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
  • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
  • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
  • A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
  • A47L5/38—Built-in suction cleaner installations, i.e. with fixed tube system to which, at different stations, hoses can be connected
• • 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
• • 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
  • A47L9/14—Bags or the like; Rigid filtering receptacles; Attachment of, or closures for, bags or receptacles
  • A47L9/1409—Rigid filtering 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
  • A47L9/14—Bags or the like; Rigid filtering receptacles; Attachment of, or closures for, bags or receptacles
  • A47L9/149—Emptying means; Reusable bags

Definitions

• This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner waste receptacle, and in particular, though not solely, to a vacuum cleaner waste receptacle for use in conjunction with a central vacuum cleaning system.
• Central vacuum cleaning systems provide an alternative to the use of conventional portable vacuum cleaners.
• a central vacuum cleaner may be installed in a building to provide a single self-contained whole-house vacuum cleaning system.
• central vacuum system instead of a conventional portable vacuum cleaner.
• the use of a central vacuum system significantly reduces the number of airborne allergens put back into the living space. This is because a conventional vacuum cleaner typically releases a lot of dust and allergens back into the air during its operation.
• central vacuum systems tend to be more hygienic in this respect because their dust collection units and filters are usually placed outside of the living space of a house, for example in the garage.
• the invention may broadly be said to consist in a vacuum cleaner waste receptacle for a vacuum cleaning system which includes a collection chamber adapted to receive waste matter collected by the vacuum cleaning system, the collection chamber having a waste inlet and a separate waste outlet controlled by a shut-off valve, wherein opening the shut-off valve allows collected waste to empty from the chamber by the force of gravity.
• Such a receptacle is particularly suitable for use in a central vacuum cleaning system where large quantities of waste are collected. This is because the waste can be transferred into a bag or other receptacle for disposal with greater ease and with improved hygiene.
• a clean bag can be fitted to the waste outlet, and then the valve opened to allow the contents of the collection chamber to discharge into the bag. The neck of the bag can then be tied and the bag removed from the waste outlet and taken away, with minimal risk of the escape of dust or other unpleasant pollutants.
• the valve is a slide valve.
• a slide valve is advantageous for a number of reasons; it can have very few moving parts, it can be relatively simple to manufacture, in the fully open position the valve member can be completely removed from the flow path of the valve, and it can be opened and closed using a simple linear motion. And in addition, the valve member of a slide valve can be wiped clean as it slides past its own seals, which is advantageous in a dirty and dusty environment like that within a vacuum cleaner.
• the waste outlet includes a waste chute.
• a waste chute is advantageous since a bag can easily be fitted about the chute in a manner to form a seal between the two, enabling the waste to be transferred into the bag without any leakage of dust to the surroundings during the transfer.
• the slide valve includes a sliding member in the form of a plate which is adapted to slide into and out of the waste chute.
• a sliding member in the form of a plate which is adapted to slide into and out of the waste chute.
• the plate can be a durable plastics material for example which can slide easily within a slot, and when the valve is opened the valve presents little or no obstruction to the flow of the contents as they exit the collection chamber.
• the slide member of the slide valve is angled from the horizontal plane, with the lowest portion of the slide at or adjacent to the portion of the valve which is first to open, when the receptacle is in its normal attitude of operation.
• This sloping arrangement of the valve slide means that any heavy objects among the contents of the collection chamber will tend to find their way to the lowest point on the valve slide and will tend to exit through the valve first when the valve is opened.
• these heavy objects can be hard and have sharp edges, for example stones, nails or screws, and it is preferable that they exit the valve first and are not dragged by the slide member against the slide valve guides and/or seals which could result in damage to the valve.
• the angle of the slide member from the horizontal is within the range of 3 to 20 degrees.
• the slide valve forms the base of the collection chamber.
• Such an arrangement is not only simple to manufacture but it is also convenient to be able to open the entire base of the collection chamber when discharging its contents.
• the valve includes a seal adapted to minimise the flow of air into the collection chamber through the valve when the valve is in the closed position.
• the waste outlet is located at or adjacent to the base of the collection chamber. This is advantageous since it allows the contents of the collection chamber to be discharged with the assistance of the force of gravity.
• the waste outlet has a similar cross sectional size and shape to that of the collection chamber in the horizontal plane, when the receptacle is in its normal attitude of operation.
• a waste outlet size and shape allows the contents of the collection chamber to be discharged without undue obstruction.
• the collection chamber is cylindrical in shape. Such a shape is advantageous since it allows circular air motion which is useful for cyclonic separation of dirt from the air flow in the vacuum cleaning system.
• the waste chute has sidewalls which are parallel to the sidewalls of the collection chamber.
• Such an arrangement could be formed for example by including the waste chute as a simple extension of the cylindrical sidewalls of the collection chamber.
• the sidewalls of the waste chute include an opening or slot through which the valve member is able to slide.
