GB2420072A

GB2420072A - Cyclonic vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2420072A
Application number: GB0512222A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jang-Keun Oh; Jung-Gyun Han
Original assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2004-11-16
Filing date: 2005-06-15
Publication date: 2006-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-15
Also published as: GB2420072B; FR2877827A1; AU2005202266B1; RU2299671C2; US20060101611A1; ES2262438A1; DE102005027688A1; KR100601895B1; RU2005118693A; GB0512222D0; CN1775161A; KR20060054738A; JP2006141982A; ITMI20051087A1; ES2262438B2; DE102005027688B4

Abstract

A cyclonic vacuum cleaner provides a dust receptacle (120) having improved capacity by pivotally mounting the cyclone body (110) of the vacuum cleaner to the vacuum cleaner body (1). The cyclone body (110) is disconnected from the dust receptacle by upwardly rotating the cyclone body (1). The dust receptacle (120) is removably mounted in the cleaner body for selective separation from, and connection with, the cyclone body (110).

Description

Cyclonic Vacuum Cleaner This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and in

particular to a cyclonic vacuum cleaner that separates dust from drawn- in air using a cyclonic dust collector.

It is well known that a vacuum cleaner draws in dust-carrying air by a suction force created by a fan or blower within the vacuum cleaner body. One well known type of vacuum cleaner separates and collects dirt and dust (hereinafter referred to as "dust") using a filtration bag that is commonly known as a dust bag. As the dust bag fills, the vacuum cleaner effectiveness decreases necessitating frequent emptying or replacement of the dust bag. When replacing or emptying a dust bag, however, the user is required to handle the contaminated dust bag, which is unpleasant and unsanitary.

In order to avoid the problems with prior art vacuum cleaner dust bags, cyclonic dust collectors were developed, and their use has become widespread. As is known, a cyclonic dust collector provides high cleaning efficiency and semi-permanent use by simply removing a dust-collection receptacle and emptying its contents.

Figure 1 is a cross-section of a prior art cyclonic dust collector, and shows its attachment or mounting to the main body I of a vacuum cleaner. As can be seen in Figure 1, the cyclonic dust collector comprises a cyclone body 10 for separating dust from drawn-in air, a dust receptacle 20 for collecting the dust separated within the cyclone body, and a connection member 30 for connecting and separating the dust receptacle with respect to the cyclone body.

As is known, the cyclone body 10 has an air inlet path (not shown in Figure 1 for clarity) at one side thereof, which path is in fluid communication with a nozzle unit (not shown). Dust- carrying air is drawn into the cyclone body 10 through the air inlet path from a surface to be cleaned. The air inlet path is preferably configured so that the dust-carrying air is drawn in tangentially with respect to the side walls of the cyclone body 10 to assist in the creation of a cyclonic air flow inside the cyclone body. The air drawn in via the air inlet path flows along an inner wall of the cyclone body 10, and thereby forms a whirling air current that separates dust by the centrifugal force exerted on suspended dust particles as they rotate in the cyclone body 10.

The cyclone body 10 has an air discharge path 12 in fluid communication with a vacuum generator (not shown). After centrifugally separating dust from the drawn-in air in the cyclone body 10, the filtered air is discharged to the outside of the cleaner body I via the air discharge path 12 and the vacuum generator. Dust separated from the drawn-in air in the cyclone body 10 is collected in the dust receptacle 20, which is connected to the lower part of the cyclone body.

As the dust receptacle 20 fills with dust, vacuum cleaner efficiency deteriorates. In order to maintain the vacuum cleaner's efficiency, the dust receptacle 20 needs to be emptied. In order to empty the dust receptacle 20, the connection member 30 disposed below the dust receptacle is first pivoted or rotated to allow the dust receptacle to be separated from the cyclone body 10. Once the dust receptacle 20 is separated from the cyclone body, 10, a user can withdraw the dust receptacle from the cleaner body 1, and dispose of the contents of the dust receptacle.

To remount the dust receptacle 20 to the cleaner body I after emptying, the dust receptacle is re-assembled to the connection member 30, and the connection member is pivoted in the opposite direction, thereby reconnecting the dust receptacle 20 to the lower part of the cyclone body 10.

