CONFIGURATION OF A CYCLONE ASSEMBLY AND SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS HAVING SAME

• US 20150121651A1
• Filed: 10/30/2014
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 10,327,612 B2
• 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 surface cleaning apparatus comprising a cyclone separator, the cyclone separator comprising:

(a) a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber and having an upper end having a first end wall, a lower end having an opposed second end wall, a sidewall, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a separated material outlet positioned in the upper end and being in communication with a separated material collection chamber;

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

(c) the separated material collection chamber having a sidewall that surrounds at least a portion of the cyclone chamber and is spaced therefrom; and

,

(d) the separated material collection chamber having an opposed surface facing the second end and is spaced therefrom,

wherein the cyclone chamber and the separated material collection chamber are each openable.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sidewall includes a transition member provided adjacent the upper end wall 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 upper end wall and extends inwardly from the sidewall to the upper end wall.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cyclone chamber has a longitudinal axis and the portion of the sidewall of the cyclone casing is straight in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cyclone chamber has a longitudinal axis and the sidewall of the cyclone casing is straight in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the transition member is curved.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the separated material outlet is provided in the transition member.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the separated material collection chamber is round.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus 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.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid inlet is provided adjacent the lower end wall and the fluid outlet is provided at an upper portion of the cyclone chamber.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the fluid outlet extends downwardly through the cyclone chamber.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the cyclone chamber and the separated material collection chamber are concurrently openable.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the cyclone chamber, the fluid inlet and the separated material collection chamber are concurrently openable.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone chamber and the separated material collection chamber are concurrently openable.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein a lower end of the cyclone chamber and a lower end of the separated material collection chamber is openable.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid inlet is also openable.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone chamber, the fluid inlet and the separated material collection chamber are concurrently openable.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 16 wherein a lower end of the cyclone chamber, a lower end of the fluid inlet and a lower end of the separated material collection chamber is openable.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sidewall of the separated material collection chamber facing the sidewall of the second section of the cyclone casing is spaced therefrom by at least about 0.5 inches and the opposed surface of the separated material collection chamber facing the second end is spaced from the second end by at least about 0.5 inches.