Vacuum cleaner having two cyclonic cleaning stages

• US 20050177974A1
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Polar Light Limited
• Original Assignee: Fantom Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest, Conrad, Helmut Gerhard
• Application Number:
  US11/036,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20050177974A1
• 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 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0009 Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust 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 2009/002 with external filters
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 2009/004 with internal filters, in the cyclone chamber or in the vortex finder
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/02 Construction of inlets by which the vortex flow is generated , e.g. tangential admission, the fluid flow being forced to follow a downward path by spirally wound bulkheads, or with slightly downwardly-directed tangential admissionfluid dynamics in general F15D
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/103 Bodies or members, e.g. bulkheads, guides, in the vortex chamber cores B04C5/107
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/26 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/28 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 9/00 Combinations with other devices, e.g. fans, expansion chambers, diffusors, water lockswith filters B01D50/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner has a first and second cyclonic cleaning stages in series. The second cyclonic cleaning stage has a plurality of second stage cyclones. A conduit connects the first cyclonic cleaning stage outlet and the second stage cyclone inlets.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a) a dirty air inlet and a source of suction to draw air containing particulate matter into the dirty air inlet and produce an air stream in the vacuum cleaner;

b) a first cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a cyclone having a first cyclonic cleaning stage inlet and a first cyclonic cleaning stage outlet;

c) a second cyclonic cleaning stage positioned in series with the first cyclonic cleaning stage, the second cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a plurality of second stage cyclones, each of the second stage cyclones having a second stage cyclone inlet and a second stage cyclone outlet; and

,

d) a passage connecting the first cyclonic cleaning stage outlet and the second stage cyclone inlets, and the passage is configured to inhibit settling out of particulate matter from the air stream.

2. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second stage cyclones at least partially surround the passage.

4. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the passage has a cross sectional area which is approximately the same as the cross sectional area of the first cyclonic cleaning stage outlet.

5. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the passage is substantially free of horizontal spaces that are transverse to the direction of fluid flow through the passage.

6. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the passage is substantially free of any dead air spaces.

7. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the passage is substantially free of regions that are adapted to separate particulate matter from the air stream.

8. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the passage is defined by a single conduit.

3. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in 1 wherein the passage is at least partially defined by the second stage cyclones.

9. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a) a dirty air inlet and a source of suction to draw air containing particulate matter into the dirty air inlet and produce an air stream in the vacuum cleaner;

b) a first cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a cyclone having a first cyclonic cleaning stage inlet and a first cyclonic cleaning stage outlet;

c), a second cyclonic cleaning stage positioned in series with the first cyclonic cleaning stage, the second cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a plurality of second stage cyclones, each of the second stage cyclones having a second stage cyclone inlet and a second stage cyclone outlet; and

,

d) a passage extending from the first cyclonic cleaning stage outlet to the second stage cyclone inlets, and the passage is substantially free of any dead air spaces.

10. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9 wherein the second stage cyclones at least partially surround the passage.

11. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9 wherein the passage is at least partially defined by the second stage cyclones.

12. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9 wherein the passage has a cross sectional area which is approximately the same as the cross sectional area of the first cyclonic cleaning stage outlet.

13. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9 wherein the passage is substantially free of horizontal spaces that are transverse to the direction of fluid flow through the passage.

14. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9 wherein the passage is substantially free of regions that are adapted to separate particulate matter from the air stream.

15. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9 wherein the passage is defined by a single conduit.

16. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a) a dirty air inlet and a source of suction to draw air containing particulate matter into the dirty air inlet and produce an air stream in the vacuum cleaner;

b) a first cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a cyclone having a first cyclonic cleaning stage inlet and a first cyclonic cleaning stage outlet;

c) a second cyclonic cleaning stage positioned in series with the first cyclonic cleaning stage, the second cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a plurality of second stage cyclones, each of the second stage cyclones having a second stage cyclone inlet and a second stage cyclone outlet; and

,

d) a conduit extending from the first cyclonic cleaning stage outlet to the second stage cyclone inlets.

17. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16 wherein the second stage cyclones at least partially surround the passage.

18. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16 wherein the passage is at least partially defined by the second stage cyclones.

19. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16 wherein the passage does not increase in cross sectional area in a downstream direction.

20. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16 wherein the passage has a cross sectional area which is approximately the same as the cross sectional area of the first cyclonic cleaning stage outlet.

21. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16 wherein the passage is substantially free of horizontal spaces that are transverse to the direction of fluid flow through the passage.

22. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16 wherein the passage is substantially free of regions that are adapted to separate particulate matter from the air stream.

23. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16 wherein the passage is substantially free of any dead air spaces.