Vacuum cleaner and filters therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaners face challenges in effectively filtering carbon dust and residual fine dust from motor cooling air, leading to environmental contamination, and current solutions involve separate filters for each motor, which increase expense and bulk.
Innovation Solution
A compact filter assembly with a filter frame, pleated HEPA filter element, and a locking lug system that provides a hermetic seal and easy accessibility, allowing a single filter to trap both carbon dust and residual dust without requiring tools for replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If separate filters are placed at each motor exhaust port to remove carbon dust, then carbon dust contamination is reduced, but expense and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the filtration of carbon dust from multiple motor exhaust streams into a single filter assembly. The filter housing receives exhaust air from both the vacuum motor and agitator motor, and a single HEPA filter element traps carbon dust from both streams, eliminating the need for separate filters at each motor port.
Solution Approach 2:
The single filter assembly serves multiple functions: it filters carbon dust from the vacuum motor exhaust, filters carbon dust from the agitator motor exhaust, and also captures residual fine dust particles. This multi-functional design replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized filters.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If separate filters are placed at each motor exhaust port to remove carbon dust, then carbon dust contamination is reduced, but expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the filtration of carbon dust from multiple motor exhaust streams into a single filter assembly. The filter housing receives exhaust air from both the vacuum motor and agitator motor, and a single HEPA filter element traps carbon dust from both streams, eliminating the need for separate filters at each motor port.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a hermetic seal is implemented between the filter and housing to prevent dust escape, then environmental contamination is reduced, but filter replacement accessibility may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly is segmented into a removable filter housing that can be detached from the vacuum cleaner body. This allows the filter to be sealed hermetically against the housing when installed, while still enabling easy removal and replacement by the user without tools.
Solution Approach 2:
A locking mechanism acts as an intermediary between the filter housing and the vacuum cleaner body. This mechanism provides a hermetic seal during operation but can be easily released to allow filter replacement, bridging the contradiction between sealing and accessibility.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple serial cyclone separators are used to improve fine debris collection, then fine debris collection is improved, but device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the filtration parameter from mechanical separation (cyclone separators) to chemical/physical filtration (HEPA filter). The HEPA filter uses a different mechanism - capturing particles through diffusion, interception, and inertial impaction in a pleated media - achieving fine particle collection without the bulk of multiple cyclone stages.
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 solution effectively reduces environmental contamination by ensuring a hermetic seal and easy filter replacement, maintaining filtration efficiency while minimizing bulk and expense by using a single filter for both vacuum and agitator motor cooling air.
Implementation Method 1
A high efficiency particle arrestor (HEPA) filter is commonly used for this purpose
Implementation Method 2
The filter mounting location depends on unit architecture and is preferably configured to provide a hermetic sealing surface that is accessible by a user
Data Source
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AI summary
The upright vacuum cleaner (10) has a compact, cylindrical exhaust filter assembly (28) that is easily accessible by a user. The filter is removably mounted in a housing between an exhaust outlet aperture and a suction source outlet. A filter locking lug (58) is associated with the filter element and the housing for removably securing the filter element to the housing to the filter frame (104). An upright vacuum cleaner has a pre-motor filter assembly (400) that is highly visible to a user and accessible thereby.