RU2419374C1 - Inlet device for vacuum cleaner with multiple channels, vacuum cleaner with such device and attachment piece for vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: personal use articles. ^ SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, namely, to a specific device to be used in a vacuum cleaner. An inlet device (200) is described with multiple holes, as well as a vacuum cleaner (100), where an inlet device is arranged. The inlet device (200) includes an upper body (201), comprising an auxiliary suction hole (231), formed in it, a lower body (202), engaged with the upper body. The inlet device (200) additionally comprises the main suction hole (203), formed in it, and a gate (240), formed in the upper body, every of the auxiliary channel (230) of the flow and a channel (210) of the gate flow is formed between the upper body and the lower body, the gate (240) opens an auxiliary suction hole (230) and closes the upper end of the channel (210) of gate flow with vacuum strengthening at the lower part of the lower body. Therefore, a permanent contact force is maintained between the inlet device and a cleaned surface. ^ EFFECT: development of an inlet device, where a suction force between the inlet device and the cleaned surface remains relatively permanent. ^ 9 cl, 5 dwg

Description

The following description relates to a vacuum cleaner and, more specifically, to an inlet device for use in a vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner containing it.

Typically, vacuum cleaners, such as vertical-type vacuum cleaners, container-type vacuum cleaners, or steam cleaners, create a vacuum in a vacuum cleaner body by activating a fan motor assembly.

The vacuum created in the vacuum cleaner body is used as a suction force to suck in the external air flow together with suspended particles, such as dust, from the surface being cleaned through an inlet device that may include a brush or nozzle assembly. When the intake air stream passes into a dust bag or centrifugal separator, the suspended particles are separated from the air stream and collected. An air stream containing no suspended particles then exits the vacuum cleaner.

While the user does the cleaning work using the aforementioned vacuum cleaner, the lower surface of the inlet is brought into close contact with the surface being cleaned due to the suction force. If the suction force between the inlet device and the surface to be cleaned is greater than necessary, the movement of the inlet device on the surface to be cleaned is difficult, which affects the cleaning efficiency. The problem may get worse for certain types of surfaces.

Many solutions have been proposed in an attempt to resolve the above problems. Examples of these solutions are Korean Patent No. 0621259 ('prior art document 1'), Korean Utility Model Publication No. 19999-0029151 ('prior art document 2'), Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-217753 ('prior art document 3 '), Japanese Utility Model Publication No. S62-184847 (' Prior Art Document 4 ') and Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-086549 (' Prior Art Document 5 ').

Documents 1-5 of the prior art disclose an inlet device, such as a suction device, a suction brush or the like, which comprises an integrated valve and an auxiliary flow channel formed when the valve is opened. The valve opens when the internal vacuum of the inlet device is amplified during operation of the vacuum cleaner, thereby letting air flow through the auxiliary flow channel and thereby maintaining the force between the inlet device and the surface being cleaned.

However, in the aforementioned prior art documents, since the valve and the auxiliary flow channel are integrally formed, if the auxiliary flow channel is clogged with contaminants, the air flow does not pass efficiently through the auxiliary flow channel.

This results in a large suction force between the surface being cleaned and the inlet, so that the user cannot continue cleaning.

The present invention has been implemented to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an intake device with a plurality of suction openings in which the auxiliary flow channels open and close even when the auxiliary flow channels are clogged with contaminants, thereby ensuring that the suction force between the inlet and the surface being cleaned remains relatively constant.

In a first aspect of the present invention, an inlet device for a vacuum cleaner is described, comprising

an upper housing comprising an auxiliary suction opening formed therein;

a lower housing meshed with the upper housing and comprising a main suction opening formed therein;

a flap formed in the upper housing; and

an auxiliary flow channel and a flow channel of the damper, each of which is formed between the upper housing and the lower housing, in which

the flap opens the auxiliary suction port and closes the upper end of the flow channel of the flap when the vacuum is increased in the lower region of the lower housing.

