WO2009026611A1

WO2009026611A1 - A vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2009026611A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/001055
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mario John Chaves Barker
Original assignee: Mario John Chaves Barker
Priority date: 2007-08-29
Filing date: 2008-07-21
Publication date: 2009-03-05

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner (10) that includes a separator assembly (21) including a first set of first baffles (26) and a second set of baffles being second baffles (32). The baffles (26, 32) are alternately arranged and are of a 'frusto' conical configuration. The baffles (32) are fixed to a rotatably driven shaft which causes air to pass between the baffles (26, 32) to aid in separating dust from an airstream passing through the separator assembly (21).

Description

A VACUUM CLEANER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to devices to separate material such as dust (particles and/or filaments) from an air stream, and more particularly but not exclusively to vacuum cleaners.

Background of the Invention

Typically domestic vacuum cleaners, and vacuum cleaners employed by professional cleaning staff, include at least one filter through which the air passes before it exits via the exhaust of the vacuum cleaner. A disadvantage of these known vacuum cleaners is that as the filter becomes clogged the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner diminishes.

The above disadvantage is at least partly addressed by frequent cleaning of the filter. This in itself is a disadvantage as it is time consuming and messy.

The above two problems are addressed in some instances by providing "cyclonic" separators prior to the filters to remove dust from the air stream that actually passes through the filter. A disadvantage of the majority of these known vacuum cleaners is that again as the filter becomes blocked, the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner diminishes.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention

There is disclosed herein a device to separate solid matter, such as particles and filaments, from a gas stream, said device including: a chamber having an inlet and an outlet between which gas flows in a predetermined direction through the chamber; a first set of first baffles located in the chamber and located between the inlet and outlet, each first baffle surrounding an aperture and diverging from the aperture in a said direction; and a second set of second baffles located in the chamber, each second baffle being operatively associated with a respective one of the apertures so as to be located adjacent or at the respective aperture, each second baffle being located to engage gas passing thereby in a said direction to direct the gas toward the associated first baffle providing said associated aperture.

Preferably, each second baffle is located adjacent but down stream in said direction of the associated aperture.

Preferably, there is a plurality of said first baffles and a plurality of said second baffles, with the first and second baffles being alternately arranged down stream in said direction.

Preferably, said first baffles are frusto-conical in configuration. Preferably, said second baffles are frusto-conical in configuration.

Preferably, said chamber has a longitudinal axis, which is also the longitudinal axis of each of the baffles.

Preferably, adjacent first baffles are joined by a transverse wall having passages through which said gas may pass down stream in said direction. Preferably, said chamber is a separator chamber, and said device includes an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber with said separate chamber having a primary outlet and a secondary outlet, with said primary outlet communicating with said outlet chamber, and said device further includes a first filter portion through which air from said secondary outlet passes to enter said outlet chamber. Preferably, said device includes a second filter portion through which air passes from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber.

Preferably, said separator chamber is connected to said inlet chamber so as to receive gas therefrom.

Preferably, said second baffles are mounted for rotation about a rotational axis to aid in causing gas passing thereby to have an angular velocity.

Preferably, said device includes a shaft to which said second baffles are attached, and a motor operatively associated with the shaft to cause rotation thereof.

Preferably, said device includes a fan attached to said shaft so as to be driven with said baffles to cause gas to pass through the device. Preferably, said fan draws air from said outlet chamber.

There is further disclosed herein a vacuum cleaner having a first separation chamber containing said device, said vacuum cleaner having an outer housing, with said first set of baffles being stationary relative thereto. Preferably, said vacuum cleaner includes a second separator chamber, said vacuum cleaner including a further said device, said further device being located in said second separator chamber, with the first set of baffles of said further device being stationary relative to said chamber. Preferably, said vacuum cleaner includes a third separator chamber, with the first and second separator chambers delivering air to a dust collection container through which air passes to be filtered thereby.

Preferably, said third separator chamber delivers air to said dust container and air to the first and second separator chambers from which dust has been at least partly removed.

There is still further disclosed herein a device to separate solid matter, such as particles and filaments, from an airstream, said device including: an inlet via which air enters the device; an outlet via which air exits the device; a first passage along which at least part of the air passes in moving from the inlet to the outlet; a second passage via which at least part of the air passes in moving from the inlet to the outlet; and a barrier separating at least part of the first and second passages, said barrier including a plurality of rods between which air may pass from said first passage to said second passage.

Preferably, the rods have exposed down stream longitudinal ends.

Preferably, said device includes a third passage communicating with said second passage, with said device further including means to remove said solid matter from air delivered thereto from said third passage.

Preferably, said outlet is a primary outlet, with said first and second passages each having an intermediate outlet, with air exiting from the intermediate outlet of said first passage being directed to air leaving the intermediate outlet of said second passage.

There is further disclosed herein a device to separate solid matter, such as particles and filaments, from an airstream, said device including: an inlet via which air enters a device; a primary outlet via which air exits the device; and a chamber through which at least part of the air passes in moving from the inlet to the primary outlet, said chamber having an inlet via which air enters the chamber and causes air to circulate within said chamber, a pair of primary outlets via which air leaves said chamber for delivery to said primary outlet, and wherein said primary outlets are each provided by a tube with the tubes having adjacent open ends via which air enters the tubes.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of an inner portion of a vacuum cleaner;

Figure 2 is a further sectioned side elevation of the vacuum cleaner portion of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic still further sectioned side elevation of a vacuum cleaner having the vacuum cleaner portion of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a portion of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a vacuum cleaner; and Figure 6 is a schematic sectioned top plan view of a portion of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 5 ;

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

In Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a vacuum cleaner 10. The vacuum cleaner 10 would be typically a domestic vacuum cleaner or a vacuum cleaner employed by professional cleaning staff. The vacuum cleaner 10 may be adapted to be worn on a user's back and supported by straps, or alternatively may be provided with wheels so as to be supported and movable along a floor surface.

The vacuum cleaner 10 includes an outer housing 11 provided with inlets 12 and an outlet (exhaust) 13. Typically the inlets 12 would communicate a flexible tube that would extend to a floor surface engaging nozzle that would be manipulated by a user. The housing 11 is divided internally into a primary inlet chamber 14, a primary outlet chamber 16 and a secondary outlet chamber 17. The chamber 14 receives air from the inlet 12 via a duct 15.

Separating the chambers 14 and 17 from the chamber 16 is a filter 18 having a

5 first filter portion 19 providing for air flow from the chamber 17 to the chamber 16, and a second filter portion 20 providing for the flow of air from the chamber 14 to the chamber

16. As a particular example, the filter 18 may be part of a filter bag that receives dust being collected by the vacuum cleaner 10.

Also mounted in the housing 11 is a separator assembly 21 having an outer wall i₀ 22 cooperating with an inner wall 23 to provide a plurality of inlet passages 24 providing for the flow of air from the chamber 14 to a separator chamber 25 surrounded by the wall 23.

The assembly 21 includes a shaft 27 having a longitudinal axis 28. The shaft 27 extends to a motor and fan assembly 29 that draws air from the chamber 16 to provide for is the down stream flow of air through the housing 11 as indicated by the various arrows.

The assembly 29 reduces the air pressure within the cleaner 10 to cause air to pass therethrough.

The wall 23 is generally cylindrical in configuration and extends to an end wall

30. Attached to and supported by a tube 30 is a first set of first baffles 26, each of the 20 baffles 26 being "frusto" conical in configuration so that each provides a central aperture

31. The baffles 26 have as their longitudinal axis, the axis 28.

The assembly 21 further includes a second set of baffles being second baffles 32, each baffle 32 being operatively associated with a respective one of the baffles 26 and more particularly a respective aperture 31 so as to be aligned therewith. The baffles 32 2₅ are also substantially "frusto" conical in configuration.

Each of the baffles 32 is down stream in the direction of the flow of air from its respective associated aperture 31. For example the baffle 32 A is down stream of its respective aperture 3 IA.

The arrows 33 show the flow of air in a down stream direction past the baffles 30 26, while the arrows 34 indicate the flow of air through the apertures 31, the arrows 33 and 34 showing the flow of air in a down stream direction.

With the baffles 32 being fixed to the shaft 27, they rotate therewith so that, air passing thereby has imparted to it an angular velocity about the longitudinal axis 28. Accordingly air passing through the chamber 25 has a longitudinal direction of movement in the direction of the axis 28, as well as an angular velocity about the axis 28 in the direction of movement of the shaft 27.

As best seen in the drawings, the baffles 26 each diverge in a down stream

5 direction from the longitudinal axis 28, that is they diverge in a downstream direction from their central aperture 31. Each baffle 32 diverges in a downstream direction from the shaft 27 and more particularly the longitudinal axis 28. In the present embodiment the baffles 32 each individually diverge from the axis 28 in a downstream direction.

However it should be appreciated the baffles could extend in the opposite direction, that is

I₀ they diverge from the axis 28 in an upstream direction, that is a direction opposite the baffles 26.

The inlets 12 communicate with a primary dust collection chamber 41, with the chambers 41 receiving air from a primary inlet 42 that would be typically connected to a vacuum cleaner nozzle manipulated by a user to pass over a floor surface. That is is typically the inlet 42 would be connected to a flexible tube. The inlet 42 communicates with the chamber 41 via one or more passages 43.

The chamber 41 provides for the collection of larger dust material.

Each of the baffles 32 is transversely aligned with a respective one of the baffles 26.

20 The chamber 25 has a primary outlet 35 that provides for the flow of air to the chamber 16, while a secondary outlet 36 provides for the flow of air from the chamber 25 to the chamber 17.

In operation of the above described vacuum cleaner 10, upon operation of the motor and fan assembly 29, air passes through the vacuum cleaner 10 in the direction of

25 the various arrows. Air enters the inlets 12 and flows to the chamber 14. From the chamber 14 air passes through the second filter part 20 to enter the chamber 16, to be delivered to the exhaust 13 via a down stream filter 37. Air in the chamber 14 is also drawn in to the passages 24 and passes through the assembly 21 to be delivered to the outlets 35 and 36. The outlet 35 is provided by the tube 30. The outlet 35 communicates

30 directly with the chamber 16, while the outlet 36 communicates with the chamber 17 and therefore the chamber 16 via the filter portion 19.

The filter 18 and the filter 37 remove dust (in the form of particle and filament matter) from the air passing therethrough. However air passing through the assembly 21 also has dust removed by the assembly 21. In particular as air passes through the various apertures 31, and is engaged by the second set of baffles 32, the air is given an angular, radial and longitudinal velocity (relative to the axis 28). This causes air to engage the down stream surface 38 of each of the baffles 26, in turn causing dust particles to leave the air stream passing through the apertures 31 and enter the air stream being delivered to the chamber 17 where the dust is collected by the filter portion 19.

Since the air passing through the assembly 21 has an angular velocity, the dust has applied to it a centrifugal force causing it to move radially and therefore engage or to be influenced by the surfaces 38 and therefore being urged to be delivered to the chamber 17.

This angular velocity of the abovementioned air stream also increases air pressure in the chamber 17 to aid in causing air to move through the filter portion 19, while also simultaneously causing air to move between adjacent baffles in a radial direction so as to be delivered to the outlet 36. Preferably, the baffles 26 are supported by joining walls 39, each of the walls 39 having a plurality of passages 40 that provide for movement of air from the apertures 31 to the outlet 36.

The baffles 26 may have slots and/or holes that provide for flow of air transversely through the baffles 26. The slots may run longitudinally and/or angularly relative to the axis 28.

The baffles 32 may have fins and/or gullies that run longitudinally and/or angularly relative to the axis 28 and may be located on the upstream or downstream major surfaces of the baffles 32

As dust accumulates on the filter 18 and reduces the efficiency thereof, a great proportion of air will pass through the assembly 21 and exit via the outlet 36.

The assembly 21 enables the vacuum cleaner 10 in its preferred embodiment to maintain efficiency since the greater volume of air passing through the assembly 21 exits via the outlet 35, thereby reducing the amount of air required to go through the filter 18.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is schematically depicted a second vacuum cleaner 50. The vacuum cleaner 50 would be typically a domestic vacuum cleaner or vacuum cleaner employed by professional cleaning staff. The vacuum cleaner 50 may be adapted to worn on a user's back and supported by straps, or alternatively maybe provided with wheels so as to be supported and movable along a floor surface. The vacuum cleaner 50 includes an outer housing 51 providing an inlet 52 and an outlet (exhaust) 53. Typically the inlet 52 would communicate with a flexible tube that would extend to a floor surface engaging nozzle that would be manipulated by a user.

The housing 51 is divided internally into a plurality of separating chambers 54, 55 and 56. Down stream of the chambers 54, 55 and 56 is a dust container 57 that acts as a filter and collects dust 58.

Located in the chambers 54 and 55 are separator assemblies 59, that are essentially the same as the assemblies 21. Each assembly 59 includes a wall 60 that essentially surrounds the associated assembly 59. Each wall 60 provides a cylindrical internal surface 61 through which there passes a shaft 62 having a longitudinal/rotational axis 63. Each shaft 62 is supported by upper and lower bearings 64, with each shaft 62 being driven by means of belts 65 in turn driven by means of an electric motor 66. Operation of the motor 66 causes rotation of the shafts 62 about their axes 63.

Fixed to so as to rotate therewith and extending outwardly from each shaft is a set 67 of baffles 68. Each of the baffles 68 is of a substantially "frusto" conical configuration so as to diverge outwardly from the respective shaft 62 in the direction of flow of air through the associated chamber 54/55. Surrounding each set of baffles 67 is a second set of baffles 69, the baffles 69 being stationary relative to the housing 51 so that the baffles 68 rotate about their respective axis 63 relative to the set of baffles 69. Each set 69 includes a plurality of baffles 70. Each baffle 70 has a central aperture 71 through which the shaft 62 passes, with each baffle 68 being located radially inwardly relative to an associated one of the baffles 70. Each baffle 68 has a maximum diameter greater than the maximum rdiameter of the aperture 71 so that the air passing longitudinally through each chamber 54 and 55 is caused to pass along a path that includes a radially outer and then a radially inner portion. Due to rotation of the baffles 68, air passing through each chamber 54/55 is caused to move angularly about the associated axis 63.

Each chamber 54 and 55 has an inlet 71 and two outlets 72 and 73. The outlet 72 communicate directly with the interior of the container 57, while the outlets 73 communicate with an outlet chamber 74 that is also down stream from the container 57. In that regard, the container 57 also provides for the flow air therethrough so that air passing through the container 57 is also delivered to the chamber 74. Air from the chamber 74 passes through a filter 75 from where it is expelled to the exterior through outlet 53. Provided at the outlet 53 is a fan 76 driven by motor 66 that lowers air pressure internally of the vacuum cleaner 50 to cause air to pass from the inlet 52 to the outlet 53.

Located internally of the chamber 56 is a barrier 77 consisting of a plurality of rods 78 that are generally parallel but transversely spaced and cooperate with tube 93 to provide an inlet passage 79 that has a longitudinal axis 80 generally parallel to the rods 78. The rods 78 extend from upper ends fixed to the housing 51, to lower free ends 94. That is, the rods 78 extend down stream relative to air flow to terminate at exposed ends 94. The passage 79 leads to a chamber 81 with which the outlet 72 also communicates, so that air delivered to the chamber 81 via the passage 79 also passes through the container 57 for delivery to the chamber 74. However air is also caused to pass between the rods 78 and enter the sub-chamber 82 to a further sub-chamber 83. The sub-chamber 83 is essentially enclosed by a wall 84 that extends angularly about an axis 85. The outlet 86 of the sub-chamber 82 causes the air to circulate angularly about the axis 85 in the sub- chamber 83, for delivery to the interior of passages 87. The passages 87 deliver air to the inlets 71. As best seen in Figure 6, the passages 87 are provided by tubes 88. The chamber 83 also has an outlet 90 communicating with the chamber 81 provided by the container 57.

The tubes 88 are aligned along the axis 85 and have end openings 92 that are adjacent and facing each other and spaced by the gap 89. In operation air is caused to circulate about the tubes 88 to provide for separation of solid matter by engagement with the wall 84, with air then entering the aligned adjacent openings 82 for delivery to the passages 87.

In operation of the above described vacuum cleaner 50, operation of the motor 66 lowers internal pressure to cause air to flow from the inlet 52 to the out 53. Initially, as the container 57 is devoid of dust, the majority of the air will pass along the passage 79 to exit via outlet 91 to be delivered to the chamber 81 wherefrom it passes through the container 57 to be filtered, to enter the chamber 74. From there it then passes through the filter 75 to exit via the outlet 53. Some air will also be delivered to the chambers 54 and 55. However as dust 85 builds up and resistance to flow through the container 57 increases, a greater proportion of air will enter the chamber 56. Angular motion about the axis 85 as well as engagement with the rods 78 will separate the heavier and larger dust particles which are delivered via the outlets 90 and 91 to the chamber 81, with the air containing finer dust particles being delivered to the passages 87 and from there to the chambers 54 and 55. Rotation of the shafts 62 and therefore rotation of the baffles 68 causes further separation so that the heavier and larger particles of dust are again delivered to the chamber 81, with the remaining air being delivered to the outlets 73 and finally to the chamber 74 from where the air is exhausted through the filter 75 to the outlet 53. Accordingly the vacuum cleaner 50 provides stages via which air is filtered, depending on the resistance provided by the container 57.

It should be noted the outlets 90 and 91 are adjacent, with the outlet 91, directing an airstream toward the airstream leaving the outlet 90.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device to separate solid matter, such as particles and filaments from a gas stream, said device including: a chamber having an inlet and an outlet between which gas flows in a predetermined direction through the chamber; a first set of first baffles located in the chamber and located between the inlet and outlet, each first baffle surrounding an aperture and diverging from the aperture in a said direction; and a second set of second baffles located in the chamber, each second baffle being operatively associated with a respective one of the apertures so as to be located adjacent or at the respective aperture, each second baffle being located to engage gas passing thereby in a said direction to direct the gas toward the associated first baffle providing said associated aperture.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each second baffle is located adjacent but down stream in said direction of the associated aperture.

3. The device of claims 1 or 2, wherein there is a plurality of said first baffles and a plurality of said second baffles, with the first and second baffles being alternately arranged down stream in said direction.

4. The device of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said first baffles are frusto- conical in configuration.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said second baffles are frusto-conical in configuration.

6. The device of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said chamber has a longitudinal axis, which is also the longitudinal axis of each of the baffles.

7. The device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein adjacent first baffles are joined by a transverse wall having passages through which said gas may pass down stream in said direction.

8. The device of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said chamber is a separator chamber, and said device includes an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber with said separate chamber having a primary outlet and a secondary outlet, with said primary outlet communicating with said outlet chamber, and said device further includes a first filter portion through which air from said secondary outlet passes to enter said outlet chamber.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said device includes a second filter portion through which air passes from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber.

10. The device of claim 8 or 9, wherein said separator chamber is connected to said inlet chamber so as to receive gas therefrom.

11. The device of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said second baffles are mounted for rotation about a rotational axis to aid in causing gas passing thereby to have an angular velocity.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said device includes a shaft to which said second baffles are attached, and a motor operatively associated with the shaft to cause rotation thereof.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said device includes a fan attached to said shaft so as to be driven with said baffles to cause gas to pass through the device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said fan draws air from said outlet chamber.

15. A vacuum cleaner having a first separation chamber containing said device, said vacuum cleaner having an outer housing, with said first set of baffles being stationary relative thereto.

16. The cleaner of claim 15, wherein said vacuum cleaner includes a second separator chamber, said vacuum cleaner including a further said device, said further device being located in said second separator chamber, with the first set of baffles of said further device being stationary relative to said chamber.

17. The cleaner of claim 16, further including a third separator chamber, with the first and second separator chambers delivering air to a dust collection container through which air passes to be filtered thereby.

18. The cleaner of claim 17, wherein said third separator chamber delivers air to said dust container and air to the first and second separator chambers from which dust has been at least partly removed.

19. A device to separate solid matter, such as particles and filaments, from an airstream, said device including: an inlet via which air enters the device; an outlet via which air exits the device; a first passage along which at least part of the air passes in moving from the inlet to the outlet; a second passage via which at least part of the air passes in moving from the inlet to the outlet; and a barrier separating at least part of the first and second passages, said barrier including a plurality of rods between which air may pass from said first passage to said 5 second passage.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the rods have exposed down stream longitudinal ends.

21. The device of claims 19 or 20, wherein said device includes a third passage communicating with said second passage, with said device further including

I₀ means to remove said solid matter from air delivered thereto from said third passage.

22. The device of claim 19, 20 or 21, wherein said outlet is a primary outlet, with said first and second passages each having an intermediate outlet, with air exiting from the intermediate outlet of said first passage being directed to air leaving the intermediate outlet of said second passage. is 23. A device to separate solid matter, such as particles and filaments, from an airstream, said device including: an inlet via which air enters a device; a primary outlet via which air exits the device; and a chamber through which at least part of the air passes in moving from the inlet 20 to the primary outlet, said chamber having an inlet via which air enters the chamber and causes air to circulate within said chamber, a pair of primary outlets via which air leaves said chamber for delivery to said primary outlet, and wherein said primary outlets are each provided by a tube with the tubes having adjacent open ends via which air enters the tubes.