Weighted Rotary Particle Sensor for Gravity-Aligned Air Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary particle sensors in air cleaners face accuracy issues when oriented horizontally due to air flow by natural convection, which prevents precise measurement of air pollution levels, as the inlet, detection chamber, and outlet are not aligned in the direction of gravity.
Innovation Solution
A rotary particle sensor assembly with a rotatable design and a weight system ensures the inlet, detection chamber, and outlet are always oriented in the direction of gravity, regardless of the air cleaner's orientation, using a rotating shaft and weight to maintain alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the particle sensor is installed in a horizontal air cleaner, then the air cleaner can be placed on a table or floor for easy access, but the measurement precision deteriorates because air cannot flow properly through the sensor in the required vertical direction
Solution Approach 1:
The particle sensor is made rotatable around a horizontal axis through a rotating mechanism, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation. The sensor can rotate between vertical and horizontal positions, enabling it to adapt to different air cleaner installation orientations while maintaining proper measurement alignment with gravity direction
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation parameter of the particle sensor is made variable through the rotating mechanism. By changing the rotational angle of the sensor, it can switch between vertical orientation (for accurate measurement) and adapt to horizontal air cleaner installation, thus resolving the contradiction between accessibility and measurement precision
2Measurement precision
If the particle sensor is installed in a vertical air cleaner, then the measurement precision is maintained with proper vertical air flow, but the ease of operation worsens as the air cleaner becomes harder to access
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable particle sensor allows the air cleaner to be installed in various orientations (vertical, horizontal, or at angles) while the sensor itself can dynamically adjust to maintain the required vertical measurement orientation, thus improving accessibility without sacrificing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating mechanism enables the particle sensor to serve multiple orientation functions - it can measure air pollution accurately in vertical installation while also adapting to horizontal or angled installations, making the air cleaner universally applicable in different environments and improving overall ease of operation
3Device complexity
If the inlet, detection chamber, and outlet are arranged horizontally, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates because natural convection cannot properly move air through the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The particle sensor assembly is designed to rotate dynamically, allowing the inlet-detection chamber-outlet arrangement to switch between horizontal and vertical orientations. This enables the system to maintain measurement precision by orienting the flow path vertically while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple
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 allows for precise measurement of air pollution levels regardless of the air cleaner's orientation, ensuring accurate air quality assessment even when installed vertically or horizontally.
Implementation Method 1
the particle sensor is supported in the air cleaner so as to be rotatable using a rotating shaft and has a weight at a predetermined position thereon, so that the particle sensor is oriented in a direction of gravity by the weight
Implementation Method 2
a difference in density of air is caused by expansion of air due to heat generated from a resistor, which is a typical electronic component and is provided around the inlet 11
Implementation Method 3
air drawn into the inlet 11 must flow towards the outlet 13 through the detection chamber 12 in the direction opposite that of gravity, that is, upwards. The reason for this is that air flowing by natural convection is moved upwards from the lower position to the upper position owing to differing densities of the air
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary particle sensor assembly and an air cleaner having the rotary particle sensor assembly are disclosed. Particularly, in the present invention, regardless of the orientation of the air cleaner, the rotary particle sensor assembly can always be oriented in the direction of gravity. The rotary particle sensor assembly includes a particle sensor, which measures the pollution level of air drawn into the air cleaner. The particle sensor is supported in the air cleaner so as to be rotatable using a rotating shaft and has a weight at a predetermined position. Thus, the particle sensor can always be oriented in the direction of gravity by the weight regardless of the orientation of the air cleaner. Therefore, the present invention ensures the accuracy of measurement of the pollution level of air.