Cylindrical Air Filter with Automatic In-Place Cleaning Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air purifiers require filter replacement or removal for cleaning, and automatic cleaning mechanisms are inefficient, leading to incomplete filtration and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
An air purifier with a filter cleaner module that includes a motor, gear mechanism, and cleaning members, allowing for automatic filter cleaning without removing the filter, featuring a UV light source for microorganism elimination and a dust collection system with an indicator for easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the filter is removed for cleaning or replacement, then the filter can be cleaned thoroughly, but the air purifier cannot continuously purify air and requires user intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The air purifier is equipped with an automatic filter cleaning mechanism that operates without user intervention. The cleaning device includes cleaning members that contact the filter surface and a drive mechanism that moves the filter or cleaning members to ensure complete cleaning coverage, allowing the system to maintain itself automatically
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning mechanism performs filter cleaning during the air purifier's normal operation or in predetermined intervals without requiring the filter to be removed. The system proactively cleans the filter before it becomes completely contaminated, maintaining continuous purification capability
2Extent of automation
If automatic cleaning mechanisms are used, then user intervention is reduced, but the cleaning efficiency and completeness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning mechanism incorporates a drive mechanism that dynamically moves either the cylindrical filter or the cleaning members relative to each other. This dynamic movement ensures that all surfaces of the filter come into contact with the cleaning members, achieving complete cleaning coverage while maintaining automation
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning device includes multiple cleaning members arranged to clean different portions of the filter simultaneously. The cleaning members may include brushes, wipes, or other cleaning elements positioned at different locations to address various surfaces of the filter comprehensively
3Manufacturing precision
If the entire filter surface is cleaned, then filtration efficiency is restored, but the cleaning mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is designed with a cylindrical shape, and the cleaning mechanism is configured to match this curvature. The cleaning members are arranged to contact the curved surface of the cylinder, allowing complete surface access through rotation or linear movement along the cylindrical form, achieving comprehensive cleaning with relatively simple geometry
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 efficient, complete filter cleaning without filter removal, ensuring continuous air purification and user-friendly maintenance with automatic particle collection and notification for dust box emptying.
Implementation Method 1
the filter cleaner further comprises at least one UV light source such as a UV lamp
Data Source
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AI summary
An air purifier (10) and a filter cleaner are provided. The filter cleaner is configured to be mounted in an air purifier. The filter cleaner comprises a motor, a cleaning member and a gear mechanism. The motor is configured to via the gear mechanism drive a radially outwards facing surface of a cylindrical air filter (14) or a filter holding case (15) past the cleaning member. Hereby it is achieved that the filter of the air-purifier can be cleaned without having to remove the filter for cleaning or replacement and at the same time an efficient cleaning of the filter is achieved. In particular the entire surface of the filter can be cleaned. Also, the air purifier can comprise a polygonal casing and a cylindrical air filter with a radially outwards facing surface is provided. The cylindrical air filter can be located inside the polygonal casing so that a space is formed between the radially outwards facing surface of the cylindrical air filter and the inside corners of the polygonal casing. Hereby an air purifier that has a compact design can be implemented the space formed between the cylindrical filter and the polygonal casing can be used to house additional components of the air purifier.