Vacuum Dust Container Lip Seal for Tolerance-Resistant Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bagless vacuum cleaners face challenges in maintaining a tight seal between the dust receptacle and its cover, especially due to manufacturing tolerance variations, which affects the separation efficiency and requires precise compression pressure for O-ring seals, making it difficult and costly to manufacture.

Innovation Solution

A detachable dust container with a lip seal that provides effective sealing between the receptacle and cover, where the lip seal is radially drawn inward by vacuum pressure, offering a self-sealing function that maintains air and dust tightness without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances, allowing for higher manufacturing variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If O-ring seals are used for sealing the cover against the receptacle, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidtight fit requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the sealing mechanism from relying on axial compression pressure (O-ring) to relying on radial vacuum pressure (lip seal). The lip seal's flexible lip is drawn radially inward by the vacuum pressure differential, creating an effective seal without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances or precise compression control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical compression-based O-ring sealing system with a vacuum-pressure-based lip seal system. Instead of using axial compression force to deform the seal, the system uses the existing vacuum pressure differential to draw the lip seal radially inward against the receptacle surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If O-ring seals are used for sealing the cover against the receptacle, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidlocking mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lip seal performs self-sealing by automatically being drawn radially inward by the vacuum pressure differential when the cover is in the closed position. This eliminates the need for complex locking mechanisms or precise adjustment systems required by O-ring seals to maintain proper compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If tight manufacturing tolerances are used for the cover and receptacle, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but ease of manufacture worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 lip seal ensures a consistent and effective seal, maintaining negative pressure and preventing dust leakage, even with less stringent fit requirements, thus improving the manufacturing flexibility and reducing costs while maintaining high separation efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the sealing element is a lip seal... the lip seal is radially drawn inward by vacuum pressure, offering a self-sealing function that maintains air and dust tightness

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum pressure: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

Bagless vacuum cleaners often use cyclonic separation to separate dirt and dust debris from an airflow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCyclonic separation: Cyclone Separation

Data Source

PatentUS8875343B2Detachable dust container with cover for a vacuum cleaner

Publication Date: 2014.11.04 AB ELECTROLUX

AI summary

Disclosed is a detachable dust container for collecting dust in a bagless vacuum cleaner, and a vacuum cleaner equipped with such a container. The dust container comprises a receptacle with a cover for selective opening and closing of the receptacle, enabling emptying of the receptacle. A sealing element consisting of a lip seal is arranged between the cover and the dust receptacle for establishing a substantially air tight and dust tight sealing between the dust receptacle and the cover. This sealing put lower demands than prior art solutions on a tight fit between the cover and the receptacle and allows for variations in the manufacturing of the two parts.