Cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus for vacuum cleaner

• US 6,968,596 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Oh, Jang-keun, Lee, Hyun-ju, Jin, Hyoung-jong
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US10/277,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20030213091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 153/271, 153/272, 153/276, 153/277, 15350-353, 553/37, 554/26, 554/591, 555/05, 555/07, 55D/IG.3
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/104 Means for intercepting small objects
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/14 generated by rotating vanes, discs, drums or brushes
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/13 formed as a vortex finder and extending into the vortex chamber exits with bulkheads preventing reverse flow vortex B04C3/00; Discharge from vortex finder otherwise than at the top of the cyclone; Devices for controlling the overflow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner comprises a conically shaped grill assembly disposed at the air outflow port of a cyclone body. The grill assembly includes a grill portion and prevents reverse flow of dust and dirt from the cyclone body. The grill assembly members are easily separable to allow a user to easily remove the dirt collected in the grill portion by simply separating the second grill member from the connection member and washing the second grill member with water.

Claims

1. A cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a cyclone body comprising an air inflow port and an air outflow port for forming an air vortex of dust-laden air drawn into the air inflow port;

a dust-collecting receptacle removably connected to the cyclone body for separating dust and dirt from the air vortex of dust-laden air and for collecting the separated dust and dirt therein; and

a grill assembly disposed at the air outflow port of the cyclone body for preventing reverse flow of dust and dirt into the air outflow port of the cyclone body, the grill assembly further comprising;

a conically shaped first grill member having a first end and a second end that is smaller than said first end, said second end of said first grill member having a first connection groove, said first end coupled to the outflow port of the cyclone body;

a second grill member coupled to the second end of the first grill member, said second grill member having a grill portion that comprises a plurality of fine passage holes to provide fluid communication to the air outflow port and further having a second connection groove formed in an outer surface of the connection end of the second grill member; and

a connection member having a first connection protrusion shaped to accommodate the first connection groove and having a second connection protrusion shaped to accommodate the second connection groove by which the first grill member and the second grill member are separably connected to each other.

2. The cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection member is made from a flexible material, and wherein the second connection protrusion has a hemispherical shape are shaped in a semi-circle such that the second grill member is easily connectable to and separable from the connection member.

3. The cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the connection member has a first tapered portion formed on an outer surface thereof, the diameter of the first tapered portion gradually increasing in a direction away from the first connection protrusion, the first tapered portion providing for prevention of reverse flow of dirt into the outflow port.

4. The cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first tapered portion has an upper end and a lower end and is formed on an outer surface of the connection member such that the diameter of the first tapered portion gradually increases toward the lower end.

5. The cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the connection member has a second tapered portion formed on an inner surface thereof, the diameter of the second tapered portion gradually increasing in the direction away from the second connection protrusion, the second tapered portion providing for guiding the connection of the second grill member to the connection member.

6. The cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second tapered portion of the connection member having an upper end and a lower end is formed on an inner and lower side of the connection member such that the diameter along the upper end and the lower end of the second tapered portion gradually increases toward the lower end.

7. The cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second grill member includes an open part having a plurality of radially extending passage holes formed adjacent an upper side thereof and a closed part formed adjacent a lower side thereof, and further comprising a net attachable to the open part of the second grill member.

8. The cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grill assembly further comprises an air reverse flow prevention member connected to the second grill member for blocking the dust in the air current from ascending upwardly from the bottom of the dust-collecting receptacle.

9. The cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the air reverse flow prevention member further comprises:

a cylinder body having upper and lower supporters, each of which comprises at least two ribs, the cylinder body being inserted by interference fit into a lower side of the second grill member;

a shaft supported by the upper and lower supporters; and

a plate connected to an end of the shaft and separated from a lower end of the second grill member.

10. The cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cylinder body has a spiral guide formed therein for guiding movement of the air current.

11. The cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cylinder body and the plate are made of rubber.

12. The cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plate is conically shaped.

13. The cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyclone body has a guide member disposed at a sidewall of the air inflow port of the cyclone body, including a guide surface having a predetermined radius of curvature, for guiding movement of air drawn into the air inflow port to and for increasing the stability and directionality of the air vortex.

14. The cyclone-type dust-collecting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the radius of curvature of the guide surface is smaller than the radius of that portion of the cyclone body in which the air vortex is maintained.