U.S. patent application number 10/442149 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-08 for dust and dirt collecting unit for vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to Ji, Heon Pyeong, Kim, Bong Ju.
Application Number | 20040064912 10/442149 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32041001 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040064912 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ji, Heon Pyeong ; et
al. |
April 8, 2004 |
Dust and dirt collecting unit for vacuum cleaner
Abstract
The present invention relates to a dust and dirt collecting unit
for a vacuum cleaner capable of simultaneously performing a primary
cyclonic dust collection and a secondary filter dust collection.
The dust and dirt collecting unit of the present invention is
arranged on one side of the vacuum cleaner for filtering air
containing foreign materials. The dust and dirt collecting unit
includes a dust casing which has an inlet formed tangentially on
the dust casing with an open top portion. A cover may be arranged
for opening and closing the top portion of the dust casing. An
outlet is provided at the center of the cover for discharging air
from which the foreign materials have been filtered out. A filter
assembly installed at a bottom surface of the cover corresponding
to the outlet and including a cylindrical filter of which the
interior communicates with the outlet, and a separating plate which
is coupled with a bottom portion of the filter assembly and extends
radially to be spaced apart from an inner circumferential surface
of the dust casing by a predetermined gap.
Inventors: |
Ji, Heon Pyeong; (Busan
City, KR) ; Kim, Bong Ju; (Changwon City,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKENNA LONG & ALDRIDGE LLP
Song K. Jung
1900 K Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
32041001 |
Appl. No.: |
10/442149 |
Filed: |
May 21, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/352 ;
15/327.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/1666 20130101;
A47L 9/1683 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/352 ;
015/327.2 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/16; A47L
009/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 8, 2002 |
KR |
2002-61323 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A dust and dirt collecting unit for a vacuum cleaner, adapted to
be mounted to a main body of the vacuum cleaner, for filtering
suctioned air containing foreign materials, comprising: a dust
casing with a bottom and side surfaces and an open top portion; an
inlet formed tangentially to the side surface of the dust casing
for introducing air into the dust casing; a cover for opening and
closing the top portion of the dust casing, the cover having an
outlet for discharging air from which the foreign materials have
been substantially filtered out; a filter assembly attached to a
bottom surface of the cover, said filter assembly including a
substantially cylindrical filter arranged such that an interior of
the filter communicates with the outlet; and a separating plate
attached to a bottom portion of the filter assembly and extending
radially to be spaced apart from an inner surface of the dust
casing by a predetermined gap.
2. A dust and dirt collecting unit for a vacuum cleaner adapted to
be mounted to a main body of the vacuum cleaner for filtering
suctioned air containing foreign materials, comprising: a dust
casing with an open top portion; an inlet formed tangentially to
the dust casing for introducing air into the dust casing; a cover
for opening and closing the top portion of the dust casing, said
cover having an outlet for discharging air from which the foreign
materials have been substantially filtered out; a filter assembly
attached to a bottom surface of the cover corresponding to the
outlet, said filter assembly including a substantially cylindrical
filter arranged such that an interior of the filter communicates
with the outlet; a separating plate attached to bottom portion of
the filter assembly and extending radially to come into close
contact with an inner surface of the dust casing; and a
communicating passage formed on at least a portion of the
separating plate to allow the foreign materials to pass
therethrough and into a bottom portion of the dust casing.
3. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 1, wherein the
separating plate extends radially from a bottom surface of the
filter assembly and then slopes downwardly.
4. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 2, wherein the
separating plate extends radially from a bottom surface of the
filter assembly and then slopes downwardly.
5. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 1, wherein the filter
assembly includes a ring-shaped upper frame mounted to communicate
with the outlet of the cover, a lower frame spaced apart from the
upper frame by a predetermined interval, and the substantially
cylindrical filter mounted between the upper and lower frames.
6. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 3, wherein the
separating plate has a portion extending downwardly from an outer
edge of the sloped portion.
7. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 5, wherein the
separating plate includes a portion fixed to a bottom surface of
the lower frame, and a downwardly sloped portion which extends
radially from the fixed portion.
8. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 5, wherein the
separating plate is detachably connected to the lower frame.
9. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 5, wherein the
separating plate is integrally formed with the lower frame.
10. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 8, wherein the
separating plate is fastened to the lower frame with a screw.
11. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 8, wherein the
separating plate is coupled to the lower frame by fastening an
elastic hook protruding from a bottom surface of the lower frame
into a coupling hole formed on a top surface of the separating
plate.
12. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 1, further
comprising a stop plate formed with a floor surface of the dust
casing.
13. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 1, wherein the
filter is formed with a plurality of vertical pleats creating a
circumferential undulation on an outer surface of the filter.
14. A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main body of the vacuum cleaner
including a suction source; a guide path for guiding air containing
foreign materials introduced into the main body by a suction force
generated from the suction source; and a dust and dirt collecting
unit detachably mounted to the main body for filtering out the
foreign materials contained in the air, wherein the dust and dirt
collecting unit comprises: a dust and dirt collecting unit for a
vacuum cleaner, adapted to be mounted to a main body of the vacuum
cleaner, for filtering suctioned air containing foreign materials,
comprising: a dust casing with a bottom and side surfaces and an
open top portion; an inlet formed tangentially to the side surface
of the dust casing for introducing air into the dust casing; a
cover for opening and closing the top portion of the dust casing,
the cover having an outlet for discharging air from which the
foreign materials have been substantially filtered out; a filter
assembly attached to a bottom surface of the cover said filter
assembly including a substantially cylindrical filter arranged such
that an interior of the filter communicates with the outlet; and a
separating plate attached to a bottom portion of the filter
assembly and extending radially to be spaced apart from an inner
surface of the dust casing by a predetermined gap.
15. A vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main body of the vacuum cleaner
including a suction source; a guide path for guiding air containing
foreign materials introduced into the main body by a suction force
generated from the suction source; and a dust and dirt collecting
unit detachably mounted to the main body for filtering out the
foreign materials contained in the air, wherein the dust and dirt
collecting unit comprises: a dust and dirt collecting unit for a
vacuum cleaner adapted to be mounted to a main body of the vacuum
cleaner for filtering suctioned air containing foreign materials,
comprising: a dust casing with an open top portion; an inlet formed
tangentially to the dust casing for introducing air into the dust
casing; a cover for opening and closing the top portion of the dust
casing, said cover having an outlet for discharging air from which
the foreign materials have been substantially filtered out; a
filter assembly attached to a bottom surface of the cover
corresponding to the outlet, said filter assembly including a
substantially cylindrical filter arranged such that an interior of
the filter communicates with the outlet; a separating plate
attached to bottom portion of the filter assembly and extending
radially to come into close contact with an inner surface of the
dust casing; and a communicating passage formed on at least a
portion of the separating plate to allow the foreign materials to
pass therethrough and into a bottom portion of the dust casing.
16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the separating plate
extends radially from a bottom surface of the filter assembly and
then slopes downwardly.
17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the separating plate
extends radially from a bottom surface of the filter assembly and
then slopes downwardly.
18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the filter assembly
includes a ring-shaped upper frame mounted to communicate with the
outlet of the cover, a lower frame spaced apart from the upper
frame by a predetermined interval, and the substantially
cylindrical filter mounted between the upper and lower frames.
19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the separating plate
has a portion extending downwardly from an outer edge of the sloped
portion.
20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein the separating plate
includes a portion fixed to a bottom surface of the lower frame,
and a downwardly sloped portion, which extends radially from the
fixed portion.
21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein the separating plate is
detachably connected to the lower frame.
22. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein the separating plate is
integrally formed with the lower frame.
23. The vacuum cleaner of claim 21, wherein the separating plate is
fastened to the lower frame with a screw.
24. The vacuum cleaner of claim 21, wherein the separating plate is
coupled to the lower frame by fastening an elastic hook protruding
from a bottom surface of the lower frame and into a coupling hole
formed on a top surface of the separating plate.
25. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, further comprising a stop plate
formed with a floor surface of the dust casing.
26. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, further comprising a stop plate
formed with a floor surface of the dust casing.
