Debris Tank Recess Layout for Quieter Vehicle Vacuum Cleaners

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle vacuum cleaners experience noise issues due to debris movement during changes in vehicle speed or direction, as debris rolls or slides across the floor, increasing noise over time and impacting user experience.

Innovation Solution

The vacuum cleaner features a user-removable debris collection tank with recesses and raised sections on the bottom that inhibit both fore-and-back and side-to-side debris movement, utilizing a curved design to channel debris into recesses and prevent movement, thereby reducing noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If debris is allowed to move freely in the collection tank, then the vacuum cleaner can collect more debris, but noise increases during vehicle acceleration and deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris collection capacityVSAvoidnoise during vehicle operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The collection tank bottom is segmented into multiple recesses, each capable of holding debris independently. This segmentation prevents debris from moving freely across the entire tank bottom, thereby reducing noise while maintaining collection capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the collection tank bottom are given different functions: recess areas provide debris containment zones with noise-reducing properties, while raised sections provide structural support and debris guidance. This local differentiation allows the tank to simultaneously accommodate debris volume and minimize noise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If recesses are added to the collection tank bottom, then debris movement is reduced and noise is minimized, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise during vehicle operationVSAvoidcollection tank structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The noise-reducing recesses are integrated directly into the collection tank bottom as a unified structure rather than being separate components. This merging approach minimizes device complexity while achieving the noise reduction function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If the collection tank is designed with curved bottom surfaces, then debris is steered into recesses more effectively, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris steering efficiencyVSAvoidcurved surface geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The collection tank bottom incorporates curved surfaces that naturally guide debris toward the recess areas. This curvature design improves debris steering efficiency while the overall simple geometry remains compatible with standard manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS9003600B2Vacuum cleaner with noise reduction recesses

Publication Date: 2015.04.14 GREAT STAR TOOLS USA INC

AI summary

A new vacuum cleaner that is adapted for use in a vehicle has a user-removable debris collection tank that has spaced recesses on the bottom that inhibit both fore-and-back movement of debris within the collection tank and side-to-side movement of debris within the collection tank. The recesses are located in opposed outer corners of the tank, and have lower surfaces that support the tank in a standing position. Raised sections divide each of the recesses into two corner recess sections and an offset recess section, and inhibit both fore-and-aft movement of debris within the recesses and side-to-side movement of debris within the recess sections. The offset recess section has tracks that curve in different directions from an intermediate position adjacent or near a side of the tank. The bottom of the tank is generally curved downwardly towards the sides of the tank.