Vacuum Cleaner Cyclone with Dual Tangential Inlets to Reduce Height

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Surface cleaning apparatuses face challenges in reducing the size of components like cyclone chambers and suction motors without compromising their operability, particularly in hand vacuum cleaners, where maneuverability and ease of use are desired.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a cyclone chamber with multiple airflow passages that terminate at tangential inlets around the perimeter of the cyclone chamber, allowing for reduced height and increased efficiency in air separation without compromising the volume of air drawn in, thereby minimizing backpressure and enhancing separation efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the cyclone inlet height is increased to accommodate greater air volume and reduce backpressure, then the air handling capacity is improved, but the cyclone chamber height increases reducing maneuverability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair handling capacityVSAvoidcyclone chamber height

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The single cyclone inlet is divided into multiple separate airflow passages that terminate at different ports around the cyclone chamber perimeter. This segmentation allows the air handling capacity to be increased through multiple entry points while keeping each individual passage and the overall chamber height compact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of increasing inlet height in the vertical dimension, the patent distributes multiple airflow passages around the perimeter of the cyclone chamber, utilizing the circumferential dimension. This allows greater total inlet area for improved air handling while maintaining a compact vertical profile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the cyclone chamber height is reduced to improve maneuverability, then ease of operation is improved, but separation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemaneuverabilityVSAvoidseparation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple airflow passages are distributed around the cyclone chamber perimeter, allowing each passage to be shorter while collectively providing sufficient total inlet area. This maintains separation efficiency through adequate airflow distribution without requiring a tall single inlet.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each airflow passage is optimized for its specific location around the cyclone chamber, with tangential inlets positioned to create effective swirling flow patterns. This local optimization ensures adequate separation efficiency is achieved at each inlet point, maintaining overall performance in a compact design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If multiple airflow passages are used to reduce cyclone inlet height, then device compactness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecyclone chamber volumeVSAvoidairflow passage configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple airflow passages are merged into a single cyclone chamber structure, with all passages terminating at ports around the same chamber perimeter. This integration achieves compactness through shared structure while the modular passage design keeps the complexity manageable.

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

This design enables a more compact and efficient cyclone chamber that maintains separation efficiency while reducing the height of cyclone inlets, improving the overall maneuverability and usability of hand vacuum cleaners.

Implementation Method 1

When dirty air is introduced into a cyclone chamber, the air travels in a swirling pattern from the inlet end of the cyclone to the opposite end. Air enters the cyclone chamber as a band that substantially maintains its form as it swirls around the cyclone chamber.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCyclone separation: Cyclone Separation