Dust collection unit for vacuum cleaner

• US 7,485,164 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Young Ho, Hwang, Man Tae, Park, Min, Jeong, Hoi Kil, Hwang, Jung Bae
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US11/232,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20060137308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 553/43, 553/46, 553/37, 554/29, 55D/IG.3
• US Class Current: 55/337
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1658 Construction of outlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A dust collection unit for a vacuum cleaner includes a collection body having a plurality of filtering chambers different from each in a volume and a plurality of storing chambers storing foreign objects filtered in the filtering chambers, a bottom seal member defining a bottom of the collection body, and an exhaust member guiding airflow in the filtering chambers. The exhaust member contacts tops of the filtering chambers as well as an outer circumference of the collection body.

Claims

1. A dust collection unit for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a collection body having a first central filtering chamber for filtering foreign objects contained in air using a cyclone airflow and a plurality of second filtering chambers formed along an outer circumference of the first cylindrical filtering chamber to receive the air passed through the first cylindrical filtering chamber;

an exhaust member having an upper end contacting the second filtering chambers and an inner circumference contacting an outer circumference of the collection body; and

a seal member provided on a contacting surface between the second filtering chambers and the exhaust member, wherein the exhaust member includes air intake tubes and the seal member includes guide holes, and the guide holes are inserted around air intake tubes.

2. The dust collection unit according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is formed in a circular shape.

3. The dust collection unit according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is formed in a donut shape.

4. The dust collection unit according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is mounted on the collection body in a state where it is fixed on the exhaust member.

5. The dust collection unit according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust member is provided at an inner bottom surface with a seal groove having a shape identical to that defined by tops of the plurality of second filtering chambers.

6. The dust collection unit according to claim 1, further comprising a guide rib extending from an outer circumference of the collection body and contacting an inner circumference of the exhaust member.

7. The dust collection unit according to claim 6, wherein the guide rib is provided in plurality.

8. The dust collection unit according to claim 6, wherein an upper end of the guide rib is gently curved downward.

9. The dust collection unit according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust member contacts a guide rib extending from outer walls of the second filtering chambers.

10. The dust collection unit according to claim 1, wherein an air intake hole extends downward from the exhaust member and inserted into the second filtering chambers to exhaust the air out of the second filtering chambers.

11. A dust collection unit for an air cleaner, comprising:

a collection body provided with a plurality of foreign object filtering chambers;

an exhaust member provided on an upper portion of the collection body to guide the flow of the air exhausted from the foreign object filtering chambers; and

a guide rib formed on an outer surface of the collection body to contact an inner circumference of the exhaust member.

12. The dust collection unit according to claim 11, further comprising a seal member inserted in a contacting surface between the exhaust member and the collection body.

13. The dust collection unit according to claim 11, wherein the guide rib is integrally formed with the collection body.

14. The dust collection unit according to claim 11, wherein the guide rib is provided in plurality on the outer surface of the collection body.

15. The dust collection unit according to claim 11, wherein the foreign object filtering chambers include:

a first filtering chamber formed on a center portion of the collection body; and

a plurality of second filtering chambers formed around the first filtering chamber, a diameter of each second filtering chamber being less than that of the first filtering chamber.

16. The dust collection unit according to claim 11, wherein the exhaust member guides the air exhausted from the first filtering chamber to the second filtering chambers.

17. A dust collection unit for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a collection body defining a plurality of foreign object filtering chambers and foreign object storing chambers;

a filter disposed in one of the foreign object filtering chambers, the filter being formed of rigid plastic material;

an exhaust member provided above the collection body to guide the air exhausted from one of the foreign object filtering chambers;

a seal member inserted in a contacting surface between the exhaust member and the collection body;

a gap forming member provided above the exhaust member to provide a gap through which the air exhausted from the collection body is guided; and

chamber seal members sealing a lower side of the foreign object storing chambers.

18. The dust collection unit according to claim 17, wherein the exhaust member is provided at an inner bottom surface with a seal groove enhancing the seal efficiency.

19. The dust collection unit according to claim 17, further comprising a guide rib extending outward from the collection body and contacting the exhaust member.