Vacuum Cleaner Filter Pulse Cleaning With Spring-Loaded Air Inlet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction devices for floor cleaning experience reduced suction power due to filter clogging, leading to a decrease in cleaning efficiency as dirt particles accumulate and reduce negative pressure.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an energy storage device with an elastically deformable member, such as a spring, to rapidly open the external air inlet, creating a pressure surge that dislodges dirt particles from the filter, thereby maintaining suction power and improving cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve body is opened to clean the filter, then the filter cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the time required for cleaning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is pre-compressed to store elastic potential energy before cleaning is needed. This preliminary action allows the valve body to be rapidly opened when cleaning is required, reducing the actual cleaning time while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables periodic filter cleaning by rapidly opening the valve body using stored spring energy, then automatically closing it after the cleaning pulse. This periodic action allows frequent cleaning without significant time loss, maintaining suction performance.
2Reliability
If the valve body is opened rapidly to create pressure surge, then the filter cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the force required to open the valve increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is pre-compressed during normal operation to accumulate elastic potential energy. When cleaning is needed, this stored energy is rapidly released to provide the force needed to open the valve body quickly, creating an effective pressure surge without requiring large instantaneous forces from the actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static valve position to a dynamic rapid opening motion using spring energy. The spring provides a dynamic force that exceeds the suction force briefly to open the valve rapidly, then the valve closes automatically when the spring returns to its equilibrium position.
3Productivity
If the valve body remains closed during suction operation, then the suction power is maintained, but the filter becomes clogged over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates with periodic filter cleaning pulses. The valve body remains closed during normal suction to maintain power, then opens rapidly for brief cleaning intervals to remove clogs. This periodic cleaning maintains filter performance and sustained suction power over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring remains pre-compressed continuously during suction operation, ready to provide immediate cleaning action. This continuous preparation ensures that filter clogging can be addressed instantly when it occurs, maintaining continuous effective suction performance without interruption.
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 energy storage device allows for a quick and effective cleaning of the filter, enhancing suction performance by overcoming the suction force and ensuring a strong pressure surge, resulting in improved suction results during normal operation.
Implementation Method 1
the energy storage device has at least one elastically deformable energy storage member, wherein the at least one energy storage member is designed as a spring
Implementation Method 2
the at least one energy storage member is designed as a spring
Implementation Method 3
a suction unit for applying negative pressure to the dirt collection container
Implementation Method 4
Due to the difference between the pressure of the external air and the negative pressure prevailing in the dirt collection container, the filter to be cleaned experiences a pressure surge
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A suction apparatus (10; 170) for cleaning purposes, the suction apparatus having a dirt-collecting container (24) with a suction inlet (26) and a suction outlet (28) on which a filter (34) is held, a suction unit (44) for charging the dirt-collecting container (24) with negative pressure, an extraction chamber (102) between the suction unit (44) and the filter (34) with an external air inlet (112) via which external air can flow into the suction chamber (102) for acting upon the filter (34) on the clean space side, a valve device (64; 116; 128; 138; 188) with a valve seat (66; 132) forming the external air inlet (112) and a valve body (68; 186) which is movable relative to said valve seat and, in a closed position, bears in a sealing manner against the valve seat (66; 132) and, in an open position, opens up the valve seat (66; 132), and an actuating member (76; 172), by means of the actuation of which the valve body (68; 186) can be transferred from the closed position into the open position. In order to obtain a better suction result, it is proposed that the suction apparatus (10; 170) comprises an energy storage device (108; 118; 136; 140) to which energy which is to be stored can be supplied by actuation of the actuating member (76; 172) and from which stored energy can be released in order to transfer the valve body (68; 186) from the closed position into the open position.