U.S. patent application number 10/439877 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-26 for cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG GWANGJU ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Oh, Jang-Keun.
Application Number | 20040163206 10/439877 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19720702 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040163206 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oh, Jang-Keun |
August 26, 2004 |
Cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
Abstract
Disclosed is a cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a
vacuum cleaner which is disposed in a dust collecting chamber
connected with an air inlet path and an air discharge path of the
cleaner for separating dusts and contaminants from air drawn in
through a suction brush and then the air inlet path by a
centrifugal force, the cyclone-dust collecting apparatus comprising
a cylindrical cyclone body having an air inlet port and air
discharge port respectively corresponding to the air inlet path and
the air discharge path and fixed in an upper portion of the dust
collecting chamber, a dirt-collecting receptacle removably disposed
in a lower side of the cyclone body for collecting dusts and
contaminants separated in the cyclone body by a centrifugal force,
a filter assembly disposed in a lower part of the cyclone body and
having a rotation filter rotated by air flow moving from the
dirt-collecting receptacle to the air discharge port and preventing
contaminants from flowing back, and a dusting member for
automatically removing dusts on the rotation filter.
Inventors: |
Oh, Jang-Keun;
(Gwangju-City, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul D. Greeley, Esq.
Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, L.L.P.
10th Floor
One Landmark Square
Stamford
CT
06901-2682
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG GWANGJU ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
19720702 |
Appl. No.: |
10/439877 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/20 20130101; A47L
9/1675 20130101; B04C 9/00 20130101; B04C 2009/004 20130101; B04C
5/22 20130101; B04C 5/13 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/353 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 21, 2003 |
KR |
2003-11119 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
which is disposed in a dust collecting chamber connected with an
air inlet path and an air discharge path of the cleaner for
separating dusts and contaminants from air drawn in through a
suction brush and then the air inlet path by a centrifugal force,
the cyclone-dust collecting apparatus comprising: a cylindrical
cyclone body having an air inlet port and air discharge port
respectively corresponding to the air inlet path and the air
discharge path and fixed in an upper portion of the dust collecting
chamber; a dirt-collecting receptacle removably disposed in a lower
side of the cyclone body for collecting dusts and contaminants
separated in the cyclone body by a centrifugal force; a filter
assembly disposed in a lower part of the cyclone body and having a
rotation filter rotated by air flow moving from the dirt-collecting
receptacle to the air discharge port and preventing contaminants
from flowing back; and a dusting member for automatically removing
dusts on the rotation filter.
2. The cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
according to claim 1, wherein the filter assembly comprises: a pipe
member connected to a lower part of the cyclone body and formed to
allow air to pass through; a cover connected to an upper end of the
pipe member and having an air hole; and a shaft penetrating the
pipe member, supporting the rotation filter and rotatably connected
to the cover, wherein the rotation filter is connected to a lower
end of the pipe member and rotated by air flow while being
supported by the shaft.
3. The cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
according to claim 2, wherein the rotation filter comprises: a
turbine having a plurality of wings inserted into a lower end of
the pipe member; a filtering net on an outer circumferential
surface of the turbine; and a reverse prevention member connected
to a lower end of the turbine and fixed to a lower end of the shaft
for preventing contaminants from flowing back.
4. The cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
according to claim 1, wherein the dusting member has one end fixed
on an outer side of the filter assembly and the other end provided
with a brush in contact with an outer surface of the rotation
filter, and dusts are automatically brushed off by the brush when
the rotation filter rotates.
5. The cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
according to claim 4, wherein the dusting member is disposed in an
oblique direction declining in a rotation direction of the rotation
filter.
6. The cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
according to claim 2, wherein the dusting member has one end fixed
on an outer circumference of the pipe member and the other end
provided with a brush in contact with the filtering net.
7. The cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
according to claim 6, wherein the dusting member is disposed in an
oblique direction declining in a rotation direction of the turbine
member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cyclone-type dust
collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly,
to a cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
having an automatic dusting structure.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus was disclosed by
the applicant of the present invention in Korean Patent No.
