FR2847450A1 - Cyclone dust collecting apparatus for vacuum cleaner, has dust receptacle to obtain dust and contaminants separated from air by centrifugal force of vortex air current in cyclone body and grill to prevent flow of dust - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has a cyclone body (50) with an air inflow port and an air outflow port. A dust receptacle connected to the body is configured to receive dust and contaminants separated from the air by a centrifugal force of a vortex air current in the cyclone body. A grill (70) disposed about the air outflow port prevents flow of the dust and contaminants. A grill supporting unit (80) supports the grill to rotate in the body.

Description

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner and, more specifically, to a

  cyclone dust collection device for vacuum cleaner, intended to separate and collect dust and contaminating materials from air loaded with such materials with a centrifugal force formed by creation of a

air vortex.

  Figures 1 and 2 schematically show by way of example a cyclone dust collection device

for vacuum cleaner.

  In FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference 100 designates the cyclone dust collecting device, the reference a vacuum cleaner body and the reference 300 a vacuum cleaner brush. The cyclone dust collecting device 100 comprises a cyclone body 10, a receptacle 20 to

dust, and a grid 30.

  As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cyclone body has an inlet pipe II and an air outlet pipe 12. The air inlet pipe 11 is connected to an air inlet orifice (not shown) placed on one side of the cyclone body 10. The air inlet pipe 11 is connected to an air intake path 210 intended to be in communication with a suction orifice (not shown) of the suction brush 300 when the dust collecting device is placed in the vacuum cleaner body 200. The air outlet pipe 12 is connected to an air outlet orifice (not shown) placed at the top of the cyclone body 10. The air outlet line 12 is connected to an air outlet path 220 intended to communicate with a motor drive chamber 310 of the suction brush 300 when the collecting device is placed in the vacuum cleaner body. 200. The air loaded with contaminating materials is sucked by the suction brush 300 into the cyclone body 10 in a tangential direction through the air intake path 210 of the suction body 200 and the inlet pipe. 11. The air drawn in forms a vortex in the cyclone body 10 so that the dust and the contaminating materials separate from the air loaded with the contaminating materials under the action of the centrifugal force of the air vortex, so that purified air is evacuated outside by the air outlet path 220

  of the vacuum cleaner body 200 and of the motor chamber 310.

  The dust receptacle 20 is detachably connected to a lower part of the cyclone body 10 and receives the dust and contaminating materials separated from the air by the centrifugal force of the air vortex in the

cyclone body 10.

  The grid 30 is placed at an opening of the air outlet pipe 12 inside the cyclone body 10 so that dust and contaminating materials separated from the air vortex cannot flow into the outlet 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the grid 30 comprises a grid body 31 and several air paths 32 formed at an external circumference of the grid body 31 so that the air can flow towards the pipe 12 air outlet. The cyclone dust collecting device of the general type described above is installed in the body 200 of the vacuum cleaner so that the inlet pipe 11 and the air outlet pipe 12 of the cyclone body 10 are respectively connected to the air inlet path 210 and at

  air outlet path 220 of the vacuum cleaner body 200.

  During operation, a suction force is created at the suction brush 300 thanks to a motor placed in the motor chamber 310. The suction force created attracts the air laden with contaminating materials on a purification surface towards the cyclone body 10 via the brush 300, the path 210 and the air inlet pipe il. The sucked air is led through the pipe 11 to the internal circumference of the cyclone body 10 and obliquely for the formation of an air vortex. Dust and contaminants from the air are separated by the centrifugal force created by the vortex

  and are collected in the dust receptacle 200.

  The purified air is evacuated by the air paths 32, the outlet pipe 12, the air outlet path 220 and the chamber

310 of the engine.

  However, the cyclone dust collecting device of the general type described above poses a problem which is the degradation of the cleaning efficiency. The corresponding cyclone dust collecting devices do not retain a satisfactory quantity of dust and allow the evacuation of dust and contaminating material with the air stream exiting through the path 32

formed in grid 30.

  The object of the invention is to solve problems

  mentioned above and the removal of the drawbacks indicated, giving the advantages described below.

  The object of the invention is therefore to solve the aforementioned problems by forming a cyclone dust collecting device for a vacuum cleaner which makes it possible to maximize the separation of the purified air from the contaminated air by driving in rotation of a grid that helps suppress the escape of dust outside

  a dust collection device.

  The aforementioned objects and advantages are achieved by means of a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, which comprises: a cyclone body having an air inlet port and an air outlet port, intended to form a vortex of air loaded with contaminating material drawn in through the air inlet port, a dust receptacle detachably connected to the cyclone body and having a configuration for receiving dust and contaminating materials separated from the air by force centrifugal of the air vortex in the cyclone body, a grid placed around the air outlet orifice inside the cyclone body and intended to prevent the circulation of dust and contaminating materials separated from the air passing through the air outlet orifice, and a device for rotating the grid so that it rotates under the action of the air vortex in the

cyclone body.

