SURFACE TREATING APPLIANCE

• US 20110016659A1
• Filed: 07/14/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: DYSON, James, HORNE, Lucas
• Application Number:
  US12/836,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20110016659A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 2009/001 with means for electrostatic separation
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 9/00 Combinations with other devices, e.g. fans, expansion chambers, diffusors, water lockswith filters B01D50/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to a surface treating appliance for separating particles from a fluid flow. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a domestic vacuum cleaner for separating particles, such as dirt and dust particles, from a dust laden airflow. The surface treating appliance includes a first cyclonic cleaning stage, a second cyclonic cleaning stage arranged downstream from the first cyclonic cleaning stage, and an electrostatic filter connected to a controlled high voltage power supply, the electrostatic filter being arranged separate from, but in fluid communication with, the first cyclonic cleaning stage and the second cyclonic cleaning stage.

Claims

1. A surface treating appliance comprising:

a first cyclonic cleaning stage, a second cyclonic cleaning stage arranged downstream from the first cyclonic cleaning stage, and

an electrostatic filter connected to a controlled high voltage power supply, the electrostatic filter being arranged separate from, but in fluid communication with, the first cyclonic cleaning stage and the second cyclonic cleaning stage.

2. A surface treating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the voltage is controlled by closed loop current and voltage control of the power supply.

3. A surface treating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic filter is located upstream of the first cyclonic cleaning stage, between the first and the second cyclonic cleaning stages or downstream of the second cyclonic cleaning stage.

4. A surface treating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the second cyclonic cleaning stage comprises a plurality of cyclones arranged in parallel.

5. A surface treating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first cyclonic cleaning stage comprises a single cylindrical cyclone.

6. A surface treating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second cyclonic cleaning stages each comprise a dust collecting bin.

7. A surface treating appliance according to claim 6, wherein the first cyclonic cleaning stage is arranged to at least partially surround the dust collecting bin of the second cyclonic cleaning stage.

8. A surface treating appliance according to claim 7, wherein the second cyclonic cleaning stage is arranged to at least partially surround the electrostatic filter.

9. A surface treating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first and second cyclonic cleaning stages, the electrostatic filter and the controlled high voltage generator form at least part of a cyclonic separating apparatus which is removably mounted on a main body of the surface treating appliance.

10. A surface treating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic filter comprises a filter medium located between a first and a second electrode each at a different voltage during use such that a potential difference is formed across the filter medium.

11. A surface treating appliance according to claim 10, wherein the first and second electrodes form at least a portion of an air pathway in which the filter medium is located, such than in use air flows through the filter medium between the first and second electrodes.

12. A surface treating appliance according to claim 10, wherein the filter medium is an electrically resistive filter medium.

13. A surface treating appliance according to claim 10, wherein the first and second electrodes are substantially non-porous.

14. A surface treating appliance according to claim 1, further comprising an air passage a first end of which is in fluid communication with the second cyclonic cleaning stage and a second end of which is in fluid communication with the electrostatic filter wherein at least a portion of the air passage is arranged to at least partially surround the electrostatic filter.

15. A surface treating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic filter further comprises at least one corona discharge means.

16. A separating apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the at least one corona discharge means comprises at least one corona discharge electrode of high curvature and at least one electrode of low curvature.

17. A separating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the electrostatic filter further comprises a third electrode.

18. A separating apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first, second and third electrodes are cylindrical.

19. A separating apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the second electrode is concentrically located between the first electrode and the third electrode.

20. A separating apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a further filter medium is located between the second electrode and the third electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode each being at a different voltage during use such that a potential difference is formed across the further filter medium.

21. A separating apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of first and second electrodes arranged in parallel wherein filter medium is located between adjacent electrodes, wherein adjacent electrodes are at a different voltage during use such that a potential difference is formed across the filter medium.

22. A surface treating appliance according to claim 17, wherein the electrodes are formed from a conductive metal of between 0.2 microns and 4 mm in thickness.

23. A surface treating appliance according to claim 22, wherein the conductive metal coats at least a portion of one or more airflow pathways separate from but in fluid communication with the first cyclonic cleaning stage and the second cyclonic cleaning stage, or a surface of the filter medium.

24. A surface treating apparatus according to claim 1, in the form of a vacuum cleaner.