Air treatment apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning apparatus, particularly robotic vacuum cleaners, face challenges in efficiently emptying dirt collection chambers without requiring dismantlement, and existing cyclonic systems for air treatment are not optimized for effective dirt collection and air cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A cyclonic array with staggered and angled cyclones that direct dirt outlets to a common collection chamber, and a docking station with a momentum separator and cyclonic units for air treatment, allowing for efficient dirt collection and air cleaning without obstructing each other's operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple cyclones are arranged in parallel with vertical axes, then air treatment capacity is improved, but dirt collection becomes obstructed and efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical cyclone arrangement to a horizontal/angled configuration where cyclone axes are oriented at angles to the vertical direction. This dimensional change allows dirt outlets to be positioned at the front ends of cyclones, directing dirt forward into the collection chamber without obstruction from upper cyclones, thereby maintaining high air treatment capacity while improving dirt collection efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric arrangement where upper and lower cyclones are positioned at different horizontal locations, with upper cyclones shifted forward relative to lower ones. This asymmetric positioning ensures that dirt outlets of upper cyclones do not overlie lower cyclones, preventing obstruction and enabling all cyclones to discharge dirt efficiently into the collection chamber.
2Volume of moving object
If cyclones are arranged with upper cyclones directly above lower cyclones, then space utilization is improved, but dirt outlets of upper cyclones obstruct lower cyclones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements asymmetric horizontal positioning where upper cyclones are shifted forward relative to lower cyclones. This asymmetric arrangement maintains compact vertical stacking for space efficiency while ensuring dirt outlets of upper cyclones discharge forward without obstructing lower cyclones, thereby preserving dirt collection efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement from purely vertical alignment to a combination of vertical and horizontal positioning. By orienting cyclone axes at angles to the vertical and positioning upper cyclones forward, the system achieves both compact space utilization and unobstructed dirt collection paths.
3Device complexity
If cyclone axes are oriented vertically, then structural simplicity is improved, but dirt outlets require complex routing to reach the collection chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes cyclone axis orientation from vertical to angled relative to the vertical direction. This allows dirt outlets positioned at the front ends of cyclones to discharge dirt forward into the collection chamber, significantly shortening the dirt outlet path length and eliminating the need for complex downward routing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having dirt outlets at the bottom of vertically oriented cyclones requiring downward discharge paths, the patent inverts the arrangement by positioning outlets at the front ends of angled cyclones, allowing dirt to discharge forward in a more direct path to the collection chamber.
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
Enables quick and safe emptying of robotic surface cleaning devices and effective air treatment by ensuring dirt is collected unobstructed and air is cleaned efficiently, reducing the need for frequent disassembly and improving cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
a dust separating chamber separating dust from dust-laden air
Implementation Method 2
surface cleaning apparatus that use a cyclonic cleaning stage that comprises a plurality of cyclones in parallel
Implementation Method 3
a docking station with a momentum separator and cyclonic units for air treatment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
A docking station for a robotic surface cleaning apparatus is provided. The docking station has a plurality of cyclones comprising an upper cyclone and a lower cyclone. The cyclones are arranged such that the dirt outlet of the upper cyclone is not obstructed by the dirt outlet of the lower cyclone.