U.S. patent application number 10/835671 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-16 for dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner having two cyclone chambers.
Invention is credited to Lee, Byung-jo, Park, Jung-seon.
Application Number | 20040250374 10/835671 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32653357 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040250374 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park, Jung-seon ; et
al. |
December 16, 2004 |
Dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner having two cyclone
chambers
Abstract
A double cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner includes a
lower cyclone body having an air suction port and an air discharge
port for separately collecting dust entrained in air which is drawn
in through the air suction port, an upper cyclone body having a
main body for sequential secondary separation of fine dust
particles after the primary dust separation of the air flowing from
the lower cyclone body, and an upper casing providing a fine dust
collecting chamber by covering the surface of the main body, and an
air path for guiding the air which is cleaned in the upper cyclone
body by the secondary dust separation step into the upper and lower
cyclone bodies, and discharging the air through the air discharge
port. The dust particles entrained in the air can be separately and
sequentially collected according to the size of the dust
particles.
Inventors: |
Park, Jung-seon;
(Gwangju-city, KR) ; Lee, Byung-jo; (Gwangju-city,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY LLP
224 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE
SUITE 1200
CHICAGO
IL
60604
US
|
Family ID: |
32653357 |
Appl. No.: |
10/835671 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B04C 9/00 20130101; A47L
9/19 20130101; A47L 9/127 20130101; A47L 9/1666 20130101; B04C
2009/004 20130101; B04C 5/26 20130101; B04C 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/353 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 16, 2003 |
KR |
2003-38645 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A double cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner comprising:
a lower cyclone body having an air suction port and an air
discharge port for initially collecting dust entrained in air which
is drawn in through the air suction port in a primary dust
separation step; an upper cyclone body having a main body for
secondary dust separation of fine dust particles, after separation
of the air flowing into the upper cyclone body from the lower
cyclone body, and an upper casing providing a fine dust particle
collecting chamber by covering the surface of the upper cyclone
main body; and an air path for guiding the air, after it is cleaned
in the secondary dust separation step in the upper cyclone body,
from the upper and lower cyclone bodies, and discharging the
cleaned air through the air discharge port.
2. The double cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner of claim
1, wherein the lower cyclone body further comprises: the air
suction port and the air discharge port being formed on a sidewall
of the lower cyclone body and being disposed at a predetermined
distance from each other; a lower cyclone center hole formed on an
upper plate of the lower cyclone body; a lower cyclone outlet
formed on one side of the lower cyclone center hole; and a lower
cyclone grill vertically disposed adjacent the lower cyclone center
hole.
3. The double cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner of claim
2, wherein the cyclone main body of the upper cyclone body further
comprises: a bottom plate having an upper cyclone center hole and
an upper inlet, adjacent and corresponding to the lower cyclone
center hole and the lower cyclone outlet of the lower cyclone body,
respectively; and an upper cyclone grill disposed in the upper
cyclone center hole having a vertical orientation and surrounding
the upper cyclone center hole.
4. The double cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner of claim
3, further comprising an upper casing of the upper cyclone body
removably connected to the cyclone main body, and a means for
detachably connecting the upper casing and the cyclone main body
that comprises: a connection hole portion formed as a
longitudinally extending hole disposed on an upper plate of the
upper casing; and an operation knob mounted on the upper part of
the upper cyclone grill extendable through the connection hole
portion, the operation knob, when extending through the connection
hole portion, being rotatable from a locked position, in which the
connection hole portion is releasably locked therewith, to an
unlocked position, in which the connection hole portion is unlocked
therefrom.
5. The double cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner of claim
1, wherein the lower cyclone body generates a rotating air current
when the air flows in through the air suction port for
centrifugally separating the dust in a primary dust separation
step, and the dust receptacle is removably connected to the lower
cyclone body adjacent a lower part thereof.
6. The double cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner of claim
1, wherein the upper cyclone body further comprises a filter to be
connected to an outside of the upper grill for further filtering
dust particles entrained in the air stream.
