WO2008009886A1 - Handheld cleaning appliance - Google Patents
Handheld cleaning appliance Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2008009886A1 WO2008009886A1 PCT/GB2007/002529 GB2007002529W WO2008009886A1 WO 2008009886 A1 WO2008009886 A1 WO 2008009886A1 GB 2007002529 W GB2007002529 W GB 2007002529W WO 2008009886 A1 WO2008009886 A1 WO 2008009886A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- cyclone
- cleaning appliance
- cyclonic separator
- handheld cleaning
- cyclones
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
- A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
- A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
- A47L5/24—Hand-supported suction cleaners
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
- A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
- A47L9/1616—Multiple arrangement thereof
- A47L9/1625—Multiple arrangement thereof for series flow
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
- A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
- A47L9/1616—Multiple arrangement thereof
- A47L9/1641—Multiple arrangement thereof for parallel flow
Definitions
- the invention relates to a handheld cleaning appliance particularly, but not exclusively, to a handheld vacuum cleaner. More particularly, the invention relates to a handheld cleaning appliance having a cyclonic separator.
- Handheld vacuum cleaners are well known and have been manufactured and sold by various manufacturers for several years.
- a handheld vacuum cleaner comprises a casing which houses a motor and fan unit for drawing air into the cleaner via an inlet, and a separation device such as a filter or bag for separating dirt and dust from the incoming airflow.
- a separation device such as a filter or bag for separating dirt and dust from the incoming airflow.
- An example of such a vacuum cleaner is shown in GB1207278.
- Handheld vacuum cleaners have more recently been developed to incorporate cyclonic separation systems which are capable of removing larger items of debris from the airflow before removing finer particles using a filter or other barrier means.
- An example of such a device is sold by Black & Decker under the trade name DUSTBUSTER®.
- a further example of a handheld vacuum cleaner incorporating a cyclonic separator is shown in GB2035787A.
- a disadvantage of known handheld vacuum cleaners which utilise cyclonic separators is that, when only a single cyclone is used followed by a filter or bag, the filter will require maintenance, either by washing or by replacement. Failure to maintain the filter will result in a decrease in performance. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a handheld cleaning appliance which is capable of sustaining high performance for longer than known handheld vacuum cleaners. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a handheld cleaning appliance which requires less maintenance than existing appliances. A further object of the present invention is to provide a handheld vacuum cleaner which is capable of developing and sustaining higher suction power than is possible with current designs of handheld vacuum cleaner.
- the invention provides a handheld cleaning appliance comprising a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet and separating apparatus located in an airflow path leading from the air inlet to the air outlet for separating dirt and dust from an airflow, the separating apparatus comprising a cyclonic separator having at least one first cyclone, wherein the cyclonic separator further comprises a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel with one another and located downstream of the or each first cyclone.
- the handheld cleaning appliance becomes capable of separating fine dirt and dust particles without using barrier means such as filters or bags which need maintenance to ensure that performance remains high over a period of time. It has hitherto been considered difficult to provide a cyclonic separator of this type in a handheld vacuum cleaner because the space occupied by this type of cyclonic separator is considered to be too bulky and heavy to be suitable for a handheld machine.
- a further advantage of providing a cyclonic separator of this type in a handheld vacuum cleaner is that the cleaner is then capable of sustaining high suction power because there is no barrier-type filter means to cause a reduction in suction power, and hence pick-up capability, over time.
- the handheld cleaning appliance includes a handle and the cyclonic separator lies between the handle and the dirty air inlet. This provides an arrangement which is well balanced for a user of this type of cleaning appliance.
- the cyclonic separator lies substantially parallel to the handle, and it is further preferred that the cyclonic separator lies in a generally upright configuration.
- a single first cyclone is provided and the second cyclones are spaced around an axis of the first cyclone. This provides a compact arrangement which is balanced for ease of manipulation. It is more preferable that each of the second cyclones has an end which projects into the first cyclone so as to provide a convenient balance of dirt collecting capacity and overall volume of the cyclonic separator.
- Figure 1 shows a handheld cleaning appliance according to the invention
- Figure 2 is a side view of the appliance of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross section through the cyclonic separating apparatus forming part of the appliance of Figure 1.
- FIGS 1 and 2 show a handheld vacuum cleaner 10.
- the handheld vacuum cleaner 10 has a main body 12 which houses a motor and fan unit (not shown).
- the main body 12 also includes a power source 14 such as a battery.
- a handle 16 is provided on the main body 12 for manipulating the handheld vacuum cleaner 10 in use.
