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(11) | EP 1 676 517 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Apparatus for collecting dust and vacuum cleaner having the same |
| (57) An apparatus for collecting dust and vacuum cleaner having the same are disclosed,
by which dust collecting performance is enhanced. The present invention includes a
primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214) performing centrifugal separation to
collect the dust included in an air introduced via a first inlet (214a) provided to
an outer circumference of the primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214), an exhaust
member (217) provided within the primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214) wherein
a multitude of perforated holes are provided to a lateral side of the exhaust member
(217) to communicate with a first outlet (214b) of the primary cyclone dust collecting
part (212,214), and a guide rib (218) provided to the primary cyclone dust collecting
part (212,214) guiding the air introduced into the first inlet (214a) in a direction
tangential to an inner wall of the primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214)
to prevent the air from being directly introduced into the exhaust member (217), the
guide rib (218) making a prescribed angle with a tangential line at a point connected
to the primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214).
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[0001] This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No. P2005-0000445, filed on January 4, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for collecting dust in a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to an apparatus for collecting particles by a cyclonic principle.
Discussion of the Related Art
[0003] Generally, a vacuum cleaner is an appliance for cleaning a carpet, a normal room floor and the like. In the vacuum cleaner, polluted air containing particles is sucked by driving an air intake device provided within a cleaner body to generate an air-sucking force, the particles are separated from the polluted air for dust collecting, and the particle-removed air is then discharged to an outside of the cleaner.
[0004] A cyclone is a device for collecting particles contained in air such as dust and the like. The cyclone is applicable to various fields. For example, the cyclone is applied to a vacuum cleaner as a home appliance.
[0005] Recently, a multi-cyclone having a plurality of cyclone parts is used to enhance dust collecting performance.
[0006] A dust collector in a vacuum cleaner according to a related art is explained with reference to FIG. 1 as follows.
[0007] Referring to FIG. 1, a dust collector according to a related art consists of a primary cyclone dust collecting part 10 collecting relatively large dust by sucking polluted air from outside and a secondary cyclone dust collecting part 20 connected to the primary cyclone dust collecting part 10 to collect relatively small dust.
[0008] In this case, the primary cyclone dust collecting part 10 is a cylindrical receptacle of which lower end adheres closely to a bottom of the dust collecting container 1. In the primary cyclone dust collecting part 10, a first inlet 11 is formed at an upper lateral side to lead the polluted air having particles to be introduced in a tangential direction and a first outlet 12 is provided to a center of an upper end to discharge primarily cleaned air.
[0009] Hence, an upper space of the primary cyclone dust collecting part 10 configures a first cyclone 13 that separates particles by a centrifugal force and a lower space of the first cyclone dust collecting part 10 configures a primary dust storing part 14 storing the particles separated by the centrifugal force.
[0010] The air discharged from the first outlet 12 is introduced into the secondary cyclone dust collecting part 20 and is then discharged upward through a secondary dust-separating process.
[0011] In particular, the secondary cyclone dust collecting part 20 consists of a plurality of small secondary cyclones 21 provided to an upper circumference of the primary cyclone dust collecting part 10 in a circumferential direction and a secondary dust storing part 22 storing dust separated from the secondary cyclones 21.
[0012] The secondary dust storing part 22 is provided under the secondary cyclones 21. And, the primary and secondary dust storing parts 14 and 22 are partitioned from each other by a sidewall of the primary cyclone dust collecting part 10.
[0013] However, as the air introduced into the first inlet 11 of the primary cyclone 13 is directly introduced in part into a central portion of the primary cyclone 13 instead of circling along an inner wall of the primary cyclone 13, the particles contained in the air introduced into the first inlet 11 are not separated to be discharged to the first outlet 11. Hence, dust collecting performance of the related art dust collector is degraded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for collecting dust and vacuum cleaner having the same that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0015] An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for collecting dust and vacuum cleaner having the same, by which dust collecting performance is enhanced.
[0016] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0017] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, an apparatus for collecting dust in a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention includes a primary cyclone dust collecting part performing centrifugal separation to collect the dust included in an air introduced via a first inlet provided to an outer circumference of the primary cyclone dust collecting part, an exhaust member provided within the primary cyclone dust collecting part wherein a multitude of perforated holes are provided to a lateral side of the exhaust member to communicate with a first outlet of the primary cyclone dust collecting part, and a guide rib provided to the primary cyclone dust collecting part guiding the air introduced into the first inlet in a direction tangential to an inner wall of the primary cyclone dust collecting part to prevent the air from being directly introduced into the exhaust member, the guide rib making a prescribed angle with a tangential line at a point connected to the primary cyclone dust collecting part.