7. The double cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner of claim
6, further comprising a dust amount sensor unit for sensing the
amount of dust, which has been separated and collected in the upper
cyclone body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a cyclone dust
collector for a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a double
chambered cyclone dust collector which centrifugally separates dust
and dirt entrained in the air stream drawn into the cyclone dust
collector (hereinafter, referred to as "dust") by sequentially
performing multiple separation operations of the dust from the air,
and which collects the separated dust therein.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 1 illustrates an
enlarged, vertical view, in partial cross-section, of a
conventional cyclone dust collector 20 (FIG. 2) for a vacuum
cleaner 1. A conventional cyclone dust collector is usually
removably mounted in a device receiving enclosure 10 of a main body
3 of a vacuum cleaner, as shown in FIG. 2. At the rear side of the
device receiving enclosure 10, an air suction connection port 13
(shown in phantom in FIG. 2) for drawing in external air in which
dust is entrained, and an air discharge connection port 14 (FIG. 2)
for discharging clean air that has been filtered in the cyclone
dust collector 100 of FIG. 1.
[0005] Referring now to FIG. 1, the conventional cyclone dust
collector 100 comprises a cyclone body 110 and a filter 130 mounted
within the cyclone body 110. The cyclone body 110 comprises an air
suction port 113 (shown in phantom) and an air discharge port 115
and also comprises a dust receptacle 120 to be inserted within a
lower part of the cyclone body 110. The air suction port 113 is
formed to extend in a direction that is tangent or obliquely
oriented relative to a sidewall of the cyclone body 110, and the
port 113 is connected to the suction connection port 13 (FIG. 2) of
the main body 3. The air discharge port 115 is formed in the center
of the upper part of the cyclone body 110 so as to extend upwardly
therefrom, and is connected to the discharge connection port 14 of
the main body 3.
[0006] According to the above-described structure, air is drawn in
along the suction connection port 13 is discharged into the cyclone
body 110 through the air suction port 113, and is directed to form
a rotating air current. At this time, dust entrained in the
rotating air current is centrifugally separated from the air and
falls down to be collected in the dust receptacle 120. The dust
receptacle 120 is replaceably removable from the cyclone body 110
so that the dust receptacle 120 can be emptied when it is full of
dust.
[0007] Meanwhile, fine particles of the dust that may still remain
in the air current are discharged through the air discharge port
115, after the centrifugal separation in the cyclone body 110. For
filtering the fine dust particles, a lower filter 130 is mounted at
an opening of the air discharge port 115. The lower filter 130,
having a plurality of fine holes, is disposed in the cyclone body
110 in an upright or vertical position. Due to the presence of the
lower filter 130, the air passing through the air discharge port
115 is separated from the fine dust particles, and thus, clean air
is discharged through the discharge connection port 14 of the main
body (FIG. 2).
[0008] However, in the cyclone dust collector 100 of a conventional
vacuum cleaner, which has a single cyclone body and a single
filter, a large amount of fine dust particles, which should be
centrifugally separated in the cyclone body, remain entrained in
the discharged air current to be scattered around the filter and
even through eventual continued use, to block the fine holes of the
filter. As a result, air flow is disturbed and impeded, efficiency
of the vacuum cleaner diminishes and also noise is generated.
[0009] Further, since the filter filters a large amount of fine
dust in the cyclone dust collector 100 of the conventional vacuum
cleaner, the filter needs frequent cleaning or replacement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVETION
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a double
cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner having improved suction
efficiency and dust-collecting capability, by rotating drawn in air
in the dust collector and separately collecting dust according to
the size of the dust particles in sequential operational steps.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
double cyclone dust collector for a vacuum cleaner which requires
low maintenance, by reducing the requirement for frequent cleaning
or replacing the filter.
