Redesign a Vacuum cleaner?

Question

..ok i have this class where i'm supposed to redesign a vacuum cleaner....what are some advancements and ideas to make it more efficient and desirable..For example making them light weight could be an option...

Answer 1

How about a vacuum that isn't a vacuum at all...?

Instead of creating an airflow and trying to entrain dirt and dust into it, why not negatively charge the dirt and positively charge the "vacuum" and let the electromotive force pick up the dirt?

Or how about a type of carpet that is plush, but so loose that the dirt falls right through it to a system that can collect it and sweep it away underneath the carpet?

Think big, man....I can't believe that Dyson miniaturizing a technology that has been around for 40+ years is the best humans can do in this area.

Answer 2

For one thing, they could be sound-proofed because they're so #%$@ loud!
Other than that, the vacuum is like the lightbulb.
The original design was so good that it hasn't been changed in over 100 years!

Anyway, if you really need to make some big changes to the design, you could improve the universal motor so that is more efficient (12 amps is quite a bit) and possibly reconfigure the aerodynamics of the turbine (fan) so that it provides more suction at a lesser speed.
Maybe you could also work with some ergonomics?

Answer 3

Vacuums that are good at picking up cat and dog hair and not causing the vacuum problems. I go through a vacuum every 3 or 4 years because of this. The hair usually gets wound up around the roller near the belt and causes the belt to slip or causes the belt to freeze. A direct drive maybe? Also the weight, as you stated, any good vacuum I have purchased, always weighs too much. My current one is 21 lbs.

Answer 4

That is a difficult question considering most possible enhancements have already been made...
for instance Dyson has a "No loss of suction" vacuum cleaner.
there are more powerful motors,
central vacuums that you just plug a hose into the wall and it has greater vacuum than a heavy one you cart around the house...
greater filtration (HEPA) without loss of suction.
Are you looking for something unique that someone hasn't already thought of, or something like one of these I just mentioned?
Good luck!

Answer 5

well the first thing to do is to get all thrilled about the British creater of vortex vacuum cleaners. I think he's worth near a billion dollars n although it was about three years work adapting a domestic version of the chemical engineering vortex particle mover It is a nifty success story.

after you are wildly thrilled about that read his patent at USPTO.gov then just think of something better. like say the Roomba robot.

I think a better vacuum cleaner creator would find out why people vacuum, who likes vacuuming, n visualize a pleasing vacuuming task.

It's possible that vacuuming actually has a purpose. It removes gunk, but why remove gunk? I think people vacuum to preserve visual order, removing visible negativities. I think people vacuum because they believe that a cleaner room is a healthier room. I believe people vacuum as a kind of preplanned socially normative behavior, like vacuuming prior to having important visitors like parents. I think some people vacuum as a fitness activity; or a kind of non leisure activity that stabilizes emotions; they "clean house" I think people like that a vacuumed area has less odor than an unvacuumed area.

The Segway personal transporter has its gears structured on major audio chords such that it always sounds appealing to the human ear. does the vortex vacuum make a happy noise?

There are now semiconductor odor sensors would the Roomba or its recharge station do well to sniff a room every few minutes always keeping the room clean to create a minimized odor level?

likewise it may be possible to measure actual bacteria burden of carpets with sensors n clean them to a "healthy" level.

If the Roomba saw carpet stains n put a tiny dab of bleach or pigment there such that 20 passes were required to be discernable to the human eye then reported this to its human masters would this be beneficial like gobbling up crumbs at creating visual order?

As a socially normative behavior does vacuuming benefit from color cues. I think people might feel different about a light flowered pastel golf club n a powder finish "titanium" golf club. Does a vacuum that is a specific color give more psychological belief that the user is "cleaning house" perhaps optical like modded computer cases starting on red then going to blue as the vacuuming activity is "complete"

Finally I read something horrible at a psychological journal. The genders each find the *prospect* of cleaning equally loathesome, but one of the genders actually enjoys the process once it *starts* while the other gender just is stuck going "ewwwwwww" From a social justice perspective I believe that finding those people that actually loathe the active act of cleaning, then finding a vacuum that will bring them to emotional neutrality or positivity while cleaning would be a super gigantic improvement. From a firm's perpsective finding the people who least loathe vacuuming might be highly beneficial

Answer 6

Other Options to consider are as follows:
1. Longer utility hose for easy access to high locations.
2. Increase motor power to obtain better suction. Change motor for a 427 cubic inch V8, fuel injected and a high input supercharger developing around 1200 hp.
3. Install independent suspension with a 2" track bar for better cornering and road handling.
4. Install 1000 watt driving lights for use in dark places.
5. Install 2" dia pipe bull bar on from of vacuum cleaner to protect against impact from wild life.
6. Install off road Tyre's for better traction when used on shag pile carpet.

Answer 7

vaccumes are very simple once you take em apart and look at them (there is an electric cylinder with a motor inside of it, that creates suction but the lightweaght will i would suggest depend on what you make it from) the electrical components that make it heavy will have to stay but the things that seem unneccessary just toss em and replace them with something lighter

Answer 8

How about a doublewide so you can cover more ground.