1999-20704 and its schematic structure is shown in FIG. 1.
[0005] An example of such cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus is
shown in FIG. 1. The cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus shown
in FIG. 1 comprises a cyclone body 20, a dirt-collecting receptacle
30, and a grill assembly 40.
[0006] The cyclone body 20 is divided into an upper and lower
bodies 21, 22 and the upper and lower bodies 21, 22 are connected
with each other by a plurality of screws 23. Formed on the lower
body 22 are a first connection pipe 24 connected with a connection
pipe 1a on the suction port side of a cleaner, and an air inlet
port 25 in communication with the first connection pipe 24. On the
upper body 21 are formed a second connection pipe 26 connected with
a connection pipe 16 on the body side of the cleaner, and an air
discharge port 27 in communication with the second connection pipe
26. Air flows in through the air inlet port 25 in an oblique
direction. Accordingly, a vortex is formed inside the cyclone body
20 and the dirt-collecting receptacle 30, and the contaminants
included in the air are separated from the air by a centrifugal
force created by the vortex.
[0007] The dirt-collecting receptacle 30 is removably connected to
the cyclone body 20, causes the flown in air to create a vortex in
cooperation with the cyclone body 20, and collects contaminants
separated from the air by the vortex.
[0008] The grill assembly 40 is disposed at the air discharge port
27 of the cyclone body 20 for preventing the collected contaminants
from flowing back through the air discharge port 27. The grill
assembly 40 comprises a grill body 41, a plurality of fine dust
holes 42 disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the grill
body 41 in communication with the air discharge port 27, and a
frusto-conical shape contaminant reverse preventing member 43
formed at the end portion of the grill body 41.
[0009] However, such cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus often
has the fine dust holes 42 of the grill assembly 40 blocked by fine
dusts when used for a long period of time. Therefore, the
dirt-collecting receptacle 30 needs to be separated for removing
dusts on the grill assembly 40 even when the dirt-collecting
receptacle 30 is not full of contaminants yet.
[0010] In addition, a separate operation is required for dusting
off the grill assembly 40.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] An aspect of the invention is to solve at least the above
problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the
advantages described hereinafter.
[0012] Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to solve
the foregoing problems by providing a cyclone-type dust collecting
apparatus for a vacuum cleaner with an improved structure in which
a grill assembly can be automatically dusted off.
[0013] The foregoing and other aspects and advantages are realized
by providing a cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum
cleaner which is disposed in a dust collecting chamber connected
with an air inlet path and an air discharge path of the cleaner for
separating dusts and contaminants from air drawn in through a
suction brush and then the air inlet path by a centrifugal force,
the cyclone-dust collecting apparatus comprising a cylindrical
cyclone body having an air inlet port and air discharge port
respectively corresponding to the air inlet path and the air
discharge path and fixed in an upper portion of the dust collecting
chamber, a dirt-collecting receptacle removably disposed in a lower
side of the cyclone body for collecting dusts and contaminants
separated in the cyclone body by a centrifugal force, a filter
assembly disposed in a lower part of the cyclone body and having a
rotation filter rotated by air flow moving from the dirt-collecting
receptacle to the air discharge port and preventing contaminants
from flowing back, and a dusting member for automatically removing
dusts on the rotation filter.
[0014] The filter assembly comprises a pipe member connected to a
lower part of the cyclone body and formed to allow air to pass
through, a cover connected to an upper end of the pipe member and
having an air hole, and a shaft penetrating the pipe member,
supporting the rotation filter and rotatably connected to the
cover, wherein the rotation filter is connected to a lower end of
the pipe member and rotated by air flow while being supported by
the shaft.
[0015] In addition, the rotation filter comprises a turbine having
a plurality of wings inserted into a lower end of the pipe member,
a filtering net on an outer circumferential surface of the turbine,
and a reverse prevention member connected to a lower end of the
turbine and fixed to a lower end of the shaft for preventing
contaminants from flowing back.
