Gas separation – Plural serial basically diverse separating media – Plural stages in unitary casing
Utility Patent
1999-06-16
2001-01-02
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Gas separation
Plural serial basically diverse separating media
Plural stages in unitary casing
C055S399000, C055S429000, C055S459100, C055S460000, C055SDIG003
Utility Patent
active
06168641
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a vacuum cleaner cyclone separator having a cyclone including first and second opposing end walls, and an intermediate part having either a cylindrical shape or an at-least partially frusto-conical shape. The intermediate part has an outlet opening through which particles separated by the cyclone separator exit from the intermediate part toward the second end wall. Close to the first end wall the cyclone has a mainly tangentially-directed air inlet for dust laden air and a tube-shaped air outlet extending from the first end wall toward the intermediate part and communicating with a vacuum source.
Vacuum cleaners provided with cyclone separators are known in the art, see for instance GB-A-2305623. Such cyclone separators are rather space demanding because of various requirements of the separator. Firstly, the axis of symmetry of the cyclone is usually vertically arranged. Secondly, the cyclone has to have a certain vertical extension. Thirdly, the distance between the particle outlet opening of the cyclone and the bottom of the collecting container has to be of sufficient size to permit collection of a large volume of particles. Because of these space requirements, the cyclone arrangement is suitable for so-called upright vacuum cleaners, but less suited for so-called canister vacuum cleaners because the required vertical cyclone axis arrangement increases the height of the motor housing for canister vacuum cleaners in an unacceptable way.
It has nevertheless been suggested to use cyclone separators for canister vacuum cleaners, see GB-A-2297243. The cyclone is arranged such that the vortex created in the cyclone is inclined more than 45° with respect to a horizontal plane when the vacuum cleaner is moved on a horizontal surface. The inclination of the cyclone decreases the required height while the major part of the gravity force is used to direct the particles to the container beneath the cyclone. It is possible to use this vacuum cleaner for stair cleaning purposes which means that the vacuum cleaner during such cleaning is placed on the step in such a manner that the symmetry axis will take an almost horizontal position. This position is, however, only temporary since stair cleaning normally is a minor part of the total cleaning work.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward a cyclone vacuum cleaner that has a compact structure and a large volume in the collecting container. The present invention is also directed toward a cyclone vacuum cleaner that has a simple design and, hence, is easy to manufacture. The present invention is further directed toward a cyclone vacuum cleaner that can be emptied in a simple and hygienic way.
In accordance with the present invention, a device for a vacuum cleaner includes a cyclone separator having a cyclone comprising a first end wall, a second, opposite end wall, and an intermediate part. The intermediate part is either shaped as a cylinder or, at least partly, a truncated cone. The intermediate part has a particle outlet opening through which particles separated by the cyclone leave from the intermediate part toward the second end wall. The cyclone, close to the first end wall, is provided with a generally tangentially-directed air inlet for dust laden air and has a tube-shaped air outlet extending from the first end wall into the intermediate part and communicating with a vacuum source.
In further accordance with the present invention, the particle outlet opening continues into a separation part. The separation part has a side wall opening through which particles leave generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of a vortex created in the cyclone to a particle collecting. The particle collecting container is placed outside the separation part.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 2305623 (1997-04-01), None
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patent: 2344746 (2000-06-01), None
Kilstrom Lars
Pastuhoff Patrik
Petersson Stefan
Tuvin Lars
Akteibolaget Electrolux
Pearne & Gordon LLP
Prince Fred
Simmons David A.
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