Vacuum cleaning apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017209010-A1
Application number	US-201715410413-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 19, 2017
Priority date	Jan 22, 2016
Publication date	Jul 27, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vacuum cleaning apparatus including a cyclonic separating apparatus having a first cyclonic separator, a second cyclonic separator downstream, a first dirt collector for collecting dirt from the first cyclonic separator comprising an end wall, and a second dirt collector for collecting dirt from the second cyclonic separator comprising an outer wall and at least a portion of the end wall. The first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector are movable between a closed configuration in which the end wall abuts the outer wall and an open configuration in which the end wall is spaced from the outer wall for removing dirt from the second collector. The apparatus comprises a detent mechanism for permitting movement of the first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector from the closed to the open configurations and to prevent movement into the open configuration.

First claim

1 . A vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising
a cyclonic separating apparatus comprising: a first cyclonic separator, a second cyclonic separator disposed downstream of the first cyclonic separator, a first dirt collector arranged to collect dirt separated by the first cyclonic separator, the first dirt collector comprising an end wall, and a second dirt collector arranged to collect dirt separated by the second cyclonic separator, the second dirt collector comprising an outer wall and at least a portion of the end wall of the first dirt collector; and a detent mechanism, wherein the first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector are movable with respect to each other between a first configuration in which the end wall abuts the outer wall such that the second dirt collector is closed and a second configuration in which the end wall is spaced from the outer wall such that the second dirt collector is open for the removal of dirt from the second dirt collector and the detent mechanism is arranged to permit movement of the first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector from the first configuration into the second configuration and to prevent movement of the first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector into the first configuration.

2 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first cyclonic separator defines a separator axis, and the first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector are constrained to move in a direction that is parallel with the separator axis.

3 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first dirt collector comprises a bin having a bin base that forms at least a portion of the end wall, the first cyclonic separator comprises an upper portion of the bin, and the first dirt collector comprises a lower portion of the bin and the bin base.

4 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the second dirt collector comprises a tubular portion having a lower edge that seals against the end wall when the first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector are in the first configuration.

5 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cleaning apparatus further comprises a detent mechanism override for disabling the detent mechanism, and the detent mechanism override is configured such that movement of the first dirt collector into the second configuration disables the detent mechanism thereby permitting movement of the first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector into the first position.

6 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the vacuum cleaning apparatus comprises a detent mechanism reset for enabling the detent mechanism, and the detent mechanism reset is configured such that, when the detent mechanism is disabled, movement of the first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector into the first configuration enables the detent mechanism.

7 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detent mechanism comprises a ratchet.

8 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the ratchet comprises a set of teeth and a pawl arranged to engage the teeth, the teeth are arranged to move with the outer wall of the second dirt collector, and the pawl is fixed with respect to the first dirt collector and arranged to engage respective teeth to prevent movement of the first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector into the first configuration.

9 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second cyclonic separator comprises a slider and the vacuum cleaning apparatus further comprises guide members configured to receive the slider such that the slider can move relative to the bin.

10 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a set of teeth is provided on the slider.

11 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
the detent mechanism comprises a ratchet, the ratchet comprises a set of teeth and a pawl arranged to engage the teeth, the teeth are arranged to move with the outer wall of the second dirt collector, and the pawl is fixed with respect to the first dirt collector and arranged to engage respective teeth in order to prevent movement of the first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector into the first configuration, and the detent mechanism override is configured to disengage the pawl from the set of teeth when the first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector are moved into the second configuration thereby allowing the first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector to be returned to the first configuration.

12 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 3 , wherein:
the detent mechanism comprises a ratchet, the ratchet comprises a set of teeth and a pawl arranged to engage the teeth, the teeth are arranged to move with the outer wall of the second dirt collector, and the pawl is fixed with respect to the first dirt collector and arranged to engage respective teeth in order to prevent movement of the first dirt collector and the outer wall of the second dirt collector into the first configuration, and the pawl is pivotally connected to the bin.

13 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a pivot axis of the pawl is parallel with the direction of motion of the first dirt collector with respect to the outer wall of the second dirt collector between the first and second positions.

14 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the vacuum cleaning apparatus further comprises a body portion and the pawl is connected to the body portion such that it can rotate into and out of engagement with the teeth.

15 . The vacuum cleaning apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the pawl is arranged to rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to a direction of motion of the first dirt collector with respect to the outer wall of the second dirt collector between the first and second positions.

Assignees

• Dyson Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Peters Laurent James

Classifications

• A47L9/106

  Dust removal · CPC title

• A47L9/1633 Primary

  Concentric cyclones · CPC title

• A47L9/1691 Primary

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

• A47L9/16

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

• A47L5/24 Primary

  Hand-supported suction cleaners · CPC title