Vacuum Nozzle Inlet Channel for Large Debris Pickup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic vacuum cleaners face limitations in suction power for larger debris like sand and small stones while maintaining low energy consumption, which affects their cleaning efficiency and battery life.
Innovation Solution
The robotic vacuum cleaner features a nozzle inlet with a frame structure that creates a channel with a larger airflow at the top and lower airflow at the base, using triangular cross-section distance members to direct debris into the opening and reduce energy consumption, allowing it to pick up larger debris without increasing energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the vacuum producing unit produces stronger suction force to draw larger debris, then the cleaning capability is improved, but the electric energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle inlet structure creates different airflow conditions at different locations: the channel portion has higher airflow velocity to draw in larger debris, while the base portion has lower airflow velocity to maintain low energy consumption. This spatial differentiation of airflow quality enables the system to achieve strong debris pickup capability only where needed, rather than uniformly across the entire nozzle inlet.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle inlet is divided into distinct functional segments: a channel portion with higher airflow for debris intake and a base portion with lower airflow for energy saving. The distance members create this segmentation by forming a channel that directs airflow specifically to the opening, separating the high-energy and low-energy zones within the same nozzle structure.
2Productivity
If the nozzle inlet is designed to pick up larger debris like sand and stones, then the cleaning efficiency is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the airflow velocity parameter spatially within the nozzle inlet structure. The channel portion experiences higher airflow velocity due to its geometry and positioning, enabling it to draw in larger debris particles. The base portion maintains lower airflow velocity, reducing overall energy consumption while still allowing effective debris pickup through the optimized channel structure.
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
This design enables the robotic vacuum cleaner to effectively draw in larger debris while minimizing energy consumption, ensuring efficient cleaning and prolonging battery life by optimizing airflow and debris direction.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum producing unit, a debris receptacle, and a nozzle inlet arranged in a portion of the housing facing the surface to be cleaned... The opening being arranged in fluid communication with the debris receptacle and the vacuum producing unit being arranged in in fluid communication with the opening
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5
AI summary
Herein a robotic vacuum cleaner comprising a nozzle inlet (12) arranged in a portion of a housing of the vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The nozzle inlet (12) comprises a frame structure (28) forming an opening (30). The frame structure (28) comprises a base portion (46) extending substantially in parallel with a surface to be cleaned, the base portion (46) extending at a first level. A leading edge portion (42) comprises at least two distance members (48) forming there between a channel (50) to the opening (30). The channel (50) has a delimiting surface (52) extending at a second level substantially in parallel with the first level. The first level is arranged closer to the surface to be cleaned than the second level. Each distance member (48) has a substantially triangular cross section. At least a portion of side surfaces (58) of the distance members extend substantially perpendicularly to the base portion (46).