[0018] Preferably, the exhaust member is provided to a center of the primary cyclone dust collecting part in a vertical direction along an axial direction to be connected to an upper end of the primary cyclone dust collecting part.
[0019] More preferably, the exhaust member ha a conoid shape having a diameter decreasing downwardly. More preferably, one lateral side of the guide rib is tilted so that an area of an air intake passage configured by the first inlet and the guide rib downwardly increases in view taken along an axial line of the first inlet. More preferably, the exhaust member is hidden by the guide rib in view taken along the axial line of the first inlet.
[0021] Preferably, the primary cyclone dust collecting part includes the first outlet provided to an upper end of the primary cyclone dust collecting part to discharge the air having passed through the exhaust member.
[0022] More preferably, the exhaust member is detachably connected to a rim of the first outlet. More preferably, the apparatus further includes a plurality of secondary cyclones provided to a circumference of the primary cyclone dust collecting part in a circumferential direction wherein the air discharged from the primary cyclone dust collecting part is introduced into a plurality of the secondary cyclones.
[0023] In another aspect of the present invention, a vacuum cleaner includes the above-described apparatus.
[0024] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a dust collector according to a related art;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective diagram of a cleaner body and a dust collector according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram of a dust collector according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a dust collector according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram of a dust collecting container cover provided to the dust collector according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a perspective diagram of an inside of a dust collector according to the present invention; and
FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram of a dust collecting container provided to a dust collector according to the present invention, which is taken along an axial line of a first inlet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
[0027] A canister type vacuum cleaner as one embodiment of a vacuum cleaner having a dust collector according to the present invention is explained with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 as follows.
[0028] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective diagram of a cleaner body and a dust collector according to the present invention and FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram of a dust collector according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention includes an intake nozzle (not shown in the drawings) moving along a room floor to be cleaned to suck air containing particles, a cleaner body 100 provided separate from the intake nozzle, and a connecting pipe (not shown in the drawings) connecting the intake nozzle to the cleaner body 100 to guide the polluted air sucked via the intake nozzle to the cleaner body 100.
[0030] In this case, a nozzle inlet having a prescribed size is provided to a bottom of the intake nozzle to suck dust piled up on the room floor and the air by an air intake force generated from an air intake device built in the cleaner body 100.
[0031] And, in the cleaner body 100, an electronic part controlling the vacuum cleaner and a motor-fan assembly configuring the air intake device are built,
[0032] In particular, a hose connecting part 110 connected to the connecting pipe is provided to an upper front end of the cleaner body 100, wheels 120 are rotatably provided to both rear sides of the cleaner body 100 to enable the cleaner body 100 to smoothly move on the room floor, respectively, and a caster (not shown in the drawing) as a rotating member for changing a direction of the cleaner body 100 is connected to a front bottom of the cleaner body 100.
[0033] A dust collector 200 for collecting dust is detachably provided to a front side of the cleaner body 100. The dust collector 200 plays a role in collecting dust by separating particles from the air introduced into the dust collector 200 via the intake nozzle and the connecting pipe.
[0034] The air discharged from the dust collector 200 is discharged to a rear side of the cleaner body 100 via a prescribed passage configured within the cleaner body 100 and the motor-fan assembly (not shown in the drawing).
[0035] A dust collector 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to FIGs. 4 to 7 as follows.
[0036] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a dust collector according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram of a dust collecting container cover provided to the dust collector according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a perspective diagram of an inside of a dust collector according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram of a dust collecting container provided to a dust collector according to the present invention, which is taken along an axial line of a first inlet.
[0037] Referring to FIGs. 4 to 7, a dust collector 200 includes an approximately cylindrical dust collecting container 210, a dust collecting container cover 220 opening/closing one end of the dust collecting container 210, and more particularly, an upper end of the dust collecting container 210, and an upper cover 230 detachably joined to the dust collecting container cover 220 to have a grip 231 at its upper surface.
