WO2012059666A1

WO2012059666A1 - Bagless vacuum cleaner having cyclonic separation

Info

Publication number: WO2012059666A1
Application number: PCT/FR2011/052500
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabien David
Original assignee: Seb S.A.
Priority date: 2010-11-04
Filing date: 2011-10-26
Publication date: 2012-05-10
Also published as: KR101829492B1; FR2967044A1; KR20130141571A; EP2635169A1; FR2967044B1; CN103188979A; EP2635169B1; CN103188979B; ES2549043T3; PT2635169E

Abstract

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner including a waste separation assembly that includes: at least one cyclonic separation step (8) comprising a main separator (10) via a cyclone having a longitudinal axis Δ; and a removable waste recovery container (20) located under the main separator (10). According to the invention, the removable waste recovery container (20) is combined with a movable cover (22) that defines a connection pipe (24) between the main separator (10) and the removable container (22), wherein the connection pipe (24) has, at the connection thereof to the main separator (10), a generally annular inlet section (34) coaxial to the axis Δ.

Description

VACUUM CLEANER WITHOUT CYCLONE SEPARATION BAG

The present invention relates to the technical field of vacuum cleaners used for the suction cleaning of a flow of air causing dust and other waste in the vicinity of a suction head. The invention relates more particularly to the field of bagless vacuum cleaners in which the separation between the exhaust air and the aspirated particles is essentially carried out by means of a cyclone system as opposed to vacuum cleaners in which the separation is carried out by filtration. .

[02] A bagless vacuum cleaner generally comprises, as described in EP 1 361 815, a primary cyclonic separation stage followed by a cyclonic secondary separation stage. The recovery of the separated waste at the primary stage takes place at the separation chamber of said primary stage, the outer body serves as a recovery tank. According to this document, most of the internal volume of the outer body is occupied by the first separation stage and a part of the second separation stage so that the volume useful for the recovery of waste is relatively small. In addition, to drain the waste, the user must dismantle the assembly formed by the two filtration stages and then unlock a trap located at the bottom of the recovery tank.

[03] Such an architecture has the drawbacks, on the one hand, of offering a limited space for the accumulation of separated waste of the sucked air and, on the other hand, of imposing the transport of the heavy unit and large volume constituted by the cyclonic separation systems and the recovery tank to the dump site. Moreover, insofar as the accumulation of waste is carried out within the cyclonic separation device there is a risk that the waste separated by the primary system is re-aspirated to the secondary system. [04] In order to remedy this drawback, a request WO2007 / 008772 has proposed a vacant bag without waste separation bag by cyclonic system implementing a removable waste collection container located under the primary and separable separator of the latter so as to it can be transported independently of it to a waste disposal site. However, it has appeared in use that when the recovery container is removed from the vacuum cleaner, it is widely open so that accumulated waste is likely to exit spontaneously when transporting the container to its emptying location . In addition, this document does not provide a satisfactory solution to the risk of recirculation of waste.

[05] Thus, it appeared the need for a bagless vacuum cleaner that reduces the risk of recirculation of separated waste, which can be emptied without having to transport the entire cyclonic separation system and whose waste collection container can be easily transported without the risk of leaving the waste accumulated during transport.

[06] In order to achieve this object, the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising a waste separation assembly which comprises:

at least one cyclonic separation stage comprising a cyclone primary separator of longitudinal axis Δ,

- a removable waste collection container located under the primary separator. According to the invention, the removable waste collection container is associated with a movable cover which defines a connection duct between the primary separator and the removable container, the connecting duct having, at its connection to the primary separator a section of generally annular input coaxial with the axis Δ.

[07] The implementation of a lid allows a transport of the recovery container with the lid in a closed position thus reducing the risk of spreading the accumulated waste outside. Once arrived at the place of emptying, it is possible to open the lid so as to clear the mouth of the removable container and thus make emptying easy. In addition, the annular shape of the lid inlet section avoids during operation of the vacuum recirculation of waste that has accumulated in the removable collection container while allowing rather large waste to be able to enter the container easily.

