Vacuum Cleaner Strain-Based Motor Control to Prevent Nozzle Sticking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum cleaners often struggle to maintain efficient cleaning while avoiding nozzle sticking, especially on thick rugs, which disrupts operation and can cause the nozzle to become stuck, leading to inefficient cleaning and unpleasant sounds.
Innovation Solution
A sensing device measures the force between the handle and nozzle, and a control arrangement adjusts the motor output in response to detected strain, temporarily lowering power to prevent sticking while maintaining high overall power, using variable resistors or strain gauge load cells to detect and adapt to different surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high motor output is maintained to provide efficient cleaning, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but the nozzle becomes stuck more easily on thick rugs
Solution Approach 1:
The motor output is made dynamic rather than static. The control arrangement continuously monitors force via the sensing device and adjusts motor output in real-time, increasing power when the nozzle is moving freely and reducing power when sticking is detected, thereby maintaining cleaning efficiency while preventing nozzle immobilization
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback loop is established where the sensing device measures force applied to the nozzle tube and sends signals to the control arrangement, which then adjusts motor output accordingly. This closed-loop control enables the system to respond to changing conditions (such as encountering thick rugs) and maintain optimal operation without manual intervention
2Power
If high suction force is provided to maintain cleaning performance, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the nozzle becomes stuck on thick rugs
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing device detects increasing force before the nozzle becomes completely stuck, allowing the control arrangement to reduce motor output in advance. This preliminary action prevents the sticking condition from fully developing, maintaining reliable continuous operation while preserving high suction force when conditions permit
3Ease of operation
If the motor output is temporarily lowered to prevent nozzle sticking, then nozzle mobility is improved, but cleaning power is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The motor output is adjusted periodically based on detected force conditions rather than being continuously reduced. When the sensing device detects force exceeding the threshold, the control arrangement temporarily lowers output for a predetermined time period, then restores full power when the condition clears, maintaining nozzle mobility while minimizing impact on overall cleaning performance
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
This solution reduces the likelihood of nozzle sticking, adapts to various floor surfaces, eliminates unpleasant sounds, and conserves energy by dynamically adjusting motor power based on sensed strain, providing a more efficient and user-friendly cleaning experience.
Implementation Method 1
A sensing device is provided, measuring a force along a direction between the handle and said nozzle. The sensing device may comprise a variable resistor... the sensing device may be a strain gauge load cell
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum cleaner comprising a fan driven by a motor, wherein the fan is configured to accomplish a suction flow from a vacuum cleaner nozzle via a hand-held tube having a direction of elongation, to a permeable dust collecting container. A sensing device is provided, sensing strain in the tube along its elongate direction, and a control arrangement controls the output of the motor in response to the sensed strain. This allows the vacuum cleaner to adapt to different floor surfaces.