EP1774890B1 - Multizyklon-Staubsammler für einen Staubsauger - Google Patents

Multizyklon-Staubsammler für einen Staubsauger Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1774890B1
EP1774890B1 EP06291062.5A EP06291062A EP1774890B1 EP 1774890 B1 EP1774890 B1 EP 1774890B1 EP 06291062 A EP06291062 A EP 06291062A EP 1774890 B1 EP1774890 B1 EP 1774890B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cyclone
cyclones
contaminants
dust collector
air
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 - Fee Related
Application number
EP06291062.5A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1774890A3 (de
EP1774890A2 (de
Inventor
Jang-keun c/o 201-708 Haetae Apt. Oh
Jung-gyun c/o 501-1604 Hoban 5th Berdium Han
Tak-soo c/o 102-1104 seonghwa Fine Ville Kim
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.)
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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
Priority claimed from KR1020060011668A external-priority patent/KR100688613B1/ko
Application filed by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd filed Critical Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Publication of EP1774890A2 publication Critical patent/EP1774890A2/de
Publication of EP1774890A3 publication Critical patent/EP1774890A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1774890B1 publication Critical patent/EP1774890B1/de
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00Details 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
    • A47L9/10Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A47L9/165Construction of inlets
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00Details 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
    • A47L9/10Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A47L9/1616Multiple arrangement thereof
    • A47L9/1625Multiple arrangement thereof for series flow
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00Details 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
    • A47L9/10Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A47L9/1616Multiple arrangement thereof
    • A47L9/1641Multiple arrangement thereof for parallel flow
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00Details 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
    • A47L9/10Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A47L9/1658Construction of outlets
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00Details 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
    • A47L9/10Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A47L9/1683Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04CAPPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
    • B04C5/00Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
    • B04C5/12Construction of the overflow ducting, e.g. diffusing or spiral exits
    • B04C5/13Construction of the overflow ducting, e.g. diffusing or spiral exits formed as a vortex finder and extending into the vortex chamber; Discharge from vortex finder otherwise than at the top of the cyclone; Devices for controlling the overflow
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04CAPPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
    • B04C5/00Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
    • B04C5/14Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations
    • B04C5/185Dust collectors
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B04CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
    • B04CAPPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
    • B04C5/00Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
    • B04C5/24Multiple arrangement thereof
    • B04C5/26Multiple arrangement thereof for series flow

