U.S. patent application number 13/259064 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-19 for vacuum cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Chung Ook Chong, Kie Tak Hyun.
Application Number | 20120011679 13/259064 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43970091 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120011679 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chong; Chung Ook ; et
al. |
January 19, 2012 |
VACUUM CLEANER
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The present invention relates to
a vacuum cleaner that is able to form dust and foreign substances
collected in a dust collection device provided therein in a single
mass shape to discharge it efficiently, not scattered in a dust
collecting device. The vacuum cleaner includes a body, a dust
separation device mounted in the body, a dust collection device
independently provided from the dust separation device, connected
to the dust collection device, a compression device provided in the
dust collection device, to collect dust and foreign substances
collected in a predetermined portion of the dust collection device
and to compress the collected dust and foreign substances, and a
liquid supply device provided in the dust collection device to
supply liquid material to the dust collection device.
Inventors: |
Chong; Chung Ook;
(Changwon-si, KR) ; Hyun; Kie Tak; (Changwon-si,
KR) |
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
|
Family ID: |
43970091 |
Appl. No.: |
13/259064 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
November 3, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2009/006413 |
371 Date: |
September 22, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/352 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/1683 20130101;
A47L 9/1641 20130101; A47L 9/108 20130101; A47L 9/183 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/352 |
International
Class: |
A47L 7/00 20060101
A47L007/00; A47L 9/10 20060101 A47L009/10 |
Claims
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a body; a dust separation device
mounted in the body; a dust collection device independently
provided from the dust separation device, connected to the dust
collection device; a compression device provided in the dust
collection device, to collect dust and foreign substances collected
in a predetermined portion of the dust collection device and to
compress the collected dust and foreign substances; and a liquid
supply device provided on the dust separation device to supply
liquid material to an inside of the dust collection device.
2. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dust
separation device comprises a body part having a predetermined
space where air and dust and other foreign substances are rotated
and the liquid supply device is provided on an outer surface of the
body part.
3. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the liquid
supply device comprises; a storage part storing predetermined
liquid material therein; and an exhaustion pump secured to the
outer surface of the body part, connected to the storage part, to
discharge the liquid material into body part.
4. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: a
guiding tube provided on the exhaustion pump to guide the liquid
material into the body part, the guiding tube arranged oblique to a
predetermined angle toward a rotational direction of the dust and
other foreign substances.
5. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the liquid
supply device further comprises: a storage part storing liquid
material therein; and a guiding tube secured to the outer surface
of the body part, connected to the storage part, to guide the
liquid material drawn into the body part by air drawn into the body
part by difference of pressures inside and outside the body
part.
6. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the guiding
tube comprises: a first guiding tube connected to the storage part;
a second guiding tube connected to the first guiding tube to be
connected to the body part; and a third guiding tube connected to
both of the first and second guiding tubes to guide external air
toward the second guiding tub.
7. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: a
closable valve provided in the third guiding tube to open an inside
of the third guiding tube if the third guiding tube sucks external
air.
8. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein an end of the
second guiding tube is inserted in the body part and the end of the
second guiding tube is arranged oblique to a predetermined angle
toward a rotational direction of the dust and other foreign
substances inside the body part.
9. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the liquid
supply device is configured of a spray device and the liquid supply
device comprises: a storage tank storing liquid material therein; a
spraying part provided in the storage tank to spray the liquid
material; and a spraying housing secured to the body part to
accommodate the spraying part.
10. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a
button part provided on the spraying housing to operate the
spraying part; and a driving part provided on a predetermined
portion of the spraying housing, connected to the button part, to
apply a pressure to the button part periodically.
11. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:
an extended part coupled to the spraying housing to be fixed to the
body part, the extended part extended from a predetermined surface
of the body part.
12. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a
guiding tube connected to the spraying part and the body part to
guide the liquid material into the body part via the extended
part.
13. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4, wherein a diameter of
an end of the guiding tube connected to the body part is
substantially smaller than diameters of the other portions of the
guiding tube to supply the liquid material to the body part in a
spray condition.
14. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the dust
separation device further comprises an outlet part provided in a
front portion thereof to discharge the dust and other foreign
substances separated from air and the separated air outside and the
liquid supply device is mounted in rear of the body part to supply
liquid material to the dust and other foreign substances moved from
a rear portion of the body part toward the outlet part.
15. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 14, wherein the liquid
supply device is detachably arranged in an outer surface of the
dust separation device.
16. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a
rib member provided in the dust separation device to surround and
support the liquid supply device.
17. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
compression device comprises: a fixed plate in the dust collection
device; and a rotating plate rotatably provided in the dust
collection device, contactable with the fixed plate, to collect the
dust and foreign substances toward the fixed plate and to compress
the collected dust and other foreign substances.
18. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a body; a dust separation device
mounted in the body; a dust collection device independently
provided from the dust separation device, connected to the dust
collection device; a compression device provided in the dust
collection device, to collect dust and foreign substances collected
in a predetermined portion of the dust collection device and to
compress the collected dust and foreign substances; and a liquid
supply device provided on the dust separation device to supply
liquid material to an inside of the dust collection device, wherein
the liquid supply device comprises: a storage part storing
predetermined liquid material therein and an exhaustion pump
provided between the dust separation device and the storage part to
discharge the liquid material into the dust separation device. a
guiding tube provided on the exhaustion pump to guide the liquid
material into the dust separation device.
19. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 18, wherein the guiding
tube arranged oblique to a predetermined angle corresponding to a
rotational direction of the dust and other foreign substances.
20. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a body; a dust separation device
mounted in the body; a dust collection device independently
provided from the dust separation device, connected to the dust
collection device; a compression device provided in the dust
collection device, to collect dust and foreign substances collected
in a predetermined portion of the dust collection device and to
compress the collected dust and foreign substances; and a liquid
supply device provided on the dust separation device to supply
liquid material to an inside of the dust collection device, wherein
the liquid supply device comprises: a storage part storing
predetermined liquid material therein and a guiding tube secured to
the outer surface of the dust separation device, connected to the
storage part, to guide the liquid material drawn into the dust
separation device by difference of pressures inside and outside the
body part so that the liquid material is capable of being mixed
with a dust being rotated in the dust separation device.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, more
specifically, to a vacuum cleaner that is able to prevent
scattering of dust and other foreign substances by spraying
predetermined liquid material when cleaning a dust collection
device, only to improve user convenience.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Generally, vacuum cleaners are electric appliances that are
able to remove dust and foreign substances placed on floors or
furniture of buildings via a mechanism that sucks external air by
using a vacuum pressure.
[0003] Such a vacuum cleaner may be categorized into a canister
type and an up-right type. In a canister type vacuum cleaner, a
body and a suction nozzle are independently connected to a
predetermine pipe. In an up-right type, the body and the suction
nozzle are integrally provided.
[0004] The conventional vacuum cleaner typically includes a suction
nozzle, a dust separation device, a dust collection device, a
vacuum motor and a filter. Here, the dust separation device
separates air and foreign substances sucked by the suction nozzle
by using a cyclone theory. The dust collection device is connected
to a foreign substance outlet of the dust separation device and it
collects dust and other foreign substances. The vacuum motor is
connected to an air outlet of the dust separation device and it
forms a vacuum pressure. The filter is connected to an outlet of
the vacuum pump and it filters air exhausted outside.
[0005] When the user starts the vacuum cleaner having the above
configuration, air and foreign substance having passed the suction
nozzle are rotating in the dust separation device. Some of the
foreign substances having a large mass are rotated along an inner
circumferential surface of the dust separation device by a
centrifugal force thereof, only to be drawn into the dust
collection device.
[0006] The purified air is exhausted outside via the motor and the
filter.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0007] However, if dust and other foreign substances accumulate in
the dust collection device according to the conventional vacuum
cleaner, their light mass would make the dust and other foreign
substances scattered in the dust collection device. In addition, if
the user takes out the dust collection device only to throw the
dust substances out, the dust substances would be scattered.
Technical Solution
[0008] To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is
to provide a vacuum cleaner that is able to make dust and other
foreign substances collected in a dust collection device into a
mass having a predetermined size, without scattering.
[0009] Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to
provide a vacuum cleaner that is able to collect and to throw out
dust and other foreign substances efficiently without
scattering.
[0010] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a vacuum cleaner includes a body; a dust
separation device mounted in the body; a dust collection device
independently provided from the dust separation device, connected
to the dust collection device; a compression device provided in the
dust collection device, to collect dust and foreign substances
collected in a predetermined portion of the dust collection device
and to compress the collected dust and foreign substances; and a
liquid supply device provided in the dust separation device to
supply liquid material to the dust separation device.
