Bagless Vacuum Filter Cleaning via Dust Bin Removal Motion

Solution Overview

Problem

Bagless vacuum cleaners often experience reduced suction force due to clogged filter units, which requires frequent manual cleaning that is cumbersome and often neglected by users, leading to impaired cleaning performance.

Innovation Solution

A bagless vacuum cleaner design that automatically cleans the filter unit when the dust bin is removed, utilizing relative movement between the main housing and dust bin to create a cleaning action, such as impulsive forces or vibrations, to dislodge dust without the need for a motor-driven mechanism, ensuring regular filter cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual cleaning of the filter unit is required, then the filter unit can be cleaned, but the cleaning process is cumbersome and often neglected by users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter cleaning reliabilityVSAvoidfilter cleaning ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The filter unit automatically cleans itself through relative movement between the filter unit and cleaning members during dust bin removal, eliminating the need for user intervention. The system serves itself by utilizing the existing mechanical movement of dust bin removal to drive the cleaning action, making the filter maintenance automatic and reliable without requiring user awareness or action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning action is performed automatically during the dust bin removal process, which is a necessary preliminary step before emptying the dust bin. By integrating filter cleaning into this existing user action, the system ensures cleaning occurs before the user needs to access the dust bin again, maintaining reliability without adding separate user actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the filter unit is not cleaned regularly, then the vacuum cleaner structure remains simple, but suction force is impaired and cleaning performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuction force maintenanceVSAvoidcleaning mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter unit automatically cleans itself through relative movement between the filter unit and cleaning members during dust bin removal, eliminating the need for user intervention. The system serves itself by utilizing the existing mechanical movement of dust bin removal to drive the cleaning action, making the filter maintenance automatic and reliable without requiring user awareness or action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The relative movement between the dust bin and main housing serves multiple functions: it simultaneously enables dust bin removal for emptying and drives the filter cleaning action. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain suction force without adding dedicated complexity, as the same mechanical movement accomplishes both tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Extent of automation

If motor-driven filter cleaning mechanism is used, then filter cleaning can be automated, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter cleaning automationVSAvoidcleaning mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter unit automatically cleans itself through relative movement between the filter unit and cleaning members during dust bin removal, eliminating the need for user intervention. The system serves itself by utilizing the existing mechanical movement of dust bin removal to drive the cleaning action, making the filter maintenance automatic and reliable without requiring user awareness or action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a motor-driven system to create cleaning movement, the invention substitutes the motor with the existing mechanical relative movement between the dust bin and main housing. This replacement eliminates the need for additional motors, transmissions, and control systems while achieving the same automated cleaning effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 design reduces the risk of suction force impairment by ensuring the filter unit is cleaned regularly without user intervention, maintaining optimal cleaning performance and simplifying maintenance by eliminating the need for motor-driven mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

perform a cleaning action on the filter unit upon relative movement between the at least one cleaning member and the filter unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpulsive force: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentUS9980620B2Bagless vacuum cleaner with filter cleaning member

Publication Date: 2018.05.29 AB ELECTROLUX

AI summary

A bagless vacuum cleaner with a main housing, a dust bin releasable from the main housing upon relative movement between the dust bin and the main housing in a release direction, a filter unit, and at least one cleaning member arranged to perform a cleaning action on the filter unit upon relative movement between the at least one cleaning member and the filter unit. The relative movement between the filter unit and the at least one cleaning member is created by relative movement between the main housing and the dust bin in the release direction.