Surface Cleaner Two-Stage Collection to Reduce Suction Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surface cleaning apparatuses, especially cordless and autonomous cleaners, face challenges in reducing power requirements while maintaining cleaning performance, leading to shorter runtimes and reduced effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage collection system is implemented, where the first stage mechanically collects liquid and debris from a brushroll using a scraper, and the second stage uses suction to collect any remaining debris, reducing the power needed for suction and increasing battery life or runtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a powerful vacuum motor is used to recover liquid and debris by suction, then cleaning performance is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The recovery system is divided into two stages: a mechanical collection stage using a scraper to remove bulk liquid and debris from the brushroll, and a suction stage using the vacuum motor to remove remaining particles. This segmentation allows the suction system to operate at lower power while maintaining overall cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical collection stage performs preliminary removal of the majority of liquid and debris before the suction system operates. By pre-processing the cleaning task mechanically, the subsequent suction stage requires significantly less power to complete the cleaning process.
2Reliability
If a powerful vacuum motor is used to recover liquid and debris by suction, then cleaning performance is improved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The recovery system is divided into two stages: a mechanical collection stage using a scraper to remove bulk liquid and debris from the brushroll, and a suction stage using the vacuum motor to remove remaining particles. This segmentation allows the suction system to operate at lower power while maintaining overall cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical collection stage performs preliminary removal of the majority of liquid and debris before the suction system operates. By pre-processing the cleaning task mechanically, the subsequent suction stage requires significantly less power to complete the cleaning process.
3Use of energy by moving object
If mechanical collection is added to the suction system, then power requirements are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical collection system is integrated with the existing suction system rather than operating as a separate device. The scraper is positioned to work in conjunction with the brushroll and suction nozzle, combining multiple functions into a unified cleaning mechanism that reduces overall system complexity.
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
This approach allows for extended battery life and improved cleaning performance without compromising cleaning efficiency, as the mechanical collection stage reduces the power demands on the suction system, enabling longer operation times.
Implementation Method 1
a source of suction in fluid communication with the working air conduit to draw liquid and debris from the surface to be cleaned and through the nozzle and the working air conduit to the recovery tank
Implementation Method 2
a brushroll mounted for rotation in the inlet opening for sweeping, agitating, and/or mopping the surface to be cleaned
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a surface cleaning apparatus (10, 210) that mechanically removes liquid and debris from a brushroll (30, 246) and stores the mechanically-removed liquid and debris onboard the apparatus in a first collection area (44, 274). The surface cleaning apparatus (10, 210) also collects further liquid and debris from the brushroll (30, 246) by a source of suction including a vacuum motor (90, 312) or a pump (154) and stores the collected liquid and debris onboard the apparatus in a second collection area (48, 278).