Advantageous Effects
[0011] The present invention has following advantageous
effects.
[0012] In case dust is collected in a dust collection device during
the operation of the vacuum cleaner according to the present
invention, liquid material having predetermined viscosity is
exhausted from a liquid supply device. As a result, the liquid
material is mixed with the dust only to prevent the dust from being
scattered inside the dust collection device.
[0013] Furthermore, in case a user separates the dust collection
device from a body to clean after making the dust and other foreign
substances mixed with the liquid material into a mass, the user may
throw out the dust and other foreign substances in a single mass
shape, without scattering. As a result, user convenience may be
improved.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide
further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of
the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the disclosure.
[0015] In the drawings:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a vacuum cleaner
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a body
of the vacuum cleaner according to the exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a liquid supply
device and a dust separation device provided in the vacuum cleaner
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a plane view illustrating the liquid supply device
and the dust separation device according to the first embodiment of
the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a side-sectional view illustrating the liquid
supply device and the dust separation device according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a liquid supply
device and a dust separation device of a vacuum cleaner according
to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a plane view illustrating the liquid supply device
and the dust separation device according to the second embodiment
of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a side-sectional view illustrating the liquid
supply device and the dust separation device according to the
second embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a liquid supply
device and a dust separation device according to a third embodiment
of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a plane view illustrating the liquid supply
device and the dust separation device according to the third
embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a side-sectional view illustrating the liquid
supply device and the dust separation device according to the third
embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 12 is a side-sectional view illustrating the operation
of the vacuum cleaner including the liquid supply device according
to the first embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 13 is a side-sectional view illustrating the operation
of the vacuum cleaner including the liquid supply device according
to the second embodiment of the present invention; and
[0029] FIG. 14 is a side-sectional view illustrating the operation
of the vacuum cleaner including the liquid supply device according
to the third embodiment of the present invention.
MODE FOR INVENTION
[0030] Reference will now be made in detail to the specific
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, a vacuum cleaner according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a body 1, a
suction part 30, and wheels 10. The suction part 30 provided in a
front portion of the body 1 and a connection tube 20 connected to a
suction nozzle (not shown) is provided in the suction part 30. The
wheel 10 is provided in each side of the body 1 to allow the body 1
to move smoothly.
[0032] A cover member 40 is provided in a top of the body 1 to
protect inner configurations and a handle 45 is provided on the
cover member 40 for a user to grab efficiently.
[0033] A securing member 46 is provided on a front portion of the
cover member 40 and the securing member 46 is combined of a button
and a latch to secure the cover member 40 to the body 1
detachably.
[0034] A dust collection device 100 is provided in a front portion
of the body and the dust collection device 100 collects dust and
other foreign substances. Here, the dust collection device 100 may
be formed of transparent material such that the collected dust and
other foreign substances may be visible from outside.
[0035] The dust collection device 100 includes a dust collecting
box 110 for collecting the dust and other foreign substances
therein, a handle 140 secured to the dust collecting box 110 and a
dust collecting box cover 150 for covering a top of the dust
collecting box 110.
[0036] A compression device is provided in the dust collecting box
110 and it moves dust and other foreign substances to a
predetermined portion inside the dust collecting box 110 along a
predetermined direction and then it compresses the moved dust and
foreign substances. Here, the compression device is configured of a
fixed plate 180 and a rotating plate 190.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, a dust separation device 300 is provided
in the body 1 to separate dust and air. Here, the dust separation
device 300 may be configured of a cyclone system and the present
invention is not limited thereto.
[0038] Here, the separation device 300 may include a body part 310
having a cylindrical shape, air outlet members 320 provided in both
side portions inside the body part 310, with a plurality of through
holes, and an outlet part 330 provided in a center of the body part
310 to exhaust the dust separated from the air.
[0039] An inlet part (not shown) is provided in a lower portion of
the body part 310 to suck external air and dust therein and an air
guiding part 340 provided in both side portions of the body part
310 to guide the motion of the air having passed the air outlet
members 320.
[0040] Here, a first filtering unit 350 is provided in rear of the
body part 310 to filter the air discharged from the body part 310
and the first filtering unit 350 is connected to the body part 310
by the air guide part 340.