- a cyclonic separator 100 is attached to the main body 12.
- a dirty air inlet 18 extends from a portion of the cyclonic separator 100 remote from the main body 12.
- a brush tool 22 is slidably mounted on the distal end of the dirty air inlet 18.
- a set of exhaust vents 24 are provided on the main body 12 for exhausting air from the handheld vacuum cleaner 10.
- the cyclonic separator 100 is located between the main body 12 and the dirty air inlet 18. Consequently, the cyclonic separator 100 is located between the handle 16 and the dirty air inlet 18.
- the cyclonic separator 100 has a longitudinal axis 26 which extends in a generally upright direction so that the axis 26, and therefore the cyclonic separator 100, lies substantially parallel to the direction in which the handle 16 extends.
- the orientation of the handle 16 is such that, when the user grips the handle 16, the user's hand forms a fist in a manner similar to that adopted when gripping a saw. This ensures that the user's wrist is not strained more than necessary when manipulating the handheld vacuum cleaner 10 for cleaning purposes.
- the cyclonic separator 100 is positioned close to the handle 16 which also reduces the moment applied to the user's wrist when the handheld vacuum cleaner 10 is in use.
- the handle 16 carries an on/off switch 20 in the form of a trigger for turning the vacuum cleaner motor on and off.
- the cyclonic separating apparatus 100 forming part of the handheld vacuum cleaner 10 is shown in more detail in Figure 3.
- the cyclonic separating apparatus 100 comprises a first cyclone 102 which has a longitudinal axis X-X and a wall 104.
- An inlet 110 is formed in the upper portion of the wall 104.
- the inlet 110 is in communication with the dirty air inlet 18 and forms a communication path between the dirty air inlet 18 and the interior of the first cyclone 102.
- the air inlet 110 is arranged tangentially to the first cyclone 102 so that the incoming air is forced to follow a helical path around the interior of the first cyclone 102.
- a base 116 closes one end of the first cyclone 102.
- the base 116 is pivotably mounted on the lower end of the first cyclone wall 104 by means of a hinge 118.
- the base 116 is retained in a closed position (as shown the figures) by means of a catch 120.
- a shroud 121 is located inwardly of the wall 104 of the first cyclone 102.
- the shroud 121 comprises a cylindrical wall 122 having a plurality of through-holes 123.
- the shroud 121 surrounds an outlet 124 from the first cyclone 102.
- the outlet 124 provides a communication path between the first cyclone 102 and a second cyclone assembly 126.
- a lip 128 is provided at the base of the shroud 121.
- the lip 128 has a plurality of through-holes 129 which are designed to allow air to pass through but to capture dirt and dust.
- the second cyclone assembly 126 comprises a plurality of second cyclones 130 arranged in parallel with one another.
- six second cyclones 130 are provided.
- the second cyclones 130 are arranged around the axis X-X of the first cyclone 102.
- the arrangement of the second cyclones 130 is such that the second cyclones are spaced equi-angularly around the axis X-X.
- Each second cyclone 130 has a tangentially-arranged air inlet 132 and an air outlet 134.
- Each air inlet 132 and air outlet 134 is located at a first end of the respective second cyclone 130.
- a cone opening 136 is located at a second end of each second cyclone 130.
- each second cyclone 130 The plane of the cone opening 136 of each second cyclone 130 is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis (not shown) of the respective further cyclone 130.
- the cone opening 136 of each of the second cyclones 130 is in communication with a passageway 138 defined by a wall 140 located inwardly of the shroud 121.
- each second cyclone 130 projects into the interior of the first cyclone 102.
- the first end of each second cyclone 130 lies outside the envelope of the first cyclone 102. In the orientation shown, it is the lower end of each second cyclone 130 which projects into the upper end of the first cyclone 102.
- the inlet 110 is also arranged at the upper end of the first cyclone 102 so that the inlet 110 is located in the region of the cyclonic separator 100 in which the first and second cyclones 102, 130 overlap.
- this region of the cyclone separator 100 lies intermediate the upper end of the cyclone separator 100 and the lower end of the cyclone separator 100. Connecting the dirty air inlet 18 to the cyclone separator 100 at an intermediate portion thereof is beneficial for the manipulation of the handheld vacuum cleaner 10 and avoids the lower extremities of the appliance being accidentally knocked on surfaces away from the area being cleaned.
- a collector 142 is located at the lower end of the passageway 138.
