System comprising a vacuum cleaner and a base station, vacuum cleaner, base station, and method for emptying a dust chamber of a vacuum cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaner systems with base stations face inefficiencies in emptying dust chambers, often requiring additional fans or complex air flow management, which can lead to odor escape and noise pollution, and do not effectively clean filters during the process.
Innovation Solution
A system where the vacuum cleaner's fan produces both suction and compressed air flows, allowing for efficient emptying of the dust chamber into a base station without additional fans, and enables simultaneous filter cleaning by reversing air flow through the filter, using a passive base station design that reduces electronic components and maintains a closed air circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If additional fans are used in the base station to produce air flow for emptying the dust chamber, then the emptying efficiency is improved, but the device complexity and number of electronic components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum cleaner's fan is designed to perform multiple functions: it generates suction air flow during normal operation and compressed air flow during dust chamber emptying. By redirecting the air flow path through different valves and channels, the same fan serves both cleaning and self-maintenance functions, eliminating the need for a separate fan in the base station.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum cleaner performs self-emptying of its dust chamber using its own fan-generated compressed air flow. The system is designed to autonomously direct the air flow through the dust chamber and into the base station's dust container without requiring external assistance from additional fans or electronic components in the base station.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the air flow is not returned back into the vacuum cleaner through the base station, then the base station design is simplified, but odor escape and noise pollution occur
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow path is designed to return the exhausted air from the dust chamber back into the vacuum cleaner through the base station. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that odors and noise are contained within the vacuum cleaner system rather than being released into the environment, while the base station serves as the return pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station acts as an intermediary component that facilitates the return of air flow from the dust chamber to the vacuum cleaner. It provides the necessary connection and pathway for the air to circulate back, serving as a mediator between the dust chamber emptying process and the vacuum cleaner's internal air management system.
3Productivity
If the air flow is not directed through the filter during emptying, then the emptying process is simpler, but the filter is not cleaned during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The dust chamber emptying process and filter cleaning function are merged into a single integrated operation. The same compressed air flow that empties the dust chamber is also directed through the filter to clean it, combining two maintenance functions into one process without requiring separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow path is designed to continuously pass through the filter during the dust chamber emptying process, ensuring that the filter is constantly cleaned whenever the dust chamber is being emptied. This continuous action ensures both functions are performed simultaneously without interruption.
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 solution allows for efficient dust chamber emptying and filter cleaning within a closed air flow circuit, preventing odor escape and noise pollution, while reducing the need for additional fans and electronic components, and enabling continuous air flow cleaning through the filter.
Implementation Method 1
a fan for producing the suction air flow
Implementation Method 2
the air flow used to empty the dust chamber can be produced by the fan for producing the suction air flow and can be blown into the dust chamber
Implementation Method 3
a dust chamber comprising a filter for holding dirt and/or dust
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprising a vacuum cleaner and a base station, wherein the vacuum cleaner has a suction opening for sucking up dirt and/or dust from a floor by a suction air flow, a fan for producing the suction air flow, a dust chamber for holding dirt and/or dust, and an air outlet opening such that air sucked in together with the dirt and/or dust can be discharged again. The base station can be connected to the vacuum cleaner in such a way that the dust chamber can be emptied into the base station by means of an air flow. The air flow used to empty the dust chamber can be produced and blown into the dust chamber by the fan for producing the suction air flow. The base station has a return channel, through which the air flow exiting the dust chamber can be guided back into the vacuum cleaner.