Filter Bag Insert Structure to Prevent Vacuum Bag Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum cleaners with filter bags experience reduced performance due to blocked filter pores and bag expansion under vacuum loading, which restricts airflow and suction efficiency, and existing solutions do not effectively address the need for safe collection and disposal of fine dusts like brick or plaster dust without releasing them into the atmosphere.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical insert with spaced protrusions and a perforated enclosure is used to support the filter bag, preventing expansion and maintaining airflow channels, allowing for safe collection and disposal of dusts by ensuring continuous suction performance and isolating collected detritus from the atmosphere.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter bag is used to collect air entrained detritus, then dust collection is achieved, but the bag expands under vacuum loading restricting airflow
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible support cage made of wire or rod is positioned inside the filter bag to provide structural support while allowing the bag to remain flexible for dust collection. The cage prevents the bag from expanding and collapsing under vacuum loading, maintaining airflow channels without compromising dust collection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure extends into the third dimension within the bag chamber, creating a spatial framework that maintains dimensional stability of the bag. The cage structure provides radial support from the interior, preventing the bag wall from collapsing inward and blocking airflow paths.
2Volume of stationary object
If the filter bag is sized to correspond with bin chamber dimensions, then space utilization is improved, but bag expansion restricts airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible support cage is designed to fit within the filter bag while maintaining adequate spacing between the bag wall and the cage structure. This spacing ensures that even when the bag expands under vacuum, airflow channels remain open. The cage provides internal support without completely filling the bag chamber volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The support cage is constructed from segmented elements (wire or rod components) that can be arranged to provide distributed support throughout the bag volume. This segmentation allows the structure to provide support while maintaining airflow paths between the segments and the bag wall.
3Reliability
If filter pores are used for dust collection, then dust is captured, but pores become blocked reducing suction performance
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible support cage maintains the filter bag in an expanded state, preventing the bag wall from collapsing inward and blocking the filter pores. By maintaining the structural integrity and openness of the bag, airflow through the filter pores is sustained, preventing performance degradation over time.
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 solution maintains suction performance by preventing bag expansion and ensuring airflow, allowing for safe and efficient collection and disposal of fine dusts without releasing them into the atmosphere, enhancing the operational efficiency of vacuum cleaners.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum drive motor for drawing air into the vacuum chamber
Implementation Method 2
the filter bag may reduce vacuum cleaner performance during use... restricting free airflow through the bag and to the vacuum source
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of vacuum cleaners and relates in particular to domestic or commercial cleaners which are provided with a bin (or vacuum chamber), rather than a filter bag, to collect air-entrained detritus. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an insert (20,100) for converting a vacuum cleaner (10) of the aforementioned type so as to make the cleaner capable of operating in a mode in which air-entrained detritus is collected in a filter bag (29,109) located in the vacuum chamber (27), the insert comprising an enclosure (20,21,22,38,100,101 ) in which the filter bag may be accommodated, which enclosure comprises structural constraint means (21,22,23,24,38,103) which limits vacuum induced expansion of at least a region of the bag and maintains an airflow gap (28,108) between the filter bag outer surface and a vacuum chamber inner wall. The constraint means may in one embodiment be a plurality of inward facing spacer ribs (103). In another the constraint means may be a perforated drum (21 ).