- the collector 142 comprises a frustoconical first portion 144 and a cylindrical second portion 146.
- the interior of the collector 142 is delimited by the base 116 and the sides of the first and second portions 144, 146 of the collector 142.
- Each of the air outlets 134 of the second cyclones 130 is in communication with a duct 150.
- the duct 150 provides an airflow path from the cyclonic separating apparatus 100 into other parts of the handheld vacuum cleaner 10.
- Located at the downstream end of the duct 150 is a pre-motor filter 152.
- the pre-motor filter 152 comprises a porous material such as foam and can also include a fine filter material.
- the pre-motor filter 152 is designed to prevent any fine dust particles from entering the motor and causing damage thereto.
- the motor and fan unit draws a flow of dirt-laden air into the dirty air inlet 18 and then into the cyclonic separator 100.
- Dirt- laden air enters the cyclonic separator 100 through the inlet 110. Due to the tangential arrangement of the inlet 110, the airflow is forced to follow a helical path around the interior of the wall 104. Larger dirt and dust particles are separated by cyclonic motion around the wall 104. These particles are then collected at the base 116 of the first cyclone 102.
- the partially-cleaned airflow then flows back up the interior of the first cyclone 102 and exits the first cyclone 102 via the through-holes in the shroud 121.
- the airflow Once the airflow has passed through the shroud 121, it enters the outlet 124 and from there is divided between the tangential inlets 132 of each of the second cyclones 130.
- Each of the second cyclones 130 has a diameter which is smaller than that of the first cyclone 102. Therefore, the second cyclones 130 are able to separate smaller particles of dirt and dust from the partially-cleaned airflow than the first cyclone 102. Separated dirt and dust exits the second cyclones 130 via the cone openings 136. Thereafter, the separated dirt and dust passes down the passageway 138 and into the collector 142. The separated dirt and dust eventually settles at the bottom of the collector 142 on the base 116.
- Cleaned air then flows back up the second cyclones 130, exits the second cyclones 130 through the air outlets 134 and enters the duct 150.
- the cleaned air then passes from the duct 150 sequentially through the pre-motor filter 152, the motor and fan unit, and a post-motor filter before being exhausted from the vacuum cleaner 10 through the air vents 24.
- the first cyclone 102 and the collector 142 can be emptied simultaneously by releasing the catch 120 to allow the base 116 to pivot about the hinge 118 so that the separated dirt and dust can fall away from the cyclonic separator 100. This allows efficient and reliable emptying of the dirt and dust from the cyclonic separator 100 at periodic intervals convenient to the user.
- the invention is not limited to the precise details of the embodiment described above.
- the number of second cyclones can be varied, as can the detail of their design, such as their cone angle, axis inclination and cone opening inclination.
- the collected dirt and dust can be released in other ways, such as by complete removal of the lower portion of the first cyclone 102, and the location of the on/off switch may be varied.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/307,249 US8236077B2 (en) | 2006-07-18 | 2007-07-06 | Handheld cleaning appliance |
ES07733479T ES2397407T3 (en) | 2006-07-18 | 2007-07-06 | Portable cleaning device |
CA2658176A CA2658176C (en) | 2006-07-18 | 2007-07-06 | Handheld cleaning appliance |
AU2007274888A AU2007274888B2 (en) | 2006-07-18 | 2007-07-06 | Handheld cleaning appliance |
EP07733479A EP2043494B1 (en) | 2006-07-18 | 2007-07-06 | Handheld cleaning appliance |
JP2009520029A JP5158380B2 (en) | 2006-07-18 | 2007-07-06 | Handheld cleaning tool |
US13/541,042 US8444731B2 (en) | 2006-07-18 | 2012-07-03 | Handheld cleaning appliance |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0614237A GB2440125A (en) | 2006-07-18 | 2006-07-18 | Cyclonic separating apparatus |
GB0614237.6 | 2006-07-18 | ||
GB0618491.5 | 2006-09-20 | ||
GB0618491A GB2440126A (en) | 2006-07-18 | 2006-09-20 | Secondary cyclones on hand held vacuum cleaner |
Related Child Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/307,249 A-371-Of-International US8236077B2 (en) | 2006-07-18 | 2007-07-06 | Handheld cleaning appliance |
US13/541,042 Continuation US8444731B2 (en) | 2006-07-18 | 2012-07-03 | Handheld cleaning appliance |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2008009886A1 true WO2008009886A1 (en) | 2008-01-24 |
Family
ID=38535267
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2007/002529 WO2008009886A1 (en) | 2006-07-18 | 2007-07-06 | Handheld cleaning appliance |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
