EP2030543B1

EP2030543B1 - Stick type vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: EP2030543B1
Application number: EP08006179A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jung-Gyun Han; Jang-Keun Oh; Jin-Gon Lee
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-08-28
Filing date: 2008-03-28
Publication date: 2011-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 2028-03-28
Also published as: EP2030543A2; US20090056060A1; JP2009050687A; RU2008126078A; KR101340423B1; KR20090021839A; EP2030543A3

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a stick type vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a stick type vacuum cleaner, which has a power supply unit such as a battery of increased life span, and is capable of reducing noise level.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vacuum cleaners are among the most widely used home electronic appliances. Vacuum cleaners draw in air and dust from a surface being cleaned, using a suction force generated by a vacuum source.
A canister vacuum cleaner includes a main body, a suction port assembly, and a connecting part. The main body includes a suction force generating unit and a dust separating unit to separate dust from air and collect the separated dust. The suction force generating unit includes an impeller which is generally rotatably installed, and a suction motor to rotate the impeller. The suction port assembly moves along an object being cleaned, drawing in dust and air through a suction port. The connecting part connects the suction port assembly with the main body, and includes a handgrip, an extension pipe to connect the suction port assembly and the handgrip, and a flexible hose to connect the handgrip and the main body.
The canister type vacuum cleaner includes a power line which is exposed to outside to supply power to the suction force generating unit. Generally, a plug formed on one end of the power line is inserted in a socket formed in walls of a room to supply power to the suction force generating unit.
Meanwhile, a user of a canister type vacuum cleaner moves not only the suction port assembly, but also the main body engaged with the suction port assembly. While using the vacuum cleaner, the user has to be careful not to hit the objects nearby.
A stick type vacuum cleaner is one of those cleaners that are proposed to overcome such inconveniences mentioned above. In terms of appearance, a stick type vacuum cleaner is similar to a canister type cleaner in that it includes a suction port assembly, an extension pipe and a handgrip. However, a stick type vacuum cleaner skips the main body, and instead accommodates a suction force generating unit and a dust separating unit in the suction port assembly. The suction port assembly of the stick type vacuum cleaner draws in dust using a suction force generated therefrom, and also collects the separated dust therein. Furthermore, the stick type vacuum cleaner usually accommodates a power supply unit such as a battery in the suction force generating unit to supply power to the suction force generating unit, and so does not require a separate power line.
In most of stick type vacuum cleaners, a suction force generating unit is arranged at a rear portion of the dust separating unit. Accordingly, a vacuum pressure of the suction force generating unit is transmitted to the suction port via the dust separating unit. However, the dust separating unit can be damaged by the vacuum pressure being transmitted to the suction port. Therefore, the suction force generating unit has to rotate the impeller at relatively fast speed to overcome loss of pressure in the dust separating unit and to provide the suction port with sufficient suction force.
When the suction force generating unit is arranged at a rear side of the cleaner like in the stick type vacuum cleaner, the suction force generating unit consumes a relatively large amount of power, causing decrease of life span of the power supply unit such as battery which supplies power to the suction force generating unit. Furthermore, the impeller generates offensive noise during its fast rotation.
Furthermore, WO 2006/106278 discloses a surface cleaning apparatus comprising a dust retrieval body, and a first collection means and a second collection means provided within the dust retrieval body for accumulating dust from a surface to he cleaned. A rotatable elongate brush arrangement is provided within the dust retrieval body and is adapted to retrieve a first portion of dust from the surface to be cleaned and to direct the first portion of the dust along a first pathway into the first collection means. A first inlet aperture is provided in the dust retrieval body for the passage along a second pathway, independent of the first pathway, of a second portion of dust from the surface to he cleaned to the second collection means, the first inlet aperture communicating with a first means for creating suction. A