AU2016361458B2

AU2016361458B2 - A cyclonic vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: AU2016361458B2
Application number: AU2016361458A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Tibor Frei
Original assignee: Rugged Ind Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Rugged Industries Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-11-24
Filing date: 2016-11-24
Publication date: 2022-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-24
Also published as: CN108289582A; AU2016361458A1; WO2017088022A1

Abstract

There is provided a cyclonic vacuum cleaner having a dust separation manifold arrangement forming a plurality of swirl tubes in parallel in an air circuit, each swirl tube comprising coaxial inner and outer tubes and substantially tangential swirl inducing vanes between the outer and inner tubes such that each swirl tube defines: an upper inlet between the upper ends of the inner and outer tubes; upper clean outlet from within the upper end of the inner tube; a lower dust outlet between the lower ends of the inner and outer tubes; and a vortex finder at a lower end of the inner tube; wherein the manifold arrangement is arranged such that each swirl tube is orientated substantially perpendicularly and located above a dust bin tank such that that dust laden air enters the swirl tube inlets and travels axially towards the swirl inducing vanes and wherein the swirl inducing vanes impart a tangential swirl on the air so as to form a vortex substantially at the vortex finder such that dust migrates outwardly forming a relatively dust laden annulus formation such that dust falls from the lower dust outlet for collection into the dust bin tank beneath and relatively dust free air enters the vortex finder and flows axially back up via the inner tubes and out via the upper outlets.

Description

A cyclonic vacuum cleaner

Field of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to cyclonic vacuum cleaners and in particular to a cyclonic vacuum cleaner having a dust separation manifold arrangement forming a plurality of swirl tubes in parallel in an air circuit.

Summary and background

[2] There is provided herein a vacuum cleaner having a dust separation manifold arrangement forming a plurality of axial inlet and tangential cyclone forming swirl tubes.

[3] Specifically, the swirl tubes of present embodiments comprising coaxial inner and outer tubes and tangential swirl inducing vanes between the outer and inner tubes. The swirl inducing vanes impart a tangential swirl on air travelling axially between the inner and outer tubes so as to form a vortex at a lower end of the swirl tube such that dust migrates outwardly forming a relatively dust laden annulus such that the inner tube is able to draw relatively dust free air from the centre of the vortex such that the relatively dust free air travels back up each swirl tube within the inner tube and wherein the dust from the relatively dust laden annulus falls from the outer tube to a collection dust bin tank beneath.

[4] Further specifically, the vacuum cleaner of present embodiments comprises a manifold arrangement having a plurality of the swirl tubes in parallel in an air circuit wherein each swirl tubes is orientated perpendicularly and located above the dust bin tank. In embodiments, the present vacuum cleaner comprises a multistage manifold comprising a plurality of stages in series, each comprising a plurality of swirl tubes in parallel so as to allow for sequential dust separation processes.

[5] Now, WO 2007/075893 A2 (ROYAL APPLIANCE MFG.CO.) 05 July 2007 [hereinafter referred to as Dl] discloses a home cleaning appliance as shown in Figure 1 having a conventional tangential inlet "cylinder on cone" cyclonic separators as is shown in Figure 2.

[6] Dl represents the conventional vacuum cleaner cyclonic arrangement having tangential inlets. Specifically, referring to Figure 2A, the separator 86 of Dl comprises a dirty air inlet 210 entering tangentially to form cyclonic flow. Clean air is drawn from the centre of the cyclone via outlet channel 300 and dust falls from the lower end 260.

[7] However, Dl has design disadvantages in that the cyclone is fouled by the space occupied by the inlet and also the air entering therefrom. As such, Dl is deficient in not obtaining proper cyclonic formation. [8] Furthermore, referring to Figure 2B, Dl requires deflecting blades 376 to deflect the air down the cyclone tube and to prevent dust exiting directly via the outlet channel 300. Dl's use of deflectors is poor cyclone design.

[9] As is evident, the swirl tube manifold arrangement of present embodiments is distinctly different the traditional tangential inlet cyclones of Dl conventional cyclonic vacuum cleaners.

