EP2201879A2 - Vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separators - Google Patents

Abstract

The cleaner has a centrifugal separator (1) i.e. cyclone tube separator, for separation of dust from dust loaded suction air, and comprising an air inlet (4) and an air outlet (7). Another centrifugal separator (3) i.e. cyclone separator, is provided for separation of fine dust from a coarse cleaned suction air. The former centrifugal separator has a dust outlet (6) that is arranged in an air return area lateral to a separation chamber (5). The former separator centrifuges the separated dust in a dust collecting container (2) that is separated from the separation chamber, by centrifugal force.

Description

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separators, comprising a first centrifugal separator for separating dust from dust-laden suction air with an air inlet for dust-laden suction air into a separation chamber and an air outlet, which communicates via a dip tube with the separation chamber, wherein coarsely cleaned suction air through the dip tube emerges from the first centrifugal separator and at least one downstream second centrifugal separator for separating fine dust from the coarse-cleaned suction air with an air inlet, which is in communication with an air guide chamber of the first centrifugal separator.

State of the art

Such so-called bagless vacuum cleaners usually operate with a centrifugal separator, which separates dust and dirt by utilizing centrifugal force from a stream of air swirling through a separation chamber. The separated dust, which is deposited at the bottom of the deposition chamber or the dust collector, can then be removed. The cleaned of coarse dirt suction air of the vortex flows back inside the separation chamber and is blown out of the vacuum cleaner. However, since such centrifugal separators are generally not able to separate the fine dust from the air, these vacuum cleaners often have downstream fine dust filters, which are arranged in the region of the air outlet. However, these fine dust filters can often clog up very quickly due to the large amount of fine dust and must be constantly cleaned.

Therefore, it has been proposed that the centrifugal separator separates the coarse dust and dirt from the air sucked in several small cyclones, which separate the coarsely purified air still the fine dust before the air again comes out of the vacuum cleaner. An example of this is in the DE 10 2004 028 677 A1 given. Here, the dust-laden suction air passes first into a first separation chamber, in which the coarse dust and dirt from the turbulent air is separated. The debris migrates down the walls of the deposition chamber and accumulates at the bottom of the deposition chamber, while the roughly cleaned air passes back out through a dip tube in the center of the deposition chamber. The outflowing air is divided and led to a large number of small Centrifugal separators, in which the dust-laden suction air is swirled on the same principle. Here, the fine dust is separated from the dust-laden suction air in the small centrifugal separators, which also moves down the walls of the centrifugal and falls into fine dust chambers. The cleaned suction air in turn migrates through a dip tube to the outside and is discharged through an outlet from the vacuum cleaner. A disadvantage of such a construction may be that the small centrifugal separator with their fine dust chambers in the vacuum cleaner take away space that is no longer available as a collecting space for the coarse dirt available. Thus, the collection capacity of the vacuum cleaner can be significantly reduced.

The problem underlying the invention

The invention has the object of providing an improved vacuum cleaner with a centrifugal separator for separating coarse dust and downstream small centrifugal separators for separating fine dust in such a way that the dust collector has the largest possible dust collection capacity and a very high proportion of the dust particles is eliminated from the suction air.

Inventive solution

The solution of the problem is achieved by a vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separators with the features of claim 1.

The vacuum cleaner according to the invention with centrifugal separators succeeds in that the first centrifugal separator is a Wirbelrohrabscheider and that the at least second centrifugal separator is a Cyclonabscheider. The advantage of such an arrangement is in that it has a very high degree of separation. This means that a very high proportion of the dust in the intake air, etc., is separated from the air in the first vortex tube centrifugal separator and collected in a separate container. The at least one downstream, designed as a cyclone cyclone, is applied only to a very small extent with dust and, which has a long service life to the advantage. The vacuum cleaner according to the invention with centrifugal separators is thus characterized by an extraordinary lifetime, the first and second separator over the life of the device need not be changed.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

Advantageous embodiments and developments, which can be used individually or in combination with each other, are the subject of the dependent claims. The reference numerals in the claims have no limiting effect but are merely intended to improve their readability.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two, preferably three, in particular at least four, second centrifugal separators are provided, which are designed as cyclone and / or Wirbelrohrabscheider.