WO (1) | WO2008009886A1 (en) |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2013034882A1 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2013-03-14 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous vacuum cleaner |
WO2013034883A1 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2013-03-14 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous surface treating appliance |
WO2013034884A1 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2013-03-14 | Dyson Technology Limited | Drive arrangement for a mobile robot |
WO2013034886A1 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2013-03-14 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous surface treating appliance |
WO2013034885A1 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2013-03-14 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous cleaning appliance |
US9572467B2 (en) | 2012-05-17 | 2017-02-21 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous vacuum cleaner |
US9591957B2 (en) | 2012-05-17 | 2017-03-14 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous vacuum cleaner |
US9763551B2 (en) | 2013-04-19 | 2017-09-19 | Dyson Technology Limited | Air moving appliance with on-board diagnostics |
US9883778B2 (en) | 2013-01-29 | 2018-02-06 | Dyson Technology Limited | Mobile robot |
US10842332B2 (en) | 2015-07-01 | 2020-11-24 | Dyson Technology Limited | Separating apparatus |
US10953359B2 (en) | 2015-07-01 | 2021-03-23 | Dyson Technology Limited | Separating apparatus |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2035787A (en) * | 1978-11-11 | 1980-06-25 | L & H Designs Ltd & Merritt H | Suction cleaning device |
GB2360719A (en) * | 2000-03-31 | 2001-10-03 | Notetry Ltd | Apparatus for separating particles from a fluid flow |
JP3484188B1 (en) | 2003-03-31 | 2004-01-06 | 貴幸 関島 | Steam injection cleaning device |
WO2005084511A1 (en) | 2004-03-02 | 2005-09-15 | Bissell Homecare, Inc. | Vacuum cleaner with detachable cyclonic vacuum module |
JP2006150037A (en) | 2004-11-25 | 2006-06-15 | Samsung Kwangju Electronics Co Ltd | Multi cyclone dust-collecting apparatus |
-
2007
- 2007-07-06 WO PCT/GB2007/002529 patent/WO2008009886A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2035787A (en) * | 1978-11-11 | 1980-06-25 | L & H Designs Ltd & Merritt H | Suction cleaning device |
GB2360719A (en) * | 2000-03-31 | 2001-10-03 | Notetry Ltd | Apparatus for separating particles from a fluid flow |
US6835222B2 (en) | 2000-03-31 | 2004-12-28 | Dyson Limited | Apparatus for separating particles from fluid flow |
JP3484188B1 (en) | 2003-03-31 | 2004-01-06 | 貴幸 関島 | Steam injection cleaning device |
WO2005084511A1 (en) | 2004-03-02 | 2005-09-15 | Bissell Homecare, Inc. | Vacuum cleaner with detachable cyclonic vacuum module |
JP2006150037A (en) | 2004-11-25 | 2006-06-15 | Samsung Kwangju Electronics Co Ltd | Multi cyclone dust-collecting apparatus |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9943203B2 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2018-04-17 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous vacuum cleaner |
WO2013034883A1 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2013-03-14 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous surface treating appliance |
WO2013034884A1 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2013-03-14 | Dyson Technology Limited | Drive arrangement for a mobile robot |
WO2013034886A1 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2013-03-14 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous surface treating appliance |
WO2013034885A1 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2013-03-14 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous cleaning appliance |
US9427123B2 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2016-08-30 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous surface treating appliance |
WO2013034882A1 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2013-03-14 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous vacuum cleaner |
US10647366B2 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2020-05-12 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous surface treating appliance |
US9999328B2 (en) | 2011-09-09 | 2018-06-19 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous cleaning appliance |
US9572467B2 (en) | 2012-05-17 | 2017-02-21 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous vacuum cleaner |
US9591957B2 (en) | 2012-05-17 | 2017-03-14 | Dyson Technology Limited | Autonomous vacuum cleaner |
US9883778B2 (en) | 2013-01-29 | 2018-02-06 | Dyson Technology Limited | Mobile robot |
US9763551B2 (en) | 2013-04-19 | 2017-09-19 | Dyson Technology Limited | Air moving appliance with on-board diagnostics |
US10842332B2 (en) | 2015-07-01 | 2020-11-24 | Dyson Technology Limited | Separating apparatus |
US10953359B2 (en) | 2015-07-01 | 2021-03-23 | Dyson Technology Limited | Separating apparatus |
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