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner that separates and collects contaminants from sucked air by centrifugal force as known from EP 0 018 197 .
  • a cyclone type vacuum cleaner which separates contaminants from sucked air by centrifugal force, employs a cyclone dust collector providing semi permanent use. Because a cyclone type vacuum cleaner is more sanitary and convenient than a vacuum cleaner employing a dust bag or a dust filter, cyclone type vacuum cleaners have become widespread.
  • the conventional cyclone dust collector 500 includes a cylindrical cyclone body 510 in which sucked air containing contaminants forms a whirling current therein, an air inlet 520 through which the air containing contaminants enters, and an air outlet 530 through which clean air is discharged.
  • the air inlet 520 is disposed at a side of an upper portion of the cyclone body 510 in a tangential direction relative to the cyclone body 510 so that the air entering the cyclone body 510 whirls downward easily.
  • the air outlet 530 is disposed at a center of a top surface of the cyclone body 510 so that the air, which has contaminants removed as the air whirls downwardly, then rises up inside the cyclone body 510, and is discharged out of the cyclone dust collector 500. Separated contaminants are discharged in the gravity direction through a contaminants outlet 540 that is formed at a lower portion of the cyclone body 510.
  • the conventional cyclone dust collector 500 has a problem that a dust collecting efficiency thereof is decreased due to collision between the rising air and the descending air.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector separates contaminants from air in two or more stages, and especially provides a plurality of cyclones for separating fme contaminants.
  • An example of a conventional multi-cyclone dust collector 600 is shown in Fig. 2 .
  • the conventional multi-cyclone dust collector 600 includes a first cyclone 610 that centrifugally separates contaminants from sucked air, and a plurality of second cyclones 620 that sucks the air being discharged from the first cyclone 610, and then, separates fine contaminants remaining in the air.
  • First and second air inlets 611 and 621 through which air is sucked into the first and second cyclone 610 and 620, and first and second air outlets 612 and 622 through which air having contaminants removed is discharged are disposed at upper portions of the first and second cyclones 610 and 620. Accordingly, air having contaminants removed is discharged in a direction opposite to the gravity direction.
  • first and second dust receptacles 613 and 623 are formed under the first and second cyclones 610 and 620. Therefore, contaminants that are separated in the first and second cyclones 610 and 620 are discharged in the gravity direction, and then are collected in the first and second receptacles 613 and 623, respectively.
  • first and second receptacles 613 and 623 are not isolated from the first and second cyclones 610 and 620 in which air forms whirling currents, contaminants that are collected in the first and second receptacles 613 and 623 are re-scattered and flow back due to the whirling current.
  • the backflow of contaminants decreases the dust collecting efficiency of the cyclone dust collector 600 and shortens the filter maintenance cycle of the cyclone dust collector 600.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector 600 still has the problem that air collision occurs so as to decrease the dust collecting efficiency as described above, because the air inlets 611 and 621 and the air outlets 612 and 622 are disposed at the upper portions of the first and second cyclones 610 and 620.
  • the conventional multi-cyclone dust collector 600 has a drawback that the height thereof is high, because the space in which the air whirls and the space in which contaminants are collected are arranged vertically.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner that has a high dust collecting efficiency because air collision does not occur inside a cyclone.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-cyclone dust collector that has a high dust collecting efficiency and a long filter maintenance cycle because collected contaminants are not re-scattered.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a compact multi-cyclone dust collector having a space in which contaminants are collected disposed ata side of a space in which air whirls.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner having a configuration where a volume of a first dust collecting chamber is larger than a volume of a second dust collecting chamber.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector according to embodiments of the present invention As sucked dust-laden air passes through the first cyclone, relatively large contaminants are separated, and then, as the air discharged from the first cyclone passes through the second cyclone, fine contaminants that remain in the air are separated. So the multi-cyclone dust collector according to the present invention has a high dust collecting efficiency for fine contaminants.
  • the first and second cyclones where upwardly whirling air currents are formed, are isolated from the first and second dust collecting chamber where contaminants are collected so that the multi-cyclone dust collector has a high dust collecting efficiency and a prolonged filter maintenance cycle.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector according to an embodiment of the present invention having an air communicating member, a first cyclone body, a plurality of second cyclone bodies, a first dust collecting chamber, and a second dust collecting chamber may be formed as one body by an injection molding process so that the number of parts and assembling time thereof is decreased.
  • a dust collecting chamber is disposed at a side of a cyclone so that a compact multi-cyclone dust collector can be provided.
  • a configuration where a plurality of second cyclones is disposed around a first cyclone body provides a compact multi-cyclone dust collector. This configuration can especially provide a multi-cyclone dust collector wherein the height thereof is low.
  • a volume of a first dust collecting chamber is as large as possible because the first dust collecting chamber wraps around a second cyclone unit.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector according to embodiments of the present invention employs a backflow preventing dam so as to prevent contaminants collected in the first dust collecting chamber from flowing back to the first cyclone body as the multi-cyclone dust collector is inclined.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector it is convenient for a user to see the quantity of contaminants collected in a first dust collecting chamber without opening an upper cover. Also, it is convenient for a user to empty contaminants collected in the first and second dust collecting chambers because the user can dump out contaminants by opening the upper cover and turning the first and second dust collecting chambers upside down.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional cyclone dust collector
  • Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional multi-cyclone dust collector
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a multi-cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner according to first embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the multi-cyclone dust collector of Fig. 3 ;
  • Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the multi-cyclone dust collector of Fig. 3 , taken along a line v-v in Fig. 3 ;
  • Fig. 6 is an under perspective view illustrating the multi-cyclone dust collector of Fig. 3 without a bottom cover
  • Fig. 7 is an under perspective view illustrating a top cover of Fig. 3 ;
  • Fig. 8 is an under perspective view illustrating a bottom cover of Fig. 3 ;
  • Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a multi-cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner according to second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 10 is a partial perspective view illustrating a grill member of Fig. 9 ;
  • Fig. 11 is a sectional view illustrating the multi-cyclone dust collector of Fig. 3 when collected contaminants are dumped;
  • Fig. 12 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating a multi-cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner according to thus embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 13 is a sectional view illustrating the multi-cyclone dust collector of Fig. 12 ;
  • Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a multi-cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention without an upper cover, and
  • Fig. 15 is a view illustrating a vacuum cleaner employing a multi-cyclone dust collector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a multi-cyclone dust collector i for a vacuum cleaner includes a first cyclone 10, a first dust collecting chamber 30, and a second cyclone unit 50.
  • the first cyclone 10 employs at least one cyclone, and takes in air that is sucked through a suction brush 110 (see Fig. 15 ) and contains contaminants and dust (hereinafter, referred to as a contaminants-laden air).
  • the first cyclone 10 forces the air to enter into a lower portion of the first cyclone 10 and to whirl upwardly so as to separate contaminants from the contaminants-laden air by centrifugal force operating upon the whirling contaminants-laden air current
  • the first cyclone 10 forms the contaminants-laden air entering in a direction opposite to the gravity direction (in a direction opposite to arrow G in Fig.
  • the gravity direction means the direction in which the earth's gravity operates.
  • the first cyclone 10 includes a first cyclone body 20, an air communicating member 40, and an air suction pipe 45.
  • the first cyclone body 20 is formed in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape with a top opened end and a closed bottom end.
  • the contaminants-laden air enters a lower portion of the first cyclone body 20 through the air suction pipe 45, and then whirls inside the first cyclone body 20 to form a first upwardly whirling air current Accordingly, contaminants are separated from the contaminants-laden air, and then, are discharged in a direction opposite to the gravity direction by centrifugal force operating upon the first upwardly whirling air current. In other words, the separated contaminants are discharged from the first cyclone body 20 through a contaminants discharging opening 25 that is formed at the top end of the first cyclone body 20.
  • the air communicating member 40 discharges air, which has contaminants removed from the contaminants-laden air in the first cyclone body 20 by centrifugal force (hereinafter, referred to as a semi-clean air), into the second cyclone 60.
  • the air communicating member 40 is formed in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape with opened opposite ends, and is projected from a center of a bottom surface 22 of the first cyclone body 20 inside the first cyclone body 20.
  • a top end of the air communicating member 40 is separated from a contaminants guiding part 83 of an upper cover 80.
  • a bottom end of the air communicating member 40 is in fluid communication with a plurality of air passages 93.
  • the plurality of air passages 93 is formed on an under cover 90 that is disposed below the bottom surface 22 of the first cyclone body 20. Accordingly, the semi-clean air, which is discharged through the top end of the air communicating member 40 in the gravity direction, enters each of the plurality of second cyclones 60 through the plurality of air passages 93.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 has the air communicating member 40 with the opened top end as shown in Fig. 5 .
