Vacuum Nozzle Insert Mechanism for Quiet Low-Wear Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanisms for moving the wiping/raising insert in vacuum cleaner brushes are noisy, prone to wear, require high operational force, and can be unstable, especially when the brush is knocked, leading to the insert becoming disengaged from the surface.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism featuring a rotatable pedal with projecting tongues and a frame with engaging surfaces, where the axes of rotation are inclined at an angle between 80° and 100°, allowing for fluid movement without clicking and reduced wear, using resilient members to maintain the insert in its raised position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pedal mechanism with tooth engagement is used to move the wiping/raising insert, then the insert can be raised and lowered, but the mechanism produces noisy clicking actions during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional tooth engagement mechanism with a cam surface mechanism. The cam surface has a curved profile that guides the follower through continuous rotational motion, eliminating the discrete tooth engagement and disengagement that causes clicking noises. The curved cam surface ensures smooth, continuous motion of the insert between raised and lowered positions without abrupt transitions.
2Reliability
If high resilient recall force is used to return the insert to the raised position, then the insert reliably returns to rest position, but wear increases in the contact zone between pedal and frame
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the high-force mechanical tooth engagement system with a cam surface mechanism that uses geometric constraint rather than high resilient force. The cam surface profile itself guides the follower through the motion path, and a lightweight spring provides only enough force to overcome gravity and friction, not to force tooth engagement. This substitution dramatically reduces wear in the contact zone while maintaining reliable return to rest position.
3Reliability
If high resilient recall force is used to return the insert to the raised position, then the insert reliably returns to rest position, but the user must apply high loads to lower the insert
Solution Approach 1:
The cam surface mechanism transforms the static high-force tooth engagement system into a dynamic system where the cam profile varies the mechanical advantage throughout the rotation cycle. During insert lowering, the cam geometry provides mechanical advantage that reduces the force the user must apply. During insert raising, the spring force naturally returns the mechanism to the raised position without requiring high user input force, thereby reducing overall operational force requirements while maintaining reliability.
4Ease of operation
If the insert is lowered to contact the surface for cleaning, then wiping action is achieved, but knocking the brush causes the insert to jump into a raised position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the anti-hopping function from the primary cam surface mechanism by introducing a separate retaining element. This retaining element engages with a corresponding feature on the follower or frame to prevent the follower from rotating beyond the lowered position, even when subjected to external impacts. This separation of functions allows the cam surface to provide smooth motion while the retaining element provides position stability, preventing the insert from jumping to the raised position upon knocking.
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
The mechanism provides silent operation, reduced wear, and stable engagement of the insert with the surface, requiring less operational force and preventing disengagement upon impact, while maintaining a fluid movement without the need for high resilient recall forces.
Implementation Method 1
The mechanism (10) also comprises resilient members (26) which cooperate with said centring pins (25) and with said holed plates (87) in order to keep said insert (7) raised in its rest position
Implementation Method 2
The pedal (9) is rotatable about a first axis of rotation (94) and the frame (8) is rotatable about a second axis of rotation (88). The first and the second axis of rotation (94, 88) lie in a plane inclined at an angle α ranging between 80° and 100° with respect to a plane of the base plate (2)
Data Source
AI summary
An improved mechanism for moving a wiping/raising insert of a suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner is described. The suction nozzle comprises a base plate. The mechanism for moving the insert comprises an operating pedal and a frame for supporting the insert and for bringing this insert from a first working position into a second rest position. The pedal is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and the frame is rotatable about a second axis of rotation. According to the invention, the first and the second axis of rotation lie in a plane inclined at an angle α ranging between 80° and 100° with respect to a plane of the base plate.