Cyclone Chamber Filter Cleaning in a Hand Vacuum
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning apparatus, such as hand vacuum cleaners, face challenges in efficiently removing particulate matter accumulated on the exterior surfaces of porous members like screens or filters, requiring frequent manual cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A hand vacuum cleaner design featuring a moveable cyclone sidewall and cleaning member that automatically translates to expose the porous member for cleaning, allowing for easy removal of accumulated particulate matter without user intervention, utilizing biasing mechanisms like springs to facilitate this movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a porous member is positioned in the cyclone chamber to separate particulate matter from air, then the air treatment effectiveness is improved, but the porous member accumulates particulate matter on its outer surface requiring frequent manual cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-cleaning mechanism where a cleaning member automatically removes particulate matter from the porous member's outer surface. The cleaning member includes a cleaning element that contacts the porous member and a drive mechanism that moves the cleaning element along the porous member's surface, enabling the system to clean itself without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a moveable cleaning member that can dynamically adjust its position and movement along the porous member. The cleaning member is driven by a motor or other drive mechanism that allows it to traverse the porous member's surface, adapting to the cleaning needs different sections of the porous member may have.
2Device complexity
If manual cleaning of the porous member is required, then the device structure can be simpler, but the loss of time for maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated cleaning system performs maintenance tasks without user intervention. The cleaning member is automatically driven along the porous member by an integrated drive mechanism, continuously or periodically removing accumulated particulate matter, thereby eliminating the time users would otherwise spend on manual cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning mechanism operates continuously or periodically during the vacuum cleaner's usage period. The drive mechanism keeps the cleaning element moving along the porous member's surface, ensuring that particulate matter accumulation is continuously managed rather than allowing it to build up until manual cleaning is required.
3Productivity
If the cyclone chamber is designed to be closed during operation, then the air treatment efficiency is improved, but the porous member becomes inaccessible for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning member is designed to operate within the closed cyclone chamber environment. The drive mechanism allows the cleaning element to access the porous member's outer surface through the chamber's interior space, enabling cleaning operations without requiring the chamber to be opened, thus maintaining both operational efficiency and cleaning accessibility.
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
Enhances the cleaning efficiency and convenience by automatically exposing the porous member for cleaning, reducing the need for frequent manual maintenance and improving the overall performance of the hand vacuum cleaner.
Implementation Method 1
Optionally, one or more biasing mechanisms (e.g., biasing springs) are provided to automatically translate the moveable member between an operating position of the moveable member (the position of the moveable member when the hand vacuum cleaner is in use) and the cleaning position
Implementation Method 2
Surface cleaning apparatus may use a cyclone to separate particulate matter from an air stream
Implementation Method 3
a porous member is provided such that air passes through the porous member as the air exits the air treatment chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A hand vacuum cleaner has a cyclonic stage which comprises a stationary portion and an openable portion. The openable portion is rotatably mounted by a rotatable mount between a closed position in which a cyclone chamber is closed and an open position in which the cyclone chamber is open. The stationary portion comprises an upper portion of the first cyclonic stage and the openable portion comprises a lower portion of the first cyclonic stage. The rotatable mount is located at a rearward end of the openable portion.