U.S. patent application number 17/400801 was filed with the patent office on 2021-12-02 for vacuum cleaner.
The applicant listed for this patent is Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited. Invention is credited to Justin Andrikanich, Robert Bozzelli, Blake Guzewicz, Kirti Kant Paulla.
Application Number | 20210369067 17/400801 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005769834 |
Filed Date | 2021-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210369067 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Paulla; Kirti Kant ; et
al. |
December 2, 2021 |
VACUUM CLEANER
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner including a separator assembly having a
container that defines a cyclonic separator about a separator axis.
The container having a dirty air inlet that receives the airflow
and debris to rotate around the separator axis in a first
direction. A clean air outlet discharges the airflow from the
separator assembly. A shroud forming an airflow passageway is
between the dirty air inlet and the clean air outlet. The airflow
passageway is formed by a plurality of vanes defining openings
between adjacent vanes positioned to direct the airflow and debris
in a second direction at least partially opposed to the first
direction redirecting airflow into the shroud. A mesh screen is
positioned on the shroud covering the airflow passageway and a
filter at least partially within the shroud extends around the
separator axis positioned in an airflow path between the plurality
of vanes and the clean air outlet.
Inventors: |
Paulla; Kirti Kant;
(Charlotte, NC) ; Guzewicz; Blake; (Charlotte,
NC) ; Bozzelli; Robert; (Monroe, NC) ;
Andrikanich; Justin; (Concord, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited |
Tortola |
|
VG |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005769834 |
Appl. No.: |
17/400801 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15807268 |
Nov 8, 2017 |
|
|
|
17400801 |
|
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62419231 |
Nov 8, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/1608 20130101;
A47L 9/12 20130101; A47L 5/28 20130101; A47L 9/1666 20130101; A47L
9/165 20130101; A47L 9/149 20130101; A47L 9/1683 20130101; A47L
9/125 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/16 20060101
A47L009/16; A47L 9/12 20060101 A47L009/12; A47L 5/28 20060101
A47L005/28; A47L 9/14 20060101 A47L009/14 |
Claims
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: an airflow path including a suction
inlet and a clean air outlet; a suction source in fluid
communication with the dirty air inlet for generating an airflow
through the airflow path; and a separator assembly for removing and
collecting debris from the airflow, the separator assembly
including a central separator axis, the separator assembly
including, a container having an air inlet in fluid communication
with the suction inlet and the clean air outlet that discharges the
airflow from the separator assembly, a shroud located in the
container and including, a plurality of vanes comprising a
generally cylindrical body, the plurality of vanes extending
longitudinally relative to the central separator axis between upper
and lower ends of the cylindrical body and forming air flow
openings between the plurality of vanes, a mesh screen positioned
radially outward about a radial perimeter of the plurality of
vanes, and a filter mounted radially interior within the plurality
of vanes, fluidly downstream of the air flow openings between the
plurality of vanes.
2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vanes
are elongated longitudinally and oriented parallel to the central
separator axis.
3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the filter is cylindrical
and is elongated longitudinally relative to the central separator
axis.
4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the filter includes a
foam media.
5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein the filter includes a
pleated media.
6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein the filter includes a
natural fiber media.
7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein the filter includes a
synthetic media.
8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the filter includes a
media selected from the group consisting of pleated media, open
cell foam media, natural fiber media, synthetic media, or any
combination thereof.
9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of
tines extending below the shroud.
10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the plurality of tines
protrude from the lower end of the cylindrical body of the
plurality of vanes.
11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the mesh screen is
supported on the generally cylindrical body of the plurality of
vanes.
12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the container defines a
cyclonic separator about the central separator axis, the container
having the air inlet positioned to receive the airflow and debris
to rotate around the separator axis in a first direction within the
container.
13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the cyclonic separator
is fluidly upstream of the shroud.
14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the openings between
adjacent vanes are positioned to direct the airflow and debris in a
second direction at least partially opposed to the first direction
redirecting airflow into the shroud.
15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the filter at least
partially within the shroud extending around the central separator
axis and positioned in the airflow path between the plurality of
vanes and the clean air outlet.
16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the mesh screen includes
a plurality of pores each having a pore size in a range from 450
micrometers to 100 micrometers.
17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the container includes a
debris collection chamber below the shroud.
18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the container includes
an upper end and a lower end and the separator axis extends
centrally through the upper end and the lower end.
19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein the shroud is between
the upper end and the lower end of the container, and wherein the
shroud includes an upper end and a lower end, the shroud upper end
being releasably connected to the container upper end.
20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the shroud includes an
upper end and a lower end having a lower opening.
21. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, wherein a closed end of the
filter contacts the shroud adjacent the lower end closing the lower
opening defining a filter dirt collection chamber within the shroud
between the plurality of vanes and the filter.
22. The vacuum cleaner of claim 20, where the filter is removable
from the shroud through the shroud upper end.
23. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the separator assembly
further includes a lid removably coupled to the container, the
filter being coupled to the lid and removable with the lid from the
container.
24. The vacuum cleaner of claim 23, wherein the shroud is coupled
to the lid and removable with the lid from the container.
25. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the separator assembly
further includes a lid removably coupled to the container, wherein
the clean air outlet includes an aperture through the lid.
26. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, where the filter is a
cylindrical filter forming a central portion in fluid communication
with the clean air outlet.
27. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein sidewalls of adjacent
vanes converge defining the openings between adjacent vanes having
a decreasing area in the direction of airflow into the shroud.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/807,268, filed Nov. 8, 2017, which claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/419,231,
filed Nov. 8, 2016, the entire contents all of which are hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more
particularly to cyclonic vacuum cleaners.
SUMMARY
[0003] In one embodiment, the invention provides a vacuum cleaner
including a suction inlet and a suction source configured to
generate an airflow through the suction inlet to draw debris with
the airflow through the suction inlet. The vacuum cleaner further
includes a separator assembly downstream from the suction inlet
including a container that defines a cyclonic separator about a
separator axis. The container has a dirty air inlet positioned to
receive the airflow and debris to rotate around the separator axis
in a first direction within the container. The separator assembly
further includes a clean air outlet that discharges the airflow
from the separator assembly and a shroud forming an airflow
passageway between the dirty air inlet and the clean air outlet.
The airflow passageway is formed by a plurality of vanes defining
openings between adjacent vanes positioned to direct the airflow
and debris in a second direction at least partially opposed to the
first direction redirecting airflow into the shroud. The separator
assembly further includes a mesh screen positioned on the shroud
covering the airflow passageway and a filter at least partially
within the shroud extending around the separator axis positioned in
an airflow path between the plurality of vanes and the clean air
outlet.
[0004] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by
consideration of the detailed description and accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according
to an embodiment of the invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a separator assembly of the
vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a side view of the separator assembly of FIG.
2.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the separator assembly
of FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a side view of a portion of the separator assembly
of FIG. 2.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the portion of the separator
assembly of FIG. 5.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the
separator assembly of FIG. 5.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the separator
assembly of FIG. 2.
[0013] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of components set forth in the following description or illustrated
in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in
various ways.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a vacuum cleaner 10 according to one
embodiment. Although the illustrated vacuum cleaner 10 is an
upright style vacuum cleaner, in other embodiments, other types of
vacuum cleaners can be used (e.g., handheld, canister, etc.). The
vacuum cleaner 10 includes a suction inlet 12, a suction source 14,
and a separator assembly 16. The suction source 14 is operable to
generate an airflow through the suction inlet 12 to draw debris
with the airflow through the suction inlet 12. The separator
assembly 16 is downstream from the suction inlet 12 and separates
the debris from the airflow.
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the separator assembly 16 includes a
container 18, a clean air outlet 20, and a shroud 22. The container
18 includes an upper end 24 and a lower end 26. The container 18
defines a cyclonic separator 28 about a separator axis 30. The
separator axis 30 extends centrally through the container 18 and
centrally through the ends 24, 26 in the illustrated embodiment.
The container 18 further includes a dirty air inlet 32 that is
positioned to receive the airflow and debris. The dirty air inlet
32 is configured to rotate the airflow and debris around the
separator axis 30 around the shroud 22 within the container 18 in a
first direction of arrow 34 in FIG. 4, viewed from above the
separator assembly for convenience. The clean air outlet 20
discharges the airflow from the separator assembly 16. The
illustrated clean air outlet 20 extends through and from the upper
end 24 of the container 18. In various embodiments, the cyclonic
separator may be a first stage separator or a second or subsequent
stage separator.
