Cyclone Chamber with Variable Dirt Outlet for Large Particle Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
In surface cleaning apparatuses with cyclone chambers, larger dirt particles can accumulate and reduce separation efficiency, necessitating a larger dirt outlet, which in turn decreases efficiency. This problem is addressed by creating a dirt outlet with variable sizing through a stepped or non-circular arrester plate to allow larger particles to exit while maintaining separation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The cyclone chamber is equipped with a stepped or non-circular arrester plate at the dirt outlet, featuring a gap or spacing between the plate and the sidewall, allowing for varying sizes of dirt outlets to accommodate larger particles while maintaining separation efficiency. This design includes axially stepped or radially varying gaps to ensure efficient particle separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the dirt outlet size is increased to allow larger particles to exit, then the ability to remove larger dirt particles is improved, but the dirt separation efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The arrester plate is designed with non-uniform spacing from the cyclone chamber sidewall, creating variable gap sizes at different locations. The spacing is larger in regions where larger particles need to exit and smaller in regions where separation efficiency must be maintained, allowing each local region to optimize its function
Solution Approach 2:
The arrester plate employs asymmetric positioning relative to the cyclone chamber sidewall, with the gap distance varying around the perimeter. This asymmetric configuration enables differentiated particle egress paths while preserving the overall separation performance of the cyclone system
2Productivity
If a larger dirt outlet is created to prevent particle accumulation, then the removal of accumulated particles is improved, but the dirt separation efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The variable spacing design allows specific local regions of the arrester plate to have larger gaps that facilitate particle removal, while other regions maintain smaller gaps that preserve separation efficiency, preventing the need to uniformly increase the entire outlet size
3Adaptability or versatility
If the dirt outlet size is increased to accommodate larger particles, then the range of debris sizes that can be handled is improved, but the dirt separation efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the arrester plate have different spacing distances from the cyclone chamber sidewall, creating zones optimized for different particle sizes. This allows the system to handle a broader range of debris sizes while maintaining high separation efficiency for fine particles
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 allows larger dirt particles to exit the cyclone chamber without compromising separation efficiency, as the variable dirt outlet design prevents re-entry of particles into the cyclone chamber and enhances the overall cleaning performance by accommodating a wider range of debris sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a cyclone chamber, a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber. During operation, dirt particles that are entrained in an air stream entering a surface cleaning apparatus and which are disentrained during the passage of air through the cyclone chamber
Implementation Method 2
dirt particles that are larger than the size of the dirt outlet (e.g., popcorn) may tend to accumulate in the cyclone chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus has a cyclone chamber having a longitudinal cyclone axis of rotation wherein the dirt outlet is defined by a gap between the sidewall of the cyclone and a plate positioned at the dirt outlet end of the cyclone.