Surface Cleaning Apparatus Drying Cycle to Reduce Moisture and Odor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surface cleaning apparatuses face issues with moisture retention in components after operation, leading to bacterial growth and unpleasant odors, requiring time-consuming and effort-intensive drying processes.
Innovation Solution
A drying cycle is implemented in the surface cleaning apparatus, utilizing forced air to dry out wet components, which can be initiated automatically, reducing user effort and time, and minimizing odor development.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual drying of components is used, then drying effectiveness is improved, but user effort and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-drying by automatically circulating air through the recovery tank and components after use, eliminating the need for manual drying efforts from the user while ensuring thorough drying effectiveness
2Reliability
If manual drying of components is used, then drying effectiveness is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process operates continuously after each use through automatic air circulation, ensuring that drying occurs without interruption and reducing total drying time compared to intermittent manual drying
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs drying as a preliminary action immediately after each cleaning operation, preventing moisture accumulation before storage and eliminating the need for extended drying periods later
3Ease of operation
If components are stored wet, then storage convenience is improved, but bacterial growth and odors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary drying of all components before storage by circulating air through the recovery tank and pathways, ensuring components are dry before being stored in convenient locations, thereby preventing bacterial growth and odors
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful effect of moisture retention into a benefit by using the same air circulation system to actively remove moisture, transforming the potential problem of wet storage into a controlled drying process that prevents contamination
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
The drying cycle effectively reduces drying time, simplifies the process, and prevents objectionable odors, ensuring the apparatus is ready for use more quickly with less downtime.
Implementation Method 1
generating, with the fan, a forced air flow through the recovery pathway to dry components of the fluid recovery system
Implementation Method 2
a motor/fan assembly in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating a working air stream flowing through the recovery pathway
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a surface cleaning apparatus that includes a recovery system that extracts liquid and debris with a drying cycle in which forced air flows through a recovery pathway of the recovery system to dry out components that remain wet and/or retain moisture after normal operation of the apparatus. The post-operation drying cycle can dry out components such as an agitator or brushroll, a brush chamber, a suction nozzle, a recovery tank, a filter, and any of the various conduits, ducts, and/or hoses fluidly coupling components of the recovery system together.