Vacuum Cleaner Fan Mounting Ring for Universal Noise Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vacuum cleaner designs require multiple types of bearing elements for mounting the vacuum cleaner fan with and without an insulating capsule, leading to increased production costs, storage complexity, and noise issues due to rigid couplings.

Innovation Solution

The use of identical bearing elements, comprising a bearing ring and buffers, which can mount the vacuum cleaner fan and insulating capsule independently, ensuring mechanical and acoustic decoupling, thus allowing the same parts to be used for both configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different bearing elements are used for mounting the vacuum cleaner fan with and without an insulating capsule, then the mounting can be optimized for each configuration, but the number of individual parts increases and production costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting compatibilityVSAvoidnumber of bearing elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing element is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate both the vacuum cleaner fan directly and the insulating capsule surrounding the fan. The bearing element includes a mounting surface and a recess that can receive either the fan motor housing or the insulating capsule, allowing the same bearing element to serve both mounting configurations without modification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple variants of bearing elements are produced for different configurations, then each variant can be optimized, but storage costs and production complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting reliabilityVSAvoidinventory variety
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing element is designed as a universal component that eliminates the need for multiple variants. The structure includes adjustable mounting surfaces and recesses that can accommodate different configurations (with or without insulating capsule) using the same bearing element design, thereby reducing inventory variety to a single standardized component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If rigid mounting structures are used for the vacuum cleaner fan, then structural stability is improved, but noise development increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing element incorporates elastic cushioning elements in the form of buffers or damping material between the vacuum cleaner fan (or insulating capsule) and the housing. These cushioning elements are pre-installed in the bearing element structure to absorb vibrations and reduce noise generation before they can propagate to the housing, while still maintaining structural stability through the rigid portions of the bearing element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

This solution reduces production costs, simplifies assembly, and minimizes noise by using the same bearing elements for both scenarios, while maintaining mechanical and acoustic decoupling, resulting in cost and material savings.

Implementation Method 1

holding the vacuum cleaner fan and the insulating capsule in a manner that the vacuum cleaner fan and the insulating capsule are also mechanically decoupled from one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical decoupling: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

an elastic mounting, e.g. using rubber buffers and the like

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2443976B1Vacuum cleaner with a vacuum cleaner fan and a device for fixing same
Publication Date: 2012.12.12 MIELE & CO KG
  • EP2443976B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2443976B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The cleaner has bearing elements mounting a vacuum cleaner fan (10) with and without a surrounding damming capsule. The vacuum cleaner fan comprises a fan unit with a suction hood (28) and a suction opening (34). A bearing ring (14) comprises a bearing ring opening passed to the suction opening and remains free at center of the cleaner. The bearing ring functions as a front-side bearing element. The bearing ring comprises recesses arranged over an outer periphery and set back from an outer peripheral surface.