(19)
(11) EP 1 708 603 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
07.11.2012 Bulletin 2012/45

(21) Application number: 04806637.7

(22) Date of filing: 29.12.2004
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A47L 9/16(2006.01)
A47L 9/14(2006.01)
(86) International application number:
PCT/IB2004/052936
(87) International publication number:
WO 2005/065515 (21.07.2005 Gazette 2005/29)

(54)

A VACUUM CLEANER

STAUBSAUGER

ASPIRATEUR


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30) Priority: 30.12.2003 TR 200302341

(43) Date of publication of application:
11.10.2006 Bulletin 2006/41

(73) Proprietor: Arçelik Anonim Sirketi
34950 Istanbul (TR)

(72) Inventors:
  • SAR, Can, Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
    34950 Istanbul (TR)
  • FEDAI, Gokmen, Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
    34950 Istanbul (TR)
  • GOKTAS, Murat, Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
    34950 Istanbul (TR)
  • BUYUKCAN, Erdem, Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
    34950 Istanbul (TR)
  • ILHAN, Ali Ogulcan, Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
    34950 Istanbul (TR)


(56) References cited: : 
US-A- 2 226 630
US-A1- 2003 221 277
US-A1- 2002 120 998
US-B1- 6 341 404
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising an easily mountable and demountable cyclone unit placed on the cleaner and which can be cleaned.

    [0002] Cyclonic separators utilized in vacuum cleaners as discrete units, placed on the suction path, and operating in principle by separating materials of different properties with the aid of centrifugal forces; additionally, increasing life of use of dust collecting chambers and filters. Thus, during the cleaning process, some amount of dust sucked is collected in a separate unit before being sent to the dust bags or filters. Remaining amount of particles is captured again by these dust bags and filters. Preferably, dust accumulated in these units located between the handle and the brush, needs to be prevented from being spread when the vacuum cleaner operates, and after the work is done needs to be easily cleaned by detaching the unit.

    [0003] In the current state of art, United States Patent US6195835 describes a vacuum cleaner that comprises a cyclone unit, which is attached under a handle and held with a locking mechanism.

    [0004] State of the art document EP1199023 discloses a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 of this application.

    [0005] The aim of this invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner comprising a cyclone unit having a dust collecting tub which provides easier discharge of dust accumulated when attaching or detaching during emptying process.

    [0006] The vacuum cleaner designed to fulfill this aim is illustrated on the attached figures, where:
    Fig 1
    is a schematic, general view of a vacuum cleaner,
    Fig 2
    is a perspective view of a fixing clamp,
    Fig 3
    is a perspective view of a cyclone unit,
    Fig 4
    is an exploded perspective view of a cyclone unit,
    Fig 5
    is a perspective view of a cyclone unit where its fixing clamp is open,
    Fig 6
    is a perspective view of a cyclone unit where its dust collecting tub is removed,
    Fig 7
    is a perspective view of a cyclone unit where the top and bottom covers of the cyclone body are removed and where all components of the cyclone body are illustrated such that they can be detached.


    [0007] Components illustrated on the drawings are numbered individually and listed below.

    1- Cleaner body

    2- Hose

    3- Handle

    4- Pipe

    5- Suction nozzle

    6- Cyclone unit

    7- Cyclone body

    8- Fixing clamp

    9- Dust collecting tub

    10-Lid of dust collecting tub

    11- Washer

    12- Inlet of dust collecting tub

    13- Outlet of cyclone body

    14- Top lid of cyclone body

    15- Bottom lid of cyclone body

    16- Cover of cyclone body

    17- Inner cyclone pipe

    18- Suction opening

    19- Lock extension

    20- Lock nest

    21- Locking device

    22- Rail

    23- Slipway

    24- Vacuum cleaner

    25- Ring

    26- Tail

    27- Support



    [0008] Vacuum cleaners (24) comprise of a cleaner body (1) having a control unit and a motor unit which executes suction operation, a suction nozzle (5) which is utilized for cleaning dirty floors, a hose (2) which is preferably made of plastic material and attached to the cleaner body (1), a handle (3) which is preferably made of plastic material, connected to the hose (2) making it easy for the user to hold the cleaner by hand, a pipe (4) which is preferably made of metal or hard plastic material and is connected to the handle (3), and a cyclone unit (6) which is located between the cleaner body (1) and the suction nozzle (5), attached on the pipe (4) and/or handle (3) and/or hose (2), and provides better storage for dust being sucked.