  The cyclone body includes: a main cylindrical body having a side surface on which the air inlet port is formed and an upper surface on which the air outlet port is formed, a cover removably connected to the upper surface of the main cylindrical body, and an air inlet pipe having a configuration ensuring the connection of an air intake path of a main vacuum cleaner body and an air outlet pipe having a configuration for connection of an air outlet path of the vacuum cleaner body, the air outlet pipe also being placed near the

center of the cover.

  The main cylindrical body and the cover are temporarily connected to each other by mechanisms

  of spiral connection formed respectively to the corresponding surfaces of mutual connection.

  The grid includes: a grid body, and a plurality of air path members located at an outer circumference of the grid body with a predetermined angle tilt

  for the formation of an air passage to the air outlet orifice.

  Preferably, the grid may also include: a

  contaminating material stop member disposed at a lower part of the grid body.

  The grid rotation support device comprises: a support member placed in the center of the air outlet orifice of the main cylindrical body and supported by ribs projecting from an internal surface of the outlet orifice air, and a rotary member having a first end supported so that it can rotate with the interposition of a bearing, and a second end disposed in the grid and fixed to a lower part of the

wire rack.

  In the cyclone dust collecting apparatus according to the invention, a fine dust filter assembly is

  placed between the upper surface of the main cylindrical body and the cover so that it separates fine dust.

  The fine dust filter assembly includes: a fine dust filter, and a filter frame having a lower grid structure for housing and supporting

the fine dust filter.

  Preferably, the upper surface of the main cylindrical horn is inclined downwards from the outside to the inside. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will be better understood on reading the description which will

  follow exemplary embodiments, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional cyclone dust collection apparatus with an associated vacuum cleaner; Figure 2 is a section through the cyclone dust collection apparatus of Figure 1 after assembly and installation; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a cyclone dust collecting apparatus in one embodiment of the invention, before assembly; Figure 4 is a section through the cyclone dust collection apparatus of Figure 3 after it has been assembled; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the cyclone dust collecting apparatus of Figure 3 before installation in a vacuum cleaner; Figure 6 is a section through the cyclone dust collection apparatus along line VI-VI of Figure 4; and Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a member forming air paths in the dust collecting apparatus

cyclone in Figure 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner in an embodiment of the invention comprises a cyclone body 50, a dust receptacle 60, a grid 70 and a support device 80 allowing the rotation of the grid. The cyclone body 50 has a cylindrical main body 51 and a cover 52 detachably connected to the cylindrical main body 51. The cylindrical main body 51 has a lateral surface 5ia and an upper surface 51b. An air inlet channel is formed on a first side of the lateral surface 51a, and an air outlet channel

  is formed approximately at the center of the upper surface 51b.

  An air inlet pipe 53 is connected to the air inlet channel which is also connected to the air inlet path 210 (FIG. 5) of the body 200 of the vacuum cleaner. An air outlet line 54 is connected to the air outlet port at the center approximately of the cover 52, which is also connected to a

  air outlet path 220 (see FIG. 5) of the main body 200 of the vacuum cleaner.

  During operation, the air loaded with contaminating materials is sucked by a suction brush 300 (see FIG. 5) into a body 50 of cyclone in a tangential direction in the path 210 of air inlet and the pipe 53 of inlet d 'air. In this operation, a vortex of air forms in the body 50 and the dust and the contaminating materials contained in this vortex are separated from the air by the centrifugal force of the vortex so that the purified air is evacuated to the outside via line 54 and air outlet path 220 and through chamber 310

  motor drive (see Figure 5).

  The dust receptacle 60 is detachably connected to a lower part of the cyclone body 50 and receives the dust and contaminating materials separated from the air by the vortex in the cyclone body 50. The dust receptacle 60 may include a handle intended to facilitate handling. When the receptacle 60 is filled, it can be separated from the cyclone body 50 to

be emptied.

  The grid 70 is placed at the air outlet orifice in the cyclone body 50 to promote the separation of dust and contaminating materials separated from the air vortex circulating in the outlet orifice. The grid comprises a grid body 31 and several members 72 forming air paths placed at an external circumference of the body 71 which form air passages towards the orifice of

air outlet.

