EP1475028B1 - Aspirateur à bain de liquide avec séparateur dynamique - Google Patents

Aspirateur à bain de liquide avec séparateur dynamique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1475028B1
EP1475028B1 EP04002891A EP04002891A EP1475028B1 EP 1475028 B1 EP1475028 B1 EP 1475028B1 EP 04002891 A EP04002891 A EP 04002891A EP 04002891 A EP04002891 A EP 04002891A EP 1475028 B1 EP1475028 B1 EP 1475028B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
separator
liquid bath
vacuum cleaner
fins
fin
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP04002891A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1475028A2 (fr
EP1475028A3 (fr
Inventor
Validio Sozzi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GISOWATT SpA Industria Elettrodomestici
Original Assignee
GISOWATT SpA Industria Elettrodomestici
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GISOWATT SpA Industria Elettrodomestici filed Critical GISOWATT SpA Industria Elettrodomestici
Publication of EP1475028A2 publication Critical patent/EP1475028A2/fr
Publication of EP1475028A3 publication Critical patent/EP1475028A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1475028B1 publication Critical patent/EP1475028B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/18—Liquid filters
    • A47L9/181—Separating by passing the air through a liquid bath
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L7/00—Suction cleaners adapted for additional purposes; Tables with suction openings for cleaning purposes; Containers for cleaning articles by suction; Suction cleaners adapted to cleaning of brushes; Suction cleaners adapted to taking-up liquids
    • A47L7/0004—Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/18—Liquid filters
    • A47L9/186—Construction of outlets
    • A47L9/187—Construction of outlets with filtering means, e.g. separators
    • A47L9/188—Construction of outlets with filtering means, e.g. separators movable, revolving or rotary

