Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a cyclone separation apparatus that centrifuges
the material targeted for collection and specifically to a cyclone separation apparatus
that can increase the collected amount of the relatively large material targeted for
collection and collected.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] A cyclone dust collection apparatus has been reported in Patent Literature 1 as an
example of the cyclone separation apparatus that is equipped with a collection container
with a roughly cylindrical interior surface, wherein by discharging air within the
collection container from an air outlet disposed in the center of the collection container,
causing air drawn in from an air inlet disposed in the periphery of the collection
container to spiral along the interior periphery surface of the collection container,
and then discharging the air from the air outlet through a filter means, relatively
large dust contained in the air is collected at the bottom of the collection container
and relatively small dust is collected in the filter means.
[0003] This cyclone dust collection apparatus is designed to swirl relatively large dust
for collecting by centrifugal force and collect relatively small dust that flies by
flowing air by a filter means disposed in the flow of air, thereby resulting in less
noise and attaining an improvement of dust collection efficiency.
[0004] When the aforementioned cyclone dust collection apparatus is used in general household,
cotton dust from blankets and clothes accounts for much of dust volume collected.
As fiber or the like consisting of this cotton dust in itself is elastic, the density
of dust is small, so that it's necessary to frequently remove (discard) the cotton
dust from a dust collection portion. Furthermore such dust is light and easy to fly
apart, thereby causing a problem that the user feels uncomfortable with the fluttering
and re-entrainment of dust when discarding it in an outside garbage bucket or the
like.
[0005] As the cyclone dust collection apparatus described in the aforementioned Patent
Literature 1 is designed to collect dust relying absolutely on the flow of air, however,
it cannot compress dust with low density such as the collected fiber to more than
a certain volume and increase so much dust accumulation degree in a limited dust collection
space. Therefore, such problems cannot be solved that dust collection efficiency decrease
unless the collected dust is frequently discarded so that it takes a lot of trouble
with discarding dust, or dust is likely to disperse in air so that the user feels
uncomfortable with the fluttering and re-entrainment of dust when discarding it in
a garbage bucket or the like.
[0006] In order to solve such problems, it's necessary to compress the collected dust as
hard as possible. As an existing dust collection apparatus equipped with such a compression
means of dust, there is provided a dust collection apparatus equipped with a mechanical
compression means as described in the Patent Literature 2.
[0007] The dust collection apparatus equipped with such a mechanical compression means can
compress and harden the collected dust, and thereby results in little decline in dust
collection efficiency even after continuous use for a long time.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2006-75584
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2005-13312
[0008] Japanese utility application number
JP 55-068553 discloses a cyclone apparatus with a collection container, having an air inlet and
air outlet, and also a sprially curved member.
Disclosure of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0009] In the case of the dust collection apparatus described in the aforementioned Patent
Literature 2, however, it is designed to compress dust by holding a doughnut-shaped
compression circular plate down from up above the dust collection portion through
a handle operated manually so that it creates another problem for fundamentally wasting
user's time.
[0010] Furthermore, the dust collection apparatus described in the Patent Literature 2 compresses
dust or the like simply in a linear manner (without rotation) by pushing down the
compression circular plate, so that this causes such a problem that, when the doughnut-shaped
compression disk is raised at the time of start of operation next time, dust including
cotton dust or the like, which is likely to restore to the original shape, recovers
back to almost the same volume as that before compression, and thereby results in
the loss of effect of compression behavior.
[0011] The aforementioned problems equally occur with not only a dust collection apparatus
like an electric vacuum cleaner but also a cyclone separation apparatus that separates
materials including powder and fiber or various materials with different particle
size contained in air from the air by particle size. The present invention is directed
to solve the above problems occurred in the cyclone separation apparatus that separates
widely various materials as well as the aforementioned typical dust collection apparatus.
[0012] Accordingly, the present invention has been devised in view of such circumstances
as mentioned above, and the object of the present invention is to provide an excellent
cyclone dust collection apparatus that can maintain the material targeted for collection
in a firmly compressed state by compressing the material targeted for collection by
the rotation of a compression portion even when the compression force for the material
targeted for collection is released in order to discharge the material targeted for
collection, whereby a high suction force can be maintained even if a large amount
of the material targeted for collection is stored in the collection container, high
collection efficiency can be maintained for a long time, and such a problem does not
exist as the material targeted for collection flying apart again in air when the compression
force is released at the time of discharging the material targeted for collection
by maintaining the material targeted for collection in a firmly compressed state as
mentioned above.
[0013] Furthermore, another object is to provide a cyclone dust collection apparatus that
takes into account a decrease in driving load of the compression portion and a downsizing
of the whole apparatus by downsizing the compression portion.
Means of Solving the Problems
[0014] In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to the present invention,
there is provided a cyclone separation apparatus that is equipped with a collection
container with a roughly cylindrical interior surface, wherein, by causing air drawn
in from an air inlet disposed in the circumferential direction in the periphery of
the collection container to spiral along the roughly cylindrical interior surface,
and then discharging the air from the center of the collection container through a
filter means, provided in an upper portion of the collection container the relatively
large material targeted for collection and contained in the air is collected at the
bottom of the collection container and the relatively small material targeted for
collection is collected in the filter means, and wherein the cyclone separation apparatus
is equipped, inside the collection container, with a compression member that has a
spiral curved surface centered around the vertical central shaft of the collection
container, that can rotate around the vertical central shaft, and that compresses
the material targeted for collection, the compression member has a disk-shaped shielding
member arranged above the spiral curved surface for separating the upper portion of
the collection container from a lower portion thereof, and the compression member
has a rotation shaft portion in a shape of a hollow circular cylinder, and the rotation
shaft portion is fitted to a fitting portion disposed at the bottom of the collection
container.
[0015] More particularly, a conceivable configuration is that the collection container,
in an upper portion thereof, is equipped with a separation apparatus body having an
air outlet through which air is discharged via the filter means.
[0016] An embodiment of the compression of the material targeted for collection by the compression
member is conceivable in which the spiral curved surface of the compression member
is rotated around the vertical central shaft by the rotation of the compression member,
whereby the material targeted for collection accumulated in the collection container
is pushed out toward the bottom surface of the collection container by the spiral
curved surface and compressed.
[0017] The shape of the spiral curved surface of the compression member is conceivable in
which assuming the spiral curved surface as a screw, the spiral curved surface of
the compression member is formed so as to have the screw go backward by the rotation
of the compression member. As a typical example of what transfers the material targeted
for collection by the rotation of a spiral curved surface on the assumption that the
spiral curved surface is a screw, Archimedes' screw as a screw pump can be mentioned.
[0018] While, when seeing the shape of the spiral curved surface in relation to the direction
of airflow descending along the interior periphery surface of the collection container,
as another example embodiment, a configuration is conceivable in which the spiral
curved surface of the compression member is formed in the same direction as that of
rotation of airflow descending in a whirl along the interior periphery surface of
the collection container.
[0019] Conversely, a possible configuration of the present invention may include the spiral
curved surface of the compression member being formed in the opposite direction from
the direction of rotation of airflow descending in a whirl along the interior periphery
surface of the collection container.
[0020] Furthermore, a configuration is conceivable in which the collection container is
further equipped with a driving means for providing a rotary drive of the compression
member.
[0021] In this case, for example, the compression member can be controlled to be automatically
rotary driven after the completion of the process of collecting the material targeted
for collection or to be rotary driven during the same process, thereby attaining an
enhancement of laborsaving.
[0022] In the latter case, it is also possible to control the compression member to be intermittently
rotary driven during the process of collecting the material targeted for collection.