[10] As such, with the foregoing in mind, in accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a cyclonic vacuum cleaner having a dust separation manifold arrangement forming a plurality of swirl tubes in parallel in an air circuit, each swirl tube comprising coaxial inner and outer tubes and substantially tangential swirl inducing vanes between the outer and inner tubes such that each swirl tube defines: an upper inlet between the upper ends of the inner and outer tubes; upper outlet from within the upper end of the inner tube; a lower dust outlet between the lower ends of the inner and outer tubes; and a vortex finder at a lower end of the inner tube; wherein the manifold arrangement is arranged such that each swirl tube is orientated substantially perpendicularly and located above a dust bin tank such that that dust laden air enters the swirl tube inlets and travels axially towards the swirl inducing vanes and wherein the swirl inducing vanes impart a tangential swirl on the air so as to form a vortex substantially at the vortex finder such that dust migrates outwardly forming a relatively dust laden annulus formation such that dust falls from the lower dust outlet for collection into the dust bin tank beneath and relatively dust free air enters the vortex finder and flows axially back up via the inner tubes and out via the upper outlets.

[11] The vanes may be axially variably pitched so as to transition from a substantially axial pitch at an upper end thereof to a substantially tangential pitch at a lower end thereof.

[12] Each swirl tube may comprise 6 vanes.

[13] The outer tubes may extend further down beyond the inner tubes.

[14] The manifold arrangement may be multistaged in having at least a first stage and a second stage defining a first stage input plenum, a first stage output/second stage input plenum and a second stage output plenum and a first stage deck comprising first stage swirl tubes between the first stage input plenum and first stage output/second stage input plenum and a second stage deck comprising second stage swirl tubes between the first stage output/second stage input plenum and the second stage output plenum and wherein the swirl tubes may be arranged in parallel in the air circuit in each deck.

[15] The first stage may comprise nine first stage swirl tubes.

[16] The second stage may comprise nine second stage swirl tubes.

[17] The manifold arrangement may have a throughput of more than 20 l/s.

[18] The manifold arrangement may have a throughput of more than 30 l/s. [19] The manifold arrangement may comprise an outer tube defining manifold portion having a plurality of parallel tube formations defining the respective outer tubes of the swirl tubes.

[20] Each outer tube may be substantially frustoconical.

[21] The manifold arrangement further may comprise a plurality of vane hub assemblies defining the inner tubes and peripheral vanes of the swirl tubes, the vane hub assemblies being located within the parallel tube formations of the outer tube defining manifold portion.

[22] The manifold arrangement further may comprise a first stage separator plate separating the first stage input plenum and the first stage output/second stage input plenum.

[23] The first stage separator plate meets the inlets of the first stage swirl tubes.

[24] The cyclonic vacuum cleaner may further comprise first stage grommets interfacing the first stage separator plate and the inlets of the first stage swirl tubes.

[25] The manifold arrangement further may comprise a second stage separator plate separating first stage output/second stage input plenum and the second stage output plenum.

[26] The second stage separator plate meets the inlets of the second stage swirl tubes.

[27] The cyclonic vacuum cleaner may further comprise second stage grommets interfacing the second stage separator plate and the inlets of the second stage swirl tubes.

[28] The second stage separator plate may be located above the first stage separator plate.

[29] The inlets of the second stage swirl tubes reach above the inlets of the first stage swirl tubes to meet the second stage separator plate.

[30] The cyclonic vacuum cleaner may further comprise an exhaust duct to draw air from the second stage output plenum.

[31] The exhaust duct may be oriented perpendicularly with respect to the first and second stage separator plates.

[32] The exhaust duct may travel down the center of the vacuum cleaner towards an electric motor located within the base of the vacuum cleaner.

[33] The cyclonic vacuum cleaner may further comprise an antimicrobial filter within the exhaust duct.

[34] The cyclonic vacuum cleaner may further comprise exhaust vents arranged in the air circuit after the electric motor to exhaust air from the base of the vacuum cleaner.

