U.S. patent application number 10/452506 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-27 for grill assembly and cyclone dust collecting apparatus for vacuum cleaner having a grill assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Oh, Jang-Keun.
Application Number | 20040098828 10/452506 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28036206 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040098828 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oh, Jang-Keun |
May 27, 2004 |
Grill assembly and cyclone dust collecting apparatus for vacuum
cleaner having a grill assembly
Abstract
A grill assembly of a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use
in a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The grill assembly includes
provisions that help to block dust ascending towards the grill body
and deflect that dust towards a whirling air current. The grill
assembly has a blocking member that can include a first member
formed as a frustum-cone and a second member formed as a hollow
cylinder.
Inventors: |
Oh, Jang-Keun;
(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.
Gwangju-City
KR
|
Family ID: |
28036206 |
Appl. No.: |
10/452506 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/1666
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/353 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 21, 2002 |
KR |
2002-72752 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A grill assembly of a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use
in a vacuum cleaner, being arranged at an entrance of an air
discharge pipe of a cyclone body where a whirling air current is
formed from dust-laden air and wherein the dust is separated from
the dust-laden air by a centrifugal force of the whirling air
current, the grill assembly for preventing the escape of dust
comprising: a grill body; a plurality of air passages formed on the
grill body; and a dust blocking member arranged at a lower portion
of the grill body, blocking the dust entrained in an air current
ascending toward the grill body thereby deflecting the dust toward
the whirling air current, the dust blocking member comprising, a
first member formed as a frustum-cone having a gradually increasing
diameter downward; and a second member formed as a hollow cylinder
vertically extending from a lower side of the first member, and
having a predetermined length.
2. The grill assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of air
passages are formed by a plurality of blades that are arranged
along an outer surface of the grill body at a predetermined
distance from one another.
3. The grill assembly of claim 1, wherein the dust blocking member
is removably connected to a lower side of the grill body by a
connector.
4. The grill assembly of claim 3, wherein the connector comprises:
a pair of connecting holes oppositely formed in an inner surface of
a lower part of the grill body, each connecting hole having a
position guiding portion having a open lower end and a connecting
part vertically spaced from the open lower end of the position
guiding portion; and a pair of connecting protrusions formed on an
outer surface of an upper side of the dust blocking member, wherein
the pair of connecting protrusions align with the pair of
connecting holes.
5. The grill assembly of claim 3, wherein the connector comprises a
screw being fastened from a lower side of the dust blocking member
to a lower side of the grill body.
6. The grill assembly of claim 1, wherein the second member of the
dust blocking member has a length of between 10 to 30 mm.
7. The grill assembly of claim 6, wherein the second member of the
dust blocking member has a length of between 15 to 20 mm.
8. A cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in a vacuum cleaner,
attached to an inlet extension pipe of a canister type vacuum
cleaner and configured to separate a dust by whirling dust-laden
air drawn into the cyclone dust collecting apparatus, comprising: a
cyclone body comprising a first connecting pipe connected to the
inlet extension pipe for receiving air, and a second connecting
pipe connected to an outlet extension pipe for discharging air; a
dust receptacle removably mounted on the cyclone body, for
collecting dust separated from the dust-laden air whirling in the
cyclone body by the centrifugal force; and a grill assembly
arranged at an entrance of the second connecting pipe inside of the
cyclone body, for preventing the separated dust from escaping
through the second connecting pipe, the grill assembly comprising,
a grill body comprising a first grill body portion having a
supporting rib adapted to engage the cyclone body, and a second
grill body portion formed as a hollow cylinder integrally extending
from the first grill body portion, a plurality of air passages
formed on the outer surface of the second grill body portion, the
air passages placing air outside of the grill assembly in fluid
communication with the second connecting pipe, and a dust blocking
member disposed at a lower portion of the second grill body, for
blocking the dust entrained in an ascending air current toward the
grill body so as to deflect the dust toward the whirling air
current, the dust blocking member comprising a first member formed
as a frustum-cone having a gradually increasing diameter downward,
and a second member vertically extending downward from the first
member, the second member having a predetermined length.
9. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the
plurality of air passages are formed by a plurality of blades
arranged along an outer surface of the second grill body at a
predetermined distance from one another, allowing fluid to pass
between the air passages.
10. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the
dust blocking member is removably connected to a lower portion of
the second grill body by a connector.
11. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 10, wherein the
connecting means comprises: a pair of connecting holes oppositely
formed in an inner surface of a lower part of the second grill
body, each connecting hole having a position guiding portion having
an open lower end and a connecting part vertically spaced from the
open lower end of the position guiding portion; and a pair of
connecting protrusions formed on an outer surface of an upper side
of the dust blocking member, wherein the connecting protrusions
correspond the pair of connecting holes.
12. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the
second member of the dust blocking member has a length of between
10 to 30 mm.
13. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 12, wherein the
second member of the dust blocking member has a length of between
15 to 20 mm.
14. A cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in a vacuum
cleaner, which is mounted in a dust collecting chamber of an
upright type vacuum cleaner and separates dust from dust-laden air
by whirling the dust-laden air drawn therein through an air intake
path formed in fluid communication with a suction brush of the
upright type vacuum cleaner, and discharges clean air after dust
separation through an air discharge path formed in fluid
communication with a motor chamber of the upright type vacuum
cleaner, the cyclone dust collecting apparatus comprising: a
cyclone body comprising an air intake pipe connected to the air
intake path, and an air discharge pipe connected to the air
discharge path; a dust receptacle removably connected to the
cyclone body for collecting dust separated from the dust-laden air
whirling inside of the cyclone body by a centrifugal force; and a
grill assembly arranged at an entrance of the air discharge pipe
inside of the cyclone body, for preventing dust separated from the
dust-laden air from escaping through the air discharge pipe, the
grill assembly comprising, a grill body formed as a hollow cylinder
with open upper end, a plurality of air passages formed on an outer
surface of the grill body in fluid communication with the air
discharge pipe, and a dust blocking member arranged at a lower
portion of the second grill body, for blocking the dust entrained
in an ascending air current toward the grill body, and deflecting
the dust toward the whirling air current, the dust blocking member
comprising a first member formed as a frustum-cone having a
gradually increasing diameter downward, and a second member
vertically extending down from the first member, the second member
having a predetermined length.
15. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the
plurality of air passages are formed by a plurality of blades
arranged along an outer surface of the grill body at a
predetermined distance from one another, allowing fluid to flow
through the air passages.
16. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the
dust blocking member is removably connected to a lower portion of
the grill body by a connector.
17. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 16, wherein the
connector comprises a screw fastened from a lower side of the dust
blocking member to a lower side of the grill body.
18. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the
second member of the dust blocking member has a length of between
10 to 30 mm.
19. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 18, wherein the
second member of the dust blocking member has a length of between
15 to 20 mm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a cyclone dust
collecting apparatus for use in a vacuum cleaner, and more
particularly, it relates to a grill assembly having improved
structure capable of separating dust and foreign substances
(hereinafter called "dust") from an air moving inside of the
cyclone dust collecting apparatus, and a cyclone dust collecting
apparatus having the grill assembly.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A cyclone dust collecting apparatus separates particles from
a fluid using a centrifugal force, and has been widely used in the
industrial fields due to its high resistance to temperature and
pressure. Such a cyclone dust collecting apparatus is also used in
vacuum cleaners.
[0005] A representative exemplary of such a cyclone dust collecting
apparatus is shown in Korean Patent No. 317117 issued to the same
applicant, and FIG. 1 schematically shows a sectional view of such
cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in vacuum cleaner.
[0006] As shown in FIG. 1, the cyclone dust collecting apparatus is
mounted on extension pipes 1a, 1b of the vacuum cleaner. For the
sole purpose of convenience in explanation, the cyclone dust
collecting apparatus will be described as the cyclone dust
collecting apparatus for a canister type vacuum cleaner, compared
to that of an upright type vacuum cleaner, which will also be
described later.
[0007] Referring to FIG. 1, the cyclone dust collecting apparatus
for the canister type vacuum cleaner includes a cyclone body 20, a
dust receptacle 30 and a grill assembly 40.