  • a grill member 41 is disposed at the top end of the air communicating member 40.
  • the grill member 41 includes a grill plate 41 a and a protrusion part 41 b.
  • the grill plate 41 a is formed in a net shape and is disposed on the top end of the air communicating member 40.
  • the protrusion part 41 b is projected upwardly on a center of the grill plate 41 a in a substantially quadrangular pyramidal shape. Accordingly, the grill member 41 may prevent relatively large contaminants from discharging to the air communicating member 40 with the semi-clean air.
  • the protrusion part 41 b prevents contaminants from blocking up the grill member 41.
  • the air suction pipe 45 is in fluid communication with a suction brush 110, and is disposed at the lower portion of the first cyclone body 20 so that the contaminants-laden air entering the first cyclone body 20 forms the first upwardly whirling air current.
  • the air suction pipe 45 is inclined upwardly through the bottom surface 22 of the first cyclone body 20. Therefore, the contaminants-laden air entered through the suction brush 45 forms the first upwardly whirling air current inside the first cyclone body 20.
  • a sloping surface 27 is formed on the bottom surface 22 of the first cyclone body 20 that is connected with the air suction pipe 45, and is inclined upwardly in a contaminants-laden air flowing direction.
  • the sloping surface 27 assists the contaminants-laden air that enters the lower portion of the first cyclone body 20 through the air suction pipe 45 to easily form the first upwardly whirling air current.
  • the sloping surface 27 is formed in a substantially helical shape that extends from a bottom end of an exit 45a of the air suction pipe 45, around the air communicating member 40, and above a top end of the exit 45a of the air suction pipe 45.
  • the place through which air is sucked is the air suction pipe 45
  • the place through which air is discharged is the air communicating member 40
  • the place through which contaminants are discharged is the contaminants discharging opening 25 of the top end of the first cyclone body 20.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 30 wraps around a circumferential surface of the first cyclone 10, that is, some part 20a of the first cyclone body 20, and collects contaminants that are separated in the first cyclone 10 by centrifugal force and discharged through an opened top end of the first cyclone 10.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 30 may be formed in any shaped configurations as long as it is able to collect contaminants discharged from the top end of the first cyclone 10 in a side of the first cyclone 10. Referring to Fig.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 30 is formed as a space between a outer wall 31 that is in a substantially cylindrical shape and wraps entirely around the first cyclone body 20 and the second cyclone unit 50, a inner wall 71 wrapping around the plurality of second cyclones 60, and a part 20a of the first cyclone body 20 that is not wrapped around by the plurality of second cyclones 60.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 30 is formed to wrap around a circumferential surface of the second dust collecting chamber 70 and some part of the circumferential surface of the first cyclone 10.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 30 is directly opened to the first cyclone body 20 so that the first dust collecting chamber 30 can collect contaminants discharged from the top end of the first cyclone body 20.
  • a top end of the first dust collecting chamber 30 is closed by the upper cover 80 that covers the top end of the first cyclone body 20.
  • a bottom end of the first dust collecting chamber 30 is closed by a bottom plate 32.
  • the outer wall 31 is preferably made of any transparent material for a user to easily perceive the amount of contaminants collected in the first dust collecting chamber 30 outside the multi-cyclone dust collector 1.
  • the second cyclone 60 causes the semi-clean air discharged from the first cyclone 10 to enter through a lower portion of the second cyclone 60, and then, to whirl upwardly so that the second cyclone 60 separates fine contaminants from the semi-clean air by centrifugal force and discharges the separated contaminants in a direction opposite to the gravity direction. Then, the second cyclone 60 discharges clean air in the gravity direction. Accordingly, in the second cyclone 60, a place through which contaminants are discharged is higher than a place through which the semi-clean air is sucked.
  • the semi-clean air contains fine contaminants that have not been removed in the first cyclone 10
  • the second cyclone 60 has a smaller size than the first cyclone 10 so that the second cyclone 60 can remove fine contaminants from the semi-clean air by centrifugal force.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has at least one second cyclone 60 so as to remove fine contaminants.
  • the second cyclone unit 50 includes a plurality of second cyclones 60 and a second dust collecting chamber 70.
  • the plurality of second cyclones 60 wraps around some part of the first cyclone 10, sucks the semi-clean air, which is discharged from the first cyclone 10 in the gravity direction, through the lower portion of each of the second cyclones 60, and then, causes the sucked semi-clean air to form a second upwardly whirling air current.
  • the fine contaminants remaining in the semi-clean air are centrifugally separated by centrifugal force operating upon the second upwardly whirling air current. Then, the separated fine contaminants are discharged in a direction opposite to the gravity direction (in a direction opposite to arrow G). Clean air is discharged from each of the plurality of second cyclones 60 in the gravity direction (in a direction of arrow G).
  • the plurality of second cyclones 60 wraps around some part of the first cyclone body 20 outside as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 .
  • 11 second cyclones 60 are disposed along the first cyclone body 20 in a substantially letter C shape.
  • the contaminants discharging opening 25 is formed as a gap between the upper cover 80 and a top end of the part 20a of the first cyclone body 20 that is not wrapped around by the plurality of second cyclones 60. Therefore, contaminants discharged from the first cyclone body 20 are collected in the first dust collecting chamber 30 through the contaminants discharging opening 25.
  • Each of the plurality of second cyclones 60 has a second cyclone body 61 and an air- . discharging pipe 66.
  • the second cyclone body 61 is formed in a substantially hollow conical shape with opened opposite ends so that a diameter of the second cyclone body 61 decreases from a bottom end to a top end.
  • Some part 61 a of the second cyclone body 61 is parallel to the first cyclone body 20 and abuts on the first cyclone body 20 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 .
  • some part of the first cyclone body 20 forms some part 61 a of the second cyclone body 61.
  • a center C 1 of the top end of the second cyclone body 61 deviates from a center C2 of the bottom end thereof as shown in Fig. 5 . Accordingly, the top end of the second cyclone body 61 is inclined toward the first cyclone body 20 with respect to the bottom end of the second cyclone body 61.
  • At least one second cyclone body 61 has a lower portion 61 b projecting outside the inner wall 71, that is, in the first dust collecting chamber 30. The lower portion 61 b of the at least one of the second cyclone bodies 61 abuts on the lower portion 61 b of the next second cyclone body 61.
  • the plurality of second cyclone bodies 61 is lower than top ends of the inner wall 71 and the first cyclone body 20.
  • the plurality of second cyclone bodies 61 is entirely wrapped around by the inner wall 71.
  • a bottom end of each of the plurality of second cyclone bodies 61 is in fluid communication with the first cyclone body 20 via each of the plurality of air passages 93 that is formed by the plurality of air guiding members 91 on the under cover 90. Therefore, the semi-clean air that is discharged through the air communicating member 40 enters inside the second cyclone body 61 through the air passages 93, and then forms the second upwardly whirling air current.
  • the air-discharging pipe 66 is projected upwardly on a center of the bottom end of the second cyclone body 61 in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape.
  • the air-discharging pipe 66 is in fluid communication with a vacuum generator 131 via a piping member 132 (see Fig. 15 ).
  • the air-discharging pipe 66 has opened opposite ends.
  • a top end of the air-discharging pipe 66 is lower than the top end of the second cyclone body 61. Clean air that has fine contaminants removed in the second cyclone body 61 by centrifugal force is discharged in the gravity direction through the air-discharging pipe 66.
  • an air gathering member may be disposed under the plurality of the air-discharging pipes 66 so that it gathers air, which is discharged from the plurality of air-discharging pipes 66, to flow to the vacuum generator 131.
  • the place through which air is sucked is the lower portion of the second cyclone body 61
  • the place through which air is discharged is the bottom end of the air-discharging pipe 66
  • the place through which contaminants is discharged is the top end of the second cyclone body 61.
  • the second dust collecting chamber 70 collects contaminants that are discharged from each of the plurality of second cyclones 60 in a direction opposite to the gravity direction.
  • the second dust collecting chamber 70 collects fine contaminants so that it has a smaller volume than the first dust collecting chamber 30 that collects relatively large contaminants.
  • the second dust collecting chamber 70 has the volume that is substantially simultaneously filled with fine contaminants as the first dust collecting chamber 30 is full.
  • the second dust collecting chamber 70 is formed by a space between the first cyclone body 20, the inner wall 71, and the plurality of second cyclone bodies 61 so that the second dust collecting chamber 70 wraps around all the plurality of second cyclones 60 as shown in Fig. 4 . Accordingly, the second dust collecting chamber 70 can collect all contaminants discharged from each of the plurality of second cyclones 60.
  • the inner wall 71 forming the circumferential surface of the second dust collecting chamber 70 wraps around the plurality of second cyclones 60 outside, and opposite side ends 72 of the inner wall 71 are connected to the first cyclone body 20 as shown in Fig. 4 .
  • the second dust collecting chamber 70 is configured to wrap around some part of the circumferential surface of the first cyclone 10.
  • the part 20a of the first cyclone body 20 that is not wrapped around by the inner wall 71 forms an inner sidewall of the first dust collecting chamber 70 with the inner wall 71.
  • the bottom end of the second dust collecting chamber 70 is closed by the bottom surface 22 of the first cyclone body 20 and the plurality of second cyclone bodies 61. Therefore, contaminants that are discharged from the opened top end of each of the second cyclone bodies 61 are collected in the second dust collecting chamber 70 between the first cyclone body 20, the inner wall 71, and the plurality of second cyclone bodies 61.