[35] The cyclonic vacuum cleaner may further comprise a stage separating funnel arrangement located beneath the swirl tube outlets.

[36] The stage separating funnel may be configured to separately collected dust from the separate dust outlets of the first and second stage swirl tubes.

[37] The funnel arrangement may comprise an outer funnel and an inner funnel. [38] The first stage swirl tubes may be arranged towards the periphery of the manifold arrangement and wherein dust from the first stage swirl tubes falls via the outer funnel and wherein the second stage in tubes may be arranged centrally within the manifold arrangement and wherein dust from the second stage swirl tubes falls via the inner funnel.

[39] The cyclonic vacuum cleaner may further comprise baffles within the dust bin tank.

[40] The dust bin tank may comprise an openable base for emptying.

[41] According to another aspect, there is provided a vane hub assembly comprising and axial tube and peripheral vanes emanating therefrom for use in a cyclonic vacuum cleaner wherein the peripheral vanes transition from a substantially axial pitch at an upper ends thereof to a substantially axial pitch at lower ends thereof.

[42] The vane hub assembly may comprise a widened hub having the vanes thereon.

[43] The vane hub assembly may further comprise a conical shoulder transitions between axial tube and the hub.

[44] Upper ends of the vanes comprise protrusions for mechanical interlock with corresponding indentations of an inner surface of an outer tube.

[45] The vane hub assembly may comprise constituent upper male and a lower female portions.

[46] A lower portion of the axial tube may be frustoconical.

[47] The vane hub assembly may comprise six peripheral vanes.

[48] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[49] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[50] Figures 1 and 2 show a prior art conventional tangential inlet separator cyclonic vacuum cleaner arrangement;

[51] Figure 3 shows vane hub assemblies of first and second stage swirl tubes in accordance with and bottom of the present disclosure;

[52] Figures 4-10 show the assembly of a multi-staged dust separation manifold arrangement for forming a plurality of swirl tubes in parallel in an air circuit in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[53] Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the dust separation manifold arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; [54] Figure 12 shows the assembly of a filter screen mesh around a lower portion of the manifold assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[55] Figures 13 - 15 show the assembly of a stage separating funnel in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[56] Figures 16 - 18 show further assembly of the cyclonic vacuum cleaner including the provision of a dust bin tank, lid and handles in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[57] Figure 19 shows a cross-sectional elevation view of the cyclonic vacuum cleaner in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[58] Figure 20 shows a perspective view of the assembled cyclonic vacuum cleaner including in comprising a backpack harness in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and [59] Figure 21 shows the vane hub arrangement in further detail in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Description of Embodiments

[60] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure.

[61] Before the structures, systems and associated methods relating to the cyclonic vacuum cleaner having a dust separation manifold arrangement forming a plurality of swirl tubes are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular configurations, process steps, and materials disclosed herein as such may vary somewhat. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting since the scope of the disclosure will be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof.

[62] In describing and claiming the subject matter of the disclosure, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below.

[63] It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. [64] As used herein, the terms "comprising," "including," "containing," "characterised by," and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

[65] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

[66] Figure 20 shows a cyclonic vacuum cleaner 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the particular embodiment shown, the vacuum cleaner 1 is of commercial grade and comprises a harness for backpack mounting. The harness may comprise associated waist and shoulder straps so as to allow the vacuum cleaner 1 to be worn on a user's back. The vacuum cleaner 1 may comprise an electrical plug 2 which may connect with an electrical lead 3 retained within conical retention member 4. A hose may be connected to air inlet 5.

[67] The vacuum cleaner 1 utilises a dust separation manifold arrangement forming a plurality of swirl tubes in parallel in an air circuit as will be described in further detail below.

[68] Turning now to figure 19, there is shown a cross-sectional elevation view of the cyclonic vacuum cleaner 1. As can be seen, the vacuum cleaner 1 comprises an electric motor 8 for drawing air through an air circuit via air inlet 5. As can be seen, the electric motor 8 is located in the base of the vacuum cleaner 1 and spins an impeller 9 to draw clean air down a central exhaust duct 10 for expulsion.

