Filter housing

• US 20050066634A1
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Genn, Stuart Lloyd, Mason, Richard Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,258,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/418
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0081 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A filter housing (60) comprises an inlet for receiving airflow, a cavity for receiving a filter (70) and an airflow passage between the inlet and the filter (70). At least one vane (65a, 65b, 65c) is positioned in the airflow passage for partitioning the airflow passage into a plurality of ducts (51, 52, 53). Each vane (65a, 65b) has a non-linear shape in the direction of flow through the airflow passage. This helps to reduce acoustic emissions from the machine since sound waves emitted by the fan and/or motor are caused to bounce off the vanes (65a, 65b), which allows the vanes (65a, 65b) to absorb some of the sound energy. The filter housing (60) can form part of a vacuum cleaner.

Claims

1. A filter housing comprising an inlet for receiving an airflow, a cavity for receiving a filter, an airflow passage between the inlet and the cavity and at least one vane positioned in the airflow passage for partitioning the airflow passage into a plurality of elongated ducts, wherein each vane has a non-linear shape in the direction of flow through the airflow passage, which direction is substantially along the ducts.

2. A filter housing according to claim 1, wherein each vane has an arcuate shape along its entire length.

3. A filter housing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the ducts has two inlets for receiving the airflow.

4. A filter housing according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a filter having a filter surface, each vane being dimensioned such that an edge of the vane lies adjacent to, or contacts, the filter surface when the filter is mounted within the housing, such that each duct communicates with a separate portion of the filter surface.

5. A filter housing according to claim 4, wherein the cross sectional area of the inlet to each duct is substantially proportional to the area of the portion of the filter surface with which the said duct communicates.

6. A filter housing according to claim 4, wherein the portions of the filter surface with which each duct communicates are located at different distances from the inlet.

7. An appliance comprising an inlet, a filter housing according to claim 1 or 2, an exhaust assembly, and an airflow generator for generating an airflow through the appliance from the inlet to the exhaust assembly.

8. A vacuum cleaner comprising the appliance according to claim 7 means and a separator for separating dirt and dust from the airflow.

10. A filter housing according to claim 3, further comprising a filter having a filter surface, each vane being dimensioned such that an edge of the vane lies adjacent to, or contacts, the filter surface when the filter is mounted within the housing, such that each duct communicates with a separate portion of the filter surface.

11. A filter housing according to claim 10, wherein the cross sectional area of the inlet to each duct is substantially proportional to the area of the portion of the filter surface with which the said duct communicates.

12. A filter housing according to claim 10, wherein the portions of the filter surface with which each duct communicates are located at different distances from the inlet.

13. An appliance comprising an inlet, a filter housing according to claim 3, an exhaust assembly, and an airflow generator for generating an airflow through the appliance from the inlet to the exhaust assembly.

14. A vacuum cleaner comprising the appliance according to claim 13 and a separator for separating dirt and dust from the airflow.

15. An appliance comprising an inlet, a filter housing according to claim 4, an exhaust assembly, and an airflow generator for generating an airflow through the appliance from the inlet to the exhaust assembly.

16. A vacuum cleaner comprising the appliance according to claim 15 and a separator for separating dirt and dust from the airflow.

17. An appliance comprising an inlet, a filter housing according to claim 5, an exhaust assembly, and an airflow generator for generating an airflow through the appliance from the inlet to the exhaust assembly.

18. A vacuum cleaner comprising the appliance according to claim 17 and a separator for separating dirt and dust from the airflow.

9. (Canceled)