EP1535562A1 - Waste separating device for vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly has an air outlet duct (36) with openings (40). The duct is in aeraulic connection with a receptacle (38) including a folded filter. The receptacle is locked with the duct by a partition (37). The partition has hooks cooperating with openings formed on an upper wall of the receptacle. The receptacle is separated from the duct by unlocking mechanical connection between them. The receptacle is in aeraulic connection with an electric fan unit. An independent claim is also included for an electrical vacuum cleaner comprising a waste separation devices assembly.

Description

The present invention relates to waste recovery apparatuses of type vacuum cleaners, and more particularly those using a separation of waste by centrifugation.

The present invention is an improvement of separation systems and waste collection in a vacuum cleaner and described in the application WO 03/047412. According to this application, one of the sets includes a conduit air inlet opening in a tangential direction in a chamber of separation of waste defining an internal volume having substantially the shape of a cylinder. In the central part of this room is arranged at minus an opening leading to a conduit in association with the group suction, said conduit comprising in particular a filtration group.

The room also has a waste disposal channel according to a radial direction, said channel being connected to a sealed collecting tray of centrifuged waste.

One of the peculiarities of this invention is to have the air inlet channel and the waste disposal channel arranged substantially at the same height in the separation chamber, and to have considerably reduced the diametrical section of the chamber between once and four times the smallest section of the channels for bringing waste from the nozzle.

Such an arrangement allows this separation assembly to present a reduced footprint, without altering the waste separation efficiency.

According to one embodiment, the central part of the chamber includes a second filtration device accessible by a closing lid said central portion.

The present invention aims at improving ergonomics, ease of access and the arrangement of these filtration devices to allow its cleaning and / or its replacement in a simple and hygienic way.

The present invention is achieved with the aid of main and secondary waste separation for vacuum cleaner comprising in particular a motor-fan unit, said devices being housed in the frame of the vacuum cleaner and being constituted, on the one hand, by a conduit comprising a multitude of openings and arranged in a main separation chamber by inertia forming a torus, said duct being in aeraulic relationship with the separation chamber by these openings alone, and being otherwise connected to motor-fan unit, and secondly by a receptacle in which is housed a fine filter constituting the secondary waste separation device, said filter being interposed in the aeraulic path between the duct and the motor-fan unit, characterized in that these two devices are mechanically linked to one another by means of attachment constituting a mechanical lock and in that these devices are removable from the frame of the vacuum cleaner.

By presenting a subset composed of filtration devices and of removable waste separation from the vacuum cleaner, cleaning these elements is facilitated since it is sufficient to leave the frame of the vacuum cleaner this subset to clean it up and somehow regenerate the whole filtration of the device.

Advantageously, the attachment means can be unlocked to separate the receptacle from the conduit. By proposing such an unlocking, .the cleaning operation of the various elements is easier thanks to this separation.

Advantageously, gripping the separation devices of the waste is facilitated by the fact that the duct is closed at the top and has fingerprints allowing the user to enter the devices avoiding dusty areas.

According to one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the central duct has, at its base, a peripheral ring substantially perpendicular to the duct, this crown forming part of the chamber of separation by one of its faces, and whose opposite face has means hook of the filter receptacle.

This arrangement saves space and ensures a holding important mechanics between the receptacle and the duct.

It is also possible to propose a solution that favors convenient cleaning of the secondary separation device also having a waste storage function by making the filter removable from the receptacle.

Advantageously, the conduit comprises a plurality of inclined walls directed to the separation chamber, in the direction of the movement of the air, the end of each wall having a substantially flat opening and substantially parallel to the underlying conduit, and in that the openings of the ducts are located directly above the wall openings.

The presence of inclined walls at the openings of the duct removes particles from the suction duct from the air. However, the presence openings on these walls at their end minimizes pressure losses in facilitating the passage of air in the duct. Such a solution therefore allows to associate the springboard effect for the particles, caused by the walls, to a some ease of air to enter the duct.

