U.S. patent application number 10/143990 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-28 for cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Oh, Jang-Keun.
Application Number | 20030159235 10/143990 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19719541 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030159235 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oh, Jang-Keun |
August 28, 2003 |
Cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
Abstract
A cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner for
easy removal of contaminants from a grill assembly. The apparatus
having a cyclone body connected to a suction port of the vacuum
cleaner with an air inflow port and an air outflow port for forming
a vortex of a contaminant-laden air drawn in through the air inflow
port. A removable dust receptacle attached to the cyclone body. In
the receptacle a grill assembly having a plurality of longitudinal
slots is disposed at the air outflow port of the cyclone body. The
grill assembly prevents a reverse flow of contaminants, and
includes a contaminant removing member or sweeper movably mounted
along the circumference of the grill body to remove contaminants
collected on the grill. The movement of the sweeper is controlled
by an external knob by a rack and pinion connection.
Inventors: |
Oh, Jang-Keun;
(Gwangju-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BANNER & WITCOFF
1001 G STREET N W
SUITE 1100
WASHINGTON
DC
20001
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Gwangju-city
KR
|
Family ID: |
19719541 |
Appl. No.: |
10/143990 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/352 ;
15/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/1666 20130101;
A47L 9/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/352 ;
15/353 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/20; A47L
009/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 28, 2002 |
KR |
2002-0011041 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner,
comprising: a cyclone body comprising: a first connection pipe
connected to an extension pipe adjacent to a suction port of the
vacuum cleaner, a second connection pipe connected to the extension
pipe adjacent to a body of the vacuum cleaner, an air inflow port
interconnected with the first connection pipe, and an air outflow
port interconnected with the second connection pipe, the cyclone
body for forming a vortex with a contaminant-laden air that is
drawn in through the air inflow port; a dust receptacle removably
connected to the cyclone body, for receiving contaminants separated
from the air by the vortex; a grill assembly disposed at the air
outflow port of the cyclone body, and having a plurality of
longitudinal slots formed in an outer circumference of the grill
body at a constant interval from each other to form a passage
toward the air outflow port, the grill assembly for preventing a
reverse of the contaminants collected in the dust receptacle
through the air outflow port of the cyclone body; a contaminant
removing member movable along the outer circumference of the grill
body to be moved upward and downward to remove contaminants that
are attached to and around the respective longitudinal slots of the
grill assembly; a rack connected with the contaminant removing
member with an end thereof, and extending upward from the connected
end; a pinion disposed in the cyclone body, and having a gear
portion meshed with a gear portion of the rack; and a knob
connected with the pinion by a shaft, and positioned outside of the
cyclone body.
2. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
plurality of longitudinal slots comprise at least two opposing
slots serving a function of a guide for the contaminant removing
member when the contaminant removing member is moved upward and
downward, and the contaminant removing member comprises a
cylindrical body with a rib that is inserted into the at least two
opposing slots and a brush that is attached to an inner
circumference of the cylindrical body.
3. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
grill assembly comprises a conical contaminant reversal preventing
plate, which is integrally formed with a lower end of the grill
body.
4. A dust receptacle for a cyclone dust collecting apparatus of a
vacuum cleaner comprising: a grill assembly adapted to be disposed
adjacent an air outflow area of said receptacle, said grill
assembly including a grill body with a filtering portion for
filtering contaminant laden air; and a grill sweeper in movable
engagement and in contact with said grill body for removing
contaminants collected on said grill body.
5. The dust receptacle of claim 4, wherein said grill body is
cylindrical.
6. The dust receptacle of claim 5, wherein said grill body
comprises longitudinal slots to form said filtering portion.
7. The dust receptacle of claim 4, wherein said grill sweeper is
circular and extends annularly around said grill body.
8. The dust receptacle of claim 7, wherein said grill sweeper
comprises bristles to contact said grill body and remove
contaminants therefrom.
9. The dust receptacle of claim 5, wherein said grill body
comprises longitudinal slots to form said filtering portion, and
said grill sweeper is circular and extend annularly around said
grill body.