[0016] The shroud 22 forms an airflow passageway 44 between the
dirty air inlet 32 and the clean air outlet 20. The shroud 22 is
located within the container 18 between the upper end 24 and the
lower end 26 of the container 18. The shroud 22 includes an upper
end 36 having an upper opening 38 (FIG. 7) and the shroud 22
includes a lower end 40 having a lower opening 42. The upper end 36
of the shroud 22 is releasably connected to the upper end 24 of the
container 18.
[0017] The shroud 22 includes the airflow passageway 44. The
airflow passageway 44 is formed by a plurality of vanes 46 defining
openings 48 between adjacent vanes 46. The openings 48 and the
vanes 46 are positioned to direct the airflow (and any debris not
yet separated from the airflow) from the outside of the shroud to
the inside of the shroud in the direction of arrows 50 in FIG. 4,
viewed from above the separator assembly for convenience.
Generally, the openings 48 open toward or face in a direction that
is opposed to the flow direction (arrow 34) outside of the shroud
in the cyclonic separator 28. The flow direction (arrows 50)
through the openings 48 between the vanes 46 is in a direction
partially opposed to the flow direction (arrow 34) in the cyclonic
separator 28. When the airflow travels from the cyclonic separator
28 and through the shroud 22, the airflow is redirected in somewhat
of an opposite direction to form a rotational flow inside the
shroud opposite direction of the flow direction in the cyclonic
separator 28. This redirection of airflow further helps to separate
the debris from the airflow and minimizes the debris that travels
through the openings 48 between the vanes 46. Referring to FIG. 4,
sidewalls 71 of adjacent vanes 46 converge to define openings
between vanes having a decreasing area in the direction of airflow
into the shroud. This causes air to increase in speed as the air
travels through the vanes 46 to further encourage the rotational
flow inside the shroud.
[0018] A shown in FIG. 7, a mesh screen 54 is positioned on the
shroud 22, outside the vanes 46. The screen 54 extends around the
separator axis 30 and covers the openings 48 between the vanes 46
so that the airflow must travel through the mesh screen 54 before
traveling through the openings 48 between the vanes 46. The mesh
screen 54 further inhibits debris from traveling with the airflow
through the shroud 22. Additionally, the mesh screen introduces
radial flow from the rotational flow in the cyclonic separator 28
to the entrance to the openings 48 in the shroud. There is a gap 70
between the mesh screen 54 and vanes 46. In one embodiment, the gap
70 is 5 millimeters (mm). In other embodiments, the gap is between
2 and 7 mm. In other embodiments the gap is greater than zero
(i.e., the mesh screen does not press directly against the vanes
46). The mesh screen may be a perforated metal mesh with punched or
etched pores. Alternatively, the mesh screen may be a wire or fiber
mesh. The surface area of the openings in the mesh screen is in a
range from 20% to 50% of the total surface area of the mesh screen
surface. In one embodiment, the mesh screen 54 has pores each
having a pore size in a range from 450 micrometers to 100
micrometers. In other embodiments, the pore size is in a range from
400 micrometers to 150 micrometers. In another embodiment, the pore
size is in a range from 400 micrometers to 220 micrometers. In yet
other embodiments, the pore size is in a range from 350 micrometers
to 200 micrometers. In one alternative, the pore size is in a range
from 300 micrometers to 220 micrometers.
[0019] A filter 58 is located within the shroud 22. In the
illustrated embodiment, the filter 58 extends from the lower end 40
of the shroud 22 and through the upper opening 38 of the shroud 22.
The filter 58 extends around the separator axis 30 and the filter
58 is positioned in the airflow path between the vanes 46 and the
cleaner air outlet 20. The filter 58 further separates debris from
the airflow. The filter 58 includes an open upper end 60 and a
closed lower end 62. The illustrated filter 58 is generally
cylindrical and includes an open central portion 63 that is in
fluid communication with the clean air outlet 22. The closed lower
end 62 of the filter 58 contacts the shroud 22 adjacent the lower
end 40 of the shroud 22. The contact between the filter 58 and the
shroud 22 closes the lower opening 42 of the shroud 22 to define a
filter dirt collection chamber 64 within the shroud 22 between the
vanes 46 and the filter 58. The filter 58 can be made from any
suitable filter media, including pleated media, open cell foam
media, natural fiber media, synthetic media, or any combination
thereof.
[0020] The separator assembly 16 further includes a lid 66 and a
debris collection chamber 68 below the shroud 22. The debris
collection chamber 68 is defined by the container 18 at the lower
end 26 of the container 18. The filter 58 is removably coupled to
the lid 66 and the lid 66 and the filter 58 are together removably
coupled to the container 18 adjacent the upper end 24 of the
container 18. Therefore, the filter 58 is removable through the
upper opening 38 of the shroud 22 when the lid 66 is uncoupled from
the container 18 leaving the shroud in the upper end 24 of the
container 18. When the filter is removed from the shroud 22, the
closed lower end of the filter is removed from the lower opening in
the shroud enabling dirt and debris to empty from the filter dirt
collection chamber 64 into the debris collection chamber 68 below
the shroud 22. The filter 58 can then be uncoupled from the lid 66
to clean or replace the filter 58. In an alternative embodiment,
the shroud 22 is coupled to the lid 66 so that the shroud 22 is
removable with the lid 66 and the filter 58 from the container 18.
In yet another embodiment, the shroud and filter may remain with
the container 18 when the lid 66 is removed from the container 18.
In such an embodiment, debris in the chamber 64 falls through the
lower opening 42 of the shroud and into the debris collection
chamber 68 when the filter is removed from the shroud.
[0021] In an alternative embodiment, the vacuum cleaner includes a
separator assembly downstream from the suction inlet and a debris
collection chamber, where the separator assembly includes a
container that defines a cyclonic separator about a separator axis,
with a dirty air inlet positioned to receive the airflow and debris
so that the airflow and debris rotates around the separator axis in
a first direction within the container. The separator includes a
clean air outlet that discharges the airflow from the separator
assembly. The separator assembly further includes a shroud located
in the container having apertures forming an airflow passageway
between the dirty air inlet and the clean air outlet, the shroud
having an upper end and a lower end having a lower opening. A
filter is positioned at least partially within the shroud extending
around the separator axis positioned in an airflow path between the
shroud and the clean air outlet, where a closed end of the filter
contacts the shroud adjacent the lower end closing the lower
opening defining a filter dirt collection chamber within the shroud
between the plurality of vanes and the filter.
[0022] The apertures in the shroud in this embodiment may be
longitudinal slots, openings between vanes, holes of any shape, or
other apertures.
[0023] In operation, the vacuum cleaner 10 is used to remove debris
from a surface (e.g., carpet, hard flooring, upholstery, etc.). The
suction source 14 generates an airflow that draws the debris and
airflow through the suction inlet 12. The airflow and debris
travels into the cyclonic separator 28 through the dirty air inlet
32. The airflow and debris rotate around the separator axis 30 in
the direction of arrow 34 in FIG. 4. Debris is separated from the
airflow and the debris falls down into the debris collection
chamber 68. The airflow travels through the mesh screen 54 that
further separates debris from the airflow. After traveling through
the mesh screen 54, the airflow travels in the direction of arrows
50 through the openings 48 between the vanes 46. The redirection of
the airflow by the vanes 46 (discussed above) may further separate
debris from the airflow. Separated debris can fall into the filter
dirt collection chamber 64. The airflow then passes through the
filter 58 to further remove relatively fine debris from the
airflow. The debris separated by the filter 58 may collect on the
filter or fall into the filter dirt collection chamber 64. The
airflow travels through the filter 58 and into the open central
portion 63 of the filter 58. From the open central portion 63 of
the filter 58, the airflow passes through the clean air outlet 20,
which can include an aperture in the lid 66, before being exhausted
from the vacuum cleaner 10.
[0024] The user can empty the filter dirt collection chamber 64 by
removing the lid 66 from the container 18. In the illustrated
embodiment, the shroud 22 and filter dirt collection chamber 64 are
removed from the container 18 with the lid 66. Therefore, the user
uncouples the shroud 22 from the lid 66 to empty the chamber 64.
The debris collection chamber 68 can be emptied through the upper
end 24 of the container 18. In other embodiments, the container 18
includes a door or a lid adjacent the lower end 26 of the container
18 to empty the chamber 68.
[0025] Various features and advantages of the invention are set
forth in the following claims.
* * * * *