Vacuum Filter Cleaning Control for Stable Suction and Lower Energy Use

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum cleaners face inefficiencies in energy consumption and suction power due to clogged filters, leading to over-regulation and waste of energy, especially in low-power devices where suction power is insufficient after a short period of use.

Innovation Solution

A device and method for controlling automatic filter cleaning in vacuum cleaners, which determines suction air flow and adjusts motor/fan unit power to activate cleaning when the suction air flow falls below a limit value, ensuring constant suction power and improving energy efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the motor/fan unit power is increased to maintain suction power after filter clogging, then suction power is maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction powerVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of filter clogging conditions by monitoring suction air flow and motor power values. When threshold values are exceeded, the system proactively triggers filter cleaning before significant performance degradation occurs, preventing the need for continuous high-power operation and reducing overall energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors suction air flow and motor power consumption, comparing actual values against threshold values. This feedback mechanism enables the system to detect filter clogging conditions and automatically trigger cleaning operations, optimizing the balance between maintaining suction power and minimizing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Power

If manual readjustment of suction power is performed to compensate for filter clogging, then suction power is restored, but user convenience decreases and energy waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction powerVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects filter clogging conditions by monitoring suction air flow and motor power, and autonomously triggers filter cleaning operations without requiring user intervention. This self-service approach maintains optimal suction power while eliminating the need for manual readjustment, thereby improving user convenience and preventing energy waste from over-regulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The continuous monitoring and automatic response system provides real-time feedback on filter condition and autonomously adjusts operation by triggering cleaning when needed, eliminating the need for manual user intervention and maintaining optimal performance automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Power

If a high-power motor/fan unit is used to compensate for filter clogging, then suction power is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction powerVSAvoidmotor specification
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects filter clogging early through monitoring suction air flow and motor power values against thresholds, and triggers cleaning before significant performance loss occurs. This allows the use of lower-power motor/fan units that only need to handle normal operating conditions, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining suction power through timely filter maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Power

If the filter is cleaned frequently to maintain suction power, then suction power is maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction powerVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from suction air flow and motor power monitoring to determine precisely when filter cleaning is needed, triggering cleaning only when threshold values are exceeded. This on-demand approach maintains suction power while avoiding unnecessary cleaning operations that would waste energy, optimizing the balance between performance and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3120744B1Device for controlling a cleaner of a filter unit for a vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2018.03.14 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3120744B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3120744B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3120744B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (10) for controlling automatic cleaning (S6) of a filter unit (9) for an electric vacuum cleaner (1) with a suction nozzle (8), a dust separation unit (4) and a motor/fan unit (3), wherein the device (10) is set up to activate automatic cleaning (S6) of the filter unit (9) if a predetermined limit value (Lmax) of the motor/blower unit (3) of the vacuum cleaner (1) is exceeded and a predetermined limit value ( Vmin) of the suction air flow of the vacuum cleaner (1) falls below. The invention also relates to a method for operating the device (10) and a computer program product for implementing the method in the device (10). The invention enables optimal cleaning and performance results while at the same time increasing the energy efficiency of the vacuum cleaner (1).