    [0009] Cyclone unit (6) includes a cyclone body (7) where other components are assembled on it, an inner cyclone pipe (17) which provides separation of dust moving inside the cyclone body (7), an outlet of cyclone body (13) which provides discharging the dust particles from inside cyclone body (7) to the outside, a dust collecting tub (9) which is placed on the cyclone body (7) and where dust accumulated during cleaning process, an inlet of dust collecting tub (12) that is located on the dust collecting tub (9) and placed across the outlet of cyclone body (13), a washer (11) that provides watertight property between outlet of cyclone body (13) and inlet of dust collecting tub (12), one or more than one rail (22) where a dust collecting tub (9) is connected on and which enables movement for dust collecting tub (9) along cyclone body (7), one or more than one slipway (23) that has a convenient shape and amount for the rail (22) providing movement for dust collecting tub (9) on the rail (22), a lid of dust collecting tub (10) that is placed on the inlet of cyclone body (7) and that prevents dust particles accumulated inside dust collecting tub (9) to escape, top lid of cyclone body (14) that provides lid of dust collecting tub (10) to be stabled on the cyclone body (7), a fixing clamp (8) which enables dust collecting tub (9) to be stabled on cyclone body (7) by rotating on the cyclone body (7) which it is attached to, and which enables it to be opened when it is desired to be locked, a bottom lid of cyclone body (15) that prevents fixing clamp (8) to detach from cyclone body (7) and that provides connection with a pipe (4) from the outlet, one or more than one support (27) that prevents deformations formed by forces acting from different directions on the pipe (4) and/or handle (3) and/or hose (2) attached to the cyclone body (7) and a cover of cyclone body (16) covering over the cyclone body (7) for providing esthetic appearance.

    [0010] A fixing clamp (8); comprises of a ring (25), preferably with rounded shape, provides placement of the cyclone body (7) over it and provides movement by rotating of cyclone body (7) over its central axis, a tail (26) attached to the ring (25) and placed under the dust collecting tub (9) by moving along with the ring (25), preventing dust collecting tub (9) to detach from the cyclone body (7) and further providing dust collecting tub (9) to detach from the cyclone body (7) by estranging it under the dust collecting tub (9) when it moves along with the ring (25), a locking device (21) providing it to be stabled on the dust collecting tub (9), and one or more than one suction opening (18) that enables rotating movement when the locking device (21) is open.

    [0011] Dust collecting tub (9) comprises a lock nest (20) which is located on the bottom surface which is covered for the fixing clamp (8) to operate, where the locking device (21) is pushed for placing and locking of the fixing clamp (8) in it, one or more than one lock extension (19) that passes through the suction opening (18) and under circumstances where locking device (21) is detached from the lock nest (20) that detaches the fixing clamp (8) from itself by rotating it over the central axis of the cyclone body (7).

    [0012] In the application of this present invention, when the dust collecting tub (9) is full, the user detaches it from the lock nest (20) by pressing on the locking device (21) while removing the dust collecting tub (9) from the cyclone body (7). The fixing clamp (8), which is left as unrestricted, is moved by rotating over the central axis of the cyclone body (7). After the fixing clamp (8) is fully detached from the dust collecting tub (9), dust collecting tub (9) is moved by slipping the slipway (23) over the rail (22) in a manner such that it is parallel to the central axis of the cyclone body (7) and dust collecting tub (9) is then detached from the cyclone body (7). In the meantime, since the only suction opening of the dust collecting tub (9) is on the same side with the lid of the dust collecting tub (10), dust collecting tub (9) is detached from the cyclone body (7) without scattering dirt and dust particles around and is inserted back to its place with the help of the slipway (23) which moves on rails (22). After inserting dust collecting tub (9) back to its original place, it is fixed to its place by the fixing clamp (8).

    [0013] When not only the dust collecting tub (9) but also the cyclone unit (6) is desired to be cleaned, top lid of cyclone body (14) and bottom lid of cyclone body (15) that are connected by screw threads to the ends of cyclone body (7) are easily detached from their locations by rotating them with respect to the central axis of cyclone body (7) and all components on the cyclone body (7) can be demounted and remounted easily in a similar way.

    [0014] By the present embodiment, dispersing dust particles and dirt accumulated is prevented with the aid of easily detachable and connectible dust collecting tubs (9).


    Claims

    1. A vacuum cleaner (24) comprises a cleaner body (1) having a control unit and a motor unit which executes suction operation, a suction nozzle (5) utilized for cleaning dirty floors, and a cyclone unit (6) located between the cleaner body (1) and the suction nozzle (5) and providing better separation of dust particles being sucked, said cyclone unit (6) comprising

    • a cyclone body (7) on which all other components of the cyclone unit (6) are assembled,

    • a dust collecting tub (9) detachably mounted on the cyclone body (7) and where accumulated dust particles are collected during cleaning process,

    • a fixing clamp (8) stabling, locking and if desired unlocking the dust collecting tub (9) by rotating over the cyclone body (7) where it is placed

    and characterized in that the cyclone unit (6) further comprises

    • one or more than one rail (22) where a dust collecting tub (9) is placed on and enabling dust collecting tub (9) to move over the cyclone body (7) and

    • one or more than one slipway (23) compatible with the related rail (22) in form and in number, enabling the dust collecting tub (9) to move on the rail (22).


