CYCLONIC DIRT SEPARATION MODULE

• US 20050125940A1
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: McDowell, David E.
• Application Number:
  US10/904,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20050125940A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/353
• 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 comprising:

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

a nozzle base including a suction opening, said suction opening being fluidly connected with said airstream inlet of the first cyclonic airflow chamber;

the housing further including a second cyclonic airflow chamber having an airstream inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the first cyclonic airflow chamber and an airstream outlet;

the second cyclonic airflow chamber is at least in part defined by a frustroconical wall that decreases in diameter from a lower end to an upper end,

a fluid passage between the airstream outlet of the first cyclonic airflow chamber and the airflow inlet of the second cyclonic airflow chamber;

a first dirt-collecting bin beneath said first cyclonic airflow chamber for collecting dirt separated from the airstream in the first cyclonic airflow chamber; and

an airstream suction source fluidly connected to the suction opening and to the first and second cyclonic airflow chambers for transporting a dirt-containing airstream from the suction opening through the first and second cyclonic airflow chambers, wherein the suction source is adapted to selectively establish and maintain the flow of the dirt-containing airstream from the suction opening through said first and second cyclonic airflow chambers.

2. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the airstream suction source is downstream of the outlet of the second cyclonic airflow chamber.

3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the outlet of the first cyclonic airflow chamber if formed by a perforated wall.

4. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the first cyclonic airflow chamber is formed at least in part from a substantially cylindrical housing wall and the perforated wall is spaced radially inwardly of the substantially cylindrical housing wall.

5. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 wherein the perforated wall is substantially cylindrically shaped.

6. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the second cyclonic airflow chamber has an opening at an upper portion thereof for passage of dirt separated from the airstream.

7. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising a second dirt-collecting bin in communication with an upper end of the second cyclonic air flow chamber for collection of dirt from the airstream in the second cyclonic airflow chamber.

8. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 7 wherein the frusto-conical wall also defines a wall of the second dirt-collecting bin.

9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 wherein the second dirt-collecting bin is axially spaced from the first dirt-collecting bin.

10. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 7 wherein the second dirt-collecting bin is positioned axially above the first dirt-collecting bin.

11. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the airstream suction source is connected to the airstream outlet of the second cyclonic airflow chamber through a shaft that passes through the first dirt-collecting bin.

12. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 11 wherein the airstream outlet is positioned concentrically with respect to the first cyclonic airflow chamber.

13. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising a separator plate between the first cyclonic airflow chamber and the first dirt-collecting bin.

14. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one vane positioned between the fluid passage between the airstream outlet of the first cyclonic airflow chamber and the airflow inlet of the second cyclonic airflow chamber for imparting a tangential velocity component to the airflow in the fluid passage.

15. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a suction nozzle opening adapted to draw dirt from a surface to be cleaned;

a cyclonic separator having an inlet opening communicating with the suction nozzle and an outlet opening for exhausitng cleaned air;

an airstream suction source fluidly connected to cyclonic separator outlet opening for selectively establishing and maintaining a dirt-containing airstream from the suction nozzle opening through the cyclonic separator;

wherein the cyclonic separator comprises an upstream cyclone and a downstream cyclone;

the upstream cyclone including a first end and a second end, and the downstream cyclone having a first end and a second end,

wherein the upstream cyclone is substantially cylindrical in shape between the first and second ends thereof,

wherein the upstream and downstream cyclones are arranged relative to one another so that the orientation of the downstream cyclone is substantially inverted with respect to the orientation of the upstream cyclone, and wherein the downstream cyclone is frusto-conical in shape between the first and second ends thereof.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 15 and further comprising a perforated plate in a flow path between the upstream and downstream cyclones.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 15 and further comprising a filter in a flow path between the upstream and downstream cyclones.

18. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 15 wherein the upstream and downstream cyclones are axially spaced from each other.