[69] An antimicrobial filter 10 may be located towards the lower end of the exhaust duct 10. The electric motor 8 creates an air circuit wherein air flows via the air inlet 5, dust separating manifold arrangement 6, exhaust duct 10, the filter 11, the impeller 11 and is expelled from exhaust vents located in the base of the vacuum cleaner. Dust is collected within the dust bin tank 7.

[70] Figure 11 shows a magnified view of the manifold arrangement 6 in further detail showing the swirl tubes in further detail. Specifically, as can be seen, each swirl tube comprises coaxial inner 13 and outer 14 tubes and tangential swirl inducing vanes 15 between the outer 14 and inner 13 tubes.

[71] As can be further seen, each swirl tube is perpendicularly orientated and located above the dust bin 7.

[72] Each swirl tube defines an upper inlet 49 between the upper ends of the inner 13 and outer 14 tubes; an upper clean outlet 52 from within the upper end of the inner tube 13; a lower dust outlet 51 between the lower ends of the inner 13 and outer 14 tubes; and a vortex finder 50 at a lower end of the inner tube 13.

[73] The manifold arrangement 6 is configured such that air enters each swirl tube 12 axially and travels down the swirl tube 12 between the outer 14 and inner 13 tubes. While travelling axially therebetween, the swirl inducing vanes 15 impart a substantially tangential swirl thereon so as to create a vortex at the lower end of the inner tube 13.

[74] As such, towards the lower end of the inner tube 13, the vortex forces the dust to migrate outwardly forming a relatively dust laden annulus such that the vortex finder 50 inner tube 13 is able to draw relatively dust free air from the centre of the vortex such that the relatively dust free air travels back up each swirl tube within the inner tube 13 and out via the clean outlet 52 and wherein the dust from the relatively dust laden annulus falls from the dust outlet 51 to the dustbin beneath.

[75] As can be appreciated, such arrangement, by being devoid of filtration, vacuum bags and the like results in "no loss of suction" including as the dust bin 7 fills. Furthermore, the swirl tube arrangement 12 has wet/dry application wherein the swirl tube 12 similarly separates entrained water droplets within the air circuit.

[76] In a preferred embodiment, the manifold arrangement is multistaged in having at least a first stage and a second stage defining a first stage input plenum 53, a first stage output/second stage input plenum 54 and a second stage output plenum 55 and a first stage deck comprising first stage swirl tubes 43A between the first stage input plenum 53 and first stage output/second stage input plenum 54 and a second stage deck comprising second stage swirl tubes 43B between the first stage output/second stage input plenum 54 and the second stage output plenum 55 and wherein the swirl tubes are arranged in parallel in the air circuit in each deck.

[77] There will now be described the assembly of the cyclonic vacuum cleaner 1 to further illustrate the features and functionality thereof.

[78] Specifically, figure 3 shows a vane hub assembly 43 which forms part of the swirl tube 12. The particular configurations of the vane hub assembly 43 shown (and that of the manifold arrangement 6) is a result of significant trial and experimentation, including computer aided simulation for the operational optimisation thereof including in the vortex formation thereby. Figure 21 shows the vane hub assembly 43 magnified for further detail.

[79] The vane hub assembly 43 comprises the inner tube 13 which, as will be described in further detail below, is located within the outer tube 14 so as to form the swirl tube.

[80] As can be seen, the vane hub assembly 43 has a widened hub 21 comprising the peripheral tangential swirl inducing vanes 15 thereon. The upper peripheral edges of the vanes 15 may comprise protrusions 23 so as to interlock with corresponding indentations of the inner surfaces of the outer tube 14 for appropriately locating and securing the vane hubs 43.

[81] Referring to Figure 3A1, the vane hub assembly 43 may be formed by upper male component 16 that is received and fits within a lower female component 17. Mechanical interlocks 18 may fit with respective grooves 19 so as to fasten the male 16 and female 17 components. [82] The lower portion of the inner tube 13 may be a substantially frustoconical.

