Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
  • A47L9/106—Dust removal
  • A47L9/108—Dust compression means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
  • A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
  • A47L9/1608—Cyclonic chamber constructions
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
  • A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
  • A47L9/1683—Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
  • A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
  • A47L9/1691—Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/32—Handles
  • A47L9/327—Handles for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Definitions

• the present invention is directed to a vacuum cleaner.
• the invention is directed to a cyclone type vacuum cleaner.
• Cyclone type vacuum cleaners are widely known because of their benefit in bagless dust collection. Bagless or cyclone type vac ⁇ uum cleaners or respective cyclone dust separating units are known for example from documents EP 1 042 981 Al, EP 1774887 Al, EP 1 688 078 A2 , EP 1 952 745 A2 and WO 2011/058365.
• Cyclone type vacuum cleaners in particular mentioned in the state of technology documents listed before, are still compara- tively large in size and provide comparatively complicated air guiding and dust collecting devices and units.
• the vacuum cleaner shall have enhanced usability and operability, in particular with respect to dust separation and dust collecting chambers.
• a vacuum cleaner which comprises a horizontal type cleaner body having a bottom, top, front and back side.
• Such a horizontal type cleaner body may comprise, as already implemented with known devices, wheels at ⁇ tached thereto and provided for easily moving the vacuum cleaner over the floor underneath during vacuum-cleaning.
• a horizontal type vacuum cleaner in the meaning of the present application is for example shown in EP 1 774 887 Al .
• vertical type constructions generally comprising a handle to which the cleaner body is mounted to and by which the cleaner body is moved in concert with vacuum-cleaning operations.
• One example of such a vertical type vacuum cleaner is shown in WO 2011/058365.
• the vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 further comprises a suction blower unit accommodated in or within the cleaner body.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator has an air inlet opening which is fluidly coupled to the suction blower unit, in more detail to an outlet opening of the suction blower unit .
• the suction blower unit in general generates a suction effect at an inlet opening to which a suction hose may be coupled. Dust laden air sucked in is blown towards and into subsequent dust separators fluidly connected to the suction blower unit.
• the dust separator comprises at least a primary stage cyclone dust separator.
• one or more secondary dust separation stages may be provided, favorably arranged downstream the primary stage cy ⁇ clone dust separator and fluidly connected thereto.
• the second ⁇ ary dust separator stages may also be of cyclone type.
• a cy ⁇ clone type dust separator dust is separated from air by a cy ⁇ clone effect, which is generally known in the state of technolo ⁇ gy.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator may be provided and adapted to separate coarse dust, debris and other particulate matter from air.
• Secondary stage cyclone dust separators may be adapted to separate fine dust from air, in particular dust that either could not be separated in the first stage or that is too fine to be separated in the first stage. Hence, combining sever ⁇ al dust separation stages adapted to separate dust particles of different sizes enhances the overall cleaning efficiency.
• one of the higher order dust separating steps e. g. a third dust separation step, may be a filter type separation adapted to retain residual dust particles. Hence, comparatively clean air will be blown out into the environment.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator is posi ⁇ tioned, or mounted, over, in particular above, the suction blower unit.
• the term above in particular relates to the bottom to top direction of the cleaner body.
• the air inlet opening and an air outlet opening of the primary stage cyclone dust separator are respectively located towards the back side and front side.
• This arrangement and implementa ⁇ tion of the primary stage cyclone dust separator has been found to enable a compact, yet efficient design.
• the suction blower unit comprises a fan coupled to a fan drive motor which, with regard to front to back direction, is installed behind the fan.
• the air inlet opening of the primary stage cyclone dust separator is arranged and positioned offset and behind the fan.
• a comparatively compact arrangement in particular with respect to bottom to top and front to back extension can be obtained.
• interference between air outlet of the fan and air inlet opening of the primary stage cyclone dust separator can be prevented.
• the air inlet of the primary stage cyclone dust sepa ⁇ rator may be freely arranged and oriented.