Vortex separators are characterized by the fact that they cause a low pressure loss in a dust separation and large heavy dust particles can be safely separated. Wirbelrohrabscheider are characterized by a cylindrical, so in the radial direction constant Abscheideraum. A dust outlet may be at an air reversal. Advantageously, the first centrifugal separator is a Wirbelrohrabscheider because with a low pressure loss safely the large heavy particles can be eliminated and only the particulate matter in the dust-laden air can be provided to the downstream centrifugal separator.

Cyclone separators are characterized by the fact that they can have an improved fine dust separation in comparison to vortex tube separators. Cyclone separators are characterized by a conical, ie variable in the radial direction Separating chamber. Advantageously, the second centrifugal separator is a cyclone separator, which safely eliminates particulate matter.

The changing arrangement of second centrifugal separators designed as a cyclone and vortex tube has proven particularly suitable for particulate matter separation.

According to the invention, the first centrifugal separator preferably has a dust outlet arranged laterally on the separation space in the region of the air reversal, through which the separated dust can be centrifuged out by centrifugal force into a dust collecting container separate from the separating chamber. Both cyclone and cyclone separators are to be regarded as centrifugal separators, centrifugal forces acting on the particles in the centrifugal force separator and accelerating them radially outward. Such centrifugal separators are used in particular in so-called bagless vacuum cleaners. The first centrifugal separator separating the coarse dust is constructed such that the separating chamber of the centrifugal separator absorbs only the air vortex separating the dust, but the dust itself is ejected via a dust outlet into a separate dust collecting container. Because the separation chamber and the dust collection container are decoupled, the dust collection container can be arranged independently of the deposition process. The shape of the dust collector is no longer tied to the air duct of the air vortex. Thus, the dust collector is free in the design option and can be adapted to the spatial conditions of the vacuum cleaner. The air vortex is limited to the separation space, the dust collector can be designed arbitrarily and is not affected by the air vortex. So that the separated dust passes through centrifugal force immediately from the separation chamber into the dust collection container, the dust outlet for the dust collection container is arranged on the side wall of the separation chamber, preferably in the region of the air reversal of the dust separating vortex. This construction makes it possible for the dust collecting container to be designed in any desired form and thus optimally adapted to the space available in the vacuum cleaner and thereby able to assume the maximum possible collecting capacity.

Appropriately, the centrifugal separator following the first centrifugal separator are arranged in parallel. In a parallel arrangement of Centrifugal separators, the air flow exiting from the first centrifugal separator is divided into several uniform, sometimes different air streams. Advantageously, thereby loaded with particulate matter suction air can be divided into several centrifugal separators. Advantageously, it is achieved that in case of failure of a Cyclonabscheider, such as by clogging with a large dust particles more centrifugal separators are available for dust separation. Advantageously, thereby a safe dust separation over the life of the vacuum cleaner can be achieved.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, its dust outlet of the at least one second, downstream centrifugal separator for the fine dust discharges into the dust collecting container of the first centrifugal separator. First and second centrifugal separator thus use the same dust collector. This is especially efficient for the dust collection capacity. This common use of a dust collection container is made possible by the fact that the dust separating vortex of the first centrifugal separator is separated from the dust collecting container and thus can not influence the downstream centrifugal separator which also opens into this dust collecting container. Advantageously, it can be achieved that only a movable flap for emptying the dust from a dust collector must be operated and only on an inner wall adhering dust must be removed.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the second downstream centrifugal separator is also provided with a bottom for the air reversal of Abscheidewirbels and has a arranged in the region of this air reversal lateral dust outlet, through which the separated dust by centrifugal force in a separate from the separation chamber dust collector out can be spun out. This has the effect that even the smaller separating vortexes of the downstream centrifugal separator can not stir up dust in the dust collecting container, which supports the concept of a common dust collecting container.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the dust collecting container is removable and has an emptying flap. The dust collector of the embodiment of a vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separator according to the invention can except for Openings, which are connected to the dust outlets of the centrifugal, be closed. Therefore, it can be easily taken out of the dust collector without the dirt collected therein being discharged to the environment. For emptying, the substantially closed container has an emptying flap, which can only be opened above the garbage bin. This can be advantageous in particular for allergy sufferers since the operator does not come into contact with any dust.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the dust collection on partitions to prevent any turbulence of the separated from the first centrifugal coarse dirt and dust through the Abscheidewirbel the downstream centrifugal. However, the partitions are not fixedly connected to the floor so that there may still be a passage between the walls and floor through which dust may pass from one area of the tank to the other as an area is filled more quickly. Also, the collection capacity of the dust collector can be optimally used. This is particularly advantageous if the dust collector has a flexible bottom. It can be a film that can adapt to any vacant spaces in the vacuum cleaner and thus provides maximum dust collection capacity.

