Vacuum Cleaner Cyclonic Separator Without Transverse Obstructions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaners face inefficiencies in separating large dust and debris from airflow, as existing separator assemblies often obstruct the cyclonic action with transverse structures, hindering effective debris collection and filtration.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum cleaner design featuring a separator assembly with a housing, inner chamber, and perforated shroud that allows airflow and debris to rotate unimpeded around a cyclone axis, with an outflow passageway and filter configuration that ensures debris is collected and filtered without transverse obstructions, utilizing a tangential inlet and perforated portions to enhance cyclonic separation and filtration efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing separator assemblies use transverse structures to separate debris, then separation function is provided, but cyclonic action is obstructed and separation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes transverse structures from the separator assembly, extracting the obstructing elements that were hindering cyclonic action. The separator now relies solely on the cyclonic flow pattern generated by the tangential inlet, allowing debris to be separated through the natural centrifugal forces without structural interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator assembly is divided into distinct functional zones: a tangential inlet region that generates cyclonic flow, a central region where debris separates under centrifugal force, and an outlet region. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function without interference from transverse structures.
2Reliability
If separator assemblies include multiple components for debris collection, then debris collection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the debris collection chamber and filtration system into a single integrated separator assembly. The cyclonic separation and filtration functions are merged into one compact unit, reducing the number of separate components while maintaining effective debris collection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator assembly performs multiple functions within a single structure: it generates cyclonic flow, separates debris from airflow, collects debris, and filters particles. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
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 design effectively separates debris from airflow, allowing larger particles to be collected while filtering finer particles, improving the overall cleaning efficiency and ease of debris disposal without obstructing the cyclonic action.
Implementation Method 1
The tangential inlet is configured to provide airflow and debris to rotate around the cyclone axis within the inner chamber. The airflow and debris is configured to move from the first end of the inner chamber toward the second end of the inner chamber unimpeded by any structure extending transverse to the cyclone axis.
Implementation Method 2
The air inlet is configured to provide the airflow and debris to rotate around the cyclone axis within the shroud
Implementation Method 3
a suction source configured to generate an airflow through the suction inlet to draw debris with the airflow through the suction inlet
Implementation Method 4
The airflow is configured to exit the inner chamber and enter the outflow passageway by passing through the perforated portion of the shroud
Implementation Method 5
The airflow is configured to flow through the cylindrical filter in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum cleaner includes a suction inlet, a suction source configured to generate an airflow through the suction inlet to draw debris with the airflow through the suction inlet, and a separator assembly. The separator assembly includes a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, a debris collection chamber within the housing, and an inner chamber formed within a shroud that defines a cyclone axis and has a perforated portion. The inner chamber has a first end and a second end. The first end has a tangential inlet. The second end is open toward the debris collection chamber. An outflow passageway is outside of the shroud and in fluid communication with the air outlet and a filter is in fluid communication with the outflow passageway. The first end of the inner chamber is positioned between the air outlet and the second end of the inner chamber.