Vacuum cleaner suction head
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum cleaners struggle to adapt effectively to different surfaces, leading to inefficiencies in suction and air leaks, particularly when cleaning textured surfaces like carpets and rugs.
Innovation Solution
A suction head mechanism with a lever that adjusts the angle of the soleplate and brushes, allowing for three positions to optimize contact and airflow, reducing air leaks and enhancing suction efficiency by inclining the soleplate between 6 to 11 degrees, depending on the surface and brush position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the suction head uses a traditional rigid connection between sole and sleeve, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to different surface types effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic connection system where the fork can pivot relative to the soleplate, allowing the suction head to adapt its configuration based on surface type. The lever mechanism enables dynamic adjustment between different operational positions, transforming a static rigid structure into a dynamic adaptive system that can optimize performance for hard floors, carpets, and rugs.
2Productivity
If the suction head maintains flat contact with the surface, then air leaks are reduced, but suction efficiency on textile surfaces decreases due to insufficient scraping action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different contact conditions at different locations of the soleplate. The front scraping edge is designed to engage with textile surfaces at an optimized angle for effective scraping, while the rear portion maintains contact to seal air leaks. This localized differentiation of contact quality allows simultaneous optimization of both suction efficiency and air leakage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever mechanism enables parameter changes by adjusting the angle of the soleplate relative to the surface. When positioned for carpet cleaning, the soleplate inclines to create effective scraping action at the front edge. The system dynamically changes geometric parameters to optimize performance for different surface types and cleaning requirements.
3Productivity
If the brush is positioned projecting from the lower face, then cleaning of textile surfaces is improved, but the fork cannot pivot relative to the sole
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism transforms the brush position from a static fixed state to a dynamic adjustable state. The lever system enables the brush to move between projecting and retracted positions, allowing the fork to pivot when needed while maintaining brush projection when textile surface cleaning is required. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and mechanical flexibility.
4Ease of operation
If a single lever mechanism is used to control brush position and fork pivoting, then ease of operation is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control functions into a single integrated lever mechanism. This single lever simultaneously controls brush position (projecting/retracted), fork pivoting capability, and soleplate angle adjustment. By combining these functions, the system improves ease of operation while the modular design keeps mechanism complexity manageable through functional integration.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a suction head (1) for a vacuum cleaner, comprising a sole (5) provided with a lower face (15) and a cavity (55) opening onto this lower face, at least one brush (13 , 14), a connecting sleeve (2) configured to communicate with the cavity and a fork (3) arranged between the sole and the sleeve and mounted in pivot connections with axes (X1, X2) transverse to said sole and said sleeve, characterized in that said suction head comprises a mechanism (21) and a handle (20), said handle being configured to actuate said mechanism according to at least one position in which at least one brush (13, 14 ) is held back from the underside (15) by blocking the fork (3) vis-à-vis the sole (5), and in that the fork (3) is configured to ballast the sole (5) of so as to force the rearward inclination of said sole due to the wedging at an angle (α2) of inclination of six to eleven degrees. The invention also relates to a vacuum cleaner equipped with such a suction head (1).