Air Cleaner with Segmented Multi-Fan Design for Extended Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air cleaners have limited capacity and reliability, with reduced suction capacity due to structural resistance and limited air flow direction, resulting in incomplete air purification in indoor spaces and inconvenient user operation.

Innovation Solution

The air cleaner design incorporates dual blowing devices with cylindrical cases and 360-degree suction ports, along with a flow adjusting device that allows air to be suctioned and discharged in multiple directions, enhancing suction capacity and air flow control, and includes a display device for improved visibility of operation information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

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

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair purification coverageVSAvoidproduct reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

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 reliability while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If a rectangular parallelepiped case is used with limited suction ports, then manufacturing is simplified, but suction capacity is reduced due to structural resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecase structure simplicityVSAvoidsuction capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the air suction function across multiple surfaces of the case (front surface, rear surface, and side surfaces) with multiple suction ports distributed throughout. This maintains the simple rectangular case structure for ease of manufacture while dramatically increasing suction capacity by eliminating the bottleneck of limited suction ports.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If air discharge is limited to one direction, then device complexity is reduced, but air cleaning function is limited as purified air does not reach distant spaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow control structureVSAvoidair cleaning function coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the air discharge function into multiple discharge ports (first discharge port in upper portion, second discharge port in lower portion) with separate blowing fans controlling each. This allows purified air to be discharged in multiple directions simultaneously, extending coverage to distant spaces without requiring complex flow control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If a single blowing fan is used, then device complexity is reduced, but blowing capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefan configurationVSAvoidblowing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses multiple blowing fans (first blowing fan coupled to first discharge port, second blowing fan coupled to second discharge port) positioned at different locations within the case. This segmentation of the blowing function increases total blowing capacity while keeping each individual fan relatively simple, maintaining reasonable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 purification coverage and reliability by increasing suction capacity, allowing air to be effectively distributed in various directions, and enhances user convenience with improved visibility of operation information.

Implementation Method 1

The air cleaner may include a blower that introduces outside air into the air cleaner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFan: Fan

Implementation Method 2

dual blowing devices with cylindrical cases and 360-degree suction ports, along with a flow adjusting device that allows air to be suctioned and discharged in multiple directions, enhancing suction capacity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3285016B1Air cleaner
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3285016B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3285016B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3285016B1 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.