• the slot is advantageous for a number of reasons, it allows access for the valve member to enter the passage, and the edges of the slot can support and guide the valve member. Using a slot, these advantages are all achieved without the requirement for any additional hardware, guides or protrusions on the inside of the waste chute, meaning that when the contents of the collection chamber are discharged dirt is not likely to become entrapped and make it difficult to reinstall the valve member.
• the outlet end of the waste chute is adapted to mate with a secondary waste receptacle, for example, adapted to allow a rubbish bag to be connected.
• the receptacle further includes a means to secure a secondary waste receptacle to the waste chute, for example a rubber "O" ring which can be placed over the neck of a rubbish bag to tightly secure the bag to the waste chute and prevent dirt escaping while the contents of the collection chamber are emptied into the bag.
• a secondary waste receptacle for example a rubber "O" ring which can be placed over the neck of a rubbish bag to tightly secure the bag to the waste chute and prevent dirt escaping while the contents of the collection chamber are emptied into the bag.
• the exterior surface of the waste chute includes an outwardly extending protrusion adapted to help secure the secondary waste receptacle, for example the outwardly extending protrusion can be an outwardly extending flange or flared portion on the exit end of the waste chute.
• the vacuum cleaner waste receptacle further includes a filtration device that is adapted to block the flow of dirt particles from the collection chamber to the vacuum pump of the vacuum cleaning system.
• the filtration device is situated in the upper regions of the collection chamber. Such a location is advantageous in that it allows the dirt to be removed from the collection chamber via the lower part of the chamber using gravity to assist the flow.
• the invention may broadly be said to consist in a central vacuum cleaning system incorporating at least one vacuum cleaner waste receptacle substantially as specified herein.
• the invention may broadly be said to consist in a method of emptying the waste collected in a vacuum cleaner waste receptacle including the steps of; • securing a secondary waste receptacle to a waste outlet on the vacuum cleaner waste receptacle,
• the secondary waste receptacle could be a waste bin, preferably the secondary waste receptacle is a rubbish bag.
• the method further includes a step of closing the secondary waste receptacle prior to removing it from the waste outlet of the vacuum cleaning waste receptacle. This could be carried out by tying off the neck of a rubbish bag for example.
• the invention may also broadly be said to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of the parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents, such equivalents are incorporated herein as if they were individually set forth.
• FIGURE 1 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner waste receptacle for a vacuum cleaning system without a removable plate installed,
• FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the vacuum cleaner waste receptacle shown in figure 1
• FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional side view BB as defined in figure 2, showing a removable plate installed
• FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view AA as defined in figure 1, again with the addition of the installed removable plate, and
• FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the removable plate.
• a vacuum cleaner waste receptacle (10) comprising a collection chamber (11), a waste chute (13), a removable plate (15), a motor (17), a vacuum pump (19), an inlet duct (21) and a filter element (23).
• the receptacle (10) is suitable for use as part of a vacuum cleaning device or system, and in the configuration shown it is designed to be used in a central vacuum cleaning system.
• the vacuum pump (19) draws air out of the collection chamber (11) through the filter element (23).
• Replacement air is drawn through the inlet duct (21) into the collection chamber (11) and this air will typically contain many types of dirt, for example dust, fibres, dead skin cells, bacteria, hairs, insects, etc when the receptacle (10) is in use.
• the inlet duct (21) is angled in such a way as to promote a swirling flow within the collection chamber (11) allowing some of the dirt to be separated from the airflow by cyclonic action.
• the collection chamber (11) and waste chute (13) are formed from a single stainless steel tube or canister (26), made from stainless steel sheet, having a diameter of approximately 300 to 350 millimetres, and a combined length of approximately 900 millimetres.
• the motor (17) and the vacuum pump (19) are fitted to the top of the canister (26) and an outer curved shroud (27) is used to house and cover the assembly.
• This curved shroud (27) is also made from stainless steel sheet and includes vent grilles (29) to allow air from the vacuum pump (19) to exit the shroud (27).
• the sidewall of the canister (26) is provided with a slot (28) approximately 80 to 100 millimetres above the bottom lip of the waste chute (13).
• the slot (28) is approximately 15 to 17 millimetres wide and extends in a generally horizontal direction about half way around the circumference of the canister (26).
• the slot (28) is used to allow the removable plate (15) to enter through the sidewall of the canister (26) and provides a guide for the removable plate (15) as it enters or exits the canister (26) and a support for the removable plate (15) when it is installed into the canister (26). While it can be said that the slot (28) is oriented generally horizontally, it is preferred that the slot (28) is inclined at a small angle to the horizontal so that the removable plate (15) is held at a similar small angle - this is explained in further detail below.
• the removable plate (15) forms the base of the collection chamber (11) when it is installed as shown in figure 3.
• the removable plate (15) is situated immediately above the waste chute (13).
• the removable plate (15) can be completely removed from the receptacle (10) by withdrawing it in the direction shown by the direction arrow (25). When the removable plate (15) is partially or fully removed any collected dirt in the collection chamber (11) is allowed to fall through the waste chute (13) under the force of gravity.
• a sealing ring (22) and a seal support ring (24) are shown simated in the lower regions of the collection chamber (11).
• the seal support ring (24) is securely attached to the internal diameter of the canister (26) forming an inwardly projecting flange and the sealing ring (22) is secured to the lower surface of the seal support ring (24).
• the sealing ring (22) is made from a closed cell formed rubber and presses lightly against the removable plate (15) when it is installed. The sealing ring (22) helps to prevent air leakage into the collection chamber (11) when the receptacle (10) is in use.
• the sealing ring (22) is thicker at one end than at the other, and this tapering thickness matches the slope or incline of the removable plate (15).
• the sealing ring (22) is fitted so that it extends downwards approximately 6 to 8 millimetres across the opening of the slot (28), and this allows the sealing ring (22) to be compressed by the removable plate (15) when the vacuum pressure in the collection chamber (11) draws the removable plate (15) against the sealing ring (22).
• the sealing ring (22) extends far enough into the slot (28) so that the sealing ring (22) positively contacts the removable plate (15) even when the removable plate (15) is resting on the lower lip of the slot (28) when there is no vacuum pressure in the collection chamber (11).
• the arrangement of the removable plate (15) and the sealing ring (22) is such that when the removable plate (15) is removed or reinstalled, the edge of the sealing ring (22) will wipe the upper surface of the removable plate (15) clearing it of any dust or the like. This is advantageous since it is important to keep dirt and dust away from the contact surfaces between the sealing ring (22) and the removable plate (15) so that a good seal can be achieved.
• the removable plate (15) is inclined at an angle of approximately 6 degrees to the horizontal with the lowest point on the plate (15) situated adjacent to the part of the waste chute (13) which will open first as the removable plate (15) is withdrawn, that is, when moved in the direction of the arrow (25).
• This angle is to encourage heavy objects to fall to the lowest point in the collection chamber (11) so that they will exit the chamber as soon as the removable plate (15) is withdrawn, reducing the possibility that these objects will get caught between the removable plate (15) and the sealing ring (22) which could cause scouring of the removable plate (15) or damage to the sealing ring (22).
• the lower lip of the waste chute (13) has a small flared portion (35), and simated above the flared portion is an O-ring (37).
• the removable plate (15) is generally circular in profile, with a handle portion (30) extending to one side, and the average diameter of the removable plate (15) is close to the diameter of the waste chute (13).
• the removable plate (15) is in fact in the shape of two slightly different sized semi circular shapes which abut each other along their straight edges, the first semi circular shape (31) having a radius slightly less than that of the internal radius of the waste chute (13) and the second semi circular shape (33) having a radius slightly greater than that of the external radius of the waste chute (13).
• the handle (30) extends outwards from the periphery of the second semi circular shape (33), and it can be seen in figure 5 that the lines of the handle (30) and the second semi circular shape (33) have been blended somewhat for improved strength and aesthetics.
• the blended shape which effectively provides gussets each side of the handle (30) reduces the chance of the handle (30) breaking off if the removable plate (15) is accidentally dropped.
• the removable plate (15) can be made from a range of materials and initially the plate has been made from a 10 millimetre thick plastics plate material, which has been advantageous since it slides with relative ease against the metal edges of the slot (28).
• a bag or other receptacle can be placed under the waste chute (13).
• the mouth of the bag is placed over the outer diameter of the waste chute (13) and the O-ring (37) is placed over the bag to hold it and to seal it against the outer diameter of the waste chute (13).
• the flared portion (35) assists in retaining the bag on the outer diameter of the waste chute (13).
• the removable plate (15) can be withdrawn by grasping the handle (30) and withdrawing it in the direction of the arrow (25). This allows contents of the collection chamber (11) to fall through the waste chute (13) and into the bag or other receptacle.
• the neck of the bag can be tied off and the O-ring (37) removed from the mouth of the bag and the bag removed from the receptacle (10) to be disposed of.
• vacuum cleaner waste receptacle has been described as having a canister made of stainless steel and with a diameter of 300 to 350 millimetres and a length of 900 millimetres, it is envisaged that the material and the dimensions could vary to suit particular applications, for example the canister could be made of plastics or other metals, and the dimensions could be much smaller or larger, for example a larger unit for heavier duty use could be as large as 700 millimetres in diameter and 1800 millimetres in length.
• valve in the form of removable plate which is adapted to slide into and out of a slot in the canister
• valve could taker a number of forms, for example a pivoting slide valve or gate, or a plate or canister end fitting which is installed using clamps.
• central vacuum cleaning system used herein is intended to mean a system including a vacuum pump, a waste collector and a system of ducts which can be permanently installed into a building for the purpose of facilitating vacuum cleaning of the building.
• dirty and "waste” used herein are intended to mean the waste collected by a vacuum cleaner, which may include a wide range of matter commonly found on a floor, for example dust, fibres, bacteria, pollen, crumbs, dead skin, hairs, insects, etc.
• a vacuum cleaner which may include a wide range of matter commonly found on a floor, for example dust, fibres, bacteria, pollen, crumbs, dead skin, hairs, insects, etc.
• the word “comprise” and variations of that word, such as “comprises” and “comprising” are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Refuse Collection And Transfer (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34910139

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (4)

• 2004
  • 2004-02-26 NZ NZ531422A patent/NZ531422A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2005
  • 2005-02-25 WO PCT/NZ2005/000029 patent/WO2005082218A1/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (4)

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