Household appliance having an improved cyclone and a cyclone for same
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to design a cyclone for household appliances that is smaller in size while maintaining or improving cleaning efficiency and reducing back pressure, which is often compromised when scaling down cyclones, leading to increased power requirements and shorter run times in cordless devices.
Innovation Solution
The cyclone design features an enlarged air inlet that extends inwardly from the sidewall to the vortex finder, increasing the annular flow area and incorporating a non-porous portion of the vortex finder to reduce back pressure, allowing for a smaller size without sacrificing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the cyclone size is reduced to make the appliance smaller, then the overall appliance size decreases, but the back pressure increases and cleaning efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the cyclone, specifically the ratio of inlet width to cyclone diameter (W/D) is increased to 0.15-0.25, and the vortex finder diameter ratio (Dv/D) is optimized to 0.25-0.40. These parameter changes allow the cyclone to maintain lower back pressure while operating at smaller sizes, resolving the contradiction between compact size and pressure performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform flow distribution through the enlarged inlet that extends inwardly from the sidewall. This localized structural modification at the inlet region creates more favorable flow conditions that reduce back pressure specifically at the critical inlet zone, allowing the rest of the cyclone to be compact while maintaining performance.
2Volume of moving object
If the cyclone size is reduced to make the appliance smaller, then the overall appliance size decreases, but the cleaning efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes multiple geometric parameters simultaneously: the inlet width-to-diameter ratio (W/D) is set to 0.15-0.25, the vortex finder diameter ratio (Dv/D) to 0.25-0.40, and the inlet area ratio (Ai/Ac) to 0.10-0.20. These coordinated parameter changes maintain the separation efficiency needed for effective cleaning while enabling a smaller overall cyclone volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the inlet inwardly from the sidewall into the cyclone chamber, utilizing the radial dimension more effectively. This three-dimensional inlet configuration increases the effective flow area without increasing the external cyclone diameter, thereby maintaining cleaning efficiency in a compact form factor.
3Volume of moving object
If the cyclone size is reduced to make the appliance smaller, then the overall appliance size decreases, but the power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optimized geometric parameters (W/D = 0.15-0.25, Dv/D = 0.25-0.40) create a cyclone that generates lower back pressure, which directly reduces the power required by the motor to maintain the same air flow rate. This allows smaller cyclones to operate with lower power consumption rather than requiring additional energy storage.
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 achieves lower back pressure and maintains cleaning efficiency with reduced power requirements, enabling smaller, more efficient cyclones for handheld vacuum cleaners without the need for additional energy storage or reduced run times.
Implementation Method 1
Cyclones facilitate the separation of dirt and/or debris from an air flow that passes through an appliance
Implementation Method 2
the cyclone comprising a cyclone axis of rotation centrally positioned in the cyclone and extending between an inlet end of the cyclone and an axially opposed outlet end
Data Source
AI summary
A cyclone for a hand vacuum cleaner has an outlet port that is sized to produce an annular flow band in the cyclone which extends radially inwardly to overlap the solid sidewall of the vortex finder.