Vacuum cleaner using centrifugal force dust collection to prevent filter blinding

• US 6,647,587 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2000
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Shin, Ito, Kouichi, Mori, Hiroshi, Kato, Tomonori, Kajikawa, Saburo, Ohara, Naoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/630,698
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 153/46, 153/50, 153/51, 153/52, 153/53, 55D/IG.3, 554/591
• US Class Current: 15/350
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/22 with rotary fans
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes an electric blower generating the suction force; a suction port body on which the suction force of the electric blower acts and which sucks in the dust on the surface to be cleaned; and a centrifugal force dust collection section to collect the dust from the suction port body. The electric blower includes a fan section and a low input type motor to drive the fan section.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

an electric blower for generating a suction force;

a suction port body for taking in dust on a surface to be cleaned;

a centrifugal force dust collection section to collect the dust from said suction port body, said centrifugal force dust collection section includes a suction air port coupled to said suction port body; and

a substantially conically-shaped filter to remove the dust flowing from said centrifugal force dust collection section into said electric blower, said filter being arranged such that a cross-sectional diameter of said filter decreases in a direction toward a bottom of said centrifugal force dust collection section;

wherein said electric blower comprises a fan section and a motor to drive said fan section,

wherein said suction air port is arranged and dimensioned so as to guide air tangentially into an inner peripheral surface of said centrifugal force dust collection section, and wherein said vacuum cleaner is configured such that air flows from said centrifugal force dust collection section to said filter without passing through a filter housing wall.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said motor is configured for power input of not larger than 300 W.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said motor is a DC motor.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said motor is driven by a battery.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein said battery is a chargeable battery.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein dust from the suction port body is introduced into the suction air port, said centrifugal force dust collection section further comprises an exhaust air port communicating with the suction side of the electric blower, wherein said filter covers the exhaust air port.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein said centrifugal force dust collection section includes a side wall, said suction air port is provided on the side wall of the centrifugal force dust collection section, and said exhaust air port is provided on an upper portion of said centrifugal force dust collection section.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein a lower end portion of said filter is positioned below the suction air port.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein a lower portion of said filter overlaps with a portion of the suction air port.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein a lower portion of said filter is positioned above the suction air port.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein a lower end portion of said filter is positioned below the suction air port.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein a lower portion of said filter is positioned at a same height as a portion of the suction air port.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising an exhaust air port, wherein the surface area of the filter is not smaller than the area of the exhaust air port.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a rotating brush which is driven by a motor or an air turbine is provided on said suction port body.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said suction air port is positioned off-center relative to a central axis of said centrifugal force dust collection section.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said suction air port is located closer to a top end of said centrifugal force dust collection section than a bottom end of said centrifugal force dust collection section.

17. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

an electric blower for generating a suction force;

a suction port body for taking in dust on the surface to be cleaned;

a centrifugal force dust collection section to collect the dust from said suction port body;

an exhaust air path to guide at least part of exhaust air of said electric blower to said suction port body; and

a suction air path for taking the dust from the suction port body to the centrifugal force dust collection section,

wherein said electric blower comprises a fan section and a motor to drive said fan section,

wherein the suction air path and the exhaust air path communicate with each other at the suction port body.

18. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein said motor is configured for power input of not larger than 200 W.

19. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein said motor is configured for power input of not larger than 300 W.

20. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, further comprising a filter to remove the dust flowing from said centrifugal force dust collection section into said electric blower.

21. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein said motor is a DC motor.

22. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein said motor is driven by a battery.

23. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 22, wherein said battery is a chargeable battery.

24. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein said centrifugal force dust collection section comprises a suction air port into which the dust from the suction port body is introduced, and an exhaust air port communicating with the suction side of the electric blower, and a filter to cover the exhaust air port is provided.

25. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 24, wherein said centrifugal force dust collection section includes a side wall, said suction air port is provided on the side wall of the centrifugal force dust collection section, and said exhaust air port is provided on an upper portion of said centrifugul force dust collection section.

26. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 25, wherein a lower portion of said filter is positioned above the suction air port.

27. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 25, wherein a lower end portion of said filter is positioned below the suction air port.

28. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 25, wherein a lower portion of said filter overlaps with a portion of the suction air port.

29. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 24, wherein a lower portion of said filter is positioned above the suction air port.

30. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 24, wherein a lower end portion of said filter is positioned below the suction air port.

31. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 24, wherein a lower portion of said filter overlaps with a portion of the suction air port.

32. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein said centrifugal force dust collection section comprises a dust box with a bottom provided with a suction air port, and a cover body covering an upper opening portion of said dust box and provided with an exhaust air port, and the upper opening portion is covered by a filter.

33. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein said centrifugal force dust collection section comprises a dust box with a bottom provided with a suction air port, and a cover body covering an upper opening portion of said dust box, and the cover body is provided with an exhaust air port, and a filter is provided on the cover body so as to cover the exhaust air port.

34. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein said centrifugal force dust collection section comprises a dust box with a bottom, and a cover body covering an upper opening portion of said dust box, and said cover body is provided with a suction air port and an exhaust air port, and a filter is provided on the cover body so as to cover the exhaust air port.

35. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, further comprising a filter and an exhaust air port, wherein the surface area of the filter is not smaller than the area of the exhaust air port.

36. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein a rotating brush which is driven by a motor or an air turbine is provided on said suction port body.

37. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 17, wherein said centrifugal force dust collection section includes a suction air port coupled to said suction port body, said suction air port is arranged and dimensioned so as to guide air tangentially into an inner peripheral surface of said centrifugal force dust collection section.

38. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 37, wherein said suction air port is positioned off-center relative to a central axis of said centrifugal force dust collection section.

39. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 37, wherein said suction air port is located closer to a top end of said centrifugal force dust collection section than a bottom end of said centrifugal force dust collection section.

40. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

an electric blower for generating a suction force;

a suction port body for taking in dust on a surface to be cleaned;

a centrifugal force dust collection section to collect the dust from said suction port body, said centrifugal force dust collection section includes a suction air port coupled to said suction port body; and

a substantially conically-shaped filter to remove the dust flowing from said centrifugal force dust collection section into said electric blower, said filter being arranged such that a cross-sectional diameter of said filter decreases in a direction toward a bottom of said centrifugal force dust collection section;

wherein said electric blower comprises a fan section and a motor to drive said fan section,

wherein said suction air port is arranged and dimensioned so as to guide air tangentially into an inner peripheral surface of said centrifugal force dust collection section, and wherein said centrifugal force dust collection section comprises a dust box provided with the suction air port, and a cover body covering an upper opening portion of said dust box and provided with an exhaust air port, and the upper opening portion is covered by said filter.

41. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

an electric blower for generating a suction force;

a suction port body for taking in dust on a surface to be cleaned;

a centrifugal force dust collection section to collect the dust from said suction port body, said centrifugal force dust collection section includes a suction air port coupled to said suction port body; and

a substantially conically-shaped filter to remove the dust flowing from said centrifugal force dust collection section into said electric blower, said filter being arranged such that a cross-sectional diameter of said filter decreases in a direction toward a bottom of said centrifugal force dust collection section;

wherein said electric blower comprises a fan section and a motor to drive said fan section, wherein said suction air port is arranged and dimensioned so as to guide air tangentially into an inner peripheral surface of said centrifugal force dust collection section, and wherein said centrifugal force dust collection section comprises a dust box provided with the suction air port, and a cover body covering an upper opening portion of said dust box, and the cover body is provided with an exhaust air port, and said filter is provided on the cover body so as to cover the exhaust air port.

42. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

an electric blower for generating a suction force;

a suction port body for taking in dust on a surface to be cleaned;

a centrifugal force dust collection section to collect the dust from said suction port body, said centrifugal force dust collection section includes a suction air port coupled to said suction port body; and

a substantially conically-shaped filter to remove the dust flowing from said centrifugal force dust collection section into said electric blower, said filter being arranged such that a cross-sectional diameter of said filter decreases in a direction toward a bottom of said centrifugal force dust collection section;

wherein said electric blower comprises a fan section and a motor to drive said fan section, wherein said suction air port is arranged and dimensioned so as to guide air tangentially into an inner peripheral surface of said centrifugal force dust collection section, and wherein said centrifugal force dust collection section comprises a dust box, and a cover body covering an upper opening portion of said dust box, and said cover body is provided with the suction air port and an exhaust air port, and said filter is provided on the cover body so as to cover the exhaust air port.

43. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

an electric blower for generating a suction force;

a suction port body for taking in dust on a surface to be cleaned;

a centrifugal force dust collection section to collect the dust from said suction port body, said centrifugal force dust collection section includes a suction air port coupled to said suction port body; and

a substantially conically-shaped filter to remove the dust flowing from said centrifugal force dust collection section into said electric blower, said filter being arranged such that a cross-sectional diameter of said filter decreases in a direction toward a bottom of said centrifugal force dust collection section;

wherein said electric blower comprises a fan section and a motor to drive said fan section,

wherein said suction air port is arranged and dimensioned so as to guide air tangentially into an inner peripheral surface of said centrifugal force dust collection section,

wherein dust from the suction port body is introduced into the suction air port, said centrifugal force dust collection section further comprises an exhaust air port communicating with the suction side of the electric blower, wherein said filter covers the exhaust air port,

wherein said centrifugal force dust collection section includes a side wall, said suction air port is provided on the side wall of the centrifugal force dust collection section, and said exhaust air port is provided on an upper portion of said centrifugal force dust collection section, and wherein a lower portion of said filter is positioned above the suction air port.