Nested Cyclone Hand Vacuum Design for Compact Dirt Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand vacuum cleaners with cyclonic cleaning stages are bulky and difficult to maneuver, limiting their ability to clean tight spaces effectively.
Innovation Solution
A hand vacuum cleaner design featuring a multistage cyclone system with a first stage cyclone and a second stage cyclone nested within the first, along with a screen surrounding the second stage to enhance airflow and reduce backpressure, allowing for a more compact and maneuverable device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional hand vacuum cleaner uses a cyclonic cleaning stage, then dirt separation effectiveness is improved, but the device size and weight increase making it bulky and difficult to maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested cyclone configuration where a second-stage cyclone is positioned inside the first-stage cyclone chamber. The inner cyclone's separation chamber is surrounded by the outer cyclone's chamber, creating a compact nested structure that maintains effective dirt separation while reducing overall device size and improving maneuverability
2Reliability
If the cyclone chamber length is increased to improve dirt separation, then separation effectiveness is improved, but the device volume increases reducing compactness
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting the second-stage cyclone inside the first-stage cyclone chamber, the patent achieves extended separation functionality without proportionally increasing volume. The inner cyclone utilizes the space within the outer cyclone's chamber, creating a compact multi-stage separation system that maintains effectiveness while minimizing device size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-stage linear cyclone design to a multi-stage nested configuration, effectively adding a spatial dimension to the separation process. This allows the system to achieve improved separation effectiveness without a proportional increase in overall device volume by utilizing three-dimensional space more efficiently
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 compact design enables better access to corners and reduces weight, improving cleaning efficiency and usability in tight spaces while maintaining effective dirt separation.
Implementation Method 1
a first stage cyclone having a first stage cyclone chamber, a first stage cyclone air inlet, a first stage cyclone air outlet and a first stage longitudinal cyclone axis about which the air rotates in the first stage cyclone chamber
Implementation Method 2
a second stage cyclone downstream from the first stage cyclone and at least substantially nested in the first stage cyclone, the second stage cyclone having a second stage cyclone chamber, a plurality of second stage cyclone air inlets, a second stage cyclone air outlet and a second stage longitudinal cyclone axis about which the air rotates in the second stage cyclone chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A hand vacuum cleaner has a first air treatment stage comprising a first stage air treatment chamber and a first stage longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the first air treatment stage and a second air treatment stage downstream from the first stage air treatment chamber, the second air treatment stage a second stage air treatment chamber and a second stage dirt collection chamber that is exterior to the second stage air treatment chamber. The second stage dirt collection chamber extends forward of the second stage air treatment chamber. A plane that is transverse to the first stage longitudinal axis extends through the first stage air treatment chamber and the second stage dirt collection chamber, and the first stage air treatment chamber and the second stage dirt collection chamber are concurrently openable.