[83] As alluded to above, in a preferred embodiment, the manifold arrangement 6 is multistaged comprising at least first and second stages. In this regard, figure 3A shows the vane hubs 43A of the first stage and figure 3B shows the vane hubs 43B of the second stage wherein, as can be seen, the vane hubs 43B of the second stage are characterised in comprising an elongated upper cylindrical portion 13 so as to be able to reach the second stage separator plate in the manner described in further detail below.

[84] Consideration should also be had for the vanes 15 wherein, as can be seen, each vane 15 initiates substantially axially at an upper end thereof and transitions substantially tangentially at a lower end thereof. As alluded to above, air travels between the inner 13 and outer tubes 14 substantially axially above the vanes 15 and, as such, the vanes 15 start substantially axially pitched so as to meet the axial flow of the air. However, the vanes 15 then gradually transition substantially tangentially so as to guide the air from an axial direction to a vortex inducing tangential direction such that when the air departs the vanes 15 at a lower end thereof, the air is travelling substantially tangentially so as to be vortex forming.

[85] Turning to figure 4, there is shown the insertion of the first stage vane hubs 43A into an outer tube defining manifold portion 25 of the manifold arrangement 6. Figure 4A shows an exploded view whereas figure 4B shows the arrangement once constructed.

[86] As can be seen, the outer tube defining manifold portion 25 comprises a plurality of colocated and perpendicularly orientated outer tube formations 14 partially defining the swirl tubes.

[87] Furthermore, the outer tube defining manifold portion 25 may be surrounded by a flange 45 interfacing the outer tubes 14 and the outer casing of the cleaner 1.

[88] Furthermore, the flange 45 may transition to the inlet 5. Furthermore, a poppet valve inlet 44 may be provided. At 20 kPa suction the poppet valve opens to atmosphere allowing air to the swirl tubes to maintain filtration in the event of hose blockage. Furthermore, the poppet valve reduces downtime in comparison to thermal control methods, where it is necessary to wait for the thermostat to cool sufficiently to reset.

[89] In the particular embodiment shown, the first stage vane hubs 43A are arranged in three peripheral groups of three vane hubs 43 each in the configuration shown in figure 4.

[90] Turning now to figure 5, there is shown the insertion of the second stage vane hubs 43 into the outer tube defining manifold portion 25. As can be seen, the second stage vane hubs 43 are arranged centrally in a substantial triangular configurations. As can also be seen, once the first stage 13A and the second stage 13B vane hubs have been inserted into the outer tube defining manifold portion 25 the configuration of vane hubs 43 surrounds the exhaust duct 10. [91] Turning to figure 6 there is shown the insertion of a first stage separator plate 26 over the located vane hubs 43. As can be seen, the first stage separator plate 26 comprises peripheral raised portions 27 meeting the inlets of the first stage swirl tubes so as to separate the inlets and outlets of the first stage swirl tubes.

[92] Figure 7 shows the insertion of screws 28 so as to secure the first stage separator plate 26 to the outer tube defining manifold portion 25.

[93] Figure 8 shows the insertion of first stage grommets 29 for sealing the inner tubes 13 of the first stage vane hubs 43A and the first stage separator plate 26.

[94] Turning to figure 9, there is shown the further insertion of a second stage separator plate 30 over the first stage separator plate 26 which similarly meets the inlets of the second stage swirl tubes so as to separate the inlets and the outlets of the second stage swirl tubes. As can be seen, the second stage separator plate 30 comprises raised portions 31 to accommodate the outputs of the first stage swirl tubes.

[95] Turning to figure 10, there is shown the insertion of second stage grommets 32 so as to seal the inlets of the second stage swirl tube and the second stage separator plate 30.

[96] Turning now to figure 12, there is shown the placement of frustoconical filter mesh screen 33 around the outer tubes 14.

