Snap-Together Wet Nozzle With Replaceable Squeegee Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wet nozzle assemblies for vacuum cleaners face challenges in durability and ease of maintenance, particularly with squeegee components wearing out or hardening before the nozzle's useful life is expired, and complex replacement processes that can lead to inefficiencies and damage.
Innovation Solution
A snap-together wet nozzle assembly with a U-shaped housing and interlocking squeegee bars, featuring a squeegee element with openings and vanes for improved airflow and easy replacement, allowing for efficient liquid removal and reduced risk of air leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a squeegee portion is incorporated into the wet nozzle assembly, then liquid removal performance is improved, but the squeegee wears out or hardens before the nozzle's useful life is expired
Solution Approach 1:
The wet nozzle assembly is divided into separate serviceable and non-serviceable portions. The squeegee portion is made as a separate, replaceable component that can be easily detached and replaced when worn, while the main nozzle body remains intact. This segmentation allows the squeegee to be replaced independently without replacing the entire nozzle assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The squeegee portion is extracted as a distinct, removable component from the nozzle assembly. It is designed to be easily separated from the main body through a simple detachment mechanism, allowing users to remove and replace only the worn squeegee portion rather than the entire nozzle.
2Ease of repair
If a replaceable squeegee portion is incorporated, then serviceability is improved, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly is segmented into modular components with clear separation between the serviceable squeegee portion and the permanent nozzle body. This modular design simplifies the replacement process while maintaining overall assembly simplicity through standardized connection interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire nozzle assembly replaceable, the design inverts the approach by making only the necessary serviceable portion (squeegee) replaceable. This reduces complexity compared to replacing entire assemblies while still achieving ease of repair for the worn components.
3Strength
If through-pins are used to secure the squeegee, then structural integrity is improved, but the replacement process becomes difficult and risk of damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using permanent fastening methods like through-pins that require tools and risk damage, the design uses a reversible attachment mechanism. The squeegee portion is secured in a way that allows easy removal and reattachment without tools, eliminating the risk of pin breakage while maintaining adequate structural integrity during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism is designed to be self-servicing, allowing users to attach and detach the squeegee portion without requiring special tools or technical expertise. The simple mechanical connection enables users to perform maintenance themselves without risking damage to components.
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 snap-together design enhances moldability, serviceability, and liquid removal performance by providing a durable and efficient solution for replacing squeegee components, improving airflow, and reducing the likelihood of air leaks during use.
Implementation Method 1
A snap-together wet nozzle assembly with a U-shaped housing and interlocking squeegee bars, featuring a squeegee element with openings and vanes for improved airflow and easy replacement
Implementation Method 2
vacuum source for aspirating both air and liquids
Data Source
AI summary
A snap-together wet nozzle for use with a vacuum assembly is described, as well as a removable squeegee assembly for use in combination with a wet nozzle for a vacuum assembly. The snap-together wet nozzle includes an elongated, generally U-shaped nozzle housing having outwardly tapering walls, spaced apart closed ends, and a connecting tube passageway for association with a vacuum-producing means, such as a wet/dry vacuum, and further includes a squeegee assembly capable of being insertably mounted within the elongated, generally U-shaped nozzle housing. The squeegee assembly generally includes a squeegee element comprising a plurality of openings extending through the squeegee element; a first, elongated squeegee bar having spaced apart end grooves at each of its ends; and a second, elongated squeegee bar having spaced apart locking end tabs at each of its ends and a plurality of vanes spaced across the interior face of the bar, wherein when the squeegee assembly is assembled and ready for insertion into the nozzle, the squeegee element is located intermediate between the first and second squeegee bars, and wherein the first and second squeegee bars interlock by the engagement of the end tabs of the second squeegee bar with the end grooves of the first squeegee bar.