Vacuum Cleaner Handle Air Outlet for Battery Cooling and Runtime

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum cleaners face challenges in efficiently cooling batteries and maximizing battery capacity to achieve longer running times and sufficient power for large air flows, particularly when integrating new battery technologies into compact designs that allow for easy storage and transport.

Innovation Solution

A two-part vacuum cleaner design with an air outlet in the handle part enables battery placement in either or both parts, ensuring cooling airflow and incorporating a duct for airflow between parts, along with a dust container air channel to minimize sealings and maintain impermeability, allowing for flexible connection via mounting or a knee joint.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If batteries are placed in the handle part to increase capacity, then running time is improved, but cooling becomes difficult due to lack of airflow path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverunning timeVSAvoidbattery cooling
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum cleaner is divided into two separate parts: a handle part containing the air outlet and batteries, and a base part containing the dust container. This segmentation allows the air outlet to be positioned in the handle part, creating an airflow path that passes through the batteries in the handle part for cooling, while maintaining flexible configuration options for battery placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If vacuum cleaner is made in two separate parts for easy storage, then storage efficiency is improved, but airflow path between parts becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidairflow path
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air outlet in the handle part serves multiple functions: it is the primary air outlet for the vacuum cleaner and simultaneously creates a cooling airflow path for the batteries. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall airflow path design while maintaining the two-part structure for compact storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Power

If more batteries are added to increase capacity, then power output is improved, but device weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower outputVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum cleaner is designed with flexible battery placement options, allowing users to configure the number and position of batteries based on their specific needs. The two-part structure enables dynamic adjustment of battery capacity while maintaining manageable weight distribution and cooling effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 enhances battery cooling, increases battery capacity, and improves storage and transport efficiency while maintaining effective cleaning performance by allowing flexible battery placement and reducing leakage issues through a minimized sealing approach.

Implementation Method 1

the fan unit creates an air flow in a flow path extending from the air inlet via the dust separation chamber to the air outlet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow:

Implementation Method 2

it is possible to have batteries also in this part, and still have a cooling air flow past the batteries

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2355684B1Vacuum cleaner air outlet
Publication Date: 2013.03.20 AB ELECTROLUX
  • EP2355684B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2355684B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2355684B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Vacuum cleaner (1) of stick or upright type, which vacuum cleaner (1) comprises a housing (2), a nozzle (3) with an air inlet (4), a dust separation chamber (5), a fan unit (6) and at least one air outlet, whereby the fan unit (6) is adapted to create an air flow in a flow path extending from the air inlet (4) via the dust separation chamber (5) to the air outlet, and whereby the housing (2) comprises two main separate parts (7, 8) connectable to each other, of which one part (7) comprises the dust separation chamber (5) and the fan unit (6), and the other part (8) comprises a handle for the stick or upright type vacuum cleaner. At least one air outlet (15) is placed in the part (8) comprising the handle.