Dust Separation Unit Locking Assembly for Airtight Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaners and robot vacuum cleaners face challenges in maintaining an airtight interface between the dust separation unit and the rest of the flow channel, leading to airflow losses and difficulties in easy and secure removal and reinsertion of the dust separation unit.
Innovation Solution
A locking mechanism featuring a curved slot or groove that intermeshes with a sliding block, allowing the dust separation unit to be securely locked in place without significant movement, using elastic sealing lips to ensure an airtight seal and facilitate easy handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the dust separation unit is designed to be removable for easy maintenance and cleaning, then ease of operation is improved, but the airtightness of the interface between the dust separation unit and the flow channel deteriorates, leading to airflow losses
Solution Approach 1:
The locking unit is nested within the handle structure, with the link mechanism integrated into the operating element. When the handle is pivoted, the link guides the locking unit along a curved slot to engage with the dust separation unit, creating a compact integrated assembly that maintains airtightness while enabling easy removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The link is designed with a curved slot that follows a circular arc path centered on the handle's pivot axis. This curved geometry transforms the linear locking motion into a rotational movement that naturally guides the locking unit into the locked position while maintaining constant radial distance, ensuring consistent sealing pressure and airtightness throughout the operation cycle.
2Loss of energy
If a locking mechanism is implemented to ensure airtight sealing, then airflow losses are reduced, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking unit and operating element are merged into a single integrated handle assembly. The link serves dual functions as both a transmission element and a guiding mechanism, while the curved slot integrates the sealing action into the locking motion itself. This merging eliminates separate locking components and reduces overall mechanism complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The link structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it transmits motion from the handle to the locking unit, guides the locking unit along the curved path, provides the curved slot that defines the motion trajectory, and maintains the geometric relationship between components. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate parts needed in the locking mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the locking unit is designed with a link and curved slot mechanism, then ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The curved slot is designed as a circular arc with its center at the handle's pivot axis, creating a geometric relationship where the locking unit maintains a constant radial distance throughout its motion. This equipotential geometric configuration ensures that minor manufacturing variations in the slot curvature do not significantly affect the locking action, as the circular geometry naturally compensates for small deviations.
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 mechanism ensures a tight air seal, preventing airflow losses and simplifies the operation of the dust separation unit by allowing it to be easily locked and unlocked with a single handle movement, enhancing user convenience and suction power.
Implementation Method 1
using elastic sealing lips to ensure an airtight seal
Implementation Method 2
at least one transmission element for transmitting a movement of the operating element to the locking unit
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner or vacuum cleaner robot with a dust separation unit, which has at least one locking unit (40) for releasably fixing the dust separation unit on the vacuum cleaner, an operating element (21) for operating the locking unit (40) and at least one transmission element (30) for transmitting a movement of the operating element (21) on the locking unit (40), the operating element (21) being designed as a handle for removing the dust separation unit (20), and the operating element (21) being pivotably mounted between its blocked position and its removal position. According to the invention, the locking unit (40) forms a link (50) together with a corresponding counter-unit on the vacuum cleaner or on the vacuum cleaning robot (10), with the locking unit (40) turning the link (50) into a Positioned in the end position, so that a unit acting as a sliding block forms an abutment at the end (51) of the connecting link (50), via which the operating element (21) presses the dust separation unit (20) into a locking position when swiveling into the end position of the blocking position.