Multi-cyclone dust separator and a vacuum cleaner using the same

• US 20060230719A1
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Han, Jung-gyun, Kim, Min-ha, Oh, Jang-keun
• Granted Patent: US 7,470,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/345
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/12 by centrifugal forces centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/185 Dust collectors
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/26 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A multi-cyclone dust separator according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises at least three dust separation units for separating dust stepwise from relatively larger size. The dust separation units comprise a first dust separation unit primarily separating dust from external air drawn in; a second dust separation unit secondarily separating dust from the air primarily dust-separated by the first dust separation unit; and a third dust separation unit thirdly separating dust from the air secondarily dust-separated by the second dust separation unit. Here, the first to third dust separation units are multi-layered in a serial manner.

Claims

1. A multi-cyclone dust separator comprising at least three dust separation units for separating dust stepwise according to size of the dust.

2. The multi-cyclone dust separator of claim 1, wherein the at least three dust separation units comprise:

a first dust separation unit primarily separating dust from external air drawn in;

a second dust separation unit secondarily separating dust from the air primarily dust-separated by the first dust separation unit; and

a third dust separation unit thirdly separating dust from the air secondarily dust-separated by the second dust separation unit.

3. The multi-cyclone dust separator of claim 2, wherein the first to third dust separation units are arranged in a serial manner.

4. The multi-cyclone dust separator of claim 1, wherein the at least three dust separation units are multi-layered.

5. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a cleaner body;

a suction brush fluidly communicated with the cleaner body to draw in dust-laden air from a surface being cleaned; and

a multi-cyclone dust separator mounted in the cleaner body to separate dust from the dust-laden air drawn in through the suction brush, the multi-cyclone dust separator comprising at least three dust separation units for separating the dust stepwise from relatively larger dust to smaller dust.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the multi-cyclone dust separator comprises:

a first dust separation unit primarily separating dust from the dust-laden air drawn in;

a second dust separation unit secondarily separating dust from the air primarily dust-separated by the first dust separation unit; and

a third dust separation unit thirdly separating dust from the air secondarily dust-separated by the second dust separation unit.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the first to the third dust separation units are arranged in a serial manner.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the at least three dust separation units are multi-layered.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein said cleaner body comprises a canister-type vacuum cleaner.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein said cleaner body comprises an upright-type vacuum cleaner applying the multi-cyclone dust separator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

11. A multi-cyclone dust separator comprising

a first dust separation unit having a first air inlet, a first cyclone chamber, and a first air outlet, said first air inlet for drawing in dust-laden air, and said first cyclone chamber for separating dust of a first size from said dust-laden air;

a second dust separation unit having a plurality of second cyclone chambers each having a second air inlet and a second air outlet, each of said second air inlets being in fluid communication with said first air outlet, and said plurality of second cyclone chambers for separating dust of a second size from said dust-laden air; and

a third dust separation unit having a plurality of third cyclone chambers each having a third air inlet and a third air outlet, each of said third air inlets being in fluid communication with said second air outlet, and said plurality of third cyclone chambers for separating dust of a third size from said dust-laden air.

12. The multi-cyclone dust separator of claim 11, further comprising a top cover, said top cover is connected to said third cyclone cover, wherein said top cover has a top opening in fluid communication with said third air outlet.

13. The multi-cyclone dust separator of claim 11, wherein said first dust separation unit further comprises a grill member at a lower portion of said first air outlet

14. The multi-cyclone dust separator of claim 11, wherein said second dust separation unit further comprises an intermediate path formation member fluidly communicated with said first air outlet and an intermediate connection path connecting said plurality of second cyclone chambers with said intermediate path formation member.

15. The multi-cyclone dust separator of claim 11, wherein said first to third dust separation units are arranged in a serially layered manner so that said third dust separation unit is on said second dust separation unit and said second dust separation unit is on said first dust separation unit.