Definitions

  • This invention refers to improvements in dirt and dust filtering and separating systems for vacuum cleaners of the liquid bath type, and more in particular relates to a compact and highly efficient liquid both vacuum cleaner provided with liquid and air stream separator of dynamic type, according to claim 1.
  • Vacuum cleaners of various types are widely used in different residential environments for cleaning purposes or for other similar uses.
  • liquid bath vacuum cleaners in which the stream of sucked air, which is laden with dust and particles of dirt, is first made to pass through a liquid bath at the bottom of a water pan assembly, in which a large amount of the dust and particles of dirt are trapped before the air stream is returned towards the outside environment.
  • liquid bath vacuum cleaners have proved to be extremely efficient, a moderate percentage of fine dust and particles is nevertheless able to pass through the liquid bath and be conveyed by the air stream towards the outside environment.
  • liquid bath vacuum cleaners having a rotary separator are in EP-A-0.053.508 , US-A-4.693.734 , GB-A-2.372.200 and EP-A-1.219.223 .
  • US-A-4.693.734 illustrates a liquid bath vacuum cleaner comprising a rotary type separator which freely extends downwards, directly into the water pan for the liquid bath below.
  • the separator is substantially in the form of a cup-shaped element whose peripheral wall is provided with a plurality of blades for directing the air inside the water pan assembly.
  • a complicated path makes it possible to separate an air flow for cooling the motor, from the cleaned air stream which is made to return to the outside environment.
  • EP-A-1.219.223 illustrates a liquid bath vacuum cleaner provided with a rotary type separator which extends into a dust separation chamber having a peripheral wall open towards the bottom and towards the liquid bath below.
  • the truncated cone conformation and the helicoidal shape of the fins and the apertures for the air passage due to the different circumferential speeds along the rotational axis of the separator, gave rise to a differentiated separation degrees, in the longitudinal direction of the separator, and accumulation of dust on the fins causing unbalanced working conditions for the separator and of the air intake fan; unbalanced conditions for the separator and the air intake fan in turn gave rise to greater wear and noise.
  • the truncated cone shape of the separator and the helicoidal form of the fins constituted a further cause of unbalancing, because of the complexity and the use of movable parts in the manufacturing mould, it was not possible to achieve a constant and even distribution of the plastic material during moulding.
  • the main object of this invention is therefore to provide an innovative and improved liquid bath vacuum cleaner having a water filter provided with a dynamic separator, which is capable of obviating the existing problems in liquid bath vacuum cleaners provided with a rotary separator of conventional type.
  • one object of this invention is to provide a liquid bath vacuum cleaner provided with a dynamic separator, whereby it is possible to increase the separation of the liquid and gaseous streams and the micro-dust filtering efficacy, by means of a combined action between a swirling effect inside a chamber, and energetic impingiment action exerted directly by the separator in relation to its particular shape and design.
  • a still further scope of this invention is to provide a liquid bath vacuum cleaner provided with a dynamic dust separator having a homogeneous and dynamically balanced structure, the separation efficacy of which remains substantially unchanged over the entire axial length.
  • a still further object of this invention is to provide a liquid bath vacuum cleaner provided with a dynamic separator of extremely limited dimensions, while maintaining a high filtering efficiency over time.
  • the vacuum cleaner indicated as a whole by reference 10, comprises a water pan assembly 11 on the bottom of which a liquid bath 12, for example water, provide a prefiltering action of a sucked air stream, for removing a large part of dirt and dust particles entrained by the air flow, which are retained into the liquid bath 12.
  • a liquid bath 12 for example water
  • the pan 11 is also provided with an air inlet means comprising a socket 13 to which a pipe 13'is connected for conveying into the water bath the flow of intake air; the pipe 13' extends downwards and into the liquid bath 12 on the bottom of the pan 11.
  • the vacuum cleaner 10 also comprises a fan assembly 14 including an electric motor 15 and a fan 16 supported by a shaft 15' of the drive motor; a rotary separator 17 for the dust particles that have not been retained by the liquid bath 12, is provided in a position below the fan 16.
  • a cover 20 and a cone-shaped element 18 close the pan 11 from above, removably supporting the separator and fan assembly 14, 17.
  • the assembly provided by the cone-shaped element 18, the housing 19 for the fan assembly, and the cover 20 can be removed to gain access to the inside of the pan 11, whenever the water bath 12 has to be renewed.
  • the dust separator 17 is disposed immediately beneath the fan 16 to rotate with the same.
  • the separator 17 comprises a cylindrical basket-like body 21 appropriately secured to the lower end of the motor shaft 15' to rotate with the fan 16 and for conveying the sucked air stream from the pan cavity, towards the fan 16 and air emission apertures of the housing 19.
  • the separator device 17 in the example shown preferably is disposed into a bottom open air-whirling chamber 22 delimited by a peripheral wall 23 coaxially arranged to the separator 17.
  • the whirling chamber 22 is open towards the bottom, facing the liquid bath 12 below.
