Surface cleaning head and flow resistance element for a surface cleaning head
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surface cleaning heads with densely packed bristle strips for splash protection face challenges in flexibility and sealing effectiveness, leading to potential snagging on uneven surfaces and reduced suction efficiency due to air penetration.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a flow resistance element, such as an elastically deformable annular strip, which extends along the bristle strip but only partially in the axial direction, allowing a free edge for air and liquid flow, enhancing flexibility and sealing while reducing air infiltration and spray water escape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bristle strip has densely packed bristles to achieve good sealing effect, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the flexibility of the bristle strip is restricted and it may get caught on uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is divided into two segments: the bristle strip for basic sealing and the flow resistance element for enhanced sealing. The flow resistance element is arranged separately from the bristle strip, allowing each component to be optimized independently - the bristle strip maintains low packing density for flexibility while the flow resistance element provides additional sealing where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow resistance element acts as an intermediary component between the cleaning chamber and the external environment, working in conjunction with the bristle strip to provide sealing. It compensates for the reduced sealing capability of the flexible bristle strip by providing an additional sealing layer that can be optimized for sealing performance without compromising bristle strip flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If the packing density of the bristles is reduced to increase flexibility, then the risk of getting caught on uneven floor is reduced, but the bristle strip has limited sealing effect and spray water escapes
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is divided into two segments: the bristle strip for basic sealing and the flow resistance element for enhanced sealing. The flow resistance element is arranged separately from the bristle strip, allowing each component to be optimized independently - the bristle strip maintains low packing density for flexibility while the flow resistance element provides additional sealing where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system uses a composite structure combining two different elements: the bristle strip (made of flexible bristles) and the flow resistance element (made of different material with flow-resistant properties). This composite sealing system leverages the flexibility of the bristle strip and the sealing effectiveness of the flow resistance element to achieve both flexibility and reliable sealing.
3Productivity
If a pumping device is used to pump out the cleaning space, then cleaning liquid can be removed, but external air penetrates through the bristle strip into the cleaning space and impairs suction result
Solution Approach 1:
The flow resistance element acts as an intermediary component between the cleaning chamber and the external environment, working in conjunction with the bristle strip to provide sealing. It compensates for the reduced sealing capability of the flexible bristle strip by providing an additional sealing layer that can be optimized for sealing performance without compromising bristle strip flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow resistance element is designed with specific porous characteristics that allow it to resist air flow while still permitting liquid passage. The porous structure provides flow resistance to air penetration through the bristle strip into the cleaning chamber, maintaining suction performance while allowing the pumping device to effectively remove cleaning liquid.
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 solution provides improved flexibility to prevent snagging on uneven surfaces and maintains effective sealing and suction performance by allowing air to enter primarily through the free edge of the bristle strip, enhancing the overall cleaning efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a flow resistance element (75) that extends in the circumferential direction along the bristle strip (71)
Implementation Method 2
an elastically deformable annular strip, which extends along the bristle strip
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a surface-cleaning head (10) for cleaning a surface (25), comprising a hood-shaped housing (12) having a cleaning space (20) open downwards and surrounded by a peripheral wall (18), in which cleaning space at least one cleaning nozzle (39, 40) for applying cleaning fluid to the surface (25) to be cleaned is mounted on a spraying arm (37, 38) in a freely rotatable manner about an axis of rotation (32), a spray protection device (67) with a circumferential bristle strip (71) being arranged on the peripheral wall (18). In order to improve the surface cleaning head in such a way that the permeability of the bristle strip for spray water and air can be reduced without the risk of the bristle strip (71) catching on an uneven spot on the floor, according to the invention a flow resistance element (75) extending along the periphery of the bristle strip (71) contacts said bristle strip (71), wherein a free edge area (73) of the bristle strip (71) projects past the flow resistance element (75) in the direction of the surface (25) to be cleaned. The invention further relates to a flow resistance element (75) for a surface cleaning head (10).