1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner having a cyclone dust collecting apparatus matingly disposed along a connection pipe, and capable of filtering out and collecting relatively large particle contaminants from dirt-laden air drawn in through a suction port.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in
The vacuum cleaner also includes a motor (not shown) mounted in the cleaner body 1 to generate a suction force to draw in dirt-laden air through suction port 4. The dirt-laden air is drawn into cleaner body 1 via extension pipe 3 and connection hose 2. Solid contaminants are filtered at paper filter 7 that is disposed in the dust collecting chamber of the cleaner body 1, while the exiting air is discharged outside of the cleaner body 1.
In the general vacuum cleaner as described above, all of the solid contaminants in the dirt-laden air that is drawn in through the suction port 4 are filtered out at only a single paper filter 7 disposed in the dust collecting chamber 6 of the cleaner body 1. As a result, paper filter 7 becomes filled with contaminants quickly and must be replaced often in order to prevent overloading the motor and decreasing the suction force. Accordingly, frequent replacement of this disposable filter increases waste and the cost of operation due to the need to purchase replacement filters.
In an attempt to solve this problem, a vacuum cleaner having a cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10 has been suggested. A cyclone dust collecting apparatus serves as a first stage filtration area so the filter in body 1 can serve as a second stage filtration area. The collected debris in the cyclone dust collecting apparatus can be simply dumped without the use of disposable filters.
As shown in
Cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10 includes a cyclone body 20 having first and second connection pipes 11 and 12, respectively, a dust collecting receptacle 30 removably connected to cyclone body 20, and a filter member 40 positioned in dust collecting receptacle 30. The first connection pipe 11 is connected to extension pipe 3′ proximate suction port 4 and second connection pipe 12 is connected to extension pipe 3″ proximate cleaner body 1. Dust collecting receptacle 30 has a substantially cylindrical shape. Dust collecting receptacle 30 can also have a shape of a tapered cylinder which grows narrower as it extends downward.
In operation, dirt-laden air, drawn in through the suction port 4, is drawn through an air inlet 11a of first connection pipe 11 into the cyclone body 20 in a diagonal relation with respect to cyclone body 20. As the air current flows diagonally into the cyclone body 20, an air vortex is generated in cyclone body 20 and dust collecting receptacle 30 in a direction indicated by the solid-lined arrows in FIG. 2. As a result of the vortex air current, a centrifugal force is generated, separating large particle contaminants from the air. The separated contaminants fall and then are entrained in an upturning air current (indicated by the dot-lined arrows of
Meanwhile, filter member 40 within receptacle 30 prevents the contaminants from reversing together with the air flowing through air outlet 12a of cyclone body 20 during the operation of cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10.
The vacuum cleaner having such a cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10, is constructed such that the large particle contaminants of the dirt-laden air drawn in through the suction port 4 are pre-filtered in the cyclone apparatus before the dirt-laden air flows to the paper filter 7. In this manner, the cyclone apparatus functions as a first stage filtration device, and the air exiting the apparatus is directed to paper filter 7 to undergo an additional filtration step. Accordingly, the amount of contaminants to be filtered by paper filter 7 decreases, and the lifespan of paper filter 7 is lengthened. Also, by pre-filtering large particle contaminants, other advantages like prevention of suction force deterioration and motor overload are expected.
A detraction of the vacuum cleaner having the cyclone dust collecting apparatus 10 as described above, is that, the presence of cylindrical dust collecting receptacle 30 along cylindrical extension pipe 3 inevitably increases the overall volume of the cleaner. The rather bulky volume of the cleaner is cumbersome, and a user often finds it tiresome to use the cleaner and to move it as necessary during the cleaning operation.
The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in a vacuum cleaner having a reduced size.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cyclone dust collecting apparatus which facilitates easy manipulation for a user to carry the same during a cleaning operation.
The cyclone dust collecting apparatus for use in a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention includes many of the same features as the vacuum cleaner described above the dust collecting receptacle is positioned along side the connection pipe, with the connection pipe having a shape that matingly follows the outer surface of the dust collecting receptacle.
The dust collecting receptacle has a generally cylindrical shape so that in a horizontal sectional view its profile is substantially circular. The side of the connection pipe proximate the receptacle is contoured to correspond to the outer side of the cylindrical dust collecting receptacle. The cross-section of the connection pipe is substantially rectangular with a contoured side that is concave to matingly accommodate the circular profile of the receptacle.
According to the present invention, the overall width of the extension pipe and the dust collecting receptacle is reduced by this mating geometry, and accordingly, the vacuum cleaner is more compact and easier to manipulate, carry and use.
The cyclone dust collecting apparatus also has a handle formed on the cyclone body. The handle is integrally formed with the cyclone body. Accordingly, the user can grip the handle, and perform the cleaning operation or carry the cyclone dust collecting apparatus with ease.
The above objects are also accomplished by a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention having the above cyclone dust collecting apparatus.
The above-mentioned objects and the feature of the present invention will be more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail referring to the appended drawings, in which:
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to
Filter member 140 is disposed in second member 112, and dust collecting receptacle 130 is held at the lower portion of second member 112 by a fastening member 131. The air drawn in through the suction inlet 112a of cyclone body 120 forms a vortex air current in dust collecting receptacle 130, and then is discharged to connection hose 103″ via discharge outlet 111a. Dust collecting receptacle 130 is positioned along side of connection pipe 112b. Connection pipe 112b of the present invention has a cross-sectional profile that matingly accommodates the cross-sectional geometry of receptacle 130 along at least a portion of its length. As shown in
The overall shape of connection pipe 112b in a horizontal cross-section along most of the portion that it is coextensive with the receptacle is approximately a rectangular shape.
The lower end of connection pipe 112b is cylindrical as shown in
Another feature to facilitate handling of the present invention is a handle 160 integrally formed on second member 112 of the cyclone body 120, and designed to have the size and shape that are appropriate for a user to easily grip the same. Handle 160 provides a user with a convenient grip when he/she performs a vacuum cleaning operation or carries the cyclone dust collecting apparatus.
The vacuum cleaner having the above-described cyclone dust collecting apparatus operates in a similar manner as the prior art vacuum cleaner described above in the Background section.
As described above, according to the present invention, the overall thickness of the combination of extension pipe 112b and dust collecting receptacle 130 is reduced, and accordingly, the vacuum cleaner is easier to use. Geometrically mating the outer surfaces of extension pipe 112b and receptacle 130 not only renders the apparatus more compact, but also provides an assembly guide surface along their contact areas for easy placement and assembly of the receptacle. In addition, an enhanced attachment is provided as the two elements have mating bearing surfaces, compared to the sole use of a fastener to join together two circular shapes along a single line as previously used instead of a surface. Further, the structural features are provided to facilitate cleaning operation or easy transport of the cyclone dust collecting apparatus by provision of handle 160 provided thereon.
Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited to a described preferred embodiment, but various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2002-0012180 | Mar 2002 | KR | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20030167591 A1 | Sep 2003 | US |