The lower housing may further comprise a guide hole that brings the lower portion into fluid communication with the flow channel of the inlet damper.

The inlet device may further comprise an upper open portion that brings the auxiliary flow channel into fluid communication with the damper flow channel.

At least two auxiliary flow channels and at least two damper flow channels may be formed in the inlet device.

In accordance with another aspect, the present invention describes a vacuum cleaner containing

main building; and

an inlet device in fluid communication with the main body, the inlet device comprising a main suction port for sucking in a foreign substance, in which the inlet device

an auxiliary flow channel, which is opened and closed by means of vacuum in the lower region of the inlet device for selective inlet of air flow from the upper part of the inlet device;

a choke flow channel for transferring vacuum from a lower region of the inlet to the auxiliary flow channel to open and close the auxiliary flow channel; and

damper for opening the auxiliary flow channel and at the same time closing the damper flow channel using a vacuum transmitted to the damper flow channel.

The vacuum cleaner may further comprise a guide hole for bringing the upper open part in fluid communication with the lower region of the inlet device, in which the upper open part can accommodate the damper flow channel in fluid connection with the auxiliary flow channel.

In another aspect of the present invention, a nozzle assembly for a vacuum cleaner comprising

working chamfer for contact with the surface being cleaned;

an outlet through which air flow exits the nozzle assembly during use;

a first air passage connecting said working chamfer and said outlet;

a second channel connecting said first channel to the outside of the nozzle assembly; and

a valve for allowing selective passage of air from said first channel to said second channel and through it to the outside of the nozzle assembly, thereby reducing pressure in said first channel.

The valve may be actuated by pressure in said first channel.

The nozzle assembly may further comprise a biasing device in which a pressure reduction in said first channel may act against said biasing device.

Other features and aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner containing an inlet device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

figure 2 is a perspective view of the inlet device of figure 1;

figure 3 is a bottom view of the inlet device of figure 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an inlet device along line IV-IV of FIG. 1 to illustrate an auxiliary flow channel in a closed state; and

5 is a sectional view of the inlet device along line IV-IV of FIG. 1 to illustrate the auxiliary flow channel in the open state.

In the drawings and in the detailed description, unless otherwise specifically described, it should be understood that such reference numerals refer to like elements, features and devices. The relative size and image of these elements can be increased for clarity, illustration and convenience.

The following detailed description is given to provide a thorough understanding of the methods, devices, and / or systems described herein. Therefore, various changes, modifications, and equivalents to the systems, devices, and / or methods described herein will be proposed to those skilled in the art. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner containing an inlet device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of an inlet device in Figure 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, a vacuum cleaner 100 includes a main body 110, an inlet 200, and an extension tube assembly 120 for connecting the main body 110 and the inlet 200.

The main body 110 accommodates a particulate collection part (not shown), such as a dust bag or dust collector, a fan motor assembly (not shown) and a filter assembly (not shown). The interior of the main body 110 is similar to the well-known internal parts of the main bodies, and therefore, a detailed description thereof will not be included.

The extension tube assembly 120 may include an extension tube 121, a handle 123, and a sleeve 122. The extension tube 121 may be used in the form of a telescopic tube or extension tube that varies in length and is connected to the inlet 200.

The handle 123 may include a switch that controls the vacuum cleaner 100 by turning the vacuum cleaner 100 on and off, thereby allowing the user to move the inlet 200 along the surface to be cleaned with the handle 123 and to clean the surface.

A sleeve 122 can connect the handle 123 to the main body 110, allowing air to flow from the inlet 200 to the main body 110. The inlet 200 can be connected to the extension tube 121 to draw suspended solids from the surface to be cleaned together with the air flow using a suction force, created in the main body 110.