[0041] A motor unit (360, see FIG. 12) is provided below the dust
separation device 300 and the motor unit forms a vacuum pressure to
suck air. The motor unit 360 is connected to the first filtering
unit 350 and it discharges the air outside the body 1 after sucking
the air having passed the first filtering unit 350.
[0042] A dust collection device accommodating part 500 is provided
in a front portion of the body 1 and the dust collection device
accommodating part 500 partially accommodates the dust collection
device 100. The dust collection device accommodating part 500 is
formed in a hemisphere shape and the dust collection device 100 is
detachably accommodated in the dust collection device accommodating
part 500.
[0043] A connection plate 520 is provided between the dust
separation device 300 and the dust collection device 100 and the
handle 140 of the dust collection device 100 is detachably
connected to a lower surface of the connection plate 520.
[0044] A front portion of the cover member 40 is detachably
connected to an upper surface of the connection plate 520.
[0045] Also, an end of an outlet part 330 of the dust separation
device 300 is connected to the connection plate 520 and an inlet
161 of the dust collection device 140 is connected to the
connection plate 520.
[0046] Here, the inlet 161 is formed in the dust collecting box
cover 150.
[0047] The dust and other foreign substances rotating within the
dust separation device 300 are moved along the outlet part 330 by a
centrifugal force thereof, only to be sucked into the inlet 161 of
the dust collection device 100. After that, the dust and other
foreign substances are collected in the dust box 110.
[0048] A liquid supply device 200 is provided on a predetermined
portion of the dust separation device 300 and the liquid supply
device 200 supplies predetermined liquid material to the dust
separation device 300.
[0049] That is, when the dust and other foreign substances are
moved to the dust collection device 100 along the guide of the
outlet part 330, with being rotated along an inner circumferential
surface of the body part 310 by a centrifugal force thereof, the
dust and other foreign substances are mixed with the liquid
material.
[0050] If then, the weights of the dust and other foreign
substances increase enough to increase the centrifugal force. The
increased centrifugal force makes the separation of the air
smoothly such that the dust and other foreign substances may be
sucked into the dust collection device 100 more smoothly.
[0051] In case dust and other foreign substances are collected in
the dust collecting box 110 of the dust collection device 100,
adhesion among the dust and foreign substances may be increased
enough to be mass-shaped.
[0052] Especially, in case the dust and other foreign substances
are compressed and collected near the fixed plate 180 by the
rotation of the rotating plate 190, the formation of the
mass-shaped dust and other foreign substances may be performed more
efficiently.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid supply device 200 is
installed on an outer surface of the body part 310, specifically, a
rear portion of the outer surface of the body part 310.
[0054] The liquid supply device 200 may be detachably installed to
the dust separation device 300 and a rib member 400 is provided on
the dust separation device 300 to support the liquid supply device
200.
[0055] The rib member 400 may surround an outside of the liquid
supply device 200.
[0056] The liquid supply device 200 includes an accommodating part
201 for accommodating the liquid material therein and an exhaustion
pump 202 for exhausting the liquid material received in the
accommodating part 201 into the body part 310.
[0057] A guiding tube 203 is provided in the exhaustion pump 202
and the liquid material exhausted from the exhaustion pump 202 is
drawn into the body part 310 along the guiding tube 203.
[0058] Here, a diameter of an end of the guiding tube 203 is
smaller than diameters of the other portions to exhaust the liquid
material from the guiding tube 203 in a spraying type.
[0059] An outlet hole 311 is provided in the body part 310 and the
guiding tube 203 is inserted in the outlet hole 311 such that the
liquid material may be exhausted.
[0060] The outlet part 330 is provided in a center portion of the
body part 310 and the air outlet members 230 are arranged in both
opposite sides of the inner surface of the body part 310.
[0061] The inlet part 329 is provided in a lower surface of the
body part 310 to guide the air, dust and other foreign substances
toward the body part 310.
[0062] As a result, if the vacuum cleaner according to the present
invention is put into operation, the air, dust and other foreign
substances sucked via the inlet part 329 are moved inside the body
part 310. The dust and other foreign substances are moved to the
outlet part 330 located in the center of the body part 310 by their
weights, with rotated along the inner circumferential surface of
the body part 310.
[0063] Hence, the dust and foreign substances are collected in the
dust collection device (100, see FIG. 2).
[0064] Here, the air sparated from the dust and other foreign
substances is flowing to the air outlet member 320 and it passes
the first filtering unit 350 along the guide of the air guiding
part 340.
[0065] The first filtering unit 350 filters minute dust contained
in the air.
[0066] An inner surface of the dust separation device 300 may be
coated with special material that is able to make the liquid
material flow down along the surface, not smeared on the inner
surface. Otherwise, the inner surface of the dust separation device
300 will be soiled by the liquid material and the mixture of the
liquid material and the dust substances.
[0067] In the meanwhile, the dust and other foreign substances may
meet the liquid material before being moved into the dust
collection device 100 and they are moved into the dust collection
device 100, mixed with the liquid material.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 4, the guiding tube 203 is located on a
center line in rear of the outlet part 330 and thus the liquid
material may be sprayed to the dust and other foreign substances
moving toward the outlet part 330 from the air outlet members 230
provided in both opposite sides of the outlet part 330.
[0069] The liquid material may be sprayed widely, because the
guiding tube 203 is located on the center line in rear of the
outlet part 330.
[0070] The dust and other foreign substances mixed with the liquid
material may be discharged toward the dust collection device (100,
see FIG. 2) along the outlet part 330.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 5, the guiding tube 203 may be arranged
oblique to a predetermined angle (a) toward a rotational direction
(A) of the dust and other foreign substances.
[0072] This is because the spraying direction of the liquid
material sprayed from the guiding tube 203 should be similar to the
moving direction of the dust and other foreign substances.
[0073] In other words, the guiding tube 203 may be arranged as
mentioned above in order to mix the dust and other foreign
substances with the liquid material, without making the spraying of
the liquid material interfere with the rotation of the dust and
other foreign substances.
[0074] Here, in case the dust and other foreign substances are
rotated from a bottom direction toward a top direction, the guiding
tube 203 may be formed oblique upward.
[0075] Alternatively, in case that rotation is performed from the
top toward the bottom direction, the guiding tube 203 may be formed
oblique downward.
[0076] Such the oblique formation may be applicable to all of the
other following embodiments commonly.
[0077] FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the liquid supply
device 200. Here, the liquid supply device 200 includes a storage
part 201 for storing the liquid material therein and a guiding tube
201 for guiding the liquid material of the storage part 201 into
the body part 310.
[0078] The guiding tube 210 includes a first guiding tube 211
connected to the storage part 201, a second guiding tube 212
connected to the first guiding tube 211 to be inserted in the body
part 310 and a third guiding tube 213 connected to both of the
first and second guiding tubes 211 and 212 to guide external air
toward the second guiding tube 212.
[0079] A closable valve 214 is provided in the third guiding tube
213 to open and close the third guiding tube 213 to make air
outside the body part 310 flow into the body part 310 in case the
pressure inside the body part 310 is lower than the pressure
outside the body part 310 according to the operation of the vacuum
cleaner.
[0080] An outlet hole 311 is provided in the body part 310 and the
outlet hole 311 is inserted in the second guiding tube 212 to
discharge the liquid material there through. A diameter of an end
of the second guiding tube 212 may be smaller than diameters of the
other portions of the second guiding tube 212 such that the liquid
material may be discharged in a spray condition.
[0081] A rib member 400 may be provided in rear of the body part
310 to prevent the detachment of the liquid supply device 200.
[0082] As shown in FIG. 7, the guiding tube 210 may be located on a
center line extended from the rear portion of the body part 310 to
spray the liquid material more broadly.
[0083] Specifically, the end of the second guiding tube 212 may be
inserted in the body part 310 and the third guiding tube 213 may be
extended from the second guiding tube rearward.
[0084] A closable valve 214 provided in the third guiding tub 213
may be diversified and this embodiment presents a plate type
closable valve fixed to a predetermined surface of the third
guiding tube 213, with elasticity.
[0085] That is, if the inside of the body part is not low-pressured
in comparison to the outside because of a stop state of the vacuum
cleaner, the closable valve 214 maintains a closing state of the
third guiding tube 213 to prevent foreign substances from being
drawn into the body part 310.
[0086] In case the inside of the body part 310 is low-pressured in
comparison to the outside because of an operational state of the
vacuum cleaner, the closable valve 214 is bent toward the body part
310 and the inside of the third guiding tub 214 is opened.
[0087] Hence, external air moves along the third guiding tub 214
into the body part 310.
[0088] At this time, the flow of the air makes the pressure near a
connection portion among the first, second and third guiding tubes
211, 212 and 213 is lower than the storage part.
[0089] Because of that, the liquid material inside the storage part
210 flows along the first guiding tube 211 and it reaches the
connection portion among the first, second and third guiding tubes
211, 212 and 213. After that, the liquid material is drawn into the
body part 310 along the flow of the air.
[0090] A diameter of the end of the second guiding tube 212 is
smaller than diameters of the other portions of the second guiding
tube 212 to supply the liquid material having passed the second
guiding tube 212 to the body part 310 dispersedly in a spray
condition.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 8, the end of the second guiding tube 212
is inserted in the body part 310, oblique to a predetermined angle
toward the rotational direction (A) of the dust and other foreign
substances.
[0092] The reason why the end of the second guiding tube 212 has
such the oblique is that the spraying direction of the liquid
material is preferably corresponding to the rotational direction of
the dust and other foreign substances to mix the liquid material
with the dust and other foreign substances more efficiently, not
making the spraying of the liquid material interfere with the
rotation of the dust substances.
[0093] Here, in case the dust and other foreign substances are
rotated from the bottom toward the top of the body part 310, the
end of the second guiding tub 212 may be arranged oblique
upward.
[0094] If such the rotation is performed from the top toward the
bottom, the oblique of the second guiding tub 212 may be formed
downward.
[0095] FIG. 9 illustrates the liquid supply device 200 configured
of a spray device.
[0096] Here, a spray type liquid supply device 200 includes a
storage tank 220, a spraying part 230 connected to the storage tank
220 to spray the liquid material and a spraying housing 240 for
accommodating the spraying part 230.
[0097] A button part 241 is provided in a predetermined surface of
the spraying housing 240 and the button part 241 operates the
spraying part 230. In addition, a driving part 250 is provided in a
predetermined side of the spraying housing 240 and the driving part
250 pushes the button part 241 to start operation.
[0098] Here, the driving part 250 is configured of an electronic
motor and it pushes the button part 241 periodically to supply the
liquid material to the body part 310 periodically.
[0099] The liquid supply device 200 may be detachably provided in
rear of the body part 310, secured in the rib member 400.
[0100] An extended part 315 extended from the body part 310
rearward is provided in a rear portion of the outlet part 330
exhausting the dust and other foreign substances and the spraying
housing 240 is coupled to the extended part 315.
[0101] As the spraying housing 240 is coupled to the extended part
315, a guiding tube 231 is inserted in the body part 310 and it is
possible to spray the liquid material into the body part 310.
[0102] The air outlet member 320, the air guiding member 340, the
outlet part 330 and the inlet part 329 are identical to those of
the above embodiments and their detailed descriptions will be
omitted accordingly.
[0103] As shown in FIG. 10, the spraying part 230 may be arranged
in a center portion in rear of the outlet part 330 such that the
liquid material may be dispersed broadly.
[0104] Because of that, the dust and foreign substances moving
toward the outlet part 330 may be mixed with the liquid material
more efficiently.
[0105] As shown in FIG. 11, the guiding tube 231 may be arranged
oblique to a predetermined angle (a) toward the outlet direction
(A) of the dust and other foreign substances, like the above
embodiments. As mentioned in reference to the other embodiments,
this oblique arrangement helps the liquid material to be mixed with
the dust and other foreign substances more efficiently and it
prevents the rotation of the dust and other foreign substances from
being interfered with.
[0106] Here, if the dust and other foreign substances are rotated
from the bottom toward the top of the body part 311, the guiding
tube 231 may be arranged oblique upward.
[0107] Alternatively, if this rotation performed from the top
toward the bottom, the guiding tube 231 may be arranged oblique
downward.
[0108] As follows, the operation of the vacuum cleaner according to
the present invention will be described in reference to
corresponding drawings.
[0109] As shown in FIG. 12, once the vacuum cleaner starts to
operate in case the liquid supply device 200 includes the storage
part (201, see FIG. 3), the exhaustion pump 203 and the guiding
tube 203, the air (referenced to as a dotted line) and the dust and
other foreign substances (referenced to as a solid line) are drawn
into the body part 310 of the dust separation device 300 along an
inlet path 2.
