Abstract:
A vacuum cleaner assembly including a vacuum cleaner housing ( 10 ) and an air filtration unit removably installed in the housing. The unit includes a coarse separator ( 25 ), a cyclone with a cyclone chamber ( 26 ), a collecting container ( 27 ), and a releasable cover plate ( 37 ). The coarse separator ( 25 ) receives dirt-laden air. Air is tangentially introduced into the cyclone chamber ( 26 ), which is downstream the coarse separator ( 25 ). The collecting chamber ( 27 ) receives particles separated from the air stream in the cyclone chamber ( 26 ). The cover plate ( 37 ) serves as a wall part for each of the coarse separator, cyclone, and collecting container whereby, after the unit ( 14 ) has been removed from the housing ( 10 ), the cover plate is removed to simultaneously reveal the coarse separator, cyclone, and collecting container to permit emptying thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a vacuum cleaner housing having a coarse separator into which dust laden air is drawn by means of a vacuum source from a nozzle connected to the vacuum cleaner, a cyclone with a cyclone chamber arranged after the coarse separator as seen in the flow direction, and a collecting container for particles separated by the cyclone. 
     Vacuum cleaners of the type mentioned above are previously known, see for instance U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,745. In these vacuum cleaners the lower part of the coarse separator and the cyclone each constitute a collecting container that can be emptied via an opening in each container. The openings are covered by a common lid. A disadvantage with this arrangement is that it is difficult to clean the coarse separator, the cyclone and the other air channels unless extensive disassembly is carried out. Disassembly of the machine is dirty and unhygienic. 
     It is also previously known, see GB 2321181, in a similar arrangement to empty the two integrated collecting containers by removing the container part from the vacuum cleaner and turning the container part up-side-down, which means that a grating covering the coarse separator is opened and that the contents of the cyclone falls out through a separate emptying opening. The liner may also be manually removed from the cyclone before the container is turned right-side-up. With this arrangement it is also cumbersome and unhygienic to empty and clean the containers. 
     It is also previously known in vacuum cleaners having two concentric cyclones that are connected in series, see for instance EP 636338, to use an arrangement having two containers being separated by means of a liner that is manually removed during emptying. Also, in this case, an extensive unhygienic disassembly operation is required in order to clean the two cyclones and the gratings and container walls belonging to them. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed toward an emptying system for a cyclone vacuum cleaner in which the emptying is simplified and more hygienic to undertake than in previously-known systems. The present invention is further directed toward a cyclone vacuum cleaner wherein all the parts of the cyclone system are uncovered during emptying, thereby rendering all the internal surfaces of the cyclone, the container and the coarse separator accessible for cleaning. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and further features of the invention will be apparent with reference to the following description and drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 schematically shows a vacuum cleaner with accessories; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention being provided with a liner; 
     FIG. 3 is a vertical section of the vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 2, but with the liner removed; 
     FIG. 4 is a vertical section through the liner with a cover plate, which serves as an end wall, removed; 
     FIG. 5 is an end view of the liner as seen from the right hand side in FIG. 4, but with the cover plate secured to the liner; 
     FIG. 6 is the same end view as that of FIG. 5, but with the cover plate removed; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line VII—VII in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 8 is a vertical section through the cover plate; and, 
     FIG. 9 is the cover plate in a front view from the left hand side in FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a vacuum cleaner has a nozzle  5  connected to a tube shaft  6  that, via a tube handle  7  and a hose  8  with a hose connection  9 , is secured to a vacuum cleaner housing  10 . The vacuum cleaner housing  10  is supported by a front pivot wheel  11  and two rear wheels  12 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 2-3, the housing  10  defines a recess  13  in which a liner  14  is removably secured. The vacuum cleaner housing  10 , in a traditional manner, encloses a vacuum source such as a fan unit  15 . The fan unit  15  has an inlet side that, via openings  16 , is connected to an air inlet part  17 . The air inlet part  17  is surrounded by an inclined, angled sealing surface  18  on which the liner  14  rests. The vacuum cleaner housing  10  also includes a replaceable outlet filter  19 , through which the outlet air from the fan unit  15  leaves to atmosphere, and control means  20 , other electric means, a cable reel, and other conventional features. 
     The vacuum cleaner housing  10  has a front end wall  22  extending upwardly from a bottom wall  21  of the housing, the bottom wall  21  defining a lower limit of the recess  13 . The front wall  22  is provided with a through-tube section  23  to which the hose connection  9  can be secured. The side of the tube section  23  facing the recess is provided with an annular sealing  24  in order to seal against the liner  14 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 4-7, the liner  14  includes three elongated, horizontal, parallel chambers that are separated from one another. These three chambers are referred to hereinafter as a coarse separator  25 , a cyclone with a cyclone chamber  26 , and a collecting container  27 . 
