Hand vacuum cleaner with a removable air treatment member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand vacuum cleaners lack a simplified structure for emptying and cleaning the dirt collection chamber, which can lead to dispersion of dirt during transport and potential damage to the motor when attempting to wash the components.
Innovation Solution
A cyclonic hand vacuum cleaner design with a removable dirt chamber that can be emptied and cleaned without dispersing dirt, featuring a sealed unit that can be washed and reused, and a nozzle integrated with the dirt collection chamber for concurrent removal and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the dirt collection chamber is made removable for easy emptying, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sealing and mounting mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The dirt collection chamber is separated from the main vacuum cleaner body as an independent removable module. This segmentation allows the chamber to be easily detached for emptying while the motor housing remains stationary, resolving the contradiction by making emptying simple without requiring complex overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The dirt collection chamber is extracted as a separate removable component from the vacuum cleaner system. This extraction enables independent handling of the dirt chamber for emptying and cleaning purposes, improving ease of operation while maintaining a relatively simple integrated design when assembled.
2Loss of substance
If the dirt collection chamber is sealed for safe transport, then the loss of substance is reduced, but the ease of operation worsens due to additional sealing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented as a specific feature of the removable dirt collection chamber rather than the entire device. The chamber includes its own sealing elements that engage with the motor housing, providing effective sealing for transport while maintaining simple operation through the removable design.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism is designed to automatically engage when the dirt collection chamber is inserted into the motor housing. This preliminary action of automatic sealing eliminates the need for separate sealing operations, reducing dirt dispersion while maintaining ease of operation.
3Productivity
If the cyclone and dirt chamber are integrated for concurrent removal, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclone separator and dirt collection chamber are merged into a single integrated assembly that functions as one removable unit. This merging allows both components to be removed and cleaned together in a single operation, significantly improving cleaning productivity while the integrated design actually reduces overall device complexity compared to separate mounting mechanisms.
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 design allows for efficient emptying and cleaning of the dirt chamber without dispersing dirt, extending the vacuum's usage time and simplifying maintenance by eliminating the need for a skeleton structure, resulting in a lighter and more user-friendly device.
Implementation Method 1
a cyclonic separator for separating dirt and dust from an airflow
Implementation Method 2
The cyclone separator is located in an airflow path leading from the air inlet to the air outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A hand vacuum cleaner has a main body comprising a suction motor, a front end, a rear end and a handle, the suction motor having a suction motor inlet end that faces the front end of the main body. A cyclone unit is positioned in the air flow passage upstream from the suction motor, the cyclone unit is removably mounted to the front end of the main body wherein the first cyclonic stage faces towards the suction motor inlet end. In another embodiment, the handle is provided on the top of the main body with a grip portion provided between a lower surface of the handle and an upper surface of the main body, the handle extending in the forward/rearward direction and having a front end, a rear end and a handle length that is greater than a length of the suction motor in the forward/rearward direction.