Handheld Vacuum Cleaner with Pivoting Dust Emptying and Filter Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-held vacuum cleaners are cumbersome and messy to empty due to the need to tilt the device vertically and manually remove dirt from the filter receptacle, and reusable filters can become clogged, reducing suction power over time.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held vacuum cleaner design featuring a pivotable bottom housing that allows for easy, single-handed emptying of dirt without tilting and a rotatable filter for periodic cleaning, with a chute mechanism guiding dirt into a waste receptacle and a motor-driven cleaning mechanism for the filter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the forward end portion of the housing is made detachable to enable dirt disposal, then dirt can be emptied from the collection chamber, but it becomes difficult, time consuming and messy to remove and re-fit the forward end portion
Solution Approach 1:
The forward end portion of the housing is made pivotable rather than fully detachable, allowing it to swing between a closed position during use and an open position for dirt disposal. This dynamic mechanism eliminates the need to completely remove and re-fit the housing portion, saving time and effort while maintaining effective dirt disposal capability
2Ease of operation
If the cleaner is tilted vertically to empty the filter receptacle, then dirt can fall out of the chamber, but the cleaner must be tilted to point vertically downwards and manual removal is still required
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom portion of the housing is made pivotable to swing between a closed position during use and an open position for dirt disposal. When opened, gravity naturally causes dirt to fall out without requiring the cleaner to be tilted vertically or manual removal, simplifying the emptying operation while maintaining effectiveness
3Reliability
If reusable filters are used to maintain suction power, then filters can be cleaned and reused, but they become clogged with dirt and dust over time reducing suction force
Solution Approach 1:
A self-contained filter cleaning mechanism is provided within the housing that can be operated by the user to clean the filter element. This allows the filter to be maintained and reused effectively, preserving suction power without requiring external cleaning equipment or complex maintenance procedures
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
Facilitates efficient and mess-free emptying of dirt and allows for effective maintenance of the filter, maintaining suction power and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
In order to empty the cleaner, the bottom portion of the housing can simply be released to allow the dirt or dust to fall directly out of the chamber under gravity
Implementation Method 2
a motor-fan unit, a dust collection chamber disposed in front of the body and having a suction inlet at its distal end for dirty air
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A hand-held vacuum cleaner comprises a housing having a flap 14 on its underside which forms the bottom wall of a dust collection chamber 15. In use, the flap 14 can be released to empty the chamber 15 of accumulated dirt and dust. The flap 14 acts as a chute to help convey the dust to a suitable disposal receptacle. A filter 17 inside the collection chamber 15 separates dirt and dust from the induced airflow. The filter 17 can be cleaned occasionally by operating a motor 36 which causes rotation of the filter 17 relative to a brush 39 disposed in engagement with the exterior of the filter 17.