[0023] In any of these cases as described above, it is preferable to provide a cyclone separation
apparatus with the compression member that is stored in the collection container with
a roughly cylindrical space between the collection container and the interior periphery
surface of the collection container. In this case, the width in the direction of the
radius of the roughly cylindrical space surrounded by the interior periphery surface
of the collection container may be configured to become reduced in size downward.
[0024] In any of these cases as described above, a configuration is conceivable in which
the spiral curved surface of the compression member is formed so as to twist along
the interior periphery surface of the collection container with at least more than
one complete circle thereof.
[0025] Conversely, the spiral curved surface of the compression member may be formed so
as to twist along the interior periphery surface of the collection container with
less than one complete circle thereof, thereby attaining a downsizing of the compression
member.
[0026] Furthermore, in this case, a configuration is conceivable in which the compression
member is configured to comprise the rotation shaft portion disposed at the vertical
center thereof, the spiral curved surface formed around the rotation shaft portion
and the disk-shaped shielding member disposed above the spiral curved surface, with
a clearance being vertically interposed between the spiral curved surface and the
disk-shaped shielding member.
[0027] In this case, the spiral curved surface is formed from the start end on the side
of the upper portion opening of the collection container through the termination end
on the side of the lower bottom surface of the collection container, so that if the
outer edge of the start end s formed in a curved line so as to have the radius from
the center to the outer periphery of the compression member gradually enlarge, it
may prevents waste textile or the like from catching in the start end.
[0028] The above-mentioned cyclone separation apparatus is usable as a cyclone dust collection
apparatus when the material targeted for collection is dust.
Advantageous Effect of the Invention
[0029] As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a cyclone
separation apparatus that is equipped with a collection container with a roughly cylindrical
interior surface, wherein, by causing air drawn in from an air inlet disposed in the
circumferential direction in the periphery of the collection container to spiral along
the roughly cylindrical interior surface, and then discharging the air from the center
of the collection container through a filter means, the relatively large material
targeted for collection and contained in the air is collected at the bottom of the
collection container and the relatively small material targeted for collection is
collected in the filter means, and wherein the cyclone separation apparatus is equipped
with a spiral curved surface inside the collection container centered around the vertical
central shaft of the collection container, and is equipped with a compression member
that can rotate around the vertical central shaft. Thus, it is possible to compress
the relatively large material targeted for collection and collected by the rotation
of the compression member.
[0030] According, the compression force to the material targeted for collection like dust
can be maintained, and at the same time, the upper side of the spiral curved surface
can be secured as the space of the dust collection container, so that even if a large
amount of material targeted for collection is accumulated in the collection container,
as the performance of the cyclone separation apparatus can be maintained, the suction
force doesn't decrease, thereby maintaining a high collection efficiency for a long
time..
[0031] Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an excellent
cyclone separation apparatus that can maintain the material targeted for collection
in a firmly compressed state as mentioned above, and when the compression force is
released, without causing any issue such as the material targeted for collection flying
apart again in the air, can pass it to the post-processing or discarded it.
[0032] In addition, in accordance with the present invention, the compression member to
be rotary driven can be downsized, thereby attaining a decrease in driving load of
the compression member and a downsizing of the apparatus.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0033]
FIG.1 is an appearance diagram of an electric vacuum cleaner X in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.2 is a cross-sectional view depicting the internal structure of a cyclone dust
collection apparatus Y in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.3 is a cross-sectional view depicting the internal structure of the cyclone dust
collection apparatus Y in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG.4 shows perspective views depicting a spirally rotating compression portion disposed
in the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y in accordance with the embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. (a) is a perspective view from downward and FIG. (b) from
upward.
FIG.5 shows drawings depicting an upper portion filter unit 13 disposed in the cyclone
dust collection apparatus Y in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.6 is a cross-sectional view depicting the internal structure of the cyclone dust
collection apparatus Y centered on a spirally rotating compression portion in accordance
with the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.7 shows exploded perspective views depicting the internal structure of the cyclone
dust collection apparatus Y in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.8 is a cross-sectional view depicting a rotating force transfer path to the spirally
rotating compression portion of the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y in accordance
with the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.9 shows cross-sectional views of the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y depicting
the situation when dust is compressed and laminated by the rotation of the spirally
rotating compression portion.
FIG.10 shows cross-sectional views of the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y depicting
how dust is stored in the spirally rotating compression portion.
FIG.11 is a cross-sectional view of the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y when a
right cylindrical dust collection container is used.
FIG.12 is a cross-sectional view of the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y depicting
the place where a spiral portion is set.
FIG.13 is a perspective view of the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y depicting
the place where the spiral portion is set.
FIG.14 is a sectional side elevation of the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y depicting
a rib formed in the dust collection container.
FIG.15 is a horizontal sectional view of the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y depicting
the rib formed in the dust collection container.
FIG.16 is a drawing equivalent to FIG.6 in accordance with an embodiment where the
spiral portion is less than one complete circle around a rotation shaft portion.
FIG.17 shows drawings equivalent to FIG.7 in accordance with the embodiment where
the spiral portion is less than one complete circle around the rotation shaft portion.
FIG.18 is a drawing equivalent to FIG.8 in accordance with the embodiment where the
spiral portion is less than one complete circle around the rotation shaft portion.
FIG.19 shows perspective views of the spiral portion in accordance with the embodiment
where the spiral portion is less than one complete circle around the rotation shaft
portion.
FIG.20 (a) and (b) are perspective views, and FIG.(c) is a plan view of the spiral
portion with the start end being in a circular form in accordance with the embodiment
where the spiral portion is less than one complete circle around the rotation shaft
portion.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings for a sufficient understanding of the present invention.
It is to be noted that the following embodiments of the present invention are presented
by way of example only, and are no way intended to limit the technical scope of the
present invention.
[0035] First of all, referring to Fig.1, the schematic configuration of an electric vacuum
cleaner X in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0036] As shown in FIG.1, the electric vacuum cleaner X is schematically configured to comprise
a cleaner body 1, an intake port 2, a connector 3, a connecting hose 4 and an operating
handle 5. The cleaner body 1 is embedded with an electric blower (not shown), a cyclone
dust collection apparatus Y, a control apparatus (not shown) or the like. It is to
be noted that the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y will be described in detail
in the latter clause.
[0037] The electric blower comprises a blower fan for intaking air and a blower drive motor
for driving the blower fan to rotate. The control apparatus comprises CPU, RAM, ROM
or the like for integrally controlling the electric vacuum cleaner X. More specifically,
in the control apparatus, the CPU performs various processing tasks in accordance
with the control program(s) stored in the ROM.
[0038] It is to be noted that the operating handle 5 is equipped with an operating switch
(not shown) in order for the user to start and stop the operation, and selectively
operate a plurality of operation modes of the electric vacuum cleaner X. In addition,
a display portion (not shown) such as LED for displaying the current status of the
electric vacuum cleaner X is also disposed adjacent to the operating switch.
[0039] The cleaner body 1 is connected to the intake port 2 via the connecting hose 4 connected
to the front end of the cleaner body 1 and the connector 3 connected to the connecting
hose 4.
[0040] Therefore, in the electric vacuum cleaner X, the operation of the electric blower
(not shown) embedded in the cleaner body 1 allows the intake port 2 to intake air.
Then the air drawn in from the intake port 2 flows into the cyclone dust collection
apparatus Y through the connector 3 and the connecting hose 4. In the cyclone dust
collection apparatus Y, dust is centrifuged from the air drawn in. It is to be noted
that the air after dust removal in the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y is discharged
from an exhaust port (not shown) disposed to the rear end of the cleaner body 1.
[0041] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 2~6, the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y
will de described in details as an example of the cyclone dust collection apparatus
in accordance with the present invention.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 2 and 3, the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y is schematically
configured to comprise a housing 10, a dust collection container 11 (one example of
collection containers) having roughly cylindrical interior surface and being detachably
connected to the housing 10, an interior cylinder 12, an upper portion filter 13,
a dust receiving portion 14, a dust removal drive mechanism 15 or the like.
