Vacuum Cleaner Filter Back-Cleaning by Pressure-Triggered Air Reversal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household vacuum cleaners face challenges in efficiently and gently cleaning filter elements without interrupting suction power or causing mechanical stress, as existing methods either require switching off the vacuum or result in inadequate airflow for effective back-cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A method that records pressure values from a sensor associated with the filter element's volume, reversing airflow by opening a clean gas valve to ambient air when a threshold is exceeded, allowing ambient air to flush the filter element and loosen deposited dust without interrupting suction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a motor-driven scraper is used to knock dust off the filter folds, then the filter element is cleaned, but the filter folds are mechanically loaded and deformed, and operating noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the motor-driven mechanical scraper system with a pneumatic system. A valve opens to allow ambient air to flow through the filter element from the clean side to the dirty side, creating a pressure differential that loosens and removes dust without mechanical contact. This substitution eliminates mechanical stress on filter folds and the associated rattling noise while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic pressure differential to achieve filter cleaning. By controlling a valve to open the air path to ambient air, the system creates a pressure difference between the clean and dirty sides of the filter element, causing air to flow through the filter in reverse direction and dislodge dust particles without mechanical contact.
2Reliability
If the vacuum cleaner is switched off to clean the filter, then the filter can be cleaned without dust being sucked back, but the suction process must be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous operation of the vacuum cleaner during filter cleaning. The control unit opens a valve to allow ambient air into the housing while the blower continues to operate, creating a pressure differential that reverses airflow through the filter element. This allows dust to be loosened and removed without interrupting the suction process, maintaining continuous useful action.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces ambient air as an intermediary substance to facilitate filter cleaning. By controlling the valve to open the air path, ambient air acts as a mediator that flows through the filter element, carrying loosened dust particles away without requiring the vacuum cleaner to be switched off.
3Reliability
If airflow is reversed to clean the filter element, then dust is loosened, but a large volume vacuum reservoir is required which household vacuum cleaners do not have
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the vacuum cleaner's own blower to provide the airflow needed for filter cleaning. The control unit opens a valve to allow ambient air into the housing, and the blower's existing airflow creates a pressure differential that reverses flow through the filter element. This self-service approach eliminates the need for a separate large-volume vacuum reservoir or external air supply system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressure parameter by opening the valve to allow ambient air into the housing. This creates a pressure differential between the clean and dirty sides of the filter element, reversing the airflow direction through the filter without requiring a large-volume reservoir. The parameter change enables effective filter cleaning using the vacuum cleaner's existing blower capacity.
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
This approach enables efficient and gentle back-cleaning of filter elements without interrupting the suction process, reducing mechanical stress and noise, and effectively regenerating the filter while maintaining continuous operation.
Implementation Method 1
a measured pressure value of a pressure sensor assigned to a volume in which the filter element is located is recorded
Implementation Method 2
a downstream the clean gas valve arranged on the filter element is opened depending on whether the threshold value to the ambient air is exceeded
Implementation Method 3
reversing airflow by opening a clean gas valve to ambient air when a threshold is exceeded, allowing ambient air to flush the filter element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention is a method for operating a vacuum cleaner (10) for back-cleaning a filter element (16) comprised by the vacuum cleaner (10) during operation of the vacuum cleaner (10), a pressure measurement value of a volume (12, 14) in which the filter element (16), associated pressure sensor (50) is detected and compared with a threshold value, and a clean gas valve (46) arranged downstream of the filter element (16) is opened to the ambient air depending on whether the threshold value is exceeded, and a corresponding vacuum cleaner (10 ).