Dust collector and filtering device thereof

A filtering device of a dust collector (i.e, vacuum cleaner) comprises a filter, a rack, an end cap, and a fixed portion. The filter has filter paper, a sealing member, and the end cap, the filter paper being disposed between the end cap and the sealing member. An end hole penetrating the end cap is provided on the end cap, and the filter is mounted on the rack. A center post is provided on the rack, and the center post runs through the end hole. A locking portion is disposed between the end cap and the fixed portion, and the locking portion firmly locks the center post when the fixed portion is fastened to the end cap. The filtering device of a dust collector does not have an elastic interference fit during implementation, and is more reliably secured; and therefore, it does not accidentally fall off during use.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage of International Application No. PCT/CN2014/077781, filed May 19, 2014, and claims benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. CN 201310183770, filed May 17, 2013, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dust collector and a filtering device thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

A dust collector, also known as a vacuum cleaner, is commonly used household cleaning equipment where dust and chippings are sucked into a dust bucket through working airflow and then the working airflow is exhausted. Therefore, the dust collector needs to have a function of separating working airflow, dust and chippings from air. So far, a filtering device is the most commonly used and effective solution of realizing air and dust separation. The filtering device needs to be frequently dismantled from the dust collector during use. For example, the filtering device of the dust collector, after being used for a period of time and on which a large amount of dust may be accumulated, needs to be dismantled for cleaning and then remounted. In some designs, a filtering member of the filtering device is made of filter paper. After the filter paper is used for a period of time, the surface of the filter paper is accumulated with a large amount of dust, at this moment, the filter paper needs to be replaced so as to ensure normal running of the dust collector. If the filter paper and the filtering device cannot be easily dismantled, therefore, both need to be replaced together. Publication No. CN101711657 discloses a replaceable filtering device which comprises a filtering device rack and which is sheathed on the rack, wherein an elastic end cap on which an end hole is provided is disposed on one end of the filtering device, and wherein when the filtering device is mounted, a support column on the rack penetrates the end hole and enables the end hole to be kept in a region of the support column having a smaller outer diameter. Since mounting and fixing are finished through the elastic end hole in the solution aforementioned, the elastic structure will generate problems of structure aging, elasticity failure or the like after being dismantled, mounted and used repeatedly for a relatively long time. Therefore, the filtering device will possibly fall off in use in case of structure aging or elasticity failure, and moreover, the elastic end cap and the support post are inconvenient to mount and dismantle because of an interference fit there between.

SUMMARY

In order to solve said problem, the present invention provides a filtering device of a dust collector, which is more stable in structure and unlikely to automatically fall off in a using process.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention is embodied by the following technical solution: a filtering device of the dust collector comprises a filter, a rack, an end cap and a fixed portion; the filter has filter paper and a sealing member; the end cap is disposed on one end of the filter, and an end hole penetrating the end cap is provided on the end cap, the filter is mounted on the rack, a center post is provided on the rack, and the center post runs through the end hole; and a locking portion is disposed between the end cap and the fixed portion, and the locking portion locks the center post when the fixed portion is fastened to the end cap.

Moreover, the present invention also provides the following additional technical solutions:

The fixed portion is a knob, whereas the locking portion is at least claw portions which are integrally formed on the knob.

The at least two claw portions are circumferentially arranged around the center of the knob.

The at least two claw portions are located between the center post and the end hole when locking the center post.

A chamfer is formed at the tail end of each claw portion; a mouth portion is disposed on the end hole, wherein the inner diameter of the mouth portion is gradually decreased from top to bottom, and an arc-shaped buffer region which is matched with the chamfer is formed on the bottom end of the mouth portion.

The knob and the mouth portion are fixed through fastening threads.

The center post is equipped with a head portion which has a cap-like brim portion is disposed on the center post, and the claw portions and the cap-like brim portion are locked by virtue of thrust generated when the fixed portion is fastened to the end cap.

The fixed portion is a knob, an end hole is equipped with a mouth portion, and the knob and the mouth portion are fastened to each other through threads.

The locking portion is at least two buckles which are integrally formed on the mouth portion.

The center post is equipped with a head portion which has a cap-like brim portion, and each buckle and the cap-like brim portion are clamped to each other when the knob is fastened to the mouth portion.

Each buckle is equipped with an inclined top surface, and when the knob is fastened to the mouth portion, the knob pushes the inclined top surface inwards, so that the buckle and the cap-like brim portion are clamped to each other.

The at least two buckles are integrally formed on the side wall of the mouth portion.

Each buckle extends longitudinally downwards from the top end of the side wall of the mouth portion, and has an inclined top surface and a hook portion.

