Vacuum cleaner with head
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vacuum cleaners with movable brushes face inefficiencies in air flow distribution and energy usage due to the brush obstructing the air flow when stationary, which affects suction results and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The vacuum cleaner's processing head includes a movable brush that can be controlled to assume a predetermined position minimizing obstruction to the air flow, using position sensors and power consumption analysis to determine and maintain optimal positions, ensuring maximum air flow and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the brush roller is switched off when cleaning a parquet floor, then energy consumption is reduced, but the brush obstructs the air flow and reduces suction performance
Solution Approach 1:
The brush roller is designed to be dynamically adjustable between different positions. When switched off, it automatically assumes a retracted position that minimizes obstruction to the air flow, allowing the system to maintain both low energy consumption and high suction performance simultaneously through dynamic reconfiguration rather than static fixed position
Solution Approach 2:
The position parameter of the brush roller is changed based on operational conditions. By adjusting the brush position parameter (from extended to retracted) when the drive is switched off, the system optimizes the balance between energy consumption and air flow resistance, transforming a fixed parameter system into an adaptive one
2Productivity
If the brush roller is driven to clean carpets, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brush roller operates with periodic activation based on cleaning requirements. It is driven only when carpet cleaning is detected and switched off when cleaning hard surfaces, creating a periodic on/off pattern that reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The drive state parameter of the brush roller is changed based on surface type detection. The system transitions between driven and stationary states according to the cleaning task, optimizing the energy-consumption versus cleaning-effectiveness trade-off through parameter adaptation
3Use of energy by moving object
If the brush roller is left stationary in any position, then energy consumption is minimized, but air flow distribution becomes unfavorable
Solution Approach 1:
The brush roller is positioned at a specific location (retracted position) when stationary to optimize air flow characteristics. This local optimization of the brush position ensures that even in the stationary state, the air flow distribution remains favorable, combining energy savings with maintained suction performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the brush position based on operational mode. When the drive is off, the brush automatically assumes the optimal retracted position, transforming the stationary state from a potentially harmful configuration to a beneficial one that simultaneously reduces energy consumption and maintains air flow efficiency
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
A vacuum cleaner comprises a processing head including an inlet opening for an airflow and a brush movable by means of a drive mechanism. A method for controlling the vacuum cleaner comprises steps of stopping the drive mechanism such that the stationary brush assumes a predetermined position.