U.S. patent application number 12/150395 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-11 for cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus for vacuum cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Dong-hun Yoo.
Application Number | 20090144932 12/150395 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39812341 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090144932 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yoo; Dong-hun |
June 11, 2009 |
Cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus for vacuum cleaner
Abstract
A cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner
may include a cyclone unit disposed at a cleaner body so that a
longitudinal center axis thereof is parallel to a first sidewall of
the cleaner body, the cyclone unit having a contaminant-discharging
opening formed at an upper portion of a side surface thereof; and a
contaminant receptacle disposed at a side of the cyclone unit to be
attached to or detached from the cleaner body, the contaminant
receptacle having a top wall at which a contaminant-entering
opening is formed corresponding to the contaminant-discharging
opening of the cyclone unit.
Inventors: |
Yoo; Dong-hun;
(Gwangju-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul D. Greeley;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: |
39812341 |
Appl. No.: |
12/150395 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/347 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 5/22 20130101; A47L
5/225 20130101; A47L 9/1683 20130101; A47L 9/1691 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/347 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/00 20060101
A47L009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 5, 2007 |
KR |
2007-125738 |
Claims
1. A cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus for disposal in a
cleaner body having a first sidewall that becomes a bottom surface
when the cleaner body is stood up in a longitudinal direction
thereof and a second sidewall that becomes the bottom surface when
the cleaner body is laid down in the longitudinal direction
thereof, the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus comprising: a
cyclone unit disposed at the cleaner body so that a longitudinal
center axis of the cyclone unit is parallel to the first sidewall
of the cleaner body, the cyclone unit having a
contaminant-discharging opening formed at an upper portion of a
side surface thereof, and a contaminant receptacle disposed at the
side surface of the cyclone unit, the contaminant receptacle being
configured to be attached to or detached from the cleaner body, the
contaminant receptacle having a top wall at which a
contaminant-entering opening is formed corresponding to the
contaminant-discharging opening of the cyclone unit.
2. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein
the cyclone unit comprises: a cyclone body formed in a hollow
cylindrical shape, the cyclone body having a center axis parallel
to the first sidewall of the cleaner body; an air-discharging pipe
formed at a bottom surface of the cyclone body; and an air-entering
pipe disposed at the side surface of the cyclone body nearby the
second sidewall of the cleaner body.
3. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 2, wherein
the cyclone unit further comprises: a contaminant-discharging pipe
extending from the side surface of the cyclone body at the
contaminant-discharging opening, the contaminant-discharging pipe
comprising a rectangular pipe.
4. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 3, wherein
the contaminant receptacle further comprises an outer projection
projecting from around the contaminant-entering opening of the
contaminant receptacle.
5. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 4, wherein
the cyclone unit further comprises: a supporting wall formed around
the contaminant-discharging pipe, the supporting wall corresponding
to the top wall of the contaminant receptacle; and a sealing
projection formed at the supporting wall to wrap the outer
projection of the contaminant receptacle.
6. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 5, further
comprising a gasket disposed between the sealing projection and the
outer projection.
7. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 4, wherein
the contaminant receptacle further comprises: an inner projection
formed at an inner surface of the top wall of the contaminant
receptacle to project inside the contaminant receptacle from around
the contaminant-entering opening.
8. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 2, further
comprising: a discharging duct connecting the air-discharging pipe
of the cyclone unit and a vacuum generator, the discharging duct
being disposed at the second sidewall of the cleaner body.
9. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein
the contaminant receptacle comprises: a contaminant receptacle body
having the top wall at which the contaminant-entering opening is
formed; a handle disposed at a side surface of the contaminant
receptacle body; a bottom cover disposed at a bottom end of the
contaminant receptacle body so that it is able to be opened and
closed; and a bottom cover opening unit selectively opening and
closing the bottom cover.
10. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 9,
wherein the bottom cover is disposed at the side surface of the
contaminant receptacle body by a hinge.
11. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 10,
wherein the bottom cover opening unit comprises: a fixing hook
disposed at a side of the bottom cover, the fixing hook formed to
be caught on a fixing projection disposed at the contaminant
receptacle body; and a release lever causing the fixing hook to be
released from the fixing projection.
12. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 11,
wherein the release lever is formed to move along the handle.
13. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of claim 12,
further comprising an elastic member disposed on a top end of the
release lever to bias the release lever upward.
14. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body having a first
sidewall that becomes a bottom surface when the cleaner body is
stood up in a longitudinal direction thereof and a second sidewall
that becomes the bottom surface when the cleaner body is laid down
in the longitudinal direction thereof; and a cyclone contaminant
collecting apparatus disposed in the cleaner body, the cyclone
contaminant collecting apparatus having a cyclone unit and a
contaminant receptacle, wherein the cyclone unit is disposed at the
cleaner body so that a longitudinal center axis of the cyclone unit
is parallel to the first sidewall of the cleaner body and wherein
the contaminant receptacle is disposed at a side of the cyclone
unit to be attached to or detached from the cleaner body.
15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the cyclone unit has a
contaminant-discharging opening formed at an upper portion of a
side surface thereof.
16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the contaminant
receptacle has a top wall at which a contaminant-entering opening
is formed corresponding to the contaminant-discharging opening of
the cyclone unit.
17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the cyclone unit
comprises: a cyclone body formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, the
cyclone body having a center axis parallel to the first sidewall of
the cleaner body; an air-discharging pipe formed at a bottom
surface of the cyclone body; and an air-entering pipe disposed at a
side surface of the cyclone body nearby the second sidewall of the
cleaner body.
18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17, wherein the cyclone unit
further comprises: a contaminant-discharging pipe extending from
the side surface of the cyclone body at the contaminant-discharging
opening, the contaminant-discharging pipe formed in a rectangular
pipe.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(a) from Korean Patent Application No. 2007-125738 filed Dec. 5,
2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a cyclone contaminant
collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner. More particularly, the
present disclosure relates to a cyclone contaminant collecting
apparatus usable with an upright or canister type vacuum
cleaner.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, vacuum cleaners are classified as either an
upright type or a canister type. Each of the upright type vacuum
cleaner and the canister type vacuum cleaner has both advantages
and disadvantages. So, users can select and use one of the two type
vacuum cleaners as their needs.
[0006] However, some users may need both type vacuum cleaners. In
this case, the users should buy both the canister type vacuum
cleaner and the upright type vacuum cleaner, thereby feeling
financial burden.
[0007] For solving this problem, combined vacuum cleaners that can
be used both as the canister type and the upright type have been
developed. The conventional combined vacuum cleaners use a dust bag
as a contaminant collecting apparatus. Therefore, it has been
required to develop combined vacuum cleaners to use a cyclone
contaminant collecting apparatus, which has good contaminant
separating efficiency and easy usability, as the contaminant
collecting apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present disclosure has been developed in order to
overcome the above drawbacks and other problems associated with the
conventional arrangement. An aspect of the present disclosure is to
provide a cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus capable of being
used in either a canister or upright type vacuum cleaner.
[0009] The above aspect and/or other features of the present
disclosure can substantially be achieved by providing a cyclone
contaminant collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner that is
disposed in a cleaner body having a first sidewall that becomes a
bottom surface when the cleaner body is stood up in a longitudinal
direction thereof and a second sidewall that becomes a bottom
surface when the cleaner body is laid down in the longitudinal
direction thereof. The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus may
include a cyclone unit disposed at the cleaner body so that a
longitudinal center axis thereof is parallel to the first sidewall
of the cleaner body, the cyclone unit having a
contaminant-discharging opening formed at an upper portion of a
side surface thereof; and a contaminant receptacle disposed at a
side of the cyclone unit to be attached to or detached from the
cleaner body, the contaminant receptacle having a top wall at which
a contaminant-entering opening is formed corresponding to the
contaminant-discharging opening of the cyclone unit.
[0010] The cyclone unit may include a cyclone body formed in a
hollow cylindrical shape, the cyclone body having a center axis
parallel to the first sidewall of the cleaner body; an
air-discharging pipe formed at a bottom surface of the cyclone
body; and an air-entering pipe disposed at a side surface of the
cyclone body nearby the second sidewall of the cleaner body.
[0011] The cyclone unit may include a contaminant-discharging pipe
extending from the side surface of the cyclone body at the
contaminant-discharging opening, the contaminant-discharging pipe
formed in a rectangular pipe.