Indeed, each opening behaves like a small separator to because of its ability to separate the trajectories of particles from the air. The multiplicity of openings makes it possible to reduce the air velocities level of each opening which limits the pressure losses without reduce the centrifugation efficiency which is related on the one hand to the speed of the air but also to the radius of curvature of the air trajectory. Reducing significantly the radius of curvature as is the case here, so we can obtain a good centrifugation performance while limiting the losses of charge.

Advantageously, the walls are lined, on both sides, flanks side bearing on the duct. The presence of these flanks prevents the particles pass next to the inclined walls and do not penetrate the openings of the ducts realizing, in some way, a short circuit ventilation. Particle separation is improved.

The geometry of the inclined walls is also defined in such a way that they do not overlap each other so as not to create dead zones where dust could accumulate. So we keep a slight flow of air flowing on each side of said walls without penetrating directly in the openings thanks to the presence of the lateral flanks.

Preferably, the holes are arranged in staggered rows for a best coverage on the height of the duct in the direction perpendicular to the direction of passage of air.

According to an alternative embodiment, the openings at the level of the duct are elongated in the direction of rotation of the air, so as to go beyond the inclined walls. This provision makes it possible to further limit the losses of charge primarily by increasing the airflow area which locally decreases its speed.

Another variant embodiment consists in configuring the openings, not by lengthening them in the direction of rotation of the air, but by extending in the direction perpendicular to the flow, which avoids to increase the possibility that a particle can bend its trajectory for penetrate the opening, while increasing the size of the openings of passage of the air.

The possibility of unlocking the main separation device waste from the secondary device finds its full advantage depending on the mode of where the duct has inclined walls including or not the lateral flanks. Indeed, unlocking allows, given the difference structure of the two devices, to clean more vigorously one than the other. The main device can in particular be brushed underwater, or even put in the dishwasher, which is hardly possible for the receptacle with the filter that could deteriorate.

According to this embodiment, the increased complexity of the device, by the presence of walls, or even lateral flanks, makes cleaning more tedious. By separating it from the receptacle containing the filter, one facilitates greatly this cleaning operation, while improving the efficiency of dust separation.

The present invention also relates to an electric vacuum cleaner comprising a frame, inside which is housed a motor-fan unit, said frame having an air inlet capable of being connected by a tubing appropriate end with a nozzle, on the surface to be cleaned, said air inlet communicating, inside the frame, with a separating chamber of waste in which it discharges tangentially, characterized in that the vacuum cleaner has waste separation devices such as previously defined.

Advantageously, the separation chamber is closed, in part upper, by a cover accessible from the outside of the vacuum cleaner and hiding the upper part of the exhaust duct clean air and allowing easy access to separation devices, while avoiding maximum contact with residual dust, mostly localized, by gravity, in the lower part of the separation device.

According to one of the possible embodiments of the invention within a vacuum cleaner, the separation chamber is in connection with a sealed tank of waste recovery removable and separate from said chamber by a channel evacuation direction in a radial direction or tangential to the separation chamber. Such an arrangement makes it possible to remove the container containing the waste separated by the main separation device, without having to withdraw separation devices.

Advantageously, the waste separation devices are independent of the evacuation channel and the removable watertight waste recovery.

Thus, unlike many other devices, this provision avoids having to remove the waste container to clean the separating devices, thus limiting the risk of leakage and reintroduction of separate dust in the room to be cleaned

• la figure 1 montre un aspirateur en perspective comportant la présente invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue partiellement éclatée des dispositifs de séparation conformes à la présente invention dans leur environnement fonctionnel,
• la figure 3 est une vue détaillée en perspective des dispositifs de séparation isolés,
• la figure 4 est une vue analogue à la figure 3, où certains éléments ont été éclatés,
• la figure 5 est une vue éclatée de l'un des dispositifs de séparation selon l'invention,
• la figure 6 est une vue d'une variante avantageuse de l'un des dispositifs de séparation,
• la figure 7 représente le même élément que la figure 6, dans une vue de face,
• la figure 8 est une vue de l'élément représenté à la figure 7, selon la coupe A-A de cette même figure,
• la figure 9 représente le détail B de la figure 8,
• la figure 10 est une vue détaillée en perspective d'une amélioration d'un des dispositifs de séparation selon l'invention.

