Cyclone Separator Layout to Prevent Airflow Collision

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cyclone dust separating apparatuses in vacuum cleaners suffer from reduced dust separating efficiency due to collisions between descending and ascending air currents, and the arrangement of secondary cyclone chambers is restricted by the placement of air inlets and outlets.

Innovation Solution

A cyclone dust separating apparatus with a first cyclone chamber having a lower air inlet and upper air outlet, and multiple second cyclone chambers with upper air inlets and lower air outlets, arranged annularly around the first chamber, to prevent air current collisions and enhance suction force retention, allowing for flexible design and increased efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If both air inlet and air outlet are disposed at the upper part of the cyclone chamber, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the descending rotary air and ascending air collide with each other, deteriorating dust separating efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiddust separating efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the air inlet at the lower part and air outlet at the upper part of the cyclone chamber. This inversion prevents collision between descending and ascending air currents, thereby maintaining dust separating efficiency while preserving manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes vertical dimensionality by arranging air inlet at the bottom and air outlet at the top, creating a vertical flow path that eliminates horizontal collision between air currents. This dimensional arrangement optimizes both separation efficiency and structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If the first cyclone chamber has upper air inlet and outlet, then the structure is conventional and easy to manufacture, but the arrangement of second cyclone chambers is restricted due to interference with air inlet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidflexibility in arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the air inlet outlet positions to lower inlet and upper outlet, the patent eliminates spatial interference with surrounding second cyclone chambers, enabling flexible annular arrangement while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the cyclone system into multiple independent chambers (first central chamber and multiple second chambers) with optimized inlet outlet positions, allowing each chamber to be manufactured separately and arranged flexibly in annular configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional cyclone chamber configuration is used, then manufacturing is simple, but suction force is lost due to air current collision, reducing cleaning efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidsuction force loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The inverted arrangement of lower air inlet and upper air outlet prevents harmful collision between air currents, eliminating suction force loss while keeping the cyclone chamber structure simple and easy to manufacture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful collision of air currents into a beneficial continuous vertical flow pattern, where ascending and descending streams are spatially separated, thereby preserving suction force and improving cleaning efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 by minimizing suction force loss and allows for a more flexible arrangement of secondary cyclone chambers, enhancing dust separation efficiency and reducing the need for frequent emptying of dust collection chambers.

Implementation Method 1

impurities (hereinafter, referred to as 'dust') are separated from external drawn-in air using a centrifugal force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

a cyclone chamber having a tubular shape so that drawn-in air rotates therein

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCyclone separation: Cyclone Separation

Data Source

PatentUS7708791B2Cyclone dust separating apparatus

Publication Date: 2010.05.04 SAMSUNG GWANGJU ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A cyclone dust separating apparatus for separating dust from external air drawn in thereto and discharging the separated dust, comprises at least one first cyclone body having a tubular shape and forming a first cyclone chamber where the external air is rotated; and at least one second cyclone body forming a second cyclone chamber where the air discharged from the first cyclone chamber is rotated again to separate dust, wherein the external air is drawn in through a lower end of the first cyclone chamber and discharged through an upper end of the first cyclone chamber, and the air discharged from the first cyclone chamber is drawn in through an upper end of the second cyclone chamber and discharged through an upper end of the second cyclone chamber.