Vacuum Cleaner Filter Cleaning Valve for Continuous Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaner filter cleaning methods either interrupt suction operation or require complex and prone-to-failure designs, as they either need to stop suction entirely or rely on alternative filter cleaning that is not reliable.
Innovation Solution
A method using a closing valve with a resilient stop element and a closing spring, allowing external air to briefly flow through the filter during suction, ensuring continuous suction operation by minimizing the force required to open the valve and utilizing a recoil force to quickly return it to the closed position, thus maintaining negative pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the closing valve is opened to allow external air to flow through the filter for cleaning, then the filter cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the suction operation is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The closing valve is opened periodically for short intervals to allow external air to flow through the filter for cleaning, while maintaining continuous suction operation through the suction inlet. This periodic opening enables filter cleaning without interrupting the overall suction process.
Solution Approach 2:
The airflow path is segmented into two independent channels: one for suction operation through the suction inlet and another for filter cleaning through the external air inlet. This segmentation allows both functions to operate simultaneously without interfering with each other.
2Productivity
If the closing valve remains closed to maintain continuous suction operation, then the suction operation continuity is improved, but the filter cleaning effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The closing valve is opened periodically for short intervals to allow external air to flow through the filter for cleaning, while maintaining continuous suction operation through the suction inlet. This periodic opening enables filter cleaning without interrupting the overall suction process.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction operation continues continuously through the suction inlet while the filter cleaning occurs periodically through the external air inlet. Both useful actions are maintained without mutual interruption.
3Speed
If the valve body is subjected to both closing spring force and stop element force from the closed position, then the valve returns to closed position quickly, but the force required to open the valve increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closing spring is pre-loaded to provide a closing force that holds the valve body in the closed position. When the valve needs to open, the electromagnetic actuator overcomes this pre-loaded spring force. The stop element is positioned to engage only when the valve body is already moving away from the closed position, providing a recoil force that accelerates the return without increasing the initial opening force.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system uses dynamic force application: the closing spring provides continuous closing force, the electromagnetic actuator provides dynamic opening force only when needed, and the stop element provides dynamic recoil force only when the valve body is at a distance from the closed position. This dynamic approach optimizes both opening and closing behavior.
4Reliability
If the valve body is acted upon by both closing spring force and stop element recoil force, then the valve closes reliably and quickly, but the complexity of the valve mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closing spring is pre-loaded to provide a closing force that holds the valve body in the closed position. When the valve needs to open, the electromagnetic actuator overcomes this pre-loaded spring force. The stop element is positioned to engage only when the valve body is already moving away from the closed position, providing a recoil force that accelerates the return without increasing the initial opening force.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system uses dynamic force application: the closing spring provides continuous closing force, the electromagnetic actuator provides dynamic opening force only when needed, and the stop element provides dynamic recoil force only when the valve body is at a distance from the closed position. This dynamic approach optimizes both opening and closing behavior.
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
Enables effective filter cleaning without noticeable interruption to the suction operation, ensuring continuous suction and reducing the risk of damage or noise from the valve mechanism, while maintaining efficient filtration and cleaning efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the valve body being acted upon by a closing force of a closing spring
Implementation Method 2
in a position at a distance from the valve seat, also with the recoil force of a resilient stop element
Implementation Method 3
external air can flow from the external air inlet into the at least one suction line and can act on the side of the at least one filter
Implementation Method 4
by subjecting the dirt collection container to negative pressure with the aid of at least one suction unit, so that a suction flow is formed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for cleaning the filters of a vacuum cleaner having a dirt collection container which has a suction inlet and is flow-connected to at least one suction unit via at least one filter and at least one suction extraction line, and having at least one external air inlet which issues into the suction extraction line downstream of the filter and can be closed by a closing valve, wherein the closing valve has a moveable valve body which is acted on by a closing spring with a closing force and rests on a valve seat in a closed position and is at a distance from the valve seat in an open position, wherein, in order to clean the filter, at least one closing valve is opened and that side of the filter away from the dirt collection container is acted on by external air. In order to further develop the method in such a way that suction air can flow through all the existing filters during suction operation but, in order to clean the filters, suction operation does have to be interrupted such that this interruption can be noticed by the user, the invention proposes that the valve body is acted on by the closing force of the closing spring irrespective of the position of said valve body and additionally by the recoil force of a sprung stop element when it is in a position at a distance from the valve seat.