[0038] In this case, a primary cyclone dust collecting part and a secondary cyclone dust collecting part are provided within the dust collecting container 210 to collect dust by centrifugally separating particles such as dust and the like. And, a bottom of the dust collecting container 210 includes a lower panel 211 that can be opened/closed.
[0039] The primary cyclone dust collecting part includes a primary cyclone 214 centrifugally separating particles by a cyclone system and a primary dust storing part 212 storing the dust separated from the primary cyclone 214. And, the primary cyclone 214 substantially includes a cylindrical receptacle provided within the dust collecting container 210.
[0040] And, the secondary cyclone dust collecting part includes a plurality of small secondary cyclones 215 provided to a circumference of the primary cyclone 214 to separate micro-dust and a secondary dust storing part 213 storing the dust separated by the secondary cyclones 215.
[0041] In particular, the primary cyclone 214 has a cylindrical receptacle shape of which lower end is open. A first inlet 214a, into which air is introduced, and a first outlet 214b, from which air is discharged, are provided to the primary cyclone 214. The first inlet 214a is provided to an upper outer circumference of the primary cyclone 214 to communicate with the hose connecting part 110.
[0042] The first outlet 214b perforated in a vertical direction is formed at an upper end of the primary cyclone dust collecting part, and more particularly, at a center of a ceiling of the primary cyclone 214.
[0043] In this case, the polluted air introduced from outside via the first inlet 214a can flow spirally along the inner wall of the primary cyclone 214.
[0044] A plurality of the small secondary cyclones 215 built in one body of an outer wall of the primary cyclone 214 are arranged on an upper circumference of the primary cyclone 214. An upper end of each of the secondary cyclones 215 is projected higher than that of the primary cyclone 214.
[0045] Meanwhile, a vertically-cut second inlet 215a communicating with the first outlet 214b is provided to an outer circumference of each of the secondary cyclones 215 projected higher than the upper end of the primary cyclone 214. An upper end of each of the secondary cyclones 215 is open to configure a second outlet 215b.
[0046] In particular, to enable the air introduced into the second inlet 215a to spirally flow along an inner wall of the secondary cyclone 215, the second inlet 215a guides the air discharged from the first outlet 214b in a tangential direction to the inner wall of the secondary cyclone 215.
[0047] Preferably, a guide vane 215c is built in one body of an outer sidewall of the second inlet 215a to extend toward the first outlet 214b.
[0048] Meanwhile, a cone portion 215d having a conoid shape having a decreasing diameter downwardly is provided to one side of the secondary cyclone 215, and more particularly, to a lower part of the secondary cyclone 215. A vertically perforated particle discharging hole 215e is provided to a lower end of the secondary cyclone 215 to discharge particles such as dust and the like.
[0049] In this case, the secondary cyclones 215 are built in one body to be adjacent to one another. Hence, air is prevented from leaking between the secondary cyclones 215.
[0050] The dust collecting container cover 220 is mounted on the upper ends of the secondary cyclones 215.
[0051] Third outlets 221, which are vertically perforated, are provided to a rim of the dust collecting container cover 220 to oppose the second outlets 215b of the secondary cyclones 215, respectively.
[0052] The upper cover 230 having an open lower end is detachably assembled to an upper part of the dust collecting container cover 220.
[0053] For this, three hanging protrusions 222 are provided to an outer circumference of the dust collecting container cover 220. And, three hanging recesses (not shown in the drawings) are provided to an inner circumference of the upper cover 230 so that the hanging protrusions 222 can be fitted into the hanging recesses, respectively. It is a matter of course that the positions and shapes of the hanging protrusions and recesses can be variously modified.
[0054] A fourth outlet 232 is provided to a rear side of the upper cover 230 to discharge air to a prescribed passage provided to a rear part of the cleaner body 100. And, a prescribed space is provided within the upper cover 230 to communicate with the fourth outlet 232.
[0055] Preferably, a filter accommodating portion is provided to the inner space of the upper cover 230 to accommodate a filter (not shown in the drawing) filtering off micro-dust from the air discharged via the third outlets 221.
[0056] The dust having been separated by the above-configured primary cyclone 214 and the above-configured secondary cyclones 215 is preferentially stored in a dust storing part configured by an outer wall of the dust collecting container 210 and the lower panel 211 and is then discharged outside by gravity if the lower panel 211 forming the bottom of the dust storing parts 212 and 213 is open.