[0012] The contaminant receptacle may include an outer projection
projecting from around the contaminant-entering opening of the
contaminant receptacle.
[0013] The cyclone unit may include a supporting wall formed around
the contaminant-discharging pipe, the supporting wall corresponding
to the top wall of the contaminant receptacle; and a sealing
projection formed at the supporting wall to wrap the outer
projection of the contaminant receptacle.
[0014] The cyclone unit may include a gasket disposed between the
sealing projection and the outer projection.
[0015] The contaminant receptacle may include an inner projection
formed at an inner surface of the top wall of the contaminant
receptacle to project inside the contaminant receptacle from around
the contaminant-entering opening.
[0016] The cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus may include a
discharging duct disposed at the second sidewall of the cleaner
body, the discharging duct connecting the air-discharging pipe of
the cyclone unit and a vacuum generator.
[0017] The contaminant receptacle may include a contaminant
receptacle body having the top wall at which the
contaminant-entering opening is formed; a handle disposed at a side
surface of the contaminant receptacle body; a bottom cover disposed
at a bottom end of the contaminant receptacle body so that it is
able to be opened and closed; and a bottom cover opening unit
selectively opening and closing the bottom cover.
[0018] The bottom cover may be disposed at a side surface of the
contaminant receptacle body by a hinge.
[0019] The bottom cover opening unit may include; a fixing hook
disposed at a side of the bottom cover, the fixing hook formed to
be caught on a fixing projection disposed at the contaminant
receptacle body; and a release lever causing the fixing hook to be
released from the fixing projection.
[0020] The release lever may be formed to move along the
handle.
[0021] The bottom cover opening unit may include an elastic member
disposed on a top end of the release lever to bias the release
lever upward.
[0022] Other objects, advantages and salient features of the
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,
discloses preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the
following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings of which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a vacuum cleaner
having a cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus when the vacuum
cleaner is used as an upright type vacuum cleaner;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the vacuum cleaner
having the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of FIG. 1 when
the vacuum cleaner is used as a canister type vacuum cleaner;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view illustrating the vacuum
cleaner having the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of FIG.
1 taken along a line III-III in FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view illustrating the vacuum
cleaner having the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of FIG.
3 when a contaminant receptacle is separated;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view illustrating the vacuum
cleaner having the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of FIG.
2 taken along a line IV-IV in FIG. 2;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view illustrating the vacuum
cleaner having the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus of FIG.
5 when a contaminant receptacle is separated;
[0030] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view illustrating a cyclone
unit of the vacuum cleaner having the cyclone contaminant
collecting apparatus of FIG. 3;
[0031] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view illustrating a contaminant
receptacle of the vacuum cleaner having the cyclone contaminant
collecting apparatus of FIG. 3; and
[0032] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the contaminant
receptacle of FIG. 8 when a bottom cover thereof is opened.
[0033] Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be
understood to refer to like parts, components and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Hereinafter, certain exemplary embodiments of the present
disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0035] The matters defined in the description, such as a detailed
construction and elements thereof, are provided to assist in a
comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it is apparent
that the present disclosure may be carried out without those
defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are
omitted to provide a clear and concise description of exemplary
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a vacuum cleaner 1 having a
cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus 40 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a suction
nozzle 10, an extension pipe assembly 20, and a cleaner body
30.
[0037] The suction nozzle 10 moves along a surface to be cleaned
and draws in contaminants. A contaminant suction port (not
illustrated), in through which air and contaminants are drawn, is
formed at a bottom surface of the suction nozzle 10. A
body-mounting portion 11 onto which the cleaner body 30 is mounted
is formed at a top surface of the suction nozzle 10. Also, a pair
of wheels 12 to allow the suction nozzle 10 to smoothly move on the
surface to be cleaned is disposed at opposite sides of the suction
nozzle 10. When the vacuum cleaner 1 is used as an upright type, as
illustrated in FIG. 1, the cleaner body 30 is coupled to the
body-mounting portion 11 of the suction nozzle 10.
[0038] The extension pipe assembly 20 connects the suction nozzle
10 with the cleaner body 30, and includes an extension pipe 21 and
a flexible hose 22. A grip 23 is formed at a connecting portion
between the extension pipe 21 and the flexible hose 22. Therefore,
a user grabs the grip 23 to move the suction nozzle 10. When the
vacuum cleaner 1 is used as the upright type as illustrated in FIG.