A problem with the foregoing structure is that the dust receptacle 20 is separated by moving it vertically with respect to the cyclone body 10. Therefore, space is needed for the vertical movement of the dust receptacle 20 to allow its removal and installation. The need to allow the dust receptacle 20 to move vertically increases the size of the vacuum cleaner. When the cyclone body 10 has a dust filtration or separation grille, more vertical space is required to permit vertical movement of the dust receptacle 20, such that the dust receptacle is not obstructed by the grille during the movement. Accordingly, the installation space of such a cyclonic dust collector is increased. To make a vacuum cleaner of this type having a small cyclone body 10, yet having a reasonable dust collection capacity, requires compromise between size and dust capacity.

Although not shown, a known type of canister vacuum cleaner has a dust receptacle that can be mounted or separated without a vertical movement. 1-lowever, in such a case, the filtration grille should not protnide from the cyclone body in order to prevent obstruction by the grille during separation of the dust receptacle. Therefore, the dust receptacle is compactly sized.

With the cyclone body 10, when the dust receptacle 20 capacity is small, it needs to be emptied frequently. It is, therefore, preferable that the dust receptacle 20 have as large a capacity as possible. However, to increase the volume of the dust receptacle 20, the whole size of the cleaner body 1 needs to be increased accordingly. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner that provides increased dust collection capacity, but which also reduces overall vacuum cleaner

size, would be an improvement over the prior art.

The present invention provides a cyclonic vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner body; a dust receptacle removably mounted in the cleaner body; a cyclone body; and pivot means coupled between the cyclone body and the cleaner body, the pivot means being such as to enable the cyclone body to be lifted above the dust receptacle, whereby the cyclone body can be selectively connected to, and disconnected from, the dust receptacle by rotating the cyclone body about the pivot means.

Preferably, the pivot means is such that the cyclone body can be rotated about the axis of the pivot means over an angle lying in the range of from substantially 5 to substantially 90 , depending on the geometry of the cleaner body.

Accordingly, since the cyclone body is pivoted to the cleaner body and is upwardly openable, the dust receptacle can be of increased height without being obstructed by a grille forming part of the cleaner. As a result, the dust collecting capacity can be increased compared to conventional cleaners, without enlarging the size of the vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum cleaner may further comprise a first sloping part formed at an upper edge of the dust receptacle so as to slope upwards in the direction in which the dust receptacle is separated from the cleaner body; and a second sloping part formed at a lower edge of the cyclone body, the slope of the second sloping part matching the slope to the first sloping part.

Advantageously, the first sloping part has an angle of slope so that the highest portion thereof is not obstructed by the cyclone body when the cyclone body is rotated upwards with respect to the dust receptacle.

The vacuum cleaner may further comprise a guide member associated with the cleaner body to guide mounting and separation of the dust receptacle with respect to the cyclone body.

In a preferred embodiment, the cyclone body houses a multi-cyclone dust separator.

Preferably, the cyclone body is spaced from the pivot means by a distance such that the cyclone body can move substantially vertically with respect to the dust receptacle.

The invention also provides a cyclonic vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body having a hinged cover; a cyclone body associated with the cover; and a dust receptacle located in the cleaner body, the arrangement being such that the dust receptacle is operatively connected to the cyclone body by closing the cover and is operatively disconnected from the cyclone body by opening the cover.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic crosssection of a known cyclonic dust collector mounted in a cleaner body of a conventional cyclonic vacuum cleaner; Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating the inventive principle of pivotally mounting a cyclonic dust collector in a cyclonic vacuum cleaner; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-section showing a first form of cyclonic vacuum cleaner constructed according to the invention; Figure 4 shows the cyclonic vacuum cleaner of Figure 3 with its cyclone body in an upwardly- pivoted position; Figure 5 is a schematic cross-section showing a second form of cyclonic vacuum cleaner constructed according to the invention; Figure 6 shows the cyclonic vacuum cleaner of Figure 5 with its cyclone body in an upwardlypivoted position; Figure 7 shows the cyclonic vacuum cleaner of Figure 5 with its dust receptacle being separated by sideways movement; Figure 8 is a schematic cross-section showing a third form of cyclonic vacuum cleaner constructed according to the invention; Figure 9 shows the cover of the cyclonic vacuum cleaner of Figure 8 in an upwardly-pivoted position; Figure 10 is a schematic cross-section showing a canister vacuum cleaner constructed according to the invention; and Figure 11 is a schematic cross-section showing a multi-cyclonic vacuum cleaner constructed according to the present invention.

