Pivoting Debris Collector Housing for Impeller Cleaning Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing debris collectors face inefficiencies due to bulky and difficult-to-clean rotary valves, adhered debris on impellers and passageways, and complex designs requiring dismantling for maintenance, which reduces collection efficiency and increases operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A debris collector design featuring a pivotably mounted housing to expose the impeller and duct for cleaning, a slide valve for air flow control, and a telescopic duct system with interengageable locking mechanisms, allowing for easy access and maintenance without dismantling, and a nozzle with smooth surfaces to reduce debris adherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rotary valve is used to divert air stream in a debris collector, then the device can operate in both vac and blow modes, but the rotary valve becomes bulky and difficult to clean, reducing collection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into a fixed base portion and a pivotable upper portion, allowing the upper portion to be rotated away from the base to expose the impeller and passageways for cleaning. This segmentation enables easy access to previously difficult-to-reach areas without requiring complete disassembly of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing upper portion is designed to be pivotable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic reconfiguration of the housing to expose internal components. This dynamic design enables the housing to transition between a closed operational state and an open cleaning state, improving accessibility to the impeller and passageways.
2Productivity
If debris adheres to the impeller and passageways, then collection efficiency is reduced, but removal of adhered debris requires dismantling the machine
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into fixed and pivotable portions, allowing the pivotable portion to be rotated away to expose the impeller and passageways. This segmentation enables direct access to surfaces where debris adheres, allowing cleaning without dismantling the entire machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables the operator to perform maintenance cleaning of the impeller and passageways independently without requiring disassembly of the machine. The pivotable housing allows self-service cleaning by simply rotating the housing portion away to expose the components.
3Volume of moving object
If the housing is made fixed and closed, then the structure is more compact, but access to the impeller and duct for cleaning is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The housing upper portion is designed to pivot relative to the base rather than being permanently fixed. This dynamic design allows the housing to maintain a compact closed structure during operation while enabling easy rotation to expose internal components for cleaning and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is segmented into a fixed base and a pivotable upper portion that can be rotated away. This segmentation allows the device to maintain a compact overall form while providing accessible exposure of the impeller and passageways when the upper portion is rotated to its open position.
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
Enhances debris collection efficiency by simplifying maintenance, reducing debris adherence, and allowing operation in both 'vac' and 'blow' modes with improved accessibility and compact packaging.
Implementation Method 1
an impeller for establishing a flow of air
Implementation Method 2
loose material entrained in a stream of air generated by the impeller
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A debris collector comprises a chassis (1) and an impeller (14) for establishing a flow of air. A duct (4, 5) is supported by the chassis (1) for conveying loose material entrained in a stream of air generated by the impeller (14) towards a proximal region of the duct from a collection mouth (10) at a distal end thereof. The impeller (14) is mounted in a housing (3) at the proximal end of the duct (4, 5), the housing being pivotably attached to the chassis (1) in such a manner that pivotal movement of the housing away from the chassis exposes the impeller and the downstream end of the duct (4, 5) for cleaning purposes.