Rotatable Filter Unit with Cleaning Cams for Vacuum Cleaners

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filter units in mobile cleaning devices, such as vacuum cleaners, suffer from complex and damage-prone designs, leading to reduced suction power and high differential pressures due to particle buildup, which are not adequately addressed by current pneumatic and mechanical cleaning methods.

Innovation Solution

A filter unit with a support body and filter medium that are rotatable relative to each other, featuring a grid structure with cleaning cams that deform and deflect the filter medium to dislodge particles, while ensuring mechanical resilience and stability, with guide edges providing minimal friction and support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If mechanical cleaning methods with contact elements are used to clean the filter medium, then particles can be detached from the filter surface, but the design becomes complex and damage-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid throughputVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical cleaning systems with a simple relative rotation mechanism between the support body and filter medium. The cleaning cams on the support body interact with the filter medium through controlled deformation during rotation, eliminating the need for complex mounting structures and sensitive contact element positioning while maintaining effective particle detachment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces dynamic relative rotation between the support body and filter medium, allowing the cleaning cams to periodically contact and deform the filter medium during rotation. This dynamic approach replaces static complex mechanical cleaning systems with a simple rotational motion that achieves effective cleaning through controlled filter medium deformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the support body is made robust with a grid structure, then mechanical resilience is improved, but the design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical robustnessVSAvoidsupport body complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a grid structure on the support body that provides mechanical robustness while maintaining simplicity. The grid pattern distributes stresses effectively and allows the support body to be manufactured as a single robust component without complex internal mechanisms, achieving reliability through structural design rather than mechanical complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Stability of the object's composition

If guide edges are added to support the filter medium, then stability is improved, but friction increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter medium stabilityVSAvoidfriction
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide edges are strategically positioned only where needed to provide stability during rotation, rather than completely enclosing the filter medium. This localized approach provides necessary support and stability while minimizing contact area and friction, allowing the filter medium to rotate freely where guidance is not required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 maintains high fluid throughput by effectively removing particles from the filter medium, reducing differential pressure, and enhancing the mechanical robustness and stability of the filter unit, thus preventing damage and maintaining suction power.

Implementation Method 1

the support body and the filter medium can be rotated relative to each other about an axis of rotation and the support body comprises one or more cleaning cams which are arranged to mechanically clean the filter medium when the support body and filter medium are rotated relative to each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical deformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

the support body has a grid structure at least partially surrounding the axis of rotation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical support: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

the support body has one or more partially or completely circumferential guide edges which bear against contact segments of the filter medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4129139B1Filter unit for mobile cleaning apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 MIELE & CO KG
  • EP4129139B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4129139B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4129139B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a filter unit (10) for a mobile cleaning device, in particular for a vacuum cleaner, with a support body (16) and a circumferential filter medium (12) supported by the support body (16), wherein the support body (16) and the filter medium (12) are rotatable relative to each other about a rotation axis (24) and the support body (16) comprises one or more cleaning cams (30) which are arranged to mechanically clean the filter medium (12) when the support body (16) and the filter medium (12) are rotated relative to each other.