Sound reducing vacuum cleaner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum cleaners face challenges in reducing noise levels while maintaining suction performance, as existing noise-reducing technologies often compromise airflow efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The vacuum cleaner incorporates a duct with sound-reducing baffles and a removable cap that allows for operation in both vacuum and blower modes, with the cap covering the blower port to direct airflow through the duct, reducing noise without significant loss of suction efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If sound reducing material is added to the vacuum cleaner, then noise levels are reduced, but suction airflow efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise levelsVSAvoidsuction airflow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum cleaner is divided into two operational modes: vacuum mode (with sound reducing material in place) and blower mode (with cap removed). This segmentation allows the system to optimize for noise reduction when needed while maintaining airflow efficiency when the cap is removed, resolving the contradiction by providing context-dependent performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The removable cap creates a dynamic system where the configuration can be changed based on operational needs. When the cap is removed, airflow efficiency is restored; when attached, noise reduction is achieved. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to switch between optimizing for noise or airflow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a removable cap is added to enable mode switching, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevacuum and blower mode capabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum cleaner housing serves multiple functions: it acts as both a vacuum cleaner and a blower. The removable cap enables the same housing to perform different operations (vacuum mode with cap, blower mode without cap), achieving multi-functionality without requiring separate devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The cap is designed as a separate, removable component that can be taken out when blower mode is needed. This extraction approach allows the system to gain versatility while keeping the added complexity minimal and isolated to a single removable part rather than integrating complexity into the main housing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 effectively reduces noise levels to less than 66 dBa while maintaining over 90% suction airflow efficiency, allowing for versatile use as both a vacuum and blower.

Implementation Method 1

The sound reducing baffles include sound reducing material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

The suction source is operable to generate the suction airflow through the suction inlet and the diffuser

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3840624B1Sound reducing vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2024.10.02 MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORP
  • EP3840624B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3840624B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3840624B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A vacuum cleaner including a suction inlet that provides entrance of a suction airflow, a suction source, a diffuser, a blower port, a duct, and a removable cap. The diffuser is in fluid communication with the suction source for diffusing the suction airflow and the diffuser includes a circumferential opening that surrounds the suction source such that the suction airflow travels through the opening into the diffuser. The duct is located downstream of the blower port with respect to the direction of the suction airflow and the duct includes an outlet. The cap is removably coupled to the blower port such that at least a portion of the suction airflow exhausts through the blower port when the cap is removed, and when the cap is coupled to the blower port the suction airflow is travels through the duct and exhausts through the outlet.