Vacuum Cleaner Air-Pulse Valve for Filter Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaners do not effectively enhance the cleaning of filters during suction operations, leading to reduced suction efficiency over time due to dirt particle deposition.
Innovation Solution
The vacuum cleaner incorporates an external air valve with a support arm that abruptly changes shape under specific release force, allowing external air to act in pulses on the filter, detaching dirt particles, and a restoring device ensures reliable closure post-cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the closing body is held in closed position by permanent magnet and closing spring, then the external air inlet remains closed during suction operation, but the filter cleaning effect is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The support arm is designed as a dynamic element that can transition between a first shape (holding the closing body closed) and a second shape (releasing the closing body). This dynamic transformation allows the system to switch between reliable sealing during operation and effective filter cleaning when needed, resolving the contradiction between maintaining sealed reliability and achieving sufficient cleaning effect.
2Speed
If the support arm is designed to abruptly change shape under release force, then the closing body moves rapidly to release position, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support arm is designed as a flexible, thin-walled structure that can abruptly change shape when subjected to release force. This flexible design enables rapid movement of the closing body from closed to release position without requiring complex mechanical actuation systems, thus achieving high speed while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
3Productivity
If external air acts continuously on the filter, then dirt particles are detached, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The external air inlet is designed to supply air in periodic pulses rather than continuously. The support arm's abrupt shape change creates a rapid opening that allows external air to act on the filter in short, intense bursts. This periodic action effectively detaches dirt particles from the filter while significantly reducing overall air consumption and energy usage compared to continuous air supply.
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 significantly enhances filter cleaning by allowing for rapid and effective detachment of dirt particles, maintaining suction efficiency and simplifying the cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
The support arm (66, 68) is designed to change abruptly from a first shape, in which it supports the closing body (46) in its closed position, into a second shape, in which it releases the closing body (46), when a specific release force is applied to it
Implementation Method 2
At least part of the external air can flow through the filter (22) in countercurrent direction, i. H. against the direction of flow that develops during normal suction operation. Dirt particles adhering to the side of the filter facing the dirt collection container are thereby detached from the filter.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner (10) having a dirt-collecting container (12), which has a suction inlet (16) and is in flow connection with a suction subassembly (26) via a filter (22) and a suction-extraction line (24), and having an extraneous-air inlet (40), which opens out into the suction-extraction line (24) and can be closed by an extraneous-air valve (44), wherein the extraneous-air valve (44) comprises a closing body (46) which, in a closed position, can be subjected to a retaining force by at least one retaining element (66, 68) and can be moved into a release position counter to the action of the retaining force. In order to develop the vacuum cleaner (10) such that it has improved filter cleaning, it is proposed according to the invention that the at least one retaining element (66, 68), when it is subjected to a certain release force, transfers abruptly from a first, mechanically stable form, in which it subjects the closing body (46) to the retaining force, into a second, mechanically unstable form, in which it releases the closing body (46).