[0008] The cyclone body 20 includes a first connecting pipe 21
connected to the extension pipe 1a toward the suction brush of the
vacuum cleaner, a second connecting pipe 22 connected to the
extension pipe 1b toward the body of the vacuum cleaner, an air
inlet 23 being in fluid communication with the first connecting
pipe 21, and an air outlet 24 being in fluid communication with the
second connecting pipe 22. The dust-laden air is drawn into the
cyclone body 20 through the air inlet 23 into a whirling
current.
[0009] The dust receptacle 30 is removably connected to the cyclone
body 20, and separates the dusts separated from the whirling air
moving inside of the cyclone body 20.
[0010] The grill assembly 40 is disposed at the air outlet 24 of
the cyclone body 20, preventing the dusts collected in the dust
receptacle 30 from reversing toward the vacuum cleaner body. The
grill assembly 40 includes a grill body 41, a plurality of air
passages 42 formed in an outer circumference of the grill body 41
in fluid communication with the air outlet 24, and a dust blocking
member 43 formed as a frustum-cone mounted on an end of the grill
body 41.
[0011] In the conventional cyclone dust collecting apparatus for
use in the canister type vacuum cleaner constructed as above, by
the suction generated at the suction brush of the vacuum cleaner,
dust-laden air is drawn into the cyclone body 20 through the first
connecting pipe 21 in an oblique relation with respect to the
cyclone body 20. Accordingly, the drawn air is moved to the lower
portion of the dust receptacle 30 in a whirling air current. In
this process, dust is separated from the whirling air due to
centrifugal force, and collected in dust receptacle 30. Then, the
air is reflected from the bottom of dust receptacle 30 and moves
upward in a circle smaller than the downward air current. By the
ascending air current, the air is discharged to the outside of the
vacuum cleaner body through the air passages 42, air outlet 24 and
second connecting pipe 22.
[0012] Some dust is drawn to the ascending whirling air current
inside of the dust receptacle 30, but then blocked by the dust
blocking member 43 and re-entrained in the whirling air current.
The dust blocked by the dust blocking member 43 does not pass
through air passages 42 of grill assembly 40, and the dust is
re-entrained in the whirling air current and collected in dust
receptacle 30.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a conventional cyclone
dust collecting apparatus for use in an upright type vacuum
cleaner.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 2, the conventional cyclone dust
collecting apparatus for use in the upright type vacuum cleaner has
a similar basic structure as that of the cyclone dust collecting
apparatus for use in the canister type vacuum cleaner as described
above. Accordingly, the conventional cyclone dust collecting
apparatus for use in the upright type vacuum cleaner includes a
cyclone body 200, a dust receptacle 300 and a grill assembly 400.
The difference is that the cyclone dust collecting apparatus of the
upright type vacuum cleaner is mounted in the dust collecting
chamber of the vacuum cleaner body, while the cyclone dust
collecting apparatus of the canister type vacuum cleaner is not.
This difference will be described in detail below.
[0015] The cyclone body 200 includes an air intake pipe 210 and an
air discharge pipe 220. While mounting the cyclone dust collecting
apparatus in the vacuum cleaner body (not shown), the air intake
pipe 210 is connected to an air intake path that is formed in fluid
communication with a suction brush (not shown) of the vacuum
cleaner body. Also, the air discharge pipe 220 is connected to an
air discharge path that is formed in fluid communication with a
motor chamber (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner body. Accordingly,
dust-laden air is drawn from the surface being cleaned by the
suction brush. The dust laden-air then travels through the air
intake path and air intake pipe 210 of the vacuum cleaner body, and
then into cyclone body 200 in a tangential direction. Accordingly,
a whirling air current is formed inside cyclone body 200, causing
the dust to be separated from the drawn air by centrifugal force.
The clean air is discharged to the outside through the air
discharge pipe 220, and then through the air discharge path and the
motor chamber of the vacuum cleaner body.
[0016] The dust receptacle 300 is removably connected to the lower
portion of the cyclone body 200, for collecting the dust separated
from the air by the whirling current.
[0017] Grill assembly 400 is disposed at an entrance of the air
discharge pipe 220 inside of the cyclone body 200, preventing the
separated dust from escaping through air discharge pipe 220. The
grill assembly 400 includes a grill body 410, a plurality of air
passages 420 formed on the outer surface of the grill body 410. Air
passges 420 permit fluid communication between air outside grill
assembly 400 and air discharge pipe 220. Grill assembly 400 also
includes a dust blocking member 430 formed as a frustum-cone
mounted on a lower portion of grill body 410.
