Exhaust Air Filter Holder Sealing With Low-Force Cover Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaner designs face challenges in securely sealing the exhaust air flow when the housing cover is closed, requiring significant force and often resulting in inadequate sealing, which can lead to air leakage and thermal issues.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing cover with a filter holder that forms a sealed air duct, utilizing a tongue and groove connection or labyrinth seal to direct the exhaust air flow, allowing for secure closure with minimal effort and preventing air leakage, while also optionally including additional filters for improved air quality and noise reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a peripheral sealing frame is used to seal the filter holder to the housing cover, then sealing of the exhaust air flow is improved, but the force required to close the housing cover increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing task is divided into multiple surfaces instead of relying on a single peripheral sealing frame. The first surface (310) and second surface (400) work together to distribute the sealing function, reducing the force concentration on any single point while maintaining reliable sealing of the exhaust air flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing approach transitions from a single circumferential sealing frame to a two-surface arrangement that extends in the flow direction. This dimensional change allows the exhaust air flow to be directed along the surfaces, creating a sealing effect that distributes force requirements along the length of the surfaces rather than concentrating it at a single peripheral location.
2Reliability
If the housing cover is sealed with a lip seal, then sealing of the exhaust air flow is improved, but the force required to close the housing cover increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single lip seal that concentrates sealing force, the invention segments the sealing function across two surfaces (310 and 400) that are arranged parallel to the flow direction. This segmentation distributes the sealing effect along the flow path, reducing the closing force required while maintaining reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the exhaust air flow itself as a pneumatic sealing mechanism. The exhaust air flow moves along the two surfaces, creating a pressure distribution that enhances the sealing effect. This pneumatic approach reduces the mechanical force required to maintain sealing compared to traditional lip seals that rely solely on mechanical contact force.
3Device complexity
If the exhaust air flow is not properly guided, then device complexity is reduced, but air leakage occurs and thermal short circuits are created
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct and the sealing surfaces are merged into an integrated structure. The first surface (310) and second surface (400) are formed as integral parts of the housing cover and filter holder assembly, eliminating the need for separate complex air duct components while effectively guiding the exhaust air flow and preventing leakage and thermal short circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The two surfaces (310 and 400) serve multiple functions simultaneously: they guide the exhaust air flow in a defined direction, create the sealing effect to prevent air leakage, and protect heat-sensitive components by directing the flow away from them. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, simplifying the overall device structure.
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 ensures secure closure of the housing cover with reduced force, prevents air leakage, and enhances the quality of the exhaust air by filtering it, while also avoiding thermal short circuits and protecting heat-sensitive components.
Implementation Method 1
the exhaust air flow essentially passes through the filter holder along a flow direction
Implementation Method 2
the housing cover being sealed off from the filter holder via at least one surface of the housing cover and the filter holder when the housing cover is closed, so that the exhaust air flow from the air duct reaches the exhaust area
Implementation Method 3
a filter holder, which is arranged at a downstream end of an air duct for guiding the exhaust air flow and is sealed off from the air duct in such a way that the exhaust air flow essentially passes through the filter holder
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
An embodiment of an arrangement for blowing out an exhaust air stream comprises a housing cover (100) with a blow-out area (140) and a filter holder (360) which is arranged at a downstream end of an air duct for guiding the exhaust air stream and is sealed against the air duct in such a way that the exhaust air stream substantially passes through the filter holder (360) along a flow direction (320), wherein the housing cover (100) is designed to be opened and thereby detach itself from the filter holder (360).The housing cover (100) is sealed to the filter holder (360) via at least one surface (310, 400) of the housing cover (100) and the filter holder (360) in a closed state of the housing cover (100), so that the exhaust air flow from the air duct enters the discharge area (140), wherein the surfaces (310, 400) of the housing cover (100) and the filter holder (360) are facing each other in the closed state and are arranged substantially parallel to the flow direction (320).