  • the first cyclone 10, the first dust collecting chamber 30, the plurality of second cyclones 60, and the second dust collecting chamber 70 are molded in a body as a cyclone body so that the cyclone body allows for an easy injection molding process. Having many parts molded in a body decreases the number of parts and assembly time of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1, which decreases manufacturing costs of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1.
  • the upper cover 80 is mounted on the top ends of the first cyclone body 20, the inner wall 71, and the outer wall 31 so that the upper cover 80 forms upper surfaces of the first cyclone body 20, the first dust collecting chamber 30, and the second dust collecting chamber 70.
  • the gap between the top end of the first cyclone body 20 and the upper cover 80 forms the contaminants discharging opening 25 through which contaminants that are separated from the contaminants-laden air by centrifugal force are discharged to the first dust collecting chamber 30.
  • the upper cover 80 is preferably formed to be mounted detachably/attachably with respect to the outer wall 31.
  • a sealing member 81 and a backflow preventing dam 82 are provided on under surface of the upper cover 80.
  • the sealing member 81 isolates the second dust collecting chamber 70 from the first cyclone body 20 and the first dust collecting chamber 30.
  • the sealing member 81 has a substantially letter C shape corresponding to sections of the inner wall 71 and the first cyclone body 20.
  • the sealing member 81 includes an inner sealing part 81a contacting with the top end of the first cyclone body 20 and an outer sealing part 81b contacting with the top end of the inner wall 71. Accordingly, when the upper cover 80 is mounted on the top end of the outer wall 31, the second dust collecting chamber 70 forms an independent space that is not in fluid communication with the first cyclone 10 and the first dust collecting chamber 30.
  • a sealing material 86 such as rubber is attached on a bottom end of the sealing member 81 so that the second dust collecting chamber 70 is completely isolated from the first dust collecting chamber 30 and a inner space 11 of the first cyclone 10.
  • the backflow preventing dam 82 is disposed at a side of the sealing member 81 on the upper cover 80.
  • the backflow preventing dam 82 prevents contaminants collected in the first dust collecting chamber 30 from flowing back inside the first cyclone body 20 through the contaminants discharging opening 25 when the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 is inclined.
  • the backflow preventing dam 82 is spaced apart from the sealing member 81 on a part of the upper cover 80 that the sealing member 81 is not disposed as shown in Fig. 7 .
  • a gap is formed between the top end of the first cyclone body 20 and the upper cover 80 so that the gap forms the contaminants discharging opening 25 described above.
  • the backflow preventing dam 82 is configured such that a height of a center 82a thereof is lower than a height of opposite sides 82b thereof as shown in Fig. 7 .
  • the configuration of the backflow preventing dam 82 allows relatively large contaminants to be easily discharged from the first cyclone body 20 to the first dust collecting chamber 30.
  • a contaminants guiding part 83 is disposed on a center of the under surface of the upper cover 80, that is, inside the sealing member 81 and the backflow preventing dam 82 and has a substantially dome shape.
  • the contaminants guiding part 83 assists contaminants separated from the contaminants-laden air to be discharged to the first dust collecting chamber 30 through the contaminants discharging opening 25, and assists the semi-clean air having contaminants separated to be entered into the air communicating member 40.
  • a grip 85 is preferably disposed at a center of an upper surface of the upper cover 80 as shown in Fig. 4 so that it is convenient for a user to mount or separate the upper cover 80.
  • the under cover 90 is disposed at a sunken space 35 formed on the bottom plate 32 as shown in Fig. 6 .
  • the under cover 90 covers the bottom surface 22 of the first cyclone body 20 and bottom ends of the plurality of second cyclone bodies 61 so that the under cover 90 forms the plurality of air passages 93 and bottom surfaces of the plurality of second cyclone bodies 61. Accordingly, a place through which air is discharged from the first cyclone 10 and a place through which the air enters the second cyclone 60 are on the same plane.
  • the plurality of air guiding members 91 and the plurality of air-discharging pipes 66 are formed on the under cover 90.
  • Each of the plurality of air guiding members 91 includes a straight part 91 a and a curved part 91 b.
  • the straight part 91 a forms the air passages 93 that distribute air discharged through the air communicating member 40 into each of the plurality of second cyclones 60.
  • the curved part 91 b corresponds to the bottom end of the second cyclone body 61 and is in fluid communication with the straight part 91a.
  • the air-discharging pipe 66 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is formed at a center of the curved part 91b of the air guiding member 91.
  • the plurality of air guiding members 91 and the plurality of air-discharging pipes 66 are preferably molded integrally with the under cover 90. When the under cover 90, the plurality of air guiding members 91, and air-discharging pipes 66 are molded in a body, it is convenient to form the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 by an injection molding method.
  • the under cover 90 includes a guide cone 94, an air hole 95, and a slant part 96.
  • the guide cone 94 is formed in a substantially conical shape on a center of the under cover 90 so that it guides the semi-clean air that is discharging along the air communicating member 40 to each of the plurality of air passages 93.
  • the air hole 95 is disposed at a part of the under cover 90 on which the plurality of air guiding members 91 is not formed so that the air hole 95 forms an entrance of the air suction pipe 45.
  • the slant part 96 is formed at a side of the air hole 95 so that the slant part 96 is continuous with the sloping surface 27 of the bottom surface 22 of the first cyclone body 20 as the under cover 90 is mounted at the bottom surface 22 of the first cyclone body 20.
  • the vacuum generator 131 Upon turning on the vacuum cleaner, the vacuum generator 131 (see Fig. 15 ) operates to generate a suction force.
  • the suction force sucks air, which contains contaminants such as dust or dirt (herein after referring to as contaminants-laden air), from a cleaning surface into the suction brush 110 (see Fig. 15 ).
  • the contaminants-laden air sucked into the suction brush 110 flows to a multi-cyclone dust collector 1 in fluid communication with the suction brush 110 via a connection member 121 and 122 (see Fig. 15 ).
  • the contaminants-laden air flowing to the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 is entered into a lower portion of the first cyclone body 20 through the air suction pipe 45.
  • the contaminants-laden air sucked into the first cyclone body 20 forms the first upwardly whirling air current that whirls upwardly inside the first cyclone body 20.
  • the contaminants-laden air entering the lower portion of the first cyclone body 20 easily forms the first upwardly whirling air current due to the sloping surface 27 disposed before the exit 45a of the air suction pipe 45 on the bottom surface 22 of the first cyclone body 20.
  • contaminants are separated from the contaminants-laden air by the centrifugal force operating upon the first upwardly whirling air current.
  • the separated contaminants are moved in a direction opposite to the gravity direction (in a direction opposite to arrow G), and then are discharged to the first dust collecting chamber 30 over the top end of the first cyclone body 20.
  • the separated contaminants are discharged into the first dust collecting chamber 30 through the contaminants discharging opening 25 formed between the top end of the first cyclone body 20 and the upper cover 80 as illustrated by arrow A in Fig. 5 , and then, are collected in the first dust collecting chamber 30.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 30 is formed to wrap around the second cyclone 60 and the second dust collecting chamber 70 so that the first dust collecting chamber 30 can collect a lot of contaminants.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 30 is partitioned by the first cyclone body 20 from the space 11 in which the first upwardly whirling air current is formed so that the first upwardly whirling air current inside the first cyclone body 20 is not affected by the contaminants collected in the first dust collecting chamber 30. Furthermore, airwhich is entered into the first cyclone body 20 and forms the first upwardly whirling air current, is directly discharged in the gravity direction (in the direction of arrow G) through the air communicating member 40 so that air collision does not occur in the first cyclone body 20. Accordingly, the dust collecting efficiency of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 is increased.
  • the grill member 41 When the grill member 41 is disposed on the top end of the air communicating member 40 like the multi-cyclone dust collector 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention as shown in Fig. 9 , the grill member 41 prevents relatively large contaminants from discharging with the semi-clean air through the air communicating member 40 so that the plurality of second cyclones 60 is not blocked by the relatively large contaminants.
  • the semi-clean air that has contaminants removed in the first cyclone body 20 enters the top end of the air communicating member 40 and then flows to the bottom end of the air communicating member 40.
  • the semi-clean air flows in the gravity direction (in a direction of arrow G).
  • the semi-clean air passing through the air communicating member 40 is crashed against the guide cone 94 of the under cover 90, and then, is distributed into each of the plurality of air passages 93 that is formed by the plurality of air guiding members 91 wrapping around the guide cone 94. Then, the semi-clean air flows along the straight part 91 a and the curved part 91b of the air guiding member 91 and then enter the lower portion of each of the plurality of second cyclone bodies 61.
  • the semi-clean air entering the lower portion of the cyclone body 61 forms the second upwardly whirling air current inside the second cyclone body 61. Then, fine contaminants are separated from the semi-clean air by the centrifugal force operating upon the second upwardly whirling air current and are discharged in a direction opposite to the gravity direction (in a direction opposite to arrow G). In other words, the separated fine contaminants are discharged over the top end of the second cyclone body 61 and then are collected in the second dust collecting chamber 70.
  • the second dust collecting chamber 70 is partitioned by the second cyclone body 61 from the space 51 in which the second upwardly whirling air current is formed so that the contaminants collected in the second dust collecting chamber 70 are not affected by the second upwardly whirling air current inside the second cyclone body 61. Therefore, the contaminants collected in the second dust collecting chamber 70 are not re-scattered so that the maintenance cycle of a filter between the plurality of second cyclones 60 and the vacuum generator 131 is prolonged. Furthermore, air that has fine contaminants removed in the second cyclone body 61 is directly discharged in the gravity direction through the air-discharging pipe 66.
