Separator for solid and liquid particles from an air current

Abstract: The subject of the invention, a hydroactive separator of solid particles and liquids from air currents, eliminates filtering of the air current by means of a paper or textile filter sack or any other kind of filters. Removing solid particles (dust) and liquids (water) from the air current is achieved by a liquid presenting the medium which traps the particles or liquid droplets from the air current. In vacuum cleaners, a constant suction power during the whole time of operation is achieved. Abrasive materials, hot and incandescent fragments (ashes, glow, cigarettes, weld butts), as well as other materials may be removed without preliminary preparation of the vacuum cleaner. An important saving of paper or textile filter sacks is effectuated.

Description: The invention relates to the technical field of vacuum cleaners and more particularly to separators according to the introductory part of claim 1. Such a vacuum cleaner is shown in FR-A-670220. During the suction of dusty air currents in conventional vacuum cleaners, and because tiny parcticles of dust are accumulated at the top of the paper or textile filter sack, the suction strength is reduced as it depends (directly proportional) on the amount of dirt already clogged to the filter sack. Vacuum cleaners adapted for the suction of liquids require special provisions depending on whether solid particles (dust) and/or liquids (water) is/are to be sucked. Furthermore, with conventional vacuum cleaners, the suction of hot and incandescent particles (e.g. ash, welding cinder, close-burning coal etc.) is not possible. The first of these problems can partially be solved by increasing the filtering surface, but even in such a case, the suction power and efficiency are reduced. The other two problems, however, cannot be avoided if filtering is used. The above mentioned vacuum cleaner disclosed in FR-A-670 220 as well as the vacuum cleaner disclosed in NL-C-32508 and a similar separator disclosed in FR-A-2159439 show properties to avoid some of the above mentioned problems since they provide a liquid medium and guide the air current through said medium. The object of the invention therefore is to provide a separator for a vacuum cleaner which avoids the above mentioned disadvantages. The aim of the invention is achieved by the measures proposed in the characterising part of claim 1. The inventive separator is positioned vertically to the surface of the medium. Further embodiments and improvements of the invention are described in the subclaims. The instant hydroactive separator of solid particles and liquids forms a diffusor at the ending of the suction tube, installed in the vacuum cleaner's container. All parts of the construction are solidly connected to each other. The use of a flexible suction tube, eventually made of ribbed rubber (bellows) and/or the use of floats enabling the raise or fall of the separator - depending on the water level - is preferred. The invention will be described in more detail in relation to the enclosed figures. Fig.1 presents a partial section of the separator; Fig.2 presents a partial section of the separator when not in operation; Fig.3 presents a partial section of the separator in operation; Fig.4 presents a cross section along the line IV.-IV. of Fig.2. Reference numerals of the drawings refer to: CARRIER REINFORCEMENT 1 LINKS 2 DIFFUSOR 3 PROTECTIVE Skirt (cylinder) 4 PROTECTIVE COVER 5 FLOATS 6 WATER 7 RECESSIONS 8 AIR CURRENT 9 HOUSING 10 SUCTION TUBE 11 VACUUM MOTOR 12 EXHAUST 13 FLEXIBLE SUCTION TUBE 14 Description of the single parts of the separator: CARRIER REINFORCEMENT 1 - its function (purpose) is to reinforce the construction and to build a cylindrical diffusor. LINKS 2 - present the hard connection between the protective cylinder 4 and the other parts of the separator. There are two links, but, alternatively, may be more. They may have a fan blade shape in order to force the air current 9 into a cyclone like rotation. DIFFUSOR 3 - forms the ending of the flexible suction tube 14. PROTECTIVE CYLINDER 4 - a part of construction which has on its upper part a sectional conical surface, that directs the air current 9 to the protective cover 5. PROTECTIVE COVER 5 - prevents spraying of water onto the vacuum motor 12 inlet. Further sheet guides between said protective cover 5 and said vacuum motor 12 could be provided. The cylindrical surface between the upper border of the protective cylinder 4 and the protective cover 5 is smaller than the cylindrical surface between the lower border of the protective cover brink and the surface of the liquid 7. Such a relation is necessary because of the decrease of the air current speed and enables separation of remaining water droplets from the air current (in consequence of gravity). On the borders of the protective cover 5, floats 6 are attached. FLOATS 6 - enable the separator to maintain a constant position in relation to the water surface. The water level, when the vacuum cleaner is off, has to cover the links 2. There are three or more, preferably four floats displaced all around. WATER 7 - for the functioning of the construction, unavoidably, the water is necessary. In the separator, the water presents the medium by means of which the solid particles, liquids and other materials can be separated from the air current 9. If the water level can be held constant, the parts 1 to 5 may be held rigidly with respect to the housing 10. Fig.3 presents a partial section of the separator and the function of the device when the vacuum cleaner is on. When the vacuum cleaner is turned on, and in consequence of the outside atmosphere effect in the suction tube 14, i.e. in the diffusor 3, the water level is lowered. The air current 9, when issuing from the diffusor 3, forms a recession 8 on the water surface, directing the surface water layers to the protective cylinder 4 and further onto the protective cover 5. Particles of dust with bigger mass, because of the centrifugal force, unable to be directed to the protective cylinder 4 and to the protective cover 5, rush into the water and sink down or are dispersed in the water. Particles of dust with small mass, to which centrifugal forces have no significant effect, are directed via the air current to the protective cover 5 and are trapped in sprayed water when coming in contact with it. The conical part of the protective cylinder 4 enables extra whirling circulation where the rest of the light particles is trapped in water and thereby moved out of the air current. In consequence of the big surface, to which the air current mixed with water droplets comes across, the speed is gently reduced, and because of the gravity effects, the water droplets are separated from the air current 9 and then fall back onto the water surface. In such a way, a purified air current, from which dust and liquids are separated, comes out from the vacuum cleaner's exhaust 13. The whole construction is reciprocally steadily connected and presents the solid constructive entirety. In the production of the instant separator, known technological processes for the manufacture of conventional vacuum cleaners may be used. Instead of a vacuum motor 12, any other vacuum producing means may be provided. For the production of the instant separator, known plastic material may be used, but industrial workmanship and technological processes will determine its definite form. Instead of water, other liquids could be used, e.g. desinfectant liquids like alcool, or the like for avoiding a bacteriological pollution. Furthermore, the liquid could be exchanged permanently via tubes (not shown).

