Vacuum cleaner with fluid distribution system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum cleaners are limited to 'dry' pick-up and do not effectively distribute or collect liquid, making them inadequate for cleaning surfaces that require a liquid treatment agent.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum cleaner equipped with a liquid dispensing system that includes a housing, a suction nozzle, a separating and collection system, a suction source, and a fluid dispensing system with a treating agent dispenser, air pump, and diffusion media to apply a low flow rate of liquid treating agent to the surface while separating and collecting debris and liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vacuum cleaner is designed for conventional 'dry' pick-up only, then the device complexity remains simple, but the adaptability to clean surfaces requiring liquid treatment is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the liquid dispensing system with the existing vacuum cleaner structure by integrating the treating agent container, pump, and dispensing mechanism into the housing. The fluid supply conduit connects to existing system components, merging multiple functions (vacuum cleaning and liquid treatment) into a single unified device, thereby improving adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum cleaner is designed to perform multiple functions: conventional dry debris pickup through the suction nozzle, and liquid treating agent distribution through the dispensing system. The housing and control systems manage both functions, making the device universal for surfaces requiring either dry or liquid treatment
2Productivity
If a high flow rate of liquid treating agent is applied to the surface, then the cleaning effectiveness on liquid-treated surfaces improves, but the liquid may be immediately suctioned up by the vacuum cleaner, reducing treatment efficacy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the flow rate parameter of the liquid treating agent to a specific low range (0.01 to 2 mL/min). This parameter change ensures that liquid is applied at a rate slow enough to remain on the surface for effective treatment, while still providing sufficient cleaning productivity through extended contact time and the vacuum's debris removal capability
3Reliability
If a low flow rate of liquid treating agent is applied to the surface, then the liquid remains on the surface for effective treatment, but the cleaning productivity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs continuous operation of both the liquid dispensing system and the vacuum suction system simultaneously. The continuous low-rate liquid application combined with continuous debris removal maintains reliable surface treatment while achieving productivity through the combined effect of both functions operating in parallel throughout the cleaning process
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 effective cleaning by applying a treating agent to surfaces while removing debris, with the liquid remaining on the surface due to the low flow rate, allowing the vacuum cleaner to function similarly to a conventional 'dry' vacuum cleaner.
Implementation Method 1
an air pump for pressurizing at least a portion of the fluid dispensing system and wherein pressurizing the at least a portion of the fluid dispensing system is configured to move the treating agent through the treating agent dispenser
Implementation Method 2
a suction nozzle provided with the housing, a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and the separating and collection system
Implementation Method 3
a separating and collection assembly in fluid communication with the suction source and configured for separating and collecting liquid and debris from a working airstream
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum cleaner is provided with a dispensing system for applying a treating agent stored on the vacuum cleaner to the surface to be cleaned. The dispensing system can include at least one container for storing a supply of treating agent and a dispenser for dispensing the treating agent to the surface to be cleaned. The dispensing system uses filtered working exhaust air to blow treating agent off the treating agent dispenser.