     
    2. A vacuum cleaner (24) as described in Claim 1, characterized by a fixing clamp (8) comprising a ring (25) that provides the placement of the cyclone body (7) over the vacuum cleaner (24) and provides rotational movement of the cyclone body (7) around its central axis, a tail (26) attached to the ring (25) which is placed under the dust collecting tub (9) by moving along with the ring (25) and thus preventing dust collecting tub (9) to detach from the cyclone body (7) and further providing dust collecting tub (9) to detach from the cyclone body (7) by moving away from beneath the dust collecting tub (9) by moving along with the ring (25).
     
    3. A vacuum cleaner (24) as described in any of the above mentioned Claims, characterized by a fixing clamp (8) comprising a locking device (21) providing it to be stabled on the dust collecting tub (9), and one or more than one suction opening (18) that enables rotating movement when the locking device (21) is open.
     
    4. A vacuum cleaner (24) as described in Claim 3, characterized by a dust collecting tub (9) comprising a lock nest (20) which is located on the bottom surface which is covered for the fixing clamp (8) to operate, where the locking device (21) is pushed for placing and locking of the fixing clamp (8) in it, one or more than one lock extension (19) that passes through the suction opening (18) and under circumstances where locking device (21) is detached from the lock nest (20) that detaches the fixing clamp (8) from itself by rotating it over the central axis of the cyclone body (7).
     
    5. A vacuum cleaner (24) as described in any of the above mentioned Claims, characterized by a cyclone unit (6) comprising a bottom lid of cyclone body (15) that prevents fixing clamp (8) to detach from the cyclone body (7), without obstructing the rotation of the fixing clamp (8) on the cyclone body (7), and that provides connection from the outlet with a pipe (4).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Staubsauger (24), umfassend einen Reinigungskörper (1) mit einer Steuereinheit und einer Motoreinheit, der den Ansaugvorgang ausführt, eine Ansaugdüse (5), die zum Reinigen verschmutzter Böden benutzt wird, und eine Zykloneinheit (6), die zwischen dem Reinigungskörper (1) und der Ansaugdüse (5) angeordnet ist und für eine bessere Abscheidung der angesaugten Staubpartikel sorgt, wobei die Zykloneinheit (6) Folgendes umfasst:

    • einen Zyklonkörper (7), an dem alle anderen Bauteile der Zykloneinheit (6) zusammengebaut sind,

    • einen Staubsammebehälter (9), der lösbar am Zyklonkörper (7) angebracht ist und in dem während des Reinigungsvorgangs akkumulierte Staubpartikel gesammelt werden,

    • eine Befestigungsklammer (8), die den Staubsammelbehälter (9) stabilisiert, verriegelt und bei Bedarf durch Drehen über den Zyklonkörper (7), wo er angeordnet ist, entriegelt,

    und dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Zykloneinheit (6) ferner umfasst:

    • eine oder mehrere Schienen (22) auf denen ein Staubsammelbehälter (9) angeordnet ist, die es dem Staubsammelbehälter (9) ermöglichen, sich über den Zyklonkörper (7) zu bewegen, und

    • eine oder mehrere Gleitbahnen (23), die mit der zugehörigen Schiene (22) in Form und Anzahl kompatibel sind und es dem Staubsammelbehälter (9) ermöglichen, sich auf der Schiene (22) zu bewegen.


     
    2. Staubsauger (24) nach Anspruch 1, gekennzeichnet durch eine Befestigungsklammer (8), die Folgendes umfasst: einen Ring (25), der das Anordnen des Zyklonkörpers (7) über dem Staubsauger (24) ermöglicht und eine Drehbewegung des Zyklonkörpers (7) um seine Mittelachse ermöglicht, einen Schwanz (26), der am Ring (25) befestigt ist und unter dem Staubsammelbehälter (9) angeordnet wird, indem er sich zusammen mit dem Ring (25) bewegt, wodurch er verhindert, dass sich der Staubsammelbehälter (9) vom Zyklonkörper (7) löst, und der ferner dafür sorgt, dass sich der Staubsammelbehälter (9) vom Zyklonkörper (7) löst, indem er sich zusammen mit dem Ring (25) von der Position unterhalb des Staubsammelbehälters (9) fort bewegt.
     
    3. Staubsauger (24) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, gekennzeichnet durch eine Befestigungsklammer (8), umfassend eine Verriegelungsvorrichtung (21), die dafür sorgt, dass sie am Staubsammelbehälter (9) stabilisiert wird, und eine oder mehrere Ansaugöffnungen (18), die eine Drehbewegung ermöglichen, wenn die Verriegelungsvorrichtung (21) offen ist.
     
