Cyclonic vacuum cleaner

• US 6,625,845 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Masahiro, Ota, Hiroshi, Matsumoto, Yukimichi, Ninomiya, Kouji, Tujii, Takayuki, Kimura, Kenji, Onishi, Yuji, Hayashi, Kazumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/814,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20010025395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 153/52, 153/53, 552/89, 552/95, 553/04, 553/05, 553/37, 554/28, 554/29, 55D/IG.3
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/108 Dust compression means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/20 Means for cleaning filters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

In an electric vacuum cleaner, in a suction air passage provided between a nozzle unit having a nozzle and an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a separator for separating dust from the suction air flow is arranged. In the separator, a dust collection chamber for collecting the separated dust is provided. The separator is fitted with an exhaust tube having an outlet, fitted with a filter, formed in the peripheral surface thereof so that the suction air flow is exhausted out of the separator through the exhaust tube to the downstream side of the suction air passage. The separator is fitted with a cleaning member having a brush for cleaning the filter. When the cleaning member is moved with the brush keeping contact with the filter, the dust that has settled on the filter is raked off. The cleaning member is moved through manual operation, with a motor, or by the suction air flow.

Claims

1. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:

a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a cyclone dust collector arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow by turning the suction air flow that flows into the cyclone dust collector into a whirling air flow,

the cyclone dust collector is provided with a removable exhaust tube that permits the suction air flow to flow to a downstream side of the suction air passage,

the exhaust tube has an outlet formed in a peripheral surface thereof, and the outlet is fitted with a filter for removing dust,

cleaning means for cleaning the filter and capable to be operated manually, and

a dish-shaped member fitted on an end surface of the exhaust tube and having a gap for collecting dust between itself and the peripheral surface of the exhaust tube.

2. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:

a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a cyclone dust collector arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow by turning the suction air flow that flows into the cyclone dust collector into a whirling air flow,

the cyclone dust collector is provided with a removable exhaust tube that permits the suction air flow to flow to a downstream side of the suction air passage,

the exhaust tube has an outlet formed in a peripheral surface thereof, and the outlet is fitted with a filter for removing dust,

cleaning means for cleaning the filter and capable to be operated manually, and

a cleaning cup that is fitted around the exhaust tube to prevent dust removed from the filter from being scattered when the filter is cleaned by the cleaning means.

3. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:

a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a cyclone dust collector arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow by turning the suction air flow that flows into the cyclone dust collector into a whirling air flow,

the cyclone dust collector is provided with a removable exhaust tube that permits the suction air flow to flow to a downstream side of the suction air passage,

the exhaust tube has an outlet formed in a peripheral surface thereof, and the outlet is fitted with a filter for removing dust,

cleaning means for cleaning the filter and capable to be operated manually, and

a movable member coupled to the cleaning means and operated manually; and

loading means for keeping the movable member pressed in a predetermined direction.

4. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:

a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a cyclone dust collector arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow by turning the suction air flow that flows into the cyclone dust collector into a whirling air flow,

the cyclone dust collector is provided with a dust collection chamber for collecting separated dust, and

the dust collection chamber is divided by a first compartment close to where the suction air flow enters the dust collection chamber and a second compartment farther from where the suction air flow enters the dust collection chamber with a partition wall having an opening and arranged along a direction in which the suction air flow whirls around,

wherein the opening of the partition wall has a slope portion formed so as to incline toward the second compartment the partition wall has a projection formed at substantially a center of a side thereof facing the second compartment.

5. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4,

wherein the partition wall has a projection formed at substantially a center of a side thereof facing the second compartment.

6. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4,

wherein, inside the second compartment, a projection is formed so as to obstruct the whirling air flow of the suction air flow.

7. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:

a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a separator arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow, further comprising;

a detachable dust collection chamber that communicates with the separator and in which separated dust is collected;

a filter through which the suction air flow from the separator passes to flow to a downstream side of the suction air passage; and

cleaning means that cleans the filter in a manner interlocked with movement of the dust collection chamber as the dust collection chamber is attached and detached from a suction air guide.

8. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a separator arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow, further comprising:

the separator being a detachable dust collection chamber in which the separated dust is collected;

an exhaust tube that has an outlet, fitted with a filter, formed in a peripheral surface thereof, that is inserted into the dust collection chamber through an opening formed in a wall of the dust collection chamber in such a way that the outlet is located inside the dust collection chamber, and that permits the suction air flow from the dust collection chamber to flow through the outlet to a downstream side of the suction air passage; and

cleaning means provided at a rim of the opening of the dust collection chamber for cleaning the filter.

9. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a separator arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow, further comprising:

a detachable dust collection chamber that functions as the separator and in which the separated dust is collected;

an exhaust tube that has an outlet, fitted with a filter, formed in a peripheral surface thereof, that is inserted into the dust collection chamber through an opening formed in a wall of the dust collection chamber in such a way that the outlet is located inside the dust collection chamber, and that permits the suction air flow from the dust collection chamber to flow through the outlet to a downstream side of the suction air passage,

cleaning means provided at a rim of the opening of the dust collection chamber for cleaning the filter,

wherein the exhaust tube is fixed in the suction air passage, the dust collection chamber is attached and detached from the vacuum cleaner by being moved along an axis of the exhaust tube, and the cleaning means cleans the filter as the dust collection chamber is attached and detached.

10. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

guiding means for guiding movement of the dust collection chamber when the dust collection chamber is attached and detached, the guiding means comprising;

a slit that extends along the axis of the exhaust tube;

a sliding member that slides inside the slit and to which the dust collection chamber is detachably attached; and

a locking member that engages with the sliding member at one end of the slit to keep the sliding member in a fixed position,

wherein the dust collection chamber is attached to the suction air passage when the sliding member is located at said one end of the slit and the dust collection chamber is detached from the suction air passage when the sliding member is located at another end of the slit.

11. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a separator arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow, further comprising:

a detachable dust collection chamber that functions as the separator and in which the separated dust is collected;

an exhaust tube that has an outlet, fitted with a filter, formed in a peripheral surface thereof, that is inserted into the dust collection chamber through an opening formed in a wall of the dust collection chamber in such a N way that the outlet is located inside the dust collection chamber, and that permits the suction air flow from the dust collection chamber to flow through the outlet to a downstream side of the suction air passage;

cleaning means provided at a rim of the opening of the dust collection chamber for cleaning the filter,

wherein the exhaust tube is freely detachable from the suction air passage, and is fitted to the dust collection chamber through engagement with a first engagement means.

12. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the cleaning means cleans the filter when the engagement realized by the first engagement means is released and the exhaust tube is pulled out of the dust collection chamber.

13. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 11,

wherein, on the downstream side of the suction air passage, a coupling pipe is provided, and the exhaust tube is fitted into the coupling pipe with a gasket fitted in between.

14. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the wall having the opening formed therein is detachable from a remaining portion of the dust collection chamber.

15. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the first engagement means consists of a first projection that extends from the peripheral surface of the exhaust tube perpendicularly to an axis of the exhaust tube and a first L-shaped cut formed in the wall so as to extend from an exterior surface of the wall first along the axis of the exhaust tube and then along a periphery of the exhaust tube.

16. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 15,

wherein the wall is fitted to a remaining portion of the dust collection chamber through engagement with second engagement means, and the second engagement means consists of a second projection that extends from a periphery of the wall perpendicularly to the axis of the exhaust tube and a second L-shaped cut formed in said remaining portion so as to extend from one end of said remaining portion first along the axis of the exhaust tube and then along the periphery of the exhaust tube.

17. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16,

wherein the first and second cuts are L-shaped in opposite directions.

18. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a cyclone dust collector arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow by turning the suction air flow that flows into the cyclone dust collector into a whirling airflow, further comprising:

compressing means for compressing dust collected inside the cyclone dust collector,

wherein the compressing means comprises an operation member located outside the cyclone dust collector and capable of being operated manually and a compressing member located inside the cyclone dust collector and interlocked with the operation member.

19. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a cyclone dust collector arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow by turning the suction air flow that flows into the cyclone dust collector into a whirling air flow, further comprising:

compressing means for compressing dust collected inside the cyclone dust collector, and

a work chamber that is located above the cyclone dust collector and through which the cyclone dust collector communicates with a downstream side of the dust suction passage,

wherein the compressing means comprises a float arranged inside the work chamber and kept pressed downward, a compressing member arranged inside the cyclone dust collector, and a coupling rod that couples the float and the compressing member together.

20. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

an exhaust tube that is arranged in the work chamber so as to reach into the cyclone dust collector and that has an outlet, fitted with a filter, formed in a peripheral surface thereof inside the cyclone dust collector so as to permit the suction air flow to flow from the cyclone dust collector through the outlet to the work chamber,

wherein the coupling rod is fitted into the exhaust tube.

21. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

cleaning means that is coupled to the float and which cleans the filter relative to movement of the float.

22. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a cyclone dust collector arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow by turning the suction air flow that flows into the cyclone dust collector into a whirling air flow,

wherein the cyclone dust collector comprises:

an exhaust tube having an outlet, fitted with a filter, formed in a peripheral surface thereof so as to permit the suction air flow to flow through the outlet to a downstream side of the suction air passage; and

cleaning means operatively connected to the vacuum cleaner that cleans the filter by using the force of the suction air flow that flows out of the exhaust tube.

23. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a cyclone dust collector arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow by turning the suction air flow that flows into the cyclone dust collector into a whirling air flow,

wherein the cyclone dust collector comprises:

an exhaust tube having an outlet, fitted with a filter, formed in a peripheral surface thereof so as to permit the suction air flow to flow through the outlet to a downstream side of the suction air passage; and

cleaning means operatively connected to the vacuum cleaner that cleans the filter by using the force of the suction air flow that is flowing out of the exhaust tube, and

a work chamber that is located above the cyclone dust collector, that communicates with the cyclone dust collector through the exhaust tube, and that communicates with the downstream side of the suction air passage.

24. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:

a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric air blower, and a separator arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow, further comprising;

a dust collection chamber that communicates with the separator and in which separated dust is collected;

an exhaust tube having an outlet, fitted with a filter, formed in a peripheral surface thereof so as to permit the suction air flow to flow from the separator through the outlet to a downstream side of the suction air passage; and

a cleaning member effective to move along the longitudinal axis of the exhaust tube while keeping contact with the filter and thereby cleans the filter.

25. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 24,

wherein the exhaust tube is substantially cylindrical in shape, and

the cleaning member rotates about the longitudinal axis of the exhaust tube.

26. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 24, further comprising:

a driving mechanism for moving the cleaning member.

27. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 26,

wherein the driving mechanism moves the cleaning member at a predetermined time.

28. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 26, further comprising:

a motor for supplying the driving mechanism with driving power with which to move the cleaning member.

29. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 26,

wherein the driving mechanism moves the cleaning member by using as driving power the suction air flow produced by the electric blower.

30. The electric vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 29, further comprising:

a control mechanism for controlling the suction air flow that the driving mechanism uses as driving power.

31. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:

a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a separator arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow, further comprising;

a dust collection chamber that communicates with the separator and in which separated dust is collected;

an exhaust tube having an outlet, fitted with a filter, formed in a peripheral surface thereof so as to permit the suction air flow to flow from the separator through the outlet to a downstream side of the suction air passage;

a cleaning member that moves while keeping contact with the filter and thereby cleans the filter, and

a loading member for keeping the cleaning member pressed along the axis of the exhaust tube,

wherein the dust collection chamber is detachable from the separator, and is attached thereto by moving the cleaning member against a force with which the cleaning member is kept pressed by the loading member.

32. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:

a nozzle unit having a nozzle, an electric blower for producing a suction air flow, a suction air passage running between the nozzle unit and the electric blower, and a separator arranged in the suction air passage for separating dust from the suction air flow, further comprising;

a dust collection chamber that communicates with the separator and in which separated dust is collected;

an exhaust tube having an outlet, fitted with a filter, formed in a peripheral surface thereof so as to permit the suction air flow to flow from the separator through the outlet to a downstream side of the suction air passage;

a cleaning member that moves while keeping contact with the filter and thereby cleans the filter, and

an operation member arranged outside the dust collection chamber effective to be manually operated; and

a coupling member for coupling the operation member and the cleaning chamber together.