Vacuum cleaner

• US 20070151072A1
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Jea, Lee, Jun, Hong, Seung, Joo, Jae, Yoon, Tae
• Granted Patent: US 7,610,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0081 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/665 by means of resonance chambers or interference

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having a discharge flow path, which reduces noise generated due to resistance of the flow path, and by a motor. The vacuum cleaner includes a body, a blower fan unit including a blower fan and a motor to generate suction force in the body, an inner case surrounding the blower fan unit and having an inner flow path formed therein, an outer case surrounding the inner case, and a discharge flow path formed between the inner case and the outer case to communicate with the inner flow path. The discharge flow path including a circulation flow path branched from the inner flow path to guide air discharged from the blower fan unit, and a bent flow path branched from the inner flow path to guide the air discharged from the blower fan unit, the air is thereby bent a number of times in the bent flow path.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a body defining an outer appearance thereof;

a blower fan unit comprising a blower fan and a motor to generate a suction force in the body;

an inner case surrounding the blower fan unit and comprising an inner flow path formed therein;

an outer case surrounding the inner case; and

a discharge flow path formed between the inner case and the outer case to communicate with the inner flow path,

wherein the discharge flow path comprises;

a circulation flow path branched from the inner flow path to guide circulation of air discharged from the blower fan unit, and

a bent flow path branched from the inner flow path to guide the air discharged from the blower fan unit such that the air is bent a number of times in the bent flow path.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the inner case comprises:

a lower case having a semi-cylindrical shape centered on a rotational shaft of the blower fan unit to support a lower portion of the blower fan unit; and

an upper case coupled with the lower case to form the inner case, the upper case comprising a cylindrical part having a same radius as that of the lower case, and an extended part extending from the cylindrical part and having a larger radius than that of the cylindrical part.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the extended part comprises a connection flow path formed on an inner side thereof, to connect the inner flow path with the discharge flow path.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the cylindrical part includes an end engaging with a first side end of the lower case, and the extended part includes an end engaging with a first side of the outer case to form a branch part between a second side end of the lower case and an end of the extended part of the upper case to divide air flowing in the connection flow path into the circulation flow path and the bent flow path.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the circulation flow path comprises a spiral flow path formed in a circumferential direction along an outer peripheral surface of the inner case from the branch part.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the bent flow path comprises:

a first flow path communicated with the branch part while extending in a rear direction;

a

second flow path communicated with the first flow path while being defined between a rear side of the inner case and a rear side of the outer case; and

a third flow path communicated with the second flow path while extending in a front direction.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein air flow is branched at the branch part into a first air flow circulating along the circulation flow path and a second air flow bent along the bent flow path, the first air flow and the second air flow forming a combined flow combined and rising at an opposite side of the branch part around the inner case.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the outer case comprises an outflow port formed at a rear upper portion to allow air to flow out therethrough, and the outflow port comprises a first partition positioned above the bent flow path, to prevent direct outflow of the second air flow through the outflow port, and a second partition positioned above the inner case to prevent direct outflow of the combined flow through the outflow port.

9. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a blower fan unit comprising a blower fan and a motor to generate a suction force in the vacuum cleaner;

an inner case which surrounds the blower fan unit and comprises an inner flow path defined between the inner case and the motor, to circulate air discharged radially from the blower fan unit; and

an outer case which surrounds the inner case, wherein a discharge flow path is formed between the inner case and the outer case, to discharge air to an outside of the vacuum cleaner.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the blower fan unit further comprises a plurality of holes formed on an outer peripheral surface of the blower fan unit surrounding the motor, to radially discharge air therethrough, from the blower fan.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the discharge flow path comprises:

a circulation flow path branched from the inner flow path to guide the circulation of air discharged radially from the blower fan unit; and

a bent flow path branched from the inner flow path to guide the air discharged from the blower fan unit such that the air is bent repeatedly in the bent flow path.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the inner case comprises:

a lower case having a semi-cylindrical shape centered on a rotational shaft of the blower fan unit to support a lower portion of the blower fan unit; and

an upper case coupled with the lower case to form the inner case, wherein the upper case comprises a cylindrical part having a same radius as that of the lower case, and an extended part extending from the cylindrical part and having a larger radius than that of the cylindrical part.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the extended part comprises a connection flow path formed on an inner side thereof, to connect the inner flow path with the discharge flow path.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the cylindrical part comprises an end engaging with a first side end of the lower case, and the extended part comprises an end engaging with a first side of the outer case, to thereby form a branch part between a second side end of the lower case and an end of the extended part of the upper case, to divide air flowing in the connection flow path into the circulation flow path and the bent flow path.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the circulation flow path comprises a spiral flow path formed in a circumferential direction along an outer peripheral surface of the inner case from the branch part.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the bent flow path comprises:

a first flow path communicated with the branch part while extending in a rear direction;

a second flow path communicated with the first flow path while being defined between a rear side of the inner case and a rear side of the outer case; and

a third flow path communicated with the second flow path while extending in a front direction.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, wherein air flow is branched at the branch part into a first air flow circulating along the circulation flow path and a second air flow bent along the bent flow path, the first air flow and the second air flow forming a combined flow combined and rising at an opposite side of the branch part around the inner case.

18. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein the outer case comprises:

an outflow port formed at a rear upper portion to allow air to flow out therethrough, and the outflow port comprises;

a first partition positioned above the bent flow path, to prevent direct outflow of the second air flow through the outflow port, and

a second partition positioned above the inner case to prevent direct outflow of the combined flow through the outflow port.

19. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 18, further comprises an air vent, wherein air guided along the discharge flow path is discharged to the outside of the vacuum cleaner through the air vent via the outflow port.