Sweeper Filter Pulse Cleaning With Minimal External Air

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sweepers require a large amount of external air to effectively clean filters, which can lead to dust contamination if not efficiently extracted, complicating the structural design and increasing the risk of air escape through the suction shaft.

Innovation Solution

The sweeper design positions an external air valve on a pressure vessel wall opposite the filter, allowing a pressure pulse to clean the filter with minimal external air, eliminating the need for extensive air supply lines and ensuring the air is sucked back by the suction fan, thus maintaining operation and preventing air escape.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large amount of external air is used to clean the filter, then the filter cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the risk of air escape through the suction shaft increases and the suction fan must work harder to extract the air

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter cleaning effectivenessVSAvoidair escape through suction shaft
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The air valve is positioned on the pressure vessel wall opposite the filter, creating a direct pressure pulse path through the suction channel section. This spatial arrangement delivers cleaning force from the opposite direction of normal airflow, enabling effective cleaning with minimal extraneous air that won't escape through the suction shaft

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

2Reliability

If extensive air supply lines are installed to deliver external air to the filter, then the filter can be cleaned, but the structural design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter cleaning capabilityVSAvoidair supply lines structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure vessel wall is integrated with the suction channel structure, eliminating the need for separate air supply lines. The suction channel itself serves as the delivery path for external air from the pressure vessel to the filter, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining cleaning functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The suction channel serves dual purposes: it functions as the normal airflow path during sweeping operation and simultaneously serves as the delivery channel for external air during filter cleaning. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated air supply lines

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

This design allows for effective filter cleaning with a minimal amount of extraneous air, simplifying the structural design, reducing the risk of air escape, and maintaining suction fan operation, while ensuring efficient dust management.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one filter can be subjected to a pressure pulse when the external air valve is briefly opened, which leads to mechanical cleaning of the filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure pulse: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

the sweeper has a suction fan which is in flow connection with the sweeping brush via a suction channel and a suction shaft. Dusty air can be extracted with the help of the suction fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Drop

Data Source

PatentEP2533677B1Power sweeper
Publication Date: 2014.04.23 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
  • EP2533677B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2533677B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2533677B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a sweeping machine, comprising a rotatably drivable sweeping brush and a swept product container and further comprising a suction fan, which is in flow connection with the sweeping brush for extracting dust-containing air, and at least one filter for separating dust from the extracted air, wherein for purification on the clean side the at least one filter can be supplied with pressurized external air stored in a pressure container by means of at least one external air valve. In order to develop the sweeping machine such that the at least one filter can be purified with the least amount of external air possible, according to the invention the pressure container comprises a pressure container wall, which is located opposite of the clean side of the at least one filter and on which the at least one external air valve is arranged, wherein a section of a suction channel extends between the pressure container wall and the clean side of the filter.