Integrated Air Purifier Airflow Path to Prevent Clean-Air Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air purifying devices combined with electric fans mix purified and non-purified air, degrading air cleanliness and increasing power consumption due to separate engines for each unit.

Innovation Solution

An air purifying device design that includes a purifying apparatus, an air supply apparatus, an air guide apparatus, and an air flow driving apparatus, where the air guide apparatus directs purified air from the purifying apparatus to the air supply apparatus, preventing non-purified air from entering and enhancing air supply quality, while using a single air flow driving apparatus to reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If air purifying device and electric fan are combined separately with independent engines, then each unit can function independently, but power consumption increases and production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent function capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the air purifying device and electric fan into a single integrated device where the fan motor serves dual purposes: driving the fan blades for air circulation and simultaneously driving the impeller for air purification. This merging eliminates the need for a separate purification engine, reducing power consumption while maintaining both functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fan motor is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both the driving force for the fan blades and the purification impeller. This multi-functionality allows the single motor to replace what would traditionally require two separate motors, thereby reducing energy consumption and production costs while preserving independent operational capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If air purifying device and electric fan are combined separately with independent engines, then each unit can function independently, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent function capabilityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the air purifying device and electric fan into one integrated unit with a shared fan motor. This consolidation reduces the number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby lowering production costs while maintaining the capability for both air purification and fan functions to operate independently when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

By designing the fan motor to serve dual purposes (driving both fan blades and purification impeller), the patent reduces the total component count. This multi-functional design simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces production costs while preserving the adaptability of the system to perform either function independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If purified air is blown out through electric fan, then air supply quantity increases, but purified air mixes with non-purified air degrading air cleanliness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair supply quantityVSAvoidair cleanliness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a guide component as an intermediary structure between the purification cavity and the fan. This guide component creates a dedicated airflow channel that directs purified air from the purification cavity through the fan outlet without allowing mixing with non-purified air from the external environment, thereby maintaining air cleanliness while preserving increased air supply quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the airflow paths by creating distinct channels: one for purified air flow from the purification cavity through the guide component, and another for ambient air intake. This segmentation prevents mixing between purified and non-purified air streams, ensuring that the high-volume air supply maintained by the fan does not compromise air cleanliness.

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

Improves air cleanliness and reduces power consumption by ensuring purified air is delivered effectively and efficiently, enhancing user experience and reducing production costs.

Implementation Method 1

An air purifying device improves air cleanliness by adsorption, decomposing or conversion of various air pollutants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

An air purifying device improves air cleanliness by adsorption, decomposing or conversion of various air pollutants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDecomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 3

An air purifying device improves air cleanliness by adsorption, decomposing or conversion of various air pollutants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical conversion: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 4

an air flow driving apparatus, arranged in the purifying apparatus and/or the air supply apparatus and configured to drive an air flow to enter the purifying cavity from outside of the purifying shell via the purifying inlet, flow through the air guide apparatus and the air supply apparatus and then flow out from the air supply outlet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentEP4177531A1Air purifying device
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP4177531A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4177531A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4177531A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air purifying device includes: a purifying apparatus (10) including a purifying shell (11), an interior of the purifying shell is hollow to form a purifying cavity (12), a filtering component (15) configured to filter air is arranged in the purifying cavity; an air supply apparatus (20) including an air supply shell (21), an interior of the air supply shell is hollow to form an air supply cavity (22), an air supply inlet (23) and an air supply outlet (24) communicating with the air supply cavity are formed in the air supply shell; an air guide apparatus (30) including an air guide shell (31), an interior of the air guide shell is hollow to form an air guide cavity (32), the air guide apparatus is configured to deliver air into the air supply apparatus; an air flow driving apparatus (40), arranged in the purifying apparatus and/or the air supply apparatus.