Floor Vacuum Cleaner Self-Cleaning Filter to Maintain Suction Power

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Solution Overview

Problem

The suction power of floor vacuum cleaners decreases significantly before the filter system is saturated with dirt, leading to reduced cleaning efficiency and increased user intervention for maintenance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where the vacuum cleaner reduces or stops airflow and moves to create vibrations, allowing dirt to be shaken off the filter and into the dirt container, using on-board tools to clean the filter and maintain suction power, which can be initiated periodically or in response to reduced suction power detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the filter system operates continuously to capture dirt, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but suction power decreases before the dirt container is full

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidsuction power
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic self-cleaning cycles where the vacuum cleaner automatically shakes or vibrates the filter at predetermined intervals during operation. This periodic action removes accumulated dirt from the filter surface, restoring suction power without requiring the dirt container to be full, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous cleaning effectiveness and maintaining suction power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If the filter system captures more dirt, then cleaning performance is improved, but user intervention for maintenance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoiduser intervention
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum cleaner is equipped with an automatic self-cleaning function that periodically shakes or vibrates the filter to dislodge and remove accumulated dirt into the container. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for frequent manual filter cleaning by the user, thereby maintaining high cleaning performance while significantly reducing user intervention requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If the filter becomes clogged with dirt, then dirt capture is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirt captureVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs periodic self-cleaning operations where the filter is shaken or vibrated to remove accumulated dirt. By clearing the filter periodically, the air flow path remains open and resistance is minimized, preventing excessive energy consumption that would occur if the filter remained clogged. This maintains effective dirt capture while avoiding sustained high energy usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 approach improves cleaning efficiency, reduces user intervention, and extends the vacuum cleaner's operation by maintaining suction power and reducing energy consumption through a less clogged filter.

Implementation Method 1

causing the vacuum cleaner to move

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3485783B1Floor vacuum cleaner and method for operating a floor vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2022.12.28 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3485783B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3485783B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3485783B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A floor vacuuming device (100) comprises a blower (115) for drawing in an airflow near the floor; a dirt container (120) into which the airflow is directed; a filter (125) arranged on the dirt container, the filter being configured to retain dirt from the airflow and allow a clean airflow to pass through; and a control device (130). The control device is configured to control the blower, reduce or interrupt the airflow, and cause movement of the floor vacuuming device.