27. A dust and dirt collecting unit for a vacuum cleaner
comprising: a dust casing with a bottom and side and a top portion;
an inlet in the dust casing for introducing air into the dust
casing; a cover for the top portion of the dust casing, the cover
having an outlet for discharging air; a filter assembly coupled to
a bottom surface of the cover, said filter assembly including a
filter having an interior communicating with the outlet; and a
separating plate attached to the filter assembly and extending
toward the inner surface of the dust casing and spaced apart from
the inner surface of the dust casing by a predetermined gap.
28. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 27, wherein the
predetermined gap is chosen to allow foreign materials entering the
dust casing through the inlet to optimally pass the gap.
29. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 27, wherein the
separating plate extends radially from a bottom surface of the
filter assembly and then slopes downwardly.
30. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 29, wherein the
separating plate has a portion extending downwardly from an outer
edge of the sloped portion.
31. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 27, wherein the
filter assembly includes a ring-shaped upper frame mounted to
communicate with the outlet of the cover, a lower frame spaced
apart from the upper frame by a predetermined interval, and a
substantially cylindrical filter mounted between the upper and
lower frames.
32. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 31, wherein the
separating plate includes a portion fixed to a bottom surface of
the lower frame, and a downwardly sloped portion extending radially
from the fixed portion.
33. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 31, wherein the
separating plate is detachably connected to the lower frame.
34. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 33, wherein the
separating plate is fastened to the lower frame with a screw.
35. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 33, wherein the
separating plate is coupled to the lower frame by fastening an
elastic hook protruding from a bottom surface of the lower frame
into a coupling hole formed on a top surface of the separating
plate.
36. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 31, wherein the
separating plate is integrally formed with the lower frame.
37. The dust and dirt collecting unit of claim 27, further
comprising a stop plate formed with a floor surface of the dust
casing.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2002-61323 filed on Oct. 8, 2002, which is hereby
incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth
herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to vacuum cleaners
and, more particularly, to bagless vacuum cleaners. The vacuum
cleaner is constructed in such a way that by simply manufacturing a
dust and dirt collecting portion within a dust and dirt collecting
unit foreign materials can be conveniently discharged.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] A vacuum cleaner is an apparatus for suctioning foreign
materials by means of suction force. Typically, a motor installed
within a main body of the vacuum cleaner generates a suction force
to take in air. Foreign materials may be filtered from the air
taken in the main body. Further, the foreign materials are
generally filtered out using an envelope shaped paper filter, which
blocks foreign materials while allowing air to travel through the
filter.
[0006] The use of the filter has disadvantages for the following
reasons. Foreign materials accumulate within the paper filter,
thereby increasing air flow resistance, and reducing the suction
force of the vacuum cleaner. Accordingly, the paper filter must be
periodically replaced.
[0007] A proposed method to solve these aforementioned problems is
to perform the filtering in a cyclonic fashion. FIG. 1 illustrates
a conventional cyclonic vacuum cleaner.
[0008] Referring to FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner comprises a main
body 20 in which a suction means for suctioning air is installed, a
connection hose 34 made of a flexible material and connected to
communicate with the interior of the main body 20, a variable
length extension tube 32 installed to communicate with an end of
the connection tube 34, and a suction nozzle 31 for suctioning
foreign materials by a suction force generated in the main body
20.
[0009] A detachable dust and dirt collecting unit 21 is mounted in
the rear of the main body 20. A collecting unit 21 separates
suctioned foreign materials by performing the dust and dirt
collection in a cyclonic fashion. A discharge portion 29 is formed
at the] side of the main body 20. Air is then filtered and
discharged to the atmosphere through the discharge portion 29.
[0010] A pair of wheels 28 is arranged on the main body 20. A power
cord 26 for supplying the vacuum cleaner with electric power is
installed at a side of the main body 20. The power cord 26 is
installed such that it can be wound around a cord reel (not shown)
in the main body and may be received into the main body when not in
use.
[0011] The dust and dirt collecting unit 21 has a handle 21a for
allowing a user to grasp the unit when mounting or detaching the
collecting unit to and from the main body 20. Additionally, a
handle 24 is pivotally attached to a top surface of the main body
20, thereby allowing the user to move the apparatus.
