Vacuum Filter Compartment Layout for Compact Wheel-Side Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning apparatuses, such as vacuum cleaners, face challenges in maintaining a compact design while providing easy access for filter inspection and replacement, and protecting the cyclone bin assembly from impacts.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a filter compartment with a transparent seal plate and removable side wheels, allowing visual inspection of the pre-motor filter without disassembly, and positions the cyclone bin assembly between sidewalls for protection, with stabilizer wheels ensuring stability and compact footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the filter compartment is positioned behind a wheel with the axle extending through the filter, then the footprint of the surface cleaning apparatus is reduced, but access to the filter for inspection and replacement becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The filter compartment is segmented from the main body by being positioned behind the wheel, with the axle serving as a structural divider. This segmentation allows the filter to be accessed independently by removing just the wheel assembly, rather than disassembling the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assembly is designed to be removable from the main body, extracting the filter compartment access function from the permanent structure. This allows the filter to be accessed by simply removing the wheel, providing easy maintenance while maintaining a compact overall design when the wheel is attached.
2Ease of operation
If the seal plate is made transparent to allow visual inspection, then filter inspection becomes easier, but the sealing effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The seal plate is made transparent only in the specific region where visual inspection is needed, while maintaining its sealing function in other areas. This local modification allows optical penetration for inspection purposes without compromising the overall integrity and sealing capability of the compartment closure.
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 configuration enables easy filter maintenance, protects the cyclone bin from impacts, and maintains a compact apparatus size while ensuring stability during use.
Implementation Method 1
Air is drawn into the vacuum cleaners through a dirty air inlet and conveyed to a cyclone inlet. The rotation of the air in the cyclone results in some of the particulate matter in the airflow stream being disentrained from the airflow stream.
Implementation Method 2
The rotation of the air in the cyclone results in some of the particulate matter in the airflow stream being disentrained from the airflow stream.
Implementation Method 3
The pre-motor filter is positioned in the compartment, between the sidewall and its corresponding wheel
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, an air treatment member and a suction motor. The surface cleaning apparatus comprises a main body comprising a front end and a rear end. A plurality of wheels may be rotatably mounted on to the surface cleaning apparatus. The surface cleaning apparatus may comprise a filter in a filter compartment wherein an axle or an axle mount for at least one of the wheels defines an axis of rotation that projects through the filter compartment.