Claims: Separator for solid and liquid particles from an air current (9), applicable especially to vacuum cleaners, with a liquid separator/filter medium (7) whereby - in filtering/separating con-dition - the air current (9) is sucked through or along said liquid medium (7) in order to bring the solid particles into contact with the liquid and to remove them from the air current, the separator comprising a suction tube (11,14) having an outlet through which - in filtering/separating condition - the air current is guided to the medium, characterized in that the suction tube (14) is flexible to allow vertical movements of its outlet which is in the form of a diffuser (3) and that the diffuser (3) is connected via links (2) with a protective skirt (4), which diffuser (3) and protective skirt (4) are with floats (6) to allow floating of the diffusor (3) and the protective skirt (4) on said liquid medium - under filtering/separating condition. Separator according to claim 1, characterised in that it further comprises a protective cover (5) above said skirt (4), said cover (5) being connected to said outlet, said skirt (4) and said diffusor (3) being at least partly immersable into said liquid medium (7). Separator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protective skirt (4) has a conical upper part for guiding the air current (9) towards the protective cover (5). Separator according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterised in that the solidly linked parts constituted by the diffuser (3), the skirt (4) and the cover (5) provide means to decrease the air current speed, whereby the skirt (4) and the protective cover (5) are disc shaped and cylindrical respectively. Separator according to claim 4, characterised in that the covered area of medium (7) between the outlet of the suction tube (14) and the skirt (4) is smaller than the covered area of the medium (7) between the skirt (4) and the protective cover (5) floating on the medium (7). Separator according to claim 4, characterized in that the cylindrical surface between the upper border of the protective skirt (4) and the protective cover (5) is smaller than the cylindrical surface between the lower border of the protective cover (5) and the surface of the medium (7), or that the cylindrical surface of the protective skirt (4) immersed into the liquid medium (7) is bigger than the cylindrical surface of the skirt (4) remaining above the liquid medium (7). Separator according to any preceding claim, wherein the floats (6) bear the weight of the outlet and all parts are connected to it and adapted to allow the links (2) to come into contact with the surface of the medium (7), whenever the separator is in the state of inactivity. Separator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the medium is or contains a desinfectant. Separator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the links (2) have a fan blade shape in order to rotate the air current (9) in a cyclone like manner. Separator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the part of the suction tube (14) being flexible is like a bellow.

Inventors: BROZNIC DARKO, BROZNIC, DARKO
Applicants: BIRO ESTABLISHMENT, ING. BIRO ESTABLISHMENT
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A47L9
IPC codes: A47L9