U.S. patent application number 10/443054 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-27 for cyclone dust collecting apparatus for vacuum cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.d. Invention is credited to Jin, Hyoung-Jong, Oh, Jang-Keun.
Application Number | 20040098827 10/443054 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28786988 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040098827 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oh, Jang-Keun ; et
al. |
May 27, 2004 |
Cyclone dust collecting apparatus for vacuum cleaner
Abstract
A cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner is
disclosed. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus for the vacuum
cleaner includes a cyclone body having an air inflow port and air
outflow port, for forming a vortex air current of contaminant-laden
air drawn in through the air inflow port, a dust receptacle
removably connected to the cyclone body for receiving dusts and
contaminants separated from the air. A grill disposed inside the
cyclone body helps to prevent the flow of the dust and contaminants
separated from the air through the air outflow port. The grill can
rotate and can also include sloped air path members.
Inventors: |
Oh, Jang-Keun;
(Gwangiu-City, KR) ; Jin, Hyoung-Jong;
(Gwangju-City, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PLUMSEA LAW GROUP, LLC
10411 MOTOR CITY DRIVE
SUITE 320
BETHESDA
MD
20817
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co.,
Ltd.d
Gwangju-City
KR
|
Family ID: |
28786988 |
Appl. No.: |
10/443054 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/347 ; 15/352;
15/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/1675
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/347 ;
015/352; 015/353 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 21, 2002 |
KR |
2002-72751 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
comprising: a cyclone body having an air inflow port and air
outflow port, adapted to form a vortex air current of
contaminant-laden air drawn in through the air inflow port; a dust
receptacle removably connected to the cyclone body configured to
receive dust and contaminants separated from the air by a
centrifugal force of the vortex air current in the cyclone body; a
grill disposed about the air outflow port inside the cyclone body
for preventing flow of the dust and contaminants separated from the
air through the air outflow port; and a grill rotation supporting
means for supporting the grill to rotate by the vortex air current
in the cyclone body.
2. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the cyclone body comprises: a cylindrical main body having
a side surface on which the air inflow port is formed and a upper
surface on which the air outflow port is formed; and a cover
removably connected to the upper surface of the cylindrical main
body, wherein an air inflow pipe is configured to connect to an air
inflow path of a cleaner main body, and an air outflow pipe is
configured to connect to an air outflow path of the cleaner body,
the air outflow also pipe being disposed about a center of the
cover.
3. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the cylindrical main body and cover are removably connected
to each other through spiral connecting mechanisms respectively
formed on corresponding surfaces of each other for connection.
4. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the grill comprises: a grill body; and a plurality of air
path members disposed at an outer circumference of the grill body
in a predetermined slope angle to form an air passage to the air
outflow port.
5. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the grill comprises: a grill body; a plurality of air path
members disposed at an outer circumference of the grill body in a
predetermined slope angle to form an air passage to the air outflow
port; and a contaminant blocking member disposed at a lower portion
of the grill body.
6. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the grill rotation supporting means comprises: a supporting
member disposed at the center of the air outflow port of the
cylindrical main body by a plurality of ribs protruding from an
inner surface of the air outflow port; and a rotating member having
a first end rotatably supported by interposing a bearing, and a
second end extending through the grill and secured to a lower
portion of the grill.
7. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein a fine dust filter assembly is provided between the upper
surface of the cylindrical main body and cover to filter fine
dust.
8. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 7,
wherein the fine dust filter assembly comprises: a fine dust
filter; and a filter frame having a lower grid structure, for
receiving and supporting the fine dust filter.
9. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 7,
wherein the upper surface of the cylindrical main body slopes
downward from a radially outer periphery towards a central
portion.
10. A cyclone dust collecting apparatus adapted for use with a
vacuum cleaner comprising: a cyclone body having an air inflow port
and air outflow port, adapted to form a vortex air current of
contaminant-laden air drawn in through the air inflow port; a dust
receptacle removably connected to the cyclone body configured to
receive dust and contaminants separated from the air; a grill
disposed proximate the air outflow port and inside the cyclone
body; the grill including at least one air path member; and wherein
the air path member is sloped.
11. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 10,
wherein a leading edge of the air path member is disposed radially
inward of a trailing edge of the air path member.
12. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 10,
wherein the grill rotates.
13. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 12,
wherein the vortex air current rotates the grill in a direction
similar to a rotational direction of the vortex air current.
14. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 12,
further comprising a rotating member having a first end including a
bearing and a second end rigidly associated with the grill.
15. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 14,
wherein the bearing is also associated with a supporting member
that is attached to the cyclone body.
16. A cyclone dust collecting apparatus adapted for use with a
vacuum cleaner comprising: means for forming a vortex air current
of contaminant-laden air; means for receiving dust and contaminants
separated from the air by a centrifugal force of the vortex air
current; and means for rotating a grill disposed within a cyclone
body.
17. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 16,
further comprising a means for supporting the rotating grill.
18. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 16,
further comprising a means for filtering fine dust.
19. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 16,
further comprising a means for dropping fine dust into a dust
receptacle.
20. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to claim 16,
further comprising a means for minimizing flowing past the rotating
grill.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more
particularly to a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum
cleaner for separating and collecting dusts and contaminants from
contaminant-laden air with a centrifugal force that is formed by
generating an air vortex.
[0003] 2. Background of the Related Art
[0004] FIGS. 1 and 2 are exemplary views schematically showing a
cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner.
[0005] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a reference numeral 100
represents the cyclone dust collecting apparatus, 200 represents a
cleaner body and 300 represents a cleaner brush (not shown in FIG.
1). The cyclone dust collecting apparatus 100 comprises a cyclone
body 10, a dust receptacle 20 and a grill 30.
[0006] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cyclone body includes an air
inflow pipe 11 and an air outflow pipe 12. The air inflow pipe 11
is connected with an air inflow port (not shown) at one side of the
cyclone body 10. The air inflow pipe 11 is connected to an air
inflow path 210 configured to be in fluid communication with a
suction port (not shown) of the suction brush 300, when the cyclone
dust collecting apparatus is installed in the cleaner body 200. The
air outflow pipe 12 is connected to an air outflow port (not shown)
at a top of the cyclone body 10. The air outflow pipe 12 is
connected to an air outflow path 220 configured to
fluid-communicate with a motor driving chamber 310 of the suction
brush 300, when the cyclone dust collecting apparatus is installed
in the cleaner body 200. The contaminant-laden air is drawn in by
the suction brush 300 into the cyclone body 10 in a tangential
direction through the air inflow path 210 of the cleaner body 200
and air inflow pipe 11. The drawn air forms a vortex air current in
the cyclone body 10 and thus the dust and contaminants are
separated from the contaminant-laden air by a centrifugal force of
the vortex air, whereby the clean air is discharged externally via
the air outflow path 220 of the cleaner body 200 and the motor
chamber 310.
[0007] The dust receptacle 20 is removably connected to a bottom of
the cyclone body 10 and receives the dusts and contaminants
separated from the air by the centrifugal force of the vortex air
current in the cyclone body 10.
[0008] The grill 30 is disposed at an opening of the air outflow
pipe 12 inside the cyclone body 10 to prevent the dust and
contaminants separated from the vortex air from flowing through the
air outflow pipe 12. As shown in FIG. 2, grill 30 includes a grill
body 31 and a plurality of air paths 32 disposed at an outer
circumference of the grill body 31 that allow air to flow to air
outflow pipe 12.
[0009] The general cyclone dust collecting apparatus as described
above is installed in the cleaner body 200 such that the air inflow
pipe 11 and the air outflow pipe 12 of the cyclone body 10 are
respectively connected to the air inflow path 210 and the air
outflow path 220 of the cleaner body 200.