[0110] The air drawn into the body part 310 of the dust separation
device 300 passes the air outlet member 320, the first filtering
unit 350, the motor unit 360 generating the vacuum pressure and the
second filtering unit 360 only to be exhausted outside the body
1.
[0111] The dust and other foreign substances drawn into the body
part 310 are rotated along the inner surface of the body part 310
by the centrifugal force.
[0112] At this time, the liquid material exhausted from the
exhaustion pump 202 is sprayed into the body part 310 along the
guide of the guiding tube 203 to be mixed with the dust and other
foreign substances.
[0113] The dust and other foreign substances mixed with the liquid
material accumulate in the dust collecting box 110 of the dust
collection device 100 after passing the outlet part 330.
[0114] The rotating plate 190 provided in the dust collecting box
110 collects and presses the dust and other foreign substances
mixed with the liquid material on both sides of the fixed plate
180, with moving toward the fixed plate 180, such that a dust mass
may be formed.
[0115] Hence, if the user separates the dust collection device 100
from the body 1 and he/she reverses the dust collecting box 110
upside down to clean, the mass shaped dust and other foreign
substances will fall.
[0116] As shown in FIG. 13, the operation will be described in case
the liquid supply device 200 includes the storage part 201 and the
first, second and third guiding tubes 211, 212 and 213.
[0117] The air (referenced to as a dotted line) and the dust and
other foreign substances (referenced to as a solid line) are drawn
into the body part 310 of the dust separation device 300 along the
inlet path 2.
[0118] The air drawn into the body part 310 of the dust separation
device 300 is exhausted outside the body 1, after passing the air
outlet member 320, the first filtering unit 350, the motor unit 360
and the second filtering unit 370.
[0119] The dust and other foreign substances drawn into the body
part 310 are rotated along the inner surface of the body part 310
by the centrifugal force.
[0120] At this time, the pressure inside the body part 310 is
noticeably lower tan the pressure outside the body part 310 by the
vacuum suction pressure of the motor unit 360.
[0121] As a result, the air is sucked toward the third guiding tube
213 and then the closable valve 214 is opened and the inside of the
first, second and third guiding tubes 211, 212 and 213 is
low-pressured in comparison to the inside the storage part 201 by
the air flux.
[0122] Hence, the liquid material stored in the storage part 201 is
drawn into the body part 310 by the air flow along the first and
second guiding tubes 211 and 212.
[0123] The liquid material drawn into the body part 310 is sprayed
to and mixed with the dust and other foreign substances.
[0124] The dust and other foreign substances mixed with the liquid
material accumulate in the dust collecting box 110 of the dust
collection device 100, after passing the outlet part 330.
[0125] The rotating plate 190 provided in the dust collecting box
110 collects and presses the dust and other foreign substances
mixed with the liquid material on both sides of the fixed plate
180, with moving toward the fixed plate 180, such that a dust mass
may be formed.
[0126] An end of the third guiding tube 213 may be connected to the
outside of the body 1 to suck external air therein and the present
invention is not limited thereto.
[0127] As shown in FIG. 14, in case the liquid supply device 200
configured of the spray device includes the storage tank 220, the
spraying part 230, the spraying housing 240 and the guiding tube
231, the operation of the spray type liquid supply device is
substantially similar to those of the above embodiments.
[0128] Once air and dust and other foreign substances are sucked
into the body part 310 by the operation of the vacuum cleaner, the
dust and other foreign substances are moved along the inner surface
of the body part 310 by the centrifugal force and the air is
exhausted via the air outlet member 320.
[0129] If the button part (241, see FIG. 9) is pushed by the
operation of the driving part (250, see FIG. 9), the spraying part
230 is operated and the liquid material inside the storage tank 220
is drawn into the body part 310 along the guiding tube 231 to be
mixed with the dust and other foreign substances.
[0130] The dust and other foreign substances mixed with the liquid
material are drawn and collected in the dust collection device 100
via the outlet 330. The dust collecting operation performed by the
rotating plate 190 and the fixed plate 180 is identical to the
operation mentioned above and description thereof will be omitted
accordingly.
[0131] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *