Vacuum Cleaner Nozzle Bellow With Flat Inner Surface for Low Noise

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum cleaners with flexible hoses or bellows experience increased noise levels due to turbulence when air is drawn with high velocity, which is not effectively mitigated by prior designs.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum cleaner nozzle with a flexible bellow arrangement featuring a flat inside surface and axially movable annular elements that provide radial support and flexibility, reducing turbulence and noise by allowing smooth air flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible bellow is used to connect nozzle inlet to outlet, then flexibility and adaptability are improved, but turbulence and noise level increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidnoise level
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bellow is designed with a flat internal surface specifically in the regions where air flows, while maintaining corrugated external structure for flexibility. This local differentiation allows the bellow to provide flexibility externally while ensuring smooth internal airflow paths that minimize turbulence and noise generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bellow structure is segmented into multiple corrugations that can expand and contract independently, allowing the overall structure to remain flexible while each segment maintains a smooth internal surface for laminar airflow, preventing turbulence at the segments interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If elements are added to provide radial support, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The radial support elements are merged with the bellow structure itself, where the corrugations of the bellow serve dual functions: providing the necessary radial support for structural stability while simultaneously maintaining the smooth internal surface for airflow. This integration eliminates the need for separate support structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bellow corrugations are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: they provide radial support to prevent collapse, maintain structural flexibility for adaptation, and ensure smooth internal surfaces for laminar airflow. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2825084B1Vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising flexible bellow arrangement
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 AB ELECTROLUX
  • EP2825084B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2825084B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2825084B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising a flexible arrangement (26) for connecting a nozzle inlet to a nozzle outlet, said bellow arrangement having a flat inside surface.