[0010] In operation, a suction force is generated at the suction
brush 300 driven by a motor in the motor chamber 310. The generated
suction force draws the contaminant-laden air on a cleaning surface
into the cyclone body 10 through the suction brush 300, air inflow
path 210 and air inflow pipe 11. The drawn air is led through the
air inflow pipe 11 along an inner circumference of the cyclone body
10 in an oblique direction to form a vortex air current. Dust and
contaminants in the air are separated by the centrifugal force
generated by the vortex air current and are collected in the dust
receptacle 20. The clean air is discharged externally through the
air paths 32, air outflow pipe 12, air outflow path 220 and motor
chamber 310.
[0011] However, the general cyclone dust collecting apparatus as
described above has a problem of degrading the cleaning efficiency.
Related cyclone dust collecting devices failed to retain a
satisfactory amount of dust and allowed dust and contaminants to be
discharged with the outflow of the air through the air path 32 in
the grill 30.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] An object of the invention is to solve at least the above
problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the
advantages described below.
[0013] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve
the foregoing problems by providing a cyclone dust collecting
apparatus for a vacuum cleaner capable of maximizing the separation
of clean air from contaminated air by rotating a grill that assists
in preventing dust from escaping a dust collection apparatus.
[0014] The foregoing and other objects and advantages are realized
by providing a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum
cleaner comprising: a cyclone body having an air inflow port and
air outflow port, for forming a vortex air current of
contaminant-laden air drawn in through the air inflow port; a dust
receptacle removably connected to the cyclone body for receiving
dust and contaminants separated from the air by a centrifugal force
of the vortex air current in the cyclone body; a grill disposed to
the air outflow port inside the cyclone body for preventing dust
and contaminants separated from the air through the air outflow
port; and a grill rotation supporting means for supporting the
grill to rotate by the vortex air current in the cyclone body.
[0015] The cyclone body comprises: a cylindrical main body having a
side surface on which the air inflow port is formed and a upper
surface on which the air outflow port is formed; and a cover
removably connected to the upper surface of the cylindrical main
body, wherein an air inflow pipe connected to an air inflow path of
a cleaner man body is disposed to the air inflow port and an air
outflow pipe connected to an air outflow path of the cleaner body
is disposed to about a center of the cover.
[0016] The cylindrical main body and cover are removably connected
to each other through spiral connecting mechanisms respectively
formed on corresponding surfaces of each other for connection.
[0017] The grill comprises: a grill body; and a plurality of air
path members disposed at an outer circumference of the grill body
in a predetermined slope angle to form an air passage to the air
outflow port.
[0018] Preferably, the grill may further comprise: a contaminant
blocking member disposed at a lower portion of the grill body.
[0019] The grill rotation supporting means comprises: a supporting
member supported to be disposed at the center of the air outflow
port of the cylindrical main body by a plurality of ribs protruding
from an inner surface of the air outflow port; and a rotating
member having one end rotatably supported by interposing a bearing
and other end driven through the grill to be screwed to a lower
portion of the grill.
[0020] According to the cyclone dust collecting apparatus in
accordance with the invention, a fine dust filter assembly is
provided between the upper surface of the cylindrical main body and
cover to filter fine dusts.
[0021] The fine dust filter assembly comprises: a fine dust filter;
and a filter frame having a lower part of grid structure, for
receiving and supporting the fine dust filter.
[0022] Preferably, the upper surface of the cylindrical main body
is formed to slope down from outside toward inside.
[0023] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages
of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly
pointed out in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The invention will be described in detail with reference to
the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to
like elements wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a
conventional cyclone dust collecting apparatus and an associated
vacuum cleaner;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view the cyclone dust collecting
apparatus of FIG. 1 after assembly and installation;
[0027] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a cyclone dust
collecting apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention before assembly;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the cyclone dust
collecting apparatus of FIG. 3 after assembly; and
[0029] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the cyclone dust
collecting apparatus of FIG. 3 prior to installation in a
cleaner.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional top view of the cyclone dust
collecting apparatus of FIG. 3, taken along line 6-6.
