Hand Vacuum Cleaner Airflow Path Alignment to Reduce Back Pressure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In surface cleaning apparatuses, particularly hand vacuum cleaners, the length and direction changes in the air flow path can lead to increased back pressure and reduced air flow velocity at the dirty air inlet, affecting cleaning efficiency, and existing designs often lack stability and ease of use due to the weight and alignment of components.
Innovation Solution
A removable air treatment member assembly is positioned between the nozzle portion and the suction motor, with a handle assembly providing ergonomic support, allowing for alignment and stability that reduces movement and wear between components, and includes features like angled inlets and outlets to minimize friction and improve airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the air flow path is made longer or includes direction changes to accommodate component layout, then component arrangement flexibility is improved, but back pressure increases and air flow velocity at the dirty air inlet is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the suction motor, air treatment member assembly, and nozzle portion in a substantially aligned longitudinal arrangement along the air flow path, creating a linear one-dimensional layout rather than allowing multi-directional placement. This dimensional constraint ensures the air flow path remains substantially straight with minimal direction changes, maintaining high air flow velocity at the dirty air inlet while still providing sufficient space for all components along the longitudinal axis of the device
2Ease of repair
If the air treatment member assembly is made removable for cleaning and maintenance, then ease of maintenance is improved, but stability and movement control between components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air treatment member assembly is designed with dynamic characteristics - it can be inserted into and removed from the device body, transitioning between a fixed operational state and a removable maintenance state. During operation, the assembly remains stable in its inserted position, but can be easily extracted when maintenance is required, providing both operational stability and maintenance accessibility
3Productivity
If the nozzle portion is positioned forward of the air treatment member assembly to shorten the air flow path, then air flow velocity is improved, but device length and handling ergonomics worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components - the suction motor, air treatment member assembly, and nozzle portion - into a compact integrated unit where all components are arranged in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis. This merging of functions into a unified structure minimizes the overall device length while maintaining the shortened air flow path configuration that preserves high air flow velocity at the dirty air inlet
Data Source
AI summary
A hand vacuum cleaner has a main body housing a suction motor. A cyclone has a front end and a rear end with a cyclone axis of rotation extending between the front and rear ends. A pistol grip handle extends downwardly from a lower side of the main body. A post motor filter is positionable in a post motor filter chamber wherein the post motor filter is removable radially and wherein the cyclone axis of rotation extends through the suction motor.