10. The dust receptacle of claim 9, wherein said grill sweeper
comprises a radial rib to engage with one of said longitudinal
slots of said grill body for providing movable engagement
thereto.
11. The dust receptacle of claim 10, wherein said grill sweeper
further comprises a rack and pinion assembly, and a control knob
for movement of said pinion to effect movement of said grill
sweeper along said grill body.
12. The dust receptacle of claim 11, wherein said grill sweeper
comprises bristles to contact said grill body and remove
contaminants therefrom.
13. A grill and sweeper assembly for a one-way flow apparatus for
filtering contaminant laden fluid, said assembly comprising: a
grill with a filtering area through which the fluid flows; and a
sweeper in movable engagement and contact with said grill for
removing contaminants collected on said filtering area of said
grill.
14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said grill is substantially
cylindrical and said sweeper is substantially circular.
15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said sweeper is disposed
along the outer periphery of said grill.
16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said sweeper comprises
bristles in contact with said grill for removing contaminants
therefrom.
17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said filtering area of said
grill comprises a plurality of longitudinal slots formed
therein.
18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein said sweeper comprises a
radial rib configured to engage one of said slots of said grill to
provide movable engagement thereto.
19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein said sweeper is mounted on a
rack in meshed with a pinion gear controlled by a knob, whereby
movement of said knob results in longitudinal movement of said
sweeper along said grill body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cyclone-dust
collecting-apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly,
to a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner having
a dust removing means for removing contaminants from a grill
assembly easily.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Generally, a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum
cleaner separates and collects contaminants from contaminant-laden
air that is drawn into the cleaner through a suction port, by
generating a vortex of air and using a centrifugal force from such
generated vortex of air.
[0005] The U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,835 (application Ser. No.
09/388,532) issued Mar. 6, 2001 to the same applicant discloses a
vacuum cleaner having such cyclone dust collecting apparatus.
[0006] FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of the vacuum
cleaner having the cyclone dust collecting apparatus of the U.S.
Pat. No. 6,195,835. As shown in FIG. 1, the cyclone dust collecting
apparatus includes a cyclone body 20, a dust receptacle 30 and a
grill assembly 40.
[0007] The cyclone body 20 includes a first connection pipe 21
connected to a suction port extension pipe 1a, a second connection
pipe 22 connected to the cleaner body extension pipe 1b, an air
inflow port 23 interconnected with the first connection pipe 21,
and an air outflow port 24 interconnected with the second
connection pipe 22. In the cyclone body 20, the contaminant-laden
air is drawn in through the air inflow port 23, forming a whirling
current.
[0008] The dust receptacle 30 is removably connected to the cyclone
body 20, and receives the contaminants separated from the air by
the centrifugal force of the whirling air current of the cyclone
body 20.
[0009] The grill assembly 40 is disposed at the air outflow port 24
of the cyclone body 20, to prevent a reversal flow of the collected
contaminants through the air outflow port 24. The grill assembly 40
includes a grill body 41, a plurality of fine holes 42 formed in an
outer circumference of the grill body 41 to form a passage to the
air outflow port 24, and a contaminant reversal preventing plate 43
of conical shape formed at the lower end of the grill body 41.
[0010] In the general vacuum cleaner having the cyclone dust
collecting apparatus constructed as described above, the
contaminant-laden air is drawn in by a suction force that is
generated at the suction port 2 of the vacuum cleaner, into the
cyclone body 20 in a diagonal direction through the first
connection pipe 21 and the air inflow port 23. The drawn air flows
downward the cyclone body 20, forming a vortex air current
(indicated in solid-lined arrow of FIG. 1). In this process,
contaminants are separated from the air by the centrifugal force of
the vortex air, and received in the dust receptacle 30.