[0012] In order to achieve the above-described objects of the
present invention, there is provided a double cyclone dust
collector for a vacuum cleaner, comprising a lower cyclone body
having an air suction port and an air discharge port for initially
collecting dust entrained in air which is drawn in through the air
suction port in a primary dust separation operation, an upper
cyclone body having a main body for secondary dust separation of
fine dust particles after separation of the air flowing into the
upper cyclone body from the lower cyclone body, and an upper casing
providing a fine dust particle collecting chamber by covering the
surface of the upper cyclone main body, and an air path for guiding
the air, after it is cleaned in the secondary dust separation
operation in the upper cyclone body, from the upper and lower
cyclone bodies, and discharging the cleaned air through the air
discharge port.
[0013] The lower cyclone body further comprises the air suction
port and the air discharge port being formed on a sidewall of the
lower cyclone body and being disposed at a predetermined distance
from each other, a lower cyclone center hole formed on an upper
plate of the lower cyclone body, and a lower cyclone outlet formed
on one side of the lower cyclone center hole, and a lower cyclone
grill vertically disposed adjacent the lower cyclone center
hole.
[0014] It is preferable that the cyclone main body of the upper
cyclone body comprises a bottom plate having an upper cyclone
center hole and an upper inlet adjacent and corresponding to the
lower cyclone center hole and the lower cyclone outlet of the lower
cyclone body, respectively, and an upper cyclone grill disposed in
the upper cyclone center hole having a vertical orientation and
surrounding the upper cyclone center hole.
[0015] Accordingly, there is provided a double cyclone dust
collector for a vacuum cleaner, which is improved in suction
efficiency and dust collecting capability, by directing a rotating
air current in the dust collector and separately collecting dusts
in sequential dust collecting operations according to the size of
the dust particles.
[0016] In the double cyclone dust collector of the vacuum cleaner
according to the present invention, there are provided two grills
disposed, respectively, in the upper and lower cyclone bodies, and
the grills sequentially filtering larger dust particles or fine
dust particles according to the function of each grill. Therefore,
the amount of fine dust particles, which is filtered by the upper
filter in the upper cyclone body, can be reduced. In addition,
frequency of cleaning or replacing the filter can be reduced.
[0017] The double cyclone dust collector according to the present
invention is very simple to remove and empty the collected dust
since the dust receptacle is easily detachable from the upper
casing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0018] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become clearer and better understood with
regard to the following description, appended claims, and
accompanying drawings wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a partially enlarged vertical section r
having a conventional cyclone dust collector for a vacuum
cleaner;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective, partially exploded view of an
upright vacuum cleaner, having a double cyclone dust collector
according to the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the exterior of
the double cyclone dust collector of FIG. 2;
[0022] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the double cyclone
dust collector shown in FIG. 3;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the double cyclone
dust collector shown in FIG. 3;
[0024] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the upper cyclone
body;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a top view of the upper cyclone body;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the
dust amount sensor unit of FIG. 6, shown in greater detail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a cyclone vacuum
cleaner according to the present invention will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective, partially exploded view of an
upright vacuum cleaner, having a double cyclone dust collector
according to the present invention. In the upright cyclone vacuum
cleaner 1, a double cyclone body 20 according to the present
invention is removably connected to a main body 3, as shown by the
dashed lines in FIG. 2. A vacuum generating device (not shown) is
mounted in the main body 3. A suction brush 5 for drawing in dust
entrained in ambient air is mounted adjacent a lower part of the
main body 3.
[0029] A device receiving enclosure 10 is provided as a cavity
disposed in the center of the main body 3 to receive the double
cyclone dust collector 20. Provided adjacent the rear of the device
receiving enclosure 10 are a suction connection port 13, in fluid
communication with the suction brush 5, and a discharge connection
port 14, in fluid communication with the vacuum generating
device.
[0030] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the double cyclone dust
collector 20 shown in FIG. 2 showing the detailed appearance of the
double cyclone dust collector, and FIG. 4 is an exploded
perspective view of the double cyclone dust collector 20 shown in
FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows a vertical cross-section of the double cyclone
dust collector shown in FIG. 3, showing the structure of the double
cyclone dust collector according to the present invention, in
greater detail.
