Removable Hand Vacuum Air Treatment Assembly for Low Back Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
In surface cleaning apparatus, particularly hand vacuum cleaners, the increase in air flow path length and changes in air flow direction lead to increased back pressure and reduced air flow velocity at the dirty air inlet, affecting cleaning efficiency, and existing designs often lack a high power suction motor due to weight and ergonomic issues.
Innovation Solution
A removable air treatment member assembly is positioned between the nozzle portion and the suction motor, with the air treatment member assembly seating on the main body or handle assembly for stability, and a pistol grip handle is used to improve ergonomics and maneuverability, allowing for easier operation and reduced wear on components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the air flow path length is increased to accommodate a removable air treatment member assembly, then ease of operation and maintenance is improved, but back pressure increases and air flow velocity at the dirty air inlet is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The air treatment member assembly is made removable and separable from the main body, allowing users to easily remove it for cleaning and maintenance without disassembling the entire device. This segmentation improves ease of operation while the patent addresses the air flow velocity issue through proper alignment design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the air treatment member assembly in a specific spatial arrangement where the air inlet, treatment member, and air outlet are aligned in a substantially straight line. This dimensional arrangement minimizes the air flow path length and reduces back pressure, thereby maintaining air flow velocity despite the added component.
2Productivity
If a high power suction motor is added to increase suction capability, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but weight increases and ergonomic issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The suction motor is housed in a separate main body that can be detached from the air treatment member assembly. This segmentation allows the motor to be optimized for power without being constrained by handheld weight limits, as it can be used with various lightweight air treatment members or stored separately when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be dynamically configurable, allowing the user to attach the motor to different air treatment member assemblies based on cleaning needs. This dynamic configuration enables high power operation when required while maintaining ergonomic flexibility for different usage scenarios.
3Ease of operation
If the air treatment member assembly is made removable for easy cleaning and maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but stability and alignment with other components may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The air treatment member assembly incorporates specific alignment features at its connection points with the main body, ensuring that when attached, the air inlet, treatment member, and air outlet are precisely aligned. This localized quality control maintains stable alignment and proper air flow paths while preserving the removable design for easy cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an intermediary connection mechanism between the air treatment member assembly and the main body that ensures proper alignment and stable attachment. This intermediary structure facilitates easy removal and reattachment while maintaining consistent alignment, thereby resolving the contradiction between removability and stability.
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 enhances cleaning efficiency by reducing movement and wear between components, improving stability, and allowing for easier maintenance, while the ergonomic design improves user handling and reduces the risk of air flow leaks.
Implementation Method 1
a suction motor provided in an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner to a clean air outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A hand vacuum includes a nozzle portion at a front end of the hand vacuum having a dirty air inlet. An air flow passage extends from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet in a main body rearward of the nozzle portion. The main body houses a suction motor in the air flow passage. First and second laterally spaced apart opposed arm members extend generally axially between the nozzle portion and the main body, and a volume is positioned between the nozzle portion, the main body and the opposed arm members. An air treatment member assembly comprising an air treatment member is removably positionable in the volume. At least one of a nozzle portion air outlet, an air treatment member assembly air inlet, an air treatment member assembly air outlet and a main body air inlet is axially retractable.