1, the extension pipe assembly 20 is fixed to a rear surface of the
cleaner body 30, that is, a second sidewall 32.
[0039] The cleaner body 30 supports a vacuum generator (not
illustrated) to generate a suction force to draw in contaminants
and the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus 40 to separate and
collect drawn-in contaminants. The cleaner body 30 has a first
sidewall 31 that becomes a bottom surface when the cleaner body 30
is stood up in a longitudinal direction thereof as illustrated in
FIG. 1 and the second sidewall 32 that becomes a bottom surface
when the cleaner body 30 is laid down in the longitudinal direction
thereof as illustrated in FIG. 2. The first sidewall 31 becomes the
bottom surface that contacts the body-mounting portion 11 of the
suction nozzle 10 when the vacuum cleaner 1 is used as the upright
type as illustrated in FIG. 1. The second sidewall 32 is formed
perpendicularly with respect to the first sidewall 31, and the
extension pipe assembly 20 is fixed to the second sidewall 32. The
second sidewall 32 becomes the bottom surface when the vacuum
cleaner 1 is used as a canister type as illustrated in FIG. 2. The
cleaner body 30 is partitioned into a first portion 33 in which the
vacuum generator is disposed and a second portion 34 in which the
cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus 40 is disposed by a
partition wall 35. The vacuum generator is disposed between the
partition wall 35 and the first sidewall 31. The cyclone
contaminant collecting apparatus 40 is disposed above the partition
wall 35. The second portion 34 in which the cyclone contaminant
collecting apparatus 40 is disposed has an opened front
surface.
[0040] The vacuum generator is in fluid communication with the
cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus 40 via a discharging duct
36 (see FIG. 3) disposed at an inner surface of the second sidewall
32 of the cleaner body 30.
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the cyclone contaminant
collecting apparatus 40 includes a cyclone unit 50 to separate
contaminants from the drawn-in air and a contaminant receptacle 70
to collect separated contaminants.
[0042] The cyclone unit 50 is disposed so that a longitudinal
center axis CL is parallel to the first sidewall 31 of the cleaner
body 30. Therefore, when the vacuum cleaner 1 is used as the
upright type as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the longitudinal
center axis CL of the cyclone unit 50 becomes substantially
horizontal with respect to the surface to be cleaned 3. The cyclone
unit 50 includes a cyclone body 51 to form a space in which the
drawn-in air and contaminants whirl, an air-entering pipe 52 to
allow the contaminants and air to enter an inner side of the
cyclone body 51, and an air-discharging pipe 53 through which air
having contaminants removed is discharged.
[0043] The cyclone body 51 is formed substantially in a hollow
cylindrical shape, and the longitudinal center axis CL thereof is
parallel to the first sidewall 31 of the cleaner body 30. A
contaminant-discharging opening 57 through which the separated
contaminants are discharged is formed at an upper portion of a side
surface of the cyclone body 51, that is, at a position farthest
away from the second sidewall 32 of the cleaner body 30. In this
exemplary embodiment, the contaminant-discharging opening 57 is
formed substantially in a rectangular shape. The
contaminant-discharging opening 57 may have a size so that the
contaminants separated in the cyclone body 51 can be smoothly
discharged through the contaminant-discharging opening 57 by a
centrifugal force, and the contaminants collected in the
contaminant receptacle 70 can be prevented from flowing backward
into the cyclone body 51 through the contaminant-discharging
opening 57. A top cover 55 may be detachably disposed at the top
end of the cyclone body 51. A guide pipe 55a may be formed to
extend from an inner surface of the top cover 55 toward the
air-discharging pipe 53. A contaminant-discharging pipe 58 may be
formed to extend outside from the side surface of the cyclone body
51 in the contaminant-discharging opening 57. The
contaminant-discharging pipe 58 may have a shape corresponding to
the shape of the contaminant-discharging opening 57 and a larger
section area than that of the contaminant-discharging opening 57.
In this exemplary embodiment, the contaminant-discharging pipe 58
is formed in a rectangular pipe having a rectangular section larger
than that of the contaminant-discharging opening 57.