  In certain embodiments, the device 80 for rotating support of the grid comprises a support member 81 and a rotary member 82. The support member 81 is placed in the center of the air outlet orifice of the cylindrical body main 51 and is supported by several ribs 81a which project from the internal surface of the air outlet orifice. The rotary member 82 has a first end supported so that it rotates with the interposition of a bearing. The other end passes through the grid 70 and is fixed to the grid 70 at a lower part thereof by a screw 84. The grid 70 thus rotates with the rotary member 82 relative to the support member 81 under the action of the air vortex formed in the body 50 of the cyclone. The rotation of the grid 70 makes it possible to prevent the passage of dust and contaminating materials in the passage

air from grille 70.

  In the cyclone dust collecting apparatus 70 according to the invention, the grid 70 can comprise a grid body 71, several air path members 72 having a predetermined angle of inclination for the formation of a circulation passage. of air towards the air outlet orifice, and a contaminating stop member 73 placed at

  a lower part of the grid body 71.

  Figures 6 and 7 show in detail the preferred angle of inclination and its arrangement relative to the air vortex. The air loaded with contaminating materials 302 is sucked through the air inlet pipe 53 in a tangential direction. As previously described, the air vortex

  304 is thus formed in the main cylindrical body 51.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the air vortex 304 rotates in the cylindrical body

  main 51 clockwise.

  Preferably, members 72 forming air paths are placed on the grid body 71 so that the risks of the passage of dust and other contaminating materials through the grid 70 are minimal. Figure 7 is an enlarged view of two adjacent members 312 and 314 forming air paths. The member 314 has a leading edge 316 and a trailing edge 318. The leading edge 316 constitutes the first edge of the member 314 to meet the air vortex 304. In other words, the edge leading edge 316 is upstream of the trailing edge 318. The leading edge 316 is preferably fixed to the grid body 71 and the trailing edge 318 is arranged radially outside the leading edge 316 and circumferentially in downstream of this edge.

  With this arrangement, the slope forms an angle 320.

  This angle 320 is formed between a local tangent 308 and the member 314 of the air path. The tangent 308 is perpendicular to a radius 306 starting from the geometric center of the grid 70 towards the member 314. Any member of the air path having such an angle is considered to be inclined. This angle 320 can be adjusted so that it corresponds to various nominal embodiments. For example, if the angle 320 is reduced, the ability of the grid 70 to separate contaminating materials from the air is increased, and the power required for the suction of the air by the grid 70 is also increased. If the angle 320 is increased, the separation efficiency of the grid 70 is reduced, but less energy is required to draw the air to the grid 70. Given these various

  factors, a suitable tilt angle can be selected to best suit the particular objectives.

  The grid rotation characteristic and the inclination characteristic of the air path can be

  used alone or in combination.

  As better represented in FIG. 4, the organ 73 for stopping contaminating materials has a frustoconical shape, the enlarged lower part of which has a diameter which increases downwards. This form can cause the redirection of the contaminating materials collected in the dust receptacle 60, which have floated in the rising air stream, by the organ 73 for stopping contaminating materials and which

  then fall into the dust receptacle 60.

  The cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner according to the invention further comprises a fine dust filter assembly placed between the cylindrical main body 51 and the cover 52 of the cyclone body 50 so that fine dust which has not been withdrawn by the

grid 70 is filtered.

  The fine dust filter assembly 90 comprises a fine dust filter 91, for example of a spongy or porous material of another type, and a filter frame 92 having a lower grid structure intended to accommodate and support the fine dust filter 91. This filter assembly 90 separates the fine dust transmitted by the grid and prevents it from escaping from the main cylindrical body 51. The upper surface 51b is preferably formed so that it tilts towards the low from the radially outer periphery to a central part so that the fine dust separated by the assembly 90 falls into the dust receptacle 60 instead of remaining on the upper surface 51b of the main body 51 and of the filter assembly 90 of

fine dust.

  The aforementioned cyclone dust collecting device for a vacuum cleaner can be mounted in the vacuum cleaner body 200, as shown in FIG. 5, so that the air inlet pipe 53 and the air outlet pipe 54 air from the cyclone body 50 are connected respectively to the inlet path 210 and to the air outlet path 220 of the

200 vacuum cleaner body.

  During operation, a suction force is created at the level of the brush 300 driven by a motor (not shown) placed in the chamber 310. The suction force created sucks the air laden with contaminating materials from a surface to be cleaned in the cyclone body 50 via the suction brush 300, the air inlet path 210 and the air inlet pipe 53. The sucked air is led through the pipe 53 of air inlet at the internal circumference of the cyclone body 50, in an oblique direction. The formation of an air vortex is thus facilitated and the dust and the contaminants of the air are separated by the centrifugal force created by the vortex and collected in the dust receptacle 60. The clean air is then evacuated outside by the air passage of the grid 70, the air outlet pipe 54, the air outlet path 220 and the engine chamber 310. Given this arrangement, dust and contaminating materials

  rarely escape through the air passages of the grid 70.

