Upright Vacuum Cleaner Pivot Mount for Low-Torque Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Upright vacuum cleaners with fixed main bodies experience torque issues when steering, requiring additional force and making it difficult to maneuver due to the main body's center of gravity movement in sync with the wand, leading to operator fatigue.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a multiple axis pivot joint and rotatable canister mount that allows the main body to move independently of the wand, reducing the extent of its rotation and thus minimizing torque, enabling easier steering and reduced operator effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the main body is fixedly coupled to the wand, then the structure is simple and stable, but the center of gravity moves with the wand causing torque and making it difficult to maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum cleaner is divided into separate functional modules: the wand assembly with surface cleaning head, the main body with debris collector and motor, and the handle assembly. These segments are connected through pivot joints that allow independent movement, resolving the conflict between structural stability and ease of maneuvering by allowing the main body to remain relatively stable while the wand can be easily steered.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the wand and main body is made dynamic through pivot joints rather than fixed coupling. The multiple axis pivot joint at the neck and the wrist pivot joint allow the main body to move independently relative to the wand, reducing the torque generated when steering and making the vacuum cleaner easier to maneuver while maintaining structural integrity during operation.
2Device complexity
If the main body moves with the wand during steering, then the structure is simple, but additional force is required and operator fatigue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple pivot joints (multiple axis pivot joint at the neck and wrist pivot joint) to create dynamic movement capabilities. When the operator steers the wand, the main body can move independently through these joints, reducing the torque that would otherwise be transmitted to the operator's wrist and hand, thereby decreasing operator effort and fatigue.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot joints act as intermediaries between the wand and main body. These joints allow relative movement and decouple the motion of the wand from the main body, serving as a mediator that reduces the transmission of torque and steering forces from the wand to the heavy main body, making operation easier.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the main body rotates about the wand longitudinal axis, then the wand steering is simplified, but torque is generated making it difficult to return to centered position
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple axis pivot joint and wrist pivot joint create a dynamic system where the main body can rotate independently about the wand longitudinal axis. This dynamic capability allows the main body to absorb rotational movements without forcing the entire assembly to rotate, providing steering flexibility while reducing the torque that would make it difficult to return to the centered position.
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum cleaner may include a surface cleaning head, a wand pivotally coupled to the surface cleaning head, and a rotatable canister mount. The rotatable canister mount may include a support through which at least a portion of the wand extends such that the canister mount rotates relative to the wand in response to the wand pivoting.