[97] Turning to figure 13, there is shown the insertion of a bottom manifold portion 34 under the manifold arrangement 6. As can be seen, the bottom manifold portion 34 comprises a central cylindrical portion 35 defining a portion of the exhaust duct 10. Furthermore, the bottom manifold portion 34 comprises a plurality of apertures corresponding to the dust outlets of the first and second stage swirl tubes.

[98] Turning to figure 14, there is shown the insertion of a stage separating funnel assembly 35 over the bottom portion 34.

[99] Turning to figure 15, there is shown a cross-sectional view of the stage separating funnel assembly 35 in further detail wherein, as can be seen, the funnel 35 comprises dust collectors 36 to catch dust falling from the dust outlets of the first and second stage swirl tubes located above wherein the dust collectors 36 comprise first stage dust collectors 36A configured to collect dust from the first stage swirl tube dust outlets and second stage dust collectors 36B configured to catch dust from the second stage swirl tube dust outlets.

[100] As can be further seen, the funnel 35 comprises outer 46 and inner 37 funnels wherein the dust collectors 36 are located such that dust collected from the first stage swirl tube falls to the outer funnel 46 and dust collected from the outlets of the second stage swirl tubes falls to the inner funnel 37. The outer 46 and inner 37 funnels substantially vertically isolate the outputs of the first and second stage swirl tubes so as to reduce the likelihood of dust falling from the first stage swirl tube from being inadvertently drawn through the second stage swirl tube.

[101] Turning to figure 16, there is shown the manifold arrangement 6 being inserted into the dust bin tank 7. In the embodiment shown, the dust bin tank 7 is substantially transparent so as to allow for viewing of the dust stored therein. Furthermore, dust bin tank 7 comprises a base 39 having a central aperture 40 for the exhaust duct 10 which meets the central cylindrical portion 35 of the bottom manifold portion 34. The central cylindrical portion 35 of the bottom portion 34 may comprise a grommet 41 for holding the microbial filter 11.

[102] The base 39 may be hingedly coupled to the dustbin tank for opening for emptying.

[103] Turning to figure 17, there is shown a lid 47 inserted over the manifold arrangement 6.

[104] Figure 18 shows the assembled manifold assembly 6 and dust bun tank 7. As is further shown, the lid may comprise a handle 48.

Interpretation

Embodiments:

[105] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[106] Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[107] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects

[108] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details

[109] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description. Terminology

[110] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "forward", "rearward", "radially", "peripherally", "upwardly", "downwardly", and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

Comprising and Including

[111] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[112] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of Invention

[113] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

[114] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Industrial Applicability

[115] It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to the vacuum cleaner industries.

Claims

1. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner having a dust separation manifold arrangement forming a plurality of swirl tubes in parallel in an air circuit, each swirl tube comprising coaxial inner and outer tubes and substantially tangential swirl inducing vanes between the outer and inner tubes such that each swirl tube defines:

an upper inlet between the upper ends of the inner and outer tubes;

upper clean outlet from within the upper end of the inner tube;

a lower dust outlet between the lower ends of the inner and outer tubes; and

a vortex finder at a lower end of the inner tube; wherein the manifold arrangement is arranged such that each swirl tube is orientated substantially perpendicularly and located above a dust bin tank such that that dust laden air enters the swirl tube inlets and travels axially towards the swirl inducing vanes and wherein the swirl inducing vanes impart a tangential swirl on the air so as to form a vortex substantially at the vortex finder such that dust migrates outwardly forming a relatively dust laden annulus formation such that dust falls from the lower dust outlet for collection into the dust bin tank beneath and relatively dust free air enters the vortex finder and flows axially back up via the inner tubes and out via the upper outlets.

2. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vanes are axially variably pitched so as to transition from a substantially axial pitch at an upper end thereof to a substantially tangential pitch at a lower end thereof.

3. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein each swirl tube comprises 6 vanes.

4. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer tubes extend further down beyond the inner tubes.

5. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manifold arrangement is multistaged in having at least a first stage and a second stage defining a first stage input plenum, a first stage output/second stage input plenum and a second stage output plenum and a first stage deck comprising first stage swirl tubes between the first stage input plenum and first stage output/second stage input plenum and a second stage deck comprising second stage swirl tubes between the first stage output/second stage input plenum and the second stage output plenum and wherein the swirl tubes are arranged in parallel in the air circuit in each deck.

6. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first stage comprises nine first stage swirl tubes.

7. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second stage comprises nine second stage swirl tubes.

8. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the manifold arrangement has a throughput of more than 20 l/s.

9. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the manifold arrangement has a throughput of more than 30 l/s.

10. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the manifold arrangement comprises an outer tube defining manifold portion having a plurality of parallel tube formations defining the respective outer tubes of the swirl tubes.

11. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, wherein each outer tube is substantially frustoconical.

12. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the manifold arrangement further comprises a plurality of vane hub assemblies defining the inner tubes and peripheral vanes of the swirl tubes, the vane hub assemblies being located within the parallel tube formations of the outer tube defining manifold portion.

13. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the manifold arrangement further comprises a first stage separator plate separating the first stage input plenum and the first stage output/second stage input plenum.

14. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first stage separator plate meets the inlets of the first stage swirl tubes.

15. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 13, further comprising first stage grommets interfacing the first stage separator plate and the inlets of the first stage swirl tubes.

16. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 13, wherein the manifold arrangement further comprises a second stage separator plate separating first stage output/second stage input plenum and the second stage output plenum.

17. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16, wherein the second stage separator plate meets the inlets of the second stage swirl tubes.

18. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 17, further comprising second stage grommets interfacing the second stage separator plate and the inlets of the second stage swirl tubes.

19. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16, wherein the second stage separator plate is located above the first stage separator plate.

20. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 19, wherein the inlets of the second stage swirl tubes reach above the inlets of the first stage swirl tubes to meet the second stage separator plate.

21. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 20, further comprising an exhaust duct to draw air from the second stage output plenum.

22. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 21, wherein the exhaust duct is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the first and second stage separator plates.

23. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 22, wherein the exhaust duct travels down the center of the vacuum cleaner towards an electric motor located within the base of the vacuum cleaner.

24. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 23, further comprising an antimicrobial filter within the exhaust duct.

25. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 23, further comprising exhaust vents arranged in the air circuit after the electric motor to exhaust air from the base of the vacuum cleaner.

26. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a stage separating funnel assembly located beneath the swirl tube outlets.

27. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 26, wherein the stage separating funnel assembly is configured to separately collected dust from the separate dust outlets of the first and second stage swirl tubes.

28. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 27, wherein the funnel assembly comprises an outer funnel and an inner funnel.

29. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 28, wherein the first stage swirl tubes are arranged towards the periphery of the manifold arrangement and wherein dust from the first stage swirl tubes falls via the outer funnel and wherein the second stage in tubes are arranged centrally within the manifold arrangement and wherein dust from the second stage swirl tubes falls via the inner funnel.

30. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising baffles within the dust bin tank.

31. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 30, wherein the dust bin tank comprises an openable base for emptying.

32. A vane hub assembly comprising and axial tube and peripheral vanes emanating therefrom for use in a cyclonic vacuum cleaner wherein the peripheral vanes transition from a substantially axial pitch at an upper ends thereof to a substantially axial pitch at lower ends thereof.

33. A vane hub assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein the vane hub assembly comprises a widened hub having the vanes thereon.

34. A vane hub assembly as claimed in claim 33, further comprising a conical shoulder transitions between axial tube and the hub.

35. A vane hub assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein upper ends of the vanes comprise protrusions for mechanical interlock with corresponding indentations of an inner surface of an outer tube.

36. A vane hub assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein the vane hub assembly comprises constituent upper male and a lower female portions.

37. A vane hub assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein a lower portion of the axial tube is frustoconical.

38. A vane hub assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein the vane hub assembly comprises six peripheral vanes.