[0012] When the user operates the aforementioned vacuum cleaner, a
suction force generated in the main body is transmitted to the
suction nozzle 31 through the connection hose 34 and the extension
tube 32. The degree of suction can be adjusted by a switch 33a
installed on a grip portion 33 coupled to the upper portion of the
extension tube 32.
[0013] The suction force allows foreign materials on the floor to
enter the main body 20 through the suction nozzle 31, the extension
tube 32 and the connection hose 34, and the air with entrained
foreign materials is introduced into the dust and dirt collecting
unit 21. FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional dust and dirt collecting
unit 21
[0014] Referring to FIG. 2, the conventional dust and dirt
collecting unit 21 includes a dust casing 23. The dust casing 23
has a container shape with an open top portion. A removable cover
22 may cover the open top portion. The dust casing 23 is provided
with an inlet 23a through which the air containing the foreign
materials enters from the suction nozzle 31. The inlet 23a is
arranged tangentially on the surface of the dirt collecting unit
21, so that the air introduced into the collecting unit can flow in
a spiral or cyclonic airflow pattern.
[0015] A pair of semicircular separating plates 23b and 23c are
installed at a lower portion of the interior of the dust casing 23.
The separating plates are supported within the dust casing 23. The
plates are attached to central shafts 23d and 23e and are pivotally
mounted onto an inner surface of the dust casing 23. Further, the
separating plates 23b and 23c are arranged in a horizontal position
and may only vertically pivot on the central shafts 23d and 23e.
The separating plates 23b and 23c may be supported in the
horizontal position with supporting projections (not shown) formed
on the inner surface of the dust casing 23.
[0016] A dust and dirt collection space for collecting the foreign
materials is defined at the lower portion under the separating
plates 23b and 23c. A communicating passage is formed at one side
of the separating plate 23b. Foreign materials can enter the dust
and dirt collection space through the communicating passage.
[0017] An outlet 22a is formed in the center of the cover 22.
Filtered air is discharged through the outlet 22a.
[0018] A cylindrical filter 25 is installed below the outlet 22a.
The filter 25 is detachably mounted to a bottom surface of the
cover 22 so that the cylindrical interior of the filter is in
communication with the outlet 22a.
[0019] Next, the operation of the conventional vacuum cleaner and
the dust and dirt collecting unit 21 constructed will be discussed.
When the motor arranged in the main body 20 of the vacuum cleaner
is operated generating a suction force and foreign materials are
introduced through the suction nozzle 31. The air is then
introduced into the main body 20 via the extension tube 32 and the
connection hose 34. Thereafter, the air is introduced into the
inlet 23a of the aforementioned dust casing 23.
[0020] The air stream introduced into the dust casing 23 through
the inlet 23a forms a spiral or cyclonic airflow pattern that flows
along the cylindrical inner surface of the dust casing 23. The
spiral airflow pattern allows the relatively heavy foreign
materials to fall down into the lower portion of the dust casing
23. These foreign materials enter into the bottom of the dust
casing 23 through the communicating passage 23f of the separating
plate 23b.
[0021] The air from which the relatively heavy foreign materials
have been removed passes through the filter 25 installed in the
center of the dust casing 23 from the outside to the inside of the
filter. The finer foreign materials contained in the air are
sufficiently filtered out as the air passes through the filter
25.
[0022] Next, the air within the cylindrical filter 25 is discharged
through the outlet 22a formed on a top surface of the cover 22.
Additionally, the discharged air from the filter cools the motor in
the main body 20 as it passes through the motor. Then, the air is
completely discharged from the main body 20 through the discharge
portion 29.
[0023] When the vacuum cleaner is operated, foreign materials are
accumulated in the dust casing 23. That is, the foreign materials
separated out in the cyclonic stream are accumulated below the
separating plates 23b and 23c located in the dust casing 23. When
the amount of accumulated foreign materials is greater than a
predetermined level, the foreign materials must be emptied from the
dust casing 23.
[0024] To empty the dust and dirt collecting unit 21, it must be
separated from the main body 20. After separation, the cover 22 is
removed from the collecting unit 21. Once the cover 22 is
separated, the filter 25 mounted on the bottom surface of the cover
may also be separated. If necessary the separated filter 25 may be
cleaned, washed and/or replaced.