In a further advantageous embodiment, this is further developed. The dust collector opens here in a dust collecting film, which rests only on the dust collector and with increasing filling level of dirt and dust more and more into the room until they finally fills all available collection space and must be removed and replaced by the operator.

In principle, due to the decoupling of first and possibly also downstream centrifugal separators from the dust collecting container, any meaningful embodiments of a dust collecting container are conceivable.

The present invention facilitates with simple and constructive means the realization of an improved vacuum cleaner with a first centrifugal separator for separating coarse dust and downstream smaller centrifugal separators for the separation of fine dust in such a way that the dust collecting container has the largest possible dust-collecting capacity and a very high proportion of the dust particles is eliminated from the suction air.

Brief description of the drawings

Further advantageous embodiments will be described in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing, to which the invention is not limited.

Fig. 1 b

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Fliehkraftabscheidersystems und mit entkoppeltem Staubbehälter;

Fig. 1b

das Fliehkraftabscheidersystem aus Fig. 1a in einer schematischen Schnittansicht;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausschnitts eines ähnlichen Ausführungsbeispiels anhand dessen die Luftführung erläutert wird; und

Fig. 3 bis 5

schematisierte Darstellungen des Prinzips eines Staubsammelbehälters mit entnehmbarer Staubsammelfolie.

They show schematically:

Fig. 1 b

a perspective view of a centrifugal separator according to the invention and with decoupled dust container;

Fig. 1b

the centrifugal separator system off Fig. 1a in a schematic sectional view;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a section of a similar embodiment with reference to which the air guide is explained; and

Fig. 3 to 5

schematic representations of the principle of a dust collection container with removable dust collection film.

Detailed description based on an embodiment

In the following description of two preferred embodiments of the present invention, like reference characters designate like or similar components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the claims and the drawings may be of importance both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various forms.

Fig. 1a shows in a perspective and Fig. 1b in a schematic sectional view of the basic structure of a Staubabscheidesystems invention with a first centrifugal separator 1 for separating the coarse dirt and dust from the sucked by the vacuum cleaner dust laden air, a dust collector 2 and two of the first centrifugal downstream smaller centrifugal separator 3 for the separation of fine dust. The dust-laden air which has been collected by the vacuum cleaner nozzle, passes through a laterally arranged air inlet 4 in the first centrifugal separator and is swirled due to the shape of the air inlet and the separation chamber 5. The air vortex flows through the separation chamber 5 and separates from it due to centrifugal forces, in particular in the region of the bottom of the separation chamber 5 dirt and dust from which is pressed due to the centrifugal force to the wall of the separation chamber 5, from where it via the dust outlet 6 in the dust collector. 2 is ejected. The air vortex is reversed at the bottom of the separation chamber 5 and passes through the interior of the separation chamber 5 and the air outlet 7 to the arranged dip tube 14 in the downstream centrifugal 3. The air duct is in the Fig. 2 again shown in detail. In the downstream centrifugal separators 3, the air is again moved in vortices, which are formed by geometry of air inlet and centrifugal separators, down, now the particulate matter from the air via centrifugal forces is deposited on the side walls of centrifugal 3. The separated particulate matter travels downwards along the walls of the centrifugal separators 3 and leaves the downwardly open centrifugal separators 3 and falls into the dust collecting container 2, into which the centrifugal separators 3 protrude.

