Multi-Fan Air Cleaner Airflow Control for Quiet Full-Room Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air cleaners have limited capacity to purify air across an entire indoor space due to structural resistance and directional suction limitations, leading to incomplete air purification and increased noise when trying to improve suction capacity, which decreases product reliability and requires user movement to achieve desired air purification.

Innovation Solution

The air cleaner incorporates dual blowing devices with cylindrical cases and radial suction ports, along with a flow adjusting device that allows air to be discharged in various directions, including upward, forward, and lateral, using multiple fans and a centrifugal fan configuration to enhance suction and discharge capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the blowing amount of the fan is increased to improve air purification performance, then the purification capacity is improved, but noise generated by the fan increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair purification capacityVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the blowing function into multiple fans (first blowing fan and second blowing fan) positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high total airflow without requiring any single fan to operate at high noise-generating speeds, thus improving air purification capacity while controlling noise levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a single blowing fan is used to simplify the device structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the blowing capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblowing capacityVSAvoidnumber of fans
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple blowing fans (first blowing fan in the lower portion and second blowing fan in the upper portion) to work together in a coordinated manner. This merging of multiple fan units increases the overall blowing capacity beyond what a single fan could achieve, while the fans are integrated into a unified case structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If air suction ports are formed only on the side and lower portions to simplify the case structure, then the manufacturing is easier, but the suction capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction capacityVSAvoidcase structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the air suction function across multiple case surfaces by forming air suction ports on the side portion, lower portion, and upper portion of the case. This multi-directional segmentation of suction ports enables the device to draw air from all directions simultaneously, significantly increasing total suction capacity while maintaining a relatively simple cylindrical case structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If air is discharged in only one upward direction to simplify the discharge structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the air cleaning function is limited to areas near the air cleaner

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair cleaning coverageVSAvoiddischarge structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the air discharge function into two separate discharge paths: an upper discharge port for upward airflow and a side discharge port for lateral airflow. This segmentation of discharge directions allows purified air to be distributed to different areas of the room simultaneously, expanding the air cleaning coverage area while using a relatively simple dual-port discharge structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

5Productivity

If a rectangular parallelepiped case is used to simplify manufacturing, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but corner portions create structural resistance interfering with air suction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair suction efficiencyVSAvoidcase shape
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a cylindrical case shape instead of a rectangular parallelepiped. This curved, corner-free geometry eliminates structural resistance at corners that would interfere with air suction, allowing air to flow smoothly into the suction ports from all directions around the device, thereby improving air suction efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

This design improves air suction and discharge efficiency, ensuring comprehensive air purification across a room without the need for user movement and reduces noise, while also providing a display device for operational information.

Implementation Method 1

a centrifugal fan configuration to enhance suction and discharge capabilities

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3910259A1Air cleaner
Publication Date: 2021.11.17 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3910259A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3910259A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3910259A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air flow controller for an air cleaner and an air cleaner are provided. The air flow controller may include a fan, and a housing, the fan being provided in the housing and the housing being movable from an initial horizontal position in which the air flow controller directs air flow in a vertical direction to an inclined position in which the air flow controller directs air flow in a diagonal direction.