Underwater Cleaner Impeller Layout for Stable High-Suction Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing underwater cleaners are bulky, unstable, and suffer from high center of gravity, which affects their size, stability, and cleaning performance.

Innovation Solution

The design features a suction nozzle formed by the housing with a suction plane oriented parallel to the surface, an axial impeller positioned close to the suction nozzle, and a flow channel with a compact layout that allows the impeller blades to project beyond a reference plane, utilizing centrifugal force to enhance suction and prevent particle re-contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the flow channel is arranged vertically with the outlet at the highest point, then the structure is simple, but the center of gravity becomes high causing instability and dirt re-contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow channel structureVSAvoidcleaner stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional vertical flow channel arrangement by placing the flow channel outlet at the lowest point of the housing instead of the highest point. This inversion lowers the center of gravity, improving stability and preventing dirt re-contamination while maintaining structural simplicity through the straightforward integration of the outlet at the housing bottom

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the impeller is located far from the suction plane near the outlet opening, then the filter device is protected from re-contamination, but the drive power required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter device protectionVSAvoiddrive power
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent nests the impeller within the flow channel structure, positioning it at the outlet opening where it is integrated into the housing. This nested arrangement protects the impeller and filter device from re-contamination by containing them within the sealed flow channel, while the direct connection to the outlet minimizes the distance and reduces the drive power required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Volume of moving object

If the electric motor is arranged in the flow channel on the suction side of the impeller, then the structure is compact, but flow losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaner sizeVSAvoidflow losses
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the electric motor from the flow channel and positions it separately in the housing. This separation eliminates the motor from the flow path, removing the source of flow losses and turbulence, while the overall cleaner size remains compact through efficient spatial arrangement of the separated components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If the cleaner has a large height for stable impeller positioning, then the suction performance is acceptable, but the size and stability are negatively affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction performanceVSAvoidcleaner height
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent repositions the impeller horizontally at the flow channel outlet rather than vertically within the housing height. This dimensional change allows the impeller to be optimally positioned for suction performance while maintaining a compact overall height, as the impeller's effective position is now determined by the horizontal flow channel layout rather than vertical stacking

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

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 compact and stable design ensures high suction power and effective cleaning performance by maintaining optimal nozzle position and preventing dirt re-contamination, with a low-profile and tip-resistant configuration.

Implementation Method 1

The design features a suction nozzle formed by the housing with a suction plane oriented parallel to the surface, an axial impeller positioned close to the suction nozzle, and a flow channel with a compact layout that allows the impeller blades to project beyond a reference plane, utilizing centrifugal force to enhance suction and prevent particle re-contamination.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP4553254B1Underwater cleaner
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 FRANKEL ANDRES
  • EP4553254B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4553254B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4553254B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an underwater cleaner (1) with a housing (2) in which a pump 3, in particular battery-operated, with an electric motor (4) and an axial impeller (5) rotatable about a pivot axis (5a) is arranged, with a suction nozzle (6) formed by the housing (2) having a suction opening (8) defining a suction plane (ε) and a flow channel (9) arranged in the housing (2) and accommodating the axial impeller (5), which extends between a channel inlet opening (11) arranged in the region of the suction nozzle (6) and a channel outlet opening (13), wherein a receptacle (24) for a filter device (25) is arranged in the region of the channel outlet opening (13), and wherein the flow axis (9a) of the flow channel (9) is normal to the suction plane (ε) in a first section (10) having the channel inlet opening (11) and parallel to the channel outlet opening (13) in a second section (12) having the channel outlet opening (13). suction plane (ε) is arrangedand wherein the axial impeller (5) is arranged in the first section (10) of the flow channel (9), and wherein a first distance (a) between a reference plane (δ) tangent to a lower channel wall (17) of the second section (12) and normal to the axis of rotation (5a) of the axial impeller (5) and the suction plane (ε) is smaller than the impeller radius (r). A compact underwater cleaner (1) with high suction efficiency can be realized if the reference plane (δ) intersects the axial impeller (5) in at least one region of the impeller blades (18) and at least one impeller blade (18) projects beyond the reference plane (δ) by a defined overhang (c).