Handheld cyclonic vacuum cleaner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable cyclonic vacuum cleaners with transparent cyclonic enclosures are prone to scratching and stress on joints or seals when placed on supports, affecting their lifespan and integrity.

Innovation Solution

The cyclonic enclosure's base is offset from the support plane, eliminating friction and stress, with support means like longitudinal and transverse ribs providing stability and a low center of gravity, and an elastomeric material for shock absorption, ensuring the enclosure does not touch the support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the cyclonic enclosure base is made transparent for visual inspection, then the aesthetic appearance and ease of monitoring are improved, but the base becomes susceptible to scratching and damage when placed on supports

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual inspection capabilityVSAvoidbase integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element (the offset base design with support feet) that separates the transparent cyclonic enclosure base from direct contact with external supports. This mediator prevents harmful interactions while preserving the transparency benefit for visual inspection of the cyclone chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the vacuum cleaner is designed to rest directly on its base for stability, then the stability is improved, but the base and seals are stressed and scratched when placed on supports

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice stabilityVSAvoidbase scratching and seal stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The base is segmented into multiple functional elements: the main transparent base for the cyclonic enclosure, separate support feet that contact the ground, and an offset arrangement that distributes weight. This segmentation allows the transparent base to maintain structural integrity while the separate support feet provide stable ground contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the base of the cyclonic enclosure is offset from the support plane, then the base is protected from scratching and stress, but additional support means are required to maintain stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase protectionVSAvoidsupport structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support feet are designed with elastomeric material that provides flexible, compliant contact with support surfaces. This flexible material absorbs minor irregularities and prevents stress concentration, maintaining base protection while simplifying the overall support structure through material properties rather than complex mechanical designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 design enhances the cyclonic enclosure's resistance to scratches and stress, improves stability, and extends the lifespan by preventing contact with supports, ensuring the vacuum cleaner remains stable and functional.

Implementation Method 1

a cyclonic enclosure secured to the main body, and arranged to separate impurities from an air flow traversing the air circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCyclone separation: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

when devoid of accessories, the sole weight of the main body, which comprises electrical energy storage means, is sufficient to ensure the stability of the portable cyclonic vacuum cleaner on its support means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

an elastomeric material for shock absorption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3461383B1Handheld cyclonic vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 SEB SA
  • EP3461383B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3461383B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A portable cyclonic vacuum cleaner comprising: - a main body (10), - an air circuit including a suction air inlet (21) and an air outlet (22), - a cyclonic enclosure (30) integral with the main body (10), and arranged to separate impurities from an airflow passing through the air circuit, wherein the main body (10) and the cyclonic enclosure (30) each have a base, the base of the main body (10) comprising a principal lower surface (19) and support means forming a support plane for the vacuum cleaner to rest on a flat support (100), the base of the cyclonic enclosure (30) being offset from the support plane, such that only the support means of the base of the main body (10) rest on the flat support (100), characterized in that the support means comprise two longitudinal lateral ribs (16a, 16b) arranged on each side of the main lower surface (19) of the base of the main body (10)..