Suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction nozzles for vacuum cleaners lack the ability to adaptively adjust their suction properties in response to varying obstacles and cleaning tasks, leading to inefficiencies in material pickup, especially when encountering stationary obstacles like walls or furniture.
Innovation Solution
The suction nozzle incorporates a sensor-controlled limiting means that shifts into an open state only when the distance between the nozzle and an obstacle falls below a defined limit, allowing for adaptive suction adjustments by displacing limiting elements such as sealing lips or bristle strips, and can focus suction force on specific areas to efficiently pick up coarse materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the limiting means is kept in a closed state during normal cleaning operation, then the suction nozzle maintains stable airflow and prevents material spillage, but it cannot adapt to obstacles or varying cleaning tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting means is designed to be dynamically adjustable between a closed state (for stable airflow during normal operation) and an open state (for adapting to obstacles). The sensor-controlled actuation mechanism enables the limiting means to transition between these states based on real-time obstacle detection, resolving the contradiction between maintaining stability and achieving adaptability
2Productivity
If the limiting means is opened to pick up coarse material in front of obstacles, then suction force is focused on specific areas, but airflow may become unstable or cause clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor continuously monitors the distance to obstacles and provides feedback to the control system. When an obstacle is detected within a threshold distance, the system activates the actuator to open the limiting means, enabling focused suction on coarse material. The feedback mechanism ensures the system only opens when necessary, maintaining overall airflow stability while improving material pickup efficiency at critical moments
3Adaptability or versatility
If a sensor is added to detect obstacles and control the limiting means, then the suction nozzle becomes adaptive, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system automatically detects obstacles and triggers the actuator without requiring manual intervention or complex control logic. The system serves itself by using the sensor's detection results to directly control the limiting means' position, minimizing the need for additional complex control mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity while achieving adaptability
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 solution enhances the suction nozzle's ability to effectively pick up materials by creating targeted flow paths and focusing suction force, improving efficiency in navigating around obstacles and varying cleaning tasks, while maintaining airflow to prevent clogging.
Implementation Method 1
a suction nozzle (2) for a vacuum cleaner for sucking up suction material from a surface (13) to be cleaned by means of a suction air flow
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a suction nozzle (2) for a vacuum cleaner (1) for sucking up items to be vacuumed from a surface (13) to be cleaned by means of a vacuum air stream, wherein the suction nozzle (2) has: a suction mouth (3) which can be arranged adjacently to the surface (13) to be cleaned and which comprises a suction edge (4) that delimits a sub-surface exposed to the vacuum air stream; a vacuum air stream extraction opening (5); and a delimiting means (8, 9) associated with the suction edge (4), which means can be controlled according to a detection result of a sensor. In order to produce a suction nozzle (2) whose delimiting means (8, 9) can be moved variably if other events occur, the sensor is an obstacle sensor (10, 11) for detecting a substantially stationary obstacle (15) located in front of the suction nozzle (2), in particular a wall or piece of furniture, wherein the obstacle sensor (10, 11) is configured to detect obstacles (15) that are disposed outside the portion of the surface (13) over which the suction nozzle (2) projects and, in relation to an arrangement of the suction nozzle (2) during typical cleaning operation, that protrude beyond a suction edge plane that has the suction edge (4). The invention further relates to a vacuum cleaner (1) with such a suction nozzle (2) and a method for sucking up items to be vacuumed by means of a suction nozzle (2).