     The coarse separator  25  has an end wall  28  with an inlet opening  29  that, when the liner  14  is placed in the vacuum cleaner housing  10 , is coaxial with the tube section  23 . The coarse separator  25  is surrounded by a first wall part  30 , which serves as a separating wall toward the cyclone chamber  26 , and a second wall part  31 , which serves as a separating wall toward the collecting container  27 . At the end of the coarse separator  25  remote from the end wall  28 , there is an opening  32  in the first wall part  30  (FIGS.  4  and  6 ). The opening  32  continues into an inlet channel  33  to the cyclone chamber  26 , the channel  33  being arranged near one end of the cyclone chamber  26 . One wall  34  of the inlet channel  33  is curved and arranged such that a mainly tangentially-directed air inlet flow is created in the cylinder-shaped cyclone chamber  26 . 
     The cyclone chamber  26  is provided with a first end wall  35  and a second end wall  36 . The first end wall  35  is a part of a cover plate  37 , which will be more fully discussed hereinafter. The cyclone chamber  26  is also provided with an intermediate part  38  that is disposed between the end walls  35 ,  36 . Preferably, the intermediate part  38  is either cylinder-shaped or is shaped as a truncated cone directed such that the smaller cone opening faces the second end wall  36 . The intermediate part  38  has an opening  39  (whose diameter in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is identical to a diameter of the intermediate part  38 ) that leads to a separation part  40  positioned close to the second end wall  36 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 4 and 7, the separation part  40  has an opening  41  in the side wall. The opening  41  extends almost over the complete length of the separation part  40  and is connected to a channel  42  leading to the collecting container  27 . One wall  43  of the channel  42  is spiral-shaped and forms a generally tangential particle outlet opening for particles leaving the cyclone. The particles leaving through the opening  41  have a direction component that is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation R of the vortex created in the cyclone chamber  26 . 
     The collecting container  27  is, with the exception of the previously-mentioned wall part  31  and cover plate  37 , surrounded by an end wall  44 , a bottom wall  45 , and side walls  46 . One side wall merges with the spiral-shaped wall  43  of the channel  42 , as illustrated in FIG.  7 . The bottom wall  45 , at its external side, is provided with a locking shoulder  47 , the function of which will be explained below. 
     The coarse separator  25 , the cyclone chamber  26 , and the collecting container  27  are each provided with a completely open end wall that is normally covered by the cover plate  37 . The cover plate  37  is normally secured on the liner  14  and is removed when the collecting container  27  is to be emptied. 
     With reference to FIGS. 5,  8 , and  9 , the cover plate  37  includes an angled plate  37   a  having two lugs  48  and a spring-loaded latching hook  49 . The lugs  48  are inserted into recesses (not shown) in the liner  14  whereas the latching hook  49  engages the locking shoulder  47  on the liner  14  in order to releasably lock the cover plate  37  to the liner  14 . 
     The cover plate  37  also has a circular tube  50  extending from the angled plate  37   a . The tube  50  is provided with a rounded portion  51  at one tube end interconnecting the tube  50  and the angled plate  37   a . The cover plate  37  has, at the opposite side of the angled plate  37   a  relative to the tube  50 , a wall portion  52  surrounding a filter cassette  53  that receives a so-called deep filter  54 . The deep filter  54  is, for example, a thick, coarse filter that can be picked out from the cassette  53  and cleaned, for instance, in a dishwasher. The filter  54  is spaced from the angled plate  37   a , thereby creating a space  55  for the distribution of air flowing through the tube  50  to the complete area of the filter  54 . The filter cassette  53  is retained on the cover plate  37  by cooperation between a locking mechanism  56  on the cover plate  37  and lugs  57  arranged on the cassette. 
     In order to decrease the creation of noise, the tube  50  has, at its internal side, an axially-directed flange or rib  58  preventing the creation of a vortex within the tube  50 . The angled plate  37   a  is, at the side from which the tube  50  extends, provided with a soft material layer  59  that serves as a sealing member when the cover plate  37  is secured to the liner  14 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, the liner  14  includes a handle  60  that also serves as a handle for the complete vacuum cleaner. The handle  60  includes a knob or button  61  that is operable to release the liner  14  from the vacuum cleaner housing  10 . The knob  61  is under the influence of a spring  62  and is, via an arm  63 , connected to a yoke member  64 . The yoke member  64  is supported for turning motion about shafts  65  arranged at each side of the liner  14 . Each side of the yoke member  64  is provided with a hook  66  that engages a shoulder or the like (not shown) in the vacuum cleaner housing  10 . The liner  14  is also provided with a holder  67  cooperating with, and partly surrounding, the end wall  22  of the vacuum cleaner housing  10 . 
