Suction head comprising a sole provided with a curved front sliding surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum cleaners with suction heads face performance issues on both soft and hard floors due to inadequate sealing and ground clearance, leading to inefficient dust and waste pickup.

Innovation Solution

A suction head with a convex, curved front sliding surface that has a radius of curvature between 30 and 120 mm, ensuring improved sealing on soft floors and maneuverability on hard floors by balancing air intake and waste passage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the front sliding surface is made flat and inclined to guide waste towards the suction mouth, then waste passage is improved, but sealing on soft floors deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste passageVSAvoidsealing on soft floors
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The front sliding surface is designed with a curved profile instead of a flat inclined surface. The curvature radius is specifically chosen to balance two functions: it is large enough to allow waste to be pushed towards the suction inlet during forward movement, but small enough to maintain adequate ground clearance and sealing when the suction head is on soft floors. This curved geometry resolves the contradiction by providing both waste guidance and sealing capabilities that a flat surface cannot achieve simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If the angle of inclination of the front sliding surface is reduced to improve sealing, then sealing performance is improved, but ground clearance for waste passage deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesealingVSAvoidground clearance for waste passage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By curving the front sliding surface, the patent achieves both sealing and waste passage functionality without compromising ground clearance. The curved profile allows the surface to be closer to horizontal (improving sealing) while the upward curvature towards the front edge maintains adequate ground clearance for waste to be pushed underneath and towards the suction inlet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If the radius of curvature of the front sliding surface is increased to improve sealing, then sealing performance is improved, but maneuverability on soft floors deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidmaneuverability on soft floors
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies an optimal range for the curvature radius (between 30 and 120 mm) to balance sealing performance and maneuverability. This parameter optimization ensures that the curved surface provides adequate sealing on soft floors while maintaining sufficient ground clearance and reducing the suction effect to acceptable levels, thereby preserving maneuverability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 suction head achieves enhanced cleaning performance and maneuverability on various floor types by concentrating suction and allowing easy passage over waste, while maintaining effective air intake.

Implementation Method 1

the specific configuration of the sliding surface improves the seal between the sole and the soft ground to be cleaned by generating a slight suction effect at the suction inlet, which makes it possible to concentrate the suction at the suction inlet and thus to suck up dust located deep in the soft ground

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP4311464A1Suction head comprising a sole provided with a curved front sliding surface
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 SEB SA
  • EP4311464A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4311464A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4311464A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The suction head (2) comprises a sole (5) having a lower face (6) and a suction inlet (7) opening into the lower face (6). The lower face (6) includes a front sliding surface (21) located in front of the suction inlet (7) and having a rear edge (21.2) and a front edge (21.2) that is raised relative to the rear edge (21.2). The front sliding surface (21) is curved from the rear edge (21.2) of the front sliding surface (21) towards the front edge (21.1) of the front sliding surface (21) and has a radius of curvature (R) between 30 and 120 mm. A tangent to the front sliding surface (21) and passing through the rear edge (21.2) of the front sliding surface (21) extends substantially horizontally when the suction head (2) rests on a horizontal surface.