Vacuum Dust Collector Flow Paths for Stable Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaners face challenges in maintaining consistent suction power over time due to filter clogging, especially with fine dirt, which leads to increased energy costs and reduced applicability in handheld models.
Innovation Solution
The dust collection device features a dust container and housing designed as concentric truncated cones with varying flow openings, allowing different flow paths with different resistances, and a tapering inlet funnel to reduce flow resistance and maintain suction power by compensating for clogged filters through larger cross-section flow openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the motor power is increased to compensate for filter clogging, then the suction power can be maintained, but the energy consumption increases and the suction time of battery-powered devices decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The dust container wall is segmented into multiple flow openings of different sizes, creating multiple parallel flow paths. This segmentation allows air to distribute across multiple paths, reducing the flow resistance through each individual path and maintaining suction power without requiring increased motor power.
Solution Approach 2:
Different flow openings are assigned different cross-sectional areas based on their position and flow path characteristics. Flow openings with longer or more resistant flow paths have larger cross-sections to compensate for the higher resistance, creating local quality variations that balance the overall flow resistance across all paths.
2Power
If a single flow path is used in the dust container, then the structure is simple, but the suction power drops when the filter clogs
Solution Approach 1:
The single flow path is segmented into multiple parallel flow paths by creating multiple flow openings in the dust container wall. This segmentation provides alternative routes for air flow, so when the filter clogs, air can still pass through other paths, maintaining suction power while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention provides more flow paths than strictly necessary, with some paths being longer or having higher resistance. This excessive action ensures that even if some paths become blocked or less efficient due to filter clogging, sufficient air flow is maintained through the remaining paths.
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 ensures a constant suction force over the device's operational period by compensating for increased flow resistance due to filter clogging and reduces energy consumption by minimizing turbulence and flow resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a cross section of a flow opening is larger for a flow path with a higher flow resistance than for a flow path with a lower flow resistance
Implementation Method 2
compensating for increased flow resistance due to filter clogging
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A dust collection device for a vacuum cleaner comprises a dust housing (6) with an air outlet (20) for air flowing in a specific direction and a dust container (16) arranged within the dust housing (6) with an air inlet (14) for the air flowing in the same direction. The dust housing (16) has a plurality of flow openings (18a-18e) corresponding to different flow paths (19a-19d) with varying flow resistances, through which air can flow into the dust housing (6) and to the air outlet (20). The cross-sectional area of a flow opening (18a-e) for a flow path (19a-19e) with higher flow resistance is larger than for a flow path (19a-19e) with lower flow resistance.