Vortex Flow Cleaning Chamber for Electrical Component Particle Removal

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning devices for electrical components using gaseous cleaning media lack effective removal of particulate contaminants, leading to potential electrical short circuits and component failures, as they often rely on non-targeted methods like compressed air without ensuring thorough cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device with a cylindrical chamber utilizing a pressure generating device to create a pressure difference, resulting in a vortex flow of cleaning medium that captures and removes particulate contaminants from electrical components, featuring adjustable inlets and outlets, a separation device for particle collection, and optional features like vibration and nozzle devices for comprehensive cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If compressed air is used to blow off electrical components, then particles can be removed, but the cleaning performance is insufficient and particulate contaminants are not effectively removed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidparticle removal efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamic vortex flow instead of static compressed air blowing. The cleaning medium is introduced tangentially to create rotating vortex flow that dynamically adapts to the component geometry, significantly improving particle removal efficiency while maintaining cleaning effectiveness for sensitive electrical components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the flow parameters by introducing cleaning medium tangentially to generate vortex flow with specific rotational characteristics. This parameter change transforms the cleaning mechanism from simple pressure blowing to controlled vortex flow, achieving both high particle removal efficiency and effective cleaning of sensitive components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If a cylindrical cleaning chamber is used, then the structure is simple, but the flow pattern does not create effective vortex flow for particle capture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechamber structureVSAvoidparticle capture effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by introducing the cleaning medium tangentially at specific locations on the cylindrical chamber wall rather than using uniform distribution. This localized tangential introduction creates effective vortex flow in critical areas, achieving reliable particle capture while maintaining the simplicity of the cylindrical chamber structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pneumatic principles by introducing cleaning medium through tangential nozzles to generate vortex flow. The pneumatic flow pattern creates rotational motion that enhances particle capture effectiveness within the simple cylindrical chamber, combining structural simplicity with effective cleaning action

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 device achieves improved cleaning performance by effectively capturing and removing particulate contaminants through vortex flow, reducing the risk of electrical failures and ensuring thorough cleaning of sensitive electrical components.

Implementation Method 1

a flow of the cleaning medium forms in the interior, which in the present case is vortex-shaped at least in sections

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVortex flow: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

a pressure difference can be provided between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

The cleaning device (10) further comprises a separation device (58) for particles detached from the component (28) and carried along by the cleaning medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCyclone separation: Cyclone Separation

Data Source

PatentEP3965963B1Cleaning apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 DUERR ECOCLEAN GMBH
  • EP3965963B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3965963B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3965963B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for cleaning more particularly electrical components (28) by means of a gaseous cleaning medium, comprising a cleaning chamber (12) having an interior (18) and a wall (16) enclosing said interior, a receptacle (30) for the component (28) in the interior (18) and a flow device (34) for the cleaning medium which comprises a pressure generation device (14) and comprises or forms at least one inlet (44, 46) into the interior (18) and at least one outlet (42) out of the interior (18), wherein a pressure difference can be provided between the at least one inlet (44, 46) and the at least one outlet (42) by means of the flow device (34) and the flow device (34) is formed such that the cleaning medium in the interior (18) forms a vortex flow (54, 56), at least in sections, from the at least one inlet (44, 46) to the at least one outlet (42).