Vacuum Cleaner Dust Compression Around Filter Without Air Blockage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum cleaners face issues with dust compression within the dust container, which can block air intake and reduce cleaning efficiency, and the conventional compression members often interfere with the filtering unit, leading to eccentric movement and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning unit that compresses dust within the dust container without opening it, featuring a guide edge with an inclined surface to ensure air intake and a gap maintenance rib to prevent interference with the filtering unit, along with a reinforced connection system to prevent deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a compression member is mounted to surround the filter part and lower to compress dust, then dust compression performance is improved, but air introduction is blocked and the compression member interferes with the filter part

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust compression performanceVSAvoidair introduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The compression member is divided into multiple segments that can move independently. This segmentation allows the compression member to compress dust effectively while maintaining gaps between segments that permit air to pass through, resolving the contradiction between compression performance and air introduction efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The compression member is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to adapt its position and shape during operation. The member can move downward to compress dust and then retract or deform to allow air passage, enabling both compression and air introduction functions to be performed at different stages of the operational cycle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the compression member is positioned close to the air introduction opening to compress dust, then dust compression efficiency is improved, but large foreign matter blocks the introduction opening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust compression efficiencyVSAvoidintroduction opening blockage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The compression member is designed with a nested structure where smaller compression elements are positioned within larger ones. This nested arrangement allows the compression member to maintain a compact profile that fits within the dust container without blocking the air introduction opening, while still providing effective compression when activated

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The compression member operates in a different spatial dimension than the air introduction path. By positioning the compression member to compress dust from the side or from above rather than directly at the opening, the design allows air to flow freely through the opening while dust is compressed in a separate compression zone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If the compression member surrounds the entire filter part, then dust compression coverage is improved, but the cleaning unit becomes eccentric and interferes with the filter part

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust compression coverageVSAvoidcleaning unit stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The compression member is designed with an asymmetric structure where the mass distribution and support points are intentionally unbalanced. This asymmetric design compensates for the eccentricity caused by surrounding the filter part, allowing the cleaning unit to maintain stable movement without interfering with the filter during compression operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

A guide structure or support mechanism acts as an intermediary between the compression member and the filter part. This intermediary component ensures that the compression member remains properly positioned and aligned during movement, preventing direct interference with the filter part while maintaining comprehensive dust compression coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution allows for efficient dust compression and air intake, maintaining high cleaning performance, preventing dust buildup, and ensuring stable and durable operation of the vacuum cleaner.

Implementation Method 1

At least a portion of the cleaning unit (110) at an initial position communicates with an air introduction path extending from an introduction opening (8) of the housing (1) such that the flow of the introduced air is guided

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow guidance:

Data Source

PatentEP3797664B1cleaner
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3797664B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3797664B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3797664B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cleaner includes: a housing (1) having an introduction opening (8) through which air is introduced; a filtering unit (30) mounted in an inner space (S1) of the housing (1), and defining a dust collection space (S1) between the filtering unit (30) and an inner surface (20) of the housing (1); and a cleaning unit (110) raising and lowering by surrounding the filtering unit (30). At least a portion of the cleaning unit at an initial position thereof is connected to an air introduction path extending from the introduction opening (8) such that the cleaning unit guides a flow of introduced air. A guide edge (GE) extends from a lower portion of the cleaning unit (110) toward a bottom of the dust collection space (S1), and a surface of the guide edge (GE) facing the inner surface (20) of the housing is formed to incline.