Configuration of a cyclone assembly and surface cleaning apparatus having same

• US 10,327,612 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2014
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Muller, Bryan R
• Application Number:
  US14/529,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20150121651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 15353, 55DIG 3
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1633 Concentric cyclones
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1658 Construction of outlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/16 generated by the winding course of the gas stream , the centrifugal forces being generated solely or partly by mechanical means, e.g. fixed swirl vanes
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/04 Tangential inlets
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/103 Bodies or members, e.g. bulkheads, guides, in the vortex chamber cores B04C5/107
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/14 Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations provided with a great number of slits or perforations B04C5/10
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/187 forming an integral part of the vortex chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/26 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/28 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A cyclone separator useable in a surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber and having first and second opposed ends and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends. A separated material collection chamber surrounds at least a portion of the cyclone chamber and is communication therewith via a separated material outlet. The separated material collection chamber is spaced at least about 0.5 inches from the cyclone chamber. In addition, the separated material collection chamber is spaced from the bottom of the cyclone by at least about 0.5 inches.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a cyclone separator comprising;

i. a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber and having first, the cyclone casing second spaced apart portions, a fluid inlet provided in the first portion, a fluid outlet provided in the first portion, a cyclone chamber sidewall and a dirt outlet, the first portion including a first end wall of the cyclone chamber and the second portion including a second end inner surface spaced apart from and facing the first end wall and an opposed second end outer surface, a portion of the cyclone casing comprising the second end inner surface being moveable to open the cyclone chamber; and

ii. a dirt collection chamber in communication with the dirt outlet and exterior to the cyclone chamber, the dirt collection chamber having an opposed surface spaced apart from and facing the second end outer surface and a dirt collection chamber sidewall, wherein the opposed surface of the dirt collection chamber and a first portion of the dirt collection chamber sidewall are moveable between a closed position and an open position, and wherein a second portion of the dirt collection chamber sidewall maintains a fixed relative position to the first end wall of the cyclone chamber when the opposed surface of the dirt collection chamber and the first portion of the dirt collection chamber sidewall are moved between the closed position and the open position,

wherein when the opposed surface of the dirt collection chamber and the first portion of the dirt collection chamber sidewall are in the open position, the dirt collection chamber is emptyable, and wherein a portion of the cyclone chamber sidewall that extends at least partially about an outer circumference of the cyclone chamber is moveable with the second end inner surface to open the cyclone chamber.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the cyclone chamber includes a single second end wall that comprises the second end inner surface and the second end outer surface.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein when the opposed surface of the dirt collection chamber and the first portion of the dirt collection chamber sidewall are in the closed position, the cyclone chamber is fluidly sealed except for the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet and the dirt outlet.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the dirt collection chamber sidewall is pivotally mounted to the second portion of the dirt collection chamber sidewall.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein when the opposed surface of the dirt collection chamber is in the closed position, the second end inner surface is parallel to the first end wall.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dirt outlet is located at the second end inner surface.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dirt outlet is a slot that is at least partially bounded by the cyclone chamber sidewall.

8. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) cyclone separator comprising;

i. a cyclone chamber extending along a cyclone chamber axis, the cyclone chamber comprising a fluid inlet, a cyclone chamber sidewall, a fluid outlet, a dirt outlet, a cyclone chamber first end having an inward facing first cyclone surface and an opposing cyclone chamber second end having a cyclone chamber second end surface axially spaced apart from the first cyclone surface, the cyclone chamber sidewall comprising a first cyclone chamber sidewall portion and a second cyclone chamber sidewall portion that at least partially defines the dirt outlet, a portion of the cyclone chamber comprising the cyclone chamber second end surface and the second cyclone chamber sidewall portion being moveable to open the cyclone chamber, and the cyclone chamber second end having an opposed second end outer surface; and

,

ii. a dirt collection chamber external the cyclone chamber and in communication with the dirt outlet to receive dirt therefrom, the dirt collection chamber comprising;

1. a dirt collection chamber first end wall;

2. an opposing dirt collection chamber second end wall that is spaced apart from the dirt collection chamber first end wall and that is spaced apart from and faces the cyclone chamber second end outer surface; and

3. a dirt collection chamber sidewall extending axially between the dirt collection chamber first end wall and the dirt collection chamber second end wall and being disposed laterally outboard of and laterally surrounding the cyclone chamber sidewall, whereby a first portion of the dirt collection chamber is disposed between the dirt collection chamber second end wall and the cyclone chamber second end outer surface, and a second portion of the dirt collection chamber is disposed between a portion of the dirt collection chamber sidewall and the cyclone chamber sidewall;

wherein the dirt collection chamber second end wall is moveable concurrently with the moveable portion of the cyclone chamber comprising the cyclone chamber second end surface and the second cyclone chamber sidewall portion to concurrently open the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber,

and wherein the second portion of the dirt collection chamber and the cyclone chamber first end maintain a fixed relative position when the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber are concurrently opened.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are located at a same end of the cyclone chamber and the dirt outlet is provided at the opposite end of the cyclone chamber.

10. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a cyclone separator for separating material from air flowing through the cyclone separator, the cyclone separator comprising;

i. a cyclone chamber comprising;

1. a cyclone chamber first end having a cyclone chamber first end wall;

2. an opposing cyclone chamber second end having a cyclone chamber second end wall spaced apart from the cyclone chamber first end wall along a cyclone chamber axis, the cyclone chamber second end wall closing the opposing cyclone chamber second end;

3. a cyclone chamber sidewall axially extending between the cyclone chamber first end wall and the cyclone chamber second end wall, the cyclone chamber sidewall comprising a first sidewall portion and a second sidewall portion, the first sidewall portion extending from the cyclone chamber first end wall to a first sidewall portion end and the second sidewall portion extending from the cyclone chamber second end wall to a second sidewall portion end;

4. a fluid inlet; and

5. a fluid outlet; and

ii. a door that is moveable between a closed position in which the first sidewall portion end is aligned with the second sidewall portion end about a perimeter of the cyclone chamber and an open position, wherein when the door is in the open position the cyclone chamber is opened, the door comprising the cyclone chamber second end wall and the second sidewall portion; and

,

(b) a dirt collection chamber external to the cyclone chamber and in communication with a dirt outlet of the cyclone chamber, wherein the dirt collection chamber comprises;

i. a dirt collection chamber first end wall;

ii. an opposing dirt collection chamber second end wall that is spaced apart from the dirt collection chamber first end wall, the dirt collection chamber second end wall being spaced apart from and faces the cyclone chamber second end wall, the dirt collection chamber second end wall being openable whereby the dirt collection chamber is openable; and

,

iii. a dirt collection chamber sidewall extending axially between the dirt collection chamber first end wall and the dirt collection chamber second end wall.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the door is pivotally openable.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cyclone chamber second end includes a cyclone chamber dirt collection surface.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fluid inlet comprises an aperture in the cyclone chamber sidewall.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fluid inlet comprises a tangential passage.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fluid inlet is proximate the cyclone chamber first end wall.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the dirt chamber second end wall is secured in a fixed relation to the cyclone chamber second end wall by a member that extends from the dirt chamber second end wall to the cyclone chamber second end wall.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the door further comprises the dirt outlet of the cyclone chamber.