Hand-Held Vacuum Layout and Hose Springs for Above-Floor Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum cleaners are not well-suited for above-floor cleaning, particularly for large areas such as walls and ceilings, and their extendable hoses often require significant force to maneuver, leading to reduced airflow and potential collapse due to coil spring unwinding.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held vacuum cleaner with a low center of gravity, a carrying handle at an acute angle, and an extendable hose with opposing coil springs to minimize unwinding force, allowing for efficient above-floor cleaning with improved airflow and tool storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a single coil spring is used in the extendable hose, then the hose can be extended to reach remote locations, but the coil spring unwinds and creates force that reduces airflow and may cause hose collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The single coil spring is divided into two separate coil springs with opposite winding directions. This segmentation allows each spring to counterbalance the other's unwinding force, preventing hose collapse and maintaining stable airflow while still enabling full hose extension.
Solution Approach 2:
The two coil springs are designed with opposite winding directions (one clockwise, one counter-clockwise). This asymmetric configuration creates equal and opposite forces that cancel each other out, eliminating the net unwinding force that would otherwise cause hose collapse and airflow reduction.
2Area of stationary object
If the hose is made extendable to reach remote locations, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the resilience of the hose increases the force required to maneuver it
Solution Approach 1:
The hose is divided into two sections, each with its own coil spring. This segmentation reduces the effective length of each spring, decreasing the resilience force required to extend and maneuver the hose while maintaining full extension capability for reaching remote locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The opposing winding directions of the two coil springs create balanced forces that reduce the net resistance to hose extension. This asymmetric configuration makes the hose easier to maneuver while still providing the necessary extendability for comprehensive cleaning coverage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hose is extended to reach ceiling areas, then above-floor cleaning capability is improved, but the force required often exceeds that needed to tip over the vacuum cleaner
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the hose into two sections with separate coil springs reduces the overall resilience force required for extension. This segmentation enables users to extend the hose to reach ceiling areas without exerting excessive force that could destabilize the vacuum cleaner.
Solution Approach 2:
The opposing winding directions of the two coil springs create a balanced system that reduces the net force required for hose extension. This makes it feasible to reach high ceiling areas while maintaining vacuum cleaner stability during operation.
4Length of moving object
If the coil spring unwinds during hose extension, then the hose can be extended fully, but the unwinding force causes hose collapse and reduces airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The hose is segmented into two sections, each with its own coil spring. This segmentation allows each spring to be shorter and less prone to complete unwinding, while the opposing forces prevent hose collapse and maintain ease of maneuverability during extension.
Solution Approach 2:
The two coil springs wind in opposite directions, creating equal and opposite forces that cancel each other out. This asymmetric arrangement prevents the hose from collapsing during extension while maintaining full extendability and ease of operation.
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
Enables extended use without user fatigue, effective cleaning of large areas, and reduces the likelihood of hose collapse, maintaining airflow and tool accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
the hose having a first part and a second part, the first part of the hose having a first coil spring and the second part having a second coil spring
Implementation Method 2
the first part of the hose having a first coil spring and the second part having a second coil spring, the winding direction of the first coil spring being opposite to the winding direction of the second coil spring
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a hand-held vacuum cleaner (10). The vacuum cleaner is expected to have particular utility for cleaning locations which are difficult to reach with a conventional vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner (10) has a body (12) with a substantially planar base (22) upon which the vacuum cleaner can rest when not in use, the body having a carrying handle (20), a motor (14) and an impeller (16) located within the body, the vacuum cleaner also having a collector (26, 126) and a battery pack (18), the battery pack providing at least a part of the base (22). The motor and the battery pack are located between the base and the collector so as to lower the center of gravity and make the vacuum cleaner more comfortable for use, especially over long periods. Ideally, the center of gravity is close to the carrying handle, and between the carrying handle and the nozzle so that the vacuum cleaner is slightly “nose heavy”.