Vacuum cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaners face issues with mis-mounting of the filter assembly due to the connection structure between the main-body assembly and the filter assembly, leading to potential improper alignment and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The vacuum cleaner design incorporates a filter assembly with a retaining-rib member that is inserted into grooves on the main-body assembly, allowing for easy and correct mounting without rotational alignment, utilizing an elastic body with a circular-ring shape for secure fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional connection structure is used between the main-body assembly and filter assembly, then the filter assembly can be mounted, but mis-mounting occurs due to lack of clear alignment guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining-rib member is designed with an asymmetric structure where the opening faces a specific direction, and the groove has a corresponding asymmetric shape. This asymmetric design provides clear alignment guidance during mounting, ensuring the filter assembly can only be installed in the correct orientation, thereby preventing mis-mounting while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining-rib member acts as an intermediary component between the filter assembly and main-body assembly. It provides a mechanical guide that mediates the mounting process, ensuring proper alignment through its geometric constraints (opening facing specific direction and groove shape) before final fixation occurs.
2Ease of operation
If the retaining-rib member is inserted from the front, then mounting is simplified and mis-mounting is prevented, but the structural design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The connection structure is segmented into distinct functional elements: the retaining-rib member with its opening, the groove with specific geometry, and the support frame. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function (guidance, alignment, fixation) independently, simplifying the overall mounting operation while the integrated design of these segments manages the structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of inserting the retaining-rib member from the rear or side, the design inverts the insertion direction to from the front. This inversion simplifies the mounting operation by providing natural alignment guidance from the opening's orientation, making the correct installation direction intuitive, while the groove geometry contains the complexity of the connection mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum cleaner includes: a main-body assembly, which has a suction port; and a filter assembly, at least a portion of which is disposed more forward than the main-body assembly so as to oppose the suction port. The filter assembly includes: a support frame; a filter, which is supported on the support frame; and a retaining-rib member, which is inserted, from the front, into one or more grooves provided on the main-body assembly, the retaining-rib member being fixed to the support frame.