein the liquid separator has a chamber having a peripheral wall and a rotor which is arranged in the chamber so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis, wherein at least one outlet opening for liquid is arranged on the peripheral wall, and wherein a holding tank for liquid is provided which is fluidically connected to the at least one outlet opening for liquid.