Flexible Cyclone Outlet Design to Prevent Vacuum Cleaner Blockage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Small cyclones in surface treating appliances, such as vacuum cleaners, are prone to blocking, which reduces separation efficiency due to increased risk of dirt accumulation, despite their potential for separating smaller dust particles effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of frusto-conical cyclones with a rigid, wide portion and a flexible, narrow portion that vibrates during airflow, allowing the flexible tip to vibrate and maintain a constant inlet size, preventing blockage and enhancing separation efficiency. The flexible portion can also be dilated or inflated to change its shape and dislodge dirt after use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If small cyclones are used to separate smaller dust particles, then separation efficiency is improved, but the risk of blocking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclone separator incorporates a flexible membrane at its outlet that can dynamically change shape between a collapsed state during operation and an expanded state during cleaning. This dynamic transformation allows the same structure to function as both a small-efficiency separator and a large-clearance outlet, eliminating the blocking risk inherent in small fixed outlets.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet diameter of the cyclone separator is changed from a fixed small dimension to a variable dimension that transitions between small (during separation) and large (during cleaning). This parameter change enables the system to achieve both high separation efficiency for fine particles and low blocking risk by altering the physical state of the outlet membrane.
2Manufacturing precision
If the cyclone outlet diameter is reduced to improve separation of fine particles, then separation efficiency increases, but the likelihood of dirt accumulation and blockage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane outlet provides a dynamic cleaning mechanism where the membrane expands during cleaning cycles to create a large temporary opening that can be used with air jets or mechanical scrapers to remove accumulated dirt. This dynamic expansion capability prevents permanent blockages that would occur with fixed small outlets.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic cleaning cycles where the flexible membrane is inflated or expanded at intervals to dislodge and remove accumulated dirt particles. This periodic action prevents dirt buildup from reaching blocking levels, maintaining continuous separation efficiency without requiring a larger permanent outlet.
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 design allows for the effective separation of smaller dust particles without blocking, increasing the overall separation efficiency of the appliance and maintaining high suction levels even as the collecting chamber fills with dirt.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible portion of each cyclone is arranged to vibrate as airflow moves through the cyclone during use
Implementation Method 2
an airflow in which dirt and dust is entrained enters a first cyclonic separator via a tangential inlet which causes the airflow to follow a spiral or helical path within a collection chamber so that the dirt and dust is separated from the airflow
Implementation Method 3
Most bagless vacuum cleaners use cyclonic or centrifugal separation to spin dirt and dust from the airflow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A domestic vacuum cleaner (1) includes a plurality of frusto - conical cyclones (38) arranged in parallel. Each cyclone (38) has a relatively wide, rigid frusto - conical portion (62) and a relatively narrow, flexible frusto - conical portion (64) connected to the relatively wide portion (62). The relatively wide portion (62) includes at least one dirty air inlet (52), and the relatively narrow portion (64) includes a dirt outlet (58). The relatively narrow portion (64) vibrates during use of the appliance such that dirt is dislodged from the inner surface of the relatively narrow portion (64), the dislodged dirt being expelled from the dirt outlet (58).