[0011] As the air current hits against the bottom of the dust
receptacle 30, the air flows in the reversal direction, i.e., it
flows upward the cyclone body 20. The air then flows through the
fine holes 42 of the grill assembly 40, the air outflow port 24 and
the second connection pipe 22, and then discharged into the cleaner
body 1 (indicated by a dot-lined arrow of FIG. 1). Some
contaminants, floating in the upwardly moving air current, are hit
against the contaminant reversal preventing plate 43 and thus
reflected into the vortex air current. And the other contaminants,
which are still entrained in the upwardly moving air current after
the contaminant reversal preventing plate 43, are filtered out at
the fine holes 42 of the grill assembly 40 as the air flows through
the fine holes 42, and the filtered contaminants are fallen into
the vortex air current.
[0012] Contaminants, which have not removed even after the fine
holes 42, are discharged through the fine holes 42 and the air
outflow port 24, but filtered out at the paper filter 4 of the
cleaner body 1, and the clean air is discharged outside the vacuum
cleaner via the motor chamber (not shown).
[0013] In the cyclone dust collecting apparatus for vacuum cleaner
as described above, some contaminants being attached to the grill
assembly 40 are avoidable when the contaminant-laden air is
discharged through the fine holes 42 of the grill assembly 40. As
time goes by, the contaminants are increasingly attached to the
grill assembly 40, and finally clog the fine holes 42. As a result,
problems like suction force deterioration and overload of the motor
occur. Accordingly, the contaminants have to be removed from the
fine holes 42 of the grill assembly 40 regularly. With the general
cyclone dust collecting apparatus as described above, in order to
remove the contaminants from the grill assembly 40, a user has to
separate the dust receptacle 30 from the cyclone body 20 and remove
the contaminants manually or by using a brush. Accordingly, grill
assembly cleaning process becomes tricky. Also, since the grill
assembly 40 is exposed during its cleaning, there is a high
possibility that the contaminants floats in the air, contaminating
the surrounding area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention has been made to overcome the
above-mentioned problems of the prior art. Accordingly, it is an
object of the present invention to provide a cyclone dust
collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner in which contaminants are
removed from a grill assembly easily with a dust receptacle being
still in a mounted position, and also the contaminants removed from
the grill assembly are collected in the dust receptacle so as to
keep the surrounding area clean.
[0015] The above object is accomplished by a cyclone dust
collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner according to the present
invention, including a cyclone body comprising: a first connection
pipe connected to an extension pipe adjacent to a suction port of
the vacuum cleaner, a second connection pipe connected to the
extension pipe adjacent to a body of the vacuum cleaner. The dust
collecting apparatus has an air inflow port interconnected with the
first connection pipe, and an air outflow port interconnected with
the second connection pipe. The cyclone body is configured for
forming a vortex with a contaminant-laden air that is drawn in
through the air inflow port, and includes a dust receptacle
removably connected to the cyclone body for receiving contaminants
separated from the air by the vortex. Within the dust receptacle is
a grill assembly disposed at the air outflow port of the cyclone
body, the grill assembly having a plurality of longitudinal slots
formed in an outer circumference of the grill body at a constant
interval from each other to form a passage toward the air outflow
port. The grill assembly prevents a reverse flow of contaminants
collected in the dust receptacle through the air outflow port of
the cyclone body. A contaminant removing member or sweeper which is
movable along the outer circumference of the grill body is movable
upward and downward to remove contaminants that become attached to
and around the respective longitudinal slots of the grill assembly.
An end of the contaminant removing member is connected to a rack
that extends upward from the connected end. The rack engages a
pinion with a gear portion disposed in the cyclone body. The gear
portion of the pinion is meshed with a gear portion of the rack.
The pinion is also connected by a shaft to a knob that is
positioned outside of the cyclone body.
[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the plurality of longitudinal slots in the grill
assembly include at least two opposing slots which serve as guides
for the contaminant removing member. The contaminant removing
member comprises a cylindrical body with at least one rib that is
inserted into a corresponding one of the opposing slots in the
grill assembly to enable the contaminant removing member to move
upward and downward along the grill assembly via the rack and
pinion connection. The contaminant removing member also includes a
brush member that is attached to an inner circumference of its
cylindrical body for making contact with the grill assembly to
thereby clean the surface thereof.