The present invention will be better understood from the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• FIG. 1 shows a perspective aspirator comprising the present invention,
• FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the separation devices according to the present invention in their functional environment,
• FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the isolated separation devices,
• FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, in which certain elements have been exploded,
• FIG. 5 is an exploded view of one of the separation devices according to the invention,
• FIG. 6 is a view of an advantageous variant of one of the separation devices,
• FIG. 7 represents the same element as FIG. 6, in a front view,
• FIG. 8 is a view of the element represented in FIG. 7, according to section AA of this same figure,
• FIG. 9 represents detail B of FIG. 8,
• Figure 10 is a detailed perspective view of an improvement of one of the separation devices according to the invention.

FIG. 1 generally illustrates a vacuum cleaner comprising the separation devices according to the invention.

Such a vacuum cleaner 10 comprises a frame 11 resting on several wheels whose including two rear wheels. 12. A ventilation fitting 14 connects the frame of the device to a nozzle in contact with the surface to be cleaned and allowing the introduction of the waste in the frame of the apparatus. The latter is provided with a motor-fan unit, not shown, for generating a suitable air flow to collect the waste contaminating the surface to be cleaned. A button 16 allows the starting and stopping the engine.

According to one aspect of the invention, the vacuum cleaner comprises a chamber inertia separation. This room is accessible by a lid of protection 18 which also closes the separation chamber. The waste separated by the device are discharged through a conduit 39 to a tank 22 easily accessible by the user and having a grip handle 20. This handle also acts as the carrying handle of the apparatus, the overall inclination of the device and the presence of this handle in position high favoring its grip while avoiding a tilting movement of the device at its center of gravity. A button 24 for unblocking the tray 22 is provided on the side of the device. Advantageously, such a button Unlocking is present on each side of the device.

According to the proposed example, the tray 22 can be emptied by one or the other of its lateral sides, the latter being each obstructed by a cover 21 removable. This provision allows everyone, whether right-handed or left-handed, to empty the tray easily.

As detailed in FIG. 2, all the separation means 30 of the waste has an air inlet duct 32 opening into a chamber separator 33 similar to a torus of rectangular diametral section. Advantageously, the air intake duct 32 has a bend 132 to reduce the likelihood that certain waste will directly hit the central duct defining the torus.

The passage section of the flow in the chamber is delimited by a outer circular wall 34, an inner circular wall 35, a wall upper which is the cover 18, and a bottom wall 37.

The inner circular wall defines the duct 36 for evacuation of air, the aeraulic connection between the chamber and the interior of the conduit 36 being realized by a plurality of openings 40. The duct 36 is closed at the top and is in a ventilation connection, at the bottom, with a receptacle 38 comprising a filter, preferably a pleated filter. This receptacle is also in connection aeraulic with the motor-fan unit. Such a configuration allows to have more latitude in the sizing of the filter.

This embodiment of the invention also presents the advantage of clearly highlighting the low height of the chamber of separation from the inlet conduit 32 waste. The section of the separation chamber remains in a ratio of 1 to 4 times the smallest section of bringing waste from the nozzle, as taught by the application WO 03/047412. Of course, sealing means are provided to prevent any air leakage at the separation chamber.

Subsequently, the conduit 36 provided with its openings, will be called main separation device, the receptacle 38 and its filter being referred to secondary device of separation.

In accordance with the present invention and as illustrated in FIG. conduit 36 is mechanically connected to the receptacle 38 of the fine filter. Moreover, conduit 36 has, in the upper part, fingerprints 42 of gripping symmetrically in an arc of a circle allowing the extraction of separation by the user avoiding areas in contact with dust what are the walls of the duct and the bottom wall 37.

The separation devices can be extracted at the same time. Moreover, only the lid 18 closes the separation chamber. So just remove the cover to access the separation devices, which facilitates greatly their extraction.

In addition, these are simply placed inside the vacuum cleaner, and no tools are needed to remove them from the machine.

Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 4, the receptacle 38 can be separated from the duct 36, the mechanical connection between the two elements being to be unlocked.