  However, even if fine dust, which is not separated by the grid 70, is evacuated by the air passage from the grid 70, it undergoes secondary filtration in the fine dust filter assembly (see figure 4) so that the

  the amount of dust collected is increased.

  According to the invention described, the dust and the contaminating materials are separated from the air by centrifugal force when the grid rotates so that the dust and the contaminating materials cannot pass through the grid and practically do not pass in the passages.

air from the grille.

  Furthermore, even if the fine dust circulates in the air passage of the grate, it undergoes secondary filtration in the fine dust filter assembly so that

  the quality of dust collection is increased and the cleaning efficiency is increased.

  Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to the devices which have just been described solely by way of nonlimiting example.

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

  1. Cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, characterized in that it comprises: a cyclone body (50) having an air inlet orifice and an air outlet orifice, intended to form a vortex of air loaded with contaminating material drawn in through the air inlet orifice, a dust receptacle (60) detachably connected to the cyclone body (50) and having a configuration for receiving dust and contaminating materials separated from air by the centrifugal force of the air vortex in the cyclone body (50), a grid (70) placed around the air outlet orifice inside the cyclone body (50) and intended preventing the circulation of dust and contaminating materials separated from the air passing through the air outlet orifice, and a device (81) for rotating support of the grid (70) so that the latter rotates under whirlpool action   air in the cyclone body (50).   2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the cyclone body (50) comprises: a main cylindrical body having a side surface on which the air inlet orifice is formed and an upper surface on which is formed the air outlet port, and a cover (52) detachably connected to the upper surface of the main cylindrical body, and an air inlet pipe (53) having a configuration ensuring the connection of a air intake path of a vacuum cleaner main body and an air outlet conduit (54) having a configuration for connecting an air outlet path of the vacuum cleaner body, the outlet conduit of air being also placed near the center of the cover (52).   3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the main cylindrical body and the cover (52) are temporarily connected to each other by spiral connection mechanisms formed respectively   to the corresponding mutual connection surfaces.   4. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the grid (70) comprises: a grid body (71), and several air passage members placed at an external circumference of the grid body (71) with an inclination of predetermined angle for the formation of an air passage to the air outlet port.   5. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the grid (70) comprises a grid body (71), several members delimiting air paths and arranged at an external circumference of the grid body (71) with an inclination of predetermined angle for the formation of an air passage towards the air outlet orifice, and a contaminating material stop member arranged at   a lower part of the grid body (71).   6. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the device (81) for rotating support of the grid (70) comprises: a support member placed in the center of the air outlet orifice of the main cylindrical body and supported by ribs projecting from an internal surface of the air outlet orifice, and a rotary member having a first end supported so that it can rotate with the interposition of a bearing, and a second end disposed in the grid   (70) and fixed to a lower part of the grid (70).   7. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that an assembly (90) fine dust filter is placed between the upper surface of the main cylindrical body   and the cover (52) so that it separates the fine dust.   8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the fine dust filter assembly (90) comprises: a fine dust filter (91), and a filter frame having a lower grid structure (70) for house and support the filter fine dust.   9. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the upper surface of the main cylindrical body is inclined downward from a periphery radially external to a central part.   10. Cyclone dust collecting apparatus intended to be used with a vacuum cleaner, characterized in that it comprises: a cyclone body (50) having an air inlet orifice and an air outlet orifice, intended forming a vortex of air loaded with contaminating material sucked in by the air intake orifice, a dust receptacle (60) detachably connected to the cyclone body (50) and intended to receive dust and materials contaminant separated from the air, and a grid (70) placed near the air outlet orifice and in the cyclone body (50), the grid (70) comprising at least one member delimiting a path of air, and   the member delimiting an air path is inclined.   11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that a leading edge of the member forming an air path is disposed radially inward of a trailing edge   of the organ forming the air path.   12. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in what the grid (70) turns.   13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the air vortex rotates the grid (70) in   the same direction as the direction of rotation of the air vortex.   14. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises a rotary member having a first end which comprises a bearing and a second end   rigidly associated with the grid (70).   15. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the bearing is also associated with a support member attached to the cyclone body (50).   16. Cyclone dust collecting device intended for use with a vacuum cleaner, characterized in that it comprises: a device intended to form a vortex of air loaded with contaminating materials, a device (60) intended to receive the dust and contaminating materials separated from the air by the centrifugal force of the air vortex, and a device for rotating a grid (70)   disposed in a cyclone body (50).   17. Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises a device intended to support the rotary grid (70).   18. Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises a device (91) intended to filter fine dust.   19. Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises a device intended to make   drop fine dust into a dust container (60).   20. Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises a device intended to minimize the quantity which flows beyond the grid. rotary (70).