• the air inlet opening of the primary stage cyclone dust separator is, with respect to the longitudinal extension of the primary stage cyclone dust separator arranged and oriented tangentially . This in particular supports the build-up of a proper airflow in a cyclone type manner within the primary stage cyclone dust sep ⁇ arator .
• an air outlet of the fan and the air inlet opening are fluidly connected to an intermediate air cham ⁇ ber.
• the air chamber preferably at least partially encompasses and/or encases the fan drive motor.
• a dust outlet of the primary stage cyclone dust separator is fluidly connected to a dust collecting chamber. It is of advantage if the dust col ⁇ lecting chamber is positioned and arranged at the front side, in particular immediately at the front side of the vacuum cleaner. In particular with respect to emptying the dust collecting chamber it is, according to a further embodiment, favorable to removably connect or mount the dust collecting chamber to the primary stage cyclone dust separator and/or cleaner body. It may be advantageous if the dust outlet of the primary stage cyclone dust separator is oriented towards the front side. If the dust collecting chamber is positioned at the front side section of the vacuum cleaner it is of particular advantage that at least a translucent inspection window is provided in a front side section of the dust collecting chamber.
• the dust collecting chamber positioned at the front side may comprise a front side fill level indicator, preferably a trans ⁇ lucent or transparent fill level inspection window.
• front side fill level indicator shall mean that the fill level indicator is accessible and visible at and from the front side of the vacuum cleaner.
• the fill level indicator in particular inspection window, in particular when arranged immediately at the front side, is ef ⁇ fective in presenting the filling level of the dust collecting chamber to a user, and will contribute to adequate emptying intervals, which in turn secures optimal cleaning efficiency of the vacuum cleaner.
• the inspection window may be im- plemented as a translucent or transparent wall section of the dust collecting chamber.
• the primary stage cy ⁇ clone dust separator is implemented and installed such that in intended or normal use operation of the vacuum cleaner a main air flow through the primary stage cyclone dust separator is oriented essentially parallel to the front to back or back to front direction, in particular horizontally if operated on a re ⁇ spective ground.
• Implementing the primary stage cyclone dust separator in such a way leads to a comparatively compact design, in particular with respect to bottom to top dimensions.
• the primary stage cyclone dust sepa ⁇ rator is designed such that a cyclone type dust separating air flow, i. e. a main air flow direction, is oriented from back to front. In this way, dust particles, debris and other particulate matter removed in the primary stage can be best conveyed to the dust outlet opening provided at and towards the front side.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator preferably is implemented such that a backflow of dust unladen air takes place in the center region of the primary stage cyclone dust separator and is oriented from front to back.
• the dust unladen air exiting the primary stage dust separator may be fed into a further separating step or stage, such as for example a secondary stage cyclone dust separator and/or a filter unit.
• Secondary stage cyclone dust separator and/or filter may be adapted to remove comparatively fine dust, debris and partic ⁇ ulate matter not discharged in the primary stage.
• a dust collecting volume of the dust collecting chamber is, with regard to top to bottom, arranged and positioned below the outlet of the primary stage cyclone dust separator.
• a major dust collecting vol ⁇ ume of the dust collecting chamber is positioned below the pri- mary stage cyclone dust separator, and more preferably is level or essentially level with the suction blower unit, in particular fan and fan drive motor.
• the dust collecting chamber may be positioned at the front side of the vacuum cleaner, and, with respect to a back to front orientation, in front of the suction blower unit.
• Such a configuration in particular leads to a comparatively compact bottom to top design and also allows efficient dust collecting.
• an angle of inclination i. e. a gradient angle, between the main flow direction of the primary stage cyclone dust sepa ⁇ rator, in normal operation mode essentially corresponding to the vertical direction, and a center or main axis of the dust col- lecting chamber lies in the range between 40 and 80 degrees, preferably 60 degrees.
• Arranging or positioning the dust col ⁇ lecting chamber in accordance with the proposed angle or angular range in particular means that, with regard to bottom to top di ⁇ rection, the main axis of the dust collecting chamber is tilted against the vertical direction towards the back side by an angle between 10 and 50 degrees, preferably 30 degrees.