  • the whirling motion of the air stream caused by the rapid rotational movement of the separator 17 generates high centrifugal forces which project the drops of liquid and the particles of dirt and dust entrained by the flow of air, against the peripheral wall 23 from where they fall downwards into the liquid bath 12 below.
  • the separator 21 is secured to the shaft 15' of the motor by disposing between the separator 17 and the fan 16, an adapter ring 24 capable of maintaining the 17 in a perfectly centred position with respect to the driving shaft 15'.
  • the adapter ring 24 is provided at the bottom with a conical edge 24' which adapts perfectly against a conical surface 21' on the peripheral wall, inside the separator 17.
  • the separator 17 and the adapter ring 24 are provided with a central hub 25, respectively 26, fitted onto the shaft 15' of the motor, to which they are secured by screwing a cap nut 27 onto the lower threaded end of the shaft 15'.
  • the body of the separator 17 is in the form of a basket having a bottom wall 30 provided with the hub 26, and a peripheral wall from which a plurality of peripheral fins 31 extends outwards; the fins are spaced apart from one another and each fin 31 is delimited by flat lateral surfaces rearwardly oriented with respect to the rotational direction W of the separator, as explained further on.
  • the fins 31 extend lengthwise parallely to the rotational axis of the separator 17, and crosswise to the aforesaid axis for a substantial width, towards an outer edge 31'.
  • the fins 31 extend longitudinally between a lower ring 32 and an upper flange 33, substantially over the entire height of the separator 17.
  • narrow slits 34 are consequently created for passage of the air flow, which extend from the lower ring 32 to the upper flange 33.
  • the dimensions of the inner and outer diameters of the separator, the number and dimensions of the fins, and the dimensions of the slots 34 for passage of the air may vary in relation to the specific requirements and design of the vacuum cleaner onto which the separator must be fitted, in order to limit the overall dimensions of the separator without substantially reducing its efficacy, it is preferable to maintain the dimensions and the number of fins within pre-established values; for example, the number of the fins 31 may range from 30 to 40, with a maximum external diameter of the separator defined by the outer edges 31' of the fins 31, ranging for example from 50 to 70 millimetres.
  • the height of the rotor may vary between 20 and 30 millimetres with a maximum rotor diameter/height ratio ranging from 1.6 to 3.5, preferably from 2 to 2.5.
  • the efficiency of the separator according to this invention derives from the whirling effect that is generated in the chamber 22 of the separator, combined with the impingiment effect exerted directly on the drops of water and on the particles of dust and dirt by the particular conformation of the fins 31 during the rotation of the separator.
  • each fin 31 is rearwardly oriented (considering the forward direction of rotation W), with respect to a radial reference plane R passing for example through a point C disposed on a diameter D1 relating to the attachment area of each fin 31 with the lower ring 32, in figure 8 ; it is not excluded that the reference plane R may be otherwise defined.
  • the fins 31 of the separator are delimited by flat surfaces, SF1, SF2 on the front side, both oriented in a direction opposite to the rotational direction W of the separator; the surfaces SF1 and SF2 are differently slanted with respect to the related reference plane R.
  • each fin is delimited on the rear side by a flat surface SP which extends from the ring 32, substantially as far as the outer edge of the fin itself.
  • each fin is in turn delimited by a first flat surface SF1 which extends from the internal wall of the separator, and by a second flat surface SF2 which, from the surface SF1 extends substantially as far as its outer edge.
  • the flat surfaces SP, SF1 and SF2 which delimit each fin 31, extend over the entire height of the separator along planes substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the separator; for the purposes of this description, the term "substantially parallel” is understood to mean a plane oriented in the direction of the rotational axis of the separator, forming with the latter a small draft angle of one degree or slightly more, normally necessary for demolding the separator from the cavity of a manufacturing mould.
  • each fin of the separator is delimited on the back side by a flat surface SP, while on the front side the fin is delimited by a first internal flat surface SF1, extending between the internal diameter D1 and an intermediate diameter D2 of the separator, while it is delimited towards the outside by a second flat surface SF2 extending between the intermediate diameter D2 and the outer diameter D3 defined by the outer edges of the fins.
  • the two front surfaces SF1 and SF2 are merging in correspondence with the intermediate diameter D2 where the fins 31 present a maximum thickness S, measured in a circumferential direction.
  • the width of the portion SF2 of the front surface can be defined by the ratio D3/D2 between the outer and intermediate diameters of the separator, ranging from 1.2 to 2.0.
  • all the fins of the separator extend for a substantial length L, measured parallel to the back surface SP, between the internal diameter D1 and the external diameter D3.
  • the high efficiency of the separator can be mainly attributed to the presence of the flat front surfaces SF1 and SF2 of the individual fins, and to their inclination in the rear direction as previously mentioned, which determine a wide angular aperture between adjacent fins, as well as to the substantial extension of the external front surface SF2, referred to the length L of the fin and to the maximum diameter D3 of the separator. Between adjacent fins a convergent air flow path is therefore provided for the cleaned air.