[0018] In the upright type vacuum cleaner equipped with the cyclone
dust collecting apparatus constructed as above, as the cleaning
operation is started, the motor in the motor chamber is driven, and
suction is accordingly generated by the suction brush. Dust-laden
air is drawn into the cyclone body 200 through the suction brush,
and travels through the air intake path and air intake pipe 210 of
the vacuum cleaner body. Due to the tangential orientation of air
intake pipe 210, the dust-laden air is drawn into cyclone body 200
in an oblique direction along the inner circumference of cyclone
body 200. Accordingly, a whirling air current is formed inside of
the cyclone body 200, and the dust is separated from the whirling
air by the centrifugal force and collected in dust receptacle 300.
The clean air is discharged outside through air passages 420 of
grill assembly 400, and air discharge pipe 220. The clean air then
flows through the air discharge path and the motor chamber of the
vacuum cleaner body.
[0019] In this process, dust in the air current ascending inside of
the dust receptacle 300 is blocked by dust blocking member 430,
thus re-entrained in the whirling air current. Since the dust that
is blocked by the dust blocking member 430 cannot pass through air
passages 420 of grill assembly 400, the dust is re-entrained in the
whirling air current and is eventually collected in dust receptacle
300.
[0020] In operation, the above-described cyclone dust collecting
apparatus can help reduce the amount of dust collected by a paper
filter. Considering the fact that the paper filter is not
recyclable after use, reducing the amount of dust collected at the
paper filter and thereby extending the life span of the paper
filter was very helpful to reduce the financial burden of the
users.
[0021] The research for the cyclone dust collecting apparatus for
use in a vacuum cleaner is now mainly focused on how to efficiently
constrain the dust and prevent its esape through the grill
assembly.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, grill assembly 40, 400 has an
air passage 42, 420 of a predetermined size for external discharge
of clean air, and by nature, some of dust escapes through air
passages 42, 420 of grill assembly 40, 400 because grill assembly
40, 400 is disposed at the entrance of the air discharge pipe 22,
220 inside of cyclone body 20, 200. As the dust escapes, the amount
of dust collected by the paper filter increases, or when there is
no paper filter, there is an increased amount of dust discharged
out of the dust collecting apparatus. As a result, the dust
collecting efficiency is degraded.
[0023] In order to prevent the escape of the dust, conventionally,
a dust blocking member 43, 430 of frustum-cone shape is mounted on
the lower portion of the grill body 41, 410. The dust blocking
member 43, 430 blocks the dust in the ascending air current back to
the whirling current so that the dust may not flow close to the air
passage 42, 420 of the grill body 41, 410. However, conventional
dust blocking members 43, 430 are limited in their ability to
prevent all of the dust from escaping.
[0024] While dust of a predetermined size are blocked by dust
blocking member 43, 430 and thus restrained from flowing into air
passage 42, 420 of the grill body 41, 410, dust such as hair are
minute enough to pass through the space between dust blocking
member 43 and the inner wall of dust receptacle 30, and between
dust blocking member 430 and the inner wall of cyclone body 200.
Such fine dust sometimes clogs grill body 41, 410 or is otherwise
discharged to the outside through the air passage 42, 420,
deteriorating the dust collecting efficiency of the vacuum cleaner.
Accordingly, improvements can be made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0025] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a grill assembly of a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for
use in a vacuum cleaner, having an improved structure that is
capable of constraining and thus minimizing the flow of dust
including find dust such as hair, through an air passage of the
grill assembly.
[0026] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in a vacuum cleaner that
contributes to improved dust collecting efficiency of the vacuum
cleaner with a grill assembly having an improved structure.
[0027] The above objects are accomplished by a grill assembly of a
cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in a vacuum cleaner,
being arranged at an entrance of an air discharge pipe of a cyclone
body where a whirling air current is formed from dust-laden air.