[0044] The air-discharging pipe 53 is formed substantially at a
center of a bottom surface of the cyclone body 51, and the bottom
surface thereof is disposed on the second sidewall 32 of the
cleaner body 30. The air-discharging pipe 53 is formed
substantially in a hollow cylindrical shape with opposite opened
ends, and is in fluid communication with the discharging duct 36
disposed at the second sidewall 32 of the cleaner body 30.
Therefore, air discharged from the air-discharging pipe 53 moves to
the vacuum generator via the discharging duct 36. Also, as
illustrated in FIG. 3, a filter portion 54 having a plurality of
slits 54a may be disposed at a top end of the air-discharging pipe
53. The filter portion 54 disposed at the top end of the
air-discharging pipe 53 can filter contaminants moving with
discharging air.
[0045] The air-entering pipe 52 is disposed at a lower portion of
the side surface of the cyclone body 51, that is, a position near
the second sidewall 32 of the cleaner body 30. Air entering the
air-entering pipe 52 whirls inside the cyclone body 51 around the
longitudinal center axis CL of the cyclone body 51. The
air-entering pipe 52 is in fluid communication with the extension
pipe assembly 20.
[0046] A supporting wall 60 to support the cyclone body 51, as
illustrated in FIG. 3, may be disposed below the cyclone body 51. A
leading end 58a of the contaminant-discharging pipe 58 is formed to
project from the supporting wall 60 as illustrated in FIG. 7. A
sealing projection 61 may be disposed around the leading end 58a of
the contaminant-discharging pipe 58 on a bottom surface of the
supporting wall 60. A connecting groove 62 in which a connecting
protrusion 76 formed at a top wall 72 of the contaminant receptacle
70 is inserted may be formed at an outer circumference of the
supporting wall 60.
[0047] The contaminant receptacle 70 is disposed at a side of the
cyclone unit 50, that is, below the cyclone unit 50 as illustrated
in FIG. 3, and is formed to be detachable with respect to the
cleaner body 30. Therefore, the contaminant receptacle 70 can be
mounted or separated parallel with respect to the first sidewall 31
of the cleaner body 30 and perpendicular with respect to the second
sidewall 32 of the cleaner body 30. When the vacuum cleaner 1 is
used as the upright type, the contaminant receptacle 70, as
illustrated in FIG. 4, is substantially horizontally mounted to and
separated from the cleaner body 30.
[0048] The contaminant receptacle 70 may be formed in a
substantially rectangular tank shape with a closed top end as
illustrated in FIG. 8. The contaminant receptacle 70 comprises the
contaminant receptacle body 71 having the top wall 72. A
contaminant-entering opening 73 corresponding to the
contaminant-discharging opening 57 of the cyclone unit 50 is formed
at the top wall 72 of the contaminant receptacle body 71. An outer
projection 74 is formed to project outside the contaminants
receptacle body 71 around the contaminant-entering opening 73 of
the top wall 72 of the contaminant receptacle body 71. The outer
projection 74 is inserted in a space between the sealing projection
61 and the contaminant-discharging pipe 58 formed at the supporting
wall 60 of the cyclone unit 50. Therefore, when the contaminant
receptacle 70 is connected with the cyclone unit 50, a connecting
portion between the leading end 58a of the contaminant-discharging
pipe 58 of the cyclone unit 50 and the contaminant entering opening
73 of the contaminant receptacle 70 is sealed by the sealing
projection 61. When a sealing member (not illustrated), such as a
gasket, may be disposed inside the sealing projection 61, that is,
a space between the sealing projection 61 and the outer projection
74, sealing efficiency is increased. Also, an inner projection 75
may be formed to project toward a bottom of the contaminant
receptacle body 71 at an inner surface of the top wall 72 of the
contaminant receptacle body 71. The inner projection 75 prevents
contaminants collected in the contaminant receptacle 70 from
flowing backward through the contaminant-entering opening 73. Also,
the connecting protrusion 76 is formed at an outer circumference of
the top wall 72 of the contaminant receptacle body 71, and is
inserted in the connecting groove 62 of the cyclone unit 50.
