Vacuum Dust Receiver Compartment Layout for Clean Object Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cyclonic vacuum cleaners face issues with clogged filters leading to reduced suction power and maintenance challenges, as well as the mixing of fine dust from unclogging operations with collected waste, which complicates the recovery of mistakenly sucked objects.

Innovation Solution

A compartmentalized waste recovery tank with a primary compartment for coarse waste and a secondary compartment for fine debris and dust from the unclogging process, featuring an unclogging device driven by a geared motor that operates intermittently to minimize dust suspension and facilitate easy recovery of objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a single waste recovery tank is used for both primary and secondary separation waste, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but fine dust from unclogging operations mixes with collected waste making object recovery difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of waste recoveryVSAvoidfine dust contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The waste recovery tank is divided into two separate compartments: a first compartment for receiving waste from primary separation (coarse waste) and a second compartment for receiving waste from secondary separation (fine dust). This segmentation prevents mixing of fine dust with collected objects while maintaining a unified tank structure, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and prevention of harmful contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the unclogging device operates continuously, then filter maintenance is improved, but fine dust becomes suspended and dispersed making recovery harder

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter unclogging effectivenessVSAvoiddust suspension and dispersion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The unclogging device is designed to operate intermittently rather than continuously. The device activates at scheduled intervals to dislodge accumulated dust from the filter, allowing dust to settle into the second compartment during controlled periods rather than creating continuous suspension that would disperse fine particles throughout the tank.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Volume of moving object

If a compact single-compartment tank is used, then device compactness is improved, but separation of coarse waste and fine dust is lost reducing recovery efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste recovery tank volumeVSAvoidwaste separation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The tank is segmented into two compartments within a compact overall structure. The first compartment accommodates coarse waste from primary separation while the second compartment collects fine dust from secondary separation and unclogging operations. This internal segmentation maintains compact external dimensions while enabling efficient separation and recovery of different waste types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables efficient separation and easy recovery of waste, reduces maintenance complexity by allowing single-operation emptying, maintains compactness, and minimizes user contact with fine dust during maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

a first separation removing the heaviest and most voluminous waste by a bagless device of the cyclonic type

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCyclonic separation: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

The flow of air in the separation chamber, due to its tangential arrival, and due to its evacuation in the central part of the separation chamber, describes a swirling path favorable to the separation of the waste.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

a secondary separation for fine debris and dust by a suitable filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP1956959B1Vacuum cleaner dust receiver
Publication Date: 2016.11.09 SEB SA
  • EP1956959B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1956959B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1956959B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner dust receiver (37) comprising a primary separation unit for extracting the heaviest and voluminous wastes by a bagless cyclonic device or by inertia, or by a large meshed grid, wherein the inventive vacuum cleaner also comprises a second separation unit for extracting fine scraps and dust by a suitable filter, which consists of a device for removing a part of retained waste from the filter, and is characterised in that said dust receiver (37) is provided with two separated compartments, i.e. a main compartment for receiving wastes from the first separation unit and a secondary compartment (32) for receiving wastes obtained by the removing device operation.