Dust is separated from the dust-laden air by the centrifugal force
of the whirling air current, which prevents dust from escaping. The
present invention includes a grill body, a plurality of air
passages formed on the grill body, and a dust blocking member
arranged at a lower portion of the grill body, blocking the dust
entrained in an ascending air current toward the grill body and
deflecting the dust toward the whirling air current. The dust
blocking member includes a first member formed as a frustum-cone
having a gradually increasing diameter downward, and a second
member formed as a hollow cylinder vertically spaced from a lower
side of the first member, the second member having a predetermined
length.
[0028] Accordingly, even minute and long dust such as hair are
blocked by the dust blocking member and can not ascend toward the
grill body. The dust is instead re-entrained in the whirling air
current, separated therefrom and falls to the dust receptacle. As a
result, degradation of the dust collecting efficiency due to
escaping dust is prevented.
[0029] The plurality of air passages are formed by a plurality of
blades that are arranged along an outer circumference of the grill
body at a predetermined distance from one another, allowing fluid
to pass through the air passages. Accordingly, the escape of dust
through the air passages is prevented, and dust collecting
efficiency is increased.
[0030] In one aspect of the present invention, the dust blocking
member is removably connected to a lower side of the grill body by
a connector.
[0031] In another aspect, the connector includes a pair of
connecting holes oppositely formed in an inner circumference of a
lower part of the grill body, each connecting hole having a
position guiding portion having a open lower end and a connecting
portion spaced from the open lower end of the position guiding
portion, and a pair of connecting protrusions formed on an outer
surface of an upper side of the dust blocking member, the
protrusions corresponding to the connecting holes.
[0032] In another aspect, the connector includes a screw being
fastened from a lower side of the dust blocking member to a lower
side of the grill body.
[0033] Another object is accomplished by a cyclone dust collecting
apparatus for use in a vacuum cleaner, which is attached to an
extension pipe of a canister type vacuum cleaner and separates dust
by whirling the dust-laden air. The cyclone dust collecting
apparatus includes a cyclone body comprising a first connecting
pipe connected to an inlet extension pipe for drawing in air, and a
second connecting pipe connected to an outlet extension pipe for
discharging air, a dust receptacle removably mounted on the cyclone
body for collecting dust separated from the dust-laden air whirling
in the cyclone body by the centrifugal force, and a grill assembly
arranged at an entrance of the second connecting pipe inside of the
cyclone body, for preventing the separated dust from escaping
through the second connecting pipe. The grill assembly includes a
grill body comprising a first grill body portion having a
supporting rib designed to engage the cyclone body, and a second
grill body portion formed as a hollow cylinder integrally extending
from the first grill body portion, a plurality of air passages
formed on the outer surface of the second grill body portion of the
grill body, the air passages placing air outside the grill assembly
in fluid communication with the second connecting pipe, and a dust
blocking member arranged at a lower portion of the second grill
body for blocking dust entrained in an ascending air current toward
the grill body and deflecting the dust toward the whirling air
current, the dust blocking member comprising a first member formed
as a frustum-cone having a gradually increasing diameter downward,
and a second member vertically extending down from the first
member, the second member having a predetermined length.
[0034] The cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in the upright
type vacuum cleaner includes a cyclone body comprising an air
intake pipe connected to the air intake path, and an air discharge
pipe connected to the air discharge path, the cyclone body includes
provisions to produce a whirling air current from dust-laden air is
drawn through the air intake pipe, a dust receptacle removably
connected to the cyclone body, for collecting dust separated from
the dust-laden air whirling inside of the cyclone body by
centrifugal force, and a grill assembly arranged at an entrance of
the air discharge pipe inside of the cyclone body, for preventing
the dust separated from the dust-laden air from escaping through
the air discharge pipe. The grill assembly includes a grill body
formed as a hollow cylinder with open upper end, a plurality of air
passages formed on an outer surface of the grill body that permit
fluid to flow from outside the grill assembly to the air discharge
pipe, and a dust blocking member arranged at a lower portion of the
second grill body, for blocking the dust entrained in an air
ascending toward the grill body so as to deflect the dust toward
the whirling air current, the dust blocking member comprising a
first member formed as a frustum-cone having a gradually increasing
diameter downward, and a second member vertically extending down
from the first member, the second member having a predetermined
length.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] The above-mentioned objects and the feature of the present
invention will be more apparent by describing the preferred
embodiment of the present invention in detail referring to the
appended drawings, in which:
[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional
cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in a canister type vacuum
cleaner;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional
cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in an upright type vacuum
cleaner;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a
cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in a canister type vacuum
cleaner, which is equipped with a grill assembly according to the
present invention;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the grill assembly of
FIG. 3;
[0040] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the grill
assembly of FIG. 3;
[0041] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a
cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in an upright type vacuum
cleaner, which is equipped with a grill assembly according to the
present invention;
[0042] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the grill assembly of
FIG. 6; and
[0043] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the grill
assembly of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0044] The objects and other characteristics of the present
invention will be made more apparent by describing the preferred
embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout
the description, like elements have been given the same reference
numerals.
[0045] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for
use in a canister type vacuum cleaner, which is equipped with a
grill assembly according to the present invention. Referring to
FIGS. 3 and 4, the cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in a
canister type vacuum cleaner includes a cyclone body 20, a dust
receptacle 30 and a grill assembly 40.
[0046] The cyclone body 20 includes a first connecting pipe 21
connected to inlet extension pipe 1a, which places first connecting
pipe 21 in fluid communication with a suction brush of the vacuum
cleaner, a second connecting pipe 22 connected to outlet extension
pipe 1b, which extends toward the body of the vacuum cleaner, an
air inlet 23 being in fluid communication with the first connecting
pipe 21, and an air outlet 24 being in fluid communication with the
second connecting pipe 22. The dust-laden air is drawn into the
cyclone body 20 through the air inlet 23 and into a whirling
current.
[0047] The dust receptacle 30 is removably connected to the cyclone
body 20, and separates the dusts separated from the whirling air
moving inside of the cyclone body 20.
[0048] The grill assembly 40 is disposed at the air outlet 24 of
the cyclone body 20, and is designed to prevent dust collected in
the dust receptacle 30 from escaping dust receptacle 30 and flowing
toward the vacuum cleaner body. Grill assembly 40 includes a grill
body 41, a plurality of air passages 42 formed in an outer surface
of grill body 41. Air passages 42 place the interior volume of dust
receptacle 30 in fluid communication with the air outlet 24. Dust
blocking member 43 is mounted on an end of grill body 41.
[0049] Grill body 41 includes a first grill body portion 41b and a
second grill body portion 41c. First grill body portion 41b has a
supporting rib 41a designed to engage cyclone body 20. Second grill
body portion 41c is formed as a hollow cylinder integrally
extending from first grill body portion 41b.
[0050] Air passages 42 are formed on the outer surface of second
grill body portion 41c in the form of, as shown in FIG. 3, a
plurality of through holes. Alternatively, the air passages 42 can
be formed as slits which are defined by arranging a plurality of
blades on the outer surface of second grill body portion 41c at
predetermined angles. Air passages 42 in slit form are more
preferable than other configurations because they prevent the
escape of dust more effectively.
[0051] Dust blocking member 43 prevents the escape of dust, by
blocking dust entrained in the air ascending toward grill body 41
and deflecting it towards the whirling air current. Dust blocking
member 43 is mounted on the lower portion of the second grill body
portion 41c, and includes a first member 43a formed as a
frustum-cone having a gradually increasing diameter downward, and a
second member 43b formed as a hollow cylinder extending from the
lower side of first member 43a. Second member 43b has a
predetermined length.
[0052] The length of second member 43b can be adjusted to achieve a
desired dust blocking effect. In one embodiment, second member 43b
has a length of between 10 to 30 mm. In a preferred, exemplary
embodiment, second member 43b has a length of between 15 and 20
mm.
[0053] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 4, dust blocking member 43 can
either be integrally formed with grill body 41, or as shown in FIG.
5, be formed separately from grill body 41.
[0054] In one embodiment where dust blocking member 43 formed
separately, dust blocking member 43 is attached to grill body 41 by
a connector 45. In one embodiment, connector 45 includes a pair of
connecting holes 45a oppositely formed in the inner surface of the
lower portion of second grill body portion 41c, and a pair of
connecting protrusions 45b formed on the outer surface of upper
portion of the dust blocking member 43 that correspond with the
pair of connecting holes 45a. Each of the connecting holes 45a
includes a position guiding portion having an open lower end, and a
connecting portion vertically spaced from the open lower end of the
position guiding portion. The connecting protrusions 45b are
aligned with, and inserted in the corresponding position guiding
portion of the connecting holes 45a, and then rotated in a
predetermined direction until the connecting protrusions 45b are
positioned in the connecting portion of the connecting holes 45a.
Accordingly, the dust blocking member 43 is assembled with the
grill body 41.
[0055] Connector 45 can take the form of various structures in
addition to the structure described above. For example, connector
45 can include a threaded fastener or threads disposed on
respective surfaces of grill body 41 and dust blocking member
43.
[0056] The cyclone dust collecting apparatus can be used in the
canister type vacuum cleaner, as described above. In operation,
suction generated at the suction brush of the vacuum cleaner draws
dust-laden air into cyclone body 20 through the first connecting
pipe 21 in an oblique direction with respect to the cyclone body
20. Accordingly, the drawn air is moved to the lower portion of
dust receptacle 30 in a whirling air current. In this process, dust
is separated from the whirling air due to centrifugal force, and
collected in dust receptacle 30. Then, the air is reflected from
the bottom of dust receptacle 30 and moves upward in a smaller
circle than the downward air current. Air in the ascending air
current is eventually discharged to the outside of the vacuum
cleaner body through air passages 42, air outlet 24 and second
connecting pipe 22.
[0057] Some dust is entrained with the ascending whirling air
current inside of dust receptacle 30, but then is blocked by dust
blocking member 43 and re-entrained in the whirling air current.
Because the dust is blocked by dust blocking member 43, it does not
pass through air passages 42 of grill assembly 40, the dust
re-entrained in the whirling air current is collected in dust
receptacle 30.
[0058] By using dust blocking member 43 that has the improved
structural features, blocking ascending dust and deflecting it
toward the whirling air current is performed more effectively. As a
result, even minute particles of dust, such as hair, are blocked,
so that they do not ascend toward the grill body 41 but instead
fall to, and collect in dust receptacle 30. Because dust is
constrained and prevented from escaping more effectively, the dust
collecting efficiency of the vacuum cleaner is increased.
[0059] FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing a cyclone dust collecting
apparatus for use in an upright type vacuum cleaner according to
the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cyclone dust
collecting apparatus for use in the upright type vacuum cleaner
according to the present invention has a similar basic structure as
that of the cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in the
canister type vacuum cleaner as described above. Accordingly, the
cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in the upright type
vacuum cleaner according to the present invention includes cyclone
body 200, dust receptacle 300, and grill assembly 400. The
difference is that the cyclone dust collecting apparatus of the
upright type vacuum cleaner according to the present invention is
mounted in the dust collecting chamber of the vacuum cleaner body,
while the cyclone dust collecting apparatus of the canister type
vacuum cleaner is not. This difference will be described in detail
below.
[0060] Cyclone body 200 includes an air intake pipe 210 and an air
discharge pipe 220. While mounting the cyclone dust collecting
apparatus in the vacuum cleaner body (not shown), the air intake
pipe 210 is connected to an air intake path that is formed in fluid
communication with a suction brush (not shown) of the vacuum
cleaner body. Also, the air discharge pipe 220 is connected to an
air discharge path that is formed in fluid communication with a
motor chamber (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner body. Accordingly,
dust-laden air is drawn from the surface to be cleaned through the
suction brush. The dust-laden air then travels through the air
intake path and air intake pipe 210 of the vacuum cleaner body, and
then into the cyclone body 200 in a tangential direction.
Accordingly, a whirling air current is formed inside of the cyclone
body 200, causing the dust to be separated from the drawn air by
centrifugal force. The clean air is discharged to the outside
through the air discharge pipe 220, and then through the air
discharge path and the motor chamber of the vacuum cleaner
body.
[0061] The dust receptacle 300 is removably connected to the lower
portion of cyclone body 200, for collecting the dust separated from
the air by the centrifugal force generated by the whirling current
of cyclone body 200.
[0062] Grill assembly 400 is disposed at an entrance of the air
discharge pipe 220 inside of cyclone body 200, preventing the
separated dust from flowing through air discharge pipe 220. Grill
assembly 400 includes a grill body 410 formed as a hollow cylinder
with an open upper end, and a plurality of air passages 420 formed
on the outer surface of grill body 410 that place air outside grill
body 410 in fluid communication with air discharge pipe 220. A dust
blocking member 430 is mounted on the lower portion of the grill
body 410.
