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

• US 7,770,256 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Fester, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III; Joseph J
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANIEL, JAMAL D
• Application Number:
  US10/908,177
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 153/53, 153/20, 153/23, 153/46, 153/52, 15D/IG.8, 154/11, 153/63, 553/37, 553/45
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner with a first cyclonic dirt separation and a secondary cyclonic dirt separation and a bottom dirt-collecting bin beneath the first cyclone separator and a filter beneath the dirt cup and between the dirt cup and a suction source inlet. The secondary cyclones oriented generally perpendicular to the first cyclone separator. A separator plate separates the cyclone separator from the dirt cup. Fins project from a sidewall of the dirt tank, and fingers projecting from a bottom wall of the dirt tank. A hollow standpipe in the dirt cup transports working air from the cyclone separator outlet to the filter.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing defining a first cyclonic airflow chamber for separating contaminants from a dirt-containing airstream as it travels about a first cyclonic axis in the first cyclonic airflow chamber, said housing further comprising a cyclonic chamber inlet and an airstream outlet in fluid communication with said cyclonic airflow chamber;

a nozzle housing including a suction opening, said suction opening being fluidly connected with said cyclonic chamber inlet;

an airstream suction source fluidly connected to said suction opening and to the first cyclonic airflow chamber for transporting dirt-containing air from the suction opening to the cyclonic airflow chamber, said suction source is adapted to establish and maintain a dirt-containing airstream from said suction opening through said first cyclonic airflow chamber inlet and to a first cyclonic airflow chamber outlet;

a dirt-collecting bin mounted to the housing beneath said first cyclonic airflow chamber, the dirt-collecting bin comprising a bottom wall, a sidewall, and an open top;

a plurality of secondary cyclones arranged around the first cyclonic axis, wherein each secondary cyclone comprises;

an inlet opening in fluid communication with the first cyclonic airflow chamber outlet;

a debris outlet positioned radially inward of the inlet opening; and

a second cyclonic axis that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first cyclonic axis; and

a secondary debris collector in communication with the debris outlets of the secondary cyclones.

2. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, and further comprising a centrally located hollow standpipe that extends through the dirt-collecting bin and that forms the airstream outlet, wherein the secondary debris collector is mounted to the standpipe.

3. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein each secondary cyclone has an outlet opening in communication with the standpipe.

4. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 wherein the standpipe also extends through the first cyclonic chamber.

5. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 wherein an annular wall surrounds the standpipe and extends through first cyclonic chamber to define, with the standpipe, a debris passage between the debris outlets of the secondary cyclones and the secondary debris collector.

6. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the secondary debris collector has a frustoconical shape.

7. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 and further comprising a cylindrical baffle between the first cyclonic chamber and the inlet openings of the secondary cyclones.

8. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 and further comprising a separator plate mounted to the housing between first cyclonic chamber and the dirt-collecting bin with an annular space between a side wall of first cyclonic chamber and an outer edge of separator plate for passage of debris separated from the airstream in the first cyclonic chamber.

9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 and further comprising a filter downstream from the airstream outlet.

10. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 wherein the filter is upstream of the airstream suction source.

11. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 wherein the filter is cylindrical.

12. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 wherein the dirt-collecting bin is removable from the first cyclonic chamber, and the filter is removable with dirt-collecting bin.

13. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein there are between four and sixteen secondary cyclones.

14. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the secondary debris collector is in the dirt-collecting bin.

15. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the secondary debris collector has an open top.

16. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 15 wherein the dirt-collecting bin is separable from the first cyclonic chamber for dumping of the dirt-collecting bin and the secondary debris collector at the same time.

17. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 16 wherein the open top is covered by a removable lid.

18. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 17 wherein the removable lid is mounted to the housing.

19. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 18 wherein the removable lid is mounted to an annular wall that is mounted to the housing and extends through the first cyclonic chamber.

20. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the secondary cyclones are frusto-conical in shape.

21. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the secondary debris collector has a frustoconical shape.