Vacuum Cleaner Filter Agitation Using Handle Pivot Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaners do not provide an easy method for users to clean the filter, requiring direct contact with potentially dirty filter elements during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum cleaner design featuring a filter agitation mechanism where the filter is rotated relative to the body when the handle is pivoted, using engaging tangs on the door and filter to dislodge debris without manual contact, along with a compact construction that includes a coarse and fine filter arrangement for efficient airflow and easy assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the filter is made accessible for cleaning, then ease of maintenance is improved, but direct contact with dirty filter elements is required which reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The filter cleans itself through the pivoting motion of the handle which rotates the filter element, causing debris to be dislodged and fall into the collection chamber without requiring user contact with the dirty filter
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is cleaned automatically during the normal folding and unfolding operations that users perform anyway, so cleaning action is performed in advance before the user would need to manually access the filter
2Ease of repair
If the filter agitation mechanism is added, then filter cleaning capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting handle serves dual functions: it controls the vacuum cleaner operation and simultaneously acts as a cleaning mechanism for the filter through its rotation, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated cleaning device
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning function is merged with the existing handle pivoting mechanism, combining two functions (handle operation and filter cleaning) into a single mechanical action
3Ease of operation
If the handle is made pivotable for compact storage, then ease of storage is improved, but filter cleaning mechanism requires additional complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable handle that enables compact storage is given an additional universal function as a cleaning mechanism, so the same pivoting motion that provides storage convenience also cleans the filter without requiring separate mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum cleaner (2) having a body (4) having a floorhead (6) and an elongate handle (14) pivotably mounted to the body is disclosed. A door (24) is provided on an end (20) of a collection chamber (12) opposite to a clean air outlet, and a coarse filter (32) and fine filter (46) are located within the collection chamber for separating out debris entrained with dirty air and depositing the debris in the collection chamber. An interior face of the door is provided with radial tangs (68), and an end face (48) of the fine filter is provided with radial tangs (60) such that when the door is closed and the elongate handle is pivoted relative to the body, the fine filter and coarse filter rotate relative to each other to cause cleaning of the filter elements.