Vacuum Floor Nozzle Rocker Slider for Carpet Tilt Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum cleaner nozzles struggle to maintain optimal alignment with floor surfaces, especially on high-pile carpets, due to tilting and friction issues, which compromises suction efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum cleaner nozzle design featuring a rocker-style floor sliding piece with a pivot axis offset behind the suction mouth, laterally projecting arms, and a carrier with adjustable bristle strips or sealing lips, allowing for improved alignment and adaptation to different floor types through a compact and space-efficient mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the pivot axis is arranged centrally with the suction mouth, then the structure is compact, but the floor sliding piece cannot effectively compensate for tilting movements on high-pile carpets

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompensation for tilting movementsVSAvoidpivot axis arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot axis is relocated from a central position to a rearward position behind the suction mouth, creating a lever arm that amplifies the floor sliding piece's ability to compensate for tilting movements. This spatial repositioning in the longitudinal dimension enables the front edge to maintain contact with the floor while the rear rises on high-pile carpets, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the floor sliding piece is rigidly mounted, then the structure is simple, but the suction mouth edges move in opposite directions during pivoting, reducing suction efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction efficiencyVSAvoidmounting arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The floor sliding piece is designed with a pivotable mounting that allows dynamic adjustment of its angle relative to the housing. This dynamic capability enables the piece to adapt its orientation to maintain optimal suction performance on varying floor surfaces, transforming a static rigid structure into a dynamic adaptive one that resolves the contradiction between operational effectiveness and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the pivot axis is offset far behind the suction mouth, then tilting compensation is improved, but the installation space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetilting compensation capabilityVSAvoidnozzle volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The floor sliding piece integrates multiple functions including suction, floor contact, and tilting compensation within a single compact component. This multi-functionality allows the offset pivot axis design to achieve superior tilting compensation without proportionally increasing the overall nozzle volume, as the same structural element performs multiple roles rather than requiring separate dedicated components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design ensures effective compensation for tilting movements, maintaining close contact with the floor surface for enhanced suction and preventing damage on smooth floors, while accommodating various floor types with adjustable settings.

Implementation Method 1

The pivotable mounting of the floor slide about a pivot axis, which is arranged behind the suction mouth in the suction direction, causes the floor slide to align itself flatly with the floor surface under the effect of a slight negative pressure prevailing in the suction mouth

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Drop

Data Source

PatentEP2687139B1Floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 WESSEL WERK
  • EP2687139B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2687139B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2687139B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The nozzle has a bottom slider (4) that is mounted in housing (1) such that to tilt around pivot axis (5). The slider is provided with a sliding surface (14) for resting on the floor of a textile surface and a suction inlet (6) in the bottom. The pivot axis of the slider is arranged in the working direction behind the suction inlet.