[0016] The dusting member has one end fixed on an outer side of the
filter assembly and the other end provided with a brush in contact
with an outer surface of the rotation filter, and dusts are
automatically brushed off by the brush when the rotation filter
rotates.
[0017] In addition, the dusting member is disposed in an oblique
direction declining in a rotation direction of the rotation
filter.
[0018] In addition, the dusting member has one end fixed on an
outer circumference of the pipe member and the other end provided
with a brush in contact with the filtering net.
[0019] In addition, the dusting member is disposed in an oblique
direction declining in a rotation direction of the turbine
member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The above object and the feature of the present invention
will be more apparent by describing a preferred embodiment of the
present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional
cyclone-type dust colleting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner;
[0022] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a
cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the filter
assembly shown in FIG. 2;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the filer assembly shown in
FIG. 2 when assembled; and
[0025] FIG. 5 is a drawing for illustrating the operation of a
cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] Hereinafter, a cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a
vacuum cleaner according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view showing an
upright-type vacuum cleaner employing a cyclone-type dust
collecting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, the cyclone-type dust collecting
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention
comprises a cyclone body 50, a dirt-collecting receptacle 60, a
filter assembly 70, and a dusting member 90.
[0029] The cyclone body 50 is divided into an upper and lower
bodies 51, 52. The upper and lower bodies 51, 52 are connected by a
plurality of screws 53. The lower body 52 has a first connection
pipe 54 connected with an extension pipe 1a on the suction port
side of the cleaner, and an air inlet port 55 connected with the
first connection pipe 54 formed thereon. The upper body 51 has a
second connection pipe 56 connected with an extension pipe 1b on
the cleaner body side, and an air discharge port 57 connected with
the second connection pipe 56 formed thereon.
[0030] The contaminant-laden air drawn in through the suction port
of the cleaner flows in through the first connection pipe 54 and
the air inlet port 55 in an oblique direction with respect to the
cyclone body 50. Accordingly, a vortex is created inside the
cyclone body 50 and the dirt-collecting receptacle 60, and the
contaminant included in the air is separated from the air by a
centrifugal force formed by the vortex.
[0031] The dirt-collecting receptacle 60 is removably connected to
the air discharge port 57 of the cyclone body 50. The
dirt-collecting receptacle 60 creates a vortex with respect to the
flown in air in cooperation with the cyclone body 50, and also
collects the contaminants separated from the air by the vortex.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the filter assembly 70 is
disposed at the air discharge port 57 of the cyclone body 50 and
prevents the contaminant collected in the dirt-collecting
receptacle 60 from flowing back through the air discharge port 57.
Such filter assembly 70 comprises a pipe member 71 connected to the
air discharge port 57, a cover 73, a shaft 75 rotatably supporting
the cover 73, and a rotation filter 77 disposed on the lower
portion of the pipe member 71 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0033] The pipe member 71 has a tubular structure with the upper
end enlarged in a predetermined shape, and provides a path for air
being discharged. The cover 73 is connected to the upper portion of
the pipe member 71. The cover 73 is fitted into the upper portion
of the pipe member 71. The cover 73 has a plurality of ribs
provided around the shaft portion 73a at predetermined intervals
for allowing air to be discharged. The shaft portion 73a has an
upper end of the shaft 75 rotatably connected thereto by a bearing
76. Therefore, the shaft 75 is disposed to pass through the pipe
member 71 without interfering with it.
