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.
• a cyclone type vacuum cleaner having a comparatively compact design.
• a mul ⁇ tiple stage cyclonic vacuum cleaner of comparatively compact de ⁇ sign.
• 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 front and back side and two lateral sides.
• horizontal type cleaner body in particular shall re- fer to the orientation of the cleaner body in normal or intended use.
• Such a horizontal type cleaner body may comprise, as al ⁇ ready implemented with known devices, wheels attached 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 comprises at least one primary stage cyclone dust separator which has a dust outlet opening fluidly connected to a primary stage dust collecting chamber.
• the vacuum cleaner further comprises a secondary cyclonic separation step.
• the vacuum cleaner comprises at least one secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit.
• the sec ⁇ ondary stage cyclone dust separating unit is coupled and in ⁇ stalled downstream the primary stage cyclone dust separator. Providing a secondary stage dust separation stage greatly enhances overall dust separation efficiency
• the primary stage dust col ⁇ lecting chamber and the at least one secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit is mounted at the front side in a lateral side by side arrangement in between the lateral sides.
• the proposed arrangement of primary stage dust collecting cham ⁇ ber and the at least one secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit enables space saving arrangements and in particular compact overall designs of the cleaner body and vacuum cleaner.
• the lateral ex ⁇ tension of the primary stage dust collecting chamber is less than the overall width of the cleaner body and vacuum cleaner. Space not occupied by the primary stage dust collecting chamber in lateral direction can be used as installation space for at least one of the at least one secondary stage cyclone dust sepa ⁇ rating unit.
• front side fill level indicator in particu- lar 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 primary stage dust collecting chamber to a user, and will contribute to ade ⁇ quate emptying intervals. This in turn secures optimal cleaning efficiency of the vacuum cleaner.
• the inspection window may be implemented as a translucent or transparent wall sec- tion of the primary stage dust collecting chamber.
• arranging the at least one secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit at the front side, side to side with the primary stage dust collection chamber allows a space saving arrangement of secondary stage dust collecting chambers of respective secondary stage cyclone dust collecting units.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator may be pro- vided and adapted to separate coarse dust, debris and other par- ticulate matter from air.
• Secondary stage cyclone dust separat ⁇ ing units may be adapted to separate fine dust from air, in par ⁇ ticular dust that either could not be separated in the first stage or that is too fine or small to be separated in the first stage. Combining several dust separation stages in series great ⁇ ly enhances the overall cleaning efficiency.
• the vacuum cleaner comprises two sec ⁇ ondary stage cyclone dust separating units.
• the two secondary stage cyclone dust separating units are mounted at opposite lat ⁇ eral sides, side by side to the primary stage dust collecting chamber.
• the primary stage dust collecting chamber in this case is centered between the two secondary stage cyclone dust sepa ⁇ rating units and lateral sides.
• the secondary stage cyclone dust separating units are respectively positioned laterally next to the primary stage dust collecting chamber which is centered with respect to the cleaner body.
• each secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit comprises several conical cyclones arranged side to side in parallel to a respective lateral side.
• the diameters of the conical cyclones are smaller than that of the first stage cyclone dust separator.
• the first stage cyclone dust separator preferably has a constant overall circular cross section, i. e. has essentially no conical sections.
• the smaller conical cyclones preferably are equally dimensioned. Providing smaller conical cyclones in the secondary stage cyclone dust separating units is effective in separating fine dust and dust particles too small to be effectively removed in the primary separation stage.
• one of the higher order dust separating steps e. g. a tertiary dust separation step
• a filter type separation in particular adapted to retain residual dust particles.
• tertiary stage cyclone dust separators are conceivable.
• conical cyclones of the at least one secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit are mounted and adapted such that their center axes are tilted or slanted from top front side to bottom back side.
• a tilted arrangement is of particular advantage, if a main airflow through the cyclones is also directed from top front to bottom back.
• a secondary stage dust collecting chamber fluidly connected to dust outlets of the cyclones can be arranged in a space saving way underneath and/or in front to back direction behind the respective secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit.
• each secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit comprises a secondary stage dust collecting chamber downstream of and fluidly connected with dust outlet openings of respective secondary stage cyclones.
• the secondary stage dust collecting chambers in particular may be oriented and mounted as already indicated further above.
• the secondary stage dust collecting chambers may be located and positioned at respective lateral sides.
• the secondary stage dust collecting chambers are preferably arranged behind, i. e. downstream, and flush with respective secondary stage conical cyclones.