  • suction air that is sucked into the second cyclone body 61 does not collide with discharging air that is discharged from the second cyclone body 61 inside the second cyclone body 61 so that the dust collecting efficiency of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 is increased.
  • Clean air that has fine contaminants removed whirling upwardly in the second cyclone body 61 is discharged in the gravity direction through the air-discharging pipe 66.
  • fine contaminants are removed from the semi-clean air by the same operation as described above, and clean air is discharged through the plurality of air-discharging pipes 66.
  • Clean air discharged to the air-discharging pipes 66 passes through the vacuum generator 131 and then is discharged out of the cleaner body 130.
  • a user can see the quantity of contaminants collected in the first dust collecting chamber 30 through the transparent outer wall 31 without opening the upper cover 80.
  • the quantity of fine contaminants that is discharged from the second cyclones 60 is much smaller than the quantity of contaminants that is discharged from the first cyclone 10 so that the second dust collecting chamber 30 is not full until the first dust collecting chamber 30 is full with contaminants.
  • a user When emptying contaminants collected in the first dust collecting chamber 30, a user first opens the upper cover 80 covering the first dust collecting chamber 30 and the second dust collecting chamber 70. At this time, the grip 85 of the upper cover 80 provides a user convenience to open the upper cover 80. Then, by turning downward the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 as shown in Fig. 11 , contaminants collected in the first dust collecting chambers 30 can be thrown away. At this time, contaminants collected in the second dust collecting chamber 70 are also thrown away. Accordingly, when a user checks out the amount of contaminants collected in the first dust collecting chamber 30 and then empties the first dust collecting chamber 30, the second dust collecting chamber 70 is emptied before being full with contaminants.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 does not require a user to additionally check out and empty the second dust collecting chamber 70. Furthermore, a structure wherein the upper cover 80 is opened to empty contaminants collected in the first and second dust collecting chambers 30 and 70 allows a user to throw contaminants away while watching the contaminants. Thus, the structure wherein the upper cover 80 is opened is more convenient to throw contaminants away than a structure wherein the under cover 90 is opened.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 according to first embodiment of the present invention has the upper cover 80 has the backflow preventing dam 81, contaminants collected in the first dust collecting chamber 30 are less likely to flow back into the first cyclone body 20 through the contaminants discharging opening 25 as the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 is inclined.
  • a multi-cyclone dust collector 3 for a vacuum cleaner includes a first cyclone 310, a first dust collecting chamber 330, a plurality of second cyclones 360, and a plurality of second dust collecting chambers 370.
  • the first cyclone 310 is disposed at a substantially center of the multi-cyclone dust collector 3, and sucks contaminants-laden air, which are sucked through a suction brush 110 (see Fig. 15 ), into a lower portion of the first cyclone 310 in a direction opposite to the gravity direction (in a direction opposite to arrow G).
  • the first cyclone 310 forces the contaminants-laden air to whirl upwardly inside the first cyclone 310 so as to form a first upwardly whirling air current and to separate contaminants from the contaminants-laden air by centrifugal force.
  • the separated contaminants move in a direction opposite to the gravity direction and are discharged over a top end of the first cyclone 310.
  • the first cyclone 310 includes a first cyclone body 320, an air communicating member 340, and an air suction pipe 345. Since the structure and function of the first cyclone body 320, the air communicating member 340, and the air suction pipe 345 of the multi-cyclone dust collector 3 according to the present embodiment are the same as those of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a detail description thereof is not repeated for conciseness.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 330 is disposed at a side of the first cyclone 310, and collects contaminants that are separated in the first cyclone 310 by centrifugal force and are discharged through the opened top end of the first cyclone 310.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 330 wraps entirely around the first cyclone 310, the plurality of second cyclones 360, and the plurality of second dust collecting chambers 370.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 330 is formed as a space between an outer wall 331 that wraps around the first cyclone 310 and the plurality of second dust collecting chambers 370 at a predetermined distance, a circumferential surface of each of the plurality of second dust collecting chambers 370, and a circumferential surface of the first cyclone 310.
  • a bottom end of the first dust collecting chamber 330 is closed by a bottom plate 332. Accordingly, the first cyclone 310, the plurality of second cyclones 360, and second dust collecting chambers 370 are disposed on a substantially center of the first dust collecting chamber 330 that is formed by the outer wall 331 and the bottom plate 332.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 330 is opened with respect to the first cyclone body 320 at several places so that the first dust collecting chamber 330 can collect contaminants discharged over the top end of the first cyclone body 320.
  • the shape of the outer wall 331 and the bottom plate 332 of the first dust collecting chamber 330 as shown in Fig. 12 is only one example, it goes without saying that the outer wall 331 and the bottom plate 332 can be variously shaped.
  • the second cyclone 360 takes semi-clean air that discharged from the first cyclone 310, and forces the semi-clean air to enter into a lower portion of the second cyclone 360 and to whirl upwardly so that fine contaminants remained in the semi-clean air are separated and discharged in a direction opposite to the gravity direction (in a direction opposite to arrow G) by centrifugal force operating upon the whirling semi-clean air. Then, the second cyclone 360 discharges clean air in the gravity direction (in a direction of arrow G).
  • the plurality of second cyclones 360 is disposed to wrap around some part of the first cyclone 310.
  • Each of the plurality of second cyclones 360 sucks the semi-clean air, which is discharged from the first cyclone 310 in the gravity direction, into the lower portion of the second cyclone 360, and then, forms the sucked semi-clean air into a second upwardly whirling air current. Fine contaminants remained in the semi-clean air are separated and discharged in a direction opposite to the gravity direction by centrifugal force operating upon the second upwardly whirling air current. Clean air is discharged from the second cyclone 360 in the gravity direction.
  • the plurality of second cyclones 360 is disposed to wrap around some part of the first cyclone body 320 outside as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 .
  • the lower portion of each of the second cyclones 360 is in contact with the first cyclone 310.
  • 8 second cyclones 360 are disposed along the first cyclone body 320 in a substantially letter C shape.
  • Each of the plurality of second cyclones 360 includes a cyclone body 361 and an air-discharging pipe 366.
  • the second cyclone body 361 is formed in a substantially conical shape that has a diameter thereof decreasing from a bottom end to a top end with opened opposite ends.
  • the air-discharging pipe 366 is disposed on a center of the second cyclone body 361 in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape.
  • An under cover 390 is disposed on the bottom ends of the first cyclone 310 and the plurality of second cyclones 360.
  • the semi-clean air which is discharged through the air communicating member 340 of the first cyclone 310, is distributed by the plurality of air passages 393 on the under cover 390 and then enters into each of the plurality of second cyclones 360. Since the structure and function of the under cover 390 is similar to the under cover 90 of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 according to first embodiment described above, a detailed description thereof is not repeated for conciseness.
  • Each of the plurality of second dust collecting chambers 370 wraps around two nearby second cyclones 360 so as to collect contaminants that are discharged from a top end of each of the two nearby second cyclones 360.
  • each of second dust collecting chambers 370 is formed as a space between a small dust wall 371 wrapping around the two nearby second cyclones 360 and a circumferential surface of each of the two nearby second cyclones 360. Accordingly, the small dust wall 371 forms a circumferential surface of each of the second dust collecting chambers 370. Some part of the small dust wall 371 may share with some part of the first cyclone body 320.
  • some part 320a of the first cyclone body 320 forms some part of the small dust wall 371 as shown in Fig. 13 .
  • the lower portion of the second cyclone 360 is projected to the first dust collecting chamber 330 through the small dust wall 371.
  • the height of the small dust wall 371 is higher than the height of the second cyclone 360. Accordingly, contaminants discharged from the top end of the second cyclone 360 are collected in the second dust collecting chamber 370.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector 3 according to this embodiment has 8 second cyclones 360 and 4 second dust collecting chambers 370.
  • the 4 second dust collecting chambers 370 are disposed apart from each other.
  • a lower portion 361 a of a second cyclone 360 that forms a lower portion of a second dust collecting chamber 370 may be in contact with a lower portion 361 a of a second cyclone 360 that forms a lower portion of the next second dust collecting chamber 370.
  • the upper cover 380 covers top ends of the first dust collecting chamber 330 and the plurality of second dust collecting chambers 370. Since the structure and function of the upper cover 380 is similar to the upper cover 80 of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 according to first embodiment described above, a detailed description thereof is not repeated for conciseness. Furthermore, the outer wall 331 is preferably made of transparent material for a user to recognize the amount of contaminants collected in the first dust collecting chamber 330 without opening the upper cover 380.
  • Operation of the multi-cyclone dust collector 3 for a vacuum cleaner according to third embodiment of the present invention is the substantially same as that of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 for a vacuum cleaner according to first embodiment described above, except that contaminants separated in the first cyclone 310 are collected in the first dust collecting chamber 330 through the place 374 and gaps 375 between the plurality of second dust collecting chambers 370, and contaminants discharged from the plurality of second cyclones 360 are collected in the plurality of second dust collecting chambers 370. Therefore, a detailed description thereof is not repeated for conciseness.
  • Fig. 14 shows a multi-cyclone dust collector 4 for a vacuum cleaner according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a multi-cyclone dust collector according to the fourth embodiment without an upper cover.
  • a multi-cyclone dust collector 4 for a vacuum cleaner includes a first cyclone 410, a first dust collecting chamber 430, a plurality of second cyclones 460, and a second dust collecting chamber 470.
  • the first cyclone 410 is disposed at a substantially center of the multi-cyclone dust collector 4, and sucks contaminants-laden air, which are sucked through a suction brush 110, into a lower portion of the first cyclone 410 in a direction opposite to the gravity direction.
  • the first cyclone 410 forces the sucked contaminants-laden air to whirl upwardly inside the first cyclone 410 so as to separate contaminants from the contaminants-laden air by centrifugal force.
  • the separated contaminants move in a direction opposite to the gravity direction and are discharged over a top end of the first cyclone 410. Then, the first cyclone 410 discharges air having contaminants removed in the gravity direction.
  • the first cyclone 410 includes a first cyclone body 420, an air communicating member 440, and an air suction pipe 445. Since the structure and function of the first cyclone body 420, the air communicating member 440, and the air suction pipe 445 of the multi-cyclone dust collector 4 according to the present embodiment are the substantially same as those of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a detail description thereof is not repeated for conciseness.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 430 is disposed at a side of the first cyclone 410, and collects contaminants that are separated in the first cyclone 410 by centrifugal force and are discharged through the opened top end of the first cyclone 410.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 430 wraps entirely around the first cyclone 410, the plurality of second-cyclones 460, and the second dust collecting chamber 470.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 430 is formed as a space between an outer wall 431 that wraps around the first cyclone 410 and the second dust collecting chamber 470 at a predetermined distance, a dust wall 471 forming the second dust collecting chamber 470, and a circumferential surface of the first cyclone 410.
  • a bottom end of the first dust collecting chamber 430 is closed by a bottom plate 432.
  • the first dust collecting chamber 430 is opened with respect to whole circumference of the first cyclone body 420 so that the first dust collecting chamber 430 can collect contaminants discharged over the top end of the first cyclone body 420.
  • the shape of the outer wall 431 and the bottom plate 432 of the first dust collecting chamber 430 as shown in Fig. 14 is only one example, it goes without saying that the outer wall 431 and the bottom plate 432 of the first dust collecting chamber 430 can be variously shaped.
  • the second cyclone 460 takes semi-clean air that is discharged from the first cyclone 410, and forces the semi-clean air to enter into the lower portion of the second cyclone 460 and to whirl upwardly so that fine contaminants remained in the semi-clean air are separated and discharged in a direction opposite to the gravity direction by centrifugal force operating upon the whirling semi-clean air. Then, clean air is discharged in the gravity direction.
  • the plurality of second cyclones 460 is disposed to wrap around some part of the first cyclone 410.
  • Each of the plurality of second cyclones 460 sucks the semi-clean air, which is discharged from the first cyclone 410 in the gravity direction, into the lower portion of the second cyclone 460, and then, forms the sucked semi-clean air an upwardly whirling air current. Fine contaminants remained in the semi-clean air are separated and discharged in a direction opposite to the gravity direction by centrifugal force operating upon the upwardly whirling air current. Clean air is discharged from the second cyclone 460 in the gravity direction.
  • the plurality of second cyclones 460 is disposed in a curved line to wrap around some part of the first cyclone body 420 apart from the first cyclone body 420 as shown in Figs. 14 .
  • the lower portion 461a of one of the second cyclone bodies 461 abuts on the lower portion 461a of the next second cyclone body 461.
  • 13 second cyclones 460 are disposed at a side of the first cyclone body 420 in a substantially flattened U shape to wrap around the first cyclone body 420. Since the structure and function of each of the plurality of second cyclones 460 is similar to that of the second cyclone 360 of the multi-cyclone dust collector 3 according to the third embodiment described above, a detailed description thereof is not repeated for conciseness.
  • An under cover (not shown) is disposed on the bottom ends of the first cyclone 410 and the plurality of second cyclones 460. Accordingly, the semi-clean air, which is discharged through the air communicating member 440 of the first cyclone 410, is distributed by a plurality of air passages on the under cover and then is entered into each of the plurality of second cyclones 460. Since the structure and function of the under cover is similar to the under cover 90 of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 according to first embodiment described above, a detailed description thereof is not repeated for conciseness.
  • the second dust collecting chamber 470 wraps around all the plurality of second cyclones 460 so as to collect contaminants that are discharged from a top end of each of the plurality of second cyclones 460.
  • the second dust collecting chamber 470 is formed as a space between a dust wall 471 wrapping around all the plurality of second cyclones 460 and a circumferential surface of each of the plurality of second cyclones 460.
  • the height of the dust wall 471 is higher than the height of the second cyclone 460. Accordingly, contaminants discharged from the top end of the second cyclone 460 are collected in the second dust collecting chamber 470.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector 4 has the second dust collecting chamber 470 that is formed by the dust wall 471 wrapping around 13 second cyclones 460.
  • the dust wall 471 forms a circumferential surface of the second dust collecting chamber 470 and is spaced apart from the first cyclone body 420 and the outer wall 431 of the first dust collecting chamber 430. Therefore, contaminants that are separated in the first cyclone body 420 are discharged to the first dust collecting chamber 430 through the entire circumference of the top end of the first cyclone body 420.
  • a discharging space that contaminants are discharged from the first cyclone 410 to the first dust collecting chamber 430 becomes larger in order of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1, 3, and 4 according to first, third, and fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • a discharging space of the multi-cyclone dust collector 4 of the fourth embodiment is larger than a discharging space of the multi-cyclone dust collector 3 of the third embodiment.
  • the discharging space of the multi-cyclone dust collector 3 of the third embodiment is larger than a discharging space of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 of the first embodiment.
  • a volume of the second dust collecting chamber 470 may be determined by adjusting the interval W between parts of the dust wall 471 to face each other.
  • the interval W between the parts of dust wall 471 to face each other is determined such that the parts of dust wall 471 to face each other are in contact with the top end of the second cyclone 460 as shown in Fig. 14 .
  • the lower portion 461 a of each of the plurality of second cyclones 460 is projected to the first dust collecting chamber 430 through the dust wall 471.
  • the upper cover (not shown) covers top ends of the first dust collecting chamber 430 and the second dust collecting chamber 470. Since the structure and function of the upper cover is similar to the upper cover 80 of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 according to first embodiment described above, a detailed description thereof is not repeated for conciseness. However, a sealing member (not shown) that prevents the first dust collecting chamber 430 from being in fluid communication with the second dust collecting chamber 470 is different in a shape from the sealing member 81 of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 according to first embodiment. Furthermore, the outer wall 431 is preferably made of transparent material for a user to recognize the amount of contaminants collected in the first dust collecting chamber 430 without opening the upper cover.
  • Operation of the multi-cyclone dust collector 4 for a vacuum cleaner according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is substantially same as that of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1 for a vacuum cleaner according to first embodiment described above, except that contaminants separated in the first cyclone 410 are discharged to the first dust collecting chamber 430 through the whole circumference of the top end of the first cyclone body 420. Therefore, a detailed description thereof is not repeated for conciseness.
  • a vacuum cleaner 100 includes a suction brush 110, an extension pipe 121, a flexible hose 122, and a cleaner body 130.
  • the suction brush 110 is provided with a dust suction port facing a cleaning surface for sucking in contaminants-laden air.
  • the extension pipe 121 and the flexible hose 122 allow the suction brush 110 in fluid communication with the cleaner body 130.
  • a handle 120 is disposed on an upper portion of the extension pipe 121.
  • the handle 120 generally has a power switch 123 for turning on the vacuum cleaner 100.
  • the vacuum generator 131 and the multi-cyclone dust collector 101 are disposed in the cleaner body 130.
  • the vacuum generator 131 generates suction force to suck contaminants-laden air through the suction brush 110, and is in fluid communication with the multi-cyclone dust collector 101 via a piping member 132.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector 101 separates contaminants from contaminants-laden air sucked from the suction brush 110 and collects the separated contaminants therein.
  • the multi-cyclone dust collector 101 includes a first cyclone that forces the contaminants-laden air to form a first upwardly whirling air current so as to separate relatively large contaminants, a first dust collecting chamber that collects contaminants discharged from the first cyclone, and a second cyclone unit that forms air discharged from the first cyclone into a second upwardly whirling air current so as to separate and collect fine contaminants.
  • the structure and operation of the multi-cyclone dust collector 101 is the substantially same as that of the multi-cyclone dust collector 1,2,3, and 4 according to anyone of the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention described above; a detailed description thereof is not repeated for conciseness.
  • a canister type vacuum cleaner is used as an example of vacuum cleaners employing the multi-cyclone dust collector according to an embodiment of the present invention; however, this should not be considered as limiting.
  • Various types of vacuum cleaners such as an upright type vacuum cleaner may employ the multi-cyclone dust collector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cyclones (AREA)
  • Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)

Claims (41)

  1. Ein Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) für einen Staubsauger, aufweisend:
    mindestens einen ersten Zyklon (10) mit einem unteren Abschnitt, wobei der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10) verschmutzungsbeladene Luft, welche in den unteren Abschnitt eintritt, zwingt zu wirbeln, um Verschmutzungen aus der verschmutzungsbeladenen Luft zentrifugal zu separieren, wobei der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10) halbsaubere Luft ausgibt, und
    eine erste Staubsammelkammer (30, 330, 430), die um den mindestens einen ersten Zyklon (10) herum angeordnet ist, wobei die erste Staubsammelkammer (30, 330, 430) die von dem mindestens einen ersten Zyklon (10) ausgegebenen Verschmutzungen sammelt,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) aufweist
    mindestens zwei zweite Zyklone (60, 360, 460), welche um den mindestens einen ersten Zyklon (10) herum angeordnet sind, dass die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) einen zweiten unteren Abschnitt haben, dass die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) die halbsaubere Luft, welche in den zweiten unteren Abschnitt eintritt, zwingen zu wirbeln, um feine Verschmutzungen aus der halbsauberen Luft zentrifugal zu separieren, dass die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) saubere Luft ausgeben und dass die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) innerhalb der ersten Staubsammelkammer (30, 330, 430) angeordnet sind.
  2. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) eine geringere Größe haben, als der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10).
  3. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10) die halbsaubere Luft in die Schwerkraftrichtung ausgibt und die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) die saubere Luft in die Schwerkraftrichtung ausgeben.
  4. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 3, wobei ein Ort, durch den die verschmutzungsbeladene Luft von dem mindestens einen ersten Zyklon (10) ausgegeben wird, und ein zweiter Ort, durch den die halbsaubere Luft in die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) eintritt, auf einer gleichen Ebene sind.
  5. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10) die Verschmutzungen in eine Richtung entgegengesetzt zu der Schwerkraftrichtung ausgibt.
  6. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10) eine Höhe hat, welche geringer ist, als eine Höhe der ersten Staubsammelkammer (30, 330, 430).
  7. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10) einen Ort hat, durch den die Verschmutzungen ausgegeben werden, der höher ist, als ein Ort, durch welchen die verschmutzungsbeladene Luft eintritt, und wobei die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) einen Ort haben, durch den die feinen Verschmutzungen ausgegeben werden, der höher ist, als ein Ort, durch welchen die halbsaubere Luft eintritt.
  8. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10) einen Ort hat, durch den die Verschmutzungen ausgegeben werden, der höher ist, als ein Ort, durch welchen die halbsaubere Luft ausgegeben wird, und wobei die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) einen Ort haben, durch den die feinen Verschmutzungen ausgegeben werden, der höher ist, als ein Ort, durch welchen die saubere Luft ausgegeben wird.
  9. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) die feinen Verschmutzungen in eine Richtung entgegengesetzt zu der Schwerkraftrichtung ausgeben.
  10. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 9, weiter aufweisend eine zweite Staubsammelkammer (70, 370, 470), welche an einer Seite von den mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) angeordnet ist, wobei die zweite Staubsammelkammer (70, 370, 470) die von den mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) ausgegebenen feinen Verschmutzungen sammelt.
  11. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 9, wobei die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone aufweisen:
    eine Mehrzahl von zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) und
    eine Mehrzahl von zweiten Staubsammelkammern (70, 370, 470), welche mindestens einen von der Mehrzahl von zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) umgeben, wobei die Mehrzahl von zweiten Staubsammelkammern (70, 370, 470) die von dem mindestens einen von der Mehrzahl von zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) ausgegebenen feinen Verschmutzungen sammeln.
  12. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 11, wobei jede von der Mehrzahl von zweiten Staubsammelkammern (70, 370, 470) gebildet ist, um zwei nahe zweite Zyklone (60, 360, 460) zu umgeben, um die von den zwei nahen zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) ausgegebenen feinen Verschmutzungen zu sammeln.
  13. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 11, wobei die zweite Staubsammelkammer (70, 370, 470) die gesamte Mehrzahl von zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) umgibt, um die von der Mehrzahl von zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) ausgegebenen feinen Verschmutzungen zu sammeln.
  14. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei ein Teil des mindestens einen ersten Zyklons (10) einen Teil von den mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) bildet.
  15. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) in einer im Wesentlichen konischen Gestalt sind, und ein Teil des ersten Zyklons (10) eine Seitenfläche des unteren Abschnitts der mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) bildet.
  16. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der erste Zyklon (10) aufweist:
    einen ersten Zyklonkörper (20, 320, 420) mit einer im Wesentlichen hohlen, zylindrischen Gestalt, wobei der erste Zyklonkörper (20, 320, 420) die eintretende verschmutzungsbeladene Luft zwingt, innerhalb des Zyklonkörpers (20, 320, 420) zu wirbeln,
    ein Luftkommunikationselement (40, 340, 440), welches innerhalb des ersten Zyklonkörpers (20, 320, 420) angeordnet ist, wobei das Luftkommunikationselement (40, 340, 440) die von den Verschmutzungen befreite, halbsaubere Luft ausgibt und
    ein Luftsaugrohr (45, 345, 445), welches an einer Bodenfläche des ersten Zyklonkörpers (20, 320, 420) angeordnet ist, wobei das Luftsaugrohr (45, 345, 445) die eintretende verschmutzungsbeladene Luft zwingt, einen ersten aufwärts wirbelnden Luftstrom zu bilden.
  17. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 16, wobei das Luftkommunikationselement (40, 340, 440) in einer im Wesentlichen hohlen, zylindrischen Gestalt gebildet ist, wobei das Luftkommunikationselement (40, 340, 440) ein offenes oberes Ende und ein unteres Ende hat, welches in Fluidverbindung mit einer Mehrzahl von Luftpassagen ist, welche den mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) zugeordnet sind.
  18. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 17, weiter aufweisend:
    einen Leitkonus, welcher in einem Zentrum des unteren Endes des Luftkommunikationselements (40, 340, 440) angeordnet ist.
  19. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 16, weiter aufweisend:
    eine zweite Staubsammelkammer (70, 370, 470), welche ausgebildet ist, um alle der mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) zu umgeben, wobei die zweite Staubsammelkammer (70, 370, 470) die von den mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) ausgegebenen Verschmutzungen sammelt.
  20. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 19, wobei die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) in Kontakt mit dem ersten Zyklonkörper (20, 320, 420) sind.
  21. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler gemäß Anspruch 20, wobei die zweite Staubsammelkammer (70, 370, 470) als Raum zwischen dem ersten Zyklonkörper (20, 320, 420) und einer inneren Wand geformt ist, welche alle der mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) umgibt.
  22. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 21, wobei die erste Staubsammelkammer (30, 330, 430) als ein Raum geformt ist zwischen einer äußeren Wand, welche die innere Wand und den ersten Zyklonkörper (20, 320, 420) komplett umgibt, der inneren Wand, und einem Teil des ersten Zyklonkörpers (20, 320, 420), der nicht von der inneren Wand umgeben ist.
  23. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 16, weiter aufweisend eine Mehrzahl von zweiten Staubsammelkammern (70, 370, 470), welche geformt sind, um mindestens einen der mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) zu umgeben.
  24. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 23, weiter aufweisend Lücken, welche zwischen der Mehrzahl von zweiten Staubsammelkammern (70, 370, 470) geformt sind, durch welche die von dem ersten Zyklon (10) ausgegebenen Verschmutzungen passieren können.
  25. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler gemäß Anspruch 19, wobei die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) vom ersten Zyklonkörper (20, 320, 420) im Abstand angeordnet sind.
  26. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 25, wobei die zweite Staubsammelkammer (70, 370, 470) als ein Raum geformt ist zwischen den mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) und einer Staubwand (371, 471), welche alle der mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) umgibt.
  27. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler gemäß Anspruch 26, wobei die Staubwand (371, 471) in Kontakt mit jedem der mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) ist.
  28. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 19, weiter aufweisend:
    eine obere Abdeckung (80, 380), welche die oberen Enden des ersten Zyklons (10), die erste Staubsammelkammer (30, 330, 430) und die zweite Staubsammelkammer (70, 370, 470) abnehmbar abdeckt.
  29. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 28, weiter aufweisend:
    einen Rückfluss verhindernden Damm (82), der auf einer unteren Fläche der oberen Abdeckung (80, 380) angeordnet ist, wobei der Rückfluss verhindernde Damm (82) Verschmutzungen, die in der ersten Staubsammelkammer (30, 330, 430) gesammelt sind, daran hindert, zurück in den ersten Zyklonkörper (20, 320, 420) zu strömen.
  30. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die erste Staubsammelkammer (30, 330, 430) angeordnet ist, um den ersten Zyklon (10) und die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) zu umgeben.
  31. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 30, wobei der erste Zyklon (10) eine Mehrzahl an Zyklonen aufweist.
  32. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 30, wobei jeder der mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) einen zweiten Zyklonkörper (61, 361, 461) aufweist, und wobei ein oberes Ende des zweiten Zyklonkörpers (61, 361, 461) bezüglich eines unteren Endes des zweiten Zyklonkörpers (61, 361, 461) zu dem ersten Zyklon (10) hin geneigt ist.
  33. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 32, wobei mindestens einer der mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) geformt ist, so dass mindestens ein Abschnitt der Umfangsfläche davon in die erste Staubsammelkammer (30, 330, 430) hinein vorsteht.
  34. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 1, weiter aufweisend:
    eine zweite Staubsammelkammer (70, 370, 470), welche die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) umgibt, um die feinen Verschmutzungen zu sammeln, welche von den mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) in einer zu der Schwerkraftrichtung entgegengesetzten Richtung ausgegeben werden.
  35. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 34, wobei der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10) die verschmutzungsbeladene Luft, die durch eine Bodenfläche davon hineingesaugt wird, zwingt aufwärts zu wirbeln, wobei der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10) die von der verschmutzungsbeladenen Luft separierten Verschmutzungen durch ein offenes oberes Ende des mindestens einen ersten Zyklons (10) hindurch in die erste Staubsammelkammer (30, 330, 430) hinein ausgibt, wobei der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10) die halbsaubere Luft in der Schwerkraftrichtung ausgibt.
  36. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 34, wobei die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) die halbsaubere Luft, welche vom dem mindestens einen ersten Zyklon (10) ausgegeben und in einen unteren Abschnitt der mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) hinein gesaugt wird, zwingt aufwärts zu wirbeln, wobei die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) die von der halbsauberen Luft separierten feinen Verschmutzungen durch ein offenes oberes Ende der mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) hindurch in die zweite Staubsammelkammer (70, 370, 470) hinein ausgeben, wobei die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone saubere Luft in die Schwerkraftrichtung ausgeben.
  37. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 34, wobei die zweite Staubsammelkammer (70, 370, 470) mindestens einen Abschnitt einer umfänglichen Fläche des mindestens einen ersten Zyklons (10) umgibt, und wobei die erste Staubsammelkammer (30, 330, 430) eine umfängliche Fläche der zweiten Staubsammelkammer (70, 370, 470) und mindestens einen Abschnitt der umfänglichen Fläche des mindestens einen ersten Zyklons (10) umgibt.
  38. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 37, wobei der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10) in einem Zentrum des Multizyklon-Staubsammlers ist.
  39. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler gemäß Anspruch 37, wobei der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10) die Verschmutzungen in eine zu der Schwerkraftrichtung entgegengesetzten Richtung ausgibt und die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) die feinen Verschmutzungen in eine zu der Schwerkraftrichtung entgegengesetzten Richtung ausgeben.
  40. Der Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101) gemäß Anspruch 37, wobei der mindestens eine erste Zyklon (10) die verschmutzungsbeladene Luft in einen unteren Abschnitt hineinsaugt und die halbsaubere Luft durch den unteren Abschnitt ausgibt, und wobei die mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) die halbsaubere Luft in einen zweiten unteren Abschnitt hineinsaugen und dann die saubere Luft durch den zweiten unteren Abschnitt ausgeben.
  41. Ein Verfahren zum Sammeln von Verschmutzungen für einen Multizyklon-Staubsammler (1, 2, 3, 4, 101), wobei es aufweist Saugen von verschmutzungsbeladener Luft in einen unteren Abschnitt eines ersten Zyklons (10), um die verschmutzungsbeladene Luft in einen ersten aufwärts wirbelnden Luftstrom innerhalb des ersten Zyklons (10) zu formen,
    Separieren von Verschmutzungen aus der verschmutzungsbeladenen Luft durch Zentrifugalkraft, um die Verschmutzungen von dem ersten Zyklon (10) in eine zu der Schwerkraftrichtung entgegengesetzten Richtung in eine erste Staubsammelkammer (30, 330, 430) hinein auszugeben, welche um den ersten Zyklon (10) herum angeordnet ist,
    Ausgeben von halbsauberer Luft von dem ersten Zyklon (10) in die Schwerkraftrichtung,
    gekennzeichnet durch Teilen der halbsauberen Luft in mindestens zwei, um in jeden der mindestens zwei zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) bewegt zu werden, welche innerhalb der ersten Staubsammelkammer (30, 330, 430) angeordnet sind,
    Saugen der halbsauberen Luft in einen zweiten unteren Abschnitt von jedem der zweiten Zyklone (60, 360, 460) hinein, um die halbsaubere Luft in einen zweiten aufwärts wirbelnden Luftstrom innerhalb der zweiten Zyklone (10) zu formen,
    Separieren der feinen Verschmutzungen aus der Luft durch Zentrifugalkraft, um die feinen Verschmutzungen von den zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) in eine zu der Schwerkraftrichtung entgegengesetzten Richtung ausgeben, und
    Ausgeben von sauberer Luft von den zweiten Zyklonen (60, 360, 460) in die Schwerkraftrichtung.
EP06291062.5A 2005-10-11 2006-06-27 Multizyklon-Staubsammler für einen Staubsauger Expired - Fee Related EP1774890B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US72560905P 2005-10-11 2005-10-11
KR20050102615 2005-10-28
KR1020060011668A KR100688613B1 (ko) 2005-10-11 2006-02-07 진공청소기용 멀티 사이클론 집진장치