[0063] Air passages 420 are formed as a slit in the outer surface
of the grill body 410, by arranging a plurality of blades at
predetermined angles. Although not shown, air passages 420 can also
be formed as a plurality of through holes formed in the outer
surface of the grill body 410. Forming air passages 420 in the slit
form by the arrangement of the blades is more preferable because
air passages 420 in slit form can prevent the escape of dust
through air passages 420 more effectively.
[0064] Dust blocking member 430 prevents the escape of dust, by
blocking dust entrained in the air ascending toward the grill body
410 and deflecting the dust into the whirling air current.
According to the present invention, the dust blocking member 430
includes a first member 430a formed as a frustum-cone having a
gradually increasing diameter downward, and a second member 430b
formed as a hollow cylinder extending from the lower side of the
first member 430a for a predetermined length.
[0065] The length of second member 430b can be adjusted to achieve
a desired dust blocking effect. In one embodiment, second member
430b has a length of between 10 to 30 mm. In a preferred, exemplary
embodiment, second member 430b has a length of between 15 and 20
mm.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 7, dust blocking member 430 can either be
integrally formed with grill body 410, or as shown in FIG. 8, be
separately formed from grill body 410.
[0067] In the embodiment where dust blocking member 430 is formed
separately from grill body 410, a connector 450 is preferably used
to attach dust blocking member 430 with the grill body 410. In one
embodiment, connector 450 may include a screw that is inserted from
the lower side of dust blocking member 430 and into the lower side
of the grill body 410. However, this should not be considered
limiting. Connector 450 may have various other structures so long
as it can attach dust blocking member 430 to grill body 410.
[0068] In an upright type vacuum cleaner equipped with the cyclone
dust collecting apparatus constructed as above, the device operates
as follows. The motor in the motor chamber is driven, and suction
is accordingly generated by the suction brush. This suction draws
dust-laden air into the air intake path and the air intake pipe 210
of the vacuum cleaner body. After passing through air intake pipe
210, the dust-laden air is drawn into cyclone body 200 in an
oblique direction along the inner circumference of cyclone body
200. Accordingly, a whirling air current is formed inside cyclone
body 200, dust is separated from the whirling air by centrifugal
force, and collected in dust receptacle 300. The clean air is
discharged outside through the air passages 420 of the grill
assembly 400. The clean air then passes through air discharge pipe
220, the air discharge path, and the motor chamber of the vacuum
cleaner body.
[0069] In this process, dust in the ascending air current inside of
dust receptacle 300 is blocked by dust blocking member 430, and
re-entrained in the whirling air current. Since the dust is blocked
by dust blocking member 430, it cannot pass though air passages 420
of grill assembly 400, the dust is re-entrained in the whirling air
current and collected in dust receptacle 300.
[0070] By using dust blocking member 430 according to the present
invention, blocking ascending dust and deflecting it toward the
whirling air current is performed more effectively. As a result,
even dust of minute particles, such as hair, are blocked, so that
they do not ascend toward the grill body 410 but fall to dust
receptacle 300. As the escape of dust is constrained and prevented
more effectively, the dust collecting efficiency of the vacuum
cleaner is increased.
[0071] As described above, according to the present invention,
dust, including minute and long particles such as hair, are
effectively blocked by the dust blocking member that has the first
member of frustum-conical shape and the second member of hollow
cylindrical shape and those particles of dust are re-entrained in
the whirling air current. Accordingly, even minute and long
particles are prevented from ascending toward grill body 410, and
fall into dust receptacle 300. Accordingly, the escape of dust is
more effectively constrained and prevented, and the dust collecting
efficiency of the vacuum cleaner increases.
[0072] According to the present invention as described above, even
the minute and long particles such as hair are blocked by the dust
blocking member that has a first member of frustum-conical shape
and a second member of hollow cylindrical shape. Accordingly, dust
does not ascend toward the grill body but are re-entrained in the
whirling air current. As a result, the escape of dust can be
minimized.
[0073] Although a few preferred embodiments of the present
invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these
embodiments without departing from the principles and sprit of the
invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *