cleaner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand-held vacuum cleaners face challenges in reducing the discharge of foreign substances and improving filtering performance without altering their internal structure, which leads to a deterioration in suction performance over time due to filter clogging.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a filter mechanism with a first and second filter unit spaced apart to increase filtering area, allowing air to be filtered by both units, and a flow guide to surround the motor housing, enhancing dust filtering efficiency without changing the cleaner's structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the area of the filter is increased to improve filtering performance and reduce foreign substance discharge, then the filtering capability is improved, but the internal structure of the cleaner must be changed which increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering performanceVSAvoidinternal structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter member is disposed inside the motor housing, nesting the filtering component within the existing motor housing structure. This allows the filter to be accommodated without requiring additional external space or major structural changes to the cleaner body, thereby improving filtering performance while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter member extends in the axial direction of the motor housing, utilizing the vertical space within the existing housing rather than expanding horizontally. This dimensional approach allows increased filter area without altering the overall footprint or requiring structural redesign of the cleaner body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the filter area is increased to reduce deterioration of suction performance over time, then suction performance durability is improved, but the cleaner body structure must be altered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction performance durabilityVSAvoidcleaner body structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter member is nested within the motor housing, utilizing the existing structural space. This configuration allows the filter to accumulate more filtering capacity over time without requiring changes to the cleaner body structure, thereby extending suction performance durability while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter member is pre-positioned within the motor housing to maximize filtering capacity before operation begins. This preliminary configuration ensures that the filter can handle accumulated dust and foreign substances throughout the cleaner's operational life without requiring structural modifications later.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If a single filter unit is used, then the structure is simple, but the filtering area is insufficient leading to foreign substance discharge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter structureVSAvoidfiltering area
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The filter member is divided into a first filter unit and a second filter unit spaced apart from each other within the motor housing. This segmentation increases the total filtering area and improves foreign substance capture capability while maintaining relatively simple construction, as both units are integrated into the existing housing without requiring complex assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first and second filter units are combined within the single motor housing structure, merging multiple filtering functions into one integrated component. This approach increases the effective filtering area while avoiding the need for separate housing structures, thereby maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration increases the filter area, improves dust filtering efficiency, and reduces the deterioration of suction performance over time by effectively capturing foreign substances without altering the cleaner's structure, thus minimizing the discharge of foreign substances.

Implementation Method 1

a suction motor accommodated in the main body and configured to generate suction force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

a filter mechanism disposed between the motor housing and the flow guide and including a filter member configured to filter dust contained in introduced air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

a centrifugal separation device... Foreign substance contained in the air suctioned through the suction hole may be collected into an upstream cyclone by the centrifugal separation device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentEP3788925B1cleaner
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3788925B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3788925B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3788925B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cleaner of the present invention includes: a main body which has an opening therein; a suction motor which is accommodated in the main body and generates a suction force; an opening cover which is detachably coupled to the main body and covers the opening; a motor housing which surrounds the suction motor; a flow guide which is disposed to surround at least a portion of the motor housing and spaced apart from the motor housing; and a filter mechanism which is disposed between the motor housing and the flow guide and includes a filter member for filtering dust in inflowing air, wherein the filter member is disposed to surround the motor housing, and the filter member comprises a first filter part and a second filter unit spaced apart from each other in a direction intersecting the first filter part.