[08] According to another characteristic of the invention, the outer wall of the connecting conduit diverges between the inlet section and the outlet section. This divergence of the outer wall of the connecting pipe helps to prevent the waste accumulated in the recovery container, on the one hand, are re-aspired and, on the other hand, do not escape during its transport when it has been removed from the vacuum cleaner.

[09] According to a variant of this feature, the outer diameter of the inlet section of the cover may be chosen to be smaller than the smallest dimension of the periphery or around the outlet section of the cover. This increase in the external diameter of the connecting duct, between the inlet section and the outlet section, also makes it possible to reduce the air velocities and limit the recirculation of the waste.

[10] According to another characteristic of the invention, the primary separator comprises a tubular body whose wall diverges before a zone of connection to the lid so that the tubular body has, in the connection zone, an internal diameter greater than internal diameter of the tubular body outside the connection zone. Thus, the zone of connection of the tubular body to the lid defines a kind of buffer zone which induces a slowing down of the air and which is able to retain the waste to prevent their recirculation before their path in the conduit connecting the lid to the recovery box.

[11] According to a feature of the invention, the inlet section of the cover has a lower surface than the surface of the outlet section of the cover located at the connection of the connecting conduit to the removable container. Increasing the section of the connecting pipe between its input and the output allows to accentuate the reduction of the speed of the air in the recovery container and contributes to limit the risks of recirculation of the waste.

[12] According to the invention the lid can be made in any suitable way. According to one embodiment, the lid comprises:

a hollow outer body whose upper end comprises means of connection to the primary separator and a lower end comprises means of connection to the removable container,

a core which is located inside the outer body and which delimits with the outer body the connecting pipe extending between the core and the outer body.

[13] According to a variant of this embodiment, the outer body comprises a substantially cylindrical tubular upper part of axis Δ and a generally frustoconical lower part of axis Δ.

[14] According to another variant of this embodiment, the core has a generally cylindrical or frustoconical shape of revolution of axis Δ.

[15] According to yet another variant of this embodiment, the core is bonded to the body by a lateral tab.

[16] As part of this latter embodiment, the cover may comprise a deflector which extends from the connecting tongue inside the removable container. This deflector is intended to prevent the waste being in the form of filaments such as for example textile threads, hair or hair, do not remain hooked during operation of the vacuum cleaner, the connecting tongue and form a cluster obstructing a good disposal of separated waste to the bottom of the recovery container.

[17] In order to optimize this anti-snagging function, the baffle may have a convex outer surface and have an end portion inclined towards the center of the removable container. The deflector thus produced also has a function antiretour or eddy and hinders the recirculation of waste accumulated at the bottom of the recovery container. [18] Also with the aim of limiting the risks of recirculation of the waste, the core may comprise, in its lower region, a flat antirecessary peripheral flange.

[19] In one embodiment, the flange has a substantially annular overall shape with an outer diameter substantially equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the inlet section of the lid.

[20] In order to limit the weight of the lid, the core may be hollow and closed at its upper end located substantially at the inlet section of the lid.

[21] According to the invention, the lid can be associated with the removable container being independent and completely separable from the latter. According to the invention, the lid can also be linked to the removable container.

[22] The lid may then for example be articulated on the removable container so as to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position.

[23] According to a feature of the invention, the vacuum cleaner comprises means for locking the lid in an at least partial closure position of the removable container.

[24] Of course, the various features, variations and embodiments of the invention may be associated with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other.

[25] Furthermore, various other features of the invention emerge from the attached description, made with reference to the drawings which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment of a vacuum cyclonic separation system according to the invention.

- Figure 1 is a partially cut elevation of a bagless vacuum cleaner according to the invention. FIG. 2 is an axial section on a larger scale of a removable waste collection container and its lid as implemented on the vacuum cleaner illustrated in FIG.

- Figure 3 is a perspective of the removable container for waste recovery with its lid in the closed position.

- Figure 4 is a perspective of the removable container for waste recovery with its cover in the open position.

[26] A vacuum cleaner according to the invention, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a frame 1 supported by wheels 2 facilitating movement of the vacuum cleaner during use. In known manner, the frame comprises a motor-fan unit 3 for generating a vacuum, an electric cable winder and control electronics as well as manual control members for controlling the operation of the vacuum cleaner. These various elements, which do not constitute the object of the invention in itself, have not all been represented in order to alleviate FIG. 1.

