Cyclonic Vacuum Cleaner with External Screen Cleaning Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cyclonic air treatment systems require users to insert their hands into the air treatment chamber to clean internal components, such as the cyclone outlet screen, which is inconvenient and potentially unpleasant due to dirt and debris accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A surface cleaning apparatus with a moveable member, such as a porous screen or cleaning member, positioned between the air treatment chamber sidewall and a longitudinally extending porous sidewall, driven by a handle and linkage system that allows the member to be translated longitudinally through the chamber without opening the chamber, enabling external cleaning of the screen without hand insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user inserts their hand into the air treatment chamber to clean the cyclone outlet screen, then the screen can be cleaned directly, but the user is exposed to dirt and debris which is inconvenient and potentially unpleasant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a moveable member (cleaning tool) as an intermediary between the user and the cyclone outlet screen. This cleaning tool can be actuated from outside the air treatment chamber to clean the screen, eliminating the need for the user to insert their hand into the chamber and thus avoiding exposure to dirt and debris while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
2Ease of operation
If the air treatment chamber is opened to access internal components for cleaning, then direct access is provided, but the chamber structure and sealing are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a moveable member actuated through a slot in the chamber sidewall as an intermediary tool. This allows cleaning of internal components like the cyclone outlet screen without opening the chamber, thereby maintaining the chamber structure integrity and sealing while providing access to internal components for maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a slot in the sidewall of the air treatment chamber, segmenting the chamber structure to allow passage of the moveable member. This segmentation enables the moveable member to translate through the slot and reach internal components for cleaning without compromising the overall chamber integrity or requiring the chamber to be opened
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a moveable member is introduced to clean internal components from outside the chamber, then user safety is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a moveable member with a driving linkage as an intermediary cleaning tool that can be actuated from outside the air treatment chamber. The driving linkage translates external user input into motion of the cleaning member inside the chamber, improving user safety by eliminating hand insertion while the linkage design is kept relatively simple to minimize added structural complexity
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
Facilitates easy and hygienic cleaning of internal components by allowing the user to access and remove dirt and debris from the cyclone chamber without direct hand contact, improving user safety and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
cyclonic air treatment members and surface cleaning apparatus including the same
Implementation Method 2
air treatment member having an air treatment chamber positioned in the air flow path, the air treatment chamber comprising an air treatment chamber air inlet, an air treatment chamber air outlet
Implementation Method 3
the air treatment chamber air outlet comprises a longitudinally extending porous member having a longitudinally extending porous sidewall
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air treatment member having an air treatment chamber. A moveable member is positioned in the air treatment chamber. A driving assembly is drivingly connected to the moveable member wherein the driving assembly is operable between a stored position is which the surface cleaning apparatus is operable to clean a surface and a cleaned position in which the moveable member has been translated through at least a portion of the chamber, wherein, in the stored position, a portion of the driving assembly is longitudinally spaced from the first and second axially spaced apart ends of the air treatment chamber.