[0057] The dust storing part includes the primary dust storing part 212 and the secondary dust storing part 213. The primary dust storing part 212 stores the dust separated by the primary cyclone 214, whereas the secondary dust storing part 213 stores the dust separated by the secondary cyclones 215.
[0058] In this case, the primary and secondary dust storing parts 212 and 213 are connected in one body of the lower sides of the secondary cyclones 215 and are partitioned from each other by a boundary wall 216 having an approximately cylindrical shape of which radius is smaller than that of the outer wall of the dust collecting container 210.
[0059] A lower end of the boundary wall 216 is formed longer than that of the primary cyclone 214 in a lower direction to extend to a bottom of the dust collecting container 210, i.e., an upper lateral side of the lower panel 211.
[0060] Hence, the boundary wall 216 prevents the primary and secondary dust storing parts 212 and 213 from communicating with each other.
[0061] In addition to the above-explained configuration of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, an exhaust member 217 and a guide rib 218 are further provided to the primary cyclone dust collecting part.
[0062] In particular, the exhaust member 217 is provided within the primary cyclone dust collecting part and a multitude of perforated holes are formed at its later side to communicate with the first outlet 214b.
[0063] Hence, a particle having a size greater than that of the perforated hole of the exhaust member 217 among the particles, which are not separated by the primary cyclone and are included in the air flowing toward the first outlet 214b, is separated by the exhaust member 217.
[0064] In this case, the first outlet 214b is provided to a center of the primary cyclone dust collecting part in a vertical direction taken along its axial direction.
[0065] Hence, the exhaust member 217 is provided in an axial direction to a center of the primary cyclone 214 and preferably has an approximately conoid shape, of which upper end is open and of which lower end is closed, having a downwardly decreasing diameter.
[0066] This is to prevent the dust descending along the inner wall of the primary cyclone 214 from being affected by a sucking force of the exhaust member 217 since a speed of a spiral flow tends to decrease toward a lower side of the primary cyclone 214.
[0067] The upper end of the exhaust member 217 is joined to an upper end of the primary cyclone dust collecting part, i.e., an upper end of the primary cyclone 214. In particular, the upper end of the exhaust member 217 is detachably joined to a rim of the first outlet 214b. Preferably, a ring type sealing member is provided between the upper end of the exhaust member 217 and the first outlet 214a to sustain airtightness.
[0068] Preferably, a scatter-preventing member 219 is provided beneath the exhaust member 217 to prevent the dust stored in the primary dust storing part 212 from being scattered.
[0069] The scatter-preventing member 219 plays a role in preventing the dust collected in the primary dust storing part 212 from ascending by a spiral flow to be introduced into the second cyclones 215.
[0070] For this, the scatter-preventing member 219 preferably provided to the lower end of the exhaust member 217 to have a shape extending radially.
[0071] Preferably, an upper surface of the scatter-preventing member 219 is tilted downwardly. In particular, the scatter-preventing member 219 has a conoid shape having a diameter increasing downwardly.
[0072] The guide rib 218 is configured to guide the air introduced via the first inlet 214a in a tangential direction of the inner wall of the primary cyclone dust collecting part so that the air is prevented from being directly introduced into the exhaust member 217.
[0073] In particular, the guide rib 218 is provided to the primary cyclone 214 and is configured to make a prescribed angle with a tangential line at a point where the primary cyclone 214 is connected to the guide rib 218.
[0074] Preferably, the angle between the guide rib 218 and the tangential line of the point where the primary cyclone 214 is connected to the guide rib 218 is set to 30°~40°, and more preferably, to 35°. In view taken along an axial line of the first inlet 214a, one side of the guide rib 218 is tilted to correspond to a shape of the exhaust member 217 so that an area of an air inlet passage configured by the first inlet 214a and the guide rib 218 can increase downwardly.
[0075] Hence, in viewing the dust collecting container 210 along the axial line of the first inlet 214a, the exhaust member 217 is hidden by the guide rib 218.
[0076] Consequently, the air introduced into the first inlet 214a is prevented by the guide rib 218 from being directly introduced into the exhaust member 217. And, the entire air introduced into the first inlet 214a is guided in the direction tangential to the inner wall of the primary cyclone 214 to enhance a circling power for particle separation and to minimize flow resistance of the air introduced into the first inlet 214a.