[0031] As shown in the drawing figures, the double cyclone dust
collector 20 comprises a lower cyclone body 40, which has an air
suction port 41 and an air discharge port 42, an upper cyclone body
30, which is disposed above the lower cyclone body 40, and a dust
receptacle 25, which is removably connected to the underside of
lower cyclone body 40. Inside the lower and upper cyclone bodies
40, 30, air paths are formed to circulate dust-laden air, as shown
by the arrows.
[0032] The lower cyclone body 40 is in the shape of a cylinder, and
having an open bottom. The air suction port 41 and the air
discharge port 42 are disposed on a sidewall of the cylinder at a
predetermined distance from each other. The air suction port 41 is
formed in a direction inwardly tangential to the sidewall of the
lower cyclone body 40, and is connected to the suction connection
port 13 of the device receiving enclosure 10. The drawn in air is
directed in a direction to rotate the air current as the air is
discharged inwardly through the air suction port 41. The air
discharge port 42 preferably is formed in a direction normal to the
cylindrical sidewall of the lower cyclone body 40 to extend axially
thereof, and is connected to the discharge connection port 14 of
the device receiving enclosure 10, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0033] Referring now to FIG. 4, a top plate 40' of the lower
cyclone body 40 includes a lower cyclone center hole 44 formed in a
central location thereof. The lower cyclone center hole 44 and the
air discharge port 42 are in fluid communication with each other
through a lower cyclone air path 45 defined by the walls of the air
discharge port 42. The lower cyclone air path 45 is formed under
the top plate 40' of the lower cyclone body 40 to extend outwardly
in a radial direction from the center hole 44. The lower cyclone
air path 45 guides the air discharged through the lower cyclone
center hole 44 to the air discharge port 42, as shown by the arrows
in FIG. 5.
[0034] A lower cyclone outlet 46 is formed in the top plate 40' of
the lower cyclone body 40. The lower cyclone outlet 46 can be
formed, preferably in a pair of outlets extending around the lower
cyclone center hole 44, as shown. The air, which is first separated
from the entrained dust in the lower cyclone body 40, is discharged
through the lower cyclone outlet 46, and then flows into the upper
cyclone body 30, which will be described in detail below.
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 5, the lower cyclone body 40 includes
a lower cyclone grill 60 that is formed in a vertical direction.
The lower cyclone grill 60 comprises a lower cyclone grill unit 61,
which is generally cylindrical, an upper flange unit 63 and a lower
flange unit 67, which are formed on an upper part and a lower part
respectively of the lower cyclone grill unit 61. On the outer
circumference of the lower cyclone grill unit 61, a plurality of
vertical lower cyclone slits 62 are defined having a parallel, and
preferably vertical, orientation. The upper flange unit 63 extends
upwardly from the lower cyclone grill unit 61 in the shape of a
truncated cone, and is connected with an inner surface of the lower
cyclone body 40. The end of the upper flange unit 63 is downwardly
bent to form a rim or bent portion 64, and a connection rib 65 is
circumferentially disposed at an upper part of an inner surface of
the lower cyclone body 40, and is engagable with the bent portion
64, as shown. The lower flange unit 67 extends downwardly from the
bottom part of the lower cyclone grill unit 61 and may be formed in
the shape of a bell or inverted cup.
[0036] In the lower cyclone body 40, the drawn in air, which is
discharged inwardly through the air suction port 41, generates a
rotating air current spinning around the lower cyclone grill 60.
The dust in the drawn in air is centrifugally separated from the
rotating air current, and falls by gravity to be collected in the
dust receptacle 25. The dust receptacle 25 is removably connected
at the lower part or underside of the lower cyclone body 40, and
therefore, the user can remove the collected dust by separating the
dust receptacle 25 from the lower cyclone body 40 and emptying it.