• the proposed tilt angle leads to a configuration in which, with regard to front to back direction, in particular horizontal direction, the top section of the dust collecting chamber is closer to the pri- mary stage cyclone dust separator, in particular dust outlet, than a bottom section of the dust collecting chamber.
• the proposed geometry in particular allows a compact design, ef ⁇ ficient dust collection and optimal bidirectional airflow in the primary stage cyclone dust separator.
• the tilted arrangement of the dust collection chamber has the advantage that a fill level inspection window or the like arranged at the front side faces upwards and can readily be inspected by a user stand ⁇ ing in front of the vacuum cleaner.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separa ⁇ tor and, where applicable, the dust collecting chamber are cen ⁇ tered about a back to front vertical center plane of the cleaner body.
• the term back to front vertical plane shall mean a center plane which is parallel to the vertical direction, more specifi ⁇ cally parallel to the bottom to top and top to bottom direction respectively, and which is parallel to the back to front and front to back direction, respectively.
• the vacuum cleaner comprises at least one secondary stage cyclone dust separator installed downstream the primary stage cyclone dust separator.
• the at least one sec- ondary stage cyclone dust separator may be positioned or placed, in lateral direction, closely to the primary stage cyclone dust separator and/or dust collection chamber.
• a secondary cyclone dust separating stage may lead to a higher separating efficiency
• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner
• Fig. 2 shows a perspective front view of the vacuum cleaner
• Fig. 3 and 4 show cross sectional views of the vacuum
• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner 1.
• the vacu ⁇ um cleaner 1 comprises a horizontal type cleaner body 2 with a bottom 3, top 4, front 5 and back side 6.
• the term horizontal type shall mean that in the ordinary and intended position of use on a corresponding underground, the cleaner body 2 is posi ⁇ tioned essentially horizontally, or in more general terms, is positioned essentially parallel to the ground underneath. Note that in the figures, the vacuum cleaner is shown in its ordinary horizontal use position.
• the vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a primary stage cyclone dust sep ⁇ arator 7.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 is coupled to a dust collecting chamber 8.
• the dust collecting chamber 8, which may also be designated as a dust collecting container, is positioned and arranged at the front side 5 of the cleaner body 2.
• the dust collecting chamber 8 has a fill level indicator, which in the present case is implemented as a transparent wall section arranged and visible from the front.
• essentially the whole dust col- lecting container, at least walls at the front side are made from a transparent material.
• a user can easily observe the fill level of the dust collecting container 8, recognize inade ⁇ quately high filling levels and, as a consequence, will timely empty the dust container.
• the vacuum cleaner 1 comprises wheels 9 arranged at/in or on the lateral side walls and bottom side of the cleaner body 2, re ⁇ spectively.
• the wheels 9 are arranged and adapted such that the vacuum cleaner 1 during normal and ordinary operation can be easily moved on the surface underneath.
• the vacuum cleaner 1 may comprise other elements, such as handles and the like, which will not be described in further detail.
• an interface 10 is provided which is adapted and configured to connect a flexible suction hose (not shown) .
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 has an air inlet opening 11 adapted to feed air, in particular dust laden air, into the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7.
• the vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises a suction blower unit 12 which comprises an electric drive motor 13 which is coupled to a fan 14.
• the fan 14 sucks in air and forces, i. e. blows, the air towards the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7.
• an intermediate air chamber 16 In the present case, in between a fan outlet (not explicitly shown) and the air inlet opening 11 of the primary stage dust cyclone dust separator 7 there is provided an intermediate air chamber 16.
• the fan 14 and the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 are fluidly connected to the intermediate chamber 16 such that an airflow between fan 14 and primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 is possible.
• a fluid connection between the fan 14 and primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 may be implemented in any other way, without an intermediate chamber 16.
• any type of ducting may be used to fluidly connect the air outlet of the fan 14 to the air in let opening 11 of the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7. If adequate, it may also be considered to di ⁇ rectly connect the air outlet 14 to the air inlet opening 11.
