Cyclone Chamber Without Vortex Finder for Low-Power Vacuum Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum cleaners with smaller suction motors produce less suction, reducing cleaning efficiency due to lower air flow velocity, and the weight of battery packs can be excessive, affecting operating life and airflow performance.
Innovation Solution
The design eliminates or reduces the size of the vortex finder in the cyclone chamber, using a screen to prevent hair and larger particles from exiting, which enhances cleaning performance by maintaining air flow velocity and reducing back pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a smaller suction motor is used to reduce weight, then the weight of the vacuum cleaner is reduced, but the suction and air flow velocity decrease, reducing cleaning efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex finder is removed from the cyclone chamber, extracting the source of back pressure that was limiting air flow velocity. This allows the smaller motor to maintain sufficient air flow velocity for effective cleaning while keeping the vacuum cleaner lightweight.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the structural parameters of the cyclone chamber by eliminating the vortex finder and reducing the cyclone chamber height. These parameter changes reduce resistance to air flow, allowing smaller motors to achieve the required air flow velocity for effective cleaning.
2Device complexity
If a vortex finder is provided in the cyclone chamber, then the structure is complete according to conventional design, but back pressure increases, reducing air flow velocity and cleaning performance
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex finder is completely removed from the cyclone chamber design. This extraction eliminates the back pressure component that was reducing air flow velocity, while the screen alone is sufficient to prevent hair and larger particles from exiting.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a vortex finder to manage air flow and particle separation, the design inverts the approach by using only a screen for particle prevention and relying on the simplified cyclone chamber geometry to manage air flow, thereby reducing back pressure.
3Device complexity
If the cyclone chamber is designed with conventional dimensions, then the structure is standard, but the weight increases and operating life of battery is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclone chamber is segmented into a reduced height configuration, which reduces material usage and overall weight. This segmentation allows the battery to last longer while maintaining the necessary cyclonic action for effective cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclone chamber height parameter is reduced from conventional dimensions. This parameter change decreases the weight of the vacuum cleaner, extending battery operating life, while the optimized geometry maintains effective cyclonic separation.
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 improves cleaning efficiency and reduces the weight of battery packs, extending operating life while maintaining effective airflow and dirt collection efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Air is drawn into the vacuum cleaners through a dirty air inlet and conveyed to a cyclone inlet. The rotation of the air in the cyclone results in some of the particulate matter in the airflow stream being disentrained from the airflow stream.
Implementation Method 2
The rotation of the air in the cyclone results in some of the particulate matter in the airflow stream being disentrained from the airflow stream.
Implementation Method 3
The suction motor must produce sufficient suction to draw air through the air flow passage through the vacuum cleaner, including through the air treatment members.
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and includes a suction motor. The surface cleaning apparatus may be battery powered and/or may have a power requirement of 200 Watts or less. A cyclone chamber is provided in the air flow path and has an air outlet which is covered by a screen. In one embodiment, there is an absence of a vortex finder. In another embodiment, a vortex finder that extends into the cyclone chamber less than the height of the cyclone inlet and optionally less than the height of the cyclone inlet may be provided.