Cyclone chamber with vortex shield

• US 8,152,883 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prime Sourcing Limited
• Original Assignee: Prime Sourcing Limited
• Inventors: Lee, Yiu-Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Greene, Jason M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Dung H
• Application Number:
  US12/747,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20100263341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 553/37, 55D/IG.3, 554/47, 554/591, 554/28, 554/29, 554/13, 554/14, 554/24, 554/26, 153/52, 153/53
• US Class Current: 55/459.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1658 Construction of outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/103 Bodies or members, e.g. bulkheads, guides, in the vortex chamber cores B04C5/107
• 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 chamber for a vacuum cleaner includes a cylindrical wall defining an internal cavity. An inlet port extends tangentially from the wall such that air entering the cavity via the inlet port causes a cyclonic flow to develop within the chamber. An exit tube extends axially from the chamber and has a flared opening presented into the chamber. A vortex shield is centered axially within the chamber adjacent to the opening and extends radially from the opening toward the wall. The vortex shield forms a barrier to prevent in the most part, large but light weight particles, carpet fibers and the like from escaping into the exit tube.

Claims

1. A cyclone chamber for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical wall defining an internal cavity;

an inlet port extending substantially tangentially from the wall such that air entering the cavity via the inlet port will cause a cyclonic flow within the chamber;

an exit tube extending substantially axially from the chamber and comprising an opening presented into the chamber; and

a vortex shield centred substantially axially within the chamber adjacent to the opening and extending from the opening toward the wall wherein the vortex shield comprises a substantially circular barrier having a substantially frustoconical skirt extending therefrom.

2. The cyclone chamber of claim 1, wherein the exit tube opening is flared toward the wall of the chamber and together with the skirt defines a convergent annulus via which air from the chamber enters the exit tube.

3. The cyclone chamber of claim 1, wherein the exit tube opening is flared toward the wall of the chamber.

4. The cyclone chamber of claim 3, wherein the flared opening is surrounded by a substantially cylindrical face defining together with a portion of the chamber wall an entry annulus at which the inlet port enters the chamber.