second inlet aperture is provided in the dust retrieval body for the passage along a third pathway, independent of the first and second pathways, of a third portion of dust from the surface to be cleaned to means for connection to a second means for creating suction. Such a surface cleaning apparatus allows removal of relatively large pieces of dust and also efficient removal of fine particles of dust from the surface being cleaned, in particular from hard floors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure overcome the above disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Accordingly, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a stick type vacuum cleaner which has a power supply unit of increased life span, and is capable of reducing noise level of the suction force generating unit.
The invention is defined in claim 1. Particular embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.
An aspect of the present disclosure provides a stick type vacuum cleaner which includes a suction port assembly movable along an object being cleaned to draw in dust and air from the object, and a stick unit in which a first end is engaged with a first side of the suction port assembly and a second end comprises a handgrip so that a user can grip the handgrip to move the suction port assembly along the object being cleaned. The suction port assembly may include a casing part comprising a suction port through which air and dust are drawn from the object being cleaned, a suction force generating unit formed inside the casing part to generate a suction force, a dust separating unit to separate dust from the drawn air and dust and accommodate the separated dust therein, and a power supply unit to supply power to the suction force generating unit. The suction force generating unit may be disposed between the suction port and the dust separating unit so that the drawn air and dust pass through the suction force generating unit before being introduced into the dust separating unit.
The dust separating unit includes a cyclone chamber to separate dust from the air and dust drawn through the suction port by using a centrifugal force, and a dust collecting chamber to accommodate the dust separated from the cyclone chamber.
The dust separating unit includes a cyclone dust separating unit in which the cyclone chamber and the dust collecting chamber are arranged in parallel, in a manner such that a cyclone inlet is formed on a first side and the cyclone chamber and the dust collecting chamber are open in a second side, and a side cover to cover the second side of the cyclone dust separating unit, and comprising an air discharge pipe to guide the air to be discharged from the cyclone chamber.
The suction force generating unit may include an impeller disposed to be exposed to a passage defined between the suction port and the dust separating unit, to generate the suction force by rotational movement, and a suction motor to receive a power from the power supply unit and rotate the impeller.
The dust separating unit may include a filter member formed on an outer surface of the side cover to filter remaining dust from the air being discharged from the cyclone chamber, and a filter support member removably formed on the outer surface of the side cover to support the filter member formed on the side cover.
The filter support member may include at least one air passing hole.
An upper side of the cyclone dust separating unit may be made out of a transparent material to enable a user to see the cyclone chamber and the dust collecting chamber therethrough.
The casing part may include a dust separating unit chamber so that the dust separating unit is removably housed in the dust separating unit chamber.
The suction port assembly may further include a rotatable brush movably formed in the suction port, and a rotatable brush motor to drive the rotatable brush.
The rotatable brush motor may receive power from the power generating unit.
The stick part may include an engaging part engaged to a first side of the suction port assembly, a stick type extension part extended from the engaging part, and a handgrip formed on one end of the stick-type extension part.
The power generating unit may include a battery removably disposed inside the casing part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial, exploded perspective view of a stick type vacuum cleaner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a suction port assembly of the stick type vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 from which an upper casing is removed;
FIG. 3 is a partial, exploded perspective view of a dust separating unit of the stick type vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a side cover of the dust separating unit of FIG. 3 from different direction;
FIG. 5 is a cross-section view taken on line V-V of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-section view taken on line VI-VI of FIG. 1.

Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a stick type vacuum cleaner 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a suction port assembly 100, and a stick part 200.
The suction port assembly 100 is disposed to be moved along an object being cleaned, and to draw in dust from the object and collect the drawn dust therein. The stick part 200 is engaged with a rear portion of the suction port assembly 100 to facilitate a user's operation of the suction port assembly 100 along the object being cleaned. The stick part 200 includes an engaging part 210 formed on a rear portion of the suction port assembly 100, a stick-type extension part 220 extending from the engaging part 210, and a handgrip 230 formed on an upper portion of the stick-type extension part 220.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, the suction port assembly 100 includes a casing part 110, a rotatable brush 120, a rotatable brush motor 121, a power supply 130, a suction force generating unit 140, and a dust separating unit 150.
Referring to FIG. 1, the casing part 110 includes an upper casing 111 and a lower casing 112. The upper casing 111 includes a dust separating unit chamber S to receive the dust separating unit 150 therein. The upper casing 111 also includes a plurality of air discharge holes 111a formed in a rear portion to permit the clean air to be discharged outside the suction port assembly 100 after the dust is separated in the dust separating unit 150.
Referring to FIG. 6, the lower casing 112 includes a suction port 112a formed on the front portion. Dust and air can be drawn into the suction port assembly 100 through the suction port 112a.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, the rotatable brush 120 is formed on the front portion of the lower casing 112, to be disposed in the suction port 112a. The rotatable brush 120 is rotated by the rotatable brush motor 121, to hit with its lower portion the object being cleaned and remove dust from the object being cleaned.
The rotatable brush motor 121 receives power supply from the power supply 130 (FIG. 6). The power supply 130 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is implemented as a replaceable battery 130 mounted inside the casing part 110. The battery 130 supplies power not only to the rotatable brush motor 121, but also to a suction motor 141 which will be explained below.
Referring to FIG. 2, the suction force generating unit 140 includes the suction motor 141, an impeller 142, and a suction port connecting pipe 143. The suction motor 141 receives power from the battery 130 to rotate the impeller 142. The impeller 142 is rotated by the suction motor 141 to generate a vacuum pressure, or suction force. The suction port connecting pipe 143 connects the suction port 112a and the impeller 142 to guide the air and dust drawn from the object being cleaned into the impeller 142.
The suction port assembly 100 includes the suction force generating unit 140 and the battery 130 to supply power to the suction force generating unit 140 to generate a suction force. The vacuum cleaner 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure does not need a power line to receive external power.
Referring again to FIG. 2, the suction force generating unit 140 is arranged in front of the dust separating unit 150. That is, the suction force generating unit 140 is provided between the suction port 112a and the dust separating unit 150. Air and dust are drawn through the suction port 112a, and then pass the suction force generating unit 140 and flow into the dust separating unit 150. More specifically, air and dust drawn through the suction port 112a flow into the dust separating unit 150 via the impeller 142 provided in the suction force generating unit 140. The impeller 142 is arranged on a fluid passage that connects the suction port 112a and the dust separating unit 150 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore, the impeller 142 operates as a bypass impeller, while the motor to drive this bypass impeller operates as a bypass motor.
In comparison with a vacuum cleaner in which the suction force generating unit 140 is arranged in the rear portion of the dust separating unit 150, the vacuum cleaner according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can provide almost unaffected level of suction force to the suction port 112a when the suction motor 141 rotates the impeller 142 with relatively slower speed.
Because the suction force generating unit 140 is arranged in front of the dust separating unit 150, the vacuum pressure generated at the suction force generating unit 140 is transmitted to the suction port 112a intact, that is, without being affected by the dust separating unit 150. Furthermore, because the suction force generating unit 140 is arranged in front of the dust separating unit 150, the impeller 142 of the suction force generating unit 140 is able to draw in dust and air introduced through the suction port 112a using not only vacuum pressure, but also mechanical friction. The mechanical friction of the impeller 142 more specifically refers to a friction between air and dust with the rotating blades (not illustrated) of the impeller 142, which provides a moving force in the direction of the dust separating unit 150.
If the suction force generating unit 140 is arranged in back of the dust separating unit 150, the vacuum pressure generated by the suction force generating unit 140 can be transmitted to the suction port 112a via the dust separating unit 150. Accordingly, the dust separating unit 150 has the loss of vacuum pressure while the vacuum pressure is transmitted from the suction force generating unit 140 to the suction port 112a. Furthermore, if the suction force generating unit 140 is arranged in back of the dust separating unit 150, dust is filtered at the dust separating unit 150 already prior to arriving at the suction force generating unit 140, and therefore, it is impossible for the impeller 142 to draw the dust into the dust separating unit 150 by mechanical friction.
As explained above, when the suction force generating unit 140 is provided in front of the dust separating unit 150, the impeller 142 can be rotated at a relatively slower speed than when the suction force generating unit 140 is provided in back of the dust separating unit 150, but without compromising the level of suction force provided to the suction port 112a. Because the suction motor 141 consumes less power to rotate the impeller 142, the life span of the battery 130 to supply power to the suction motor 141 can be increased. Furthermore, because the rotational speed of the impeller 142 decreases, less amount of noise is generated from the rotation of the impeller 142.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the dust separating unit 150 is removably mounted in the dust separating unit chamber (S) of the upper casing 111. The dust separating unit 150 includes a cyclone dust separating unit 160, a side cover 170, a filter member 180, and a filter support member 190.
