Surface cleaner with suction and simplified operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaners with suction require inconvenient operation, leading to interruptions and increased risk of aerosol formation, especially when switching between high-pressure cleaning and suction modes, due to the need to adjust valves near the floor, resulting in inefficient and potentially hazardous use.
Innovation Solution
The design features two independently actuable handles on a push rod, allowing for easy switching between high-pressure cleaning, suction, and dual-function operations without bending, with a pressure relief valve to manage excess pressure and optimize water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a 3-way valve is used to enable three operating states (high-pressure cleaning with suction, suction only, high-pressure cleaning without suction), then the device offers versatile cleaning modes, but the operation becomes more difficult and requires the user to lean down to adjust valve positions near the floor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the control mechanism from a vertical/dimensional constraint (valves near the floor requiring bending) to a horizontal/convenient position (handles on the push rod at operator level). The actuating handles are positioned on the push rod in the area of the operating fork, allowing the operator to control suction and high-pressure cleaning functions while standing upright, eliminating the need to lean down or bend over the bottom housing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the valve is adjusted near the floor to switch operating modes, then the three different operating states can be set, but the operation must be interrupted and aerosols may form near the floor creating infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows continuous operation by enabling the operator to switch between cleaning modes without stopping the cleaning process. The actuating handles on the push rod can be operated with one or both hands while the cleaning continues, eliminating service interruptions that would occur with floor-level valve adjustment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If two separate operating handles are provided on the drawbar (one for rotor arm, one for spray gun), then the functions can be controlled separately, but the transition between surface cleaning and high-pressure spray operation causes interruption and handling becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates both control functions into a single universal operating handle assembly on the push rod. The first actuating handle controls the rotor arm (surface cleaning), while the second actuating handle controls the suction device. Both handles are positioned within easy reach on the push rod, allowing the operator to switch between surface cleaning and water removal modes without transitioning to a separate high-pressure spray gun, eliminating interruptions and simplifying handling.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the suction power is adjusted using a hand lever attached directly to the housing, then the suction function can be controlled, but increased effort is required and the operator must be bent over above the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the suction control from a position requiring the operator to bend over the housing to a position on the push rod at operator level. The second actuating handle is positioned on the push rod in the area of the operating fork, allowing the operator to control suction power while standing upright, eliminating the need to bend over and reducing physical effort.
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
Enables uninterrupted, efficient, and safer operation by allowing simultaneous or alternating use of handles to manage high-pressure cleaning and suction modes without interrupting the cleaning process, reducing water consumption and improving cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
a bypass line (22) which bypasses the Venturi nozzle (9) and leads from the inlet side of the suction device (8) to the outlet side, in order to bypass excess pressure
Implementation Method 2
a suction device (8) with a built-in Venturi nozzle (9), in order to be able to suck off the water remaining on the cleaned surface
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Surface cleaner with suction and simplified operation, which can be moved manually over a floor-side cleaning surface by means of a push handle (30), and which consists of a cup-shaped housing (6) open downwards towards a cleaning surface, in which at least one rotor arm (7) with attached spray nozzles (10) is driven to rotate under the influence of a high-pressure medium, wherein a manually operated valve device (1, 3, 25, 26) is provided, which selectively supplies the high-pressure medium to one or more rotor arms (7) and/or the suction device (8), wherein for two-handed operation the manually operated valve device consists of two spatially separated operating handles (1, 3) with manually operated operating levers (25, 26) which are arranged at the two ends of the push handle (30) of the surface cleaner.