Wet-Dry Vacuum Liquid Trap for Motor Contamination Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wet-dry vacuum cleaners are prone to liquid contamination of the motor fan assembly when the liquid holding chamber becomes full or the device is tilted, leading to potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A wet-dry vacuum cleaner design featuring a liquid trap with multiple inlet conduits and a serpentine airflow path within the tank, which captures and retains liquid entrained in the air flow, preventing it from reaching the motor fan assembly, and includes a removable and washable dirty liquid tank with a releasable lid and filter for enhanced separation and containment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tank outlet is directly connected to the motor fan assembly, then the liquid can be easily removed from the device, but the liquid can enter the motor fan assembly and cause contamination and damage
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid trap chamber is introduced as an intermediary component between the tank outlet and the motor fan assembly. The chamber captures and retains liquid entrained in the air flow, preventing direct contact between liquid and the motor fan assembly while maintaining the fluid communication pathway for air flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal volume of the tank is segmented into distinct functional zones: a liquid capture chamber for collecting liquid, a liquid trap chamber for retaining entrained liquid, and a filtered air passage for clean air flow to the motor. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function while preventing liquid from reaching the motor.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the tank capacity is increased to hold more liquid, then the device can operate longer without emptying, but the device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tank is designed with different local qualities - the liquid capture chamber has a larger volume for storing bulk liquid, while the liquid trap chamber has a smaller volume optimized for capturing entrained liquid. This localized optimization allows efficient liquid management without unnecessarily increasing overall tank capacity and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid trap chamber utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning the tank outlet above the liquid level in the capture chamber. This dimensional arrangement allows gravity to naturally prevent liquid from entering the trap chamber while maintaining adequate liquid storage capacity in the capture chamber.
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
Effectively prevents liquid from contaminating the motor fan assembly, ensuring the device's operational integrity and allowing for easy cleaning and maintenance of the liquid trap and tank.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid trap comprises a chamber arranged to capture and retain liquid entrained in the air flow exiting the tank
Implementation Method 2
a motor-fan assembly mounted in the housing and arranged to generate an air flow between a dirty air inlet and a clean air outlet
Data Source
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AI summary
A wet-dry vacuum cleaner device (100) comprising: a housing (102); a motor-fan assembly (204) mounted in the housing (102) and arranged to generate an air flow between a dirty air inlet (108) and a clean air outlet (112); a tank (116) arranged to capture liquid (220) entrained in the dirty air flow, the tank (116) comprising a tank inlet (216) in fluid communication with the dirty air inlet (108) and a tank outlet (222) in fluid communication with the motor-fan assembly (204); wherein the tank outlet (222) is in fluid communication with a liquid trap (230) mounted inside the tank (116) arranged to capture liquid (420) entrained in the air flow exiting the tank (116).