Cyclonic Vacuum Dust Container Lid to Prevent Waste Recirculation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bagless vacuum cleaners with cyclonic separation systems face issues of limited waste accumulation space, heavy and bulky transport, and risk of waste recirculation due to the integration of cyclonic separation and recovery systems, as well as spontaneous waste release during transport of the collection container.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum cleaner design featuring a removable waste recovery container with a movable lid forming a connecting conduit, where the inlet section is annular and coaxial with the cyclone axis, and the connecting duct's outer wall diverges between the inlet and outlet sections to prevent waste re-aspiration and escape, allowing for easy emptying and reducing recirculation risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the waste recovery container is made removable and separable from the primary separator, then the ease of transport and emptying is improved, but the risk of waste spillage during transport increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of transport and emptyingVSAvoidrisk of waste spillage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A lid is introduced as an intermediary element between the waste recovery container and the environment. This lid can be closed during transport to prevent waste spillage, and opened at the emptying location to facilitate waste removal. The lid acts as a mediator that allows the container to be both secure during transport and easily emptied when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the inlet section of the connecting conduit is made annular and coaxial with the cyclone axis, then the risk of waste recirculation is reduced, but the complexity of the connecting conduit design increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk of waste recirculationVSAvoidcomplexity of connecting conduit design
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet section of the connecting conduit is designed with an annular (ring-shaped) cross-section instead of a simple circular or rectangular shape. This asymmetric geometry, combined with coaxial alignment with the cyclone axis, creates a flow pattern that reduces the risk of waste recirculation by directing air flow in a specific manner that prevents waste particles from being drawn back into the cyclone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If the outer wall of the connecting duct diverges between inlet and outlet sections, then waste recirculation is prevented, but the length of the connecting duct increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste recirculation preventionVSAvoidlength of connecting duct
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting duct is designed with a diverging outer wall that expands in the radial dimension as it extends from the inlet to the outlet section. This dimensional change allows the duct to prevent waste recirculation by creating a flow expansion that reduces turbulence and prevents waste particles from being drawn back, while managing the length increase through efficient spatial arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The design allows for safe transport of waste without spillage and reduces the risk of waste recirculation, enabling efficient waste collection and easy emptying by maintaining the lid in a closed position during transport and opening it for easy disposal.

Implementation Method 1

a primary cyclonic separation stage followed by a secondary cyclonic separation stage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCyclonic separation: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

the separation between the expelled air and the particles sucked in is essentially carried out by means of a system of cyclones

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP2635169B1Bagless vacuum cleaner having cyclonic separation
Publication Date: 2015.07.08 SEB SA
  • EP2635169B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2635169B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner including a waste separation assembly that includes: at least one cyclonic separation step (8) comprising a main separator (10) via a cyclone having a longitudinal axis ?; and a removable waste recovery container (20) located under the main separator (10). According to the invention, the removable waste recovery container (20) is combined with a movable cover (22) that defines a connection pipe (24) between the main separator (10) and the removable container (22), wherein the connection pipe (24) has, at the connection thereof to the main separator (10), a generally annular inlet section (34) coaxial to the axis ?.