Touchless Particulate Removal Nozzle for Delicate Surface Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for removing airborne or settled particulates and debris from surfaces are often bulky, inefficient, or unsuitable for delicate or hazardous items, as they require contact with the surface and may damage fragile items or fail to dislodge stubbornly adhered particles.
Innovation Solution
A portable device with a high-pressure airflow system that emits discrete pulses of air through multiple nozzles, combined with a low-pressure vacuum system, allowing for non-contact dislodging and capture of particulate matter without surface contact, suitable for various surfaces including fragile or delicate items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If handheld vacuum devices are used to remove settled particulates, then portability is improved, but vacuum pressure is insufficient to dislodge stubbornly adhered particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a high-pressure air source and a vacuum source into a single handheld device. The high-pressure air dislodges stubborn particulates while the vacuum simultaneously captures them, resolving the contradiction between portability and sufficient cleaning force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by incorporating a high-pressure air source that delivers focused bursts of air to dislodge adhered particles. This pneumatic mechanism provides the necessary force without requiring the device to be bulky, maintaining portability while increasing cleaning capability.
2Force
If conventional vacuum cleaners are used to remove settled particulates, then vacuum pressure is sufficient, but device size becomes large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the high-pressure air source and vacuum source into a single integrated handheld unit. This combination allows the device to deliver sufficient vacuum pressure while maintaining a compact, portable form factor that conventional vacuum cleaners cannot achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of a high-pressure air source in conjunction with the vacuum system allows for more efficient particle dislodgement and capture. This pneumatic approach enables the device to maintain sufficient cleaning force in a smaller, more portable package.
3Productivity
If users touch the dirty surface during cleaning, then particulate removal is effective, but the device becomes soiled and users are reluctant to use it near fine collectibles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a high-pressure air source that delivers focused bursts of air to dislodge particulates without requiring physical contact with the surface. This touchless approach effectively removes particles while preventing device contamination and protecting delicate items.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based cleaning approach with a pneumatic system. The high-pressure air bursts substitute for physical touching, maintaining effective particulate removal while eliminating the harmful effect of surface contamination and device soiling.
4Force
If high-pressure air flows are used to remove settled particulates, then dislodging capability is improved, but device complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the high-pressure air source and vacuum source into a single integrated system with shared components and housing. This merging approach provides strong dislodging capability while managing device complexity through unified design and component integration.
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
Enables efficient and touchless removal of particulate matter from surfaces, reducing the time and effort required for cleaning while minimizing the risk of damaging cleaned items, and is suitable for a wide range of environments and surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
A high-pressure assembly for generating a high-pressure airflow is provided that directs air so that it exits the nose segment and contacts the surface from which the particulate matter is being dislodged
Implementation Method 2
The nozzle assembly may include multiple nozzles that are spaced from each other and configured to emit the air as a series of discrete pulses
Implementation Method 3
A vacuum airflow is drawn into the device away from a surface being cleaned that has accumulated particulate matter thereon
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
Portable devices for dislodging and/or capturing particulate matter that has accumulated on various surfaces or structures are provided. The devices include a body segment and a nose segment extending away therefrom. A high-pressure assembly generates a high-pressure airflow that is directed to a nozzle assembly in the nose segment. From the nozzle assembly, the high-pressure airflow can be emitted from multiple nozzles as a series of airflow bursts that discretely contact the surface from which the particulate matter is being dislodged. The configuration of each nozzle, as well as the overall arrangement and positions of all the nozzles together, is selected to impart the desired particulate matter dislodging characteristics to the device, and the device may incorporate a vacuum airflow to remove the particulate matter after such matter has been dislodged.