     In order to get proper particle separation conditions, the diameter of the cyclone chamber  26  is preferably within the range of 50-100 mm, the length of the cyclone is within the range of about 100-300 mm, and the distance between the opening  39  and the second end wall  36  is more than 20 mm. The length of the tube  50  is preferably 20-50% of the length of the cyclone. 
     The vacuum cleaner described above operates and is used in the following manner. Dust-laden air taken up by the vacuum cleaner nozzle  5  flows through the tube shaft  6  and the hose  8  into the tube section  23 . The air flows via the inlet opening  29  into the coarse separator  25  and continues toward the end that is covered by the cover plate  37 . Heavier particles are separated from the air flow in the coarse separator  25  because of the reduction of the air velocity and the air deflection at the opening  32 . The separated particles are collected on the wall part  31  that serves as a bottom of the coarse separator  25 . After deflection, the air flow continues through the opening  32  and further through the inlet channel  33  toward the cyclone chamber  26 . 
     Air flows tangentially into the cyclone chamber  26  and near the first end wall  35  between the side wall of the cyclone chamber  26  and the tube  50 , the tube  50  being indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG.  4 . This means that a vortex is created about the central axis of rotation R in the intermediate part  38  of the cyclone chamber  26 . Due to centrifugal forces, dust particles are distributed toward the second end wall  36 , pass through the opening  38 , and into the separation part  40 . The particles are thrown out mainly perpendicular to the rotational axis through the opening  41  and the channel  42  into the collecting container  27 , which is placed outside the separation part  40 , and collect on the bottom  45  of the collecting container  27 . 
     The air at the central part of the vortex, which is substantially free of large particles, is drawn out via the tube  50  of the cover plate  37  and flows through the space  55  and the filter  54  in which further particles are separated. The air continues through the inlet part  17  and the openings  16  into the motor fan unit  15 , and then leaves to atmosphere via the outlet filter  19  in which smaller particles are separated. 
     When the vacuum cleaner is emptied, the liner  14  is first removed from the vacuum cleaner housing  10  by depressing the knob  61  on the handle  60 . Depressing the knob  61  causes the yoke member  64  to pivot about the shafts  65  such that the hook  66  disengages from the shoulder (not shown) in the vacuum cleaner housing  10 . Thus, the liner  14  can be turned somewhat about the front part and then lifted out of the recess  13  in the vacuum cleaner housing  10 . The cover plate  37  is then removed from the liner  14  by depressing the latching hook  49 , which means that the plate  37  disengages from the locking shoulder  47  on the liner  14  to permit the cover plate to be tilted and the fastening lugs  48  drawn out from the recesses (not shown). 
     Turning the liner  14  up-side-down simultaneously empties all the material that was collected in the cavities, i.e. the collecting container  27 , the coarse separator  26  and the cyclone chamber  25 , into a bin or the like. The arrangement also allows all the cavities  25 ,  26 ,  27  to be easily cleaned since the end walls (cover plate  37 ) of the cavities are completely removed and, hence, all parts of the cavities are accessible without further disassembly or the need for special cleaning tools. 
     If necessary, the filter cassette  53  can be released from the cover plate  37  and then the filter  54  can be picked out and cleaned. After cleaning, the filter  54  and the filter cassette  53  are again secured to the cover plate  37 . Then the cover plate  37  is fixed to the liner  14  which is placed in the recess  13  such that the filter cassette  53  abuts the inclined sealing plane  18 . Application of additional pressure will then allow the hooks  66  to engage the shoulders (not shown) in the vacuum cleaner housing  10 . 
     An optional emptying ring (not shown) may be used to facilitate emptying of the cavities  25 ,  26 ,  27 . Such an emptying ring is shaped such that it corresponds to the part of the liner  14  on which the cover plate  37  is normally secured. The cover plate  37  is removed from the liner  14  and a conventional plastic bag is placed within the emptying ring. The open end of the bag is folded about the ring after which the emptying ring is manually pressed toward the liner. The liner  14  with the emptying ring and the bag is then turned up-side-down such that the dust falls down into the bag. The bag and the emptying ring can then be separated from the liner  14  and from one another after which the bag can be closed and thrown away. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the same is not so limited but shall cover and include any and all modifications thereof which fall within the purview of the invention.