Therefore, when connecting the contaminant receptacle 70 with the
cyclone unit 50, the user is required to push and insert the
contaminant receptacle 70 into the cyclone unit 50. For this a
lifting unit 90 (see FIG. 3) may be disposed below the contaminant
receptacle 70 to cause the contaminant receptacle 70 to move up and
down. The lifting unit 90 may be configured so that a cam and a
lever cause the contaminant receptacle 70 to move up and down.
Conventional lifting units can be used as the lifting unit.
Therefore, a detailed description of the lifting unit 90 will be
omitted.
[0049] Furthermore, the contaminant receptacle 70 includes a handle
77 disposed at a side surface of the contaminant receptacle body
71, a bottom cover 78 that is disposed at a bottom end of the
contaminant receptacle body 71 and can be opened and closed, and a
bottom cover opening unit 80 (see FIGS. 3-6) to selectively open or
close the bottom cover 78.
[0050] The bottom cover 78 is connected with a sidewall of the
contaminant receptacle body 71 by hinges 79. In this exemplary
embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the bottom cover 78 is
connected with the bottom end of the contaminant receptacle body 71
by two hinges 79.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 3, the bottom cover opening unit 80
includes a fixing hook 82, a fixing protrusion 83, a release lever
81, and an elastic member 85. The fixing hook 82 is disposed at a
side of the bottom cover 78, that is, a side of the bottom cover 78
opposite to the side thereof in which the hinges 79 are disposed.
The fixing protrusion 83 is disposed at the bottom end of the
contaminant receptacle body 71 so that it can be connected with the
fixing hook 82 when the bottom cover 78 is closed. The release
lever 81 is formed to release a leading end of the fixing hook 82
from the fixing protrusion 83. The elastic member 85 biases
elastically the release lever 81 upward.
[0052] The release lever 81 may be disposed inside the handle 77 so
that it can move along the handle 77. That is, the handle 77 may be
formed to support and guide the movement of the release lever 81
therethrough. A release button 84 is formed at an end of the
release lever 81. The elastic member 85 is disposed underneath the
release button 84. That is, the elastic member 85 is disposed
between the release button 84 and the handle 77 as illustrated in
FIG. 3. A bottom end 81a of the release lever 81 is formed to push
the fixing hook 82 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Therefore, when the
release button 84 is pushed, the release lever 81 is moved downward
along the handle 77. When the release lever 81 is moved downward,
the bottom end 81a of the release lever 81 presses the fixing hook
82, so the fixing hook 82 is released from the fixing protrusion
83. When the fixing hook 82 is released from the fixing protrusion
83, the bottom cover 78 rotates downward on the hinges 79 by its
own weight so that the bottom of the contaminant receptacle 70 is
opened (see FIG. 9). On the other hand, when the user takes away
the force to press the release button 84, the release button 84 is
moved upward by the elastic member 85. At this time, when the user
closes the bottom cover 78, the fixing hook 82 is caught on the
fixing protrusion 83 of the contaminant receptacle body 71 so that
the bottom cover 78 is fixed to the contaminant receptacle body 71
(see FIG. 8).
[0053] Hereinafter, operation of the cyclone contaminant collecting
apparatus 40 for a vacuum cleaner having the structure as described
above according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure will be explained with reference to the accompanying
figures.
[0054] First, the case will be explained when the vacuum cleaner 1
having the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus 40 according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is used as the
upright type as illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0055] When the vacuum cleaner 1 is used as the upright type, the
first sidewall 31 of the cleaner body 30 is fixed to the
body-mounting portion 11 of the suction nozzle 10, so the cleaner
body 30 moves integrally with the suction nozzle 10. At this time,
the extension pipe 21 and the flexible hose 22 of the extension
pipe assembly 20 is fixed to an outer surface of the second
sidewall 32 of the cleaner body 30.
[0056] In this state, when the vacuum generator (not illustrated)
operates to generate a suction force, contaminants and air are
drawn in the suction nozzle 10, and then moved to the cleaner body
30 through the extension pipe assembly 20.
