Multi-inlet cyclone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reducing the size and weight of hand vacuum cleaners while maintaining air flow efficiency is challenging due to increased back-pressure from reduced cross-sectional flow areas, which can decrease cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The cyclone of a surface cleaning apparatus features thinner wall portions, such as a vortex finder with a radial thickness of 0.001 to 0.025 inches, increasing the cross-sectional flow area and reducing back-pressure, and may include a porous screen with laser-cut or chemically etched openings to enhance air flow without increasing the cyclone's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the dimensions of the cyclone are reduced to decrease size and weight, then the cyclone diameter is reduced, but the cross-sectional flow area is reduced which increases back-pressure and reduces air flow efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different portions of the cyclone walls have different thicknesses. Specifically, the inlet portion and outlet portion have reduced wall thickness (0.001 to 0.06 inches) compared to other portions, creating localized thin-walled regions that increase cross-sectional flow area at critical locations without requiring a complete redesign of the entire cyclone structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the wall thickness parameter of the cyclone from conventional uniform thickness to a variable thickness profile. The thin-walled inlet and outlet portions (0.001 to 0.06 inches) represent a parameter change that increases flow area and reduces back-pressure, allowing the cyclone to maintain air flow efficiency despite overall size reduction.
2Productivity
If the wall thickness of cyclone portions is reduced to increase cross-sectional flow area, then back-pressure is reduced, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different portions of the cyclone walls have different thicknesses. Specifically, the inlet portion and outlet portion have reduced wall thickness (0.001 to 0.06 inches) compared to other portions, creating localized thin-walled regions that increase cross-sectional flow area at critical locations without requiring a complete redesign of the entire cyclone structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by reducing wall thickness only in specific critical areas (inlet and outlet portions) rather than throughout the entire cyclone structure. This selective thinning provides sufficient flow area increase where needed while maintaining adequate wall thickness in other areas to preserve overall structural integrity.
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 air flow efficiency and reduces back-pressure, maintaining cleaning performance while minimizing the cyclone's size and weight, and allows for a larger air flow area without increasing the vacuum cleaner's dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
a cyclone chamber in communication with the cyclone chamber inlet end and the cyclone chamber air outlet, the cyclone chamber having a generally inverted conical configuration extending along a cyclone chamber central axis from the cyclone chamber inlet end to the cyclone chamber outlet end
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a cyclone positioned in an air flow path. The cyclone has a cyclone chamber with a thin walled porous outlet member.