[0043] In the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y, the dust collection container 11, the
interior cylinder 12, the upper portion filter unit 13 and the dust receiving portion
14 are coaxially arranged centered around a vertical central shaft P. Furthermore,
the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y is configured to be detachably connected to
the cleaner body 1.
[0044] The housing 10 comprises the interior cylinder 12 with a filter 122.
[0045] This cyclone dust collection apparatus Y is configured to be equipped with the collection
container 11 with a roughly cylindrical interior surface, wherein by discharging air
within the collection container 11 from the interior cylinder 12 disposed in the center
thereof, causing air drawn in from an air inlet 111a (Refer to FIG.7) disposed in
the periphery of the collection container 11 to spiral along the interior periphery
surface of the collection container 11, and then discharging the air from the interior
cylinder 12 through the upper portion filter unit 13 that is one example of a filter
means, the relatively large dust targeted for collection and contained in the air
is collected at the bottom of the collection container 11 and the relatively small
dust targeted for collection is collected by the upper portion filter unit 13 or the
like.
[0046] The dust collection container 11 is a container with the interior periphery surface
as well as the external form being cylindrical for holding dust separated from the
air drawn in. The dust collection container 11 is configured to be detachably connected
to the housing 10 of the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y. After removing the cyclone
dust collection apparatus Y from the cleaner body 1, the user removes the dust collection
container 11 from the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y and discards dust in the
dust collection container 11. It is to be noted that a circular seal member 161 is
disposed between the housing 10 of the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y and the
dust collection container 11. This seal member 161 prevents leak of air between the
housing 10 and the dust collection container 11.
[0047] In addition, a fitting portion 11a that is fitted to a rotating shaft portion 123b
disposed in the interior cylinder 12 to be described later is disposed at the bottom
of the dust collection container 11. A circular seal member 11b is disposed in the
outer periphery of the fitting section 11a to fill a clearance between the fitting
section 11 a and the rotating shaft portion 123b of the interior cylinder 12. This
seal member 11b prevents leak of air between the rotating shaft portion 123b and the
dust collection container11.
[0048] Furthermore, the dust collection container 11 is equipped with a connecting portion
111 to which the connecting hose 4 (Refer to FIG. 1) is connected. The air drawn in
through the connector 3 and the connecting hose from the intake port 2 flows into
the dust collection container 11 through the connecting portion 111.
[0049] An air inlet 111a (Fig.7) of the connecting portion 111 directed to the dust collection
container 11 is formed so as to allow the air from the connecting hose 4 to spiral
within the dust collection container 11. More specifically, the air inlet 111a(Fig.7)
is formed so as to have the outlet at the side of the dust collection container 11
being directed to the circumferential direction of the dust collection container 11.
Therefore, in the dust collection container 11, by whirling the air drawn in, dust
contained in the air is separated by centrifugal force (centrifugal separation). Then
the dust centrifugally separated by the dust collection container 11 will be held
at the bottom of the dust collection container 11 (Dust shown in FIG. 9 and 10).
[0050] Meanwhile, the air after dust removal passes along an exhaust path 112 as indicated
by arrow (FIG.2) and is discharged outward from the dust collection container 11 through
an exhaust port (not shown) disposed to the cleaner body 1. Here, the exhaust path
112 from the dust collection container 11 through the exhaust port (not shown) is
arranged with the interior cylinder 12, the dust receiving portion 14 and the upper
portion filter unit 13 in order.
[0051] The interior cylinder 12 is a cylindrical member arranged in the dust collection
container 11. Here, the interior cylinder 12 is rotatably supported by the dust receiving
portion 14. More specifically, a circular recess 12a disposed at the upper end of
the interior cylinder 12 is supported by a circular support 14c disposed at the lower
end of the dust receiving portion 14, allowing the interior cylinder 12 to be rotatably
hung from the dust receiving portion 14. It is to be noted that the configuration
for rotatably supporting the interior cylinder 12 is not limited to this. As an example,
it may be conceivable to pivotably support, for example, the upper and lower ends
of the interior cylinder 12.
[0052] In addition, a plurality of connections 12b, 12b,...are disposed on the upper end
of the interior cylinder 12 so as to be engaged in an engaging portion 134c disposed
to an inclined dust removable member 134 to be described later. The connection 12b
is a rib that is disposed on an open edge portion of the interior cylinder 12 so as
to protrude upward.
[0053] The interior cylinder 12 is connected to the inclined dust removal member 134 so
as to be rotatable together with each other by having the connection 12b to be engaged
in the engaging portion 134c. This enables the interior cylinder 12 to rotate in conjunction
with the inclined dust removal member 134. It is to be noted that the connection structure
of the interior cylinder 12 and the inclined dust removal member 134 is not limited
to this. For example, such a configuration may be provided where the interior cylinder
12 is connected to the inclined dust removal member 134 so as to rotate together with
each other by fitting the fitting portions attached to the interior cylinder 12 and
the inclined dust removal member 134 respectively.
[0054] Furthermore, on the upper portion of the interior cylinder 12, an interior cylinder
exhaust port 121 is formed for discharging the air after the separation of dust in
the dust collection container 11 to the upper portion filter unit 13. Then, the interior
cylinder exhaust port 121 is equipped with a cylindrical interior cylinder filter
122 covering the whole interior cylinder exhaust port 121. The interior cylinder filter
122 filters the air that passes through the interior cylinder exhaust port 121.
[0055] For example, the interior cylinder filter 122 is an air filter or the like made in
a mesh form. It is to be noted that the interior cylinder filter 122 may be equipped
either the inside or the outside of the interior cylinder exhaust port 121. Instead
of the exhaust port 121 and the interior cylinder filter 122, a porosity in a mesh
form may be configured to be formed in the interior cylinder 12. In this case, the
porosity in a mesh form functions as the interior cylinder exhaust port 121 and the
interior cylinder filter 122.
[0056] While, the lower portion of the interior cylinder 12 is equipped with a spirally
rotating compression portion 123 for compressing dust within the dust collection container
11.
[0057] Here, in addition to FIG.2 and 3, with reference to FIG.4, a perspective view of
the spirally rotating compression portion 123, the spirally rotating compression portion
123 will be described.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 2 ~ 4, the spirally rotating compression portion 123 comprises at
least the rotation shaft portion 123b that is the center of rotation, a spiral portion
123a with a spiral curved surface formed around the rotation shaft portion 123b and
a disk-shaped shielding member 123c disposed on the upper part of the spiral portion
123a.
[0059] The rotation shaft portion 123b is a hollow circular cylinder fitted to the fitting
portion 11a disposed at the bottom of the dust collection container 11. As described
above, a seal member 11b is interposed between the rotation shaft portion 123b and
the fitting portion 11a (Refer to FIG. 2 and 3).
[0060] In the dust collection container 11, the disk-shaped shielding member 123c serves
as a divider between an upper space portion (a dust separation portion 104) where
dust is separated by centrifugal force of spiral flow to be described below and a
lower space portion (a dust collection portion 105). This prevents the collected dust
from rolling and clogging the interior cylinder filter 122. Furthermore, the disk-shape
prevents dust contained in cyclone air flow from getting stuck therewith and can efficiently
introduce dust to the bottom surface of the dust collection container 11.
