Surface Cleaning Apparatus with Push-Push Auxiliary Fluid Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surface cleaning apparatuses, such as extraction cleaners, face limitations in effectively delivering and recovering cleaning fluids and debris across various surfaces, particularly in terms of flexibility and efficiency in switching between on-the-floor and above-the-floor cleaning modes.
Innovation Solution
The surface cleaning apparatus incorporates a modular brush housing with a lock assembly, a fluid delivery system with a pump and flow control valve, and a recovery system with a suction nozzle and motor/fan assembly, allowing for adjustable fluid delivery and recovery across different surfaces, including the option for above-the-floor cleaning using a diverter assembly and a hand-held wet/dry accessory tool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional fixed brush housing is used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different cleaning surfaces and modes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The brush housing is divided into modular components that can be selectively assembled and disassembled. The lock assembly separates the brush housing into a main body and a removable cover, allowing users to configure the cleaning apparatus for different surfaces (carpet, hard floor, upholstery) by adjusting or removing specific brush components.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock assembly enables dynamic reconfiguration of the brush housing from a locked (assembled) state to an unlocked (disassembled) state. This allows the device to transition between different cleaning modes (on-the-floor and above-the-floor) by simply locking or unlocking the brush housing components.
2Productivity
If a single fluid delivery system is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the efficiency of fluid delivery and debris recovery across various surfaces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid delivery system is designed with a pump, flow control valve, and distributor that can deliver cleaning fluid to multiple surfaces (carpet, hard floor, upholstery) through a single integrated system. The recovery system similarly handles both fluid extraction and debris collection, eliminating the need for separate systems for different cleaning tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control valve acts as an intermediary that regulates and directs cleaning fluid to different distributors based on the cleaning surface being used. This allows a single fluid delivery system to efficiently serve multiple functions by controlling fluid distribution to the appropriate outlet.
3Ease of operation
If the brush housing is permanently fixed, then the manufacturing precision is easier to maintain, but the ease of operation for switching cleaning modes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lock assembly is pre-configured with engagement features (lugs, slots, springs) that guide the brush housing components into proper alignment during assembly. This preliminary positioning ensures that users can easily lock and unlock the housing without requiring complex alignment procedures, maintaining manufacturing precision while improving operational ease.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a modular brush housing with lock assembly is used, then the adaptability and ease of operation are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock assembly divides the brush housing into separable components with standardized interfaces. This segmentation allows the housing to be easily assembled and disassembled while maintaining structural integrity, providing flexibility without proportionally increasing overall device 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 configuration enhances the cleaning efficiency by enabling flexible operation across multiple surface types, ensuring effective fluid delivery and debris recovery, and allowing for focused treatment of stains through independent control of primary and auxiliary fluid distributors.
Implementation Method 1
a pump in fluid communication with the fluid supply tank and operable to deliver the cleaning fluid from the fluid supply tank
Implementation Method 2
a source of suction in fluid communication with the working air conduit to draw the cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned and through the nozzle and the working air conduit to the recovery tank
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus is provided with a primary fluid distributor and an auxiliary fluid distributor. Each distributor can have a separate and independent flow control actuator. The flow control actuator for the auxiliary fluid distributor is operably coupled with a push-push flow control mechanism, where push-push flow control mechanism has a push on/push off configuration such that pushing the auxiliary flow control actuator once starts fluid flow from the auxiliary fluid distributor and subsequently pushing the auxiliary flow control actuator again stops fluid flow from the auxiliary fluid distributor.