Internal Air Diffuser Cap Assembly for Vacuum Cleaner Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum cleaners generate high-speed airflows that produce disturbing noise levels, and existing solutions like mufflers or dedicated exhaust ports either fail to adequately reduce noise or complicate maintenance and servicing.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum cleaner design featuring a cap assembly with sound-influencing material, such as reticulated foam, that redirects and diffuses airflow from a blower port to an exhaust port, reducing noise levels and allowing for easy access and replacement of the material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a muffler is placed at the blower port to reduce noise during vacuum mode, then noise is dampened, but the muffler projects outward and becomes an inconvenient obstacle during vacuum mode operation
Solution Approach 1:
The sound-absorbent material is nested within the housing interior rather than projecting outward. The material is positioned in a recessed area inside the housing, allowing it to function as a muffler without creating an external obstacle that would interfere with operation or aesthetics.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sound-absorbent material is placed in a duct leading to the exhaust port to reduce noise, then noise is dampened, but access to the material is limited or prevented for maintenance and servicing
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into removable sections that provide access to the sound-absorbent material. The material is positioned in a location that can be accessed by removing or opening a portion of the housing, allowing for easy replacement or cleaning during maintenance while still providing noise reduction functionality.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a dedicated exhaust port is used to discharge airflow and prevent dust messes, then dust discharge is controlled, but the port shape and size must scatter airflow which may increase noise
Solution Approach 1:
The sound-absorbent material acts as an intermediary between the exhaust port and the discharged airflow. The material is positioned to intercept sound waves from the exhaust port before they propagate outward, allowing the exhaust port to maintain its dust-control function while the intermediate material reduces the resulting noise.
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 solution effectively reduces noise during vacuum cleaner mode operation while maintaining functionality in blower mode and facilitates maintenance by allowing easy access to the sound-influencing material.
Implementation Method 1
a sound-influencing material secured to the cap head and disposed within the flow path to reduce noise effected by the airflow
Implementation Method 2
The sound-influencing material may include reticulated foam to diffuse the airflow
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a vacuum cleaner having a housing defining a blower port, an exhaust port, and a flow path between the blower port and the exhaust port. The vacuum cleaner also includes a removable cap assembly for the blower port to direct discharge airflow via the flow path to the exhaust port. The removable cap assembly, in turn, includes a cap head that engages the blower port to close the blower port, a cap body coupled to the cap head and inserted in the flow path, the cap body comprising a frame through which the discharge airflow passes, and a sound-influencing material supported by the frame within the flow path to reduce noise effected by the discharge airflow. The sound-influencing material may include a reticulated foam roll disposed in the frame to diffuse the discharge airflow.