Suction device for a home vacuum cleaner

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Solution Overview

Problem

The heavy weight of the suction motor in domestic vacuum cleaners causes axial asymmetry and increased noise due to compression and stretching of damping elements, leading to inefficient decoupling of the vacuum motor from the housing.

Innovation Solution

A suction device with a suspension system featuring S-shaped damping elements and a compensating spring to maintain optimal decoupling and reduce vibration transfer, while keeping manufacturing costs low.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If heavy suction motor is used to generate sufficient suction flow, then suction power is improved, but noise increases and decoupling performance deteriorates due to compression and stretching of damping elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction powerVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a compensating spring that acts as a counterweight system to balance the heavy suction motor. The spring is positioned to oppose the gravitational force on the motor, creating a balanced suspension system that reduces the net load on damping elements and minimizes vibration transfer to the housing, thereby reducing noise while maintaining the motor's suction power capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Power

If heavy suction motor is used to generate sufficient suction flow, then suction power is improved, but decoupling performance deteriorates due to axial asymmetry of stresses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction powerVSAvoiddecoupling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The compensating spring creates a counterbalancing force that offsets the asymmetric gravitational stress on the motor. This balancing action distributes the load more evenly across the suspension system, preventing axial asymmetry in the damping elements and maintaining effective decoupling performance while preserving the motor's power output

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Reliability

If flexible damping elements are used to reduce vibration transfer, then decoupling performance is improved, but load-bearing capacity decreases under heavy motor weight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoupling performanceVSAvoidload-bearing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The compensating spring serves as a load-bearing element that bears the heavy motor weight through its elastic properties. This allows the damping elements to remain flexible and focused on vibration isolation, while the spring handles the gravitational load, thereby maintaining both decoupling performance and load-bearing capacity simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

4Reliability

If compensating spring is added to balance motor weight, then decoupling performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoupling performanceVSAvoidsuspension system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compensating spring is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it balances the motor weight, supports the motor structure, and contributes to the overall suspension and vibration isolation system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved decoupling performance

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

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 decouples the suction motor from the vacuum cleaner housing, reducing noise and maintaining flexibility in damping elements, thus enhancing the overall performance and cost-effectiveness of the suction device.

Implementation Method 1

the suspension system comprises furthermore at least one compensating spring configured to compensate the weight of the vacuum motor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

each damping element having a generally S-shaped cross-section... use very flexible damping elements and therefore to limit the transfer of vibrations generated by the suction motor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 3

a suction motor disposed in the motor casing and configured to generate a suction flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3626146B1Suction device for a home vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 SEB SA
  • EP3626146B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3626146B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3626146B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The suction device (12) includes a motor housing (13); a suction motor (15) disposed in the motor housing (13) and configured to generate a suction flow; an air sealing element (18) comprising a first annular sealing portion (19) configured to cooperate hermetically with the motor housing (13), and a second annular sealing portion (21) configured to cooperate hermetically with the suction motor (15); and a suspension system (43) configured to support the suction motor (15), the suspension system (43) comprising a plurality of damping elements (45) distributed around the suction motor (15) and at least one compensating spring configured to compensate for the weight of the suction motor (15), each damping element (45) having a generally S-shaped cross-section.