[0025] The user then can empty the foreign materials from the dust
casing 23 by inverting the dust casing 23. In the inverted
position, the separating plates 23b and 23c pivot downward on the
supporting shafts 23d, 23e, respectively, so that the foreign
materials which have been accumulated below the separating plates
to exit the dust casing 23.
[0026] However, the conventional vacuum cleaner and the dust and
dirt collecting unit have the following problems.
[0027] The separating plates 23b and 23e are additionally and
separately installed within the dust casing 23 so as to perform the
dust and dirt collection in the cyclonic fashion. That is, the dust
and dirt collecting unit is constructed such that the dust
collecting space for accumulating the foreign materials is defined
at the lower portion of the dust casing 23 by the separating plates
23b and 23c. The separating plates 23b and 23c are manufactured
separately and then mounted in the dust casing 23.
[0028] The number of parts is high and consequently the
manufacturing process becomes complicated as the pair of separating
plates is installed in the dust casing 23. Problems such as an
undesirable increase of production costs and productivity
limitations in the manufacturing process occur due to increase of
the number of parts.
[0029] Accordingly, there is a need for a vacuum cleaner which
avoids these problems with the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0030] The present invention is directed to dust and dirt
collecting unit for use in a cyclonic vacuum cleaner that
substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to
limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0031] Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a
dust and dirt collecting unit for a vacuum cleaner, which is
mounted to one side of a main body of the vacuum cleaner for
filtering suctioned air containing foreign materials. The dust and
dirt collecting unit comprises a dust casing with a bottom and side
surfaces and a open top portion; an inlet formed tangentially on
the dust casing for introducing air into the dust casing; a cover
for opening and closing the top portion of the dust casing, the
cover having an outlet for discharging air from which the foreign
materials have been substantially filtered out; a filter assembly
attached to a bottom surface of the cover, said filter assembly
including substantially a cylindrical filter arranged such that an
interior of the filter communicates with the outlet; and a
separating plate which is attached to a bottom portion of the
filter assembly that extends radially to be spaced apart from an
inner surface of the dust casing by a predetermined gap.
[0032] Another aspect of the present invention is directed to the
separating plate that extends radially from a bottom surface of the
filter assembly and then slopes downwardly.
[0033] Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a
filter assembly that includes a ring-shaped upper frame mounted to
communicate with the outlet of the cover, a lower frame spaced
apart from the upper frame by a predetermined interval, and the
substantially cylindrical filter mounted between the upper and
lower frames.
[0034] A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a
separating plate formed to be concave with a portion formed at the
outer edge of the slope at a predetermined angle.
[0035] A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a
separating plate that includes a portion fixed to a bottom surface
of the lower frame, and a downwardly sloped portion, which extends
radially from the fixed portion.
[0036] The separating plate may be detachably mounted to the lower
frame. In addition, the separating plate may be integrally formed
with the lower frame.
[0037] For example, the separating plate may be fastened to the
lower frame with a screw. Alternatively, the separating plate may
be coupled to the lower frame by fastening an elastic hook
protruding from a bottom surface of the lower frame into a coupling
hole formed on a top surface of the separating plate.
[0038] Additionally, a stop plate is formed with the floor surface
of the dust casing.
[0039] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main body of the
vacuum cleaner including a suction source; a guide path for guiding
air containing foreign materials introduced into the main body by a
suction force generated from the suction source; and a dust and
dirt collecting unit detachably mounted to the main body for
filtering out the foreign materials contained in the air, wherein
the dust and dirt collecting unit comprises: a dust and dirt
collecting unit for a vacuum cleaner, adapted to be mounted to a
main body of the vacuum cleaner, for filtering suctioned air
containing foreign materials, comprising: a dust casing with a
bottom and side surfaces and an open top portion; an inlet formed
tangentially to the side surface of the dust casing for introducing
air into the dust casing; a cover for opening and closing the top
portion of the dust casing, the cover having an outlet for
discharging air from which the foreign materials have been
substantially filtered out; a filter assembly attached to a bottom
surface of the cover said filter assembly including a substantially
cylindrical filter arranged such that an interior of the filter
communicates with the outlet; and a separating plate which is
attached to a bottom portion of the filter assembly and extends
radially to be spaced apart from an inner surface of the dust
casing by a predetermined gap.