  • the same figure 8 shows the operating mode of the separator according to the invention.
  • a liquid bath vacuum cleaner comprising a dynamic separator for the particles of dust and dirt which, thanks to its particular conformation of the peripheral fins, offers considerably improved separation efficacy, that is unlikely to be achieved with other types of separators.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
  • Filtering Of Dispersed Particles In Gases (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Aspirateur à bain de liquide (10) du type comprenant :
    - un ensemble bac (11) définissant une cavité permettant de contenir un bain de liquide (12) ;
    - des moyens d'entrée d'air (13, 13') permettant l'entrée d'un courant d'air aspiré dans le bain de liquide (12) de l'aspirateur (10) ;
    - un couvercle (19, 20) pour le bac (11), ledit couvercle (19, 20) ayant des ouvertures de sortie pour la sortie d'un courant d'air nettoyé ; et
    - un ensemble séparateur de poussière ventilateur (14, 21) faisant saillie vers le bas du couvercle (19, 20) dans la cavité du bac (11), ledit séparateur de poussière (21) ayant un corps creux doté d'ouvertures pour le flux d'air (34) et une pluralité d'ailettes périphériques (31) permettant d'affecter et de projeter la poussière et les particules de saleté (P) dans le bain de liquide (12), les ailettes (31) ayant des surfaces avant et arrière (SF1, SF2, SP) s'étendant longitudinalement entre une bride supérieure (33) et un anneau inférieur (32) :
    caractérisé en ce que le séparateur de poussière (17) est disposé à l'intérieur d'une chambre de tourbillonnement de l'air (22), s'ouvrant vers le bas vers le bain de liquide (12) ;
    - les ailettes (31) affectant la poussière du séparateur (17) comprenant des surfaces planes avant et arrière d'inclinaison différente (SF1, SF2, SP) ;
    - lesdites surfaces planes avant et arrière (SF1, SF2, SP) des ailettes étant orientées vers l'arrière par rapport aux plans de référence radiaux (R) et à une direction rotationnelle du séparateur, et conçues pour fournir des voies d'air convergeant vers l'intérieur pour l'air nettoyé.
  2. Aspirateur à bain de liquide selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que sur le côté avant, chaque ailette (31) comprend une première surface plane intérieure (SF1) et située dans un premier plan orienté vers l'arrière formant un premier angle (β1) avec le plan de référence radial (R), et une deuxième surface plane extérieure (SF2), située dans un deuxième plan orienté vers l'arrière formant, avec le plan de référence (R), un deuxième angle (β2) supérieur à l'angle (β1) de la première surface intérieure (SF1).
  3. Aspirateur à bain de liquide selon la revendication, caractérisé en ce que la surface externe (SF2) sur le côté avant de chaque ailette (31) et la surface (SP) sur le côté arrière d'une ailette (31) adjacente se situent dans des plans formant un angle (γ) allant de 18° à 30°.
  4. Aspirateur à bain de liquide selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le séparateur (17) comprend une pluralité d'ailettes (31) s'étendant jusqu'à un diamètre externe (D3) et ayant une hauteur (H) dans la direction longitudinale du corps du séparateur (17) et en ce que le rapport entre le diamètre externe (D3) et la hauteur (H) des ailettes (31) est compris entre 1,6 et 3,5.
  5. Aspirateur à bain de liquide selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que la hauteur (H) des ailettes (31) est comprise dans une plage comprise entre 18 et 30 mm, alors que le diamètre extérieur (D3) est compris dans une plage comprise entre 50 et 70 mm.
  6. Aspirateur à bain de liquide selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les ailettes (31) s'étendent entre un diamètre intérieur (D1) et un diamètre extérieur (D3) du séparateur (21), et dans lequel lesdites première (SF1) et deuxième (SF2) surfaces avant planes de chaque ailette (31) fusionnent en correspondance avec un diamètre intermédiaire (D2), et en ce que le rapport entre le diamètre extérieur (D3) et le diamètre intermédiaire (D2) des ailettes (31) varie entre 1,2 et 2,0.
  7. Aspirateur à bain de liquide selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que le diamètre extérieur (D3) des ailettes (31) va de 50 à 70 mm, alors que le diamètre intermédiaire (D2) va de 40 et à 60 mm.
  8. Aspirateur à bain de liquide selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la surface extérieure (SF2) sur le côté avant de chaque ailette (31) se situe dans un plan formant, avec le plan de référence (R), un angle (β2) allant de 30° à 40°.
  9. Aspirateur à bain de liquide selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ladite surface intérieure (SF1) sur le côté avant et la surface arrière (SP) de chaque ailette (31) se situent dans des plans formant un angle (β1) allant de 20° à 28° avec le plan de référence (R).
  10. Aspirateur à bain de liquide selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le séparateur (17) comprend un corps en forme de panier (21) ayant une paroi cylindrique intérieure (21 ') et un anneau adaptateur(24) disposé entre le corps du séparateur(21) et le ventilateur (16), ledit anneau adaptateur (24) et ladite paroi cylindrique interne (21') du corps du séparateur(21) ayant des surfaces d'accouplement coniques.
EP04002891A 2003-05-07 2004-02-10 Aspirateur à bain de liquide avec séparateur dynamique Expired - Lifetime EP1475028B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI20030920 2003-05-07
IT000920A ITMI20030920A1 (it) 2003-05-07 2003-05-07 Aspirapolvere-aspiraliquidi con filtro ad acqua e separatore dei flussi liquidi e gassosi di tipo "dinamico".