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1774890A2 EP1774890A2 (de) 2007-04-18
EP1774890A3 EP1774890A3 (de) 2007-12-12
EP1774890B1 true EP1774890B1 (de) 2013-08-07

Family

ID=37564326

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06291062.5A Expired - Fee Related EP1774890B1 (de) 2005-10-11 2006-06-27 Multizyklon-Staubsammler für einen Staubsauger

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1774890B1 (de)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2436281B (en) * 2006-03-24 2011-07-20 Hoover Ltd Cyclonic vacuum cleaner
GB2453760A (en) 2007-10-18 2009-04-22 Dyson Technology Ltd Sealing on closure member of cyclone
KR101524791B1 (ko) * 2008-11-07 2015-06-03 삼성전자주식회사 사이클론 집진장치 및 이를 구비하는 청소기
US8062398B2 (en) 2008-12-19 2011-11-22 Bissell Homecare, Inc. Vacuum cleaner and cyclone module therefor
GB201106454D0 (en) * 2011-04-15 2011-06-01 Dyson Technology Ltd Cyclonic separator
WO2012140452A1 (en) 2011-04-15 2012-10-18 Dyson Technology Limited Cyclonic separator comprising an outlet duct extending between two adjacent cyclone bodies
GB201106455D0 (en) 2011-04-15 2011-06-01 Dyson Technology Ltd Cyclonic separator
US8728186B2 (en) * 2011-09-02 2014-05-20 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Vacuum cleaner and dust separating apparatus thereof
GB2507074B (en) 2012-10-17 2014-11-19 Dyson Technology Ltd Canister vacuum cleaner
DE102016120311B4 (de) * 2016-10-25 2023-03-30 Robert Thomas Metall- Und Elektrowerke Gmbh & Co. Kg Staubsauger

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4373228A (en) 1979-04-19 1983-02-15 James Dyson Vacuum cleaning appliances
JPH08322768A (ja) * 1995-06-02 1996-12-10 Sharp Corp 電気掃除機
FR2778546B1 (fr) * 1998-05-15 2000-06-30 Seb Sa Aspirateur a separation tangentielle des dechets
US6344064B1 (en) * 1999-01-29 2002-02-05 Fantom Technologies Inc. Method and apparatus of particle transfer in multi-stage particle separators
US6607572B2 (en) * 2001-02-24 2003-08-19 Dyson Limited Cyclonic separating apparatus
EP1371318B1 (de) * 2002-06-11 2010-01-27 Hitachi Home & Life Solutions, Inc., Elektrischer Staubsauger
US7526771B2 (en) 2003-11-12 2009-04-28 Ntt Docomo, Inc. Method and apparatus for configuring an application while the application is running
KR100592098B1 (ko) * 2004-02-11 2006-06-22 삼성광주전자 주식회사 진공청소기의 사이클론 집진장치

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1774890A3 (de) 2007-12-12
EP1774890A2 (de) 2007-04-18

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7547351B2 (en) Multi cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner
EP1774889B1 (de) Multi-Zyklon Staubsammelvorrichtung für Staubsauger
EP1774890B1 (de) Multizyklon-Staubsammler für einen Staubsauger
EP1774891A2 (de) Multi-Zyklon Staubsammelvorrichtung für Staubsauger und Verfahren zur Staubsammlung
US7966692B2 (en) Multi-cyclone dust collector for vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner employing the same
EP1776910B1 (de) Multizyklon-Staubsammler für Staubsauger
AU2006201992B2 (en) Multi-cyclone dust collection apparatus
US7501002B2 (en) Cyclone dust separator and a vacuum cleaner having the same
AU2004202470B8 (en) Cyclonic separating apparatus
EP1779761B1 (de) Staubsammelvorrichtung mit mehreren Zyklonen
US7261754B2 (en) Cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
US8568500B2 (en) Multi-cyclone dust separator and a vacuum cleaner using the same
US6977003B2 (en) Cyclone dust-collecting apparatus of vacuum cleaner
EP1834697A2 (de) Multizyklonstaubsammelbehälter für Staubsauger
EP1776911A2 (de) Staubsammler für Staubsauger
KR100714491B1 (ko) 진공청소기용 멀티 사이클론 집진장치 및 집진방법
KR100645951B1 (ko) 진공청소기용 멀티 사이클론 집진장치

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR MK YU

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR MK YU

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: B04C 5/13 20060101ALI20071102BHEP

Ipc: A47L 9/16 20060101AFI20070112BHEP

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20080520

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20120726

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602006037712

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20131002

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130807

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130807

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20140508

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602006037712

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20140508

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 11

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 12

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20180522

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20180525

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20180405

Year of fee payment: 13

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602006037712

Country of ref document: DE

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20190627

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190627

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20200101

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190630