Gas separation – Plural serial basically diverse separating media – Plural stages in unitary casing
Patent
1997-08-11
1999-01-12
Woo, Jay H.
Gas separation
Plural serial basically diverse separating media
Plural stages in unitary casing
55345, 55429, 554591, 55DIG2, 55DIG3, B01D 4512
Patent
active
058580387
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to apparatus for separating dirt or dust particles from an airflow by cyclonic means. The invention relates particularly, but not exclusively, to cyclonic dust separation apparatus for use in a vacuum cleaner.
2. Description of Related Art
Cyclonic dust separation apparatus typically comprises a frusto-conical cyclone having a tangential air inlet at the end having the larger diameter and a cone opening leading to a dirt or dust collector at the end having the smaller diameter. The dust collector is generally cylindrical in shape and is considerably larger in diameter than the cone opening, normally having a diameter of at least three times that of the cone opening. In operation, an airflow carrying dirt and dust with it enters the cyclone via the air inlet and, by virtue of the tangential orientation of the air inlet, is set into a swirling motion over the interior surface of the cyclone. Most of the air of the airflow escapes from the cyclone by passing towards the longitudinal axis of the cyclone and exiting via an exit passage arranged substantially centrally of the end of the cyclone having the larger diameter. The remainder of the airflow spirals towards the cone opening at increasing angular speeds carrying the dirt and dust with it and is ejected into the dust collector, whereupon the dirt and dust particles are flung towards the cylindrical wall of the collector. The dirt and dust particles then collect in the lower regions of the cylindrical wall, whilst the remainder of the airflow exits from the collector via the cone opening and the exit passage. Apparatus of this type is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,976.
It is generally desirable for cyclonic dust separation apparatus to be relatively compact, particularly as regards the overall length of the apparatus, ie, the dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cyclone. If the apparatus is used in a vacuum cleaner, compact dust separation apparatus reduces the overall dimensions of the complete cleaner and lowers the centre of gravity of the cleaner which, in turn, increases its stability. This is particularly advantageous in cylinder-type cleaners as well as upright-type vacuum cleaners.
OBJECTS
It is an object of the present invention to provide dust separation apparatus which is relatively compact without any significant loss of dust separation efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for separating dirt or dust from an airflow comprising a frustoconical cyclone having a tangential air inlet located at or adjacent the end of the cyclone having the larger diameter and a cone opening located at the end of the cyclone having a smaller diameter than at the end having the larger diameter, and a collector arranged so as to surround the cone opening and having a base surface facing towards the cone opening and upwardly ending wall, wherein the distance between the cone opening and the base surface is either between 4 and 6 mm or between 45 and 60 mm. Advantageous features are set out in the subsidiary claims.
It has previously been assumed that as large a distance as possible between the base surface and the cone opening is desirable. This allows more volume in the collector for separated dirt and dust to accumulate before emptying is required and was also thought to reduce the likelihood of separated dirt and dust becoming re-entrained into the airflow. The distance between the base surface and the cone opening has therefore been limited merely by the desired overall dimensions of the machine of which the dust separation apparatus forms part. However, it has now been found that varying this distance can affect the separation efficiency of the apparatus. Maxima of separation efficiency for different sizes of cyclone and collector occur when the distance between the base surface and the cone opening lies in the range 30 mm to 70 mm. A particularly advantageous distance is 54 mm. Surprisingly, a
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Bickerstaff Simon Mark
Dyson James
McRae Thomson Andrew Walter
McLeod Ian C.
Notetry Limited
Pham Minh-Chau T.
Woo Jay H.
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