Detachable Dust Container Lip Seal for Tolerance-Resistant Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bagless vacuum cleaners face challenges in maintaining a tight seal between the dust receptacle and its cover, especially due to manufacturing tolerance variations, which affects the separation efficiency and requires critical compression pressure for O-ring-based sealing solutions.

Innovation Solution

A detachable dust container utilizing a lip seal with a flexible and compressible lip that self-seals by being drawn radially inward during operation, providing an effective air-tight and dust-tight seal without the need for precise tolerances, allowing for higher manufacturing variations between the receptacle and cover.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If O-rings are used for sealing the cover against the receptacle, then a tight seal can be achieved, but the permissible variation in manufacturing tolerances is low and the demands on tight fit are high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing tolerance variation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the sealing mechanism from compression-based (O-ring) to friction-based (lip seal). The lip seal uses a friction coefficient between the seal lip and the mating surface to maintain sealing, allowing for higher manufacturing tolerances and less critical fit requirements compared to compression-based sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical compression system (O-ring between two surfaces) with a friction-based system (lip seal against a surface). This substitution allows the seal to accommodate greater dimensional variations while maintaining effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If compression pressure is increased to improve O-ring sealing, then sealing effectiveness improves, but the complexity of achieving proper compression increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidcompression pressure control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the compression-based sealing system with a friction-based lip seal system. The lip seal naturally conforms to the mating surface through friction, eliminating the need for precise compression pressure control and reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The lip seal self-adjusts to the mating surface through friction, automatically compensating for manufacturing variations without requiring external control mechanisms for compression pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If a tight fit between cover and receptacle is achieved, then sealing effectiveness improves, but manufacturing cost increases due to tighter tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the sealing approach from requiring tight dimensional tolerances (O-ring compression fit) to using friction-based sealing (lip seal). This allows for more relaxed manufacturing tolerances, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the precision-fit mechanical system with a friction-based system that is less sensitive to dimensional variations, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 lip seal maintains negative pressure within the dust receptacle, ensuring a reliable seal even with less stringent fit requirements, enhancing the separation efficiency and ease of manufacturing by reducing the need for precise alignment and compression pressure.

Implementation Method 1

The lip seal maintains negative pressure within the dust receptacle, ensuring a reliable seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

Bagless vacuum cleaners often use cyclonic separation to separate dirt and dust debris from an airflow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCyclonic separation: Cyclone Separation

Data Source

PatentEP2427092B1Detachable dust container with cover for a vacuum cleaner

Publication Date: 2014.11.12 AB ELECTROLUX

Figure 1
Figure 2~3

AI summary

Disclosed is a detachable dust container for collecting dust in a bagless vacuum cleaner, and a vacuum cleaner equipped with such a container. The dust container comprises a receptacle with a cover for selective opening and closing of the receptacle, enabling emptying of the receptacle. A sealing element consisting of a lip seal is arranged between the cover and the dust receptacle for establishing a substantially air tight and dust tight sealing between the dust receptacle and the cover. This sealing put lower demands than prior art solutions on a tight fit between the cover and the receptacle and allows for variations in the manufacturing of the two parts.