Vacuum cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016000283-A1
Application number	US-201514753740-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2015
Priority date	Jul 2, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner comprising a separating apparatus comprising a first cyclonic separator and a second cyclonic separator arranged in parallel with the first cyclonic separator, an airflow generator arranged to generate an airflow through the first and second cyclonic separators, and a flow control device for controlling the flow of air through the second cyclonic separator. The vacuum cleaner has a first configuration in which the flow control device is arranged to prevent flow of air through the second cyclonic separator such that, in use, air flows through the first cyclonic separator and bypasses the second cyclonic separator, and a second configuration in which the flow control device is arranged to permit flow of air though the second cyclonic separator such that, in use, air flows through the first and second cyclonic separators.

First claim

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a separating apparatus comprising a first cyclonic separator and a second cyclonic separator arranged in parallel with the first cyclonic separator; an airflow generator arranged to generate an airflow through the first and second cyclonic separators; and a flow control device for controlling the flow of air through the second cyclonic separator, wherein the vacuum cleaner has a first configuration in which the flow control device is arranged to prevent flow of air through the second cyclonic separator such that, in use, air flows through the first cyclonic separator and bypasses the second cyclonic separator, and a second configuration in which the flow control device is arranged to permit flow of air though the second cyclonic separator such that, in use, air flows through the first and second cyclonic separators.

2 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the airflow generator has a low-flow configuration in which the airflow generator generates a flow of air through the separating apparatus at a first flow rate, and a high-flow configuration in which the airflow generator generates a flow of air through the separating apparatus at a second flow rate which is greater than the first flow rate.

3 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 2 , wherein the vacuum cleaner is configured such that, in use, the airflow generator operates in the low-flow configuration when the vacuum cleaner is in the first configuration and the airflow generator operates in the high-flow configuration when the vacuum cleaner is in the second configuration.

4 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cleaner is configured such that, in use, a flow rate through the first cyclonic separator when the vacuum cleaner is in the first configuration is the same as a flow rate through the first cyclonic separator when the vacuum cleaner is in the second configuration.

5 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cyclonic separators are configured such that, in use, when the vacuum cleaner is in the second configuration, a flow rate through the first cyclonic separator is the same as a flow rate through the second cyclonic separator.

6 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cyclonic separators are identical.

7 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the separating apparatus comprises a plurality of first cyclonic separators.

8 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 7 , wherein the first cyclonic separators are identical.

9 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the separating apparatus comprises a plurality of second cyclonic separators.

10 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the second cyclonic separators are identical.

11 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a first debris collector arranged to collect debris separated from the airflow by the first cyclonic separator, and a second debris collector arranged to collect debris separated from the airflow by the second cyclonic separator.

12 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the separating apparatus comprises a primary separator disposed upstream and in series with the first and second cyclonic separators.

13 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 12 , wherein the primary separator is a cyclonic separator.

14 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the flow control device comprises a valve.

15 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 14 , wherein the valve is disposed downstream of the second cyclonic separator.

16 . The vacuum cleaner claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cleaner is a battery-powered vacuum cleaner.

17 . The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a user-operable switch which is configured such that a user can switch the vacuum cleaner between the first configuration and the second configuration.

Assignees

• Dyson Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Hinchliffe Robert
• Sage Daryl Robert

Classifications

• A47L9/1641 Primary

  for parallel flow · CPC title

• A47L9/1625

  for series flow · CPC title

• B04C5/26

  for series flow · CPC title

• A47L9/1683

  Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles · CPC title

• A47L9/16

  Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action · CPC title