Surface Cleaner Liquid Tank Emptying Opening Sealed by Housing Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning devices face difficulties in emptying the liquid tank without risking liquid leakage during subsequent operation, as the tank emptying process often requires removing and reattaching components or using additional closure elements.
Innovation Solution
The liquid tank is designed with a tank emptying opening that is tightly closed by the housing when connected, becoming freely accessible when detached, allowing for easy emptying without additional closure elements, and resealing upon reconnection, with a sealing device ensuring a secure closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the liquid tank is detachably held on the housing with a tank emptying opening, then the liquid tank can be easily emptied by detaching it from the housing, but liquid may escape from the tank during subsequent operation if the opening is not properly closed
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid tank is segmented into a detachable portion containing the emptying opening and a fixed portion on the housing. This allows the tank to be separated for easy emptying while maintaining proper closure when connected, resolving the contradiction between ease of emptying and liquid containment reliability.
2Reliability
If a plug is used to close the tank emptying opening, then liquid containment is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional closure elements that need to be managed
Solution Approach 1:
The closure function is extracted from a separate plug component and integrated into the housing structure itself. The closing wall of the housing forms an integral part of the closure mechanism, eliminating the need for separate plugs or caps while maintaining reliable liquid containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure function is merged with the housing structure. The closing wall that forms part of the housing also serves as the seal for the tank emptying opening, combining structural support and closure functions into a single integrated component.
3Ease of operation
If the tank emptying opening is always open for easy access, then emptying is simplified, but liquid leakage occurs during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The tank emptying opening dynamically changes its state between open and closed based on whether the tank is detached or connected. When detached, the opening is open for emptying; when connected, the closing wall automatically seals it, preventing leakage during operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a surface cleaning device (10; 210) comprising a housing (12; 212) in which a suction assembly (22; 306) for forming a suction flow is arranged, and comprising a suction nozzle (14; 216) fluidically connected to the suction assembly (22; 306) for suctioning a liquid-air mixture, and comprising a separation device (44; 258) for separating liquid out of the suctioned liquid-air mixture, and comprising a liquid tank (42; 218) for receiving the separated liquid, wherein the liquid tank (42; 218) is detachably retained on the housing (12; 212) and can be emptied via a tank-emptying opening (98; 322). In order to further develop the surface cleaning device (10; 210) in such a way that the liquid tank (42; 218) can be easily emptied, without there being the risk that liquid leaks out of the liquid tank (42; 218) with a subsequent operation of the surface cleaning device (10; 210), according to the invention, the tank-emptying opening (98; 322) can be sealingly closed by a closing wall (100; 254) of the housing (12; 212) and is freely accessible by detaching the liquid tank (42; 218) from the housing (12; 212).