In the following description, the name reference numerals are used for the same parts in the different drawings. Well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail, since they would tend to obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 2 illustrates the principle underlying the present invention.

Since the structure of a vacuum cleaner body is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, the structure of the vacuum cleaner body is mostly omitted for clarity and additional description of a vacuum cleaner is omitted for brevity.

En the structure shown in Figure 2, a dust receptacle 102 is removably mounted to a cyclone body 101, which is, in turn, mounted to a vacuum cleaner body (not shown) via a pivot point (or hinge) 103 that is spaced away from the cyclone body 101 by a distance L. By rotating the cyclone body 101 (clockwise as shown) about the pivot point 103, the dust receptacle 102 can be attached to, and separated from, the cyclone body 101.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, as shown, for a given angle 0 between the plane of the top 106 of the cyclone body top 101 and the horizontal 107, the cyclone body is "lifted" above the dust receptable 102 when the cyclone body is rotated about the pivot point 103. The vertical distance 104 that the cyclone body 101 rises (or can be "lifted") above the dust receptacle 102 is approximated by the trigonometric expression, L (sinO). Thus, for a given angle 0, increasing the distance L by which the cyclone body 101 is spaced away from the pivot point 103, increases the vertical "lift" 104 of the cyclone body above the dust receptacle 102 to provide easy mounting and separation of the dust receptacle from the cyclone body.

As described above, since the cyclone body 101 pivots about the pivot point 103, the dust receptacle 102 is not obstructed during mounting of the dust receptacle 102 to, and separation from, the cyclone body 101, by a grille 105 which protrudes from the centre of the cyclone body. Accordingly, the dust receptacle 102 can be larger than would otherwise be possible

using the prior art structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a cyclonic dust collector 100 mounted in a receiving portion of a cleaner body 1, a vacuum generator (not shown) being disposed at one side of the cyc ionic dust collector.

The cyclonic dust collector 100 comprises a cyclone body 110 for separating dust from drawn- in air, and a dust receptacle 120 for collecting the dust separated by the cyclone body.

The cyclone body 110 is attached to a partition 2 of the cleaner body 1 by a two-part hinge (pivot point) 113. The partition 2 defines part of the receiving portion of the cleaner body 1.

As can be seen, the cyclone body 110 is attached to (or in an alternative embodiment is integral with) a first part Ill of the hinge 113, that part being located (or formed) at one side of the cyclone body. A second hinge part 112 of the hinge 113 is attached to (or in an alternative embodiment is integral with) part of the partition 2 of the cleaner body 1. The first hinge part 111 and the second hinge part 112 are positioned so that the dust receptacle 120 does not obstruct the outer periphery of the cyclone body 110 and the grille 115 when the dust receptacle is separated from the cyclone body by rotation about the axis of the hinge 113 through a predetermined angle. More specifically, the first hinge part 111 and the second hinge part 112 are sized, located and arranged so that the cyclone body 110 can be rotated about the axis of the hinge 113 by approximately 5-90 with respect to the plane in which the top opening of the dust receptacle 120 lies. The rotation angle of the cyclone 110 is determined according to the configurations of the cleaner body I, the cyclonic dust collector and the dust receptacle 120.

Although not shown in Figure 3, the cyclone body 110 includes an air inlet path in fluid communication with a nozzle unit (also not shown) of the vacuum cleaner, and an air discharge path in fluid communication with the vacuum generator. Therefore, dust-carrying air drawn in by the nozzle unit from a surface to be cleaned, is guided into the cyclone body 110 along the air inlet path. The air, from which the dust is centrifuged in the cyclone body 10, is discharged to the outside of the cleaner body 1 through the air discharge path and the vacuum generator. Since the structure of the cyclone body 110 is not an essential feature of the present invention, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The dust receptacle 120 is connected to the lower part of the cyclone body 110 so as to collect the dust separated from the dust-carrying air in the cyclone body 110. l'he dust receptacle 120 is removably mounted to the receiving portion of the cleaner body 1 below the cyclone body 110. When the cyclone body 110 is turned up, i.e. rotated clockwise about the axis of the hinge 113, the upper part of the dust receptacle 120 is separated from the cyclone body.

Similarly, by rotating the cyclone body 110 in the opposite direction, i. e. counter-clockwise, the upper part of the dust receptacle 120 can be easily re-connected to the lower part of the cyclone body 110.