According to the proposed example, the conduit 36 and the bottom wall 37 do not form than one piece, which in particular avoids the problems of watertightness level. In this way, the locking of the receptacle 38 on the duct 36 is realized on the bottom wall 37. The latter then comprises hooks 52, visible FIG. 7, cooperating with openings 50 formed on an upper wall of the receptacle 38. This mounting, bayonet type, allows maintenance simple mechanics, which can be easily maneuvered by the user.

Other means of mechanical support can be envisaged between the receptacle 38 and the conduit 36, such as clipping, casing, ...

Moreover, the presence of the bottom wall 37 is not essential to the realization of the mechanical connection between the duct 36 and the receptacle 38, it It is possible in particular to envisage the same blocking system by bayonet duct directly into a cylindrical receptacle, the system blocking device which can be arranged on the walls of said receptacle 38.

According to this configuration, a seal is provided between the conduit and the receptacle and is made by overmolding an elastomeric material on the periphery of the bottom wall 37, on the side of the hooks 52. As an alternative and / or complement, a seal may be provided on the periphery of the collar upper of the receptacle 38.

According to the proposed example, the receptacle is of parallelepipedal shape and receives a pleated filter 46 which allows high filtration to stop the finest dust.

Advantageously, a pre-filtration is carried out by a foam 44 disposed between the filter 46 and the conduit 36. This foam is removable from receptacle 38.

According to the proposed example, a gate 48 is disposed between the filter 46 and the foam 44, to hold the filter in place. This grid allows also protect the filter against improper handling during its cleaning. The grid is then glued to the inner walls of the receptacle 38. filter is itself glued to the receptacle 38 to seal this filtration. A single gluing operation is then performed: the grid is set place just after the filter sticks, when the glue is still soft, which makes it possible to make integral the assembly consisting of the receptacle 38, the filter 46 and from the grid 48.

In a simplified version, the grid is omitted and the filter alone is pasted in the receptacle 38.

It is also possible, for example by a clipping system of the grid, to make the filter removable, as shown in Figure 5, which facilitates its cleaning, or even replacing it.

Figures 6 to 10 show an improved variant of the device main waste separation. According to this variant, the conduit 56 always has the peripheral flange 57 forming part of the chamber of separation as well as fingerprints 62 gripping devices separation. However, compared to the version explained above, has separators 70 defined as follows and presented, in isolation, 10. According to the direction F of air circulation in the chamber, walls 66 are disposed in front of each opening 64 formed in the conduit 56. These walls inclined at their free end have an opening 68 substantially parallel to the underlying conduit, in connection with the openings 64 by the edge free frontal 69.

Advantageously, the walls 66 comprise lateral flanks 67 bearing on the conduit 56 and preventing the particles from entering the openings 64 bypassing the inclined walls 66. These flanks thus constitute longitudinal edges of the inclined walls.

By this arrangement, the trajectory of the finest particles follows the inclined walls 66 and away from the conduit 56. The particles are in somehow ejected by the springboard formed by the inclined walls 66.

However, through the opening 68 made in the wall, the air can reach the exhaust duct without having to change its trajectory considerably. As shown by the path G of the air FIG. 9, the exit of the air through the openings of the duct is facilitated by the presence of openings 68, without significantly degrade particle separation.

According to this embodiment, the pressure losses are minimized in increasing the size of the openings in the duct. So, as it is visible in FIG. 10, the openings 64 extend downstream of the wall 56, according to the direction of general displacement of the air flow in the separation chamber. This arrangement allows the air to reach the openings 64 by curving less its trajectory, which means reduced pressure losses.

By thus protecting the openings 64 and multiplying the inclined walls, the particles are forced on the said walls where they are projected remotely openings 64.

In operation, after a soil cleaning operation, the user stops the motor-fan. He can then empty the main receptacle 22, by unlocking it by pressing the button 24.

If he wants to clean the filtration devices, he removes the cover 18 and seizes the devices at the fingerprints 42, 62. It can then, at first, shake the whole thing over a trash can, then separate the two devices by slightly rotating the conduit through compared to the receptacle. The duct thus released can be passed underwater and clean vigorously for example with a brush. Indeed, this leads is commonly made of plastic and supports the mechanical stresses a cleaning brush and detergents. This cleaning aspect is all the more important that the conduit comprises the separators 70 defined previously, which, by complicating the architecture of the device, require a more thorough cleaning. As a result, the possibility of separating the conduit from receptacle 38 with the fine filter makes it possible to use more energetic, and therefore more effective, so as not to render the task of cleaning too long and tedious.

