Hand Vacuum Dirt Bin Layout for Higher Capacity and Dirt Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surface cleaning apparatuses with coaxial cyclones and dirt bins have limitations in dirt and water collection capacity and retention, leading to frequent emptying and re-entrainment of dirt due to central inlet design.
Innovation Solution
A surface cleaning apparatus with a dirt bin having an off-centre inlet, allowing for a larger cross-sectional area and reduced fluid flow effects, enhancing dirt retention and collection capacity, and incorporating a cyclonic cleaning stage with a dirt chamber positioned below the cyclone, featuring angled sidewalls to minimize re-entrainment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the dirt bin inlet is positioned centrally (coaxial with cyclone), then the structure is simple and symmetric, but the collection capacity is limited and dirt re-entrainment occurs due to fluid flow effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the dirt bin inlet off-center relative to the cyclone axis. The inlet is located at a radial distance of 0.1 to 0.4 times the cyclone inlet diameter from the cyclone center, creating an asymmetric configuration that improves dirt collection capacity and prevents re-entrainment while maintaining structural simplicity
2Quantity of substance
If the dirt chamber cross-sectional area is increased to improve collection capacity, then more dirt and water can be collected, but the apparatus size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The off-center inlet positioning allows the dirt chamber to have a larger cross-sectional area without proportionally increasing the overall apparatus size. The asymmetric layout optimizes space utilization, enabling increased collection capacity while controlling the footprint of the stationary object
3Reliability
If the inlet is positioned centrally, then fluid flow distribution is symmetric, but dirt retention is reduced due to fluid flow effects at the inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately introduces asymmetry by offsetting the inlet from the cyclone center. This asymmetric positioning creates a dead zone or low-velocity region in the dirt chamber where settled dirt is protected from re-entrainment by incoming fluid flows, thereby improving dirt retention and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The off-center inlet creates different flow conditions in different regions of the dirt chamber. The region distal to the inlet experiences reduced fluid flow effects, creating a localized zone of high dirt retention, while the inlet region handles the bulk of the flow and dirt deposition
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 off-centre dirt bin inlet design increases the collection capacity and reduces the frequency of emptying, while angled sidewalls prevent dirt re-entrainment, resulting in improved dirt retention and efficient cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
a cyclonic cleaning stage provided in the fluid flow path and comprising at least one cyclone chamber
Implementation Method 2
Each cleaning stage may include a single cyclone, or a plurality of cyclones positioned in parallel
Implementation Method 3
a fluid flow motor positioned in the fluid flow path... for drawing a fluid stream from the inlet to the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A hand vacuum cleaner is provided with a wand mounted to the dirty fluid inlet of the hand vacuum cleaner and the wand has a distal inlet that is mounted on a surface cleaning head. The hand vacuum cleaner has a cyclonic cleaning stage having a dirt collection region. The dirt collection region has a bottom that is openable when the wand is mounted to the dirty fluid inlet.