Nested Cyclone Dust Collector Design to Reduce Height and Passage Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum cleaners with multi-cyclone structures face issues such as increased height, reduced dust collection volume, inefficient air flow between cyclones, and poor separation of fine dust due to interference and decreased suction power, as well as inconvenient dust discharge processes.

Innovation Solution

A dust collector design that accommodates a second cyclone within a first cyclone, utilizing guide vanes to enhance rotational flow and air introduction, and a vortex finder to separate fine dust, while allowing for simultaneous discharge of dust and fine dust through a dual storage unit system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a multi-cyclone structure is used to improve dust collection performance, then cleaning performance is improved, but the height of the dust collector increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidheight of dust collector
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The second cyclone is disposed inside the first cyclone, creating a nested configuration where the inner cyclone is positioned within the outer cyclone's housing space. This nesting arrangement allows multiple cyclones to function simultaneously while maintaining a compact overall height, resolving the contradiction between improved cleaning performance and increased height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Length of stationary object

If the dust collector is designed with a slim profile to reduce height, then height is reduced, but the volume for dust collection decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight of dust collectorVSAvoiddust collection volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By nesting the second cyclone within the first cyclone's housing space, the design utilizes the vertical and radial space more efficiently. The first cyclone housing accommodates both the second cyclone and the dust collection chamber, allowing sufficient dust collection volume to be maintained while keeping the overall collector height compact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Productivity

If air passes through the first cyclone to improve dust separation, then dust is separated, but the flow speed of air decreases making it unable to be efficiently introduced into the second cyclone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust separationVSAvoidflow speed of air
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

A guide passage is provided as an intermediary structure to facilitate the transition of air from the first cyclone to the second cyclone. The guide passage is configured to maintain air flow speed and directional control, ensuring that air efficiently enters the second cyclone's tangential inlet after passing through the first cyclone, thus preserving the rotational force needed for fine dust separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If a guide passage is installed for tangential air introduction in a cyclone structure, then air introduction is improved, but the size of the cyclone decreases increasing passage loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair introduction efficiencyVSAvoidpassage loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The guide passage is designed with optimized geometric parameters including smooth transitions and appropriate curvature radii to minimize flow separation and turbulence. By carefully controlling the passage dimensions and angles, the design achieves efficient tangential air introduction while reducing flow resistance and energy loss, thus resolving the contradiction between improved air introduction and reduced passage loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 reduces the overall height of the dust collector without compromising cleaning performance, improves air flow efficiency between cyclones, and facilitates easy and simultaneous discharge of dust and fine dust, enhancing the separation and collection capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

a first cyclone disposed within an outer case to filter out dust from air introduced from an outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

a second cyclone accommodated in the inside of the first cyclone to separate fine dust from the air introduced to the inside of the first cyclone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3603474B1Dust collector for vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3603474B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3603474B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3603474B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a dust collector for a vacuum cleaner, including a first cyclone disposed within an outer case to filter out dust from air introduced from an outside thereof and introduce the air from which dust has been filtered out to an inside thereof, a second cyclone accommodated in the inside of the first cyclone to separate fine dust from the air introduced to the inside of the first cyclone, a first guide vane spirally extended from an annular shaped first space between the first and the second cyclone to induce rotational flow so as to introduce air introduced into the first space to an inlet of the second cyclone, and a second guide vane spirally extended along an inner circumference of the inlet to enhance the rotational flow of air introduced to an inside of the second cyclone through the inlet.