[0077] An operation of the vacuum cleaner having the dust collector according to one embodiment of the present invention is explained as follows.
[0078] First of all, once the vacuum cleaner is driven, the external polluted air is introduced into the primary cyclone 214 via the intake nozzle and the connecting pipe.
[0079] The air introduced into the primary cyclone 214 is not directly introduced into the exhaust member 217 by the first inlet 214a and the guide rib 218 but is guided in the direction tangential to the inner wall of the primary cyclone 214 to form the spiral flow.
[0080] According to the cyclone principle, the relatively large and heavy dust is separated and falls to be stored in the primary dust storing part 212. The dust stored in the primary dust storing part 212 is prevented from being scattered by the scatter-preventing member 219 and the curved boundary wall 216.
[0081] The air, from which the relatively large dust was separated, is discharged to the first outlet 214b communicating with a multitude of the perforated holes provided to the lateral side of the exhaust member 217 and is then introduced into a plurality of the secondary cyclones 215 for dust separation.
[0082] The air, from which the relatively small dust was separated, is introduced into the upper cover 230 via the second outlets 215b and the third outlets 221.
[0083] The air introduced into the upper cover 230 is filtered by the filter and is then discharged to a rear side via the fourth outlet 232. The air discharged from the fourth outlet 232 passes through the prescribed passage provided to the rear part of the cleaner body and is then discharged outside the cleaner body.
[0084] Meanwhile, the above-explained dust collector according to the present invention is applicable to a canister type vacuum cleaner or a stand type cleaner.
[0086] First of all, in the dust collector of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, since the air introduced into the first inlet is guided by the guide rib in the direction tangential to the inner wall of the primary cyclone to form the spiral flow, the dust collecting performance of the primary cyclone part is enhanced.
[0087] Secondly, in the dust collector of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, since the lateral side of the guide rib is tilted to correspond to the shape of the exhaust member to maximize the air intake passage, the air flow resistance is minimized.
[0088] Thirdly, in the dust collector of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, since the diameter of the exhaust member decreases toward its lower direction, it is able to minimize that the particles having the weakened circling force are introduced into the exhaust member.
[0089] Finally, in the dust collector of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, since a plurality of the secondary cyclones are provided to the circumference of the primary cyclone, the dust collector can have a compact configuration and dust collecting performance is enhanced.
[0090] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
1. An apparatus for collecting dust in a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
a primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214) performing centrifugal separation to collect the dust included in an air introduced via a first inlet (214a) provided to an outer circumference of the primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214);
an exhaust member (217) provided within the primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214) wherein a multitude of perforated holes are provided to a lateral side of the exhaust member (217) to communicate with a first outlet (214b) of the primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214); and
a guide rib (218) provided to the primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214) for guiding the air introduced into the first inlet (214a) in a direction tangential to an inner wall of the primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214) to prevent the air from being directly introduced into the exhaust member (217), the guide rib (218) making a prescribed angle with a tangential line at a point connected to the primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214).
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the exhaust member (217) is provided to a center
of the primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214) in a vertical direction along
an axial direction to be connected to an upper end of the primary cyclone dust collecting
part (212,214).
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the exhaust member (217) has a conoid shape
having a diameter decreasing downwardly.
4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one lateral side of the guide rib
(218) is tilted so that an area of an air intake passage configured by the first inlet
(214a) and the guide rib (218) downwardly increases in view taken along an axial line
of the first inlet (214a).
5. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the exhaust member (217) is hidden
by the guide rib (218) in view taken along the axial line of the first inlet (224a).
6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the prescribed angle made by the
guide rib (218) and the tangential line is 30°to 40°.
7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the primary cyclone dust collecting
part (212,214) includes the first outlet (214b) provided to an upper end of the primary
cyclone dust collecting part (212,214) to discharge the air having passed through
the exhaust member (217).
8. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the exhaust member (217) is detachably
connected to a rim of the first outlet (214b).
9. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a plurality of secondary
cyclones (215) provided to a circumference of the primary cyclone dust collecting
part (212,214) in a circumferential direction wherein the air discharged from the
primary cyclone dust collecting part (212,214) is adapted to be introduced into a
plurality of the secondary cyclones (215).
10. A vacuum cleaner including the apparatus for collecting dust of any one of claims
1 to 9.