Vacuum cleaner, preferably hand vacuum cleaner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum cleaners require two pressure sensors to detect the fill level of the dust bag and adjust blower power, leading to increased costs, complexity, and energy consumption, especially in battery-operated models.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum cleaner with a single pressure sensor and a control unit that determines the dust container fill level based on the detected pressure and blower motor speed, eliminating the need for additional sensors and optimizing energy efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If two pressure sensors are used to detect dust container fill level and adjust blower power, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust container fill level detectionVSAvoidsensor system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the fill level detection function from a dual-pressure-sensor system and implements it using a single pressure sensor combined with blower motor speed measurement. The control unit calculates fill level by correlating pressure data with motor speed, eliminating the need for the second pressure sensor while maintaining detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/direct measurement approach of using two pressure sensors with a combined approach that uses pressure sensor data together with blower motor speed information. The control unit processes this combined data to determine fill level, substituting the need for a second physical pressure sensor with a computational method

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If two pressure sensors are installed to monitor fill level, then measurement precision is improved, but installation space and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefill level detectionVSAvoidsensor installation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the requirement for a second pressure sensor from the system design. By using the existing single pressure sensor in combination with blower motor speed data, the system achieves accurate fill level detection without requiring additional installation space for another sensor

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If two pressure sensors are used to detect fill level and control power, then dust collection performance is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust collection capacityVSAvoidelectrical energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system where the single pressure sensor continuously monitors pressure, and the control unit adjusts blower motor power based on the detected fill level. The system uses feedback from both pressure data and motor speed to optimize power consumption while maintaining effective dust collection throughout the dust container filling process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts blower motor power based on real-time fill level detection using the single pressure sensor. As the dust container fills and pressure changes, the system optimizes motor power output, preventing energy waste from operating at constant high power while ensuring adequate dust collection performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution reduces costs, installation space, and energy consumption while enabling accurate fill level detection and optimal dust absorption performance.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure sensor (19a) which is designed and configured to detect a pressure of the air flow in front of the dust container (19) in the course of the air flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure detection: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a blower (12) having an impeller for generating an air flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpeller-driven flow: Impeller

Implementation Method 3

an electric motor for driving the impeller of the blower

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4212082B1Vacuum cleaner, preferably hand vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 MIELE & CO KG
  • EP4212082B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner (1), preferably a handheld vacuum cleaner (1), with a blower (12) with an impeller for generating an airflow, with an electric motor (12a) for driving the impeller of the blower (12), with a control unit (17) for operating the electric motor (12a) of the blower (12), with a dust container (19) which is designed and configured to be flowed through by the airflow, wherein the dust container (19) is arranged in the course of the airflow in front of the blower (12), and with a pressure sensor (19a) which is designed and configured to detect a pressure of the airflow in the course of the airflow in front of the dust container (19).The vacuum cleaner (1) is characterized in that the control unit (17) is designed to determine a fill level of the dust container (19) and/or an attachment (14) based on the detected pressure of the pressure sensor (19a) and on the speed of the electric motor (12a) of the blower (12).