• the arrangement and design of the suction blower unit 12 is such that in bottom to top direction, i. e. in a direction from the bottom side 3 to the top side 4, the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 is positioned over the suction blower unit 12. This can be seen best from Fig. 3, where a section of the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7, oriented towards the back side 6 of the vacuum cleaner 1, is positioned over, in more detail above, the suction blower unit 12.
• Such an arrangement in particular allows a space saving design.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 is arranged and im- plemented such that the air inlet opening 11 is located at a back side end section of the primary stage cyclone dust separa ⁇ tor 7.
• the air inlet opening 11 is presently arranged at some distance above the drive motor 13. With regard to front to back direction, the air inlet opening 11 is arranged and located offset and behind the fan 14.
• the aper ⁇ ture of air inlet opening 11 of the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 in the present case is oriented and directed later- ally, i. e. sidewards, which greatly contributes to the build up of a cyclonic, dust separating airflow within the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7.
• a dust outlet opening 17 At the front side end of the primary stage cyclone dust separa- tor 7, in particular near or at a lower part of the front side 5 face side of the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7, there is provided a dust outlet opening 17.
• the dust outlet opening 17 is positioned and adapted such that dust, debris and other par ⁇ ticulate matter separated in the primary stage cyclone dust sep- arator 7 is forced towards and unloaded at or near the dust out ⁇ let opening 17.
• the dust outlet opening 17 is connected, i. e. opens into, the dust collecting chamber 8 in which dust and the like is collect- ed.
• the dust outlet opening 17 may be coupled to a corresponding dust inlet opening (not shown) of the dust collecting chamber 8.
• An intermediate seal to be positioned between the openings may be provided to avoid escape of dust at the transition between primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 and dust collecting cham- ber 8.
• Dust unladen air leaves the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 via an air outlet section 18. Note that the air flow within the vacuum cleaner is indicated by dotted arrows in Fig. 3.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 is implemented and installed such that in intended use operation, as shown throughout Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, a main air flow through the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 is oriented essentially horizontally, presently corresponding to front to back and back to front directions.
• Air leaving the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 may be discharged to the environment. However, for the reason of more efficient dust removal it may be desirable to provide one or several further, in particular secondary, dust removing stages downstream the primary stage dust cyclone separator 7.
• the secondary stages may be of cyclone type and/or filter type.
• the dust collecting chamber 8 together with the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 are removably connected to the cleaner body 2. It may be pro- vided that both parts can be removed as a whole from the cleaner body 2. However, it is also be possible, that the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 and/or the dust collecting chamber 8 are handleable as separate parts, i. e. that they can be mounted and removed independently from each other.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 works with a horizontal air flow, which is advantageous for a space saving design. Further, it can be seen that, with regard to top to bottom di- rection, at least a main part of the dust collecting chamber 8 is arranged below the dust outlet opening 17 and/or primary stage cyclone dust separator 7. Such an arrangement is a compar ⁇ atively good compromise between space saving/compact design and high dust separating efficiency in the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7.
• a center axis 19 of the dust collecting chamber 8 is tilted downwards by an angle a of about 60 degrees.
• an angle spanned between back side of the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7, front side of the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 and bottom of the dust collecting chamber 8 amounts 180° - a, i. e. 120 degrees.
• the tilt angle a may lie in the range from 40 to 80 degrees.
• the adjacent angle 180° - a therefore may lie in the range from 100 to 140 degrees.
• Such tilt angles have been proven to be efficient in dust deposition within the dust collecting chamber 8, and to provide a good visibility of the fill level of the dust collecting chamber 8 from a position in front of the vacuum cleaner 1.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 and dust collecting chamber 8 are centered about a back to front vertical center plane of the cleaner body 2.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator 7 and dust collecting chamber 8 are centered with regard to the lateral dimension of the cleaner body 2.
• Such an arrangement allows a comparatively compact overall design and ef ⁇ ficient air flow. Remaining space not occupied from the elements mentioned so far can advantageously be used for positioning ad ⁇ ditional elements, such as grips and handles or stowage compart ⁇ ments for accessories, and others.

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

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=49627154

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (1)

• 2012
  • 2012-02-22 EP EP12706237.0A patent/EP2677913B1/de not_active Not-in-force

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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