Vacuum Filter with Liquid Dosing to Reduce Fine Dust Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaners with liquid filters require continuous liquid replenishment and cannot be tilted or moved, while bagless filters fail to effectively capture fine dust and can release odors and fine dust during emptying.
Innovation Solution
A filter system with a centrifugal separator and a dosing device, such as a jet pump, sprays liquid into the suction air flow upstream of the separator, allowing both dry and wet operation, with liquid being atomized to bind particles and collected in a container, enhancing separation efficiency and reducing fine dust release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a liquid filter is used to capture particles, then particle separation is improved, but the device cannot be tilted or moved and requires continuous liquid replenishment
Solution Approach 1:
The filter system is segmented into a centrifugal separator that handles particle separation and a container that can be positioned independently. The liquid is contained in a separate reservoir and delivered only when needed, allowing the main filter housing to be mobile while the liquid supply remains stationary or is replenished periodically.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous liquid circulation requiring constant replenishment, the system uses periodic dosing where liquid is sprayed into the suction air flow at intervals. The dosing device is controlled to activate only when the liquid level in the container is sufficient, enabling the device to be moved and tilted between dosing cycles.
2Device complexity
If a centrifugal separator is used to capture particles, then device simplicity is improved, but fine dust and odors are not effectively captured
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges a centrifugal separator with a liquid dosing device and a container. The centrifugal separator handles coarse particle separation while the liquid spray captures fine dust and binds odors. The container collects both dry and liquid-separated particles, creating a hybrid system that maintains relative simplicity while achieving high fine dust capture efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If the collection container is emptied by tapping, then emptying is simplified, but fine dust is released back into the environment
Solution Approach 1:
A filter bag is introduced as an intermediary between the collection container and the environment. When emptying, particles are discharged into the filter bag which traps fine dust and contains odors. The filter bag can then be removed and disposed of separately, allowing the container to be emptied without releasing fine dust into the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potential harm of fine dust release during emptying into a benefit by using the filter bag to capture and contain the dust. The emptying process that would normally release dust is transformed into an opportunity to collect and dispose of particles in a controlled manner, preventing environmental contamination.
4Manufacturing precision
If liquid is sprayed into the suction air flow to bind particles, then particle separation is improved, but liquid management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing device is designed to be self-regulating, using the suction air flow itself to draw liquid from the container and spray it into the air stream. The system monitors liquid level and activates dosing only when sufficient liquid is available, eliminating the need for complex external pumping and control systems while maintaining effective particle binding.
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
The system effectively captures particles and odors, allows for both dry and wet vacuuming, and prevents fine dust from being released during emptying, ensuring continuous cleaning efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
liquid can be sprayed into the suction air flow by means of the dosing device
Implementation Method 2
liquid can be sprayed into the suction air flow... allowing both dry and wet operation, with liquid being atomized to bind particles
Implementation Method 3
the filter housing has a centrifugal separator for separating particles from the suction air flow... With a centrifugal separator, a rotating vortex is created in the suction air stream, whereby particles such as dust, fibers, smaller objects, household dust, etc. are separated., due to their mass are directed against a wall of the centrifugal separator
Implementation Method 4
the metering device is formed by at least one jet pump which is connected to the container or the liquid reservoir via at least one liquid line
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a filter (10) for a suction device, in particular a vacuum cleaner, a water suction device, or the like, to a suction device, and to a cleaning method. The filter comprises a filter housing (11) within which a suction air channel (12) is formed for conducting a suction airflow. The filter housing has a centrifugal separator (13) for separating particles out of the suction airflow and a container (14) for receiving the separated particles, wherein the filter has a metering device (15) which is arranged upstream of the centrifugal separator in the flow direction of the suction airflow, and liquid can be sprayed into the suction airflow by means of the metering device.