CYCLONIC DIRT SEPARATION MODULE

• US 20030159411A1
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Metzger, Eric R., Smith, Gary L., Hansen, Samuel N.
• Application Number:
  US10/249,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159411A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/337
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/127 tube- or sleeve-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• 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 2009/004 with internal filters, in the cyclone chamber or in the vortex finder
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/08 Vortex chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/13 formed as a vortex finder and extending into the vortex chamber exits with bulkheads preventing reverse flow vortex B04C3/00; Discharge from vortex finder otherwise than at the top of the cyclone; Devices for controlling the overflow
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/26 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

The invention relates to dirt separator module comprising a dirt-separation housing having an inlet and an outlet opening and defining a cyclonic airflow separator, and a suction source fluidly connected with the dirt-separation housing. A separator plate and a cylindrical wall of the dirt-separation housing form a toroidal cyclonic airflow chamber in the dirt-separator for aiding in the separation of dirt from a suction airstream developed by the suction source. The separator plate has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical wall of the dirt-separation housing, creating a gap between the outer edge of the separator plate and the inner wall of the dirt tank. A further embodiment includes dual cyclonic separators fluidly connected through a filter assembly. A further embodiment includes a cyclonic separator in the form of a tangential helical ramp.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner module comprising:

a module housing;

a dirt separation housing removably mounted in the module housing and defining a cyclonic airflow chamber for separating contaminants from a dirt-containing airstream, the housing further comprising an inlet opening for the cyclonic chamber adapted to be connected to a suction cleaning nozzle and an airstream outlet opening in an upper central portion of the dirt separation housing and in communication with the inlet opening;

an airstream suction source mounted in the module housing and fluidly connected to the cyclonic chamber inlet opening, the cyclonic airflow chamber and the airstream outlet opening to establish and maintain a tangential flow of a dirt-containing airstream within the cyclone airflow chamber as the airstream flows between the cyclonic chamber inlet opening and the airstream outlet opening for separating dirt from the air stream in the cyclonic airflow chamber;

a support element mounted in an upper portion of said dirt separator housing;

a dirt-collecting chamber within the module housing and beneath the cyclonic airflow chamber to collect dirt separated from the dirt-containing airstream in the cyclonic airflow chamber; and

a separator plate mounted to a lower portion of the support element above the dirt-collecting bin, and separating the cyclonic airflow chamber from the dirt collecting chamber.

2. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the support element is cylindrical and has openings for passage of the dirt-separated airstream prior exit of said airstream from said dirt separation housing through the airstream outlet.

3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 and further comprising a filter element between the cyclonic airflow chamber and the support element.

4. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 wherein the filter element is a fine mesh.

5. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the separator plate extends radially from the support element toward the housing.

6. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 wherein the separator plate forms a gap with the housing for passage of dirt particles from the cyclone separation chamber to the dirt-collecting chamber.

7. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 6 wherein the gap between the separator plate and the housing is annular.

8. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 7 wherein the separator plate is circular and the housing has a cylindrical wall adjacent the separator plate.

9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 wherein the separator plate is circular and the housing has a cylindrical wall adjacent the separator plate.

10. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the cylindrical support element, the separator plate and the dirt separation housing define a toroidal chamber that forms the cyclonic airflow chamber.

11. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 10 and further comprising a filter positioned between the cyclonic airflow chamber and the airstream outlet opening.

12. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 11 wherein the filter comprises a fine mesh.

13. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising a filter positioned downstream of the airstream outlet opening.

14. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the suction source is mounted beneath the dirt separation housing.

15. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 14 wherein the suction source has an inlet downstream from the airstream opening to draw the dirt-containing airstream into the cyclonic airflow chamber.

16. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the dirt separation housing also defines the dirt-collecting chamber.

17. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising a dirt cup that defines the dirt collecting chamber and the dirt cup is removably mounted to the dirt separation housing.

18. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 17 wherein the dirt cup is also removably mounted to the module housing.

19. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising a dirt cup that defines the dirt collecting chamber and the dirt cup is removably mounted to the module housing.

20. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the cyclonic airflow chamber is formed in part by a tangential helical ramp.

21. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 20 and further comprising a direction change portal between the cyclonic airflow chamber and the airstream outlet opening in the dirt separation housing so that the airstream changes whereby the airstream changes direction before passing through the airstream outlet opening.

22. A vacuum cleaner comprising;

a dirt separator housing defining a cyclonic airflow chamber for separating contaminants from a dirt-containing airstream, said dirt separator housing further comprising a cyclonic chamber inlet and an airstream outlet in fluid communication with each other;

an airstream suction source fluidly connected to the cyclonic airflow chamber for transporting dirt-containing air from a source of a dirt-containing airstream to the cyclonic airflow chamber, said suction source selectively establishing and maintaining the dirt-containing airstream from said source of a dirt-containing airstream to said cyclonic chamber inlet and for maintaining tangential flow of the dirt-containing airstream within the cyclone airflow chamber for separating dirt from the air stream in the cyclonic airflow chamber;

a support element positioned within said dirt separation housing and mounting a separator plate that forms a toroidal chamber within the dirt separation housing with a cylindrical side wall and upper wall of the dirt separation housing;

a dirt-collecting bin beneath the separator plate within the dirt separation housing and forming a dirt collecting chamber; and

wherein the relative cross-sectional areas of the separator plate with respect to the housing cross sectional area at the separator plate is in the range of 0.75 to 0.95.

23. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 22 wherein the airstream outlet is in a lower portion of the housing.

24. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 22 wherein the relative cross-sectional area of the separator plate with respect to the housing cross sectional area is in the range of 0.8 to 0.92.

25. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 22 wherein the relative cross-sectional area of the separator plate with respect to the housing cross sectional area is about 9.