Referring to FIG. 1, the cyclone dust separating unit 160 includes a cyclone inlet 162 formed in a first side 160a. The dust and air, after passing through the suction force generating unit 140, are introduced into the cyclone chamber 163 through the cyclone inlet 162.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the cyclone dust separating unit 160 includes a cyclone chamber 163 and a dust collecting chamber 164 both formed therein. The cyclone chamber 163 separates, using a centrifugal force, dust from air that introduced through the cyclone inlet 162. The dust collecting chamber 164 collects the dust separated from the cyclone chamber 163. The cyclone chamber 163 and the dust collecting chamber 164 are arranged in parallel and divided from each other by a single partition 165. The cyclone chamber 163 and the dust collecting chamber 164 are open to a second side 160b of the cyclone dust separating unit 160.
The cyclone dust separating unit 160 includes a dust separating unit handgrip 161 formed on an upper side 160c so that a user can grab it and carry the dust separating unit 150 with ease. The upper side 160c of the cyclone dust separating unit 160 may be made out of a transparent material to allow observance of the cyclone chamber 163 and the dust collecting chamber 164 from outside. Accordingly, a user is able to see and check the dust separating performance of the cyclone chamber 163 and also check the amount of dust collected in the dust collecting chamber 164, without having to disassemble the dust separating unit 150.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the side cover 170 covers the second side 160b of the cyclone dust separating unit 160. The side cover 170 is detachably formed on the cyclone dust separating unit 160. If the dust collecting chamber 164 is full, the user detaches the side cover 170 from the cyclone dust separating unit 160 and empties the dust collecting chamber 170. The side cover 170 includes an air discharge pipe 171 formed thereon. Accordingly, clean air is discharged from the cyclone chamber 163 to the filter member 180 through the air discharge pipe 171 when dust is separated from the air.
Referring to FIG. 3, the filter member 180 is disposed on an outer side 172 of the side cover 170 to filter remaining dust from the air received from the cyclone chamber 163.
The filter member 180 is supported by the filter support member 190 to remain engaged with the side cover 170. The filter support member 190 is detachably engaged with the side cover 170. Accordingly, if the filter member 180 gets too dusty, the filter support member 190 along with the filter member 180 is removed through the side cover 170 and a user can remove dust from the filter member 180. The filter support member 190 includes a plurality of air holes 191 for air to pass after passing through the filter member 180.
The operation of a stick type vacuum cleaner constructed as above according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 2, 5 and 6.
As a user drives a stick type vacuum cleaner 1, the rotatable brush motor 121 receives power from the battery 130 to rotate the rotatable brush 120. At the same time, the suction motor 141 also receives power from the battery 130 to rotate the impeller 142. The rotation of the impeller 142 generates a suction force (vacuum pressure), which is provided to the suction port 112a through the suction port connecting pipe 143 (see FIG. 2).
As explained above, because the suction force generating unit 140 having the suction motor 141 and the impeller 142 is arranged between the dust separating unit 150 and the suction port 112a, unaffected level of suction force can be provided to the suction port 112a even when the suction motor 141 rotates the impeller 142 at a relatively lower speed. As a result, the battery 130 to supply power to the suction motor 141 can be used for a longer period of time. Furthermore, because the impeller 142 rotates at a relatively slower speed, noise is reduced.
During cleaning, as a user moves the suction port assembly 100 along an object being cleaned, air and dust are drawn through the suction port 112a. The rotatable brush 120 hits the dust of the object being cleaned in rotating movement, to thereby facilitate the removal of the dust. As a result, more efficient cleaning is achieved.
The air and dust enter through the suction port 112a, and are introduced into the impeller 142 through the suction port connecting pipe 143 (see FIG. 2). The air and dust are then guided to the back of the cleaner by not only the suction force, but also the mechanical friction with the impeller 142, and guided to the cyclone inlet 162 of the cyclone dust separating unit 160. Because the air and dust are introduced into the cyclone inlet 162 by both the suction force and mechanical friction, output of the suction motor 141 to rotate the impeller 142 can be relatively reduced.
Referring to FIG. 5, air and dust enter the cyclone inlet 162 and rotate inside the cyclone chamber 163 towards the side cover 170. The dust is separated from the air by centrifugal force and collected in the dust collecting chamber 164. The clean air exits the cyclone chamber 163 through the air discharge pipe 171 formed on the side cover 170 and reaches the filter member 180 engaged with the side cover 170. The air is secondly filtered as it passes through the filter member 180 so that any remaining dust is separated. The clean resultant air is then passed through the air passing hole 191 of the filter supporting member 190 and discharged out of the dust separating unit 150. The air then passes through the passages such as the air discharge hole 111a (see FIG. 1) formed on a rear portion of the upper casing 111 and is discharged through the suction port assembly 100.
Meanwhile, a user can observe the status of the cyclone chamber 163 and the dust collecting chamber 164 disposed inside the cyclone dust separating unit 160 during cleaning process. If determined that the dust collecting chamber 164 needs emptying, the user separates the dust separating unit 150 from the dust separating unit chamber (S) (FIG. 1), removes the cyclone dust separating unit 160 and the side cover 170, and discards dust of the dust collecting chamber 164. The user may remove the filter support member 190 together with the filter member 180 from the side cover 170 to clean the filter member 180.

