Vacuum Cleaner Nozzle Rim Motion for Fine Dust and Large Debris
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaner nozzles are ineffective in removing fine dust and other dirt from floor surfaces while attempting to aspirate larger particles without lifting the nozzle, leading to reduced cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The nozzle maintains a lowered rim position during part of the cleaning stroke to create a high pressure drop and air velocity for effective dirt removal, and then lifts the rim to allow larger particles to enter the inlet without lifting the entire nozzle, maintaining a strong vacuum for fine dust removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the rim portion is lifted at the start of each stroke to allow larger particles to enter, then larger particles can be aspirated, but fine dust and dirt removal effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rim portion is made dynamically movable between lowered and lifted positions during the cleaning stroke. The rim operating structure enables the rim to transition from a lowered position (maintaining strong vacuum for fine dust) to a lifted position (allowing larger particles to enter), optimizing both functions during different phases of the same cleaning cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The rim portion is periodically lifted during the cleaning stroke rather than remaining constantly lifted or constantly lowered. This periodic lifting action creates alternating phases where the rim maintains contact with the floor (for fine dust removal) and phases where it is lifted (for larger particle aspiration), achieving both cleaning objectives through time-based segmentation
2Productivity
If the rim portion is kept lowered throughout the stroke to maintain strong vacuum, then fine dust removal is effective, but larger particles cannot enter the inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The rim portion transitions from a static lowered position to a dynamically adjustable position. The rim operating structure allows the rim to be temporarily lifted during the stroke to accommodate larger particles, while returning to the lowered position to maintain strong vacuum for fine dust removal, thus achieving adaptability without sacrificing fine dust removal effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The rim portion is lifted in advance during the stroke to allow larger particles to enter the inlet before the vacuum cycle completes. This preliminary lifting action ensures that larger particles have opportunity to enter during the stroke, while the rim returns to lowered position to maintain vacuum effectiveness for the remainder of the cleaning cycle
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 approach ensures effective entrainment of fine dust and dirt while allowing larger particles to be aspirated without lifting the nozzle, maintaining a strong vacuum and high air velocity for efficient cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
frictional forces between the tongue and the floor surface cause the tongue to be pivoted to the other of the two positions and lifts the other, now leading one of the rim portions to the lifted position
Implementation Method 2
the pressure drop through the gap between the rim and the floor surface remains relatively high so that air velocities in that area remain relatively high, which causes fine dust and other dirt adhering to a floor surface to be entrained relatively effectively
Implementation Method 3
air velocities in that area remain relatively high, which causes fine dust and other dirt adhering to a floor surface to be entrained relatively effectively
Implementation Method 4
a relatively strong vacuum inside the outer end of the inlet and a large pressure drop across the passage between the rim and the floor surface is made available
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner nozzle (1) bounding an inlet (2) for guiding aspirated air through the nozzle (1). The nozzle (1) comprises a rim (3, 4) along an outer end contour of the inlet (2) for contacting a floor surface area (6) when in an operating position on the floor surface (6), wherein at least a rim portion (3, 4) is movable between a 5 lowered position for contacting a floor surface (6) and a lifted position for leaving a spacing between the rim portion (3, 4) and the floor surface (6). A rim operating structure (21) is adapted for leaving the rim portion (3, 4) in the lowered position during an initial portion of a movement stroke of the nozzle over the floor surface (6) in a direction and for subsequently, during a later portion of the stroke, starting the lifting to the lifted position. This improves the aspiration of larger particles.