[0017] The grill assembly also includes a conical contaminant
reversal prevention plate, which is integrally formed with a lower
end of the grill body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The above-mentioned objects and the feature of the present
invention will be more apparent by describing the preferred
embodiment of the present invention by referring to the appended
drawings, in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional cyclone dust
collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a cyclone dust
collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a contaminant removing
unit of the cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
of FIG. 2 being assembled.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be
described below in greater detail by referring to the appended
drawings.
[0023] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a cyclone dust
collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a
sectional view showing a contaminant removing or grill sweeper unit
of the cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner of
FIG. 2 being assembled.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cyclone dust collecting
apparatus for vacuum cleaner according to the preferred embodiment
of the present invention includes a cyclone body 100, a dust
receptacle 200, a grill assembly 300 and a contaminant removing
unit 400.
[0025] The cyclone body 100 is divided into an upper body 110 and a
lower body 120, which are connected to each other by a plurality of
screws 130. The lower body 120 has a first connection pipe 121
connected to an extension pipe 1a at the suction port of the
cleaner, and an air inflow port 122 interconnected with the first
connection pipe 121. The upper body 110 has a second connection
pipe 111 connected to the extension pipe 1b at the body of the
cleaner, and an air outflow port 112 interconnected with the second
connection pipe 111. The upper body 110 also has a through hole 113
formed at a side. The contaminant-laden air, drawn in through the
suction port of the cleaner, is drawn into the cyclone body 100
through the first connection pipe 121 and the air inflow port 122
in a diagonal direction. As a result, a vortex of air occurs in the
cyclone body 100 and the dust receptacle 200, generating a
centrifugal force that separates the contaminants from the air.
[0026] The dust receptacle 200 is removably connected to the
cyclone body 100, for forming the vortex of air in cooperation with
the cyclone body 100. The dust receptacle 200 also receives the
contaminants separated from the air.
[0027] The grill assembly 300 is disposed at the air outflow port
112 of the cyclone body 100, for preventing a reversal of the
contaminants of the dust receptacle 200 to the air outflow port
112. Such a grill assembly 300 includes a grill body 310, a
plurality of longitudinal slots 320 formed on the outer
circumference of the grill body 310 to form a passage toward the
air outflow port 112, and a contaminant reversal preventing plate
330 in a conical shape which is formed at the lower end of the
grill body 310. The grill body 310 is supported on the upper and
lower bodies 120, 110 of the cyclone body 100 at its upper rim, and
thereby, the grill assembly 300 is disposed at the air outflow port
112 of the cyclone body 100. The plurality of longitudinal slots
320 are formed along the longitudinal direction of the grill body
310 at a predetermined distance from one another. At least two
opposing longitudinal slots 320 are formed such that these slots
320 also serve the function as a guide for a dust removing member
(described later) when the dust removing member is moved upward and
downward.
[0028] The contaminant reversal preventing plate 330 blocks the
contaminants of the upwardly moving air in the dust receptacle 200
before the contaminants reach the grill body 310. Accordingly, the
contaminants fall.
[0029] The contaminant removing or unit 400 removes the
contaminants attached to and around the slots 320 of the grill
assembly 300, and includes a contaminant removing member or grill
sweeper 410, a rack 420, a pinion 430 and a knob 440.
[0030] The contaminant removing member 410 is movable in a
longitudinal direction along the outer circumference of the grill
body 310 of the grill assembly 300. The contaminant removing member
410 includes a cylindrical body 411, a brush 412 attached to an
inner circumference of the cylindrical body 411, and a rib 413
arranged along the inner portion of the cylindrical body 411 by the
same number as that of the longitudinal slots 320 that serve as the
guide for the grill body 310. Here, the number of rib 413 can be
four (4) as shown in FIG. 2, or 2 or 3, at a constant interval.
Although this embodiment depicts the four (4) slots 320 serving as
the guide, the number of the slots 320 can be varied to, for
example, two (2) through four (4).
