Gordon Howes

I worked as part of the design team in an early iteration of the robot, working to integrate the mechanical elements with the electronics whilst maintaining performance. My last role at Dyson was being responsible for the improvement in reliability of the latest iteration of the robot prior to tooling.

I managed the design team after transfer of the design to South East Asia for development for production. This involved guiding the design teams and managing workloads and deliverables to keep the project on track. The Cyclone Assembly remained in the UK under the original design manager during this period due to complex design challenges that prevented progress to the South East Asia office.

DC50 - I helped to scheme out the original layout of the DC50 Ball Assembly. This assembly contains the Stand Assembly, Yoke Assembly which allows the Cleaner Head to stay level on the floor as the machine is reclined, Upright Lock Assembly which locks the Stand in the upright position, Gear Lever which causes the Stand to lift up as the machine is reclined, Motor Bucket Assembly and Ducting.

DC40 - I developed the Motor Bucket, Ball Shells, Yoke, Ducting, Bleed Valve, PCB Housing and Prefilter, which are all part of the Ball Assembly, whilst the project was in the UK. When the project transferred to South East Asia I moved with it and was responsible for delivering the Ball Shells, Stand Assembly, Upright Lock, Yoke Assembly, Gear Lever and the Change Over Valve Assembly. This involved managing a team of Design Engineers and Senior Design Engineers, developing and signing-off tolerance stacks, part and assembly drawings, investigative testing and resolving validation failures. I also liased with tool makers, prime contractors and sub-assemblers to ensure that the product progressed into production as smoothly as possible.

DC18 - I helped develop the Lower Body Assembly with responsibility in particular for the Stand Lever and Upright Lock. I also worked on the Cyclone Assembly resolving technical difficulties with bin emptying for which a patent was granted.

DC15 - This was the first vacuum cleaner with a Ball. I developed the layout of the Ball Assembly for which a patent was granted. This involved designing the bearing that the ducting passes in and out of, the ducting that channels air to and from the Ball Assembly, the motor bucket, motor mount, motor bucket seal overmould, fan case seal, looming for the vacuum motor, and the overmoulded ball shells. I also worked on the Cyclone Assembly, developing the new prefilter and bleed valve layout, the Stand Assembly which locks the machine upright and flicks up when the pedal is pressed and the machine is reclined and the Yoke Assembly which keeps the cleaner head on the floor as the machine is reclined.

DC15 - This is an exploded view of the Ball Assembly on DC15, the first vacuum cleaner with a Ball. I developed the layout of the Ball Assembly, designing the bearing that the ducting passes in and out of, the air ducting to and from the Ball Assembly, the motor bucket and looming for the vacuum motor, and the Ball Shells.

DC07 - I helped develop the Cyclone Assembly, resolving technical difficulties with bin emptying for which a patent was granted. I also developed the Accessory Tools for which a patent was granted and later successfully defended this patent in court. I developed the Motor Protection Valve and Prefilter which were different to previous products. I also helped to develop a Cleanerhead variant for the US market.