[0061] Furthermore, the rotating shaft portion 123b is equipped with a plate-like spiral
portion 123a (an example of compression member) that extends spirally centered around
the rotating shaft portion 123b toward the bottom surface of the dust collection portion
105 with the upper and under surface thereof being curved with a spiral curved surface
centered around the vertical central shaft P. In accordance with this embodiment of
the present invention, as shown in FIG.4, the spiral portion 123a is formed from a
start end 123s at the side of upper portion opening of the dust collection container
11 to a terminating end 123e at the side of the lower portion bottom surface of the
dust collection container 11. The start end 123s is connected to the under surface
of the disk-shaped shielding member 123c, but the terminating end 123e is free. However,
the spiral portion 123a in accordance with the present invention is not limited to
this shape. The start end 123s of the spiral portion 123a may be separated from the
disk-shaped shielding member 123c and a clearance may be interposed between the spiral
portion 123a and the disk-shaped shielding member 123c. Such an embodiment will be
described below.
[0062] The spiral portion 123a moves dust accumulated within the dust collection container
11 to the bottom portion of the dust collection container 11 when the interior cylinder
12 is rotated as described below. At this time, assuming the spiral curved surface
of the compression member as a screw, the spiral curved surface is formed so as to
have the screw go backward by the rotation of the compression member, thereby enabling
the dust to be compressed on this spiral curved surface.
[0063] Preferably, at this time, the spiral curved surface of the spiral portion 123a is
formed to have the same direction of inclination as that of the swirling airflow as
indicated by arrow A in FIG.6. By rotating the spiral portion 123a in the opposite
direction from the rotation of arrow A in FIG.6, the dust within the dust collection
container 11 is moved to the bottom surface of the dust collection container 11 due
to the friction against the interior surface of the dust collection container 11.
[0064] However, the spiral curved surface of the spiral portion 123a may be inclined to
the opposite direction from the direction of inclination of the swirling airflow swirling
along the interior periphery surface of the dust collection container 11. At this
time, the direction of rotation of the spiral portion 123a is the same as that of
the swirling airflow of arrow A in FIG.6. More specifically, assuming the spiral portion
123a as a screw, the direction of rotation of the spiral portion 123a is the direction
for the screw to go backward by the rotation of the spiral portion 123a.
[0065] Furthermore, when the interior cylinder 12 is rotated, the spiral portion 123a pushes,
between the bottom surface of the dust collection container 11 and thereof, the dust
that has moved to the bottom surface of the dust collection container 11 outward from
the center of rotation shaft and compresses it by the rotation of the interior cylinder
12 and the friction with the bottom surface of the dust collection container 11. By
this configuration, the dust is firmly compressed by rotation so that the possible
amount of accumulation of dust of the dust collection container 11 can be increased.
Therefore, for example, it may be possible to realize a downsizing of the dust collection
container 11. In addition, the dust firmly compressed does not easily come loose,
thereby not causing a problem of fling apart when it is taken out and allowing it
to be discarded as it is as dust.
[0066] Meanwhile, the air after filtration by the interior cylinder filter 122 of the interior
cylinder 12 is introduced to the upper portion filter unit 13 through the inside of
the interior cylinder 12.
[0067] Here, with reference to FIG. 5 in addition to FG.2 and 3, the upper portion filter
unit 13 will be described. FIG.5 (a) is a perspective view of the upper portion filter
unit 13 as viewed from up above and FIG.5 (b) is a perspective view of the upper portion
filter unit 13 as viewed from underneath.
[0068] The upper portion filter unit 13 includes a HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate
Air Filter) 131, a filter dust removal member 132, the inclined dust removable member
134, or the like.
[0069] The HEPA filter 131 is a kind of air filters that further filters the air flowing
on the exhaust path 112 after being discharged from the interior cylinder 12.
[0070] The HEPA filter 131 comprises an aggregate of a plurality of filters circularly disposed
and fixed around the vertical central shaft P. It is to be noted that each of a plurality
of filters, for example, is fixed to the framework shown in FIG.5 (b). In addition,
a plurality of filters included in the HEPA filter 131 are arranged in a pleated shape
with a repeated concavo-convex pattern in a roughly horizontal direction, thereby
securing enough filter area of the HEP filter 131. It should be noted that a circular
seal member 162 is disposed between the lower end of the HEPA filter 131 and the housing
10, thereby preventing the leak of air therebetween.
[0071] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2 and 3, at the center of the HEPA filter 131, a hollow
portion 131a is formed, into which a coupling portion 133 disposed in a filter dust
removal member 132 is fit to be described below. Also the hollow portion 131a is equipped
with a supporting portion 131b that rotatably supports the coupling member 133.
[0072] As described above, the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y attains an enhancement
of the power of dust collection by filtering air in two stages such as the interior
cylinder filter 122 and the HEPA filter 131.
[0073] However, when the HEPA filter 131 is clogged with the accumulation of dust, the air
passing resistance increases. As a result, the load of the electric blower (not shown)
increases, possibly resulting in a decrease in the power of dust attraction. Therefore,
the upper portion filter unit 13 is equipped with the filter dust removal member 132
that removes dust attached to the HEPA filter 131.
[0074] The filter dust removal member 132 is rotatably supported by the supporting portion
131b disposed at the center of the HEPA filter 131. More specifically, the filter
dust removal member 132 is equipped with the coupling member 133 rotatably supported
by the supporting portion 131b.
[0075] In addition, the coupling portion 133 is equipped with the inclined dust removable
member 134 that is screwed by a screw 133b into a screw hole 133a disposed to the
coupling portion 133, thereby allowing the filter dust removal member 132 and the
inclined dust removable member 134 to be coupled so as to rotate together. It is to
be noted that a seal member 163 that fills a clearance between the inclined dust removable
member 134 and the HEPA filter 131 is disposed therebetween. Thus it helps preventing
the leak of air between the inclined dust removable member 134 and the HEPA filter
131.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 2 and 5 (a), the filter dust removable member 132 comprises two
contact portions (132a) that are arranged at a predetermined interval along the HEPA
filter 131 so as to contact the upper end portion of the HEPA filter 131. The contact
portion 132a is a plate spring-form elastic member. It is to be noted that the contact
portion 132a is not limited to the plate spring-form elastic member. Also, with regards
to the contact portion 132a, either one or a plurality thereof may be disposed.
[0077] Furthermore, the filter dust removable member 132 is equipped with a gear 132b around
the outer perphery thereof. As shown in FIG. 2 and 3, this gear 132b is meshed with
a gear 15a attached to a dust removal drive mechanism 15 disposed in the cyclone dust
collection apparatus Y.
[0078] As clearly shown in FIG.2, the dust removal drive mechanism 15 comprises a decelerator
coupled to a driving motor (not shown, but a driving means as an example and hereinafter
called "a dust removal driving motor") disposed on the side of the cleaner body 1
and a gear 15a coupled the driving motor. The dust removal drive mechanism 15 allows
the rotating force of the dust removal driving motor to be transmitted to the gear
15a via the decelerator. And the rotating force of the gear 15 of the dust removal
drive mechanism 15 is transmitted to the gear 132b, thereby enabling the filter dust
removal member 132 to rotate.
[0079] Then, as described above, the rotation of the filter dust removal member 132 is transmitted
to the inclined dust removable member 134, thereby allowing the interior cylinder
12 that rotates together with the inclined dust removable member 134 and the spirally
rotating compression portion 123 that rotates together with the interior cylinder
12 to rotate around the vertical central shaft P.
[0080] It is to be noted that, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention,
the invention is described as embodied in such an example that the filter dust removal
member 132 is rotated by the dust removal driving motor. As another embodiment, however,
there may be provided a mechanism in which the filter dust removal member 132 can
be rotated manually instead of by the dust removal driving motor.
[0081] Furthermore, it is also proper to have the spirally rotating compression portion
123 rotate by other motors than the dust removal driving motor. In order to perform
the removal of dust by the upper portion filter unit 13 and the rotation of the spirally
rotating compression portion 123 separately, such a method as using other motors mentioned
above may be adopted.