[27] The vacuum cleaner comprises a duct 4 providing a ventilation link between the motor-fan unit 3 and a separation assembly 5 so that the motor-fan unit establishes a depression during its operation. The duct 4 may comprise, upstream of the motor-fan unit, a filtering medium 6, such as a foam, intended to trap the finest particles which would not have been separated from the air sucked by the separation assembly 5. .

[28] The separation assembly 5 comprises a connecting mouth 7 of a suction brush, not shown, generally comprising a suction head adapted to the end of a rigid telescopic tube connected to the mouth 7 by a flexible tube so that the suction head is in ventilation connection with the motor-fan unit 3 via the separation assembly 5 and the duct 4.

[29] According to an essential feature of the invention, the separation assembly 5 implements a principle of cyclonic separation of waste and air sucked. Thus, the separation assembly 5 comprises downstream of the mouth 7 at least one and, according to the illustrated example, two stages 8 and 9 of cyclonic separation. The first stage 8 has a primary separator 10 per cyclone while the second stage

9 comprises a plurality of secondary separators located downstream of the primary separator

10 and not visible in the figures. It should be noted that the implementation of a second cyclonic separation stage is not strictly necessary for the realization of a vacuum cleaner according to the invention.

[30] The primary separator 10 comprises a tubular body 15 which delimits a generally frustoconical chamber of revolution axis Δ whose outer wall diverges downwards. The mating mouth 7 of the brush is then connected to the body 15 by a conduit 16 which opens tangentially into the primary separator 10. The first stage 8 also comprises in the center of the tubular body 15 a connecting tube 17 to the second separation stage 9. The tube 17 has a low part with symmetry of revolution of axis Δ whose lower end is substantially frustoconical and converges downwards.

[31] During operation of the vacuum cleaner, the air and the waste sucked arrive via the pipe 16 tangentially inside the primary separator 10 as shown by the arrow Fl. It then creates a vortex descending around the tube 17 as shown by the arrows F2. The waste contained in the air, and especially the heavier, then tend to accumulate outwards in the lower part of the body 15 under the combined effect of centrifugal forces, the direction of air circulation and gravity. The air sucked by the lower opening of the connecting tube 17 is then cleared of a large part of the waste that it contained until now.

[32] In order to ensure the recovery of the centrifuged waste by the primary separator 10, the vacuum cleaner comprises a removable waste collection container 20 which is located under the primary separator 10. By removable, it is to be understood that the container 20 can to be removed from the vacuum cleaner by a user without the aid of tools, likewise for the replacement of the container 20. According to the illustrated example, the container 20 is fitted under the primary separator 10 in a fitted receiving housing in the frame 1 being understood that any other mode of adaptation could be envisaged. [33] According to the illustrated example and as shown more particularly in Figures 2 to 4, the container 20 is in the form of a bowl or tray made of plastic preferably at least partially transparent or translucent so as to allow the user to visually appreciate the filling. The container 20 is equipped with a handle 21 in the form of a handle which facilitates handling.

[34] According to the invention, the container 20 is associated with a movable lid 22 which provides the interface between the container 20 and the primary separator 10. Thus, in order to ensure the junction and the aeraulic connection between the container 20 and the primary separator 10, the cover 22 defines a connecting conduit 24 between the primary separator 10 and the container 20.

[35] According to the illustrated example, the cover 22 comprises a hollow outer body 25 with a substantially cylindrical upper portion 26 of revolution axis Δ and a lower portion 27 of generally frustoconical shape of axis Δ. The upper portion 26 has a cross section substantially circular while the lower portion 27 has at its widest region a cross section of generally rectangular shape with rounded corners. The conformation of the upper 26 and lower 27 parts gives the hollow outer body 25 the general appearance of an inverted funnel.

[36] The outer body 25 is connected to the container 20 by a hinge 28 so that the lid 22 is rotatable between a closed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and an open position as illustrated in FIG. Figure 4.

