Cyclone Dust Collector Layout for One-Step Fine and Coarse Dust Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dust collectors for vacuum cleaners face inefficiencies due to large dust particles getting stuck on filters, interfering with fine dust separation and requiring multiple steps for dust discharge, which reduces overall cleaning efficiency and complicates the process.
Innovation Solution
A dust collector design featuring a first cyclone with a mesh filter and a second cyclone that extends intersectingly, allowing for efficient separation and discharge of large and fine dust, with a hinged lower cover for simultaneous discharge of collected dust from both units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a filter is provided in the first cyclone to separate large dust, then large dust can be primarily filtered out, but large dust gets stuck on the filter and interferes with fine dust separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the large dust collection function from the filter by providing a separate first dust storing unit where large dust is discharged directly without passing through the filter. This removes the harmful effect of large dust accumulating on the filter and interfering with fine dust separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the dust collection system into distinct pathways: one for large dust (directly to first dust storing unit) and one for fine dust (through the filter to second cyclone). This segmentation prevents large dust from interfering with the filtering process while maintaining efficient separation of both dust types.
2Ease of operation
If dust is discharged by opening a cover of the dust collector, then dust can be externally discharged, but dust stuck on the filter is uneasy to be separated and requires multiple steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the discharge functions of the first and second dust storing units by coupling their respective covers (first cover and second cover) to the same support structure. This allows both covers to be opened simultaneously with a single operation, enabling all dust to be discharged at once and eliminating the time loss associated with sequential discharge.
3Productivity
If the first outlet is formed in a cylindrical shape with lower portion open and upper portion closed, then air with dust can be discharged toward the second cyclone, but dust accumulation interferes with air flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts large dust from the filtration pathway by directing it to the first dust storing unit through the cutoff portion, separate from the filter. This prevents large dust from accumulating and interfering with air flow through the filter and second cyclone, maintaining consistent vacuum efficiency.
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 dust separation efficiency by preventing large dust from interfering with fine dust separation and simplifies dust discharge by allowing all collected dust to be released with a single action, improving the overall performance of the vacuum cleaner.
Implementation Method 1
external polluted air is introduced into the first cyclone through the first inlet of the first cyclone. Here, the polluted air is introduced in a tangential direction, and orbits along an inner wall surface of the first body of the first cyclone. During the orbiting motion, dust is separated from the air by a centrifugal force.
Implementation Method 2
a mesh filter that is provided in a first cyclone and has a conic shape of getting narrower from top to bottom thereof, such that the dust filtered by the mesh filter and stuck on the mesh filter is separated from the mesh filter.
Implementation Method 3
air containing fine dust, discharged from the first cyclone, is introduced into the second cyclones through the second inlets. Therefore, the fine dust is separated from the air again in the second cyclones
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A dust collector (100) for a vacuum cleaner (300) disclosed herein includes a first cyclone (110, 210) to primarily separate dust from air introduced from a lower portion thereof containing foreign materials and discharge the separated dust into the first dust storing unit (130, 230), a second cyclone (120, 220) extending in an intersecting direction with an extending direction of the first cyclone (120, 210) and configured to secondarily separate fine dust from the air introduced from the first cyclone (110, 210) and discharge the separated fine dust into a second dust storing unit (140, 240), and a lower cover (150, 250) defining a bottom surface of the first dust storing unit (130, 230), the second dust storing unit (140, 240) and the first cyclone (110, 210) and coupled to the first dust storing unit (130, 230) by a hinge (157) such that the foreign materials collected in the first dust storing unit (130, 230), the second dust storing unit (140, 240) and the first cyclone (110, 210) are discharged upon being open.