An upper rim of the dust receptacle 25 includes a connection groove
28 formed in a circumferential direction, and the circumferential
lower end 48 of the lower cyclone body 40 can be engagably
force-fit into the connection groove 28 to provide a seal at the
connection.
[0037] The air, which has been filtered in the lower cyclone body
40, passes through the lower cyclone grill 60 and is then
discharged in an upward direction. Since the lower cyclone slits 62
of the lower cyclone grill 60 have a predetermined size, dust of a
relatively large particle size that may be entrained in the
discharged air current is blocked by the lower cyclone grill 60 as
the air passes therethrough. However, the lower cyclone grill 60
cannot block particles of fine dust smaller than a certain size.
Accordingly, the primarily filtered air, in which fine dust may
still be entrained, is supplied into the upper cyclone body 30.
[0038] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the upper cyclone
body 30. The upper cyclone body 30 comprises a cyclone main body 31
for separating fine dust and an upper casing 35 for openably
covering the upper part of the cyclone main body 31. The cyclone
main body 31 comprises a bottom plate 32, and an upper cyclone
grill 55 disposed in the center of the bottom plate 32. An upper
plate 36 is disposed in the bottom plate 32 through which the air
from the lower cyclone body 40 flows into the upper cyclone body
30, and an upper cyclone center hole 34 is disposed within the
upper cyclone grill 55 for discharging the air after it has been
filtered in the secondary filtration operation.
[0039] The upper cyclone grill 55 is disposed in an upright or
vertical position above and surrounding the upper cyclone center
hole 34 of the bottom plate 32. A plurality of outlet slits 56 are
formed in the outer surface of the upper cyclone grill 55, and the
outlet slits 56 can be in the form of vertical slits similar to
those in the lower cyclone grill 60 of the lower cyclone body 40.
The upper cyclone grill 55 having the plurality of air outlet slits
56 preferably is capable of filtering the fine dust from the air.
However, it is more preferable to utilize the upper cyclone grill
55 together with an external filter 70 surrounding the upper
cyclone grill 55 so as to enable the more efficient filtering of
fine dust. Further, it is preferable that a porous filtering member
73, which is detachable for easier cleaning, is connected radially
outwardly of the external filter 70, so as to provide a tertiary
filtration operation of the air stream.
[0040] The air current, which is directed through the upper cyclone
grill 55 and the external filter 70 externally connected to the
upper cyclone grill 55, then flows into the lower cyclone air path
45 of the lower cyclone body 40 through the upper air path 33
inside of the upper cyclone grill 55. Therefore, an air circulating
path, that is, the air path 50 is formed in the upper and lower
cyclone bodies 40, 30, respectively, by which the air drawn in
through the air suction port 41 is discharged to the air discharge
port 42 after sequentially circulating through the lower cyclone
outlet 46, the upper inlet 36, the upper air path 33 and the lower
cyclone air path 45. Although in FIG. 6 the upper cyclone grill 55
and the bottom plate 32 are shown as separate elements,
alternatively the upper cyclone grill 55 can be integrally formed
with the bottom plate 32 by an injection molding process.
[0041] Meanwhile, the upper casing 35, which may be essentially
cylindrical with a bottom thereof being open, has a shape and size
sufficient to correspond to the bottom plate 32. The upper casing
35 has a recessed portion 38 disposed in the center of the upper
surface thereof, and a connection hole portion 75 may be formed in
the recessed portion 38. A longitudinally oriented hole 76 is
formed in the connection hole portion 75, which can be engaged by
an operation knob 77 disposed on the upper cyclone grill 55 of the
cyclone main body 31, so as to attach the upper casing 35 to the
cyclone main body 31.