Each buckle can also extend transversely from the bottom end of the side wall of the mouth portion and has an inclined top surface.

A dust collector equipped with the filtering device aforementioned also comprises a negative-pressure air power source, a dust bucket, an air inlet and an outlet, wherein the negative-pressure air power source generates negative pressure, so that dust-collecting air circulates in an air channel between the inlet and the outlet.

Compared with the existing technology, the present invention has the advantages that the filtering device is mounted in the dust bucket of the dust collector by means of the rack, the fixed portion and the locking position. The fixed portion and the locking position are injection molding parts, and the locking portion locks the center post when the fixed portion is fastened to the end cap of the rack. The filtering device does not have elastic interference fit during implementation, so that the filtering device can be fixed more reliably and can bear greater external force when the knob is fastened to the end cap, and therefore, the filtering device is unlikely to accidentally fall off during use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

By reference to the filtering device1of a dust collector (i.e., a vacuum cleaner) as shown inFIG. 1,FIG. 2andFIG. 3, a rack10is disposed on the bottom of a filter2and consists of a disc-shaped base11and a cylindrical core12, wherein the core12is integrally disposed on the disc-shaped base. The core12is equipped with annular ribs120which are annularly arranged alternately, an opening121is formed between every two adjacent ribs and is configured to allow working airflow of the dust collector and other cleaning equipment to pass through; and ribs122which are longitudinally arranged are also disposed around the core12, wherein each rib122is integrally formed with the corresponding annular rib120and is connected with the annular rib120. A circular flat plate123is also disposed on the upper end of the core12, and the exterior of the circular flat plate and the ribs122are integrally formed. The center of the circular flat plate123protrudes upwards to form a center post124which is cylindrical approximately, wherein the center post124and the flat plate123are integrally formed. A head portion125is provided on the upper end of the center post124, a neck region126is disposed below the head portion125, and the outer diameter of the neck region126is less than that of the edge of the head portion125. The filter2is mounted outside the rack10, an end cap21is disposed on the upper end portion of the filter2, a rubber sealing member22is disposed on the bottom of the filter2, and when the filter2is mounted on the rack10, the rubber sealing member22and the base11are sealed to each other. Filter paper23is disposed between the end cap21and the rubber sealing member22and is circumferentially arranged between the end cap21and the rubber sealing member22, and ridges24which are arranged alternately are formed on the outer surface of the filter paper, wherein the ridges24are capable of increasing a filtering region of the filter paper23and ensuring that the working airflow flows through the filter2more easily. A cylindrical internal space25is formed by the filter paper23. An end hole26is provided in the center of the end cap21, wherein the end hole26penetrates the end cap21and is communicated with the internal space25formed by the filter paper, and a fastening member27is provided outside the end hole26.

By further reference toFIG. 2,FIG. 3andFIG. 4, the filtering device aforementioned also comprises a fixed portion3and a locking portion31, wherein the fixed portion3is a knob, whereas the locking portion31is claw portions integrally formed on the knob3. A device which is matched with the fastening member27is provided on the inner side of the knob3. Preferably, threads are employed as the fastening member in the present invention and can also be replaced with other fastening members well-known by those skilled in the art. The filter2needs to be aligned to the rack10first when the filter2is mounted, then the core12is inserted into the internal space25and the center post124on the flat plate123is enabled to run through the end hole26on the end cap21, and finally the knob3and the end cap21are screwed together. The knob3is approximately cylindrical, a threaded structure which is matched with the exterior of the end hole26is provided on the inner surface of the knob, and claw portions31are disposed in the middle of the knob3. Preferably, six claw portions are configured in the present invention, which are disposed on the circumference (taking the center of the bottom32of the knob as the center). The claw portions extend from the bottom of the fixed knob to an opening33of the knob, and a chamfer34is formed on the tail end of each claw portion. The claw portions31are located between the center post124and the end hole26during the assembling process. A mouth portion261is disposed outside the end hole26, wherein the inner diameter of the mouth portion is gradually decreased from top to bottom, and an arc-shaped buffer region262(also called the “guide surface” herein) is provided on the bottom of the mouth portion. The bent direction of the arc surface of the arc-shaped buffer region is approximately the same as that of the arc surface of the chamfer34of each claw portion. A head portion125of the center post is cap-like, wherein the outer diameter of the head portion is gradually increased from top to bottom, a cap-like brim portion130is located on the maximal outer diameter part of the head portion, and the outer portion of the head portion extends smoothly and continuously to form an arc-shaped surface127. The lower side of the head portion125of the center post is connected with a neck portion126, the lower surface128of the head portion is perpendicular to the neck portion126, and a region on which an inward recess129is located is formed in a position, on the center post, of the neck portion. When a user rotates the knob3, the knob3moves downwards along the center post124, and meanwhile drives the claw portions31to rotate and move downwards; the chamfer on the tail end of each claw portion31moves downwards along the inner surface of the mouth portion261, wherein the inner diameter of the mouth portion is gradually decreased and the chamfers34of the claw portions prop against the arc-shaped buffer region262directly and move inwards and downwards along the inner surface of the mouth portion261; the claw portions31move inwards to clamp the cap-like brim portion130of the head portion125of the center post; and further, as the knob3is rotated, the claw portions34penetrate the end hole26and the tail ends of the claw portions enter a recess region129formed on the neck portion126. At this moment, the claw portions31and the head portion125of the center post are locked tightly, and the filter2is firmly fixed on the rack10. The knob3and the claw portions31are injection molding parts. The claw portions are elastic, and therefore, after the knob3and the filter are dismantled, the claw portions will recover to original shapes. In conclusion, the knob3is fixed with the end cap21through threads, the chamfers34on the tail ends of the claw portions31slide inwards along the arc-shaped buffer region of the mouth portion261by means of the thrust generated when the knob3and the end cap21are screwed together, and finally the claw portions31and the center post124are locked tightly.