[37] In order to avoid leaks and whistles during the operation of the vacuum cleaner, the cover 22 being in the closed position and the cover assembly 22 - container 20 adapted to the frame 1, it is implemented means of connecting the cover 22 with, on the one hand, the primary separator 10 and, on the other hand, the container 20 which are adapted to achieve a substantially airtight connection. These connection means can be made in any appropriate manner. According to the illustrated example, the connection means between the primary separator 10 and the cover 22 are formed by the circular mouth of the upper portion 26 which is intended to bear against a shoulder 29 provided by a lower end of the body 15 so as to achieve the substantially airtight connection. In order to complete this seal, it can be implemented a seal at the shoulder 29.

[38] Still according to the illustrated example, the means for connecting the lid 22 to the container 20 comprise a peripheral groove 30 arranged at the lower periphery of the lower portion 27 of the outer body 25. The peripheral groove 30 is intended to receive a seal sealing, not shown, intended to bear on a peripheral rim 31 arranged around the opening of the container 20. Thus, when the lid 22 is in the closed position is obtained with the container 20 a substantially sealed connection in the air.

[39] According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the inlet section 34 of the duct 24, defined by the cover 22, has at its connection to the primary separator 10 a generally annular shape, as shown in FIG. , and coaxial with the axis Δ, as is apparent from Figures 1 and 2. For this purpose, the cover 22 comprises a core 36 which is located inside the body 25 and partially closes the volume so as to define the connecting duct 24 which has a generally annular shape being located between the core 36 and the body 25. The connecting duct 24 therefore extends all around the core 36.

[40] According to the illustrated example, the core 36 is hollow and is closed at its upper end located substantially at the inlet section 34 of the cover 22. The core 36 here has a frustoconical tubular conformation converging towards the top. Given the shape of the outer body 25 and the core 36, the inlet section 34 has a lower surface than the surface of the outlet section 35 of the conduit 24 located at the connection thereof with the container 20. It It should be noted that the outer wall of the connecting duct 24, defined by the inner wall of the body 25, diverges between the inlet section 34 and the outlet section 35. According to the illustrated example, the divergence of the outer wall of the connecting pipe 24 is such that the inlet section 34 has a diameter d smaller than the smallest dimension D 'of the periphery of the outlet section 35.

[41] The core 36 is further rigidly connected to the outer body 25 by at least one and, according to the example shown, only a tongue 37 of connection whose rigidity ensures a perfect positioning of the core 36 coxially to the Δ axis.

[42] In operation of the vacuum cleaner, the annular shape of the inlet section 34 of the duct 24 is particularly suitable for the recovery of particles which are naturally projected outwards under the effect of centrifugal forces induced by the cyclone vortex of the primary separator 10. In addition, the annular shape of the duct 24, defined by the cover 22, prevents a viscous coupling between the air contained in the container 20 and the vortex air inside the separator primary 10. Thus the occurrence of turbulence within the container 20 is limited which avoids a reintroduction into the primary separator 10 of the dust and waste that will accumulate in the container 20. The widening of the conduit 24 or its increase of section from the primary separator 10 to the container 20 contributes to a slowing of the air also reducing the risks of coupling and eddy.

[43] In order to prevent the accumulation of fibers and other filaments on the tongue 37 during the operation of the vacuum cleaner, the latter is associated with a deflector 38 which extends from said connecting tongue 37 to the Inside the removable container 20. The deflector 38 has a convex outer surface and has an end portion inclined towards the direction of the removable container as shown in Figure 4. The deflector 38 also has an anti-eddy function by preventing the creation of a circular air movement inside the container 20.

[44] In order to avoid as much as possible removing the waste which has accumulated in the container 20, the core 36 comprises, according to the example illustrated, in its lower region a flat collar 40 against the backflow. This flange 40 is coplanar with the connecting tongue 37 and has a general shape substantially annular except for the region corresponding to the tongue 37. In order to optimize its backflow function, the flange 40 has an outer diameter D substantially equal to or greater than the outer diameter d of the inlet section of the cover as as shown in Figure 2.