[0042] The operation knob 77 is rotatably formed on the upper part
of the upper cyclone grill 55, and a head portion 78 thereof
extends radially along both sides thereof. The head portion 78 can
be inserted through hole 76 so as to be over the connection hole
portion 75 to extend in one orientation. The operation knob 77
engages the connection hole portion 75 of the head portion 78 after
being inserted through hole 76, by rotating the operation knob 77
clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the longitudinally
extending sides of hole 76. By engaging the connection hole portion
75 with the operation knob 77, the upper casing 35 can be
releasably connected to the cyclone main body 31. The upper casing
35 connected to the cyclone main body 31 forms a fine dust particle
receiving chamber for collecting fine dust particles. The operation
knob 77 can be fixed to the upper cyclone grill 55 by an
appropriate attachment, such as a post or screw. Alternatively, the
operation knob 77 can be integrally formed with the bottom plate 32
and the upper cyclone grill 55 by an injection molding process.
[0043] The above-described double cyclone dust collector 20 for a
vacuum cleaner can be separated from the device receiving enclosure
10 of the main body 3 of the vacuum cleaner by withdrawing it in a
predetermined direction. Additionally, The dust receptacle 25 may
be separated from its connection to the lower cyclone body 40. The
upper cyclone body 30 may be releasably connectable with the lower
cyclone body 40 either integrally or separately. Connection of the
lower cyclone body 40 to the main body 3 entails that the air
suction port 41 and the air discharge port 42 become connected
respectively to the suction connection port 13 and the discharge
connection port 14, which are disposed in the rear wall of the
device receiving enclosure 10, as shown in FIG. 2. To securely
attach the upper cyclone body 30 to the upper part of the lower
cyclone body 40, it is preferable that an installation groove is
formed in the upper plate 40' of the lower cyclone body 40.
[0044] When the device is switched on, the vacuum generating device
is driven. At this time, the air, which includes entrained dust, is
drawn into the vacuum cleaner through the suction brush 5 (FIG. 2),
and is internally discharged into the air suction port 41 of the
lower cyclone body 40 through the suction connection port 13. The
discharged air, including entrained dust, generates a rotating air
current within the lower cyclone body 40, and thereby the dust is
centrifugally separated within the cyclone generated by the
rotating air current, and the dust is collected into the dust
receptacle 25 by gravity in a primary filtering operation.
[0045] The filtered air then passes through the lower cyclone grill
60 (FIG. 5) and rises into the upper cyclone body 30 through the
lower cyclone outlet(s) 46 (FIG. 4) and the upper cyclone inlet 36
(FIG. 6). The lower cyclone grill 60 is provided to block
relatively large dust particles entrained in the air during the
primary filtration operation.
[0046] The air that is discharged into the upper cyclone body 30
from the upper cyclone inlet 36 is directed to the upper cyclone
body 30, in which it encounters cyclone grill 55 having the upper
cyclone slits 56 formed therein. At this time, the external filter
70 filters the air of any entrained fine dust particles in a
secondary filtration operation. The fine dust particles, which are
filtered in the secondary filtration operation, fall down to the
bottom plate 32 of the cyclone main body 31, to be collected in the
fine dust particle receiving chamber defined by the bottom plate 32
and upper casing 35. The cleaned air, after the fine dust particles
are separated, is discharged through the upper cyclone slits 56 of
the upper cyclone grill 55 and passes through the upper air path 33
and the lower cyclone air path 45 to be discharged from the air
discharge port 42.
[0047] In the lower and upper cyclone bodies 40, 30, the amount of
dust collected therein gradually increases with use off the vacuum
cleaner. The larger dust particles, which are collected in the
lower cyclone body 40, are removed by separating the dust
receptacle 25 and emptying it. Withdrawing the lower cyclone body
40 and the dust receptacle 25 from the device receiving enclosure
10 is facilitated by a withdrawal lever 28, as shown in FIG. 2.
Thus, the dust receptacle 25, which is attached to the device
receiving enclosure 10, can be separated by turning the withdrawal
lever 28.
