Vacuum cleaning apparatus

• US 5,160,356 A
• Filed: 05/15/1991
• Issued: 11/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Notetry Limited
• Inventors: Dyson, James
• Primary Examiner(s): SPITZER, ROBERT H
• Application Number:
  US07/702,101
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 15/331, 15/334, 15/335, 15/353, 55/345, 55/357, 55/429, 55/436, 55/439, 55/459.1, 55/474, 55/DIG. 3, 209/144, 210/512.1, 210/512.2
• US Class Current: 55/345
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1633 Concentric cyclones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus including cyclones (11, 52, 81, 107) connected to a uniquely configured receiving chamber (12, 53, 99, 112) is described. The chamber has a diameter furthest from the cone opening (32, 75, 98, 118) at least 3 times the diameter of the cone opening such that dirt is not re-entrained from the chamber. Also described is an apparatus with a sealing member (33, 76, 100, 117) between the receiving chamber and cyclone which provides a seal during air flow and which allows separation of the chamber and cyclone for dirt removal. Also described is a ring second sealing member (34, 104) around an open portion of the receiving chamber which allows removal of the chamber from an outer container (10, 80) to facilitate emptying dirt.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus which consists essentially of:

(1) a circular cross-sectioned cyclone with a longitudinal axis comprising an air inlet at an upper end thereof, an interior dirt rotational wall of frusto-conical shape for receiving an airflow from the air inlet and maintaining its velocity to a cone opening smaller in diameter than the upper end of the cyclone, an outer wall and a cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the cyclone adjacent to the upper end of the cyclone; and

(b) a closed dirt receiving and collecting chamber connected to a portion of the outer wall of the cyclone wherein a cylindrical member, as a first portion of the receiving chamber is provided between the outer wall of the cyclone and a second portion of the receiving chamber, with a flexible seal positioned between the outer wall of the cyclone and the cylindrical member wherein the second portion of the receiving chamber provides a second, inverted cyclone around the axis having a frusto-conical shape increasing in diameter away from the cone opening and the cyclone with a minimum diameter of the second portion of the receiving chamber furthest from the cone opening of 3 times the diameter of the cone opening so that the airflow in the cyclone is in airflow communication with the receiving chamber through the cone opening for depositing dirt in the second portion of the receiving chamber by setting up a swirling, cyclonic flow of air in the second inverted cyclone of the second portion of the receiving chamber for retaining the separated dirt in the second portion of the receiving chamber by centrifugal forces before the cleaned airflow exits the receiving chamber through the cone opening and exits the cyclone through the cyclone air outlet, and wherein a bottom of the receiving chamber is provided where the separated dirt collects in the receiving chamber wherein an airflow is generated in the apparatus by a means for generating the airflow, the air passes sequentially through the air inlet, the cyclone, the receiving chamber including the second, inverted cyclone, the cone opening and the cyclone air outlet, the airflow rotating around the interior wall of the cyclone and the second cyclone of the receiving chamber and depositing the dirt in the receiving chamber and wherein the flexible seal allows the cyclone to be separated from the receiving chamber for dirt removal and then resealing.

2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the seal is a flexible tapered seal provided between the cylindrical portion and a frusto-conical portion of the outer wall of the cyclone.

3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tapered seal is composed of a series of concentric rings having a frusto-conical shape slightly smaller than the frusto-conical portion of the outer wall of the inner cyclone to provide the seal.

4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein an air deflector is mounted in the receiving chamber opposite the cone opening of the cyclone along the axis.

5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical member is secured to the outer wall of the cyclone and wherein the seal is adjacent to the tapered inner wall of the receiving chamber.

6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical portion is secured to the outer wall of the cyclone and wherein the seal is adjacent to the tapered inner wall of the receiving chamber.

7. A cleaning apparatus which consists essentially of:

(a) a circular cross-sectioned cyclone with a longitudinal axis comprising an air inlet at an upper end thereof, an interior dirt rotational wall of frusto-conical shape for receiving an airflow from the air inlet and maintaining its velocity to a cone opening, smaller in diameter than the upper end of the cyclone, an outer wall and a cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the cyclone adjacent to the upper end of the cyclone;

(b) a closed dirt receiving and collecting chamber connected to a portion of the outer wall of the cyclone, wherein a cylindrical member is provided between the outer wall of the cyclone and the receiving chamber with a flexible seal positioned between the outer wall of the cyclone, the cylindrical member as a first portion of the receiving chamber and a second portion of the receiving chamber, wherein the second portion of the receiving chamber provides a second, inverted cyclone around the axis having a frusto-conical shape increasing in diameter away from the cone opening and the cyclone with a minimum diameter of the second portion of the receiving chamber, furthest from the cone opening of 3 times the diameter of the cone opening so that the airflow in the cyclone is in airflow communication with the receiving chamber through the cone opening for depositing dirt in the second portion of the receiving chamber by setting up a swirling, cyclonic flow of air in the second inverted cyclone of the second portion of the receiving chamber for retaining the separated dirt in the second portion of the receiving chamber by centrifugal forces before the cleaned airflow exits the receiving chamber through the cone opening and exits the cyclone through the cyclone air outlet and wherein a bottom of the receiving chamber is provided having a surface that is essentially perpendicular to the axis and is where the separated dirt collects in the receiving chamber; and

(c) means for generating an airflow which passes sequentially through the air inlet, the cyclone, the receiving chamber including the second cyclone, the cone opening and the cyclone air outlet, the airflow rotating around the interior wall of the cyclone and the second cyclone of the receiving chamber and depositing the dirt in the receiving chamber and wherein the flexible seal allows the cyclone to be separated from the cylindrical member and the receiving chamber for dirt removal and then resealing.