Vacuum cleaner having a cyclone dust collecting device

• US 6,195,835 B1
• Filed: 09/02/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Se-wook, Kim, Hyun-eung, Joung, Jin-seul, Song, Jeong-gon
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Sr., Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/388,532
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 153/271, 153/52, 153/53, 153/50, 554/591, 55D/IG.3
• US Class Current: 15/327.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/104 Means for intercepting small objects
• 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 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having a cyclone dust collecting device for separating and collecting dust and dirt of a comparatively large particle size sucked from a suction opening of the cleaner by centrifugal force. The cyclone dust collecting device is biaxially placed against the extension pipe of the cleaner and includes a cyclone body having first and second connecting tubes connected to the extension pipe and a dirt collecting tub connected to the cyclone body to be removable. The cyclone body has an air inlet communicating with the first connecting tube and an air outlet communicating with the second connecting tube. The dirt-containing air sucked via the suction opening enters via the air inlet in a slanting direction against the cyclone body, thereby producing a whirlpool air current inside of the cyclone body. The dirt contained in the air is separated from the air by centrifugal force and is collected at the dirt collecting tub. A dirt separating grill having a plurality of holes is formed at the air outlet of the cyclone body to prevent the dust from flowing backward via the air outlet together with the air. Thereby, the dirt sucked together with the suction air is primarily collected by the cyclone dust connecting device, thus extending the period of time before replacing the paper filter. Further, it is possible to remove the collected dirt without completely separating the cyclone dust collecting device from the extension pipe.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a main body of said vacuum cleaner;

an extension pipe connecting said main body with a suction opening for receiving dirt suctioned for passage into said extension pipe; and

a cyclone dust collecting device positioned in a different axis with respect to said extension pipe so as to receive the dirt suctioned through said suction opening and through said extension pipe of said vacuum cleaner, said cyclone dust collecting device comprising;

a cyclone body having a first connecting tube connected to said extension pipe from a side of said extension pipe closer to said suction opening, a second connecting tube connected to said extension pipe from a side of said extension pipe closer to said main body, an air inlet formed at one side of said cyclone body to communicate with said first connecting tube, and an air outlet formed at an opposite side of said cyclone body to communicate with said second connecting tube, said cyclone body for producing a whirlpool air current for the dirt contained in air suctioned via said air inlet;

a dirt separating grill having a plurality of holes of a size for preventing the dirt of a predetermined particle size from flowing through said air outlet, said dirt separating grill being positioned within said cyclone dust collecting device so as to extend within said cyclone dust collecting device in a direction from said air outlet;

a dirt collecting tub for connection to said cyclone body, said dirt collecting tub for collecting the dirt separated from the air by the whirlpool air current of said cyclone body; and

locking means for removably supporting said dirt collecting tub with respect to said cyclone body.

2. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of said cyclone body including a lower body unit having said first connecting tube and said air inlet, an upper body unit having said second connecting tube and said air outlet, and a plurality of screws for connecting said lower body unit to said upper body unit.

3. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, further comprised of said locking means comprising:

a pair of suspension holes respectively formed in opposing relation in said lower body unit;

a pair of lockers each having a hook, said pair of lockers being respectively hinged to a pair of locker supporting units respectively positioned on said dirt collecting tub, each said hook for being hooked in a corresponding suspension hole of said pair of suspension holes; and

a spring disposed between a corresponding locker of said pair of lockers and a corresponding locker supporting unit of said pair of locker supporting units, said spring for elastically supporting a corresponding said locker.

4. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of said dirt separating grill comprising a grill guide unit having a rib groove in which a curve rib for defining a boundary of said air outlet in said cyclone body is inserted, a conical grill unit having a hollow interior, and a cylindrical grill unit having a closed end opposite an end of said cylindrical grill unit that is adjacent to said conical grill unit, said plurality of holes of said size being formed in a portion of said dirt separating grill near said air inlet in said conical grill unit and in a circumferential surface of said cylindrical grill unit.

5. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of a dirt blocking means being disposed at one end of said dirt separating grill to block the dirt in the air in an air current in said dirt collecting tub before the dirt reaches said dirt separating grill.

6. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, further comprised of said dirt blocking means comprising a dirt blocking plate adjacent to said one end of said dirt separating grill and a conical shaped portion adjacent to said dirt blocking plate, said conical shaped portion having a diameter at one end of said conical shaped portion which is greater than a diameter at an opposite end of said conical shaped portion that is adjacent to said dirt blocking plate.

7. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 6, further comprised of a supplemental blocking member for supplementing the operation of said dirt blocking plate being positioned as an extension unit of said dirt blocking means at said one end of said conical shaped portion of said dirt blocking means.

8. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, further comprised of said dirt blocking means comprising a conical dirt blocking rotation plate disposed at said one end of said dirt separating grill, said conical dirt blocking rotation plate being rotated by the whirlpool air current.

9. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 8, further comprised of a supplemental blocking member for supplementing the operation of said conical dirt blocking rotation plate being positioned as an extension unit of said conical dirt blocking rotation plate.

10. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of a supporting unit for supporting said dirt collecting tub by said extension pipe, and a fixing ring having a slide groove into which said supporting unit is inserted, said fixing ring being disposed at said extension pipe of said vacuum cleaner.

11. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, further comprised of said supporting unit including a fixing projection having a suspension jaw which is fixed by being inserted into said slide groove of said fixing ring, and including a guide projection which is formed adjacent to said fixing projection for guiding the insertion of said fixing projection into said slide groove.

12. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, further comprised of said dirt collecting tub being formed in a cylindrical shape with a predetermined diameter.

13. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, further comprised of said dirt collecting tub being formed in a cylindrical shape, said dirt collecting tub having a portion of a first diameter and another portion of a second diameter, said first diameter being smaller than said second diameter.

14. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 10, further comprised of said dirt collecting tub comprising a first cylindrical unit having a predetermined diameter and a second cylindrical unit having a diameter greater than said predetermined diameter of said first cylindrical unit.

15. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 14, further comprised of said second cylindrical unit being formed in a conical shape.

16. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a cyclone dust collecting device arranged to be disposed in a different axis with respect to an extension pipe connecting a main body of the vacuum cleaner and a suction opening for the vacuum cleaner, said cyclone dust collecting device for separating and collecting dust and dirt which are suctioned via said suction opening together with air by centrifugal force, said cyclone dust collecting device comprising;

a cyclone body having a first connecting tube and a second connecting tube for connection to said extension pipe of the vacuum cleaner, an air inlet formed at one side of said cyclone body to communicate with said first connecting tube and an air outlet formed at an opposite side of said cyclone body to communicate with said second connecting tube, said cyclone body for producing a whirlpool air current;

a dirt collecting tub for connection to said cyclone body, said dirt collecting tub for collecting the dirt separated from the air by the whirlpool air current of said cyclone body;

a dirt separating grill extending within said cyclone dust collecting device in a direction from said air outlet, said dirt separating grill having a plurality of holes of a size for preventing the dirt of a predetermined particle size from flowing with the air into said air outlet;

dirt blocking means disposed at one end of said dirt separating grill to block dirt in the air in an air current in said dirt collecting tub before the dirt reaches said dirt separating grill; and

locking means for removably supporting said dirt collecting tub with respect to said cyclone body.

17. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16, further comprised of said cyclone body including a lower body unit having said first connecting tube and said air inlet, an upper body unit having said second connecting tube and said air outlet, and a plurality of screws for connecting said upper body unit to said lower body unit.

18. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 17, further comprised of said locking means comprising:

a pair of suspension holes respectively formed in opposing relation in said lower body unit;

a pair of lockers each having a hook, said pair of lockers being respectively hinged to a pair of locker supporting units respectively positioned on said dirt collecting tub, each said hook for being hooked in a corresponding suspension hole of said pair of suspension holes; and

a spring disposed between a corresponding locker of said pair of lockers and a corresponding locker supporting unit of said pair of locker supporting units, said spring for elastically supporting a corresponding said locker.

19. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16, further comprised of said dirt separating grill comprising a grill guide unit having a rib groove in which a curve rib for defining a boundary of said air outlet in said cyclone body is inserted, a conical grill unit having a hollow interior, and a cylindrical grill unit having a closed end opposite an end of said cylindrical grill unit that is adjacent to said conical grill unit, said plurality of holes of said size being formed in a portion of said dirt separating grill near said air inlet in said conical grill unit and in a circumferential surface of said cylindrical grill unit.

20. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16, further comprised of said dirt blocking means comprising a dirt blocking plate adjacent to said one end of said dirt separating grill and a conical shaped portion, said conical shaped portion having a diameter at one end of said conical shaped portion which is greater than a diameter at an opposite end of said conical shaped portion that is adjacent to said dirt blocking plate.

21. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 16, further comprised of a supporting unit for supporting said dirt collecting tub by said extension pipe, and a fixing ring having a slide groove into which said supporting unit is inserted, said fixing ring being disposed at said extension pipe of the vacuum cleaner.

22. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 21, further comprised of said supporting unit including a fixing projection having a suspension jaw which is fixed by being inserted into said slide groove of said fixing ring, and including a guide projection which is formed adjacent to said fixing projection for guiding the insertion of said fixing projection into said slide groove.