Multi-Inlet Cyclone with Thin-Wall Design to Reduce Back-Pressure
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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 lead to decreased 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 the wall portions (particularly the vortex finder and inlet portions) thinner than other parts of the cyclone. This allows the cyclone to maintain a compact overall size while creating localized areas of increased flow capacity where needed most, thereby reducing back-pressure without increasing the cyclone's external dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the wall thickness parameter of specific cyclone components from conventional thicknesses to thinner dimensions (e.g., vortex finder wall thickness of 0.001 to 0.025 inches). This parameter change increases the cross-sectional flow area available for air flow, reducing back-pressure and maintaining air flow efficiency despite the reduced cyclone size.
2Productivity
If the wall thickness of cyclone components 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 selectively thinning only specific wall portions (vortex finder, inlet portions) where flow area is most critical, while maintaining adequate wall thickness in other areas to preserve structural strength. This localized approach optimizes the strength-to-flow-area ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by using thin-walled metal components (such as aluminum or stainless steel) that provide sufficient structural strength despite reduced thickness. These metal components can be integrated with other cyclone parts to create a composite structure that maintains both strength and flow efficiency.
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 porous screen with laser-cut or chemically etched openings to enhance air flow
Implementation Method 2
a cyclone positioned in the air flow path, the cyclone having an interior volume defining a cyclone chamber
Implementation Method 3
a centrally positioned cyclone axis of rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a cyclone positioned in an air flow path. The cyclone has a cyclone chamber, a cyclone chamber inlet body provided at a cyclone chamber inlet end, a cyclone main body comprising an opposed end wall axially spaced apart from the cyclone chamber inlet end, and a plurality of cyclone chamber inlets provided at the cyclone chamber inlet end. The cyclone chamber inlet body comprises a cyclone chamber inlet end wall and a plurality of spaced apart sidewall portions extending around at least a portion of a radial outer perimeter of the cyclone chamber inlet body. The sidewall portions may have a radial thickness of 0.001 to 0.06 inches.