• the pro ⁇ posed arrangement of the secondary stage dust collecting chamber may lead to optimal utilization of space, and therefore compact design.
• the secondary stage dust collecting chamber has a triangular shaped cross section.
• Trian- gular shaped cross sections may provide optimal utilization of space.
• a triangular shaped space may be available downstream and underneath a dust outlet face or plane of conical cyclones of a secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit.
• the dust outlet plane shall be understood to be defined by respective dust outlet openings of conical cy ⁇ clones .
• a tertiary stage dust separator which may be a fine and/or main filter, is provided.
• the ter- tiary stage dust separator is, with regard to front to back di ⁇ rection, mounted behind the primary dust collecting chamber and laterally adjacent to the at least one secondary stage dust col ⁇ lecting chamber. If secondary stage dust collecting chambers are provided at opposite lateral sides, the tertiary stage dust sep- arator may be centered in lateral direction between the second ⁇ ary stage dust collecting chambers.
• the vacuum cleaner comprises air channels connecting an air outlet of the primary stage cyclone dust separator to the at least one secondary stage cyclone dust sepa ⁇ rating unit, in particular to an air inlet opening of the at least one secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit. Further, the air channels are guided at a top side of the cleaner body. This is favorable with regard to utilization of space. Such air channels are of particular advantage if a longitudinal main axis of the primary stage cyclone dust separator is orient ⁇ ed essentially parallel to the front to back direction, and an air outlet of the primary stage cyclone dust separator is locat- ed at or placed towards the back side.
• Each air channel guides at least partially cleaned air from the primary stage cyclone dust separator to an air inlet, in partic ⁇ ular air inlet chamber, of a respective secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit.
• the inlet chamber communicates with air inlet openings of all conical cyclones of a respective secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit.
• the inlet chamber is de ⁇ signed and adapted such that air is guided optimally, preferably equally, to and into all conical cyclones of a secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separa ⁇ tor is, with regard to front to back direction, mounted behind the dust collecting chamber.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator is a horizontal type dust separator.
• a horizontal type dust separator shall be understood in particular as indicated further above, i. e. that a longitudinal main axis of the primary stage cyclone dust collector is parallel to the front to back direc- tion. This in particular means that a main airflow through the primary stage cyclone dust separator is parallel and/or anti- parallel to the front to back direction. Placing and orienting the primary stage cyclone dust separator as proposed beforehand is effective in obtaining comparatively small bottom to top di- mensions.
• FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner
• Fig. 2 shows a lateral side view of the vacuum cleaner
• Fig. 3 shows vertical cross sectional view of the vacuum cleaner .
• 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 and two lateral sides
• the term horizontal type shall mean that in the ordinary and in- tended position of use, the cleaner body 2 is positioned essen ⁇ tially horizontally. In the context of the present invention and in more general terms this in particular shall mean that, the cleaner body 2 during normal operation and with regard to front to back direction 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 8.
• the primary stage cyclone dust separator 8 is coupled to a primary stage dust collecting chamber 9.
• the primary stage dust collecting chamber 8 which may also be designated as a dust collecting container, is positioned and ar ⁇ ranged at the front side 5 of the cleaner body 2.
• the primary stage dust collecting cham- ber 9 has a fill level indicator, which in the present case is implemented as a transparent wall section arranged and visible from the front.
• 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 primary stage dust collecting chamber 9, at least walls at the front side, are made from a transparent material.
• the vacuum cleaner 1 comprises wheels 10 arranged at/in or on the lateral sides 7 and bottom side 3 of the cleaner body 2, re ⁇ spectively.
• the wheels 10 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 functional elements, such as handles and the like, which will not be described in further detail.
• an interface 11 is provided which is adapted and configured to connect a flexible suction hose (not shown) .
• the vacuum cleaner 1 further comprises two secondary stage cyclone dust separating units 12.
• the secondary stage cyclone dust separating units 12 are positioned and mounted at the front side 5.
• the primary stage dust collecting chamber 9 and the secondary stage cyclone dust sepa ⁇ rating units 12 are mounted in between the lateral sides 7.
• the primary stage dust collecting chamber 9 and the secondary stage cyclone dust sepa ⁇ rating units 12 are, with respect to the lateral extension, ar ⁇ ranged in a side by side arrangement, wherein the primary stage dust collecting chamber 9 is placed, in particular centered, be- tween the secondary stage cyclone dust separating units 12.
• the primary stage dust collecting chamber 9 is placed, in particular centered, be- tween the secondary stage cyclone dust separating units 12.
