Vacuum cleaner

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional small vacuum cleaners with dust case types face issues with filter clogging in dusty environments, leading to reduced portability and workability, as adding a cyclone unit increases the size and weight, compromising their portable nature.

Innovation Solution

A portable vacuum cleaner design that allows for the selective attachment of either a cyclone type dust collection unit or a filtration type unit, using a common attachment mechanism, enabling users to switch between types based on work requirements without increasing the overall size or weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cyclone unit is added to a conventional dust case type vacuum cleaner, then filter clogging is eliminated and dust collection performance is improved, but the product size and weight increase, impairing portability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust collection performanceVSAvoidvacuum cleaner weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum cleaner main body is designed with a universal attachment interface that can accommodate both cyclone type dust collection units and conventional filter type dust collection units. This allows a single vacuum cleaner body to perform multiple functions - using cyclone separation when high performance is needed and filter collection when portability is prioritized, eliminating the need to choose between performance and weight

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

2Reliability

If a cyclone unit is added to a conventional dust case type vacuum cleaner, then filter clogging is eliminated and dust collection performance is improved, but the product size increases, impairing portability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust collection performanceVSAvoidvacuum cleaner size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum cleaner main body is designed with a universal attachment interface that can accommodate both cyclone type dust collection units and conventional filter type dust collection units. This allows a single vacuum cleaner body to perform multiple functions - using cyclone separation when high performance is needed and filter collection when portability is prioritized, eliminating the need to choose between performance and size

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

3Reliability

If a separate cyclone dust collection unit is provided, then filter clogging is eliminated, but the structure becomes more complex and portability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust collection performanceVSAvoidvacuum cleaner structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than creating separate vacuum cleaner systems for cyclone and filter types, the invention integrates both capabilities into a single system through a universal attachment interface. The vacuum cleaner main body remains simple and unchanged, while the interchangeable dust collection units handle the functional differentiation, keeping the overall system complexity low

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

Solution Approach 2:

The dust collection function is segmented into separate interchangeable units that can be attached or detached from the main body. This allows the cyclone unit to be added only when needed for high-performance applications, keeping the basic vacuum cleaner simple and portable for everyday use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 provides a compact and lightweight vacuum cleaner that can be easily converted between conventional and cyclone types, enhancing usability and maintaining portability while effectively managing dust collection.

Implementation Method 1

dust contained in the air is centrifugally separated by a strong swirling flow formed in the cyclone chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

suctioned air is made into a circumferential swirling flow in the columnar space, and dust and air are separated by a centrifugal force generated by the swirling flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSwirling flow: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 3

dust that has entered the dust case due to a suction force of the fan is collected by the filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4000487B1Vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 KOKI HLDG CO LTD
  • EP4000487B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4000487B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4000487B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An objective of the present invention is to allow a vacuum cleaner to be used as a vacuum cleaner which vacuums using a filter or as a cyclonic vacuum cleaner in accordance with the work to be carried out. Provided is a vacuum cleaner comprising: a main body housing 10 which houses a motor and a fan and which has an intake by which an airflow created by the fan enters inside; and a dust collection unit which is attachable to and detachable from the main body housing 10 so as to cover the intake. The main body housing 10 has an attachment-receiving part 30 with a common shape such that a cyclonic dust collection unit 50 which separates fine particles using a cyclonic air flow and a dust collection unit which carries out dust collection by filtration without using centrifugal force can be interchangeably attached to and detached from the main body housing as the dust collection unit.