[0057] The contaminants and air, which arrive at the cleaner body
30, enter inside the cyclone body 51 of the cyclone unit 50 through
the air-entering pipe 52 (arrow A). The contaminants and air, as
arrow B illustrated in FIG. 3, whirl around the longitudinal center
axis CL of the cyclone unit 50 substantially horizontal with
respect to the surface to be cleaned 3. While whirling, the
contaminants are separated from the air and are discharged into the
contaminant receptacle 70 through the contaminant-discharging
opening 57 formed at the cyclone body 51 (arrow C). At this time,
the contaminant-discharging opening 57 is located at the lower
portion of the cyclone unit 50 so that the contaminants separated
in the cyclone unit 50 are smoothly discharged. On the other hand,
clean air having the contaminants removed is discharged toward the
second sidewall 32 of the cleaner body 30 through the
air-discharging pipe 53 (arrow D). The clean air discharged toward
the second sidewall 32 moves to the vacuum generator through the
discharging duct 36 disposed at the second sidewall 32 (arrow
E).
[0058] When emptying the contaminants collected in the contaminant
receptacle 70, the user moves the contaminant receptacle 70
downward to be separated from the cyclone unit 50. After that, the
user grabs the handle 77 of the contaminant receptacle 70, and then
takes out the contaminant receptacle 70 in a direction parallel to
the surface to be cleaned as arrow H1 illustrated in FIG. 4. After
that, when the user presses the release button 84 disposed on the
handle 77, the release lever 81 moves downward to cause the fixing
hook 82 to be released from the fixing protrusion 83. When the
fixing hook 82 is released from the fixing protrusion 83, the
bottom cover 78 is opened on the hinges 79 as illustrated in FIG. 9
so that the contaminants collected in the contaminant receptacle 70
drop to be discharged. Then, when the user pushes upward and closes
the bottom cover 78, the fixing hook 82 is caught on the fixing
protrusion 83 so that the bottom cover 78 is fixed to the
contaminant receptacle body 71.
[0059] After that, the user inserts the contaminant receptacle 70
in the direction parallel to the surface to be cleaned 3 as arrow
H2 illustrated in FIG. 4 so that the contaminant receptacle 70 is
positioned below the cyclone unit 50. Then, the user operates the
lifting unit 90 so that the contaminant receptacle 70 is moved
upward and connected with the cyclone unit 50. At this time, the
outer projection 74 and the connecting protrusion 76 formed at the
top wall 72 of the contaminant receptacle 70 are inserted into the
sealing projection 61 and the connecting groove 62 formed at the
supporting wall 60 of the cyclone unit 50, respectively.
[0060] When the vacuum cleaner 1 having the cyclone contaminant
collecting apparatus 40 according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure is used as the upright type, the contaminants
separated in the cyclone unit 50 are smoothly discharged through
the contaminant-discharging opening 57, and the contaminants
collected in the contaminant receptacle 70 does not flow backward
to the cyclone unit 50.
[0061] Next, the case will be explained when the vacuum cleaner 1
having the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus 40 is used as
the canister type as illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0062] When the vacuum cleaner 1 is used as the canister type, the
cleaner body 30 is separated from the suction nozzle 10, and is
positioned on the surface to be cleaned 3. At this time, the second
sidewall 32 of the cleaner body 30 becomes the bottom surface.
Therefore, the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus 40 is
rotated by approximate 90 degrees compared as the vacuum cleaner 1
is used as the upright type. The suction nozzle 10 is connected
with the cleaner body 30 via the extension pipe assembly 20. At
this time, the user grabs the grip 23 of the extension pipe
assembly 20 and moves the suction nozzle 10 to clean.
[0063] When the vacuum generator is operated to generate a suction
force, contaminants and air drawn-in the suction nozzle 10 move to
the cleaner body 30 via the extension pipe assembly 20.
[0064] The contaminants and air, having arrived at the cleaner body
30, enter inside the cyclone body 51 of the cyclone unit 50 via the
air-entering pipe 52 (arrow A'). The contaminants and air entering
the cyclone body 51, as arrow B' illustrated in FIG. 5, whirl
around the longitudinal center axis CL of the cyclone unit 50
substantially vertical with respect to the second sidewall 32 of
the cleaner body 30, that is, with respect to the surface to be
cleaned 3. While whirling, the contaminants are separated from the
air and are discharged to the contaminant receptacle 70 through the
contaminant-discharging opening 57 formed at the upper portion of
the cyclone body 51 (arrow C'). At this time, the separated
contaminants are whirled along the cyclone body 51 and moved upward
by centrifugal force, thereby being smoothly discharged to the
contaminant receptacle 70 through the contaminant-discharging
opening 57. On the other hand, clean air having the contaminants
removed is discharged toward the second sidewall 32 of the cleaner
body 30 through the air-discharging pipe 53 (arrow D'). The clean
air discharged toward the second sidewall 32 moves to the vacuum
generator through the discharging duct 36 disposed at the second
sidewall 32 (arrow E').