Claims

A stick type vacuum cleaner comprising:
a suction port assembly (100) movable along an object being cleaned to draw in dust and air from the object; and

a stick part (200) in which a first end is engaged with a first side of the suction port assembly (100) and a second end comprises a handgrip (230) so that a user can grip the handgrip (230) to move the suction port assembly(100) along the object being cleaned, wherein the suction port assembly comprises:
a casing part (110) comprising a suction port (112a) through which the air and dust are drawn from the object being cleaned,

a suction force generating unit (140) formed inside the casing part (110) to generate a suction force,

a dust separating unit (150) comprising a cyclone chamber (163) to separate dust from the air and dust drawn through the suction port (112a) by using a centrifugal force and a dust collecting chamber (164) to accommodate the dust separated from the cyclone chamber (163), and

a power supply unit (130) to supply power to the suction force generating unit (140), and

wherein the suction force generating unit (140) is disposed between the suction port (112a) and the dust separating unit (150) so that the drawn air and dust pass through the suction force generating unit (140) before being introduced into the dust separating unit (150),

characterized in that the dust separating unit (150) further comprises:
a cyclone dust separating unit (160) in which the cyclone chamber (163) and the dust collecting chamber (164) are arranged in parallel, in a manner such that a cyclone inlet (162) is formed on a first side (160a) and the cyclone chamber (163) and the dust collecting chamber (164) are open in a second side (160b); and

a side cover (170) to cover the second side (160b) of the cyclone dust separating unit (160), the side cover (170) comprising an air discharge pipe (171) to guide the air to be discharged from the cyclone chamber (163).
The stick type vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the suction force generating unit (140) comprises:
an impeller (142) exposed to a passage defined between the suction port (112a) and the dust separating unit (150), the impeller (142) being configured to generate the suction force by rotational movement; and

a suction motor (141) to receive a power from the power supply unit (130) and rotate the impeller (142).
The stick type vacuum cleaner of claim 1 or 2, wherein the dust separating unit (150) comprises:
a filter member (180) formed on an outer surface of the side cover (170) to filter remaining dust from the air being discharged from the cyclone chamber (163); and

a filter support member (190) removably formed on the outer surface of the side cover (170) to support the filter member (180) formed on the side cover (170).
The stick type vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the filter support member (190) comprises at least one air passing hole (191).
The stick type vacuum cleaner of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein an upper side (160c) of the cyclone dust separating unit (160) is made out of a transparent material to enable a user to see the cyclone chamber (163) and the dust collecting chamber (164) therethrough.
The stick type vacuum cleaner of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the casing part (110) comprises a dust separating unit chamber (S) so that the dust separating unit (150) is removably housed in the dust separating unit chamber.
The stick type vacuum cleaner of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the suction port assembly (100) further comprises:
a rotatable brush (120) movably formed in the suction port (112a); and

a rotatable brush motor (121) to drive the rotatable brush (120).
The stick type vacuum cleaner of claim 7, wherein the rotatable brush motor (121) receives power from the power generating unit (130).
The stick type vacuum cleaner of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the stick part (200) comprises:
an engaging part (210) engaged to the first side of the suction port assembly (100);

a stick-type extension part (220) extended from the engaging part (210); and

the handgrip (230) formed on one end of the stick-type extension part (220).
The stick type vacuum cleaner of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the power supply unit (130) comprises a battery removably disposed inside the casing part (110).