[0082] When the filter dust removal member 132 is rotated, two of the contact portions (132a)
attached thereto intermittently hit and provide vibration to the HEPA filter 131 formed
in a pleated shape, thereby knocking off dust attached to the HEPA filter 131 by the
vibration provided by the filter dust removal member 132. It is to be noted that,
to put into operation of the dust removal driving motor (not shown), it is preferable,
before the start or after the ending of the dust collection behavior by the electric
vacuum cleaner X for example. Thus it enables the dust to be removed from the HEPA
filter 131 effectively without airflow into downstream in the HEPA filter 131 due
to the air intake by the electric blower.
[0083] Furthermore, as described above, the dust receiving portion 14 rotatably supports
the interior cylinder 12. More specifically, the circular support 14c that is fit
to the circular recess 12a disposed at the upper end of the interior cylinder 12 is
arranged at the lower end of the open edge portion 14a of the dust receiving portion
14, thereby enabling the interior cylinder 12 to be rotatably hung up by the dust
receiving portion 14.
[0084] Then, the structure of the spirally rotating compression portion 123 will be described
in more detail.
[0085] As described above, the cyclone dust collection apparatus Y is formed to be roughly
cylindrical in shape, and configured to comprise the upper portion filter unit 13
arranged at the upper portion thereof and the dust collection container 11 arranged
at the lower portion thereof.
[0086] The disk-shaped shielding member 123c that serves as a boundary division between
the dust separation portion 104 and the dust collection portion 105 is integrally
joined to the lower end of the interior cylinder 12 housed in the dust collection
container 11. The external diameter of the disk-shaped shielding member 123c is almost
the same as that of the spiral portion 123a thereunder, and smaller than the internal
diameter of the dust separation portion 104. And a clearance 106 (FIG.6) is interposed
between the periphery of disk-shaped shielding member 123c and the interior wall of
the dust collection container 11. The clearance 106 is suitable in size to such a
situation that when transferring the dust separated at the dust separation portion
104 to the dust collection portion 105, even the dust at a certain volume can be smoothly
transferred, and the dust once transferred and accumulated at the dust collection
portion 105 can be rolled up without clogging the interior cylinder filter 122. It
was confirmed that about 13mm is preferable by experiment.
[0087] In addition, a clearance 107 (equivalent to the roughly cylindrical space in accordance
with the present invention) between the spiral portion 123a and the interior surface
of the dust collection container 11 is configured to become smaller toward the bottom
surface of the dust collection container 11 as the diameter of the dust collection
container 11 is designed to become smaller toward the bottom surface thereof. Thus
the friction between dust and the interior wall surface of the dust collection container
11 gets bigger and the force to transfer the dust in the direction of the vertical
central shaft P by the spirally rotating compression portion 123 also gets bigger,
resulting in compression further efficiently.
[0088] Moreover, the disk-shaped shielding member 123c has a predetermined thickness in
the direction of height. The thickness of the disk-shaped shielding member 123c in
the direction of height affects the performance of centrifugal separation in the dust
separation portion 104, and in this embodiment, about 13 mm is employed as the thickness,
which was experimentally determined.
[0089] Furthermore, as described above, the spiral portion 123a of the spirally rotating
compression portion 123 is formed in a plate-like shape that is curved by being sandwiched
between spirally curved surfaces thereabove and therebelow. It is also formed so as
to twist around the rotating shaft portion 123b that extends almost vertically downward
from the disk-shaped shielding member 123c to the bottom surface of the dust collection
container 11 with more than one complete circle from the start end 123s (the connection
portion to the disk-shaped shielding member 123c) to the termination end 123e (the
lower end). The preferable value of the twist angle as described above is equivalent
to 1.6 circles. In this way, the spiral portion 123a is formed to have a spirally
turning plane that is inclined downward along the direction of rotation of cyclone
swirling airflow (indicated by arrow A in FIG.6) along the interior periphery surface
of the dust collection container 11.
[0090] However, the twist angle whereby the aforementioned portion 123a twists around the
rotating shaft portion 123b is not limited to the above figure. For example, it should
be reduced to less than one complete circle for downsizing the spiral portion 123a
if desired. Such a compact spiral portion 123a will be described below.
[0091] Furthermore, a clearance 108 (Refer to FIG.6) is interposed between the termination
end (lower end) of the spiral portion 123a of the spirally rotating compression portion
123 and the bottom surface of the dust collection portion 105, thereby attaining a
major increase of the amount of dust that can be pushed from the center of the rotating
shaft outwardly and compressed.
[0092] Also, the width of the clearance 108 is large enough to prevent the cyclone dust
collection apparatus Y from being damaged by clogging of the dust that is pushed and
compressed to the bottom surface of the dust collection portion 105 and foreign materials
or the like between the termination end of the spiral portion and the bottom surface
of the dust collection portion 105. In this embodiment, about 6 ~ 13mm is employed
as the width of the aforementioned clearance 108 that was determined as by experiment
using 10kg of DMT standard waste TYPE8 based on the IEC Standard as a test waste.
[0093] The behavior of the electric vacuum cleaner configured as described above will be
described below.
[0094] As shown in FIG. 3 and 6, airflow that comes into the dust separation portion 104
of the dust collection container 11 through the air inlet 111a of the connection portion
111 that is formed in the circumferential direction of the dust separation portion
104 swirls along the interior periphery surface of the dust separation portion 104
at a high speed as indicated by arrow A in FIG.6. Relatively large dust in the swirling
airflow is separated therefrom by centrifugal force and pushed to the interior wall
of the dust collection container 11. As shown in FIG.2, the exhaust port 121 is disposed
down below so that the airflow, thereafter, spirally comes into the dust collection
port 105. As indicated by the two dot chain line arrow A in FIG.6, the swirling airflow
(main airflow) turns to climb upward after arriving at the bottom surface of the dust
collection portion 105. In the case of FIG.6, the rotation direction of airflow swirling
in the clearance 107 surrounding the spirally rotating compression portion 123 matches
the inclination direction of the spiral portion 123a of the spirally rotating compression
portion 123 so that the cyclone swirling airflow is not prevented, thereby enabling
efficient centrifugal separation with less pressure loss and achieving high suction
power.
[0095] Furthermore, the dust transferred by the airflow indicated by the two dot chain line
arrow A in FIG.6 gets lodged in (trapped in) and accumulated in the space 112a between
the termination end (lower end portion) of the spiral portion 123a and the bottom
surface of the dust collection container 11, wherein the dust is laminated from the
underside but along the spiral curved surface of the spiral portion 123a, thereby
preventing further pressure loss from increasing.
[0096] In addition, the rotation direction of the airflow swirling in the clearance 107
surrounding the spirally rotating compression portion 123 matches the inclination
direction of the spiral portion 123a thereof, so that the dust accumulated and laminated
is slightly compressed by the airflow as well, thereby decreasing the volume of dust
accumulated / laminated and attaining more efficient dust collection.
[0097] Next, the action of accumulation and lamination by the airflow of dust will be described
in detail below.
[0098] As described above, the dust suck in is separated in the dust separation portion
104, passes through the clearance 106 (FIG.6), and is introduced to the dust collection
portion 105. In the dust collection portion 105, the dust is blocked (trapped) by
the clearance 108 after passing through the clearance 107, and then is accumulated.
This accumulation of dust is laminated on the dust already accumulated by every rotation
of spirally rotating compression portion 123. Thus, as the laminate grows along the
spiral portion 123a without being disproportionately placed in this dust collection
apparatus, there is no way that dust is accumulated disproportionately within the
dust collection portion 105, thereby attaining a dramatic increase in the dust collectable
capacity in comparison with other dust collection portions with the same volume.
