CONFIGURATION OF A CYCLONE ASSEMBLY AND SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS HAVING SAME

• US 20090205161A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.), G.D.B. Corp.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Application Number:
  US12/338,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20090205161A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1633 Concentric cyclones
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1658 Construction of outlets
• 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 5/04 Tangential inlets
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/103 Bodies or members, e.g. bulkheads, guides, in the vortex chamber cores B04C5/107
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/14 Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations provided with a great number of slits or perforations B04C5/10
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/187 forming an integral part of the vortex chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/26 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/28 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A cyclone separator useable in a surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber and having first and second opposed ends and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends. A separated material collection chamber surrounds at least a portion of the cyclone chamber and is communication therewith via a separated material outlet. The separated material collection chamber is spaced at least about 0.5 inches from the cyclone chamber. In addition, the separated material collection chamber is spaced from the bottom of the cyclone by at least about 0.5 inches.

Claims

1. A cyclone separator comprising:

(a) a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber and having first and second spaced apart portions, a sidewall, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a separated material outlet, the first portion including a first end and the second portion including an opposed second end;

(b) the fluid inlet provided in the first portion;

(c) the separated material outlet provided in the second portion and being in communication with a separated material collection chamber;

(d) the sidewall having an inlet section and a second section, the fluid inlet provided on the inlet section;

(e) the separated material collection chamber having a sidewall and surrounding at least a portion of the cyclone chamber wherein the sidewall of the separated material collection chamber facing the sidewall of the second section of the cyclone casing is spaced apart by at least about 0.5 inches; and

,

(f) the separated material collection chamber has an opposed surface facing the second end and spaced from the second end by at least about 0.5 inches.

2. The cyclone separator of claim 1 wherein the fluid inlet has an end closer to the second end then the first end.

3. The cyclone separator of claim 2 wherein a portion of the sidewall of the cyclone casing extends between the end of the fluid inlet closest to the second end and the transition member.

4. The cyclone separator of claim 3 wherein the portion of the sidewall of the cyclone casing is straight.

5. The cyclone separator of claim 4 wherein the sidewall of the cyclone casing is straight.

6. The cyclone separator of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the cyclone casing includes a transition member provided adjacent the second end of the cyclone casing, the transition member having an inner surface, at least a portion of which extends in a different orientation to both the sidewall and the second end.

7. The cyclone separator of claim 6 wherein the transition member is curved.

8. The cyclone separator of claim 6 wherein the separated material outlet is provided in the transition member.

9. The cyclone separator of claim 1 wherein the separated material collection chamber is round.

10. The cyclone separator of claim 1 wherein the sidewall of the separated material collection chamber facing the sidewall of the inlet section of the cyclone casing is spaced apart by less than 0.5 inches.

11. The cyclone separator of claim 1 wherein the sidewall of the separated material collection chamber facing the sidewall of the inlet section of the cyclone casing abuts the inlet section.

12. The cyclone separator of claim 1 wherein the sidewall of the separated material collection chamber merges with the sidewall of the inlet section of the cyclone casing.

13. An array of cyclones comprising at least two cyclones as claimed in claim 12 wherein the fluid inlets the two cyclones are adjacent each other.

14. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising the cyclone separator of claim 1.