EP0484894A1

EP0484894A1 - Separator for solid and liquid particles from an air current

Info

Publication number: EP0484894A1
Application number: EP91118890A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Darko Broznic
Original assignee: ING BIRO ESTABLISHMENT
Current assignee: ING BIRO ESTABLISHMENT
Priority date: 1990-11-05
Filing date: 1991-11-05
Publication date: 1992-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2011-11-05
Also published as: EP0484894B1; ATE143575T1; DE69122470D1

Abstract

The subject of the invention, a hydroactive separator of solid particles and liquids from air currents, eliminates filtering of the air current by means of a paper or textile filter sack or any other kind of filters. Removing solid particles (dust) and liquids (water) from the air current is achieved by a liquid presenting the medium which traps the particles or liquid droplets from the air current. In vacuum cleaners, a constant suction power during the whole time of operation is achieved. Abrasive materials, hot and incandescent fragments (ashes, glow, cigarettes, weld butts), as well as other materials may be removed without preliminary preparation of the vacuum cleaner. An important saving of paper or textile filter sacks is effectuated.

Description

The invention relates to the technical field of vacuum cleaners and more particularly to separators according to the introductory part of claim 1.
During the suction of dusty air currents in conventional vacuum cleaners, and because tiny parcticles of dust are accumulated at the top of the paper or textile filter sack, the suction strength is reduced as it depends (directly proportional) on the amount of dirt already clogged to the filter sack. Vacuum cleaners adapted for the suction of liquids require special provisions depending on whether solid particles (dust) and/or liquids (water) is/are to be sucked. Furthermore, with conventional vacuum cleaners, the suction of hot and incandescent particles (e.g. ash, welding cinder, close-burning coal etc.) is not possible.
The first of these problems can partially be solved by increasing the filtering surface, but even in such a case, the suction power and efficiency are reduced. The other two problems, however, cannot be avoided if filtering is used.
The object of the invention therefore is to provide a separator for a vacuum cleaner which avoids the above disadvantages.
In conventional vacuum cleaners, the dirt is removed from the air current by means of a paper or textile filter and collected in a container. In case of liquid droplets to be removed from the air current, a sponge may be used.
The aim of the invention is achieved by the measures proposed in the characterising part of claims 1 and 10. Further embodiments and improvements of the invention are described in the subclaims.
The instant hydroactive separator of solid particles and liquids forms a diffusor at the ending of the suction tube, installed in the vacuum cleaner's container. All parts of the construction are solidly connected to each other. The use of a flexible suction tube, eventually made of ribbed rubber (bellows) and/or the use of floats enabling the raise or fall of the separator - depending on the water level - is preferred.
The invention will be described in more detail in relation to the enclosed figures.

Fig.1: presents a partial section of the separator;
Fig.2: presents a partial section of the separator when not in operation;
Fig.3: presents a partial section of the separator in operation;
Fig.4: presents a cross section along the line IV.-IV. of Fig.2.

Reference numerals of the drawing refer to:

CARRIER REINFORCEMENT: 1
LINKS: 2
DIFFUSOR: 3
PROTECTIVE CYLINDER: 4
PROTECTIVE COVER: 5
FLOATS: 6
WATER: 7
RECESSIONS: 8
AIR CURRENT: 9
HOUSING: 10
SUCTION TUBE: 11
VACUUM MOTOR: 12
EXHAUST: 13
FLEXIBLE SUCTION TUBE: 14

Description of the single parts of the separator:
CARRIER REINFORCEMENT 1 - its function (purpose) is to reinforce the construction and to build a cylindrical diffusor.
LINKS 2 - present the hard connection between the protective cylinder 4 and the other parts of the separator. There are two links, but, alternatively, may be more. They may have a fan blade shape in order to force the air current 9 into a cyclone like rotation.
DIFFUSOR 3 - forms the ending of the - preferably flexible - suction tube 14.
PROTECTIVE CYLINDER 4 - a part of construction which has on its upper part a sectional conical surface, that directs the air current 9 to the protective cover 5.
PROTECTIVE COVER 5 - prevents spraying of water onto the vacuum motor 12 inlet. Further sheet guides between said protective cover 5 and said vacuum motor 12 could be provided.
The cylindrical surface between the upper border of the protective cylinder 4 and the protective cover 5 is smaller than the cylindrical surface between the lower border of the protective cover brim and the surface of the liquid 7. Such a relation is necessary because of the decrease of the air current speed and enables separation of remaining water droplets from the air current (in consequence of gravity). On the borders of the protective cover 5, floats 6 are attached.
FLOATS 6 - enable the separator to maintain a constant position in relation to the water surface. The water level, when the vacuum cleaner is off, has to cover the links 2. There are three or more, preferably four floats displaced all around.
WATER 7 - for the functioning of the construction, unavoidably, the water is necessary. In the separator, the water presents the medium by means of which the solid particles, liquids and other materials can be separated from the air current 9.
If the water level can be held constant, the parts 1 to 5 may be held rigidly with respect to the housing 10.
Fig.3 presents a partial section of the separator and the function of the device when the vacuum cleaner is on. When the vacuum cleaner is turned on, and in consequence of the outside atmosphere effect in the suction tube 14, i.e. in the diffusor 3, the water level is lowered. The air current 9, when issuing from the diffusor 3, forms a recession 8 on the water surface, directing the surface water layers to the protective cylinder 4 and further onto the protective cover 5.
Particles of dust with bigger mass, because of the centrifugal force, unable to be directed to the protective cylinder 4 and to the protective cover 5, rush into the water and sink down into or are dispersed in the water. Particles of dust with small mass, to which centrifugal forces have no significant effect, are directed via the air current to the protective cover 5 and are trapped in sprayed water when coming in contact with it.
The conical part of the protective cylinder 4 enables extra whirling circulation where the rest of the light particles is trapped in water and thereby moved out of the air current.
In consequence of the big surface, to which the air current mixed with water droplets comes across, the speed is gently reduced, and because of the gravity effects, the water droplets are separated from the air current 9 and then fall back onto the water surface. In such a way, a purified air current, from which dust and liquids are separated, comes out from the vacuum cleaner's exhaust 13.
The whole construction is reciprocally steadily connected and presents the solid constructive entirety. In the production of the instant separator, known technological processes for the manufacture of conventional vacuum cleaners may be used. Instead of a vacuum motor 12, any other vacuum producing means may be provided.
For the production of the instant separator, known plastic material may be used, but industrial workmanship and technological processes will determine its definite form.
Instead of water, other liquids could be used, e.g. desinfectant liquids like alcool, H₂O₂ or the like for avoiding a bacteriological pollution. Furthermore, the liquid could be exchanged permanently via tubes (not shown).

Claims

Separator for solid and liquid particles from an air current (9), applicable especially to vacuum cleaners, with a separator/filter-medium characterized in that the medium is a liquid (7) through which or along which the air current (9) may be sucked in order to bring the solid particles into contact with the liquid and remove them from the air current.
Separator according to claim 1, with a suction tube the end of which comprises a diffusor (3) connected via links (2) with a protective cylinder (4), said cylinder (4) and said diffusor (3) being at least partly immersable into, resp. floatable on said liquid (7).
Separator according to claim 2, wherein the protective cylinder (4) has a conical upper part for guiding the air current (9) towards a disc-shaped protective cover (5).
Separator according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising floats (6) for keeping the diffusor (3) and/or the protective cylinder (4) and/or the protective cover (5) floating on the liquid.
Separator according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the cylindrical surface between the upper border of the protective cylinder (4) and the protective cover (5) is smaller than the cylindrical surface between the lower border of the protective cover brim and the surface of the liquid (7).
Separator according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the floats (6) are adapted to maintain the separator floating on the liquid (7) and bring the surface of the liquid (7) into contact with the links (2), whenever the separator is in the state of inactivity.
Separator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid is or contains a desinfectant.
Separator according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the links (2) have a fan blade shape in order to rotate the air current (9) in a cyclone like manner.
Separator according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a flexible tube (14) connecting the diffusor (3) with a suction tube (vacuum cleaner inlet) (11).
Separator of solid particles and liquids from the air current which eliminates filtering, applicable to the vacuum cleaners anticipated for sucking in solid particles and liquids, wherein water is medium with what and where in the separating of solid particles (dust), liquids (water) and the other dirtiness is done and/or wherein the end of suction tube concludes in diffusor (3), which is with links (2) connected with protective cylinder (4), by its upper part with the sectional conical surface, where protective cover (5) on which brim the floats are disposed and with what the whole construction is held on the water surface, is roofed over by protective cylinder (4) and/or wherein the cylindrical surface between upper border of protective cylinder (4) and protective cover (5) is less than cylindrical surface between lower border of the protective covers (5) and the water surface (7) and/or wherein floats enable the construction maintenance on the water, thus the water surface, when the vacuum cleaner is in the state of inactivity, covers the links (2).