[0040] According to a still further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a main
body of the vacuum cleaner including a suction source; a guide path
for guiding air containing foreign materials introduced into the
main body by a suction force generated from the suction source; and
a dust and dirt collecting unit detachably mounted to the main body
for filtering out the foreign materials contained in the air,
wherein the dust and dirt collecting unit comprises: a dust and
dirt collecting unit for a vacuum cleaner adapted to be mounted to
a main body of the vacuum cleaner for filtering suctioned air
containing foreign materials, comprising: a dust casing with an
open top portion; an inlet formed tangentially to the dust casing
for introducing air into the dust casing; a cover for opening and
closing the top portion of the dust casing, said cover having an
outlet for discharging air from which the foreign materials have
been substantially filtered out; a filter assembly attached to a
bottom surface of the cover corresponding to the outlet, said
filter assembly including a substantially cylindrical filter
arranged such that an interior of the filter communicates with the
outlet; a separating plate which is attached to the bottom portion
of the filter assembly and extends radially to come into close
contact with an inner surface of the dust casing; and a
communicating passage formed on at least a portion of the
separating plate to allow the foreign materials to pass
therethrough and into a bottom portion of the dust casing.
[0041] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention
will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed
out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the
appended drawings.
[0042] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of
the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0043] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0044] In the drawings:
[0045] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional vacuum
cleaner;
[0046] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional dust and dirt
collecting unit;
[0047] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a dust and dirt collecting
unit according to the present invention;
[0048] FIG. 4 is a sectional front view of the dust and dirt
collecting unit according to the present invention;
[0049] FIGS. 5a to 5c are sectional views of the dust and dirt
collecting unit according to the present invention; and
[0050] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dust casing of the dust
and dirt collecting unit according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0051] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
[0052] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a dust and dirt collecting
unit according to the present invention and FIG. 4 is a sectional
front view of the dust and dirt collecting unit according to the
present invention. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the dust and dirt
collecting unit of the present invention comprises a dust casing
100 having an open top portion and a removable cover 200 which may
be arranged on the top portion of the dust casing 100.
[0053] The dust casing 100 may have a substantially cylindrical
shape with an open end at the top. A handle 112 is formed at a rear
portion of the dust casing 100. The handle 112 allows a user to
insert the dust casing 100 into or remove from the main body of the
vacuum cleaner.
[0054] The dust casing 100 includes an inlet 110 through which air
containing foreign materials is introduced. The inlet 110 is
positioned at an upper portion of the dust casing 100 and arranged
tangentially on the surface of the dust casing 100. Accordingly,
the air introduced into the dust casing can flow in the form of a
spiral or cyclonic air flow pattern.
[0055] The cover 200 may be arranged on the dust casing 100 so that
the dust casing 100 can be open and closed. An outlet 210 is formed
in the center of the cover 200, and the outlet may be substantially
circular. The outlet is formed such that the filtered air, that is,
air that has been subjected to a primary cyclonic dust and dirt
collection process and then secondarily passed through a filter for
additional dust and dirt collection, can be discharged to the
atmosphere.
[0056] A cylindrical filter assembly F is mounted at a bottom
surface of the cover 200. The filter assembly F comprises a
ring-shaped upper frame 224, a ring-shaped lower frame 222 spaced
apart downwardly from the upper frame 224 by a predetermined
interval, and a cylindrical filter 220 mounted between the upper
and lower frames 224 and 222, respectively.
[0057] The upper frame 224 and lower frame 222 may be made of a
synthetic resin material and connected with the filter 220 in
between. The filter 220 is substantially cylindrical and formed
between the upper and lower frames. Foreign materials are further
filtered out as the air passes through the filter 220.
[0058] The upper frame 224 is aligned with the outlet 210 when the
filter 220 is arranged on the cover 200. Accordingly, the inner
cylindrical space of the filter 220 is in communication with the
outlet 210, and as the air passes through the filter 220 it will be
discharged through the outlet 210.