[0034] The rotation filter 77 is disposed at the lower end of the
pipe member 71, and rotatably supported by the shaft 75. Such
rotation filter 77 comprises a turbine 81 fitted into the lower
portion of the pipe member 71, a filtering net 83 covering the
outer circumferential surface of the turbine 81, and a reverse
prevention member 85 connected with the lower end of the turbine
81. The turbine 81 has a plurality of rotation wings 81a provided
at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction and
therefore rotates by the air flown into the pipe member 71. The
filtering net 83 rotates together with the turbine on the outer
circumferential surface for filtering fine dusts that are not
separated by the centrifugal force inside the dirt-collecting
receptacle. The reverse prevention member 85 is fixed at the lower
end of the shaft 75 by the screws 53 inside the lower portion of
the turbine 81. Accordingly, the rotation filter 77 can rotate
together around the shaft 75. The reverse prevention member 85 has
a flange portion 85a with the lower end extended outward thereby
preventing light contaminants from flowing back.
[0035] Meanwhile, the pipe member 71 has the dusting member 90
disposed at the outer end portion thereof. That is, one end of the
dusting member 90 is fixed to an end of the pipe member 71 and the
other end is positioned on the outer surface of the filtering net
83. A side of the dusting member 90, that is, the lower side of the
dusting member 90 has a dusting brush 91 disposed thereon in
contact with the filter net 83.
[0036] In addition, the dusting member 90 is disposed to decline in
the rotation direction of the turbine 81, that is, in a direction
oblique to the direction of the rotation direction of the turbine
81 (FIG. 3). Therefore, the dusts and contaminants are brushed off
the filter net 83 while the rotation filter 77 rotates, and fall
down without remaining on the dusting member 90. Such dusting
member 90 may be fastened to the pipe member 71 by a screw, or
connected by a generally-known connection means.
[0037] Hereinafter, the operation of the cyclone-type dust
collecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present
invention structured as above will be described.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 5, the cyclone-type dust collecting
apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is
used with itself being connected to the extension pipes 1a, 1b of
the cleaner as a conventional cyclone-type dust collecting
apparatus. When the cleaning begins, the dusts and contaminants are
flown in through the first connection pipe 54 and the air inlet
port 55 in the oblique direction with respect to the cyclone body
50 together with the drawn in air by a suction force generated at
the suction port of the cleaner. Accordingly, the air creates a
vortex and descends towards the bottom of the dirt-collecting
receptacle 60. In that process, the dusts and contaminants included
in the air are separated from the air by a centrifugal force and
then collected in the dirt-collecting receptacle 60.
[0039] Then, the air is flown into the pipe member 71 through the
filtering net 83 and the turbine 81 of the filter assembly 70 by an
air stream rising back up at the bottom of the dirt-collecting
receptacle 60. The air flown into the pipe member 71 is discharged
through the extension pipe 1b. At this time, a part of the
contaminants rising with the air stream in the dirt-collecting
receptacle 60 is blocked by the reverse prevention member 85
thereby descending back with the vortex.
[0040] In addition, the contaminants not separated by the reverse
prevention member 85 are filtered by the filtering net 83.
Accordingly, fine dusts are caught on the filtering net 83, and
clean air passes through the filtering net 83 and is discharged
through the turbine 81. The turbine 81 is rotated clockwise, that
is, in the direction A, by the air being discharged. Therefore, the
filtering net 83 and the turbine 81 rotate together while
constantly being in contact with the dusting member 90 thereby
having the contaminants covering the filtering net 83 automatically
dusted off by the dusting member 90. Accordingly, airways can be
prevented from being blocked by dusts covering the filtering net
83. In addition, since the filtering net 83 is automatically
dusted, there is no need of separately dismounting and dusting the
filter assembly 70 when emptying the dirt-collecting receptacle
60.
[0041] While the embodiment of the present invention illustrates a
filter assembly 70 with a single dusting member 90, the dusting
member 90 may be disposed in plural numbers at predetermined
intervals.
[0042] According to the present invention described above, the
cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner has a
structure in which a filtering net is automatically dusted by a
dusting member as the rotation filter of a filter assembly
automatically rotates by air.
[0043] Accordingly, the rotation filter can be prevented from being
blocked by dusts and therefore cleaning efficiency can be improved
and it becomes convenient for use since there is no need of
separately cleaning the rotation filter.
[0044] 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.
* * * * *