Surface Cleaning Machine Flow-Area Sensor for Fluid Presence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning machines lack easy and reliable methods to monitor the fluid levels in their tanks, leading to potential operation without sufficient cleaning fluid and risk of damage to surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device is placed in the flow area to detect the presence of cleaning fluid, connected to an evaluation device that controls the machine's operation, ensuring fluid levels are adequate before activation, and providing visual or acoustic warnings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor device is integrated inside the tank device, then the fluid level can be monitored, but the tank device becomes more complex and cannot be easily removed
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device is separated from the tank device and placed in the flow area instead. This segmentation allows the tank device to remain simple and removable, while the sensor device independently monitors fluid presence in the flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow area acts as an intermediary space where the sensor device can monitor fluid levels without being integrated into the tank device. The sensor detects fluid presence in this intermediate zone, providing monitoring capability without complicating the tank structure.
2Ease of operation
If the tank device is made removable for easy maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but reliable fluid level monitoring becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the sensor device from the tank device and placing it in the flow area, the system allows the tank to be removable while maintaining reliable monitoring. The sensor remains fixed in the machine, monitoring the flow path independently of the tank's position.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor device monitors fluid presence in the flow area before the tank is removed. This preliminary detection allows the system to detect empty tank conditions and prevent operation without fluid, ensuring reliable monitoring even with a removable tank design.
3Ease of manufacture
If the sensor device is placed in the flow area, then fluid level monitoring is simplified and tank removal is easier, but the sensor must be positioned outside the tank
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device is extracted from the tank device and placed in the flow area. This extraction simplifies the tank device structure and allows easy tank removal, while the sensor device is positioned in the flow path where it can effectively monitor fluid presence.
4Device complexity
If gravity-driven fluid flow is used without pumps, then device complexity is reduced, but fluid delivery control becomes less precise
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses gravity-driven flow where the cleaning fluid naturally flows from the tank through the flow area to the cleaning head without requiring a pump. This self-service approach reduces device complexity while maintaining sufficient cleaning efficiency through the natural flow mechanism.
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
Ensures reliable operation by preventing the machine from running out of fluid, protecting surfaces from damage, and simplifying the design by eliminating the need for pumps and allowing easy fluid tank removal.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor device is arranged on the flow area, which determines the presence of cleaning liquid in the flow area
Implementation Method 2
the flow area is arranged below the tank device for cleaning fluid, relative to the direction of gravity, during proper operation of the surface cleaning machine
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a surface cleaning machine comprising a cleaning head (14) having at least one cleaning roller unit (18) which is driven so as to rotate, a tank device (34) for cleaning fluid, and a through-flow region (122) for cleaning fluid, through which cleaning fluid that is supplied from the tank device (34) for cleaning fluid flows when it is being supplied to the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) and/or to a surface (16) being cleaned, wherein a sensor device (126) is arranged on the through-flow region (122), which determines the presence of cleaning fluid in the through-flow region (122).