Hand Vacuum Cleaner Annular Filter Layout for Uniform Air Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand vacuum cleaners face challenges in achieving uniform air distribution across the filter surface, leading to inefficiencies in air flow and filtration, and often require larger sizes to accommodate larger filters, which increases the overall dimensions of the device.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a cyclone and annular filter where the cyclone axis of rotation and the filter's central axis are parallel but offset perpendicular to each other, allowing for a larger upstream filter surface area with a smaller filter size, and positions the pre-motor filter in a housing with increased height to enhance air flow distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the filter size is increased to achieve uniform air distribution, then the filtration efficiency is improved, but the overall device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional planar filter arrangement to a three-dimensional annular filter configuration surrounding the cyclone. This dimensional change allows the filter to provide uniform air distribution across multiple surfaces (outer upstream surface, inner downstream surface, and end surfaces) without increasing the overall device length, effectively solving the contradiction between filtration efficiency and device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular filter is nested within the cyclone structure, with the filter positioned concentrically around the cyclone chamber. This nesting arrangement allows the filter to utilize the existing cyclone space efficiently, providing enhanced filtration surface area without adding to the external dimensions of the vacuum device.
2Productivity
If a larger filter is used to improve air flow distribution, then the filtration performance is enhanced, but the device becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The filter extends in the radial dimension around the cyclone axis rather than only in the longitudinal direction. This creates multiple active filtration surfaces (outer, inner, and end surfaces) that increase total filtration area without proportionally increasing device volume, thereby maintaining compactness while enhancing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular filter is divided into multiple functional surfaces: an outer upstream surface for air intake, an inner downstream surface for air discharge, and end surfaces for additional filtration. This segmentation allows each surface to contribute to overall filtration efficiency while the integrated annular structure maintains device compactness.
3Area of stationary object
If the filter surface area is increased, then the air distribution uniformity improves, but the device dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter surface area is increased by exploiting the radial dimension around the cyclone rather than extending the device longitudinally. The annular configuration provides extensive filtration surface area (outer circumference × height, inner circumference × height, and end surfaces) within a compact cylindrical envelope, avoiding increases in device length.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter housing is designed with asymmetric dimensions where the diameter is greater than the length, creating an optimized spatial arrangement. This asymmetric geometry allows the annular filter to maximize surface area within the available radial space without requiring proportional increases in device length.
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 configuration enables more uniform air distribution across the filter, reduces the size of the hand vacuum cleaner while maintaining effective filtration, and allows for a more compact and ergonomic design without compromising filtration efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
air treatment member, a pre-motor filter and a suction motor provided in the air flow path
Implementation Method 2
cyclone and a generally annular filter wherein the cyclone axis of rotation and a central axis of the generally annular filter member are generally parallel but offset
Implementation Method 3
the pre-motor filter is positioned rearward of the air treatment member, the pre-motor filter is annular in shape and has a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the pre-motor filter and through a central cavity of the pre-motor filter
Data Source
AI summary
A hand vacuum cleaner having an upstream physical filtration chamber, an air treatment member downstream of and rearward of the upstream physical filtration chamber, a pre-motor filter downstream of and rearward of the air treatment member and a suction motor downstream of and rearward of the pre-motor filter, wherein the dirty air inlet is provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner.