Wet Cleaner Head Layout for Controlled Liquid Pickup

Solution Overview

Problem

Wet cleaning apparatuses face inefficiencies in delivering and picking up cleaning liquid, often resulting in inefficient liquid use and excessive wetting of surfaces, particularly when both functionalities are combined in a single design, and may hinder movement on wet surfaces due to poorly controlled liquid delivery and low power pick-up systems.

Innovation Solution

A cleaner head with a porous material layer covering the dirt inlets, allowing for efficient liquid pick-up by maintaining underpressure and bypassing cleaning liquid delivery, which is spatially separated from the pick-up region to ensure effective surface cleaning without excessive wetting, using a combination of microfiber fabric and impermeable layers for controlled liquid management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If cleaning liquid is delivered through outlets near dirt inlets in a wet cleaning apparatus, then the cleaning liquid can reach the surface to be cleaned, but the cleaning liquid may be inefficiently used and cause excessive wetting of the surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning liquid usage efficiencyVSAvoidexcessive surface wetting

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaner head is divided into distinct functional zones: a liquid pick-up region with porous material covering the dirt inlet, and a liquid delivery region with cleaning liquid outlets positioned away from the pick-up region. This segmentation ensures that cleaning liquid is delivered to the surface without being immediately absorbed by the pick-up system, preventing waste and excessive wetting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the cleaner head are assigned different properties: the liquid pick-up region uses porous material with high capillary action for liquid absorption, while the liquid delivery region uses non-porous material that allows cleaning liquid to flow freely onto the surface without being absorbed. This local differentiation optimizes both liquid delivery efficiency and prevents excessive wetting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If a porous material layer is placed over the dirt inlet to maintain underpressure for liquid pick-up, then liquid pick-up efficiency is improved, but the cleaning liquid delivery path may be blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid pick-up efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning liquid delivery

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaner head is divided into distinct functional zones: a liquid pick-up region with porous material covering the dirt inlet, and a liquid delivery region with cleaning liquid outlets positioned away from the pick-up region. This segmentation ensures that cleaning liquid is delivered to the surface without being immediately absorbed by the pick-up system, preventing waste and excessive wetting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The porous material acts as an intermediary element that selectively interacts with liquids: it maintains underpressure for efficient pick-up of dirty liquid from the surface, while the spatial separation ensures it does not interfere with the delivery of clean liquid to the surface. The porous material mediates between the suction force and the liquid delivery function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If both cleaning liquid delivery and pick-up functionalities are combined in a single wet cleaning apparatus, then the device can perform both functions, but liquid usage becomes inefficient and surfaces may be excessively wetted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual functionalityVSAvoidcleaning liquid efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaner head is divided into distinct functional zones: a liquid pick-up region with porous material covering the dirt inlet, and a liquid delivery region with cleaning liquid outlets positioned away from the pick-up region. This segmentation ensures that cleaning liquid is delivered to the surface without being immediately absorbed by the pick-up system, preventing waste and excessive wetting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional spatial configuration, positioning the cleaning liquid outlets above or away from the liquid pick-up region. This dimensional separation allows both delivery and pick-up functions to operate simultaneously without interference, maintaining liquid efficiency while achieving dual functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Use of energy by moving object

If a low power pick-up system is used to reduce energy consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the system may not be able to pick up liquid effectively from soaked surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidliquid pick-up capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The porous material layer provides self-service liquid pick-up through capillary action, eliminating the need for high-power mechanical pumping systems. The porous structure naturally draws liquid through its pores via capillary forces, enabling effective liquid removal from surfaces without consuming significant electrical power, thus resolving the contradiction between low power consumption and effective liquid pick-up capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 enhances the efficiency of cleaning liquid use, reduces surface wetting, and improves movement on wet surfaces by ensuring that cleaning liquid reaches the surface effectively while maintaining underpressure for efficient liquid pick-up, thereby minimizing power consumption and extending device runtime.

Implementation Method 1

a porous material covering the at least one dirt inlet, the porous material comprising a porous material layer, a liquid pick-up region of the porous material layer being delimited by sealing attachment of the porous material layer around the at least one dirt inlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

The porous material layer and/or the further porous material layer(s) may contact the cleaning liquid applicator material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4274458B1Cleaner head and wet cleaning apparatus comprising the same

Publication Date: 2024.09.11 VERSUNI HLDG BV

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5B

AI summary

Provided is a cleaner head (100) for a wet cleaning apparatus. The cleaner head has at least one cleaning liquid outlet (104) through which cleaning liquid is deliverable. The cleaner head also has at least one dirt inlet (142A) for receiving dirty liquid from a surface to be cleaned. A porous material layer (114) covers each of the at least one dirt inlet. A liquid pick-up region of the porous material layer is delimited by sealing attachment of the porous material layer around the at least one dirt inlet. The liquid pick-up region is arranged relative to each of the at least one cleaning liquid outlet such that the liquid pick-up region is bypassed by the cleaning liquid delivered towards the surface to be cleaned. Further provided is a wet cleaning apparatus comprising the cleaner head, and an attachable member for attaching to a wet cleaning apparatus.