Vacuum Airflow Conduit With Rotatable Joints to Prevent Hose Kinking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning apparatuses, such as vacuum cleaners, face challenges in maneuverability due to the tendency of hoses to kink when stretched or moved, leading to potential damage and reduced effectiveness in cleaning.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a conduit section with rotatable connections at both ends of the air flow path, allowing for enhanced maneuverability and reducing the likelihood of kinking by enabling rotation in multiple axes, thus maintaining airflow and preventing hose damage during movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hose with large stretch factor is utilized to enhance maneuverability, then the floor cleaning head can be moved more freely, but the hose may kink and collapse upon itself during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow path is divided into multiple segments: a flexible hose connected to a rigid conduit at one end, and the rigid conduit connected to another rigid conduit at the other end. Each segment serves a specific function - the flexible hose allows movement while the rigid conduits maintain structural integrity and prevent kinking.
Solution Approach 2:
A rigid conduit acts as an intermediary element between the flexible hose and the vacuum cleaner body. This intermediate rigid structure receives the flexible hose, preventing it from kinking while still allowing the necessary flexibility for maneuverability.
2Reliability
If the hose is made more rigid to prevent kinking, then hose integrity is improved, but the maneuverability of the floor cleaning head is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into flexible and rigid portions. The flexible hose provides the necessary maneuverability while the rigid conduit portions maintain structural integrity. Each segment is optimized for its specific function rather than making the entire air flow path uniformly rigid or flexible.
3Ease of operation
If rotatable connections are added to the air flow path, then maneuverability is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid conduit incorporates rotatable connections that allow dynamic adjustment of the air flow path orientation. These rotatable joints enable the conduit to adapt to different cleaning positions and angles while maintaining the structural benefits of a rigid construction.
Data Source
AI summary
An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprises a floor cleaning head, an upright section movably mounted to the surface cleaning head, a portable cleaning unit detachably mounted to the upright section and comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member positioned in the air flow passage, wherein the cleaning unit is operable in a first configuration wherein the cleaning unit is mounted to the upright section and is in air flow communication with the floor cleaning head, and a second configuration in which the cleaning unit is detached from the upright section. The air treatment member comprises a filtration member housing that is detachable when the portable cleaning unit is in the first configuration and when the portable cleaning unit is in the second configuration.