A guide member 130 is mounted on a lower support stand 3 of the receiving portion of the cleaner body 1, the guide member serving to guide the mounting and separation of the dust receptacle 102, and to stabilise the position of the dust receptacle.

By configuring the cyclone body 110 in this manner, so as to pivotable about the axis of the hinge 113, rotation causes the cyclone body to rise, as shown in Figure 4, whereby the height of the dust receptacle 120 can be increased by a distance h' compared to that which is possible using the prior art cyclonic dust collector shown in Figure 1. Accordingly, the capacity of the dust receptacle 120 can be increased.

Figure 5 shows a second form of cyclonic vacuum cleaner dust receptacle 120' of even larger capacity, and which can be detached from the cyclone body 110' by rotation through a smaller angle with respect to the cyclone body about the axis of the hinge 113. The top opening 127 of the dust receptacle 120' and the bottom opening 117 of the cyclone body 110' are canted or inclined with respect to each other as shown. The bottom opening 117 of the cyclone body 110' is inclined at an angle that matches the inclination of the top opening 127 of the dust receptacle 120'.

A distinctive feature of the embodiment of Figure 5 is that the cyclone body 110' comprises a sloping bottom opening 117, the pitch or inclination of which matches the pitch or inclination of the top opening 127 of the dust receptacle 120'.

The top opening (the first sloping part) 127 is slanted "upwards" in the direction away from the cleaner body 1. The dust receptacle 120' can, therefore, be separated from the vacuum cleaner body 1 for emptying by moving it horizontally away from the vacuum cleaner body in the direction of A' (i.e. to the left) as shown in Figure 5.

As is also shown, the sloping bottom opening 117 formed at the lower edge of the cyclone body 110' has a slope that matches the first sloping part 127, so that the cyclone body and the dust receptacle 120' contact each other tightly. The angle of inclination of the first sloping part 127 is such that the highest portion of the dust receptacle 120' (the left-hand side of the first sloping part 127 as shown in Figure 5) is not obstructed by the cyclone body 110', and especially by the grille 115 formed in the centre of the cyclone body.

Removing the dust receptacle 120' and replacing it is simple. When the dust receptacle 120' is filled with dust and needs to be emptied, a user lifts the cyclone body 110' upwards, pivoting the cyclone body about the hinge 113 through a predetermined angle, as shown in Figure 6.

When the cyclone body 110' is pivoted upwardly, the dust receptacle 120' is not obstructed by the cyclone body. Therefore, the user is able to remove the dust receptacle 120' for emptying simply by sliding the dust receptacle sideways or horizontally, in the direction shown by the arrow shown in Figure 7.

After emptying the dust receptacle 120', the user re-mounts the dust receptacle within the receiving portion of the cleaner body 1, by simply sliding the dust receptacle towards the right into the position shown in Figure 6. The guide member 130 helps to align the dust receptacle 120' directly beneath the cyclone body 110' when the cyclone body is pivoted downwardly.

When the user lowers the cyclone body 110', after the dust receptacle 120' is replaced, the second sloping part 117 of the cyclone body engages with the first sloping part 127 of the dust receptacle 120', as shown in Figure 5, thereby enabling reuse of the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 8 shows a third form cyclonic vacuum cleaner whose dust collector 100" comprises a cyclone body 110" and a dust collector 120". As shown in Figure 8, the cyclone body 110" is mounted in a receiving portion of the cleaner body 1 to separate dust from drawn-in air. The dust receptacle 120" is positioned below the cyclone body 110" to collect separated dust.

As can be seen in Figures 8 and 9, the cyclone body 110" is mounted on a hinged cover 5.

The hinged cover 5 is pivotally attached to the cleaner body 1 by a hinge 113", which allows it to pivot or "lift" upwardly by an amount that is proportional through the angle to which the cover is rotated. Therefore, by opening the cover 5 with respect to the cleaner body 1, as shown in Figure 9, the cyclone body 110" is separated from the dust receptacle 120". By closing the cover 5, the cyclone body 110" is re-connected to the dust receptacle 120", as shown in Figure 8.

The dust receptacle 120" is connected to the lower part of the cyclone body 110", and is removably mounted in the receiving portion of the cleaner body I below the cyclone body. As the cover 5 is lifted, the upper part of the dust receptacle 120" is separated from the cyclone body 110". As the cover S is closed, the upper part of the dust receptacle 120" is re-connected to the lower end of the cyclone body 110".

