Fine Dust Collecting Body With Gravity-Based Filter Regeneration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bagless vacuum cleaners face the issue of fine dust filters clogging due to limited absorption capacity, requiring frequent washing or replacement, which contradicts the philosophy of being consumable-free and leading to decreased suction power over time.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a sedimentation vessel below the fine dust filter to act as an additional dust storage, allowing fine dust to settle under gravity, and using a vibrating device to regenerate the filter by loosening dust from the surface and guiding it into the sedimentation vessel, thereby extending the filter's service life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fine dust filter is used in a bagless vacuum cleaner, then fine dust can be filtered effectively, but the filter becomes clogged over time requiring frequent washing or replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration effectivenessVSAvoidfilter service life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The dust collection system is segmented into two distinct functional zones: an upper fine dust filter for filtration and a lower sedimentation vessel for dust storage. This segmentation allows the filter to be regenerated by draining accumulated dust into the sedimentation vessel, extending service life without compromising filtration effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sedimentation vessel acts as an intermediary storage zone between the fine dust filter and the external environment. It temporarily holds accumulated dust, enabling the filter to be regenerated multiple times before final disposal, thus extending the overall system service life

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the fine dust filter is washed frequently to regenerate it, then suction power is maintained, but the filter characteristics are impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction powerVSAvoidfilter characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of washing the filter to remove dust, the invention extracts accumulated dust from the filter into the sedimentation vessel through gravity-driven drainage. This mechanical extraction method maintains filter characteristics while restoring suction power, avoiding the degradation caused by frequent washing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the fine dust filter is replaced after several years, then filtration performance is restored, but this contradicts the bagless vacuum cleaner philosophy of being consumable-free

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration performanceVSAvoidconsumable replacement requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system recovers dust accumulation capacity by providing a separate sedimentation vessel for dust storage. The filter can be regenerated multiple times by draining dust into the vessel, reducing replacement frequency and aligning with the consumable-free philosophy while maintaining filtration performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 sedimentation vessel and vibrating device combination effectively extends the service life of the fine dust filter, maintaining suction power and aligning with the bagless vacuum cleaner philosophy of not needing consumable replacements, by separating filtration and dust storage/disposal functions.

Implementation Method 1

the fine dust can be sedimented under the influence of gravity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

using a vibrating device to regenerate the filter by loosening dust from the surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2698091B1Fine dust collecting body for a vacuum cleaner, and vacuum cleaner comprising such a fine dust collecting body, and method for operating such a vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2019.05.22 MIELE & CO KG
  • EP2698091B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2698091B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2698091B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The element (14) has a sedimentation vessel (20) positioned below a fine-dust filter (16), for collecting sedimentation of fine particulates, where the sedimentation vessel is positioned opposite to a dust supply aperture (24). The sedimentation vessel includes a sedimentation aperture (26) facing the dust supply aperture in the mounted state of the sedimentation vessel. The sedimentation vessel includes multiple inclined planes (28) in the direction of the sedimentation aperture, where the sedimentation vessel is releasably connected to the fine-dust collecting element. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a bagless vacuum cleaner (2) a method for operating the vacuum cleaner.