Autonomous Cleaner Dust Container Layout for Larger Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vacuum cleaners face challenges with small dust container volumes, leading to frequent emptying and complex dust container removal due to limited space within the cleaner body, which compromises cleaning efficiency and accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A dust container design with separated inlet and outlet openings on different sides, reducing energy losses and allowing for a larger container volume, with a filter arrangement that maximizes filtration area and facilitates easy emptying and maintenance, and a split upper and lower section for improved accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cleaner body is designed with small outer dimensions to access large floor areas, then the cleaner can reach under furniture and into corners more easily, but the dust container volume becomes very small requiring frequent emptying
Solution Approach 1:
The dust container is divided into a removable dust chamber and a filter housing. The dust chamber can be easily removed and emptied separately from the filter assembly, allowing users to maintain a compact cleaner body while having convenient access to empty the dust container without disassembling the entire unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The dust container is designed with an elongated shape that extends along the longitudinal axis of the cleaner body, utilizing the length dimension rather than increasing width or height. This allows maximum dust storage volume within the constrained transverse dimensions required for accessibility.
2Volume of stationary object
If components are densely arranged in the cleaner body to maintain small size, then the cleaner remains compact, but the dust container removal and fitting becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The dust container is segmented into a dust chamber and filter housing that can be easily separated. The dust chamber is designed as a removable module that can be taken out independently through the rear opening, simplifying the emptying process without requiring complex disassembly of surrounding components.
Solution Approach 2:
The dust chamber is extracted as a separate removable component from the filter housing. This allows the dust chamber to be easily removed and emptied without disturbing the filter assembly or other surrounding components, maintaining compact overall design while simplifying operation.
3Volume of stationary object
If the inlet and outlet openings are positioned close together to save space, then the container fits better in limited space, but energy losses in air flow increase due to frequent direction changes
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet and outlet openings are positioned at opposite ends of the elongated dust container, utilizing the longitudinal dimension to maximize the distance between them. This linear arrangement allows air to flow straight through the container from inlet to outlet without sharp direction changes, reducing energy losses while maintaining compact transverse dimensions.
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 design increases the dust container volume, reduces the need for frequent emptying, and simplifies the removal and fitting of the dust container, enhancing the overall cleaning efficiency and accessibility of the autonomous cleaner.
Implementation Method 1
a filter arranged in the dust container such that the flow of air through the dust container pass through the filter
Implementation Method 2
a fan powered by an electric motor to generate a flow of air through the passage to suck the particles into the passage and the dust container
Data Source
AI summary
A dust container for an autonomous cleaner. The dust container includes: a container wall enclosing a dust chamber; a first side; a second side; an inlet opening to the dust chamber for dust particles and air arranged in the first side of the container; an outlet opening from the dust chamber for air arranged in the second side of the dust container; and a filter arranged in the dust container such that the flow of air through the dust container pass through the filter. Also provided is an autonomous cleaner having the dust container.