Pleated Vacuum Filter Cleaning for Stable Suction Power

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vacuum cleaners experience progressive clogging of filters, leading to reduced suction power and frequent maintenance needs, including user intervention that can be hazardous due to fine dust exposure and complex operations.

Innovation Solution

A cyclonic vacuum cleaner with a pleated tubular filter and a geared motor-driven unclogging mechanism that reduces user intervention and maintains constant performance by automatically managing filter clogging through circular movement of mechanical biasing elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pleated paper filter is used for particle separation, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but filter clogging occurs progressively leading to suction power loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration effectivenessVSAvoidsuction power
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The filtration system is divided into two independent stages: primary filtration using a cyclone separator for coarse particles, and secondary filtration using a pleated paper filter for fine particles. This segmentation allows the pleated filter to handle only fine particles, reducing clogging frequency while maintaining high filtration effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cyclone separator performs preliminary separation of coarse particles before air enters the pleated filter. By removing larger particles in advance, the pleated filter experiences less rapid clogging, thereby maintaining suction power for longer periods while ensuring effective fine particle filtration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the filter medium is replaced when saturated, then filtration performance is restored, but user exposure to fine dust and maintenance complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration performanceVSAvoidmaintenance safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system includes an automated reverse airflow mechanism that periodically cleans the pleated filter by reversing the airflow direction. This self-service function removes accumulated dust without user intervention, eliminating exposure to fine dust during maintenance and restoring filtration performance automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The filter cleaning operation occurs periodically through reverse airflow cycles rather than requiring continuous manual maintenance. This periodic automated cleaning ensures filtration performance is restored at regular intervals while keeping users away from hazardous fine dust environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If a cyclone separator is used for waste separation, then coarse particle removal efficiency is improved, but fine particle filtration requires additional components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoarse particle removal efficiencyVSAvoidfiltration assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cyclone separator and pleated filter are merged into a single integrated filtration assembly where the cyclone handles coarse particles and the pleated filter handles fine particles in sequence. This combination achieves both coarse and fine particle removal efficiently while maintaining a compact structure that does not significantly increase overall device complexity.

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

The solution significantly reduces maintenance operations, minimizes filter replacement costs, maintains constant suction power, and improves user hygiene by automating the unclogging process, ensuring efficient and safe operation.

Implementation Method 1

a separation of the cyclonic type or by inertia, to eliminate the waste... the flow of air in the separation chamber, due to its tangential arrival, and due to its evacuation in the central part of the separation chamber, describes a swirling path favorable to the separation of the waste

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 2

The depollution of the air is carried out through said filter made of paper or non-woven material which mechanically traps the particles above the pores of the filtering medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP1959809B1Filter cleaning device for a vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2014.05.21 SEB SA
  • EP1959809B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1959809B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1959809B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a waste separation device for a vacuum cleaner including a filtration system. The inventive device comprises a folded filter (13) and a device (14) for cleaning the filter (13), said cleaning device (14) having at least one mechanical biasing element (23) which rests on the wall of the filter (13). According to the invention, either the filter (13) can move in relation to the mechanical biasing elements (23) or vice versa.The invention is characterised in that the separation device comprises a secondary separation device which is disposed downstream of a primary filtration system and in that a motor-reduction unit (10) automatically performs a relative mechanical movement between the mechanical biasing elements (23) and the filter (13).