Fig. 2 shows the air flow in the first centrifugal separator 1 again in more detail. The air vortex, which separates the dust and dirt in the separation chamber 5, is reversed on the ground by means of a Umlenkkegels 8 and coarsely cleaned air flow is guided via the dip tube 7 in the air duct 9, from where it enters the air inlets 10 of the downstream centrifugal 3 , There, the fine dust is separated, which as well as the separated in the centrifugal separator 1 coarse dust is thrown into the dust collector 2. The dust collecting container 2 is, as in FIG. 1 and 2 can be seen, designed as a common dust collector for all centrifugal separators. Both the coarse dust from the dust ejection of the first Centrifugal separator 1 and the fine dust from the centrifugal separators 3 passes into the dust collecting container. 2

As a result of the decoupling of the separating chamber 5 and the dust collecting container 2 according to the invention, virtually any desired shape for the dust collecting container 2 is possible, as well as variants without solid container walls, such as those described in US Pat FIGS. 3 to 5 implement in the flowchart. Here, a dust collection container 2 is shown in each case, which is surrounded by a dust-collecting film 11 like a tube. The dust collecting film 11 rests on the displaceable bottom 12 of the dust collecting container 2 and is pushed away from the container 2 with this bottom 12 as soon as dust settles on the bottom container and thus exerts pressure on the bottom 12. As a result, the dust collects in the dust collecting sheet 11 and fills them, their volume always increases until the bottom 12, the in FIG. 5 has reached the end position shown. As soon as this end position of the displaceable bottom 12 has been reached, the dust collecting film is sealed by the welding unit 13 and thereby separated. The dust collecting foil can now be easily removed with the packed dirt. In particular, it is also possible by the invention, the dust collector 2 to build so that it merges only the dust outlet 6 of the centrifugal and then directly into a dust collecting sheet 11 as in FIGS. 3 to 5 shown, flows.

The present invention facilitates with simple and constructive means the realization of an improved vacuum cleaner with a first centrifugal separator for separating coarse dust and downstream smaller centrifugal separators for the separation of fine dust so that the dust collector has the largest possible dust collection capacity and a very high proportion of dust particles the suction air is excreted.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

first centrifugal separator

2

dust collection

3

downstream centrifugal separator

4

Air intake (first centrifugal separator)

5

separating chamber

6

Dust outlet

7

air outlet

8th

deflecting cone

9

Air guide space

10

Air intake (second centrifugal separator)

11

Dust collecting sheet

12

ground

13

welding unit

14

dip tube

Claims (10)

Vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separators, comprising a first centrifugal separator (1) for separating dust from dust-laden suction air with an air inlet (4) for dust-laden suction air into a separation chamber (5) and an air outlet (7) via a dip tube (14) with the separation chamber (5) communicates, wherein through the dip tube (14) coarsely cleaned suction air from the first centrifugal separator (1) and at least one downstream second centrifugal separator (3) for separating fine dust from the coarse-cleaned suction air with an air inlet (10) with an air guide space (9) of the first centrifugal separator (1) is in communication, characterized in that the first centrifugal separator (1) is a Wirbelrohrabscheider and that the at least second centrifugal separator (3) is a Cyclonabscheider. Vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separators according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two, preferably three, in particular at least four, second centrifugal separators (3) are provided, which are designed as cyclone and / or Wirbelrohrabscheider, in particular in alternating sequence. Vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separators according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first centrifugal separator (1) has a in the air reversal side of the separation chamber (5) arranged dust outlet (6) through which the separated dust by centrifugal force in one of the separation chamber (5 ) Separate dust collecting container (2) is herausuderbar. Vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separators according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first centrifugal separator (1) subsequent centrifugal separator (3) are arranged in parallel. Vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separators according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a dust outlet (6) of the at least one second Centrifugal separator (3) opens into the dust collecting container (2) of the first centrifugal separator (1). Vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separators according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second centrifugal separator (3) has a arranged in the air reversal dust outlet (6) through which the separated dust by centrifugal force in a separate from the separation chamber (5) dust collecting container (2) out is slingable. Vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separators according to claim 5, characterized in that the dust collecting container (2) can be removed and has an emptying flap. Vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separators according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dust collecting container (2) has partitions. Vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separators according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that the dust collecting container (2) has a flexible bottom (12). Vacuum cleaner with centrifugal separators according to claim 6, characterized in that the dust collecting container (2) comprises a dust collecting film (11).

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