Vacuum cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9693664-B2
Application number	US-201514751218-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2015
Priority date	Sep 26, 2012
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner has a cyclone separator for separating dirt and other contaminants from a dirt-containing working airstream and a collection chamber collecting the separated dirt. The vacuum cleaner can further include fines catcher defining a second collection chamber, where the bottom end of the fines catcher is spaced from the bottom wall of the first collection chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
a suction nozzle;
a suction source fluidly connected to the suction nozzle;
a cyclone separator having at least one cyclone chamber for separating contaminants from a dirt-containing working airstream and comprising an air inlet in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and an air outlet;
a first collection chamber associated with the cyclone separator for receiving contaminants separated in the at least one cyclone chamber and having a bottom wall;
an exhaust grill removably mounted to the cyclone separator and comprising a plurality of openings in fluid communication with the air outlet and an open lower end; and
a fines catcher defining a second collection chamber and associated with the exhaust grill such that the second collection chamber lies below the open lower end for receiving contaminants separated downstream of the at least one cyclone chamber;
wherein at least one of the exhaust grill and the second collection chamber may be removed from the cyclone separator using the fines catcher; and
wherein a bottom end of the fines catcher is spaced from the bottom wall of the first collection chamber.

2. The vacuum cleaner from claim 1 , wherein the fines catcher is located within the first collection chamber and depends downwardly from the exhaust grill.

3. The vacuum cleaner from claim 1 , wherein the fines catcher comprises a tubular body having an open upper end, opposite the bottom end, that is mounted to the open lower end of the exhaust grill.

4. The vacuum cleaner from claim 3 , wherein the tubular body includes an upper frusto-conical portion and a lower closed portion that defines the second collection chamber in which fine dirt particles are collected.

5. The vacuum cleaner from claim 4 , wherein the lower closed portion includes a gripping portion that facilitates a secure grip on the fines catcher.

6. The vacuum cleaner from claim 5 , wherein the gripping portion comprises a plurality of ribs on the exterior surface of the lower closed portion.

7. The vacuum cleaner from claim 1 , wherein the exhaust grill comprises a generally cylindrical body and a plurality of openings provided on the cylindrical body through which air can pass.

8. The vacuum cleaner from claim 7 , wherein the cylindrical body defines an open upper end and the open lower end, and a plurality of louvers extending between the lower and upper ends, with the plurality of louvers defining the openings.

9. The vacuum cleaner from claim 8 and further comprising a filter assembly, wherein the exhaust grill defines a passageway leading to the filter assembly.

10. The vacuum cleaner from claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall can be selectively opened to empty the contents of the first collection chamber.

11. The vacuum cleaner from claim 10 , wherein the bottom wall comprises a dirt door pivotally mounted on the cyclone separator by a hinge.

12. The vacuum cleaner from claim 1 and further comprising a bayonet mount coupling at least one of the exhaust grill and the second collection chamber to the cyclone separator.

13. The vacuum cleaner from claim 12 , wherein the fines catcher is coupled to the exhaust grill and the bayonet mount couples the exhaust grill to the cyclone separator.

14. The vacuum cleaner from claim 13 , wherein the bayonet mount comprises at least two radially spaced tabs on one of the exhaust grill and the cyclone separator and at least two corresponding slots provided on the other of the exhaust grill and the cyclone separator for receiving the tabs.

15. The vacuum cleaner from claim 14 , wherein the exhaust grill comprises a mounting plate for mounting the exhaust grill within the cyclone separator, and the tabs are provided on the upper surface of the mounting plate.

16. The vacuum cleaner from claim 15 , wherein the mounting plate defines at least a portion of the air inlet.

17. The vacuum cleaner from claim 16 , wherein the mounting plate comprises a central opening allowing air to pass out of the exhaust grill.

18. The vacuum cleaner from claim 12 , wherein the bayonet mount comprises at least two radially spaced tabs and at least two corresponding slots for receiving the tabs.

19. The vacuum cleaner from claim 1 and further comprising a base for movement across a surface to be cleaned and an upright housing pivotally mounted to the base, wherein the suction nozzle is provided on the base.

20. The vacuum cleaner from claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the fines catcher is closed.

Assignees

• Bissell Homecare Inc

Inventors

• Tran Phong H

Classifications

• A47L9/1683

  Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles · CPC title

• A47L9/1608 Primary

  Cyclonic chamber constructions · CPC title

• A47L9/0477

  Rolls · CPC title

• A47L9/1633

  Concentric cyclones · CPC title

• A47L9/20

  Means for cleaning filters · CPC title