Radial-Suction Air Cleaner Layout for Wider Indoor Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air cleaners have limited capacity and reliability due to structural resistance and directional suction, leading to incomplete air purification in indoor spaces, with increased noise and inconvenience from enhanced fan performance.

Innovation Solution

The air cleaner design incorporates dual blowing devices with cylindrical cases and radial suction ports, a flow adjusting device, and a dividing mechanism to improve suction capacity and air distribution, allowing air to be suctioned from multiple directions and discharged in various directions, including forward and lateral directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If fan blowing amount is increased to improve air purification performance, then air purification capacity is improved, but noise increases and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair purification capacityVSAvoidproduct reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the blowing function into multiple fans (first blowing fan and second blowing fan) positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high air purification capacity through coordinated operation of multiple fans rather than overloading a single fan, thus maintaining reliability while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If single blowing fan is used to simplify device structure, then device complexity is reduced, but air purification coverage is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair purification coverageVSAvoidfan configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple blowing fans and multiple discharge ports into an integrated system. The first blowing fan discharges air through the first discharge port, while the second blowing fan discharges air through the second discharge port, creating comprehensive air purification coverage throughout the indoor space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If rectangular parallelepiped case is used for compact structure, then ease of manufacture is improved, but suction capacity is reduced due to structural resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction capacityVSAvoidcase structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a cylindrical case structure instead of a rectangular parallelepiped. The cylindrical shape eliminates corner portions that create structural resistance, enabling air to be suctioned more efficiently from all directions around the device, thereby significantly improving suction capacity while remaining manufacturable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Adaptability or versatility

If air discharge is limited to upward direction to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but air cleaning function is limited to area around cleaner

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair cleaning coverageVSAvoiddischarge direction control
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from single-direction (upward) air discharge to multi-directional discharge by positioning discharge ports at different locations and orientations. The first discharge port discharges air upward, while the second discharge port discharges air in a different direction, enabling purified air to reach various areas of the indoor space effectively.

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

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 enhances air purification coverage and reliability by increasing suction capacity, reducing structural resistance, and improving air distribution, allowing for effective air cleaning in larger indoor spaces with reduced noise and user convenience.

Implementation Method 1

a blower that introduces outside air into the air cleaner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFan: Fan

Implementation Method 2

cylindrical cases and radial suction ports, a flow adjusting device, and a dividing mechanism to improve suction capacity and air distribution, allowing air to be suctioned from multiple directions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadial flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3628937A1Air cleaner
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3628937A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3628937A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3628937A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air cleaner is provided. The air cleaner may include a first air cleaning module including a first fan, a first filter, and a first inlet through which air is suctioned in a radial into the first filter; a second air cleaning module provided over the first air cleaner including a second fan, a second filter, and a second inlet through which air is suctioned in the radial direction to the second filter; and an air flow controller coupled with the second air cleaning module and including a third fan to control a flow of the air discharged from the second air cleaning module.