By reference to the dust collector4as shown inFIG. 5,FIG. 6andFIG. 7, the dust collector is equipped with a dust bucket40, wherein a machine head41is disposed on the upper portion of the dust bucket and is internally provided with a motor and an impeller (as shown in the FIGS.); and the working airflow mixed with dust reaches an airflow outlet43from a dust suction inlet42through the dust bucket by means of the negative pressure generated when the motor drives the impeller, and an air channel of the dust collector is formed between the dust suction inlet and the airflow outlet. The filtering device1of the dust collector aforementioned is mounted in the dust bucket on the lower portion of the machine head41, and the filter2is sheathed on the rack10and is fixed on the rack10by means of the knob3. An opening (not shown in the FIGS.) is provided on a base of the machine head. One end of the opening is communicated with an impeller cavity, and the other end of the opening is communicated with the internal space25formed by the filter paper23. When the dust collector works, the working airflow enters the dust bucket from the dust suction inlet42, and then enters the internal space25from the outside of the filter paper23; chippings carried by the working airflow are deposited on the filter paper; and finally clean airflow is exhausted from an outlet43of the dust collector.

Embodiment 2 is approximately the same as the structures of the dust collector and the filtering device thereof disclosed by Embodiment 1, and the difference just lies in that the structures of the end hole of the end cap, the fixed portion and the locking portion in the filtering device slightly change. The different structures will be described in detail below.

The end hole26′ in this embodiment runs through the end cap21′ as well and is equipped with a mouth portion261′. However, the mouth portion261′ is formed as a hollow straight pipe approximately, and therefore, is basically consistent in size of the inner diameter.

The fixed portion in this embodiment is a knob3′, whereas the locking portion is at least two buckles28which are disposed on the mouth portion261′. The knob3′ and the mouth portion261′ are fastened in a threaded meshing manner as well. The at least two buckles28are integrally formed on the side wall263of the mouth portion261′ and extend downwards from the top end of the side wall263. Each buckle28is equipped with an inclined top surface29extending longitudinally, and a hook portion292extending inwards is formed on the tail end of each buckle28. In this embodiment, two buckles28are configured and are disposed in the diameter direction of the mouth portion261′.

Therefore, when the knob3′ is fastened to the mouth portion261′, the knob3′ will push the inclined top surface29of the buckle28gradually inwards in a process of screwing downwards, until the hooks292of the buckles28are buckled to the lower side of the cap-like brim portion130and are mutually clamped, and therefore the conversion of the filtering device from an unlocking state to a locking state is finished.

The difference between Embodiment 3 and Embodiment 2 just lies in that the structures of the buckles are different and are explained in detail as follows: the buckles28′ in this embodiment are integrally formed on the side wall263of the mouth portion261′ as well, and also two buckles28are configured and are disposed in the diameter direction of the mouth portion261′. The difference between Embodiment 3 and Embodiment 2 is that each buckle28′ extends from the bottom end of the side wall263outwards (transversely) and form an inclined top surface29′ disposed obliquely on the outer side of the side wall. Therefore, when the knob3′ is fastened to the mouth portion261′, the knob3′ will push the inclined top surface29′ of the buckle28′ gradually inwards in a process of screwing downward, until the buckles28′ are buckled to the lower side of the cap-like brim portion130and are clamped mutually, and therefore the conversion of the filtering device from the unlocking state to the locking state is finished.

The aforementioned embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and all alterations made in accordance to the spirit essence of the present invention should fall into the protection scope of the present invention.