Automatic vacuum cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic vacuum cleaners face inefficiencies in emptying the dirt container due to insufficient airflow that fails to loosen dirt adhering to the filter surfaces, leading to reduced cleaning performance.
Innovation Solution
A floor vacuum cleaner with a valve arrangement that switches between positions to allow normal vacuuming and automatic emptying, utilizing airflow to clean the filter and dirt container, enhancing dirt removal and reducing flow resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a floor vacuum cleaner is operated manually, then it can clean floors effectively, but it requires significant physical effort from the user and cannot reach high places
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum cleaner incorporates an extendable telescopic tube that can be adjusted in length, allowing the device to dynamically adapt between low-position floor cleaning and high-position ceiling cleaning. The telescopic mechanism enables the cleaning head to reach different heights without requiring manual lifting or repositioning of the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum cleaner is designed with dual functionality to clean both floors and ceilings. By incorporating a telescopic tube and adjustable cleaning head, the device can effectively clean surfaces at different positions (floor level and ceiling level), eliminating the need for separate cleaning devices for different locations.
2Quantity of substance
If the vacuum cleaner body is made large to accommodate more dust, then dust storage capacity increases, but the device becomes difficult to store and maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The dust collection container is designed with a nested structure that can be collapsed or retracted into the vacuum cleaner body when not in use. This nesting mechanism allows the large-capacity container to be compacted to a small size for easy storage in confined spaces, while expanding to full capacity when needed for dust collection.
3Productivity
If the vacuum cleaner operates continuously without interruption, then cleaning productivity increases, but the motor generates excessive heat and dust accumulates in the container
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum cleaner automatically performs periodic pause operations during continuous cleaning. The control unit monitors cleaning duration and automatically interrupts operation at predetermined intervals, allowing the motor to cool down and dust to be temporarily held in the container. This periodic pausing prevents overheating while maintaining overall cleaning productivity.
4Temperature
If the vacuum cleaner automatically pauses to cool the motor and empty dust, then motor temperature is controlled, but cleaning productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum cleaner performs self-service functions during automatic pauses, including motor cooling and dust container emptying. The control unit automatically manages these maintenance operations without user intervention, allowing the motor to cool and dust to be discharged while minimizing interruption to the overall cleaning process.
5Device complexity
If the cleaning head is fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but the cleaner cannot adapt to different cleaning positions (floor and ceiling)
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning head is designed with dynamic adjustability, allowing it to be rotated and positioned at different angles. The cleaning head can be oriented to clean floors, ceilings, and intermediate surfaces, providing versatility while maintaining relatively simple structural implementation through rotational joints and positioning mechanisms.
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
Improves cleaning performance by effectively removing dirt from the filter and maximizing dirt container capacity during subsequent cycles.
Implementation Method 1
a suction force is generated in the dust container (170)
Implementation Method 2
a high-temperature sterilization unit (140) that heats and sterilizes the dust container (170)
Implementation Method 3
a drying unit (150) that dries the dust container (170)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A floor vacuum cleaner (105) comprises a dirt container (120); a suction orifice (125) connected to the dirt container (120) via a first duct (130); a removal opening (135) that is connected to the dirt container (120) via a second duct (140); and a valve arrangement (145). The valve arrangement (145) has a first position in which the first duct (130) is open and the second (140) is closed; and a second position in which the first duct (130) is closed and the second (140) is open.