Hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning apparatus, such as hand vacuum cleaners, face challenges in efficiently cleaning particulate matter that accumulates on the outer surfaces of porous members like screens or filters within the cyclone chamber, requiring frequent manual intervention for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A hand vacuum cleaner design featuring a moveable cyclone sidewall and cleaning member that automatically translates to expose the porous member for cleaning, allowing for the removal of accumulated particulate matter without user intervention, utilizing biasing mechanisms like springs to facilitate this process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a porous member is used in the cyclone chamber, then air can be filtered as it exits the cyclone, but particulate matter accumulates on the outer surface of the porous member requiring manual cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning member automatically moves to expose the porous member for cleaning without requiring manual intervention. The biasing mechanism automatically translates the cleaning member between operating and cleaning positions, enabling the system to clean itself
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning member is designed to be moveable rather than stationary, allowing it to dynamically adjust between an operating position during vacuum operation and a cleaning position that exposes the porous member for maintenance
2Ease of operation
If the cleaning member is positioned to expose the porous member, then cleaning access is improved, but the cyclone chamber becomes open and may affect operation
Solution Approach 1:
The sidewall portion is designed to be moveable between closed and open positions, allowing the cyclone chamber to be sealed during operation and opened during cleaning. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction between maintaining sealing and providing cleaning access
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclone chamber sidewall is divided into a stationary portion and a moveable portion that can independently open, allowing selective access to the porous member while maintaining the integrity of the rest of the cyclone chamber
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
Enhances the cleaning efficiency and maintenance convenience by automatically exposing the porous member for cleaning, reducing the need for manual operation and improving the overall performance of the hand vacuum cleaner.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing biasing mechanisms like springs to facilitate this process
Implementation Method 2
Surface cleaning apparatus may use a cyclone to separate particulate matter from an air stream
Implementation Method 3
a porous member is provided such that air passes through the porous member as the air exits the air treatment chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A hand vacuum has a cyclone assembly which comprises a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber. The cyclone assembly comprises a stationary portion and an openable portion. The openable portion is rotatably mounted by a rotatable mount between a closed position in which the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber are closed and an open position in which the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber are open. The rotatable mount is located at a rearward end of the openable portion.