Cyclone Dirt Bin Layout for Higher Capacity and Dirt Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning apparatuses with coaxial cyclones and dirt bins have limitations in dirt and water collection capacity and retention, leading to frequent emptying and re-entrainment of dirt due to central inlet design.
Innovation Solution
A surface cleaning apparatus with a dirt bin having an off-centre inlet, allowing for a larger cross-sectional area and reduced fluid flow effects, enhancing dirt retention and collection capacity, and incorporating a cyclonic cleaning stage with a dirt chamber design that minimizes re-entrainment by angling sidewalls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the dirt bin inlet is positioned centrally (coaxial with cyclone), then the structure is simple and symmetric, but the collection capacity is limited and dirt retention is poor due to fluid flow effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the dirt bin inlet off-center relative to the cyclone axis. The inlet is located at a radial distance of 0.1 to 0.4 times the cyclone inlet diameter from the cyclone axis, creating an asymmetric configuration that improves dirt retention by reducing fluid flow effects while maintaining structural simplicity
2Quantity of substance
If the dirt bin cross-sectional area is increased to improve collection capacity, then more dirt can be stored, but the bin becomes larger and may affect apparatus compactness
Solution Approach 1:
The off-center inlet positioning allows the dirt bin to have an optimized asymmetric cross-sectional area that maximizes storage capacity within a compact form factor, avoiding the need for a larger centralized bin
3Reliability
If the inlet is positioned off-centre, then dirt retention is improved by isolating the distal portion from fluid flow effects, but the inlet design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a straightforward asymmetric inlet design positioned at a specific radial distance (0.1 to 0.4 times the cyclone inlet diameter) from the cyclone axis, achieving improved dirt retention through a simple geometric modification rather than a complex mechanism
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 off-centre dirt bin inlet design increases the collection capacity and reduces the frequency of emptying, while the angled sidewalls prevent re-entrainment of dirt, resulting in improved dirt retention and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a cyclonic cleaning stage in the fluid flow path and comprising at least one cyclone chamber
Implementation Method 2
Each cleaning stage may include a single cyclone, or a plurality of cyclones positioned in parallel
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus is provided. The surface cleaning apparatus comprises a fluid flow path extending from a dirt inlet to a clean fluid outlet, and a fluid flow motor positioned in the fluid flow path. The surface cleaning apparatus further comprises a first cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a cyclone chamber. A dirt chamber is in fluid communication with the cyclone chamber and positioned below the cyclone chamber. The dirt chamber has a dirt chamber inlet that is off-center.