    4. Staubsauger (24) nach Anspruch 3, gekennzeichnet durch einen Staubsammelbehälter (9), umfassend ein Verriegelungsnest (20), das auf der Unterseite angeordnet ist, die abgedeckt ist, damit die Befestigungsklammer (8) ihre Funktion ausüben kann, wobei die Verriegelungsvorrichtung (21) gedrückt wird, um die Befestigungsklammer (8) darin anzuordnen und zu verriegeln, eine oder mehrere Verriegelungsverlängerungen (19), die durch die Ansaugöffnung (18) verlaufen und unter Bedingungen, in denen die Verriegelungsvorrichtung (21) vom Verriegelungsnest (20) gelöst ist, die Befestigungsklammer (8) von sich lösen, indem sie sie um die Mittelachse des Zyklonkörpers (7) drehen.
     
    5. Staubsauger (24) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, gekennzeichnet durch eine Zykloneinheit (6) umfassend einen Unterseitendeckel des Zyklonkörpers (15), der verhindert, dass sich die Befestigungsklammer (8) vom Zyklonkörper (7) löst, ohne die Drehung der Befestigungsklammer (8) am Zyklonkörper (7) zu behindern, und der eine Verbindung vom Auslass mittels eines Rohres (4) bereitstellt.
     


    Revendications

    1. Un aspirateur (24) comprenant un corps de nettoyage (1) ayant une unité de commande et une unité de moteur qui réalise l'opération d'aspiration, une buse d'aspiration (5) utilisée pour nettoyer des planchers sales, et une unité de cyclone (6) qui est située entre le corps de nettoyage (1) et la buse d'aspiration (5) et qui permet une meilleure aspiration des particules de poussière qui sont aspirées, ladite unité de cyclone (6) comprenant

    • un corps de cyclone (7) sur lequel les autres éléments de l'unité de cyclone (6) sont installés,

    • un bac de collecte de poussière (9) qui est installé sur le corps de cyclone (7) de manière détachable et où les particules de poussière accumulées sont collectées au cours du processus de nettoyage,

    • une bague d'arrêt (8) qui immobilise, verrouille et, si on le désire, déverrouille le bac de collecte de poussière (9) en tournant sur le corps de cyclone (7) sur lequel elle est placée,

    et caractérisé en ce que l'unité de cyclone (6) comprend en outre

    • un ou plus d'un rail (22) sur lequel un bac de collecte de poussière (9) est placé et qui permet au bac de collecte de poussière (9) de se déplacer sur le corps de cyclone (7) et

    • une ou plus d'une cale (23) compatible avec ledit rail (22) du point de vue de forme et de nombre, qui permet au bac de collecte de poussière (9) de se déplacer sur le rail (22).


     
    2. Un aspirateur (24) selon la Revendication 1, caractérisé par une bague d'arrêt (8) qui comprend une bague (25) qui permet la mise en place du corps de cyclone (7) sur l'aspirateur (24) et permet le mouvement de rotation du corps de cyclone (7) autour de son axe central, une queue (26) fixée à la bague (25) qui est placée sous le bac de collecte de poussière (9) en se déplaçant avec la bague (25) et donc qui empêche le bac de collecte de poussière (9) de se détacher du corps de cyclone (7) et en outre permet au bac de collecte de poussière (9) de se détacher du corps de cyclone (7) en s'éloignant de dessous du bac de collecte de poussière (9) tout en se déplaçant avec la bague (25).
     
    3. Un aspirateur (24) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par une bague d'arrêt (8) qui comprend un dispositif de verrouillage (21) qui lui permet d'être immobilisée sur le bac de collecte de poussière (9), et une ou plus d'une ouverture d'aspiration (18) qui permet le mouvement de rotation lorsque le dispositif de verrouillage (21) est ouvert.
     
    4. Un aspirateur (24) selon la Revendication 3, caractérisé par un bac de collecte de poussière (9) qui comprend un évidement de verrouillage (20) qui est situé à la surface inférieure, qui est couvert pour que la bague d'arrêt (8) fonctionne, où le dispositif de verrouillage (21) est poussé pour placer et verrouiller la bague d'arrêt (8) dedans, une ou plus d'une extension de verrouillage (19) qui passe à travers l'ouverture d'aspiration (18) et dans des circonstances où le dispositif de verrouillage (21) est détaché de l'évidement de verrouillage (20), qui détache la bague d'arrêt (8) de lui-même en le faisant tourner autour de l'axe central du corps de cyclone (7).
     
    5. Un aspirateur (24) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par une unité de cyclone (6) qui comprend un couvercle de fond du corps de cyclone (15) qui empêche la bague d'arrêt (8) de se détacher du corps de cyclone (7), sans empêchant la rotation de la bague d'arrêt (8) sur le corps de cyclone (7), et qui permet la connexion de la prise avec un tuyau (4).
     




    Drawing











    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description