[0099] Furthermore, the spiral portion 123a may be formed in a spiral shape having a direction
of inclination toward downward along the direction of rotation of cyclone swirling
airflow. In this case, compression effect by the cyclone airflow is also obtained,
thereby attaining a further increase in dust collectable capacity.
[0100] Then, the more specific explanation is to follow about the action of rotary compression.
[0101] For example, when the blower drive motor stops driving, the airflow stops swirling.
When the dust removal drive mechanism 15 is driven after confirming the halt of driving
of the blower drive motor, as described above, the interior cylinder 12, the exhaust
port 121, the disk-shaped shielding member 123c, the spirally rotating compression
portion 123 and the rotating shaft portion 123b, all together rotate as one in the
direction of arrow D indicated in FIG. 8 (in a counterclockwise direction, viewed
from the upper surface) around the vertical central shaft P. In this way, the rotation
by the dust removal drive mechanism 15 is transmitted to the rotating shaft portion
123b via the 1
st rotation shaft line 152 and 2
nd rotation shaft line 153 shown in FIG.8.
[0102] Thus, when the spirally rotating compression portion 123 rotates, according to the
principle of screw, the thrust force is produced in the direction of the rotation
shaft (in the downward vertical direction indicated by arrow E in FIG.10). By this
thrust force, the dust 200 accumulated in the dust collection portion 105 as shown
in FIG. 9 is pushed out to the direction of the rotation shaft, pushed to the bottom
surface of the dust collection container 11 and compressed to the direction of the
rotation shaft.
[0103] Meanwhile, in the case of conventional cyclone dust collection apparatuses, in which
the spiral portion 123a doesn't rotate, when dust is laminated up to the upper portion
above 300 (roughly the position of the start end of the spiral portion 123a) shown
in FIG. 10, even if a new dust 201(Refer to FIG. 9) is sucked in from the upper side,
the dust 201 cannot be laminated/collected since there is no place where dust gets
lodged, thereby resulting in continuous rotation around the interior cylinder 12.
By continuous rotation, a large amount of dust is adhered to the interior cylinder
filter 122, thereby leading to a sudden decrease in suction power and decrease of
a product life-cycle due to the major load resting on the blower drive motor.
[0104] However, in this dust collection apparatus Y, the dust accumulated between the spiral
portion 123a and the bottom surface of the dust collection container 11 is applied
with the rotating force by the rotation of the spiral portion 123a. Thus, the dust
is compressed by being pushed out outwardly from the center shaft, so that the dust
200 between the spirally rotating compression portion 123 and the bottom surface of
dust collection container 11 maintains itself in a firmly compressed state once it
is compressed after the rotation stops or even after the dust collection container
11 is released and the compression force is released.
[0105] By maintaining the compressed state in this way, the dust can be held in the lower
portion under the height 300 so that the dust is collected even when the new dust
201 is suck in from up above, and the new dust can be further compressed by the rotation
of the spirally rotating compression portion 123, thereby attaining continuous compression
efficiently. As a result, according to experiment, such effect was confirmed that
for the dust collection portion with the same volume, the dust collectable capacity
increased about threefold.
[0106] In addition, in this dust collection apparatus Y, even if a great deal of dust is
collected by just one-time suction and the height of the dust reaches 300 shown in
FIG. 10, it comes together with the old one already contacted to the spiral portion
123a, and can be pushed out in the direction of the rotation shaft for compression.
[0107] Furthermore, as a compression action is performed by the rotation of the spirally
rotating compression portion 123, dust is applied with the force outwardly from the
center of shaft rotation by the rotation of the spirally rotating compression portion
123. Thus, the dust tends not to really adhere to the cylindrical rotation shaft portion
123b, thereby attaining a significant enhancement of maintenanceability. In addition,
even if the dust is adhered to the spirally rotating compression portion 123, it is
cleaned off by the dust that has been pushed out downwardly and compressed by the
rotation of the spirally rotating compression portion 123. In this way, the maintenanceability
of the spirally rotating compression portion 123 is very high.
[0108] Also, as described above, the dust after compression is integrated so as to be solidified
in a doughnut shape, thereby preventing waste from flying apart and dropping out when
discarding waste, and attaining efficient waste discarding.
[0109] By rotating the spirally rotating compression portion 123 by a driving means such
as a motor, it is possible to automatically rotate the spirally rotating compression
portion 123 during the driving of the blower drive motor (during suction), thereby
enabling dust to be compressed as well as caught/collected simultaneously. It also
can achieve further compression efficiently, attaining further enhancement of the
effect as mentioned above. In addition, even if a large amount of dust is sucked in
at one time, it is possible to compress it, enabling continuous cleaning for a long
time.
[0110] And further, with the intermittent rotation of the spirally rotating compression
portion 123 during the driving (suction) of blower drive motor, it becomes possible
to collect and compress dust simultaneously, and prevent power consumption from increasing
and increase a product life-cycle in terms of the life-cycle of drive mechanism as
it is unnecessary to continue driving the spirally rotating compression portion 123
for a long time. In addition, it is possible to decrease the noise when the driving
of compression portion drive mechanism, thereby attaining a cyclone dust collection
apparatus that is quiet and easy to use.
[0111] Furthermore, by disposing a rib 400 longitudinally to the interior wall surface of
the dust collection container 11 as shown in FIG.14, it becomes possible to make the
clearance partially smaller between the spirally rotating compression portion 123
and the dust collection container 11. Such configuration increases thrust force in
the direction of the rotation shaft by the spirally rotating compression portion 123,
thereby achieving more efficient compression. In addition, the lib 400 is disposed
to the interior wall surface of the dust collection container 11 so as to have the
clearance between the spirally rotating compression portion 123 and the dust collection
container 11 become smaller toward the bottom surface of the dust collection container
11, thereby achieving more efficient compression of dust.
[0112] One rib is effective, but it is preferable to have a plurality of ribs evenly distributed
from the view point of balance.
[0113] With regards to the configuration for generating a resistance to generate a friction
in order to push out dust between the spiral portion 123a and the dust collection
container 11, it is not limited to the rib 400 disposed to the interior wall surface
of the dust collection container 11, but the interior wall surface thereof may be
formed so as to be concavoconvex or be provided with surface treatment that becomes
resistance.
[0114] The spirally rotating compression portion 123 shown in FIG.11 comprises the clearance
107 between the outer circumferential end of the spiral portion 123a and the interior
wall surface of the dust collection portion 105 with the diameter of the internal
periphery of the dust collection container 11 being constant whereby there is no space
that becomes smaller toward the bottom surface of the dust collection container 11.
More specifically, the clearance 107 is constant toward the bottom surface of the
dust collection container 11. Other configurations are the same as the 1
st embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the dust collection container
11, as the internal diameter does never become smaller toward the bottom surface of
the dust collection container 11, the volume of the dust collection portion 105 increases
and it is possible to compress dust by constant thrust force in the direction of rotation
shaft, thereby achieving the accumulation and lamination of much mote dust. Furthermore,
as the clearance 107 is constant toward the bottom surface of the dust collection
container 11, the friction between dust and the interior wall surface of the dust
collection container 11 doesn't change, so that compression can be performed by constant
thrust force in the direction of rotation shaft, thereby attaining the effect of preventing
the spirally rotating compression portion 123 from being immobilized and locked by
clogging of dust.
[0115] When the spirally rotating compression portion 123 continues rotating without being
locked, the amount of dust collected per unit volume of the dust collection portion
105 increases. Thus, in the case of collecting the same volume of dust, a more compact
and lighter electric vacuum cleaner can be provided, thereby attaining an easiness
in handling thereof, leading to a reduction of burden on the part of the user and
a dramatic increase of cleaning efficiency for the user.