[0065] When emptying the contaminants collected in the contaminant
receptacle 70, the user moves the contaminant receptacle 70 in a
direction opposite to the cyclone unit 50 to be separated from the
cyclone unit 50. After that, the user grabs the handle 77 of the
contaminant receptacle 70, and then, takes out the contaminant
receptacle 70 in a direction vertical to the surface to be cleaned
3 as arrow V1 illustrated in FIG. 6. At this time, since the
contaminant entering opening 73 is formed at a position farthest
away from the bottom of the contaminant receptacle 70, that is, the
highest position from the second sidewall 32 of the cleaner body 30
as illustrated in FIG. 5, the contaminants collected in the
contaminant receptacle 70 does not leak almost through the
contaminant entering opening 73 during separation of the
contaminant receptacle 70.
[0066] Thereafter the user holds the contaminant receptacle 70 so
that the bottom cover 78 of the contaminant receptacle 70 faces
downward, the user presses the release button 84 disposed on the
handle 77. A user actuates the release lever 81 and thereby causes
the fixing hook 82 to be released from the fixing protrusion 83 so
that the bottom cover 78 is opened downward on the hinges 79. When
the bottom cover 78 is opened, the contaminants collected in the
contaminant receptacle 70 drop to be discharged by their own
weight. Then, when the user closes the bottom cover 78, the fixing
hook 82 is caught on the fixing protrusion 83 so that the bottom
cover 78 is fixed to the contaminant receptacle body 71.
[0067] After that, the user mounts the contaminant receptacle 70 to
the cleaner body 30 in the direction vertical with respect to the
second sidewall 32 of the cleaner body 30 as arrow V2 illustrated
in FIG. 6. Then, the user operates the lifting unit 90 so that the
contaminant receptacle 70 is moved toward the cyclone unit 50,
thereby completing mounting of the contaminant receptacle 70. At
this time, the outer projection 74 and the connecting protrusion 76
formed at the top wall 72 of the contaminant receptacle 70 are
inserted into the sealing projection 61 and the connecting groove
62 formed at the supporting wall 60 of the cyclone unit 50,
respectively.
[0068] When the vacuum cleaner 1 having the cyclone contaminant
collecting apparatus 40 is used as the canister type, the
contaminants separated in the cyclone unit 50 are smoothly
discharged through the contaminant-discharging opening 57, and the
contaminants collected in the contaminant receptacle 70 does not
flow backward to the cyclone unit 50.
[0069] Therefore, in the vacuum cleaner 1 having the cyclone
contaminant collecting apparatus 40, even when the user changes the
vacuum cleaner 1 used as the upright type into the canister type or
changes the vacuum cleaner 1 used as the canister type into the
upright type, the contaminants collected in the contaminant
receptacle 70 does not flow backward to the cyclone unit 50. Also,
when the user separates the contaminant receptacle 70 from the
cleaner body 30, the contaminants collected in the contaminant
receptacle 70 does not leak.
[0070] With the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus for the
vacuum cleaner 1, when the position of the cleaner body is changed
so that the vacuum cleaner is turned from the upright type to the
canister type or the contrary, the contaminants collected in the
contaminant receptacle do not flow backward to the cyclone unit of
the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus.
[0071] Furthermore, when the user separates the contaminant
receptacle from the cleaner body, the contaminants does not leak
from the contaminant receptacle.
[0072] Therefore, the cyclone contaminant collecting apparatus for
a vacuum cleaner 1 can be used in vacuum cleaners that can be used
both as the canister type and the upright type
[0073] While several embodiments of the present disclosure have
been described, additional variations and modifications of the
embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art once they learn
of the basic inventive concepts. Therefore, it is intended that the
appended claims shall be construed to include both the above
embodiments and all such variations and modifications that fall
within the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *