Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Flow Guide Design to Reduce Filter Complexity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing handheld vacuum cleaners have complex structures with numerous parts, making it difficult to clean pre-motor filters and reducing suction efficiency due to dust accumulation, and require disassembly to access filters.

Innovation Solution

A cleaner design with a simplified structure featuring a single flow guide that forms both suction and exhaust passages for the suction motor, allowing for easy filter separation and improved airflow, reducing the number of parts and maintaining suction efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate structures are used for guiding air discharged from the cyclone to the motor and for guiding air that has passed through the motor to the post motor filter, then the airflow paths are well-defined, but the number of parts increases and the structure becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow path definitionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the suction passage and exhaust passage guiding functions into a single integrated flow guide structure. This flow guide simultaneously defines the path for air discharged from the cyclone to the motor and the path for air that has passed through the motor to the post motor filter, reducing the number of separate components while maintaining proper airflow separation and definition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the pre motor filter is disposed between the airflow generator and the cyclone and surrounded by a housing, then the filter is protected, but it requires disassembly of the product to access the filter for cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter protectionVSAvoidfilter accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the pre motor filter from its previously enclosed position within the housing between the airflow generator and cyclone. The filter is repositioned to an accessible location where it can be easily removed and cleaned by users without requiring disassembly of the main product housing, while still maintaining its protective function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If multiple separate components are used for airflow guidance, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall device size increases and compactness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent optimizationVSAvoiddevice compactness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple airflow guidance components into a single integrated flow guide structure that performs multiple functions: guiding air from the cyclone to the motor, guiding air from the motor to the post motor filter, and maintaining proper airflow separation. This integration maintains functional optimization while significantly reducing the overall device volume and improving compactness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 cleaner maintains a compact design with efficient airflow, easy filter maintenance, and enhanced suction force while preventing dust accumulation, thus improving user experience and extending battery life.

Implementation Method 1

a suction motor that generates suction force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction force: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20240366048A1cleaner
Publication Date: 2024.11.07 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • US20240366048A1 patent drawing
  • US20240366048A1 patent drawing
  • US20240366048A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A cleaner includes: a suction motor that generates suction force; a dust separation unit that separates dust from air sucked by the suction force; a motor housing that covers the suction motor; a flow guide that surrounds an outer side of the motor housing and guides air discharged from the dust separation unit to the suction motor, and a body that forms an external appearance by surrounding the flow guide and guides air discharged from the suction motor together with the flow guide.