Upright vacuum cleaner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional upright vacuum cleaners have a large motor housing due to horizontally arranged motors, limiting space and complicating the arrangement of other components, resulting in a bulky and costly design.

Innovation Solution

The upright vacuum cleaner features a vertically arranged motor with integrated air-suction and air-exhaust channels within the motor housing, reducing the number of pipes and optimizing space usage, while also incorporating a brushroll assembly and body assembly with efficient airflow channels for compactness and aesthetic appeal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the motor is arranged horizontally with the motor shaft parallel to the mounting platform, then the motor can be easily mounted, but the motor housing occupies a large area and increases the overall volume of the vacuum cleaner

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor mounting easeVSAvoidmotor housing volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The motor is reoriented from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement, changing the spatial dimension of motor placement. The motor shaft extends along the vertical direction perpendicular to the mounting platform, allowing the motor housing to be arranged vertically rather than horizontally, thus reducing the horizontal occupation area while maintaining mounting feasibility

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

2Volume of stationary object

If the motor housing volume is reduced by vertical motor arrangement, then space utilization improves, but the air channel integration becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor housing volumeVSAvoidair channel integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air suction channel and air exhaust channel are integrated directly into the motor housing structure, merging the function of the motor housing with the air channel system. This eliminates the need for separate air channels and reduces the number of components, thereby simplifying the overall structure despite the vertical motor arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor housing serves multiple functions: it encloses the motor, provides structural support, and acts as the air suction channel and air exhaust channel. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and simplifies the overall design while maintaining compact dimensions

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

3Reliability

If separate air suction and exhaust channels are used, then air flow paths are clear, but the number of pipes increases and assembly becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow path clarityVSAvoidnumber of pipes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air suction channel and air exhaust channel are merged into the motor housing structure itself, forming an integrated air channel system. This reduces the number of separate pipes and components while maintaining clear and distinct air flow paths for suction and exhaust, thereby simplifying assembly without compromising air flow reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3387975B1Upright vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 JIANGSU MIDEA CLEANING APPLIANCES
  • EP3387975B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3387975B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8
  • EP3387975B1 patent drawingFigure 9~13

AI summary

An upright vacuum cleaner (1) is provided, including: a brushroll assembly (100) including a brushroll casing (12) and a brushroll (11), the brushroll casing (12) defining a brushroll air-suction channel (122) therein; a motor assembly (200) including a motor housing (21) and a motor (22), the motor housing (21) having an air exhaust hole (213), a dirty air outlet (211) and a clean air inlet (212) and defining a motor air-suction channel (216) and a motor air-exhaust channel; and a body assembly (300) including a body (31) and a dirt cup (37) mounted to the body (31), the dirt cup (37) having a separating chamber (371) communicated with the dirty air outlet (211) and the clean air inlet (212) respectively.