The secondary separation device and its pleated filter can be shaken, or even go under water if the type of pleated filter allows it. The foam 44 can be separated from the receptacle 38 and can also be cleaned under water simply, like a sponge.

According to the proposed example, the replacement of the filter takes place in changing the receptacle 38 since the filter, in this case, is glued to the receptacle.

The reassembly of the various elements is simple and does not require tools, thus prompting the user to frequently perform this operation, this which makes it possible to avoid any malfunction of the devices and therefore of the device.

Claims (12)

Primary and secondary waste separation devices for vacuum cleaner (10) including in particular a motor-fan unit, said devices being housed in the frame (11) of the vacuum cleaner (10) and consisting, on the one hand, of a duct ( 36, 56) having a plurality of openings (40, 64) and disposed in a main chamber (33) of inertia separation forming a torus, said duct (36, 56) being in aeraulic relationship with the chamber (33) separation by these single openings (40, 64), and being otherwise connected to the motor-fan unit, and secondly by a receptacle (38) in which is housed a fine filter (46), constituting the secondary device of separation of the waste, said filter (46) being interposed in the air flow path between the duct (36, 56) and the motor-fan unit, characterized in that these two devices are mechanically connected to one another by means hook (50, 52) constituting a lock mechanically and in that these devices are removable from the frame (11) of the vacuum cleaner (10). Primary and secondary waste separation devices for vacuum cleaner (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hooking means (50, 52) can be unlocked in order to separate the receptacle (38) from the duct (36, 56). . Primary and secondary waste separation device for vacuum cleaner (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the duct (36, 56) is closed in the upper part and has indentations (42, 62) for easy gripping. separation devices. Primary and secondary waste separation devices for vacuum cleaner (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central duct (36, 56) has, at its base, a peripheral ring (37) substantially perpendicular to the duct ( 36, 56), this ring (37) forming part of the separation chamber (33) by one of its faces, and whose opposite face has attachment means (52) for the receptacle (38) of the filter ( 46). Primary and secondary vacuum cleaner separation devices (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter (46) is removable from the receptacle (38). Primary and secondary waste separation device for vacuum cleaner (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the duct (56) has inclined walls (66) directed towards the separation chamber (33), in the direction the movement (F) of the air, and in that the end of each wall (66) has an opening (68) substantially flat and substantially parallel to the underlying conduit (56), and in that the openings ( 64) of the duct (56) are located in line with the wall openings (66) (66). Primary and secondary waste separation devices for vacuum cleaner (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the walls (66) are bordered, on either side, side flanks (67) bearing on the duct (56). ). Primary and secondary vacuum cleaning and waste collection devices (10) according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the openings (64) at the duct (56) are elongate in the direction of rotation. (F) of the air so as to exceed the plumb with the inclined walls (66), or perpendicular to the direction (F) of rotation of the air. Electric vacuum cleaner (10) comprising a frame (11), inside which is housed a motor-fan unit, said frame (11) having an air inlet capable of being connected by a pipe (32, 132). a nozzle, at the surface to be cleaned, said air inlet communicating, inside the frame, with a waste separation chamber (33) in which it opens out tangentially, characterized in that the vacuum cleaner ( 10) comprises waste separation devices according to one of claims 1 to 8. Electric vacuum cleaner (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the separation chamber (33) is closed at the top by a cover (18) accessible from the outside of the vacuum cleaner (10) and masking the part upper duct (36, 56) exhaust air purified. Electric vacuum cleaner (10) according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the separating chamber (33) is connected to a removable watertight container (22) which is removable and distinct from said chamber, via a channel discharge device (39) oriented in a radial or tangential direction with respect to the separation chamber (33). Electric vacuum cleaner according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the waste separation devices are independent of the discharge channel (39) and the removable waterproof container (22) of waste recovery.

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