[0059] A separating plate 230 is installed below the ring-shaped
lower frame 222. The separating plate 230 extends outwardly in a
radial direction and these foreign materials that fall out from the
air stream may be collected on the separating plate 230 during the
cyclonic operation in the dust casing 100.
[0060] The filter 220 may be made of paper or synthetic resin
material. The filtration of the cylindrical filter is improved when
the contact area of the filter with the air passing into the filter
becomes larger. Accordingly, it is preferable that the filter 220
has circumferential undulation formed on an outer surface. For
example, referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 5a, 5b, and 5c, the
circumferential undulation is formed on the outer surface of the
filter with a plurality of straight pleats formed in a vertical
direction, thereby maximizing the contact area with the air passing
into the filter from the outside and improving the filtration.
[0061] The separating plate 230 extends radially outward and is
spaced apart from an inner sidewall of the dust casing 100 by a
predetermined gap. In operation, foreign materials are entrained
into the air inlet 110. These materials will fall to the floor
surface of the dust casing 100 through the gap defined between the
separating plate 230 and the inner sidewall of the dust casing
100.
[0062] A dust and dirt collecting space in which the foreign
materials are accumulated is defined below the separating plate
230.
[0063] The separating plate 230 according to the illustrated
embodiment of the present invention includes a fixed portion 231
which is tightly fixed to a bottom surface of the substantially
horizontal lower frame 222, and a downwardly sloped portion 232
which in an radially outward from the fixed portion.
[0064] This sloped portion 232 allows foreign materials to be
smoothly guided along this portion 232 and into the collecting
space.
[0065] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5a-5c, a portion 234 is formed at
the outer edge of the sloped portion 232 and extends at a
predetermined angle from the sloped portion 232. Accordingly, the
separating plate 234 is concave. Therefore, foreign materials
separated during the cyclonic separating process may be
substantially prevented from rising above the separating plate 230
after they enter the collecting space.
[0066] A structure for mounting the separating plate 230 to the
bottom of the filter assembly F will be hereinafter explained with
reference to FIGS. 5a to 5c.
[0067] Referring to FIG. 5a, the separating plate 230 may be
attached to the lower frame 222 of the filter assembly F with a
fixing device. The fixing device can be a screw, bolt, clip, and/or
other suitable fixing unit S. That is, the separating plate 230 may
be removable and may be manufactured separately from the filter
assembly.
[0068] Alternatively, referring to FIG. 5b the separating plate 230
may be integrally formed with the lower frame 222. For example, the
separating plate 230 may be formed with the lower frame 222 during
injection molding of the lower frame 222. Thereby, the process of
assembling the separating plate 230 can be eliminated.
[0069] Optionally, referring to FIG. 5c an elastic hook 220a is
formed to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the lower
frame 222, and a coupling hole 230a is formed at the center of the
separating plate 230 to be resiliently coupled with the elastic
hook 220a. As the elastic hook 220a has elasticity in a radial
direction, it can be retreated inwardly and then be resiliently
expanded outwardly again when it is coupled with the hole 230a. The
elastic hook 220a allows the plate 230 to be attached to the bottom
surface of the lower frame 222.
[0070] Additionally, it is apparent that the other structures and
methods for attaching the separating plate 230 to the bottom
surface of the lower frame 222 may be utilized, in addition to
those shown in FIGS. 5a-5c.
[0071] Referring to FIG. 6, a stop plate 114 protrudes from the
floor surface of the dust casing 100. As described above, foreign
materials are separated from the air swirling in the dust casing
100 and heavier materials fall onto the floor surface of the dust
casing 100. The stop plate 114 substantially prevents foreign
materials from continuously swirling in the dust casing 100. That
is, foreign materials are substantially caused to stop swirling in
the dust casing and are collected near the stop plate 114 when they
collide against the stop plate 114. Moreover, the stop plate 114
substantially prevents the foreign materials from being lifted from
the surface of the dust casing 100 by the cyclonic airflow.
[0072] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the overall operation of the
dust and dirt collecting unit according to the present invention
will now be explained.
