Ash Vacuum Filter Cleaning Device for Sustained Suction Power

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum cleaners designed for sucking ash face the challenge of filter clogging due to fine ash particles, leading to reduced suction power over time.

Innovation Solution

The filter unit is positioned in a filter holder with a large opening on the suction container lid, allowing for effective cleaning by a filter cleaning device that reverses clogging, ensuring all cleaned particles are directed into the receiving space, and a grid for ember protection minimizes ember particles reaching the filter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the filter unit is positioned inside the suction material container, then the filter is protected from external damage, but the filter cleaning effectiveness is reduced and cleaned particles cannot be fully conveyed back to the receiving chamber

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter protectionVSAvoidfilter cleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter unit is extracted from the interior of the suction material container and positioned in a filter holder on the container lid. This extraction allows the filter to be accessible to the filter cleaning device while maintaining its protective enclosure through the lid-mounted holder structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter holder serves as an intermediary structure that mounts the filter unit on the suction material container lid. This intermediary position allows the filter to be exposed to cleaning air flows from the filter cleaning device while still being structurally supported and protected by the container assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the filter holder opening is small, then the filter unit is securely held, but cleaned particles cannot be fully conveyed into the receiving chamber

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter holding securityVSAvoidparticle conveyance efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter holder structure is segmented into a mounting portion on the lid and an opening portion that extends toward the suction head. This segmentation allows the opening to be larger and more strategically positioned to facilitate particle conveyance while the mounting portion maintains secure filter holding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filter holder opening is positioned in a different spatial dimension - on the lid structure rather than inside the container - allowing it to extend toward the suction head and create a direct pathway for cleaned particles to be conveyed back to the receiving chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If the filter unit is tightly sealed to the container, then suction efficiency is improved, but filter cleaning is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction efficiencyVSAvoidfilter cleaning accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The filter unit is extracted from the internal container space and mounted on the lid, separating it from the sealed container interior. This extraction allows the filter to be accessible to external cleaning air flows while the container maintains its suction seal through the lid mounting structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal arrangement is localized to specific sealing elements at the interface between the filter holder and container lid, rather than requiring the entire filter assembly to be tightly sealed. This localized sealing approach maintains suction efficiency while allowing filter cleaning accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 maintains high suction power over a longer period by effectively cleaning the filter unit and preventing ember particles from clogging it, ensuring efficient operation and safety.

Implementation Method 1

a filter cleaning device for the filter unit which is arranged on the suction head

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3512394B1Suction device suitable for the suction of ashes
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
  • EP3512394B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3512394B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3512394B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a suction device suitable for the suction of ashes, comprising a suctioned material container (12) having a receiving chamber (14) for suctioned material, a suction head (50), a suction fan device (52) located on the suction head (50), the suction head (50) being detachably connected to the suctioned material container (12), a suctioned material container lid (32) covering the receiving chamber (14) on the suction head (50) side, and a filter unit (66) located on a filter holder (76). The filter unit (66) has a clean side (68) facing the suction fan device (52) in the direction of a suction flow, and a dirty side (70) facing the receiving chamber (14). A filter cleaning device (58) for the filter unit (66) is located on the suction head (50), and the filter holder (76) has a filter holder opening (78), which is fluidically connected to the receiving chamber (14) and in which the filter unit (66) is positioned.