A guide member 130 is mounted on the lower support stand 3 of the receiving portion of the cleaner body 1, the guide member serving to fix the position of the dust receptacle 120" as it is slid out of, and back into, the support stand.

Figure 10 shows a canister vacuum cleaner having cyclonic dust collector of the type described above with reference to Figures 8 and 9. When performing cleaning work, a suction force generated by a vacuum generator 7 draws dust-carrying air into the cyclone body 110" through a nozzle unit (not shown) fluidly connected with a suction pipe 9. The dust- carrying air, being drawn into the cyclone body 110", forms a whirling air current thereby separating out the dust. The separated dust drops into the dust receptacle 120" connected to the lower part of the cyclone body 110". The air from which dust has been separated is discharged out of the cleaner body 1 through the vacuum generator 7.

When the dust receptacle 120" becomes full, it should be separated from the cleaner body I to be emptied. In order to do this, the user opens the cover 5 of the cleaner body 1, thereby separating the cyclone body 110" from the dust receptacle 120". In this state, the user can withdraw the dust receptacle 120", from the cleaner body 1, remove the dust collected in the dust receptacle, and subsequently remount the dust receptacle in the cleaner body. Then, by closing the cover 5, the cyclone body 110" is re-connected with the dust receptacle 120", as shown in Figure 8, so that the user can perform cleaning work again. In other words, the user can connect and separate the cyclone body 110", with respect to the dust receptacle 120", simply by opening and closing the cover 5.

Figure 11 schematically shows a multi-cyclone, cyclonic vacuum cleaner having a multi- cyclone dust collector 200. The other structures, such as the hinge- connection between a cyclone body 210 and the cleaner body 1 by means of a hinge 211, and the mounting and separation structure of a dust receptacle 220, are the same as those of the previous embodiments. Accordingly, these structures will not be described in detail.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made.

Claims

Claims I. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body; a dust

receptacle removably mounted in the cleaner body; a cyclone body; and pivot means coupled between the cyclone body and the cleaner body, the pivot means being such as to enable the cyclone body to be lifted above the dust receptacle, whereby the cyclone body can be selectively connected to, and disconnected from, the dust receptacle by rotating the cyclone body about the pivot means.
2. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot means is such that the cyclone body can be rotated about the axis of the pivot means over an angle lying in the range of from substantially 50 to substantially 90 .
3. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising: a first sloping part formed at an upper edge of the dust receptacle so as to slope upwards in the direction in which the dust receptacle is separated from the cleaner body; and a second sloping part formed at a lower edge of the cyclone body, the slope of the second sloping part matching the slope to the first sloping part.
4. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first sloping part has an angle of slope so that the highest portion thereof is not obstructed by the cyclone body when the cyclone body is rotated upwards with respect to the dust receptacle.
5. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any one of claims I to 4, further comprising a guide member associated with the cleaner body to guide mounting and separation of the dust receptacle with respect to the cyclone body.
6. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cyclone body houses a multi-cyclone dust separator.
7. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any one of claims ito 6, wherein the cyclone body is spaced from the pivot means by a distance such that the cyclone body can move substantially vertically with respect to the dust receptacle.
8. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body having a hinged cover; a cyclone body associated with the cover; and a dust receptacle located in the cleaner body, the arrangement being such that the dust receptacle operatively connected to the cyclone body by closing the cover and is operating disconnected from the cyclone body by opening the cover.
9. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a first sloping part formed at an upper edge of the dust receptacle so as to slope upwards in the direction in which the dust receptacle is separated from the cleaner body; and a second sloping part formed at a lower edge of the cyclone body, the slope of the second sloping part matching the slope to the first sloping part.
10. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first sloping part has an angle of slope so that the highest portion thereof is not obstructed by the cyclone body when the cyclone body is rotated upwards with respect to the dust receptacle.
11. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a guide member associated with the cleaner body to guide mounting and separation of the dust receptacle with respect to the cyclone body.
12. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the cyclone body houses a multi-cyclone dust separator.
13. A cyclonic vacuum cleaner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, Figures 2 to 4, Figures 5 to 7, Figures 8 and 9, Figure 10 or Figure 11 of the drawings.