[0073] In operation, the suction force causes air containing the
foreign materials to be suctioned through the suction nozzle. The
foreign materials entrained in the air is introduced into the dust
casing 100 through the inlet 110 of the dust casing 100 and the top
portion is closed by the cover 200.
[0074] The air stream introduced through the inlet 110 follows
spiral airflow pattern since the inlet 110 is arranged tangentially
on the dust casing 100.
[0075] The relatively heavier foreign materials entrained in the
spiral airflow fall out due to gravity. These heavier foreign
materials fall onto the floor surface of the dust casing 100
through the gap defined between the separating plate 230 and the
inner sidewall of the dust casing 100. A portion of the foreign
materials fall directly through the gap and another portion is
guided through the gap after falling onto the sloped portion 232 of
the separating plate 230.
[0076] The foreign materials, which have fallen onto the floor
surface of the dust casing 100 during the cyclonic dust-collecting
process are substantially prevented from further movement by the
stop plate 114 and are collected near the stop plate.
[0077] As explained in detail above, cyclonic dust and dirt
collection is primarily performed in the dust casing 100. This is
done such that the heavy foreign materials contained in the air are
accumulated onto the floor surface of the dust casing 100, while
there is a continuous air stream swirling in the dust casing.
[0078] After the primary dust and dirt collection has been
completed, a secondary dust and dirt collection is performed. The
secondary dust and dirt collection removes fine dust and dirt by
filtration through a filter 220.
[0079] That is, the finer foreign materials are filtered out while
the air within the dust casing 100 passes through the cylindrical
filter 220. Therefore, the air filtered with filter 220 is
substantially clean air. After passing through the filter 220, the
air is then discharged through the outlet 210 formed in the cover
200. Additionally, the discharged air from the outlet 210 cools the
motor in the main body. Subsequently, this air is completely
discharged to the outside of the vacuum cleaner.
[0080] As described above, an aspect of the present invention is
that the separating plate 230 is installed directly to the filter
assembly F, for example, which is mounted to the bottom surface of
the cover 200 used to open and close the open top portion of the
dust casing 100.
[0081] Another embodiment of the separating plate 230 according to
the present invention will now be explained.
[0082] In the previous embodiment, a predetermined gap or space is
defined between the outer peripheral surface of the separating
plate 230 and the inner circumferential surface of the dust casing
100. That is, the size of separating plate 230 is selected to have
a predetermined gap between the outer peripheral surface and the
inner circumferential surface of the dust casing 100.
[0083] The separating plate 230 of the present invention defines a
dust and dirt collecting space so that the foreign materials that
fall down onto the floor surface of the dust casing 100 during the
cyclonic dust collecting process can be collected in the dust
casing. The separating plate can be modified in various
manners.
[0084] For example, the separating plate 230 may be constructed
such that at least a portion of the outer surface contacts the
inner surface of the dust casing 100. A cut out portion 300 may be
formed adjacent to an outer periphery of the separating plate 230
and a passage guides foreign materials into the dust collecting
space defined below the separating plate 230, a communicating
passage through which the foreign materials can fall down into the
space should be formed by cutting out at least a portion of an
outer periphery of. The foreign materials may be guided below the
separating plate 230 through the cut out portion 300 in the
separating plate 230.
[0085] The foreign materials can be guided below the separating
plate 230 through the communicating passage formed by cutting out
at least a portion of the outer periphery of the separating plate
230. In this alternate embodiment, the remainder of the separating
plate 230 comes into close contact with the inner circumferential
surface of the dust casing 100, thereby creating a passage through
the cut out portion 300. Additionally, the cut out portion 300 may
be formed in a number of different shapes and arranged in different
locations on the separating plate 230.
[0086] The present invention has the following advantages:
[0087] The dust and dirt collecting unit of the present invention
performs the primary cyclonic dust and dirt collection and the
second filtration for filtering out the finer dust and dirt using
the filter.
[0088] Further, the separating plate allows the separated foreign
materials to accumulate on the floor surface of the dust casing in
a remarkably simpler manner as compared with the conventional one,
because the separating plate is installed directly to the bottom of
the filter assembly, for example.
[0089] Furthermore, production cost reduction and productivity
improvement can be expected as the number of parts is
decreased.
[0090] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variation can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *