SEPARATING APPARATUS

• US 20130160233A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: DYSON, James, PEACE, Michael James, THOMPSON, Daniel John
• Granted Patent: US 9,131,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/127 tube- or sleeve-shaped
• 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 9/1658 Construction of outlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means

Abstract

A separating apparatus comprises a first cyclonic separating unit and a second cyclonic separating unit located fluidly downstream therefrom and including a plurality of second cyclones arranged fluidly in parallel about a first axis and grouped into at least a first and second set of second cyclones arranged about the first axis. Each cyclone in the first and second sets of second cyclones defines a longitudinal axis and includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlets of the first set of second cyclones are spaced along the first axis from the fluid inlets of the second set of second cyclones, and each outlet of the cyclones in the first and second sets of second cyclones is in fluid communication with an outlet duct, wherein the outlet duct includes a first portion which extends between two of the cyclones of at least the first set of second cyclones.

Claims

1. A separating apparatus for a surface treating appliance comprising:

a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone,

a second cyclonic separating unit located fluidly downstream from the first cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of second cyclones arranged fluidly in parallel about a first axis,

the plurality of second cyclones being grouped into at least a first set of second cyclones arranged about the first axis and a second set of second cyclones arranged about the first axis,

wherein each of the cyclones in the first set of second cyclones defines a first longitudinal axis and includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet,

and wherein each of the cyclones in the second set of second cyclones defines a second longitudinal axis and includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet,

wherein the fluid inlets of the first set of second cyclones are spaced along the first axis from the fluid inlets of the second set of second cyclones,

wherein each outlet of the cyclones in the first set of second cyclones and each outlet of the cyclones in the second set of second cyclones is in fluid communication with an outlet duct,

wherein the outlet duct includes a first portion which extends between two of the cyclones of at least the first set of second cyclones.

2. The separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outlet duct includes a second portion fluidly upstream of the first portion and which extends along the first axis and wherein the first portion is inclined relative to the second portion.

3. The separating apparatus of claim 2, wherein a filter member is receivable in the second portion of the outlet duct.

4. The separating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the filter member is an elongate sock filter.

5. The separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal axis of each of the cyclones in the first set of second cyclones defines a first included angle with the first axis, and wherein the second longitudinal axis of each of the cyclones in the second set of second cyclones defines a second included angle with the first axis, wherein the second included angle is less than the first included angle.

6. The separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid inlets of each cyclone in the first set of second cyclones lie in a common plane.

7. The separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid inlets of each cyclone in the second set of second cyclones lie in a common plane.

8. The separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyclones of the first set of second cyclones are arranged in an annular configuration.

9. The separating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cyclones of the second set of second cyclones are arranged in an annular configuration.

10. The separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyclones of the second set of second cyclones are arranged in an annular configuration.

11. The separating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fluid inlets of each cyclone in the first set of second cyclones lie on the circumference of an imaginary circle having a first diameter, wherein the fluid inlets of each cyclone in the second set of second cyclones lie on the circumference of a second imaginary circle having a second diameter, and wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter.

12. The separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyclones of the second set of second cyclones are in a radial pattern such that each cyclone is located between a pair of the cyclones in the first set of second cyclones.

13. A surface treating appliance comprising the separating apparatus of claim 1.

14. The surface treating appliance of claim 13, wherein the appliance is a handheld vacuum cleaner.

15. A separating apparatus comprising:

a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone,

a second cyclonic separating unit located fluidly downstream from the first cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of second cyclones arranged fluidly in parallel about a first axis,

the plurality of second cyclones being grouped into at least a first set of second cyclones arranged about the first axis and a second set of second cyclones arranged about the first axis,

wherein each of the cyclones in the first set of second cyclones defines a first longitudinal axis and includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet,

wherein each of the cyclones in the second set of second cyclones defines a second longitudinal axis and includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet,

wherein the fluid inlets of the first set of second cyclones are spaced in a direction along the first axis from the fluid inlets of the second set of second cyclones,

wherein the cyclones of the first set of second cyclones are arranged so as to extend about some or all of the cyclones in the second set of second cyclones, such that the second set of second cyclones are at least partially nested within the second set of second cyclones,

wherein the first longitudinal axis of each of the cyclones in the first set of second cyclones defines a first included angle with the first axis,

wherein the second longitudinal axis of each of the cyclones in the second set of second cyclones defines a second included angle with the first axis, and

wherein the second included angle is less than the first included angle.

16. The separating apparatus of claim 15, wherein the fluid inlets of each cyclone in the first set of second cyclones lies in a common plane.

17. The separating apparatus of claim 15, wherein the fluid inlets of each cyclone in the second set of second cyclones lies in a common plane.

18. The separating apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cyclones of the first set of second cyclones are arranged in an annular configuration.

19. The separating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cyclones of the second set of second cyclones are arranged in an annular configuration.

20. The separating apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cyclones of the second set of second cyclones are arranged in an annular configuration.

21. The separating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the fluid inlets of each cyclone in the first set of second cyclones lie on the circumference of an imaginary circle having a first diameter, wherein the fluid inlets of each cyclone in the second set of second cyclones lie on the circumference of a second imaginary circle having a second diameter, and wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter.

22. The separating apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cyclones of the second set of second cyclones are in a radial pattern such that each cyclone is located between a pair of the cyclones in the first set of second cyclones.

23. The separating apparatus of claim 15, wherein each outlet of the cyclones in the first set of second cyclones and each outlet of the cyclones in the second set of second cyclones is in fluid communication with an outlet duct, which outlet duct includes a first portion extending between two of the cyclones of the first set of second cyclones.

24. The separating apparatus of claim 23, wherein the outlet duct includes a further portion fluidly upstream of the first portion and which extends along the first axis and wherein the first portion extends away from the second portion in a radial direction so as to define an angle to the first axis.

25. The separating apparatus of claim 24, wherein a filter member is receivable in the second portion of the outlet duct.

26. The separating apparatus of claim 25, wherein the filter member is an elongate sock filter.

27. A surface treating appliance comprising a separating apparatus of claim 15.

28. The surface treating appliance of claim 27, wherein the appliance is a handheld vacuum cleaner.