Vacuum Hose Grip Tube Rotation Without Liquid Line Kinking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing handle arrangements on suction hoses for spray extraction limit the angle of rotation between the suction hose and the handle, restricting comfortable handling due to the routing of the liquid line, which either leaves it unprotected or restricts rotation when internalized.

Innovation Solution

A handle arrangement with a non-rotatable inner sleeve attached to the suction hose, featuring a flexible liquid line guided radially through a wall opening into a handle part, forming a length supply loop that allows up to 180° rotation, with stops to prevent overextension and kinking, ensuring the liquid line is supported and returned to its rest position without kinks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the liquid line is routed externally through the handle arrangement, then the liquid line is accessible and easy to connect, but the liquid line is unprotected and can get caught during use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of connectionVSAvoidprotection of liquid line
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid line is routed through the inner sleeve which is inserted into the handle tube, creating a nested structure where the liquid line is protected within the handle arrangement rather than exposed externally

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the liquid line is routed internally through the handle part, then the liquid line is protected from damage, but the angle of rotation between the suction hose and handle arrangement is considerably restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of liquid lineVSAvoidangle of rotation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The handle arrangement is divided into two rotatable sections: the inner sleeve can rotate relative to the suction hose, and the grip tube can rotate relative to the inner sleeve, creating segmented rotational freedom that maintains liquid line protection while enabling large rotation angles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid line is designed with sufficient length and flexibility to accommodate the rotational movements through the nested structure, changing the parameter of liquid line length to enable the desired range of motion without restriction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the angle of rotation is increased to ensure comfortable handling, then the liquid line may become overextended or stretched, but limiting the angle restricts comfortable handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfortable handlingVSAvoidliquid line integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Stops are provided to prevent over-rotation of the inner sleeve and grip tube, applying a preliminary limiting action that prevents the liquid line from becoming overextended or stretched while still allowing sufficient rotation angle for comfortable handling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP2090212B1Gripping device on a vacuum hose
Publication Date: 2015.04.08 TRUPLAST KUNST STOFFTECHNIK GMBH
  • EP2090212B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2090212B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2090212B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A handle arrangement is proposed for a suction hose (3) equipped for spray extraction, which has externally helical wave crests (18) and wave troughs (19) similar to an external thread. However, the handle arrangement is also applicable to hoses whose wave crests and troughs, which provide hose elasticity, are not helical due to a different manufacturing process, but are arranged as alternating rings. The handle arrangement can also be adapted for use on smooth-walled hoses. At one end of the suction hose (3), an internal sleeve (9) is attached to the suction hose (3) in a suitable manner so as not to rotate, and is inserted into a handle tube (1) and is rotatably but axially fixed within it.An elastic fluid line (37) extends radially from a suction hose (3) and an inner sleeve (9) through a wall opening in the handle tube (1) and into the cavity (28) of a handle part (2). The handle part (2) is rigidly connected to the handle tube (1) at both ends. The fluid line (37) is secured in the cavity (28) to form a length storage loop (40). A receiving chamber (13) is provided at the inner sleeve (9) into which the fluid line (37) is displaced from the length storage loop (40) when relative rotations occur between the suction hose (3) and the handle tube (1). The possible angle of rotation may be limited by stops according to the length of line available in the length storage loop (40), but can also be limited by the length of line available in the length storage loop (40) itself, i.e., even without stops.