[0116] As is appreciated from the dust compression by the spirally rotating compression
portion 123 mentioned above, dust compression is conducted adjacent to the termination
end 123e of the spiral portion 123a, but not so positively done adjacent to the start
end 123s. From this point of view, it is considered not necessarily urgent need that
the spiral portion 123a as discussed previously is formed so as to twist along the
interior periphery surface of the dust collection container 11 with at least more
than one complete circle of the interior periphery surface. Therefore, it may be preferable
to consider the downsizing of the whole spirally rotating compression portion 123
of by cutting off the portion adjacent to the start end 123s of the spiral portion
123a that doesn't contribute to compression. In that case, it may be considered to
have the twist angle of the spiral portion 123a less than one complete circle along
the interior periphery of the dust collection container 11. It becomes possible to
downsize the spiral portion 123a or the whole spirally rotating compression portion
123 including the spiral portion 123a by reducing the twist angle of the spiral portion
123a in this way. By so downsizing the spirally rotating compression portion 123,
it is expected that rotation load is mitigated on the part of the spirally rotating
compression portion 123, and the reduction in size and weight of the whole apparatus
is realized.
[0117] FIG.19 shows the spirally rotating compression portion 123 with the twist angle of
the spiral portion 123a being less than one complete circle as mentioned above. A
view of the spirally rotating compression portion 123 viewed from obliquely upward
from a lower position is shown in (b) of the same figure is, and that viewed from
obliquely downward from an upper position is shown in (a) thereof.
[0118] With regards to the spirally rotating compression portion 123 shown in FIG. 19, the
spiral portion 123a formed around the spiral portion 123b disposed vertically at the
center thereof is separated from the disk-shaped shielding member 123c disposed above
the spiral portion 123a, and a clearance W is interposed vertically between the spiral
portion 123a and the disk-shaped shielding member 123c. The clearance W is shown in
FIG. 16 corresponding to FIG.6 and FIG. 18 corresponding to FIG.8, and should be clearly
understood with reference thereto.
[0119] Meanwhile, when the clearance W is formed by cutting off the portion adjacent to
the start end 123s of the spiral portion 123a as shown in FIG. 16 or 18 as described
above, it is considered that dust like waste textile or the like is likely to adhere
to a start end 123s' that has been newly formed by cutting off the portion adjacent
to the start end 123s. Particularly when the spirally rotating compression portion
123 rotates in the direction of the spiral screw of the spiral portion 123 going backward
as indicated by arrow D in FIG.18, dust like waste textile or the like is likely to
adhere to the start end 123s'. Such a problem that waste textile is likely to screw
with the start end appears prominently when the start end 123s' that has been formed
after the portion adjacent to start end 123s is cut off is formed in the direction
of radius of the rotating shaft portion 123b as shown in FIG.19.
[0120] In order to solve such a problem, as shown in FIG.20, the start end 123s' that has
been formed after cutting off the portion adjacent to the start end 123s may be formed
in a circular arc shape. In a precise sense, it is necessary for the radius of the
outer edge portion of the start end 123s from the center of the spiral portion 123a
to be arranged in a curved line so as to gradually enlarge from the start end 123s'
in the direction toward the terminal end. More specifically, as shown in FIG.20 (c),
when the outer edge portion of the start end 123s' of the spiral portion 123a having
the radius of r0 is formed in a curved line so as to have the radius r from the center
point O of the spiral portion 123a enlarge gradually from the start end 123s' (gradually
enlarge from r1, r2, ...rn to r0) in the direction toward the termination end (in
the direction indicated by arrow Yx), waste textile or the like easily moves along
the outer edge of the curved line and falls off the start end 123s', preventing dust
from adhering thereto and resulting in such a situation that it is unnecessary to
clean the portion for a long time or permanently.
[0121] It is to be noted that the embodiment as mentioned above explained the case when
as a result of cutting off a portion of the spiral portion 123a, the spiral portion
123a and the disk-shaped shielding member 123c were arranged discrete, resulting in
the formation of the clearance W therebetween, but this is merely exemplary in nature.
The configuration is allowable in which without cutting off the portion of the spiral
portion 123a, the start end 123s of the spiral portion 123a is formed so as to be
continuously connected to the disk-shaped shielding member 123c, resulting in no clearance
therebetween.
Industrial Applicability
[0122] The present invention is applicable to cyclone separation apparatuses including a
dust collector such as an electric vacuum cleaner.
Description of Drawing Reference Numerals
[0123]
- 10
- housing (separation apparatus body)
- 11
- dust collection container
- 12
- interior cylinder
- 13
- upper portion filter unit
- 14
- dust receiving portion
- 15
- dust removal drive mechanism
- 104
- dust separation portion
- 105
- dust collection portion
- 123
- spirally rotating compression portion
- 123a
- spiral portion (compression portion)
- 123b
- rotating shaft portion
- 123c
- disk-shaped shielding member
- 123s, 123s'
- start end
- 123e
- termination end
- 200, 201
- dust
- 400
- rib
1. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung, die mit einem Auffangbehälter (11) mit einer annähernd
zylindrischen Innenfläche ausgestattet ist, wobei, durch Verursachen, dass die von
einer Lufteintrittsöffnung (111a), die in der Umfangsrichtung im Umfang des Auffangbehälters
angeordnet ist, angesaugte Luft sich entlang der annähernd zylindrischen Innenfläche
spiralenförmig bewegt, und dann durch das Ausstoßen der Luft von der Mitte des Auffangbehälters
durch ein Filtermittel (13), das in einem oberen Teil des Auffangbehälters angebracht
ist, das relativ große zum Auffangen vorgesehene und in der Luft enthaltene Material
am Boden des Auffangbehälters (11) aufgefangen wird, und das relativ kleine zum Auffangen
vorgesehene Material in dem Filtermittel (13) aufgefangen wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung im Auffangbehälter mit einem Komprimierungselement
(123) ausgestattet ist, das eine spiralförmig gewölbte Fläche (123a) aufweist, die
um eine vertikale Zentralwelle (P) des Auffangbehälters zentriert ist, der sich um
die vertikale Zentralwelle (P) drehen kann, und das zum Auffangen vorgesehene Material
(200) komprimiert,
das Komprimierungselement (123) ein scheibenförmiges Abschirmungselement (123c) aufweist,
das oberhalb der spiralförmig gewölbte Fläche (123a) zum Trennen des oberen Teils
des Auffangbehälters von einem unteren Teil davon angeordnet ist, und
das Komprimierungselement (123) einen Drehwellenteil (123b) in Form eines hohlen Kreiszylinders
aufweist, und der Drehwellenteil (123b) in einen Einbauteil (11a) eingepasst ist,
der am Boden des Auffangbehälters (11) angeordnet ist.
2. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei ein Abschneidevorrichtungskörper
(10) im oberen Teil des Auffangbehälters (11) angeordnet ist, der eine Luftaustrittsöffnung
aufweist, durch die Luft über das Filtermittel (13) ausgestoßen wird.
3. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die spiralförmig
gewölbte Fläche (123a) des Komprimierungselements (123) durch die Drehung des Komprimierungselements
(123) um die vertikale Zentralwelle (P) gedreht wird, wobei das zum Auffangen vorgesehene
Material, das im Auffangbehälter angesammelt wurde, durch die spiralförmig gewölbte
Fläche (123a) komprimiert wird.
4. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei ausgehend
davon, dass die spiralförmig gewölbte Fläche (123a) eine Schraube ist, die spiralförmig
gewölbte Fläche (123a) des Komprimierungselements (123) so ausgebildet ist, dass sich
die Schraube durch die Drehung des Komprimierungselements rückwärts bewegt.
5. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die spiralförmig
gewölbte Fläche (123a) des Komprimierungselements (123) in der Richtung ausgebildet
ist, die annähernd der Drehrichtung des Luftstroms entspricht, der in einem Wirbel
entlang der Innenumfangsfläche des Auffangbehälters (11) herabsteigt.
6. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei ferner
ein Antriebsmittel (15) für den rotierenden Antrieb des Komprimierungselements (123)
angeordnet ist.
7. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, wobei das Komprimierungselement (123)
gesteuert wird, um nach Abschluss des Prozesses zum Auffangen des Materials (200),
das zum Auffangen vorgesehen ist, rotierend angetrieben zu werden.
8. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, wobei das Komprimierungselement (123)
gesteuert wird, um während des Prozesses zum Auffangen des Materials (200), das zum
Auffangen vorgesehen ist, rotierend angetrieben zu werden.
9. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach Anspruch 8, wobei das Komprimierungselement (123)
gesteuert wird, um während des Prozesses zum Auffangen des Materials (200), das zum
Auffangen vorgesehen ist, stoßweise rotierend angetrieben zu werden.
10. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Komprimierungselement
(123) im Auffangbehälter (11) mit einem annähernd zylindrischen Abstand zwischen dem
Komprimierungselement (123) und der Innenumfangsfläche des Auffangbehälters (11) gelagert
ist.
11. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die spiralförmig
gewölbte Fläche (123a) des Komprimierungselements (123) ausgebildet ist, um sich entlang
der Innenumfangsfläche des Auffangbehälters (11) mit mehr oder weniger als einem vollständigen
Kreis der Innenumfangsfläche zu winden.
12. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, wobei der Auffangbehälter (11) mit einem
Trennelement ausgestattet ist, das die spiralförmig gewölbte Fläche aufweist, die
um die vertikale Zentralwelle (P) des Auffangbehälters mit mehr als einem vollständigen
Kreis ausgebildet ist, und das scheibenförmige Abschirmungselement (123c) oberhalb
des Trennelements angeordnet ist.
13. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach Anspruch 12, wobei ein Freiraum vertikal zwischen
der spiralförmig gewölbten Fläche und dem scheibenförmigen Abschirmungselement (123c)
eingeschoben ist.
14. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die spiralförmig
gewölbte Fläche (123a) von einem Anfangsende (123s) auf der Seite der Öffnung am oberen
Teil des Auffangbehälters durch ein Abschlussende (123e) auf der Seite der unteren
Bodenfläche des Auffangbehälters (11) ausgebildet ist, und die Außenkante des Anfangsendes
(123s) in einer gewölbten Linie ausgebildet ist, sodass der Radius von der Mitte des
Komprimierungselements zum Außenumfang davon schrittweise größer wird.
15. Zyklonabschneidevorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, die auf eine
Zyklonstaubauffangvorrichtung angewendet werden kann, wobei Staub (200) als das zum
Auffangen vorgesehene Material ist.
1. Appareil séparateur à cyclone qui est équipé d'un récipient de récupération (11) avec
une surface intérieure à peu près cylindrique, dans lequel, grâce au fait que l'air
aspiré à partir d'une admission d'air (111a) disposée dans le sens circonférentiel
dans la périphérie du récipient de récupération est amené à longer en spirale la surface
intérieure à peu près cylindrique, et est ensuite évacué du centre dudit récipient
de récupération en traversant des moyens filtrants (13) disposés dans une partie supérieure
du récipient de récupération, le matériau relativement grand qui est destiné à être
récupéré et qui est contenu dans l'air est récupéré en bas du récipient de récupération
(11), et le matériau relativement petit destiné à être récupéré est récupéré dans
les moyens filtrants (13),
caractérisé en ce que l'appareil séparateur à cyclone est équipé, à l'intérieur du récipient de récupération,
d'un organe de compression (123) qui présente une surface courbe en spirale (123a),
centrée sur un axe central vertical (P) du récipient de récupération, qui peut tourner
autour dudit axe central vertical (P) et qui comprime le matériau (200) destiné à
être récupéré,
l'organe de compression (123) comporte un organe de protection en forme de disque
(123c), disposé au-dessus de la surface courbe en spirale (123a), pour séparer la
partie supérieure et une partie inférieure du récipient de récupération, et
l'organe de compression (123) présente une partie formant axe de rotation (123b) qui
a la forme d'un cylindre circulaire creux, et ladite partie formant axe de rotation
(123b) est montée sur une partie de montage (11a) disposée en bas du récipient de
récupération (11).
2. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon la revendication 1, dans lequel un corps d'appareil
séparateur (10) est disposé dans la partie supérieure du récipient de récupération
(11), avec une sortie d'air par laquelle l'air est évacué à travers les moyens filtrants
(13).
3. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel la surface courbe en spirale (123a) de l'organe de compression (123) tourne
sur l'axe central vertical (P) du fait de la rotation dudit organe de compression
(123), moyennant quoi le produit destiné à être récupéré qui est accumulé dans le
récipient de récupération est comprimé par la surface courbe en spirale (123a).
4. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel la surface courbe en spirale (123a) de l'organe de compression (123),
si on suppose qu'elle est conçue comme une vis, est formée de telle sorte que la vis
recule sous l'action de la rotation de l'organe de compression.
5. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel la surface courbe en spirale (123a) de l'organe de compression (123) est
formée dans le sens correspondant à peu près au sens de rotation de l'écoulement d'air
qui descend en tourbillon le long de la surface périphérique intérieure du récipient
de récupération (11).
6. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel des moyens d'entraînement (15) sont également prévus pour entraîner en
rotation l'organe de compression (123).
7. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon la revendication 6, dans lequel l'organe de compression
(123) est commandé pour être entraîné en rotation après achèvement de l'opération
de récupération du matériau (200) destiné à être récupéré.
8. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon la revendication 6, dans lequel l'organe de compression
(123) est commandé pour être entraîné en rotation pendant l'opération de récupération
du matériau (200) destiné à être récupéré.
9. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon la revendication 8, dans lequel l'organe de compression
(123) est commandé pour être entraîné en rotation par intermittence pendant l'opération
de récupération du matériau (200) destiné à être récupéré.
10. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel l'organe de compression (123) est stocké dans le récipient de récupération
(11) avec un espace à peu près cylindrique entre ledit organe de compression (123)
et la surface périphérique intérieure du récipient de récupération (11).
11. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel la surface courbe en spirale (123a) de l'organe de compression (123) est
formée de manière à s'étendre en hélice le long de la surface périphérique intérieure
du récipient de récupération (11) avec plus ou moins d'un cercle complet de ladite
surface périphérique intérieure.
12. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le récipient
de récupération (11) est équipé d'un organe de séparation présentant la surface courbe
en spirale formée autour de l'axe central vertical (P) du récipient collecteur avec
plus d'un cercle complet, et l'organe de protection en forme de disque (123c) est
disposé au-dessus de l'organe de séparation.
13. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon la revendication 12, dans lequel un espace est
intercalé à la verticale entre la surface courbe en spirale et l'organe de protection
en forme de disque (123c).
14. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel la surface courbe en spirale (123a) est formée à partir d'une extrémité
de commencement (123s), du côté de l'ouverture de partie supérieure du récipient de
récupération, jusqu'à une extrémité terminale (123e), du côté de la surface inférieure
de fond du récipient de récupération (11), et le bord extérieur de l'extrémité de
commencement (123s) est formé suivant une ligne courbe de manière à présenter un rayon,
à partir du centre de l'organe de compression jusqu'à la périphérie extérieure de
celui-ci, qui augmente progressivement.
15. Appareil séparateur à cyclone selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
qui est apte à être appliqué à un appareil de récupération de poussière à cyclone,
avec la poussière (200) comme matériau destiné à être récupéré.