Cyclone Air Cleaner Dust Ejection Direction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air cleaners for internal combustion engines with cyclone and filter dust collection units do not effectively manage dust ejection, potentially directing dust towards operators or depositing it on the engine, due to inadequate positioning of dust ejection holes.

Innovation Solution

The air cleaner design includes a plurality of cyclone dust collection units positioned in front of a filter dust collection unit, with dust ejection holes directed tangentially and obliquely forward, ensuring dust is expelled away from the operator and not deposited on the engine, and features a compact, modular structure with transparent components for easy inspection and cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If the dust ejection hole is positioned to eject dust from the cyclone dust collection unit, then dust is removed from the intake air, but dust may be thrown to the operator or deposited on the engine

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust ejection directionVSAvoiddust deposition on engine or operator
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dust ejection hole is specifically positioned and oriented in a particular location and direction (obliquely forward and tangential to the axial line) to create localized dust ejection that avoids the operator and engine areas, while the rest of the cyclone unit maintains its dust collection function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The dust ejection hole is oriented in a three-dimensional space at an oblique forward angle rather than simply horizontally or vertically, utilizing spatial dimensionality to direct dust away from harmful zones without compromising the cyclone's internal dust separation mechanism

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

2Reliability

If the cyclone dust collection units are positioned in front of the filter dust collection unit, then the filter element is protected from clogging, but the dust ejection positioning becomes critical to avoid engine contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter element lifespanVSAvoidengine contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cyclone dust collection units are positioned upstream (in front of) the filter dust collection unit to perform preliminary dust removal from the intake air before it reaches the filter element, reducing the load on the filter and extending its service life

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The dust ejection hole is specifically oriented in a controlled direction (obliquely forward and tangential) to ensure that ejected dust does not deposit on the engine, while the cyclone units maintain their dust collection function in their specific spatial arrangement

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 configuration effectively prevents dust from reaching the operator and reduces engine contamination, maintaining cleanliness and extending filter element lifespan by ensuring dust is expelled in a forward or oblique direction, enhancing operational safety and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of cyclone dust collection units (34) commonly connected to an upstream end of the filter dust collection unit in a mutually parallel relationship

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 2

the separation chamber being provided with a dust ejection hole (45D) directed tangentially with respect to the axial line of the cyclone dust collection unit (34) in an obliquely forward direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTangential flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3408526B1Internal combustion engine having air cleaner
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3408526B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3408526B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3408526B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An internal combustion engine (1) having a cylinder (5) having a rearwardly slanted axial line is provided with a plurality of cylindrical cyclone dust collection units (34) commonly connected to an upstream end of a filter dust collection unit (35). Each cyclone dust collection unit includes a main body (44, 45) internally defining a separation chamber (45C), and having an air inlet (31) communicating with outside and an air outlet (73) communicating with the filter dust collection unit, and the separation chamber is provided with a dust ejection hole (45D) directed tangentially in an obliquely forward direction. Thereby, dust ejected from the dust ejection hole is ejected away from the operator of the engine, and is prevented from depositing on the engine.