Referring to FIG. 2, the inlet 200 includes flaps 240 that are opened by internal vacuum pressure and which allow air to flow from the top of the inlet 200 to it, auxiliary flow channels 230 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) which are opened and closed by shutters 240, and shutter flow channels 210 in fluid communication with auxiliary flow channels 230 for transmitting the vacuum pressure of the lower portion 255 (see FIG. 4) of the inlet device 200 to the auxiliary flow channels 230. With respect to the aforementioned structure, the intake device 200 is capable of not only maintaining a constant suction force between the intake device 200 and the surface being cleaned, but also suctioning dust freely moving in the upper part of the intake device 200.

The dampers 240 and the auxiliary suction openings 231, which form the upper open parts of the auxiliary flow channels 230, can be sized to ensure uniform passage of dust or other suspended solids not only from the upper part, but also from the lower part of the inlet 200.

The inlet device 200 may suck in dust or other suspended solids from the upper part of the inlet device 200 and thus provide an air purification function. By removing dust or other suspended substances in the upper part of the inlet 200, the inlet 200 reduces the amount of dust falling on the surface to be cleaned, thereby increasing the cleaning efficiency.

FIGS. 3-5 show a detailed construction of an intake device 200 with the aforementioned functions, in which FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an intake device 200 in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an intake device along a line IV-IV in FIG. 1, which shows the auxiliary flow channel in the closed state, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the inlet device along line IV-IV of FIG. 1, which shows the auxiliary flow channel in the open state.

The design of the intake device 200 will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS.

The inlet device 200 includes an upper case 201 and a lower case 202. The upper case 201 includes auxiliary suction openings 231 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) extending on both sides of the upper center portion where the extension tube 121 is attached, and shutters 240, each of which is movably connected to auxiliary suction openings 231 (FIGS. 4 and 5). One end of each shutter 240 adjacent to the central portion of the upper housing 201 is rotatably connected to the upper housing 201 by a hinge 240a to open and close the auxiliary suction openings 231.

The dampers 240 are rotatably connected to the upper housing 201 by means of resilient elements (not shown). Therefore, if the vacuum pressure at the lower portion of the intake device 200 decreases, the shutters 240 return to their original position under the action of the restoring force of the elastic elements, so as to close the auxiliary suction openings 231.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the lower housing 202 includes a main suction port 203 formed in the central portion and in fluid communication with the extension tube 121, guide holes 212 formed on both sides of the main suction port 203, and channels 210 the flow of dampers that connect the auxiliary openings 232 of the inlet device of the auxiliary flow channels 230 and the guide holes 212 to the inside of the auxiliary flow channels 230.

The upper housing 201 and the lower housing 202 are connected to each other, forming gaps between themselves, which are used as auxiliary channels 230 flow and, thus, form an inlet device 200.

If the shutters 240 are open, the external air flow passes to the lower portion 255 through the auxiliary suction openings 231, the auxiliary flow channels 230 and the auxiliary openings 232 of the intake device. The upper open portions 211 of the flow channels 210 of the dampers connect the auxiliary flow channels 230 under the dampers 240 to the flow channels 210 of the dampers.

Below, will be described in detail with reference to figures 4 and 5, the operation of the flow channels 210 of the dampers, dampers 240 and auxiliary channels 230 flow, maintaining a constant suction force between the inlet device 200 and the surface to be cleaned, and the operation, as a result of which the dust in suspension the state in the upper part of the inlet 200, is sucked during the cleaning operation of the vacuum cleaner 100 containing the inlet 200.

The vacuum cleaner 100 is driven to create a vacuum. A vacuum is applied as a suction force to the intake device 200, so that the intake device 200 draws in an external air stream along with dust from the surface being cleaned.

When creating a vacuum in the vacuum cleaner 100, the user starts cleaning by moving the inlet 200 over the surface to be cleaned using the handle 123.

If the vacuum created at the bottom causes the inlet 200 to stick to the surface to be cleaned, and therefore, the gap between the bottom surface of the inlet 200 and the surface to be cleaned decreases rapidly, the amount of air passing into the main suction port 203 decreases, and the vacuum at the bottom section 255 of the intake device 200 is rapidly amplified. The reinforced vacuum is transmitted to the damper flow channels 210 and the auxiliary flow channels 230 through the guide holes 212 and the auxiliary suction openings 232. The enhanced vacuum of the damper channels 210 and the auxiliary flow channels 230 is applied as a force that causes the dampers to turn downward from the upper body 201.

If the vacuum of the flow channels 210 of the dampers and auxiliary channels 230 of the flow is amplified within the limits at which it exceeds the force of the elastic elements (not shown) acting on the dampers 240 (see FIG. 5), the dampers 240 rotate towards the bottom of the upper housing 201 so as to open the auxiliary suction openings 231 and at the same time close the upper open parts 211 of the valve flow channels 210. If the shutters cover the upper open portions 211 of the shutter flow channels 210, the vacuum in the lower portion of the intake device 200 is transmitted to the shutters 240 through the guide holes 212 and the shutter flow channels 210, and the air flow entering the auxiliary suction openings 231, the auxiliary flow channels 230 and the auxiliary the inlet openings 232 acts on the upper surfaces of the shutters 240. Therefore, the shutters hold the open parts 211 in the closed positions until the vacuum decreases.

If air from the upper portion of the inlet 200 continuously passes to the lower portion 255 of the inlet 200 through the auxiliary suction holes 232 and the auxiliary flow channels 230, the pressure in the lower portion 255 of the inlet 200 is reduced, and the suction force between the inlet 200 and the surface being cleaned is reduced. Therefore, the user can easily clean even a soft surface such as a carpet.

Since foreign substances, such as suspended dust in the upper part of the inlet 200, pass along with the air flow through the auxiliary flow channels 230, the air in the upper part of the inlet 200 is cleaned. Therefore, the amount of dust or other substances returning to the surface being cleaned is reduced, which, in turn, increases the efficiency of cleaning the surface to be cleaned.

If the auxiliary suction openings 231, the auxiliary flow channels 230, or the auxiliary openings 232 of the inlet device are clogged with dust or other substances in the air flow from the upper part, the vacuum in the lower section 255 is transmitted to the shutters 240 through the guide holes 212. Therefore, this provides that the shutters 240 remain open when the lower portion 255 is exposed to a relatively high vacuum. Clogging of the flow channels 210 of the dampers or the guide holes 212 is not possible, since the air flow from the upper part does not pass through the channels 210 of the flow of the dampers and the guide holes 212. Although some dust or other substances suspended in the passing air stream can be deposited in the auxiliary flow channels 230 or the like, it is unlikely that dust or other substances will settle in the flow channels 210 of the shutters. Therefore, this ensures that the shutters 240 open the auxiliary suction openings 231 if the lower portion 255 of the inlet 200 has an enhanced vacuum during the cleaning operation of the vacuum cleaner 100. Suspended materials, such as dust, which can be deposited in the auxiliary flow channels 230 are usually removed intake air flow.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the damper flow channels 210 open and close the dampers, while the auxiliary flow channels 230, which are used separately from the damper flow channels 210, are used as channels through which air flows from the top of the inlet 200. Therefore, this ensures that the shutters 240 remain open, and dust and other substances, if deposited in the channels 210 of the shutter stream, are cleaned themselves.

With the continuous passage of air flow from the upper part of the intake device 200 to the lower portion 255 through the auxiliary flow channels 230, the degree of vacuum in the lower portion 255 of the intake device 200 may become lower than the value at which the pressure overcomes the restoring force of the elastic elements supporting the shutter 240. In this case, the shutter 240 is returned to its original position under the action of the restoring force of the elastic elements, thereby closing the auxiliary suction holes 231.

That is, the shutters 240 open the auxiliary suction openings 231 if the vacuum of the lower portion 255 of the intake device 200 becomes higher than a predetermined value, and close the auxiliary suction openings 231 if the vacuum of the lower portion 255 becomes lower than the set value.

Therefore, the lower portion 255 of the intake device 200 remains under constant vacuum, and the suction force between the intake device 200 and the surface being cleaned remains constant.

The suction force between the inlet 200 and the surface to be cleaned can be adjusted by adjusting the elastic moduli of the elastic elements.

As explained above, since the auxiliary flow channels 230 are opened and closed by the damper flow channels 210, the auxiliary flow channels 230 are effectively opened and closed even when the movement of the air flow is difficult in the auxiliary flow channels 230 as a result of clogging of the auxiliary flow channels 230 or other channels with deposited dust or other substances.

In addition, since the auxiliary flow channels 230 open and close efficiently, a constant suction force is maintained between the inlet 200 and the surface being cleaned.

In addition, since dust and other substances freely moving in the upper part of the inlet 200 are sucked into the auxiliary flow channels 230, air purification and cleaning efficiency are improved.

A number of embodiments have been disclosed above. However, it should be understood that various modifications are possible. For example, corresponding results can be achieved if the described methods are performed in a different order, and / or if the elements in the described system, structure, device or circuit are combined in different ways and / or replaced or supplemented by other elements or their equivalents. Therefore, other implementations are included in the scope of the following claims.

Claims (9)

1. An inlet device (200) for a vacuum cleaner, comprising an upper housing (201) comprising an auxiliary suction opening (231) formed therein; a lower housing (202) meshed with the upper housing and comprising a main suction hole (203) formed therein; a shutter (240) formed in the upper housing; and an auxiliary flow channel (230) and a damper flow channel (210), each of which is formed between the upper housing and the lower housing, wherein the damper (240) opens the auxiliary suction port and closes the upper end of the damper flow channel while increasing the vacuum in the lower region of the lower corps. 2. The inlet device according to claim 1, wherein the lower body (202) further comprises a guide hole (212) that provides fluid communication with the lower portion to the inlet damper flow channel (210). 3. The inlet device according to claim 2, further comprising an upper open portion (211) that provides fluid communication with the auxiliary flow channel (230) to the damper flow channel (210). 4. The inlet device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which at least two auxiliary flow channels (230) and at least two damper flow channels (210) are formed in the inlet device. 5. A vacuum cleaner (100) comprising a main body (110); and an inlet device (200) in fluid communication with the main body, wherein the inlet device comprises a main suction port (203) for sucking in foreign matter, while the inlet device (200) comprises an auxiliary flow channel (230) that opens and closes under the action of vacuum in the lower region of the inlet device for selectively admitting air flow from the upper part of the inlet device; a damper flow channel (210) for transmitting vacuum from the lower region of the inlet device to the auxiliary flow channel for opening and closing the auxiliary flow channel; and a shutter (240) for opening the auxiliary flow channel and at the same time closing the shutter flow channel using a vacuum transmitted to the shutter flow channel. 6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, further comprising a guide hole (212) for bringing the upper open part (211) into fluid communication with the lower region of the inlet device, in which the upper open part (211) leads the flow channel of the damper into fluid communication medium with auxiliary flow channel. 7. A nozzle assembly for a vacuum cleaner comprising a working chamfer for contact with a surface to be cleaned; an outlet through which air flow exits the nozzle assembly during use; a first air passage connecting said working chamfer and said outlet; a second channel connecting said first channel to the outside of the nozzle assembly; and a valve for allowing selective passage of air from said first channel to said second channel and through it to the outside of said nozzle assembly so as to reduce pressure in said first channel. 8. The nozzle assembly of claim 7, wherein said valve is actuated by pressure in said first channel. 9. The nozzle assembly of claim 8, further comprising a biasing device, wherein the pressure reduction in said first channel acts against said biasing device.

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