CYCLONIC SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS WITH SEQUENTIAL FILTRATION MEMBERS

• US 20110146024A1
• Filed: 08/27/2008
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Application Number:
  US12/675,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20110146024A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• 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 9/20 Means for cleaning filters
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/342 comprising at least a single wire, e.g. in the form of a winding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3432 comprising several wires, e.g. in the form of several independent windings B29C65/3436, B29C65/344 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3476 being metallic
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12441 being a single wall
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1312 Single flange to flange joints, the parts to be joined being rigid the parts to be joined being flexible B29C66/133
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/244 said joint lines being non-straight, e.g. forming non-closed contours
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/949 characterised by specific time values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 : PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 : PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2055/02 : ABS polymers, i.e. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2069/00 : Use of PC, i.e. polycarbonates or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3481 : Housings or casings incorporating or embedding electric or electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7406 : Sponges; Cleaning equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/749 : Motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1158 : Electromagnetic radiation applied to work for delamination [e.g., microwave, uv, ir, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/17 : Three or more coplanar interfitted sections with securing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/19 : Sheets or webs edge spliced or joined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24488 : Differential nonuniformity at margin

Abstract

A cyclonic surface cleaning apparatus incorporates a series of sequential physical filtration members to progressively remove smaller particulate matter whereby the physical filtration members collectively have a longer in use time prior to being clogged, thereby permitting a longer operating time prior to the cleaning or replacement of the physical filtration members.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet downstream, a fluid flow passage extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet,

(b) a suction motor provided in the fluid flow passage;

(c) a filtration apparatus downstream from the dirty air inlet and comprising a cyclone having a cyclone outlet,

(d) a foam filter downstream from the cyclone outlet;

(e) a felt filter downstream from the foam filter; and

,

(f) a HEPA filter downstream from the felt filter.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a screen downstream from the cyclone outlet and upstream from the foam filter.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the screen comprises an open wire mesh.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone outlet comprises a vortex finder and the vortex finder has an upstream end in the cyclone and the upstream end is unobstructed.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone outlet has a shroud.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the shroud comprises an apertured end of the cyclone outlet.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction motor is downstream from the HEPA filter.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction motor is upstream from the HEPA filter.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the screen is mounted in a housing having an outer wall that is transparent.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the outer wall is openable.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the foam filter, the felt filter and the HEPA filter are removably mounted in the surface cleaning apparatus.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the foam filter, the felt filter and the HEPA filter are removable as a unit.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein each layer of physical filtration media is selected to remove a particular size range of particles that is larger then that of the next downstream layer of filtration material.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone has a separation efficiency for IEC dirt of 98% of particles that are from 3 to 5 microns and at least 96.5% of particles that are from 1-2 microns.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein the foam has separation efficiency of 70-85% of particles that are 1-2 microns and 30-50% of particles that are 0.3-0.9 microns.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein the felt has a separation efficiency of 70-85% of particles that are 0.5-0.9 microns and 30-50% of particles that are 0.3 microns.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the felt has a separation efficiency of 70-85% of particles that are 0.5-0.9 microns and 30-50% of particles that are 0.3 microns.