Hand Vacuum Cyclone Layout With Off-Centre Dirt Bin Inlet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surface cleaning apparatuses with coaxial cyclones and dirt bins have limitations in dirt and water collection capacity and retention, leading to frequent emptying and re-entrainment of dirt due to central inlet design.
Innovation Solution
A surface cleaning apparatus with a dirt bin having an off-centre inlet, allowing for a larger cross-sectional area and reduced fluid flow effects, enhancing dirt retention and collection capacity, and incorporating a cyclonic cleaning stage with a dirt chamber design that minimizes cyclonic motion re-entrainment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the dirt bin inlet is positioned centrally (coaxial with cyclone), then the structure is simple and symmetric, but the collection capacity is limited and dirt re-entrainment occurs due to fluid flow effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the dirt bin inlet off-centre relative to the cyclone axis. The inlet is located at a radial distance of 0.1 to 0.4 times the cyclone inlet diameter from the cyclone axis, creating an asymmetric configuration that improves dirt collection capacity and reduces re-entrainment while maintaining structural simplicity
2Quantity of substance
If the dirt bin cross-sectional area is increased to improve collection capacity, then more dirt can be stored, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by positioning the dirt bin concentrically around the cyclone chamber. The dirt bin is arranged to extend radially outward from the cyclone, allowing the dirt collection space to be nested within the overall apparatus footprint without significantly increasing external dimensions
3Productivity
If the inlet is positioned close to the cyclone outlet for direct communication, then fluid flow efficiency is improved, but dirt re-entrainment increases due to fluid flow effects at the inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a differentiated inlet region with specific geometric characteristics. The inlet has a radial distance from the cyclone axis of 0.1 to 0.4 times the cyclone inlet diameter, and the inlet area is designed to be 0.05 to 0.2 times the cyclone inlet area, providing optimal local flow conditions that balance efficiency with dirt retention
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
The off-centre dirt bin inlet design increases the collection capacity and reduces the frequency of emptying, while minimizing dirt re-entrainment, resulting in improved dirt retention and efficient cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
a cyclonic cleaning stage provided in the fluid flow path and comprising at least one cyclone chamber
Implementation Method 2
cyclonic cleaning stage... comprises at least one cyclone chamber
Implementation Method 3
minimizes cyclonic motion re-entrainment
Data Source
AI summary
A hand vacuum cleaner is provided with a wand mounted to the dirty fluid inlet of the hand vacuum cleaner and the wand has a distal inlet that is mounted on a surface cleaning head. The hand vacuum cleaner has a cyclonic cleaning stage and the passage defined by the dirty fluid inlet is parallel to the axis of the fluid flow motor.