Two-stage particle separator for vacuum cleaners

• US 6,428,589 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Younger, Victor R., Bair, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US09/676,650
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 553/42, 553/45, 553/18, 553/92, 553/94, 553/96, 554/29, 554/39, 554/57, 55D/IG.3, 55D/IG.14, 153/50, 153/52, 153/53
• US Class Current: 55/318
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1633 Concentric cyclones
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/06 by reversal of direction of flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a housing and a nozzle in fluid communication with the housing. A suction source is held by the housing. The nozzle is in fluid communication with the suction source. A dust cup is selectively secured to the housing. The dust cup includes an inlet in fluid communication with the nozzle and a first inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from the inlet. A first dust containing chamber is located adjacent the first inertial dust separation stage for holding the dust separated by the first inertial dust separation stage. A second inertial dust separation stage is located downstream from the first inertial dust separation stage. A second dust containing chamber is located adjacent the second inertial dust separation stage for holding dust separated by the second inertial dust separation stage. An outlet is located downstream from the second inertial dust separation stage. The dust cup can be selectively removed from the housing for emptying.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing,

a nozzle in fluid communication with said housing;

a suction source held by said housing, said nozzle being in fluid communication with said suction source; and

a dust separation system communicating with said housing, said dust separation system comprising;

an inlet in fluid communication with said nozzle,

a first inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from said inlet, wherein said first stage causes a sudden change in a direction of air flow to separate dust from an air stream flowing through said first separation stage,

a second inertial dust separation stage located downstream from said first inertial dust separation stage,

a dust containing chamber located adjacent said first and second inertial dust separation stages for holding the dust separated by at least one of said first and second inertial dust separation stages, wherein said dust containing chamber comprises a dust cup and further comprising a lid which is selectively positioned on said dust cup, and

an outlet located downstream from said second inertial dust separation stage.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said first dust separation stage comprises:

an airflow channel;

a first dust outlet communicating with said airflow channel; and

a clean air outlet communicating with said air flow channel.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2 wherein said first separation stage further comprises a second dust outlet communicating with said air flow channel, said second dust outlet being located downstream from said first dust outlet.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2 wherein said clean air outlet of said first separation stage comprises a plurality of louvers separated by slots.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4 wherein an upstream edge of each of said plurality of louvers protrudes into said flow channel.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said second separation stage comprises:

a first tube having a lower end, wherein said first tube has a first diameter; and

a second tube having an upper end, wherein said second tube has a second diameter which is smaller than said first tube first diameter and wherein said second tube upper end protrudes into said first tube lower end forming an annular space therebetween.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said dust cup further comprises a base wall in which said outlet is defined.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 7 further comprising a securing element for selectively securing said base to said dust cup.

9. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing;

a dust separation system communicating with said housing, wherein said dust separation system comprises;

a dirty air inlet;

a first inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from said dirty air inlet, wherein said first dust separation stage includes a flow channel and a clean air outlet positioned in a wall of said flow channel to cause a rapid change in a direction of air flow,

a second inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from said first dust separation stage, wherein said second dust separation stage comprises a deflector,

a dust containing area which communicates with at least one of said first dust separation stage and said second dust separation stage, and

a clean air outlet located downstream from said second dust separation stage.

10. A vacuum cleaner of claim 9 wherein said deflector comprises:

a hub; and

a plurality of vanes radiating outwardly from said hub in circumferentially spaced orientations.

11. A vacuum cleaner of claim 9 wherein said first inertial dust separation stage further comprises a first dust outlet communicating with said flow channel.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein said first dust outlet is located downstream from said clean air outlet.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9 wherein said second inertial dust separation stage further comprises a first tube in which said deflector is positioned.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13 wherein said second inertial dust separation stage further comprises a second tube having a smaller diameter than a diameter of said first tube and wherein said second tube has an upper end which protrudes into a lower end of said first tube thereby forming an annular space therebetween.

15. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing;

a nozzle communicating with said housing; and

a dust separation system communicating with said housing, wherein said dust separation system comprises;

a dirty air inlet communicating with said nozzle,

a first inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from said dirty air inlet,

a first dust containing chamber communicating with said first dust separation stage for holding dust separated, by said first dust separation stage, from an air stream flowing through said dust separation system, wherein said first dust separation system comprises a flow channel and a clean air outlet located in a wall of said flow channel to cause a sudden change of direction of an air flow through said flow channel,

a second inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from said first inertial dust separation stage,

a second dust containing chamber communicating with said second inertial dust separation stage for holding dust separated by said second dust separation stage from the air stream flowing through said dust cup, and

an outlet located downstream from said second dust separation stage.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15 wherein said first inertial dust separation stage further comprises a first dust outlet communicating with said flow channel.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15 wherein said clean air outlet includes a plurality of louvers separated by slots.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15 wherein at least one of said first and second dust containing chambers are defined in a dust cup and further comprising a lid which is selectively secured to said dust cup.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 18 further comprising a securing element for selectively securing said dust cup to said housing.

20. The vacuum cleaner of claims 18 wherein said first inertial dust separation stage is defined by a housing selectively positioned on said dust cup.

21. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a main housing;

a nozzle communicating with said main housing;

a dust separation system selectively secured to said main housing, said dust separation system comprising;

a housing section comprising a first inertial dust separation stage which communicates with said nozzle and a second inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from said first inertial dust separation stage,

a dust cup having a side wall and an open top communicating with at least one of said first and second inertial dust separation stages, and

an outlet located in said dust cup, wherein said housing section is selectively mounted on said dust cup.

22. The vacuum cleaner of claim 21 further comprising a lid selectively mounted on said housing section.

23. The vacuum cleaner of claim 21 further comprising a base selectively mounted on said dust cup.

24. The vacuum cleaner of claim 23 wherein said outlet is located in said base.

25. The vacuum cleaner of claim 24 wherein said base comprises an outlet tube in which said outlet is defined.

26. The vacuum cleaner of claim 21 wherein said dust cup further comprises a central tube extending along an axis of said dust cup.

27. The vacuum cleaner of claim 21 further comprising:

a first tube extending downwardly from adjacent an upper end of said dust cup,

a second tube extending upwardly from adjacent a lower end of said dust cup,

wherein said first tube has a first diameter and said second tube has a second diameter which is smaller than said first diameter, wherein said first tube has a lower end which covers an upper end of said second tube, and an annular space defined between said first tube lower end and said second tube upper end.