Vacuum cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10299648-B2
Application number	US-201715410419-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2017
Priority date	Jan 22, 2016
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner including a cyclonic separating unit that includes a cyclonic separator having a separator axis and an end wall which is openable for the removal of dirt from the cyclonic separator, a screen disposed within the cyclonic separator such that it extends in the longitudinal direction of the cyclonic separator, wherein the cyclonic separator is movable relative to the screen between a first position and a second position in the longitudinal direction of the cyclonic separator; a catch arranged to secure the openable end wall in a closed position; and an actuator which is actuated to release the catch when the cyclonic separator is moved into the second position. In an alternative embodiment, there is provided a vacuum cleaner apparatus in which the actuator is enabled for subsequent release of the catch when the cyclonic separator is moved into the second position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising:
a cyclonic separating unit comprising a cyclonic separator having a separator axis and an end wall that is openable for removal of dirt from the cyclonic separator;
a screen disposed within the cyclonic separator such that it extends in the longitudinal direction of the cyclonic separator, wherein the cyclonic separator is movable relative to the screen between a first position and a second position in the longitudinal direction of the cyclonic separator;
a catch arranged to secure the openable end wall in a closed position;
an actuator that is actuable to release the catch; and
a locking mechanism having a first configuration in which the locking mechanism engages the actuator to prevent actuation and a second configuration in which the locking mechanism is disengaged from the actuator such that the actuator can be actuated to release the catch, wherein the locking mechanism is arranged such that the locking mechanism is engaged with the actuator when the cyclonic separator is in the first position and the locking mechanism is disengaged from the actuator when the cyclonic separator is in the second position.

2. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a second catch mounted on the cyclonic separating unit and arranged to pivot into and out of engagement with the actuator.

3. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the vacuum cleaning apparatus comprises a slider that is configured to slide relative to the cyclonic separator when the cyclonic separator is moved between the first position and the second position, the slider comprising a formation that acts on the second catch to pivot the second catch out of engagement with the actuator as the cyclonic separator is moved into the second position.

4. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a first cyclonic separating unit comprising a cyclonic separator having a separator axis and an end wall which is openable for removal of dirt from the cyclonic separator;
a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the first cyclonic separating unit;
a screen disposed within the cyclonic separator such that it extends in the longitudinal direction of the cyclonic separator, wherein the cyclonic separator is movable relative to the screen between a first position and a second position in the longitudinal direction of the cyclonic separator;
a catch arranged to secure the openable end wall in a closed position; and
an actuator that is actuable to release the catch, wherein the actuator is arranged such that movement of the cyclonic separator into the second position actuates the actuator thereby releasing the catch.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4 , wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a body and an actuating element rotatably connected to the body and arranged to rotate between a first position and a second position, and wherein the actuating element comprises an actuating portion that is brought into contact with the actuator when the cyclonic separator is moved into the second position thereby actuating the actuator.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5 , wherein the actuator is arranged to move relative to the cyclonic separator from a first position to a second position in order to release the catch, and the actuating portion of the actuating element acts against the actuator in order to move the actuator from the first position into the second position.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5 , further comprising a slider that is fixed for movement with the screen, wherein the slider is arranged to engage the actuating element such that movement of the cyclonic separator between the first position and the second position rotates the actuating element between the first and second positions of the actuating element.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4 , wherein the screen is tubular.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8 , wherein the cyclonic separator comprises a wipe that is arranged to wipe the screen when the cyclonic separator is moved from the first position into the second position.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the wipe is annular and surrounds at least part of the tubular screen.

11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the wipe has a frusto-conical shape.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the wipe is arranged such that the wipe tapers inwardly towards the screen and the lower inner peripheral edge of the wipe contacts the screen.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the screen extends in the longitudinal direction of the cyclonic separator and the screen has a lower edge which is spaced from the openable end wall when the openable end wall is in a closed position, and wherein movement of the cyclonic separator from the first position into the second position moves the lower inner peripheral edge of the wipe along the screen and over the lower edge of the screen such that debris is swept over the lower edge of the screen into the dirt collector.

14. The vacuum cleaner or vacuum cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the cyclonic separating unit comprises a bin that forms an outer wall of the cyclonic separator.

15. The vacuum cleaner or vacuum cleaner of claim 14 , where the wipe is attached to the bin.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the wipe comprises an elastomeric material.

17. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the screen is tubular.

18. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 17 , wherein cyclonic separator comprises a wipe that is arranged to wipe the screen when the cyclonic separator is moved from the first position into the second position.

19. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the wipe is annular and surrounds at least part of the tubular screen.

20. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the wipe has a frusto-conical shape.

21. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 20 , the wipe is arranged such that the wipe tapers inwardly towards the screen and the lower inner peripheral edge of the wipe contacts the screen.

22. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the screen extends in the longitudinal direction of the cyclonic separator and the screen has a lower edge that is spaced from the openable end wall when the openable end wall is in a closed position, and wherein movement of the cyclonic separator from the first position into the second position moves the lower inner peripheral edge of the wipe along the screen and over the lower edge of the screen such that debris is swept over the lower edge of the screen into the dirt collector.

23. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the cyclonic separating unit comprises a bin that forms an outer wall of the cyclonic separator.

24. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 23 , where the wipe is attached to the bin.

25. The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the wipe comprises an elastomeric material.

26. The vacuum cleaner of claim 4 , wherein the second cyclonic separating unit comprises a plurality of second cyclones.

27. The vacuum cleaner of claim 26 , wherein the second cyclonic separating unit is moveable with the screen.

Assignees

• Dyson Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Peters Laurent James
• KERR William Henry

Classifications

• B04C5/187

  forming an integral part of the vortex chamber · CPC title

• B04C5/185

  Dust collectors · CPC title

• A47L9/1691 Primary

  Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles · CPC title

• A47L9/1683 Primary

  Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles · CPC title

• A47L9/1608 Primary

  Cyclonic chamber constructions · CPC title