Water management system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wet-dry vacuum cleaners often require frequent emptying when used with tools that require a continuous flow of cooling or lubricating liquids, leading to increased water consumption and waste water flow, which is undesirable especially in conservation-focused settings.
Innovation Solution
A wet-dry vacuum device assembly with a removable pump accessory that captures and recycles liquids from the air flow, allowing for the reuse of water and reducing waste water flow by integrating a pump to move captured liquids from the tank to an exterior hose, thereby minimizing the need for constant emptying and running water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a constant flow of running water is provided during tool operation, then cooling and lubrication of the cutting blade is improved, but water consumption and waste water flow increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers water that would otherwise be wasted by collecting it in a tank and using a pump to recycle it back to the work area. This allows the system to maintain continuous cooling and lubrication flow without requiring a constant supply of fresh running water, thereby reducing water consumption while preserving the temperature control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a self-sustaining water circulation system where the vacuum device collects its own waste water and the pump recycles it back to the cutting area. This closed-loop approach allows the system to serve itself by reusing its own resources rather than requiring continuous external water supply.
2Temperature
If a constant flow of running water is provided during tool operation, then cooling and lubrication of the cutting blade is improved, but waste water flow into the sewer system increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the used water into the sewer system, the patent recovers it by collecting in the tank and recycling through the pump back to the cutting area. This eliminates harmful waste water discharge while maintaining the necessary cooling and lubrication functions.
3Quantity of substance
If the tank is emptied frequently to maintain operation, then water capacity management is improved, but operation time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The pump maintains continuous water circulation by constantly transferring water from the tank back to the work area. This continuous action eliminates interruptions for manual emptying, allowing the tool to operate without interruption and maintaining full productivity throughout extended operation periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated pump system performs the water management function continuously without requiring operator intervention for emptying or refilling, allowing the system to service itself and maintain uninterrupted operation.
4Loss of substance
If the pump accessory is permanently integrated, then water recycling functionality is improved, but device complexity and adaptability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The water recycling system is divided into separate, modular components: the tank, the pump accessory, and the connecting hoses. This segmentation allows the components to be independently attached or removed based on operational needs, maintaining water recycling functionality while preserving device adaptability and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static, permanently integrated design to a dynamic, reconfigurable arrangement where the pump accessory can be mounted or removed as needed. This dynamic configuration allows the device to adapt between different operational modes (with or without water recycling) while maintaining the core water recycling capability when required.
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 solution reduces water waste and consumption by recycling liquids back to the work area, enhancing water conservation and reducing the frequency of tank emptying during extended tool operations.
Implementation Method 1
a motor-fan assembly mounted in the housing and arranged to generate an air flow along an airflow path between a dirty air inlet and a clean air exhaust
Implementation Method 2
a tank positioned along the airflow path and arranged to capture liquid entrained in the dirty air flow
Implementation Method 3
the pump is arranged to move captured liquid in the tank from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A wet-dry vacuum device assembly comprises a housing and a motor-fan assembly mounted in the housing. The motor-fan assembly is arranged to generate an air flow along an airflow path between a dirty air inlet and a clean air exhaust. The wet-dry vacuum device comprises a tank positioned along the airflow path and arranged to capture liquid entrained in the dirty air flow. The wet-dry vacuum device further comprises a removable pump accessory mountable to the housing. The removable pump accessory comprises pump and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the tank and the pump. A fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the pump and connectable to an exterior hose. The pump is arranged to move captured liquid in the tank from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet.