Hand vacuum cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand vacuum cleaners face challenges in achieving a compact ergonomic design while maintaining effective air filtration and cyclonic separation, often resulting in cumbersome devices with inefficient cyclonic stages that can clog with hair.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a cyclone bin assembly with a dirt collection chamber positioned above the cyclone chamber, an annular pre-motor filter with increased height, and a non-cyclonic stage with a screen for initial particulate removal, allowing for a linear arrangement of components and reducing the device's size and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional cyclone and filter arrangement is used in hand vacuum cleaners, then air filtration and cyclonic separation can be achieved, but the device becomes cumbersome and loses ergonomic design
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-motor filter is nested within the cyclone assembly, with the filter housing positioned inside the cyclone housing. This nested arrangement allows both the cyclone separation chamber and the filter element to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, significantly reducing the overall length and footprint of the vacuum cleaner while maintaining both cyclonic separation and filtration functions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a linear sequential arrangement (cyclone then filter) to a three-dimensional integrated configuration where the filter is positioned within the cyclone housing volume. This dimensional reorganization allows the air flow path to move from the cyclone chamber through the filter in a compact radial and axial pattern, achieving both separation and filtration in a compact ergonomic form factor
2Reliability
If the filter size is increased to provide larger upstream surface area, then filtration efficiency improves, but the device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-motor filter is nested within the cyclone assembly, with the filter housing positioned inside the cyclone housing. This nested arrangement allows both the cyclone separation chamber and the filter element to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, significantly reducing the overall length and footprint of the vacuum cleaner while maintaining both cyclonic separation and filtration functions
Solution Approach 2:
The air distribution header is designed with non-uniform thickness, being thicker at the top and thinner at the bottom, to compensate for gravitational settling of air. This creates locally optimized flow distribution across the filter surface, ensuring uniform filtration effectiveness throughout the filter media without requiring excessive filter area or weight
3Reliability
If the filter size is increased to provide larger upstream surface area, then filtration efficiency improves, but the device dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-motor filter is nested within the cyclone assembly, with the filter housing positioned inside the cyclone housing. This nested arrangement allows both the cyclone separation chamber and the filter element to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, significantly reducing the overall length and footprint of the vacuum cleaner while maintaining both cyclonic separation and filtration functions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a linear sequential arrangement (cyclone then filter) to a three-dimensional integrated configuration where the filter is positioned within the cyclone housing volume. This dimensional reorganization allows the air flow path to move from the cyclone chamber through the filter in a compact radial and axial pattern, achieving both separation and filtration in a compact ergonomic form factor
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 a more compact and ergonomic hand vacuum cleaner with improved air filtration efficiency, reduced clogging risks, and enhanced user operation by positioning the dirt collection chamber above the cyclone chamber and utilizing a screen for initial particulate removal.
Implementation Method 1
an air treatment member having a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the air treatment member
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
a pre-motor filter positioned in the air flow path rearward of the air treatment member and forward of the suction motor
Data Source
AI summary
A hand vacuum cleaner having a handle, the having a front end, a rear end, a sidewall extending between the front end and the rear end and a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end. The handle includes a battery compartment configured to house at least one battery having a battery axis, wherein at least a portion of the sidewall has a plurality of recesses extending in a direction of the battery axis.