Vacuum cleaner with multiple cyclonic dirt separators and bottom discharge dirt cup

• US 7,651,544 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Reed, Charles Jr., Fester, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US11/275,383
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 553/37, 553/43, 553/46, 553/49, 554/24, 554/29, 554/591, 55D/IG.3, 554/26
• US Class Current: 55/343
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/14 Construction of the underflow ducting; Apex constructions; Discharge arrangements ; discharge through sidewall provided with a few slits or perforations provided with a great number of slits or perforations B04C5/10
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/185 Dust collectors
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/26 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/28 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner comprises a cyclonic separator having a first cyclone and a plurality of downstream secondary cyclones. The first cyclone comprises a side wall defining a first cyclonic chamber, and the secondary cyclones each comprise a side wall defining a second cyclonic chamber. A dirt cup assembly is mounted below the cyclonic separator to collect contaminants separated in the first and second cyclonic chambers. The secondary cyclones can be arranged around the first cyclone side wall and form a gap between adjacent secondary cyclones so that the first cyclone side wall is exposed at the gap. A working air conduit can extend through the first cyclone and the dirt cup assembly to couple the secondary cyclones to a suction source located below the dirt cup assembly. Furthermore, the secondary cyclones can have a vortex stabilizer.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a cyclonic separator comprising;

a first cyclone having a side wall defining a first cyclonic chamber for separating contaminants from an air stream as the air stream travels about the first cyclonic chamber from an air inlet to an air outlet; and

a plurality of secondary cyclones downstream from the first cyclone, each of the secondary cyclones having a side wall defining a second cyclonic chamber for further separating contaminants from the air stream as the air stream travels about the second cyclonic chamber from an air inlet to an air outlet, and at least one of the secondary cyclones has a vortex stabilizer; and

a nozzle housing including a suction opening coupled with the air inlet of the first cyclonic chamber; and

a suction source coupled to the suction opening and to the first and second cyclonic chambers and adapted to establish and maintain the air stream from the suction opening, through the first cyclonic airflow chamber, and through the second cyclonic airflow chambers.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein all of the secondary cyclones have a vortex stabilizer.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary cyclone is frustoconical.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the vortex stabilizer is located at a bottom portion of the at least one secondary cyclone.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the vortex stabilizer comprises a stabilizer plate.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the at least one secondary cyclone further comprises a debris outlet formed in the side wall of the at least one secondary cyclone adjacent to the stabilizer plate.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the air inlet and air outlet of the at least one secondary cyclone are located at an upper portion of the at least one secondary cyclone, and the debris outlet is located at a bottom portion of the at least one secondary cyclone.