Vacuum Nozzle Socket Cleaning for Entangled Brush Roll Debris

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum cleaner nozzle designs with rotatable brush rolls face challenges in removing entangled fibrous materials like threads and hair due to their complex construction and the need for manual force, which can drain battery power and require additional space.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning arrangement with a socket for the nozzle that includes a resilient cleaning member, which automatically or manually interacts with the rotating brush roll to remove entangled debris, reducing the need for manual effort and battery power, and can be integrated into a charging stand or used as a portable device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cleaning member is added inside the nozzle to remove entangled debris, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidnozzle construction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning member is extracted from the nozzle interior and placed in an external socket. This separates the cleaning function from the nozzle structure, reducing nozzle complexity while maintaining cleaning effectiveness. The socket becomes an independent unit that receives the nozzle for cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The socket acts as an intermediary device between the user and the nozzle. Instead of manually cleaning the nozzle, the user places it in the socket which automatically performs the cleaning function through the cleaning member, mediating the interaction between user intent and cleaning action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If manual force is applied to remove entangled threads, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedebris removal effectivenessVSAvoiduser effort required
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system performs self-service by automatically removing entangled debris when the nozzle is placed in the socket. The cleaning member is positioned to contact the rotatable brush roll, and upon rotation, automatically threads off entangled material without requiring continuous user intervention or manual force application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning member is pre-positioned in the socket adjacent to the brush roll's rotation path. This preliminary positioning ensures that as soon as the brush roll rotates upon receiving power, the cleaning action immediately begins, eliminating the need for user initiation of the actual cleaning process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a cleaning member with mechanical components is integrated into the nozzle, then the cleaning functionality is improved, but the ease of manufacture and assembly deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning functionalityVSAvoidnozzle assembly simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system is segmented into separate functional units: the nozzle with brush roll, the socket with cleaning member, and the power source. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and assembled independently, simplifying the manufacturing process while providing versatile cleaning functionality when assembled together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2809215B1Cleaning arrangement for a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 AB ELECTROLUX
  • EP2809215B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2809215B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2809215B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cleaning arrangement for a nozzle (3) of a vacuum cleaner. The cleaning arrangement comprises a socket (2) for receiving the vacuum cleaner nozzle (3) and a cleaning member (4) arranged in the socket (2) for removing articles entangled to a rotatable member (5) of the vacuum cleaner nozzle during rotation of the rotatable member.