[0031] The rack 420 is extended upward, with its one end being
fixed at the rib 413 of the contaminant removing member 410.
Accordingly, as the rack 420 is pulled, the contaminant removing
member 410 is moved upward and downward. The rack 420 has a gear
portion 421 at one side thereof.
[0032] The pinion 430 is disposed at a certain position of the
inner portion of the upper body 110 of the cyclone body 100. The
pinion 430 has a gear portion that is meshed with the gear portion
421 of the rack 420. Accordingly, as the pinion 430 is rotated, the
rack 420 is moved upward or downward, and as a result, the
contaminant removing member 410 is moved upward or downward.
[0033] The knob 440 is connected with the pinion 430 with a shaft
441. The shaft 441 is protruded out of the upper body 110 through
the through hole 113 that is formed at a side of the upper body
110. The protruding end of the shaft 441 is connected with the knob
440. Accordingly, as the knob 440 is rotated, and pinion 430 is
rotated together.
[0034] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a guide 340 can be formed at an inner side of the grill
body 310, to guide the movement of the rack 420. It is preferred
that the through hole 113 of the cyclone body 100 being sealed by a
sealing 114.
[0035] The operation of the cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a
vacuum cleaner constructed as above according to the present
invention will be described below.
[0036] As the vacuum cleaner is operated, by the strong suction
force generated at the suction port, the contaminant-laden air is
drawn into the cyclone body 100 through the first connection pipe
121 and the air inflow port 122 in a diagonal direction. The drawn
air is turned into a vortex, while moving down to the dust
receptacle 200. During this process, by the centrifugal force of
the vortex air, the contaminants are separated from the air and
received in the dust receptacle 200.
[0037] Next, by the air current reflected upward from the bottom of
the dust receptacle 200, the contaminant-laden air is discharged
toward the cleaner body through the respective longitudinal slots
320 of the grill assembly 300, the air outflow port 112 and the
second connection pipe 111. In this process, some contaminants,
which are entrained in the upwardly moving air current in the dust
receptacle 200, are hit against the contaminant reversal preventing
plate 330 and reflected to the vortex air. Some large particles of
the contaminants, which are still left after the contaminant
reversal preventing plate 330, are filtered out at the longitudinal
slots 320 and reflected back to the vortex air, and the air is
discharged through the longitudinal slots 320 of the grill assembly
300.
[0038] In the process described above, as mentioned earlier,
contaminants are attached to and around the respective longitudinal
slots 320 of the grill assembly 300 and accumulated thereon. In
this situation, as the user rotates the knob 440 formed at the
outside of the cyclone body 100 toward the direction of arrow of
FIG. 3, the pinion 430 is rotated, and the rack 420 is moved
upwardly. Accordingly, the contaminant removing member 410 is
raised to the position indicated by a phantom line of FIG. 3 along
the outer circumference of the grill body 310. As the contaminant
removing member 410 is raised, the contaminants at the respective
longitudinal slots 320 are removed. When the knob 440 is rotated in
a reversal direction, the pinion 430 is reverse-rotated, and
accordingly the rack 420 is moved downward. Accordingly, the
contaminant removing member 410 is moved downward to a position
indicated by a solid line of FIG. 3 along the outer circumference
of the grill body 310. When the contaminant removing member 410
descends, the contaminants are also removed. The removed
contaminants are received in the dust receptacle 200.
[0039] With the cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum
cleaner according to the present invention, the contaminants at the
longitudinal slots 320 of the grill assembly 300 can be removed
very easily, with the dust receptacle 200 in position.
[0040] According to the present invention as described above, since
the user can remove the contaminants from the longitudinal slots
320 of the grill assembly 300 very easily with the dust receptacle
200 remaining in the mounted position, the vacuum cleaner becomes
not only easy to use, but also environmentally friendly as no
contaminants float out during the removal of contaminants from the
grill assembly 300.
[0041] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention
has been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that the present invention should not be limited to the
described preferred embodiment, but various changes and
modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the
present invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *