Abstract:
A dust separating apparatus is provided. The dust separating apparatus draws in an external air stream and separates dust particles from the drawn air stream. The dust separating apparatus may include a dust collecting space to store dust particles and a driving means to increase or decrease the dust collecting space. Accordingly, a user may adjust the capacity of the dust collecting space as desired.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean Application No. 2009-0008325, filed Feb. 3, 2009, and a Korean Application No. 2009-0031466, filed Apr. 10, 2009, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The following disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a dust separating apparatus that may be mounted to a domestic, industrial and commercial vacuum cleaner to separate dust particles from air stream. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A dust separating apparatus employed in a vacuum cleaner may operate to filter out dust particles from air stream. Recently, bagless, or cyclone dust separating apparatuses, which do not need disposable dust bags, have been used widely. 
         [0006]    Although a bagless, or cyclone dust separating apparatus may be used repeatedly, a user still has to empty collected dust particles whenever a dust collecting space is full. The size of the dust collecting space of the dust separating apparatus is in relation with not only the dust disposal interval, but also the size of the dust separating apparatus and the size (i.e., volume) of the vacuum cleaner. In other words, the dust collecting space should be sized appropriately, in accordance with the amount of dust of a place being cleaned. The user may be inconvenienced if the dust collecting space is too large, or too small compared to the amount of dust collected. 
         [0007]    A conventional dust separating apparatus of a vacuum cleaner may generally have a dust capacity which is fixed according to each model type, and therefore, the user is not able to adjust the space as he wishes. Accordingly, under different conditions, by way of example, if the user wants to clean different places, the size of the dust collecting space may not be suitable for the new cleaning places, in which case the user may be inconvenienced. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In one general aspect, a dust separating apparatus of a vacuum cleaner, drawing in an external air stream and separating dust particles from the drawn air stream is provided. The dust separating apparatus may include a dust collecting space to store dust particles and a driving device to increase or decrease the dust collecting space. 
         [0009]    The dust separating apparatus may further include a cyclone chamber formed in an upper portion of the dust collecting space, to spin the air stream and cause the dust particles to be separated from the air stream. 
         [0010]    The cyclone chamber is a space which may be separate from the dust collecting space. 
         [0011]    The dust collecting space may further include a compressing member to compress collected dust. 
         [0012]    The driving device may be formed in a main body of the vacuum cleaner. 
         [0013]    In another aspect, a dust separating apparatus housed in a corresponding receiving space defined within a main body of a vacuum cleaner to separate dust particles from an air stream is provided. The dust separating apparatus may include a cyclone separator and a dust receptacle arranged below the cyclone separator to form a dust collecting space and to receive the dust particles separated in the cyclone separator, a driving device formed in the main body of the vacuum cleaner, and a driving force transmitting device to transmit a driving force of the driving device to the dust receptacle. The dust receptacle may include at least two receptacles and the driving device may increase or decrease the dust collecting space by moving the at least two receptacles in relation with each other. 
         [0014]    The dust receptacle may include a first and second receptacle, in which the first receptacle is secured to the cyclone separator and the first and second receptacles are moved in relation with each other. 
         [0015]    The dust separating apparatus is in mesh with the driving device when mounted in the main body of the vacuum cleaner, and separated from the driving device when removed from the main body of the vacuum cleaner. 
         [0016]    The driving force transmitting device may include a screw member. 
         [0017]    The driving force transmitting device may include a rack and a pinion. 
         [0018]    The driving device may be stopped automatically if overload is detected. 
         [0019]    The cyclone separator may be formed in a manner in which an axis of rotation of the drawn air stream is approximately horizontal, and the cyclone separator is connected to the dust collecting space by a dust outlet. 
         [0020]    The dust receptacle further comprises a compressing member which compresses the dust particles. 
         [0021]    In still another aspect, a dust separating apparatus having an adjustable volume dust collecting space for collecting dust particles separated from an external air stream by a cyclone separator is provided. The dust separating apparatus may include a dust receptacle surrounding a dust collecting space having a volume, the dust receptacle including a first dust receptacle and a second dust receptacle, and a driving device. One of the first dust receptacle and the second dust receptacle is movable relative to the other of the first dust receptacle and second dust receptacle to thereby adjust the volume of the dust collecting space. 
         [0022]    The driving device provides a driving force to move the one of the first dust receptacle and the second dust receptacle relative to the other of the first dust receptacle and second dust receptacle to thereby adjust the volume of the dust collecting space. 
         [0023]    The dust separating apparatus may further include a driving force transmission device positioned between the driving device and one of the first receptacle and second receptacle. 
         [0024]    The dust separating apparatus may further include a discharge duct including a discharge duct inner pipe and a discharge duct outer pipe. The discharge outer pipe may be moved relative to the discharge duct inner pipe during adjustment of the volume of the dust collecting space. 
         [0025]    The dust separating apparatus may further include an inlet duct positioned adjacent to, and parallel with, the discharge duct. The inlet duct may include an inlet duct inner pipe and an inlet duct outer pipe. The inlet duct outer pipe may be moved relative to the inlet duct inner pipe during adjustment of the volume of the dust collecting space. 
         [0026]    Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of an exemplary dust separating apparatus being mounted to a main body of a vacuum cleaner according to a first exemplary embodiment. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view cut along a line II-II of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a cross section view cut along line III-III of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a cross section view of the exemplary dust separating apparatus of the vacuum cleaner according to the first exemplary embodiment, illustrating a dust collecting space extended to have a maximum capacity. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of an exemplary dust separating apparatus being mounted to a vacuum cleaner according to a second exemplary embodiment. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of the exemplary dust separating apparatus of the vacuum cleaner according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a cross section view cut along a line VII-VII of  FIG. 6 , illustrating the dust collecting space with minimum capacity (in solid line) and in maximum capacity (in two-dotted line). 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a cross section view of the exemplary dust separating apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment, which includes a compressing member below a lower surface of a cyclone separator. 
       
    
    
       [0035]    Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative size and depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]    The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. Accordingly, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the systems, apparatuses and/or methods described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 1 to 4  illustrate an exemplary dust separating apparatus of a vacuum cleaner according to a first exemplary embodiment.  FIGS. 1 and 2  partially illustrate a main body  90  of the vacuum cleaner. That is, a lower portion of the space to receive the dust separating apparatus therein, is illustrated. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the exemplary dust separating apparatus  9  according to the first exemplary embodiment may be removably mounted to the main body  90  of the vacuum cleaner, and may include a cyclone separator  10 , a dust receptacle  30 , a driving force transmitting device  70 , a driving device which may include a driving motor  52 , a discharge duct  60 , and an inlet duct  65  ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0039]    The cyclone separator  10  may include a cyclone tub  11 , an inlet (not illustrated), an outlet  20 , an exhaust pipe  13 , a grill member  18 , and a dust outlet  16 . The cyclone tub  11  may be formed in a cylindrical shape which is horizontally placed, for example, and the outlet  20  may be formed in one side of the cyclone tub  11 . The exhaust pipe  13  may extend from the outlet  20  and protrude into the cyclone chamber  22 , and the grill member  18  may be attached to one end of the exhaust pipe  13 . The dust outlet  16  may be formed in an approximately square shape, for example, in a circumferential direction of the cyclone tub  11 . 
         [0040]    The dust receptacle  30  may include a first receptacle  32 , a second receptacle  34 , and a bottom plate  31 , forming the dust collecting space  36  therein. 
         [0041]    The first and second receptacles  32 ,  24  may be bottomless cylinders, in which the first receptacle  32  may be secured to the cyclone tub  11 , and the second receptacle  34  may be formed to wrap around the outer circumference of the first receptacle  32 . The bottom plate  31  may be a circular plate which opens or closes the lower surface of the second receptacle  34 , in which one end may be rotatably connected to a side of lower portion of the second receptacle  34 , and the other end may be locked in an unhook member  48  formed on the other side of the second receptacle  34 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the bottom plate  31  may be selectively opened to allow disposal of the dust from the dust collecting space  36 , if the unhook member  48  at the side of the second receptacle  34  is pressed in an arrowed direction ‘A’. If the dust separating apparatus  9  is mounted to the main body  90  of the vacuum cleaner as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the second receptacle  34  and the bottom plate  31  may be supported in contact with the main body  90  of the vacuum cleaner. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the driving force transmitting device  70  may include a screw pillar  78 , a screw member  72 , a connecting member  74 , and first and second couplings  76 ,  77 . The screw pillar  78  may be formed as a cylindrical pillar, for example, having a female screw thread formed on an inner surface. An upper end of the screw pillar  78  may be secured to an outer circumference of the cyclone tub  11 . The screw member  72  may also include a screw thread formed on an outer circumference, and inserted in the screw pillar  78  to be engaged with the screw thread on the inner circumference of the screw pillar  78 . The connecting member  74  may be rotatably formed on the bottom plate  31 , to be rotated in mesh with the motor shaft  54  or separated from the motor shaft  54  in accordance with the mounting or removal of the dust separating apparatus  9  to or from the main body  90  of the vacuum cleaner. The first and second couplings  76 ,  77  may be formed between the screw member  72  and the connecting member  74  to connect the screw member  72  and the connecting member  74 . That is, the first coupling  76  may be connected to the connecting member  74 , and the second coupling  77  may be connected to the screw member  72 . If the bottom plate  31  is open, the first coupling  76  may be separated from the second coupling  77 , leaving the second coupling  77 , together with the screw member  72 , suspended on the screw pillar  78 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the driving motor  52  may be formed in a driving motor chamber  50  which may be provided in the main body  90  of the vacuum cleaner and under the dust separating apparatus  9 . An axis connecting member  59 , which may be connected in mesh with the connecting member  74  of the driving force transmitting device  70 , may be connected to the motor shaft  54 . Accordingly, the driving force of the motor may be transmitted to the connecting member  74  through the motor shaft  54  and the axis connecting member  59 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the discharge duct  60  and the inlet duct  65  may be formed vertically and in parallel relation with each other. Although  FIG. 2  illustrates the discharge duct  60  only,  FIG. 3  shows the inlet duct  65  may be formed adjacent to the discharge duct  60 . The discharge duct  60  and the inlet duct  65  may include a discharge duct outer pipe  62  and an inlet duct outer pipe  66 , respectively. Additionally, the discharge duct  60  and the inlet duct  65  may include a discharge duct inner pipe  64  and an inlet duct inner pipe  67 , respectively. The outer pipe  62  of the discharge duct  60  may be secured to the cyclone tub  11  so as to be connected fluidly with a fluid passage  63  which may be formed in ‘┐’ shape and which may be connected to the outlet  20  formed on a side of the cyclone tub  11 . The outer pipe  66  of the inlet duct  65  may also be secured to the cyclone tub  11  so as to be connected fluidly with an inlet (not illustrated) which may be formed in a tangential direction of the cyclone tub  11 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , each of the inner pipes  64 ,  67  of the discharge duct  60  and the inlet duct  65  may be secured to the bottom plate  31 . Accordingly, the outer pipes  62 ,  66 , along with the cyclone tub  11  and the first receptacle  32 , may be moved in relation with the second receptacle  34  and the bottom plate  31 . By way of example, the inner pipes  64 ,  67  may be respectively inserted in the outer pipes  62 ,  66  if the dust receptacle  30  is retracted, while the inner pipes  64 ,  67  may be protruded downward if the dust receptacle  30  is extended. As a result, the overall length of the discharge duct  60  and the inlet duct  65  may be increased or decreased as long as the length of extension or retraction of the dust receptacle  30 . 
         [0045]    Although not illustrated, an electric current sensor and a control unit may be provided in the main body  90  of the vacuum cleaner. The electric current sensor may measure in real time an amount of electric current supplied to the driving motor  52  to detect overload of the driving motor  52 . The control unit may control the operation of the driving motor  52 . 
         [0046]    The operation of the dust separating apparatus  9  is explained below with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
         [0047]    When the vacuum cleaner starts driving, air stream may be drawn through a brush assembly (not illustrated) and the inlet duct  65  of the dust separating apparatus  9 . The air stream may be spun as it enters into the cyclone tub  11  through the entrance of the cyclone separator  10 . Dust particles with strong centrifugal force may be separated from the spinning air stream and fall into the dust collecting space  36  through the dust outlet  16 . The cleaned air stream may then be discharged through the grill member  18  and the outlet  20 . After being discharged through the discharge duct  60  and the lower portion of the bottom plate  31 , the air stream may be discharged out of a vacuum generating device (not illustrated). 
         [0048]    The cyclone separator  10  may be placed horizontally, the rotational axis of the air stream may be horizontal, and the cyclone separator  10  may be connected fluidly with the dust collecting space  36  only through the dust outlet  16 . Accordingly, unlike an upright cyclone structure which has no distinction between the cyclone chamber  22  and the dust collecting space  36 , dust of the dust collecting space  36  of the horizontal cyclone separator  10  may be limited, or not allowed, to flow backward due to a spinning air stream of the cyclone chamber  22 . 
         [0049]    The user of the vacuum cleaner may be allowed to adjust the capacity, or volume, of the dust receptacle  30  in accordance with the environment of the place being cleaned. More specifically, the user may increase or decrease the capacity before or during the operation of the vacuum cleaner, without taking out or even touching the dust separating apparatus  9 . 
         [0050]    If a user wants to increase the capacity of the dust receptacle  30  to clean a heavily dust-laden area or a large area such as a shop, a factory, or the like, the user may rotate the driving motor  52  in a forward direction. As the driving motor  52  drives, the axis connecting member  59  and the connecting member  74  connected to the motor  52  may be rotated, and the screw member  72  connected through the first and second couplings  76 ,  77  may also be rotated. Since the driving motor  52  is rotated in a forward direction, the screw member  72  may be rotated in a forward direction, and the screw pillar  78 , screw-coupled with the screw member  72 , may be moved to an upper side of the second receptacle  34 , pushing the first receptacle  32  and the cyclone separator  10  in an upward direction. Referring to  FIG. 4 , if the screw pillar  78  is moved to a position where the dust collecting space  36  has the maximum capacity, the cyclone separator  10  and the first receptacle  32  are not allowed to move further. As a result, electric current supplied to the driving motor  52  increases. The electric current sensor detects this increase, and outputs an overload of the driving motor  52  to the control unit. As a result, the control unit cuts off electricity to the driving motor  52 , and the driving motor  52  stops operation. 
         [0051]    If the user needs to clean an area where dust is relatively less, such as a room or an office, for example, the user may decrease the capacity of the dust collecting space  36  by driving the driving motor  52  in a backward direction. As the driving motor  52  is rotated backward, the screw member  72  may be rotated backward, and accordingly, the screw pillar  78  connected to the screw member  72  may be moved downward with respect to the screw member  72 . As a result, the cyclone separator  10  and the first receptacle  32 , connected to the screw pillar  78 , may be moved downward with respect to the second receptacle  34 , decreasing the dust collecting space  36 . As when the driving motor  52  is rotated in a forward direction such that dust collecting space reaches the maximum capacity, the driving motor  52  is overloaded if the dust collecting space is decreased to have the minimum capacity ( FIG. 2 ). As a result, the electric current sensor detects the overload, and the control unit stops the driving motor  52 . In addition to driving the driving motor  52  to an extent that the dust collecting space  36  has the maximum or minimum capacity, it is also possible for the user to stop the driving motor  52  when the dust collecting space  36  has a predetermined height. Conventional techniques to drive the driving motor  52  in forward and backward directions, and to control the driving motor  52  may be applied. As such, detailed explanation of such techniques is omitted for conciseness. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 5 to 7  illustrate an exemplary dust separating apparatus  119  according to a second exemplary embodiment. 
         [0053]    The dust separating apparatus  119  according to the another exemplary embodiment may include a cyclone separator  110 , a dust receptacle  130 , a driving force transmitting device  170 , a driving device which may include a driving motor  150 , a discharge duct  160 , and an inlet duct (not illustrated). 
         [0054]    The cyclone separator  110 , the dust receptacle  130  having the first and second receptacles  132 ,  134 , the discharge ducts  160  and the inlet duct having inner and outer pipes  162 ,  164 , may have like or similar constructions as those explained above in the first exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, only the location of the driving motor  150  and the driving force transmitting device  170  are further explained below. 
         [0055]    Compared to the first exemplary embodiment, the driving motor  150  may be formed in a main body  190  of the vacuum cleaner, on a side of the dust separating apparatus  119  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The driving motor  150  may be placed horizontally, and a shaft gear  156  may be provided to an end of the motor shaft (not illustrated). The shaft gear  156  may be protruded into a dust collecting chamber receiving space of the vacuum cleaner ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the driving force transmitting device  170  may include a rack  172  and a pinion  178 . The rack  172  may be formed vertically on an outer circumference of the first receptacle  132 , and the pinion  178 , which may be screw-coupled with the rack  172 , may be passed through the second receptacle  134 . One side of the pinion  178  may be coupled to the rack  172 , and the other side may be connected to the shaft gear  156  of the driving motor  150 . 
         [0057]    Similar to the first exemplary embodiment, one end of the bottom plate  131  may be rotatably secured to the second receptacle  134 , and the other end may be locked to the unhook member  148  ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0058]    The variable operation of the dust receptacle of the dust separating apparatus  119  according to the second exemplary embodiment is explained below, mainly focusing on the differences from the first exemplary embodiment. 
         [0059]    If the user rotates the driving motor  150  in a forward direction, the shaft gear  156  of the driving motor  150  may be rotated, and the pinion  178 , connected to the shaft gear  156 , may be rotated to move the rack  172  upward. Since the rack  172  may be secured to the first receptacle  132 , the first receptacle  132  may be moved in an upward direction with respect to the second receptacle  134 , and the connected cyclone separator  110  may also be moved upward. Similar to the first exemplary embodiment, the outer pipes  162  of the inlet duct ( FIG. 3 ) and the discharge duct  160  may be moved upward in accordance with the movement of the first receptacle  132 . If the driving motor  150  is rotated in a backward direction, the rack  172  may be moved downward, and the first receptacle  132  may be moved downward, decreasing the dust collecting space  136 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , the dust collecting space  136  in the state indicated by the two-dotted line has approximately the maximum capacity, while the dust collecting space  136  in the state indicated by the solid line has approximately the minimum capacity. The motor  150  may be controlled by measuring electric current, as explained above in the first exemplary embodiment. The reference numeral  163  denotes a fluid passage which corresponds to the fluid passage  63  of the first exemplary embodiment. 
         [0060]      FIG. 8  is a cross section view of a dust separating apparatus  119  additionally including a compressing member  180  formed below the cyclone separator  110 , according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
         [0061]    According to the second exemplary embodiment, the dust separating apparatus  119  may include a compressing member  180  formed in the dust receptacle  130  to compress the collected dust, when the dust collecting space  136  is decreased. 
         [0062]    The compressing member  180  may be formed as a plate having a shape corresponding to a horizontal section, and more particularly, to the inner diameter of the first receptacle  132 , or a plate having a center protruding downward. 
         [0063]    The compressing member  180  may be formed independently and attached to the lower surface of the cyclone separator  110 , or formed integrally with the lower surface of the cyclone separator  110 . In the latter case, the compressing member  180  may be extended radially along an outer circumference of the cyclone separator  110 . 
         [0064]    The compressing member  180  may be formed at a predetermined distance from the lower surface of the cyclone separator  110 , and a surface thereof may be fixed in contact with the inner surface of the first receptacle  132  and with the outer surfaces of the discharge duct  160  and the inlet duct (not illustrated) which pass through the compressing member  180 . 
         [0065]    As explained above, the compressing member  180  may have various constructions, and include a compressing member dust outlet  186  pierced through a surface that faces the dust outlet  111  of the cyclone separator  110 . An area between the compressing member dust outlet  186  and the dust outlet  111  may be formed into a dust passage  182  by a sidewall  181  which connects the entire outer circumferences of the compressing member dust outlet  186  and of the dust outlet  111 . 
         [0066]    The dust passage  182 , which may be formed by the sidewall  181 , isolates an area where dust is moved between the dust outlet  111  of the cyclone separator  110  and the compressing member dust outlet  186 , thereby preventing diffusion of dust separated in the cyclone separator  110  to an area other than the dust collecting space  136 . 
         [0067]    The compressing member  180  with the above-explained construction may operate to compress the dust of the dust collecting space  136 , by moving in a downward direction along with the cyclone separator  110 , if the dust collecting space  136  is in a retracted position. Accordingly, the dust separating apparatus  119  according to the second exemplary embodiment may further increased variable capacity of the dust collecting space  136 . 
         [0068]    The compressing member  180  of the dust separating apparatus  119  according to the second exemplary embodiment may be adapted equally to the dust separating apparatus  9  of the first exemplary embodiment. 
         [0069]    As explained above, a user may be enabled to adjust the capacity of the dust collecting space appropriately in accordance with the environment of the place being cleaned. Accordingly, increased user convenience may be provided. 
         [0070]    Furthermore, since it is possible to adjust the dust collecting space using a driving force of the driving motor, the user does not have to take out or touch the dust separating apparatus. The user may also be able adjust the dust collecting space with convenience even when the vacuum cleaner is in operation. 
         [0071]    Furthermore, since the dust may be compressed, the dust collecting space can have further increased capacity. 
         [0072]    Furthermore, since it may be possible to adjust the variable capacity of the dust collecting space without affecting the cyclone separator, dust separation efficiency may be maintained constant. 
         [0073]    Furthermore, the possibility that the dust of the dust collecting space flows backward through a cyclone discharge port, may be decreased. 
         [0074]    A number of exemplary embodiments have been described above. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.