Cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner

• US 6,640,385 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ko, Jang-youn, Oh, Jang-keun
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/037,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20020088078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 153/52, 153/53, 554/29, 554/591, 55D/IG.3
• US Class Current: 15/352
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner includes a cyclone body and a separately removable contaminant receptacle. The cyclone body, which is fixed to a fan motor portion of a cleaner body, separates contaminants from the air that is drawn into the cleaner body. The cyclone body having a contaminant outlet, through which the contaminants are discharged. The contaminant receptacle is removably coupled to a lower side of the cyclone body and receiving the contaminants through a contaminant inlet that is aligned with the contaminant outlet of the cyclone body. Since the contaminant receptacle is removable independent of the cyclone body, it is smaller, lighter and easier for a user to handle.

Claims

1. A cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner having a cleaner housing body and a suction brush, the suction brush drawing air and contaminants into the cleaner housing body, the cyclone dust collecting apparatus comprising:

a cyclone chamber for separating the contaminants from the air drawn through the suction brush, the cyclone chamber being fixed to the cleaner housing body and having a contaminant outlet through which the contaminants are discharged; and

a contaminant receptacle removably coupled to a lower side of the cyclone chamber, the contaminant receptacle having a contaminant inlet aligned to engage with the contaminant outlet of the cyclone chamber, the contaminant outlet formed in a cylindrical wall of the chamber, the contaminant receptacle receiving contaminants that have been discharged from the cyclone chamber.

2. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyclone chamber further comprises:

a cyclone housing having a substantially cylindrical shape defining the cylindrical wall, a closed upper end and a closed lower end, the contaminant outlet formed adjacent to the lower end of the cyclone housing;

an air intake pipe for connecting to the suction brush, the air intake pipe directing the air from the suction brush in a tangential direction with respect to the cylindrical wall;

a grill extending from the upper end of the cyclone housing to the lower end, the grill having a plurality of fine holes formed in an outer surface; and

an air discharge pipe, one end being connected to the grill, the other end being connected to a fan motor portion in the cleaner housing body.

3. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contaminant receptacle has a contaminant disposal opening formed in a top surface thereof, the contaminant receptacle further including a contaminant receptacle cover for removably covering the contaminant disposal opening.

4. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the contaminant receptacle cover contacts the lower end of the cyclone chamber when the contaminant receptacle is coupled to the cyclone chamber.

5. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contaminant receptacle comprises a handle attached to an outer surface thereof.

6. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a vacuum cleaner housing body having a fan motor portion;

a suction brush coupled to the cleaner vacuum housing body, the suction brush drawing air and contaminants into the vacuum cleaner housing body; and

a cyclone dust collecting apparatus disposed in the vacuum cleaner housing body, the cyclone dust collecting apparatus including;

a cyclone chamber fixed to the fan motor portion of the cleaner housing body, the cyclone chamber separating the contaminants from the air and having a contaminant outlet formed in a substantially cylindrical wall of the chamber, through which the contaminants arc discharged; and

a contaminant receptacle removably coupled to a lower side of the cyclone chamber, the contaminant receptacle having a contaminant inlet aligned with the contaminant outlet of the cyclone chamber, the contaminant receptacle receiving the contaminants that have been discharged from the cyclone chamber.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the cyclone chamber further includes:

a cyclone housing defined by the substantially cylindrical, wall, a closed upper end and a closed lower end, the a contaminant outlet formed adjacent to the lower end of the cyclone housing;

an air intake pipe in communication with the suction brush, the air intake pipe directing air from the suction brush in a diagonal direction tangential to the cylindrical wall of the cyclone housing;

a grill extending from the upper end of the cyclone housing to the lower end, the grill having a plurality of fine holes formed in an outer surfaces; and

an air discharge pipe connecting the grill to the fan motor portion of the vacuum cleaner housing body.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the contaminant receptacle has a contaminant disposal opening formed in a top surface thereof, the contaminant receptacle further including a contaminant receptacle cover for removably covering the contaminant disposal opening.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the contaminant receptacle cover contacts the lower end of the cyclone chamber when the contaminant receptacle is coupled to the cyclone chamber.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the contaminant receptacle further includes a handle attached to an outer surface thereof.