Surface cleaning utensil
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning utensils with rotating brushes are limited in effectively cleaning surfaces at various angles and addressing specific stains, as they typically have brushes with rotation axes parallel to the surface, which restricts their ability to reach and clean effectively at thresholds and uneven areas.
Innovation Solution
A surface cleaning utensil with a wet cleaning unit and brush unit featuring brushes with elements at an angle of at least 45° to the surface, driven to move in a plane nearly parallel to the surface, and equipped with gear-shaped elements for efficient stain removal, integrated with a vacuum cleaner nozzle for dirt separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If brushes have rotation axis parallel to the surface, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the cleaning effectiveness on stains and uneven surfaces is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the brush rotation axis from parallel to the surface (conventional) to perpendicular to the surface (invention). This parameter change enables the brush elements to stand upright and effectively engage with stains and uneven surfaces, dramatically improving cleaning effectiveness while maintaining structural simplicity through the use of standard brush components in a new orientation.
2Manufacturing precision
If brushes have rotation axis perpendicular to the surface, then the cleaning effectiveness on stains is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional brush orientation by positioning the rotation axis perpendicular to the surface instead of parallel. This inversion causes the brush elements to extend vertically downward rather than horizontally, allowing them to effectively reach and clean stains and uneven surfaces that conventional brushes cannot access, while the overall device structure remains relatively simple.
3Productivity
If multiple brushes with opposite rotation directions are used, then the cleaning coverage and effectiveness are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cleaning function into multiple segments by employing several brushes arranged side by side, each with its own rotation axis perpendicular to the surface. This segmentation allows each brush to independently clean its designated zone, providing comprehensive coverage of the cleaning area while maintaining modular simplicity that facilitates manufacturing and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by having adjacent brushes rotate in opposite directions (one clockwise, one counter-clockwise) rather than all rotating in the same direction. This inversion creates a scissoring action between adjacent brushes that enhances cleaning effectiveness at boundaries and thresholds, while the symmetric arrangement simplifies the drive mechanism design.
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 enables improved cleaning of surfaces, including thresholds, by allowing brushes to effectively reach and clean at angles, with efficient dirt separation and stain removal capabilities, particularly suitable for robotic vacuum cleaners with translational movement and high rotation speeds.
Implementation Method 1
a suction unit for generating an air flow through the air inlet
Implementation Method 2
a dirt separation unit for separating dirt from the air flow
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Surface cleaning utensil, comprising a wet cleaning unit (WCU) having a wetting unit (WP) and a brush unit (BU) for brushing a surface wetted by the wetting unit (WP), the brush unit (BP) having a brush (B) having a plurality of brush elements (BE) (e.g. bristles) at an angle of at least 45°, and preferably at least 70°, to a surface to be cleaned, and a driving unit for driving the brush to move in a plane at an angle of at most 45°, and preferably at most 20°, to the surface. Preferably, the brush unit (BU) comprises a plurality of rotating brushes (B) having a rotation axis at an angle of at least 45°, and preferably at least 70°, to the surface to be cleaned, wherein at least 50% of an area defined by a circumference of each brush (B) is provided with brush elements (BE). Preferably, adjacent brushes (B) have opposite rotation directions. Preferably, the brushes (B) comprise gear-shaped elements (G). Preferably, the driving unit is arranged for causing a translational movement of the brush (B) with respect to the surface cleaning utensil. Preferably, the wet cleaning unit further comprises a drying pad (DP), the brush unit (BU) being positioned between the wetting unit (WP) and the drying pad (DP). Preferably, the surface cleaning utensil further comprises an air inlet (N) located before the wet cleaning unit (WCU) in a motion direction of the surface cleaning utensil.