Handheld cleaning appliance

• US 8,236,077 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Gomiciaga-Pereda, Ricardo, Peace, Michael James
• Primary Examiner(s): Greene, Jason M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Dung H
• Application Number:
  US12/307,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20090313959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 553/43, 55D/IG.3, 153/53
• US Class Current: 55/343
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 2009/002 with external filters
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/08 Vortex chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/10 with perforated walls
• 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: B04C 5/185 Dust collectors
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/26 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A handheld cleaning appliance includes a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet and separating apparatus for separating dirt and dust from an airflow in an airflow path leading from the air inlet to the air outlet. The separating apparatus includes a cyclonic separator having at least one first cyclone and a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel with one another and located downstream of the first cyclone. By providing a cyclonic separator having a plurality of second cyclones in parallel, the handheld cleaning appliance is capable of separating fine dirt and dust particles without using barriers such as filters or bags which need maintenance to ensure that performance remains high over a period of time.

Claims

1. A handheld cleaning appliance comprising a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, a handle, and a separating apparatus located in an airflow path leading from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet for separating dirt and dust from an airflow, the separating apparatus comprising a cyclonic separator having at least one first cyclone and a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel with one another and located downstream of the first cyclone, and the handle and the dirty air inlet being arranged opposite one another about the cyclonic separator wherein a single first cyclone is provided and wherein the second cyclones are spaced around a longitudinal axis of the first cyclone.

2. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis of the cyclonic separator lies substantially parallel to the handle.

3. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance further comprises a power source comprising a battery.

4. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the handle and the dirty air inlet are arranged on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the cyclonic separator.

5. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 1, comprising a main body which houses a motor and fan unit for drawing air flow along the airflow path between the dirty air inlet and the clean air outlet, and a power source configured to power the motor and fan unit.

6. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 1 or 2, wherein the cyclonic separator lies in a generally upright configuration.

7. The handheld cleaning appliance of claims 1 or 2, wherein each of the second cyclones has an end which projects into the first cyclone.

8. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 7, wherein the dirty air inlet is connected to the cyclonic separator at a location which is adjacent the ends of the second cyclones which project into the first cyclone.

9. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 7, wherein the cyclonic separator lies in a generally upright configuration.

10. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 1 or 2, wherein the cyclonic separator has a first end and a second end and the dirty air inlet is connected to the cyclonic separator at a location intermediate the first and second ends thereof.

11. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 10, wherein the dirty air inlet is connected to the cyclonic separator at a location which is adjacent ends of the second cyclones which project into the first cyclone.

12. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 10, wherein a single first cyclone is provided.

13. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 12, wherein the second cyclones are spaced around a longitudinal axis of the first cyclone.

14. The handheld cleaning appliance of claim 10, wherein the cyclonic separator lies in a generally upright configuration.