Cyclone Bin Assembly with Nested Dirt Chamber for Spill-Free Emptying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing canister vacuum cleaners face challenges in ergonomic handling and efficient dirt emptying, with complex cyclone bin mechanisms that can lead to spills and difficulty in cleaning and maintaining the air treatment assembly.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a cyclone bin assembly with a nested cyclone within a dirt collection chamber, featuring a handle for ergonomic lifting and control during emptying, a recessed pre-motor filter for reduced size and improved airflow, and a removably mounted air treatment member for easy cleaning, along with a recessed inlet conduit to enhance mounting and reduce air leaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cyclone bin assembly is designed with complex mechanisms for emptying, then the dirt collection capability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in emptying and risk of spills

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirt collection capabilityVSAvoidease of emptying

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cyclone bin assembly is divided into separable components: the cyclone separator and the dirt collection chamber. This segmentation allows the dirt collection chamber to be easily removed and emptied independently, simplifying the emptying operation while maintaining effective dirt collection through the cyclone mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dirt collection chamber is extracted as a removable component from the overall vacuum system. This extraction enables users to easily detach and empty the dirt collection chamber without disassembling the entire cyclone bin assembly, improving ease of operation while preserving the cyclone's dirt collection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Device complexity

If the pre-motor filter is positioned at the upper surface, then the airflow path is simplified, but the device complexity increases due to larger overall size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverall sizeVSAvoidairflow path simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-motor filter is repositioned from a horizontal arrangement at the upper surface to a vertical arrangement within the air treatment assembly. This dimensional change allows the filter to be integrated into the vertical airflow path, reducing the horizontal footprint and overall device size while maintaining simplified airflow through the filter media.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the air treatment assembly is permanently mounted, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of repair deteriorates due to difficulty in accessing and cleaning components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidease of cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The air treatment assembly transitions from a permanently fixed configuration to a dynamically removable and remountable design. The assembly can be easily detached from the cyclone bin for cleaning and maintenance, then securely remounted to restore structural stability, combining the benefits of both permanent mounting and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If the handle is positioned on the openable side, then the ease of operation for emptying is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to increased risk of spills during emptying

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of emptyingVSAvoidspill prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is positioned asymmetrically on the side opposite to the openable door rather than on the door itself. This asymmetric placement provides balanced ergonomics for lifting and controlling the assembly during emptying, while the separate door mechanism allows controlled access to the dirt collection chamber, reducing spill risk through better user control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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 enhances user control and reduces spills during emptying, simplifies maintenance, and maintains efficient airflow while allowing for easier assembly and disassembly, improving the overall cleaning process and reducing the likelihood of air leaks.

Implementation Method 1

A cyclone has a dirt collection region. The dirt collection region may be internal of the cyclone chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCyclone separation: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

A cyclone has a dirt collection region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS11571097B2Surface cleaning apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.02.07 OMACHRON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INC

AI summary

A surface cleaning apparatus has a cyclone assembly that comprises a cyclone and a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone. The cyclone has a cyclone axis of rotation and the cyclone assembly has first and second opposed ends with sides extending between the first and second ends. The cyclone axis of rotation extends axially through the first and second ends and one of the sides is openable.