• each secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit 12 comprises several con ⁇ ical cyclones 13.
• the conical cyclones 13 have equal size, i. e. dimensions, and are arranged side to side in parallel to a re ⁇ spective lateral side 7.
• Air channels 14 running at the top side 4 of the cleaner body 2 fluidly connect an air outlet of the primary stage cyclone dust separator 8 to respective air inlets of the secondary stage cy ⁇ clone dust separating units 12.
• the air outlet of the primary stage cyclone dust separator 8 is located towards the back side 6 and centered with respect to the lateral sides 7.
• the air channels 14 are guided from a centered back side location in a curved section towards respective lateral sides 7 and then are guided along the lateral sides 7 of the cleaner body 2 to the secondary stage cyclone dust separating units 12.
• the air channels 14 can be integrated without increasing the overall lateral and bottom to top exten- sion of the cleaner body 2.
• Air guided into the secondary stage cyclone dust separating units 12 preferably is equally distributed to the conical cyclones 13.
• an air distribution chamber flu- idly connected to air inlets of the conical cyclones 13 and adapted to equally distribute incoming air may be used. If re ⁇ quired, air guiding elements may be provided in the air distri ⁇ bution chamber.
• the secondary stage cyclone dust separating units 12 are provided down ⁇ stream the primary stage cyclone dust separator 8. This means, that the primary stage cyclone dust separator 8 and secondary stage cyclone dust separating units 12 are connected in series.
• the conical cyclones 13 of a respective secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit 12 are connected in parallel.
• the conical cyclones 13 are mounted and aligned such that their center axes are tilted from top front to bottom back, which is indicated for one of the con ⁇ ical cyclones by a dotted arrow (v2) .
• the conical cyclones 13 are positioned in a line, without axial displacement. This in particular means that air inlets and dust outlets of the conical cyclones of a secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit 12 respectively lie in common planes. As the conical cyclones 13 are of equal de ⁇ sign, the air inlet planes and dust outlet planes are essential- ly parallel to each other.
• a tilt angle a is in the range of 10 to 50 degrees.
• a preferred tilt angle is 30 degrees.
• the tilt angle shall be under- stood to be defined between a vector vl parallel to the front to back direction and a vector v2 parallel to a center axis of a respective conical cyclone 13 and running in a direction top front to bottom back.
• the direction top front to bot- torn back corresponds to the main air flow direction in respective conical cyclones 13.
• each secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit 12 comprises a secondary stage dust col- lecting chamber 15 downstream of and fluidly connected to dust outlet openings 16 of respective conical cyclones 13.
• the secondary stage dust collecting chamber 15 has corresponding dust inlet openings.
• the dust inlet openings and dust outlet openings 16 are adapted such that a tight, in particular fluid and dust tight, connection between secondary step dust collecting chamber 15 and respective conical cyclones 13 is ob ⁇ tained .
• the secondary step dust collecting chamber 15 may be detachably coupled to a section of the secondary stage cyclone dust sepa ⁇ rating unit 12, such that it can be easily removed for discharging dust collected therein, and such that the conical cyclones 13 can easily be cleaned. It shall however be noted, that the secondary step dust collecting chamber 15 may alternatively be a non-detachable integrated part of the secondary stage cyclone dust separating unit 12. In this case it may be that the second ⁇ ary stage cyclone dust separating unit 12 as a whole is detacha ⁇ bly mounted to the cleaner body 2. From Fig. 2 it can further be seen, that with regard to front to back direction each secondary stage dust collecting chamber 15 is positioned and mounted behind respective secondary stage cy ⁇ clones 13.
• the arrangement as described before is advantageous for obtain ⁇ ing compact overall designs.
• the proposed arrange- ment allows favorable usability and handling of components of the vacuum cleaner 1, and of the vacuum cleaner 1 as a whole.
• the vacuum cleaner may comprise a tertiary stage dust separator 17.
• the tertiary stage dust sepa ⁇ rator 17 is mounted, with regard to front to back direction, be ⁇ hind the primary stage dust collecting chamber 9 and with regard to bottom to top direction below the primary stage cyclone dust separator 8.
• the tertiary stage dust separator 17 is centered between the secondary stage dust collecting chambers 15. By this, optimal utilization of space and compact designs can be obtained.
• the tertiary stage dust separator 17 may be a fine filter, in particular a main filter, of the vacuum cleaner, and be arranged immediately upstream an air exhaust of the vacuum cleaner.

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

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Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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• 2012
  • 2012-02-22 EP EP12705666.1A patent/EP2677915B1/de active Active

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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