Vacuum Cleaner External Air Valve Control Using Negative Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction devices face complexity in their cleaning mechanisms, particularly with the external air valve being abruptly forced open by negative pressure, leading to inefficient dirt collection and filter cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A suction device design where the external air valve is controlled by a pressure control device that adjusts the negative pressure conditions to hold the valve in the closed position using vacuum force, spring force, or weight, allowing for quick and effective reversal to the open position for cleaning, eliminating the need for direct mechanical forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the external air valve is abruptly forced open by negative pressure for filter cleaning, then the cleaning function is achieved, but the construction becomes complex and the valve requires high closing force
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using negative pressure to force the valve open as in prior art, the invention applies negative pressure to the actuating surface to hold the valve closed during normal operation. The valve opens automatically when negative pressure is applied to the front side, reversing the conventional control logic and simplifying the mechanism by eliminating the need for high-force closing actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the complex mechanical closing force system (electromagnets, springs, levers) with a pneumatic control system using negative pressure applied to the actuating surface. This substitution eliminates the need for direct mechanical actuation and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining reliable valve control.
2Ease of operation
If a direct mechanical force is applied to actuate the external air valve in the closed position, then the valve can be held closed, but the actuation mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces direct mechanical actuation mechanisms (levers, linkages, springs) with a pneumatic actuation system. Negative pressure applied to the actuating surface provides the holding force for the closed position, eliminating the need for complex mechanical components while improving ease of operation through simplified control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic pressure control to actuate the valve. By applying negative pressure to the actuating surface, the system achieves reliable valve control without mechanical complexity. The pneumatic system integrates with the existing suction flow, using the same vacuum source for both cleaning and valve control functions.
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 enhances the cleaning efficiency by allowing rapid movement of the external air valve to the open position, improving the flow through the filter and dirt collection process, and simplifies the mechanical actuation process.
Implementation Method 1
The external air valve body is abruptly forced into the open position by the negative pressure provided by the suction unit
Implementation Method 2
the pressure control device is provided or designed to adjust the external air valve body in the direction of the closed position or to hold it in the closed position by applying negative pressure to the actuating surface
Implementation Method 3
a spring force can act in the direction of the open position on the external air valve body
Implementation Method 4
the force can also include or be a weight of the external air valve body and/or the body having the actuating surface, which acts on the external air valve body in the direction of the open position
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a suction cleaner (10) having a suction subassembly (15) for generating a suction stream, and having a suction-cleaner housing (12), in which is arranged a dirt-collecting chamber (21), which has a suction inlet (18) and is flow-connected to the suction subassembly (15) via at least one filter (29) and a suction-extraction channel arrangement (25), wherein at least one external-air inlet (30), which can be closed by an external-air valve (5), is arranged on the suction-extraction channel arrangement (25), between the filter (29) and the suction subassembly (15), wherein the external-air valve (35) has an external-air-valve body (37) for closing the external-air inlet (30), it being possible for said body to be adjusted between a closed position (L), in which it closes the external-air inlet (30), and a through-passage position (O), in which it releases the external-air inlet (30) and in which external air flowing in through the external-air inlet (30) flows through the at least one filter (29), for cleaning purposes, in the direction of the dirt-collecting chamber (21). Provision is made for the suction cleaner (10) to have a pressure-control device (60) by means of which an actuating surface (51) connected to the external-air-valve body (37) can be subjected to negative pressure (U) in order to adjust the external-air-valve body (37) in the direction of the closed position (L) or to retain the external-air-valve body (37) in the closed position (L).