Cleaning appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9609986-B2
Application number	US-201314409838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2013
Priority date	Jun 20, 2012
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

A cleaning appliance of the cylinder type comprises a separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, and a floor-engaging rolling assembly. The separating apparatus comprises a first cyclonic separation unit having a low efficiency cyclone and a second cyclonic separation unit having a plurality of second cyclones. The rolling assembly comprises a main body and a pair of floor-engaging wheels. The main body comprises a recess in which the separating apparatus is received such that when the cleaning appliance is viewed from either side there is no gap between the first cyclonic separation unit and the rolling assembly along at least 50 to 100% of the full length of the low efficiency cyclone.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A self-righting cleaning appliance of the cylinder type comprising a cyclonic separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, the cyclonic separating apparatus having a first cyclonic separation unit comprising a low efficiency cyclone and a second cyclonic separation unit comprising a plurality of second cyclones, a floor-engaging rolling assembly configured to roll on a side surface when the cleaning appliance is tipped over from an upright position, the rolling assembly comprising a main body and a pair of floor-engaging wheels, the main body having a recess in which the cyclonic separating apparatus is received such that when the cleaning appliance is viewed from either side there is no gap between the first cyclonic separation unit and the rolling assembly along at least 50 to 100% of the full length of the low efficiency cyclone, wherein the cleaning appliance is arranged so that it is urged to return to an upright position if it is tipped onto its side.

2. The cleaning appliance of claim 1 , wherein when the cleaning appliance is viewed from either side and the separating apparatus is received in the recess, there is no gap between the second cyclonic separation unit and the rolling assembly along at least 50 to 100% of the full length of the second cyclonic separation unit.

3. The cleaning appliance of claim 1 , wherein when the cleaning appliance is viewed from either side and the separating apparatus is received in the recess, there is no gap between the separating apparatus and the rolling assembly.

4. The cleaning appliance of claim 1 , wherein when the cleaning appliance is viewed from either side and the separating apparatus is received in the recess, at least one fifth of the width of the low efficiency cyclone is hidden from view by a portion of the rolling assembly at the point of maximum depth of the recess.

5. The cleaning appliance of claim 1 , wherein when the cleaning appliance is viewed from either side and the separating apparatus is received in the recess, a portion of the second cyclonic separation unit is hidden from view by a portion of the rolling assembly.

6. The cleaning appliance of claim 1 , wherein the wheels are arranged one on each side of the main body.

7. The cleaning appliance of claim 1 , wherein the rotational axes of the wheels are inclined upwardly with respect to a floor surface upon which the cleaning appliance is located.

8. The cleaning appliance of claim 1 , wherein each wheel has a domed outer surface.

9. The cleaning appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first cyclonic separation unit is arranged upstream of the second cyclonic separation unit.

10. The cleaning appliance of claim 1 , wherein the rolling assembly is substantially spheroid or spherical in shape.

11. The cleaning appliance of claim 10 , wherein the rolling assembly has one or more protrusions, recesses, cut outs or flat portions but remains substantially spheroid or spherical in shape.

12. The cleaning appliance of claim 1 , wherein the cyclonic separating apparatus is removably received within the recess.

13. The cleaning appliance of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the cyclonic separating apparatus is inclined when it is received in the recess such that it lies at an angle in the range of from 0° to 60° from vertical.

Assignees

• Dyson Technology Ltd

Inventors

• Dimbylow Stephen Robert
• Gammack Peter David
• Moloney Patrick Joseph William
• Newton David Christopher James
• White James

Classifications

• A47L9/1625

  for series flow · CPC title

• A47L9/009

  Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles · CPC title

• A47L5/362 Primary

  of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type · CPC title

• A47L5/36 Primary

  Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back · CPC title

• A47L5/365 Primary

  of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type · CPC title