[0048] To remove the fine dust particles collected in the upper
cyclone body 30, the upper cyclone body 30 first should be
withdrawn from the device receiving enclosure 10. Then, the upper
casing 35, which covers the cyclone main body 31, is separated from
the bottom plate 32. The upper casing 35 can be separated only when
the head portion 78 of the operation knob 77 and the longitudinally
oriented hole 76 of the connection hole portion 75 are oriented
parallel to each other, which may be achieved by rotating the
operation knob 77. Reconnection of the upper casing 35 after
removing the fine dust particles is simply done by going through
the above steps in reverse order, that is, rotation of the
operation knob so that the longitudinally oriented hole 76 and head
portion are no longer aligned, as is shown in FIG. 7.
[0049] Additionally, a dust amount sensor unit 80, as shown in FIG.
6, is equipped in the upper cyclone body 30 to check the amount of
dust particles that have been collected. FIG. 8 is a partially
enlarged exploded cross-sectional view of the dust amount sensor
shown in FIG. 6, showing the specific structure of the dust amount
sensor unit 80 in greater detail. As shown in FIG. 8, the dust
amount sensor unit 80 comprises a sensor casing 81, a dust amount
indicator 83 to be connected within the sensor casing 81, a
standard dust indicator 85, which is movable between a covered
(empty) position and an exposed (full) position of the over dust
indicator 83, and a spring 87 for elastically biasing the standard
dust indicator 85 toward the covered position.
[0050] The sensor casing 81 preferably is formed of a transparent
material, and having an outlet 82 formed at a longitudinal end
thereof. The over dust indicator 83 is connected adjacent the lower
part of the sensor casing 81, and has a pressure inlet 84 formed on
the bottom thereof. The over dust indicator 83 comprises an
indication unit 86, which extends upwardly along the sensor casing
81 in a longitudinal direction. The standard dust indicator 85
cooperatively receives the indication unit 86 of the over dust
indicator 83 within the sensor casing 81. The spring 87 is disposed
between the standard dust indicator 85 and an opening of the sensor
casing 81, which is opposite the standard dust indicator 85, so as
to provide a biasing force urging the indication unit 86 in a
direction away from the outlet 82.
[0051] The dust amount sensor unit 80 is disposed adjacent the
front of the upper cyclone body 30, as shown in FIG. 6. Brackets
91, 92 (FIG. 8) are formed at the front of the upper cyclone body
30 and the dust amount sensor unit 80 is mounted on these brackets.
The pressure inlet 84 of the standard dust indicator 85 is in fluid
communication with the inside of the upper cyclone body 30, and the
air outlet 82 of the sensor casing 81 is in fluid communication
with outside environment. Additionally, an indicating window 37 is
formed adjacent the front of the upper cyclone body 30 and the dust
amount sensor unit 80, so that the user of the vacuum cleaner can
check the state of the dust amount sensor unit 80 through the
indicating window 37.
[0052] In the above-described structure, when the dust amount in
the upper cyclone body 30 is under a predetermined threshold, the
air flows through the upper inlet 36 and is discharged to the air
discharge port 42, passing through the filter 70 and the upper air
path 33. Accordingly, the inside and outside of the upper cyclone
body 30 are at the same air pressure. During operation of the dust
amount sensor unit 80, since the standard dust indicator 85 is in a
position that blocks the view of the over dust indicator 83 by the
resilient biasing recovery force of the spring 87, the standard
dust indicator 85 only becomes exposed through the indicating
window 37 when the dust amount is sufficient to overcome the spring
force.
[0053] On the other hand, when the dust amount is over the
predetermined threshold, that is, when the collected dust requires
removal, the inside pressure becomes relatively higher than the
outside pressure because the airflow of the inside is interrupted
by action of the pressure inlet 84. The inside pressure is exerted
to the pressure inlet 84 of the standard dust indicator 85, thereby
pressurizing the standard dust indicator 85. Accordingly, when the
standard dust indicator 85 exposes the over dust indicator 83, the
over dust indicator 83 becomes visible through the indicating
window 37, thereby alerting the user that excessive dust has been
collected in the upper cyclone body 30, and the user can withdraw
the upper cyclone body 30 from the device receiving enclosure 10 to
remove the dust.
[0054] 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 modifications
and 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.
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