CYCLONIC VACUUM CLEANER WITH IMPROVED COLLECTION CHAMBER

• US 20090300874A1
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Griffith, Aaron P., Tran, Phong H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,499,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1633 Concentric cyclones
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1658 Construction of outlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/12 by centrifugal forces centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/16 generated by the winding course of the gas stream , the centrifugal forces being generated solely or partly by mechanical means, e.g. fixed swirl vanes
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/185 Dust collectors

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner with a cyclone module assembly comprises a cyclone separation chamber for separating dust and debris from air and a collection chamber for collecting dust and debris that is separated from the air in the cyclone separation chamber. The cyclone module assembly further includes at least one feature for directing contaminants downwardly, such as a circumferential fin that extends from the inside wall of the collection chamber or a helical step dividing the separation chamber from the collection chamber.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a cyclone separator having at least one separator chamber for separating contaminants from a dirt-containing airstream, and further comprising an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the separator chamber;

a collection chamber associated with the cyclone separator for receiving contaminants separated in the separator chamber and having a sidewall and a bottom wall;

a suction nozzle fluidly connected with the inlet; and

a suction source fluidly connected to the suction nozzle and to the separator chamber for establishing and maintaining a dirt-containing airstream from the suction nozzle to the inlet;

wherein the collection chamber further comprises at least one circumferential fin extending inwardly from the sidewall.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the at least one fin has a helical trajectory to direct contaminants toward the bottom wall.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the at least one fin extends only partially around the circumference of the collection chamber and comprises a leading end and a trailing end that is vertically spaced below the leading end.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 wherein the trailing end is vertical spaced below the leading end a distance in the range of 0.125 to 2.0 inches.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 wherein the at least one fin has a length between 1.0 to 6.0 inches.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 wherein the at least one fin has a width between 0.125 to 1.0 inches.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the collection chamber comprises multiple partial circumferential fins extending inwardly from the sidewall.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 7 wherein the fins are laterally spaced from each other around the circumference of the collection chamber.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 wherein the fins are vertically staggered relative to each other.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the at least one fin extends radially in a perpendicular or horizontal or slightly upward direction from the sidewall toward the center of the collection chamber so that dust and debris does not accumulate under the at least one fin when the collection chamber is inverted for emptying.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, and further comprising a separator plate separating the separator chamber from the collection chamber, the separator plate defining a gap for passage of dirt separated from the dirt-containing airstream in the separator chamber whereby the passage of dirt through the gap is accompanied by airflow patterns having horizontal and vertical components between the gap at one side of the collection chamber and the bottom wall at an opposite side of the collection, which airflow tends to entrain dirt particles therein.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the at least one fin extends only partially around the circumference of the collection chamber and lies along a common horizontal plane.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12 wherein the collection chamber comprises multiple circumferential fins extending inwardly from the sidewall.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13 wherein the fins are laterally spaced from each other.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 14 wherein the fins are vertically staggered relative to each other.

16. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing having a sidewall and a bottom wall and defining a cyclonic separator chamber for separating contaminants from a dirt-containing airstream, the housing further comprising an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the separator chamber, and a collection chamber for receiving contaminants separated in the separator chamber;

a suction nozzle fluidly connected with the inlet; and

a suction source fluidly connected to the suction nozzle and to the separator chamber for establishing and maintaining a dirt-containing airstream from the suction nozzle to the inlet;

wherein the sidewall comprises a helical step dividing the separator chamber from the collection chamber to direct contaminants toward the bottom wall.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 16 wherein the helical step is an inward step such that the sidewall in the region of the collection chamber has a larger circumference than that of the sidewall in the region of the separator chamber.

18. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 16 wherein the helical step extends around the circumference of the housing along an advancing trajectory.

19. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 16 wherein the housing further defines a second downstream cyclonic separation chamber and a second collection chamber for receiving contaminants separated in the second separation chamber.

20. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 16, and further comprising a separator plate separating the separator chamber from the collection chamber, the separator plate defining a gap for passage of dirt separated from the dirt-containing airstream in the separator chamber whereby the passage of dirt through the gap is accompanied by airflow patterns having horizontal and vertical components between the gap at one side of the collection chamber and the bottom wall at an opposite side of the collection, which airflow tends to entrain dirt particles therein.