Sweeper Recirculation System for Fine Dust Separation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sweepers inadequately separate finer components like fine dust from the transport air, leading to their re-release into the atmosphere, which is undesirable.

Innovation Solution

The sweeper design incorporates a recirculation system where the pressure-side line system is connected to the suction-side line system, allowing for the partial recirculation of exhaust air, enhancing the separation of fine dust and improving cleaning performance by feeding cleaner air back into the atmosphere.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the transport air is completely blown out after some dirt components are deposited, then the sweeper structure is simple, but finer components like fine dust are not sufficiently separated and are fed back into the atmosphere

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesweeper structureVSAvoidfine dust re-release
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism by connecting the pressure-side line system back to the suction-side line system, creating a recirculation path where exhaust air is fed back to the inlet. This allows the system to repeatedly pass air through the separation components (rubbish container and filter), progressively removing finer dust particles through multiple cycles of deposition and filtration, thereby reducing fine dust re-release without significantly increasing structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The recirculation system enables continuous and repeated action of the separation process. Instead of a single pass where coarse particles are removed, the exhaust air is continuously recirculated through the rubbish container and filter, allowing multiple passes that progressively separate and remove finer dust components from the air stream, maintaining useful separation action throughout the operating cycle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Object-generated harmful factors

If a recirculation system is implemented to separate fine dust, then cleaning performance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefine dust separationVSAvoidair line system
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the recirculation function with the existing air line system by connecting the pressure-side line system to the suction-side line system using a flap-controlled valve. This integration allows the recirculation of exhaust air back to the inlet through the existing infrastructure (rubbish container, filter, fan), avoiding the need for entirely separate recirculation components and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved fine dust separation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If more transport air is recirculated to improve separation, then fine dust removal is enhanced, but the quantity of air that needs to be processed increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefine dust removalVSAvoidtransport air volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The recirculation system creates a feedback loop where exhaust air is fed back to the inlet, allowing the same air to be processed multiple times. This enables enhanced fine dust removal through repeated passage through the separation components without requiring a proportional increase in total air volume, as the recirculated air undergoes multiple cycles of filtration and deposition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic recirculation of exhaust air back to the inlet through the flap-controlled valve. This periodic action allows the air to be cycled through the rubbish container and filter multiple times, progressively removing finer dust particles with each cycle, thereby achieving improved separation efficiency without continuously increasing the total quantity of air that must be processed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 recirculation significantly improves the cleaning performance by effectively separating fine dust and other fine components, ensuring a higher purity of air released back into the atmosphere.

Implementation Method 1

The blower is used to suck in transport air loaded with rubbish by means of an inlet of a nozzle arrangement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

the transport air is completely blown out again after some of the dirt components have been deposited in the garbage container or filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

the pressure-side line system can be connected or is connected to the suction-side line system, so that at least part of the transport air in the pressure-side line system can be fed to the suction-side line system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRecirculation:

Implementation Method 4

If necessary, the transport air with the fine components is passed through a filter and then fed to the blower

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP1780340B1Sweeping apparatus and method of operating the same
Publication Date: 2013.07.03 FAUN VIATEC
  • EP1780340B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP1780340B1 patent drawingFigure 1b~1c
  • EP1780340B1 patent drawingFigure 1d

AI summary

The pressure side ductwork can be connected with that of the suction side, so at least some of the conveying airflow in the pressure side, is supplied to the suction side. The suction side (21) of the blower (20) is connected to an inlet through which the conveying air is drawn in from the surroundings during operation of the blower. The pressure side of the blower is connected to an outlet through which conveying air is delivered to the surroundings during operation. The connecting section includes a flap valve, allowing the returned airflow to be varied. An independent claim is included for the corresponding method.