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1475028A2 EP1475028A2 (fr) 2004-11-10
EP1475028A3 EP1475028A3 (fr) 2007-08-15
EP1475028B1 true EP1475028B1 (fr) 2010-11-03

Family

ID=32983225

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04002891A Expired - Lifetime EP1475028B1 (fr) 2003-05-07 2004-02-10 Aspirateur à bain de liquide avec séparateur dynamique

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1475028B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE486512T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE602004029840D1 (fr)
IT (1) ITMI20030920A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9155436B2 (en) 2010-12-29 2015-10-13 Bissell Homecare, Inc. Vacuum cleaner with louvered exhaust grill
KR101786061B1 (ko) 2010-03-09 2017-10-16 코닌클리케 필립스 엔.브이. 진공 청소기

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITMO20080182A1 (it) * 2008-06-27 2009-12-28 T P A Impex Spa "aspirapolvere con filtro a liquido"
SI22922A (sl) * 2008-12-09 2010-06-30 DOMEL@@Elektromotorji@in@gospodinjski@aparati@@d@d@ Separator sesalnika za prah
IT1403291B1 (it) 2010-12-27 2013-10-17 Gisowatt S P A Ind Elettrodomestici Gruppo separatore dinamico per aspirapolvere ad acqua e metodo relativo.
DE102011102530B3 (de) * 2011-05-26 2012-11-15 Fritz Lasinger Wasserstaubsauger
CN104759045B (zh) * 2015-04-09 2018-02-23 徐威 储水式呼吸保护装置
WO2017161688A1 (fr) * 2016-03-25 2017-09-28 美的集团股份有限公司 Ensemble filtre et aspirateur le comprenant

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2954095A (en) * 1957-09-30 1960-09-27 Rexair Inc Vacuum cleaner
IT1295163B1 (it) * 1997-07-10 1999-04-30 Vetrella Spa Ora Simac Vetrell Gruppo separatore per macchine aspirapolvere a bagno liquido
US5908493A (en) * 1997-11-17 1999-06-01 Krymsky; Mark D. Filtering system for cleaning air
SI20461B (sl) * 2000-02-22 2008-10-31 Hyla Proizvodnja, Razvoj In Trgovina D.O.O. Separator za sesalnik
US6306199B1 (en) * 2000-04-19 2001-10-23 Rexair, Inc. Separator with multiple function vanes for a vacuum cleaner apparatus

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101786061B1 (ko) 2010-03-09 2017-10-16 코닌클리케 필립스 엔.브이. 진공 청소기
US9155436B2 (en) 2010-12-29 2015-10-13 Bissell Homecare, Inc. Vacuum cleaner with louvered exhaust grill

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1475028A2 (fr) 2004-11-10
ATE486512T1 (de) 2010-11-15
ITMI20030920A1 (it) 2004-11-08
EP1475028A3 (fr) 2007-08-15
DE602004029840D1 (de) 2010-12-16

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