Surface cleaning apparatus with two-stage collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surface cleaning apparatuses, especially cordless and autonomous cleaners, face challenges in efficiently collecting debris due to reduced power, leading to shorter runtimes and inferior performance compared to corded models.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage collection system is implemented, where the first stage mechanically collects liquid and debris using a brushroll and scraper, and the second stage uses suction to further collect remaining debris, reducing power requirements and increasing battery life without compromising cleaning performance.
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 collection system is divided into two stages: a first collection area that passively collects liquid and debris through gravity and brushroll agitation, and a second collection area that uses suction. This segmentation allows the vacuum motor to operate at lower power since it only needs to handle remaining debris rather than all collected material, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning performance and power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The brushroll and scraper perform preliminary mechanical collection of liquid and debris before the suction system operates. This preliminary action reduces the burden on the vacuum motor, allowing it to maintain effective cleaning performance while consuming less power and extending battery life
2Reliability
If a powerful vacuum motor is used to recover liquid and debris by suction, then cleaning performance is improved, but runtime is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the collection into two stages with different mechanisms (passive mechanical collection followed by active suction), the system reduces the continuous power demand on the vacuum motor. This allows the cleaner to maintain effective cleaning performance throughout the runtime rather than degrading as battery power depletes
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical collection system performs preliminary separation of liquid and debris before the suction system operates. This preliminary action ensures that the vacuum motor operates more efficiently throughout the entire runtime, extending the duration the cleaner can effectively perform
3Use of energy by moving object
If mechanical collection is used to remove liquid and debris from brushroll, then power requirements are reduced, but complete debris removal may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The collection system is segmented into two complementary stages: mechanical collection (brushroll and scraper) that handles bulk liquid and debris removal with low power consumption, and suction collection that handles remaining fine debris. This segmentation ensures complete debris removal while maintaining low power requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two different collection mechanisms (mechanical and suction-based) into a unified two-stage system. The mechanical system handles the bulk of liquid and debris removal, while the suction system complements it by capturing remaining particles, achieving complete debris removal without the high power requirements of a single powerful suction system
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 enhances the battery life and runtime of the cleaning apparatus while maintaining effective cleaning performance, making it more cost-effective and efficient.
Implementation Method 1
a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating a working air stream
Implementation Method 2
a pump in fluid communication with the first collection area for pumping dirty liquid into the second collection area
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a surface cleaning apparatus that mechanically removes liquid and debris from a brushroll and stores the mechanically-removed liquid and debris onboard the apparatus in a first collection area. The surface cleaning apparatus also collects further liquid and debris from the brushroll by a source of suction including a vacuum motor or a pump and stores the collected liquid and debris onboard the apparatus in a second collection area.