[0031] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of an air path member of the
cyclone dust collecting apparatus of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a cyclone dust collecting
apparatus for a vacuum cleaner in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention comprises a cyclone body 50, a dust receptacle 60, a
grill 70 and a grill rotation supporting means 80.
[0033] The cyclone body 50 includes a cylindrical main body 51 and
a cover 52 removably connected to the cylindrical main body 51.
Cylindrical main body 51 includes a side surface 51a and an upper
surface 51b. At one side of side surface 51a is formed an air
inflow port, and at about a center of the upper surface 51b is
formed an air outflow port. An air inflow pipe 53 is connected to
the air inflow port, which is also connected to an air inflow path
210 (see FIG. 5) of a cleaner main body 200. An air outflow pipe 54
is connected to the air outflow port at about the center of the
cover 52, which is also connected to an air outflow path 220 (see
FIG. 5) of the cleaner main body 200.
[0034] In operation, contaminant-laden air is drawn by a suction
brush 300 (see FIG. 5) into the cyclone body 50 in a tangential
direction through the air inflow path 210 and air inflow pipe 53.
In this process, a vortex air current is formed in the cyclone body
50, and the dust and contaminants included in the vortex air are
separated from the air by the centrifugal force of the vortex air
and thus the clean air is discharged externally through the air
outflow pipe 54, the air outflow path 220 and a motor driving
chamber 310 (see FIG. 5).
[0035] The dust receptacle 60 is removably connected to a bottom of
the cyclone body 50 and receives the dusts and contaminants
separated from the air by the vortex air current in the cyclone
body 50. The dust receptacle 60 may include a handle for enabling
easy handling. When the dust receptacle 60 is filled up, the dust
receptacle 60 may be separated from cyclone body 50 to empty the
dust receptacle 60.
[0036] The grill 70 is disposed at the air outflow port in the
cyclone body 50 to assist in separating dust and contaminants
separated from the vortex air from flowing through the air outflow
port. Grill 70 includes a grill body 31 and a plurality of air path
members 72 disposed in an outer circumference of the grill body 71
that form air passages to the air outflow port.
[0037] In some embodiments, the grill rotation supporting means 80
includes a supporting member 81 and a rotating member 82. The
supporting member 81 is disposed at a center of the air outflow
port of the cylindrical main body 51 and is supported by a
plurality of ribs 81a protruding from an inner surface of the air
outflow port. The rotating member 82 has one end rotatably
supported by interposing a bearing. The other end extends through
the grill 70 and is fixed to grill 70 at a lower portion of grill
70 by a screw 84. The grill 70 thus rotates with the rotating
member 82 with respect to the supporting member 81 by the vortex
air current formed in the cyclone body 50. The rotation of the
grill 70 helps to prevent the flow of the dust and contaminants
through the air passage of the grill 70.
[0038] In the cyclone dust collecting apparatus 70 according to the
invention, the grill 70 may be adapted to include a grill body 71,
a plurality of air path members 72 disposed in a predetermined
slope angle to form an air passage to the air outflow port and a
contaminant blocking member 73 disposed at a lower portion of the
grill body 71.
[0039] FIGS. 6 and 7 show, in detail, the preferred slope angle and
its relationship to the vortex air current. Contaminant-laden air
302 is drawn through air inflow pipe 53 in a tangential direction.
As discussed above, this causes the formation of a vortex air flow
304 within cylindrical main body 51. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 6, vortex air flow 304 revolves within cylindrical main body
51 in a clockwise direction.
[0040] Preferably, air path members 72 are disposed on grill body
71 in a manner that minimizes the chance that dust or other
contaminants will enter through grill 70. FIG. 7 shows an enlarged
view of two adjacent air path members 312 and 314. Air path member
314 has a leading edge 316 and a trailing edge 318. Leading edge
316 is the first edge of air path member 314 to encounter vortex
air flow 304. In other words, leading edge 316 is upstream of
trailing edge 318. Preferably, leading edge 316 is attached to
grill body 71 and trialing edge 318 is disposed both radially
outward of and circumferentially downstream of leading edge
316.
[0041] With this arrangement, a slope angle 310 is formed. Slope
angle 310 is the angle between a local tangential line 308 and air
path member 314. Local tangential line 308 is a line perpendicular
to a ray 306 extending from the geometric center of grill 70 to air
path member 314. Any air path member that has a slope angle is said
to be sloped. This slope angle 310 can be adjusted to suit various
design objectives. For example, if the slope angle 310 were
reduced, that would increase the ability of grill 70 to separate
contaminants from the air, but would also increase the power
required to draw air though grill 70. If the slope angle 310 were
increased, that would decrease the separation efficiency of grill
70, but less power would be required to draw air through grill 70.
Given these various factors, an appropriate slope angle can be
selected that best suits particular design objectives.
[0042] The grill rotation feature and the sloped air path feature
can be used alone or in combination with one another.
[0043] As best seen in FIG. 4, the contaminant blocking member 73
is a frustum-cone shape with an enlarged lower part of which
diameter increases along downward direction. This shape may cause
the contaminants collected in the dust receptacle 60 that have
floated in an upwardly moving air current to be redirected by the
contaminant blocking member 73, thereby to fall into the dust
receptacle 60.
[0044] The cyclone dust collecting apparatus for the vacuum cleaner
in accordance with the invention is further provided with a fine
dust filter assembly 90 interposed between the cylindrical main
body 51 and cover 52 of the cyclone body 50 to filter the fine dust
that are not removed by the grill 70.
[0045] The fine dust filter assembly 90 includes a fine dust filter
91 such as a sponge or other porous material and a filter frame 92
having a lower grid structure, for receiving and supporting the
fine dust filter 91. The fine dust filter assembly 90 filters the
fine dust passed through the grill 70 and prevents this fine dust
from escaping cylindrical main body 51. The upper surface 51b is
preferably formed to slope downward from the radially outer
periphery toward a central portion so that the fine dust filtered
by the fine dust filter assembly 90 falls down to dust receptacle
60 instead of remaining between the upper surface 51b of the
cylindrical main body 51 and the fine dust filter assembly 90.
[0046] The above described cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a
vacuum cleaner can be installed in cleaner body 200, as shown in
FIG. 5, so that the air inflow pipe 53 and the air outflow pipe 54
of the cyclone body 50 are respectively connected to the air inflow
path 210 and the air outflow path 220 of cleaner body 200.
[0047] In operation, a suction force is generated at the suction
brush 300 driven by a motor (not shown) in motor chamber 310. The
generated suction force draws contaminant-laden air on a cleaning
surface into the cyclone body 50 through the suction brush 300, air
inflow path 210 and air inflow pipe 53. The drawn air is led
through the air inflow pipe 53 along an inner circumference of the
cyclone body 50 in an oblique direction. This helps to form a
vortex air current, and the dust and contaminants in the air are
separated by the centrifugal force generated by the vortex and
collected in dust receptacle 60. Thereafter, the clean air is
discharged externally through the air passage of the grill 70, air
outflow pipe 54, air outflow path 220 and through motor chamber
310. Given this arrangement, dust and contaminants rarely escape
through air passages of the grill 70. However, even if the fine
dust, which are not separated by the grill 70, are discharged
through the air passage of the grill 70, the fine dust is secondly
filtered by the fine dust filter assembly 90 (see FIG. 4), thereby
improving the amount of dust collected.
[0048] According to the invention described above, the dust and
contaminants are separated from the air by the centrifugal force
while the grill rotates to prevent the flow of the dust and
contaminants through the grill, thus the dust and contaminants
hardly flow through air passages of the grill.
[0049] Further, even if the fine dusts flow through the air passage
of the grill, the fine dusts are secondly filtered by the fine dust
filter assembly, thereby improving the quality of collecting the
dusts and also improving the efficiency of the cleaning.
[0050] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
[0051] The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely
exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present
invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other
types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is
intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the
claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims,
means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures
described herein as performing the recited function and not only
structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.
* * * * *