[45] It therefore appears that the implementation of the lid 22 thus formed as an interface between the primary separator 10 and the container 20 during the operation of the vacuum optimizes the recovery of waste while reducing the risks recirculation of these. In addition, when the removable container is removed from the frame 1, the cover 22 avoids, by providing a reduced inlet section relative to the maximum section of the container 20, the waste accumulated in the latter does not escape unexpectedly . Once arrived at the emptying place of the container 20, the user can by opening the lid 22 largely open the opening of the container 20 and easily remove the accumulated waste for example by turning the container 20 over a trash can.

[46] According to the illustrated example, in order to keep the lid 22 in the closed position, it is implemented locking means 41 comprising for example an elastically deformable hook system.

[47] According to the illustrated example, the cover 22 is hinged to the container 20 by means of a hinge however, it could be envisaged that the cover 22 is simply fitted on the container 20 and can thus be completely separated.

[48] Furthermore, according to the illustrated embodiment, the portion 45 of the wall of the tubular body 15, located before the zone of connection to the cover 22, diverges more strongly than in the other regions of the body 15, so that the connection zone or lower part of the body 15 has an internal diameter greater than the internal diameter of the tubular body outside the connection zone. Thus, it is defined a kind of buffer zone 46 which induces a slowing down of the air and which is able to retain the waste to prevent recirculation before entering the conduit connecting the lid to the recovery tank. [49] Of course, various other modifications may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, to the vacuum cleaner according to the invention and, in particular, to the assembly formed by the lid and the removable waste collection container separated by the primary floor.

Claims

B.1048 Claims

A vacuum cleaner comprising a waste separation assembly which comprises:

at least one cyclonic separation stage (8) comprising a primary cyclone separator (10) with a longitudinal axis Δ,

a removable waste collection container (20) located under the primary separator (10),

characterized in that the removable waste container (20) is associated with a movable lid (22) which defines a connecting duct (24) between the primary separator (10) and the removable container (22), the duct link (24) having at its connection to the primary separator (10) an inlet section (34) of generally annular shape coaxial with the axis Δ.

2. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer wall of the connecting duct (24) diverges between the inlet section (34) and the outlet section (35).

3. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, characterized in that the outer diameter (d) of the inlet section (34) of the cover is smaller than the smallest dimension of the periphery or around the outlet section (35).

4. Vacuum cleaner according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the primary separator (10) comprises a tubular body (15) whose wall (45) diverges before a connection zone to the lid (22) so that the tubular body has, in the connection zone, an internal diameter greater than the internal diameter of the tubular body outside the connection zone.

Vacuum cleaner according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the inlet section (34) of the lid (22) has a lower surface than the surface of the outlet section (35) of the lid located at the connecting the connecting conduit (24) to the removable container (20).

6. Vacuum cleaner according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lid comprises:

- a hollow outer body (25), an upper end comprises means for connection to the primary separator (10) and a lower end comprises means for connection to the removable container (20),

- a core (36) which is located inside the outer body (25) and which delimits with the outer body (25) the connecting conduit (24) extending between the core and the outer body.

7. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, characterized in that the outer body comprises a substantially cylindrical upper portion (26) of tubular axis Δ and a lower portion (27) of generally frustoconical shape of axis Δ.

8. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the core (36) has a generally cylindrical or frustoconical shape of revolution of axis Δ.

9. Vacuum cleaner according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the core (36) is connected to the body by a lateral tongue (37).

10. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, characterized in that the cover (22) comprises a baffle (38) extending from the connecting tongue (37) inside the removable container (20).

11. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 10, characterized in that the baffle (38) has a convex outer surface and has an end portion inclined towards the center of the removable container (20).

12. Vacuum cleaner according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the core (36) comprises, in its lower region, a peripheral flat flange (40) antirefoulement.

Vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, characterized in that the flange (40) has a substantially annular general shape with an outer diameter (D) substantially equal to or greater than the outer diameter (d) of the inlet section (34) of the cover (22).

14. Vacuum cleaner according to one of claims 6 to 13, characterized in that the core (36) is hollow and closed at its upper end located substantially at the inlet section (34) of the lid.

15. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (22) is connected to the removable container (20).

16. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (22) is articulated on the removable container (20) so as to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position.

17. Vacuum cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (41) for locking the lid in an at least partial closure position of the removable container (20).