Surface cleaning apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning apparatuses face challenges in efficiently separating large debris and hair from cleaning fluids before emptying the recovery tank, leading to potential clogging of drains and pipes, and require manual and unsanitary removal of debris.
Innovation Solution
A surface cleaning apparatus with a recovery tank assembly that includes a strainer with drain holes and an elongated grip, allowing for the separation of large debris and hair from the cleaning fluid before emptying, preventing clogs and ensuring sanitary disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the recovery tank is emptied directly without separation, then the emptying process is simple and quick, but large debris and hair cause drain clogs and require manual removal
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer is installed in the recovery tank to perform preliminary separation of large debris and hair from the cleaning fluid before the fluid is emptied into the drain. This preliminary action prevents clogs without requiring manual debris removal, resolving the contradiction between easy emptying and drain protection
Solution Approach 2:
The strainer acts as an intermediary component between the recovery tank and the drain system. It intercepts and retains large debris and hair, allowing only filtered fluid to pass through to the drain, thus preventing clogs while maintaining simple emptying operation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If manual removal of debris is required, then drain clogs are prevented, but the process becomes unsanitary and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer performs automatic separation of large debris and hair from the cleaning fluid without requiring user intervention. The debris is retained in the strainer while the fluid drains automatically, providing self-service debris removal that is both sanitary and labor-free
3Device complexity
If no separation mechanism is used, then the device complexity is low, but debris and hair must be manually removed from the tank
Solution Approach 1:
The recovery tank system is segmented into two functional zones: a strainer section for retaining large debris and hair, and a drainage section for disposing of cleaned fluid. This segmentation automatically separates debris from fluid, eliminating manual removal effort while adding only minimal structural 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
The strainer effectively separates large debris and hair from the cleaning fluid, facilitating easy and sanitary disposal of debris while preventing drain clogs, enhancing the operational efficiency and hygiene of the surface cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
a strainer removably mounted within the recovery tank container... The strainer includes a strainer base at the bottom end of the recovery tank container, the strainer base having a plurality of drain holes therein
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus (10) includes include at least a recovery system for removing the spent cleaning fluid and debris from the surface to be cleaned and storing the spent cleaning fluid and debris. The recovery system is provided with a recovery tank (64) having a removably strainer (96) that is configured to strain large debris and hair out of the recovery tank (64) prior to emptying the recovery tank (64).