With Liquid And/or Deflection Type Separator Patents (Class 15/353)
  • Patent number: 7976597
    Abstract: A cyclonic separation apparatus comprises a plurality of series-connected separation stages 50,51, each comprising a plurality of cyclone separators 16/23 connected in parallel and disposed in a generally annular arrangement about a main vertical axis of the apparatus, with their respective longitudinal cyclone axes extending parallel to the main axis. The successive separation stages 50,51 in the direction of fluid flow are disposed radially inwardly of each other with respect to the main axis of the apparatus and are also vertically staggered upwardly, so that the outlet 20 of one separation stage 50 leads directly into the inlet 22 of the next downstream stage 51. The multi-stage, series connected cyclone separators of the apparatus provide a high separation efficiency, yet the annular arrangement of the stages 50,51 makes the apparatus compact and enables the apparatus to be utilized in a vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hoover Limited
    Inventor: David Benjamin Smith
  • Patent number: 7971314
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a filter cage having an improved flow path suitable even for restricted flow regions of a float container in the cage. The filter cage departs from generally accepted structural considerations and provides flow paths to one or more sides of the cage outside the restricted flow regions of the float container, but within the cross-sectional area of the cage structure. In one exemplary embodiment, the cage is oval-shaped with a cross-sectional area defined by a major and minor axis. A restricted flow region, such as the float container, encompasses a cross-sectional area corresponding in size to a cross-sectional area defined by the minor axis of the oval-shaped cage. The remaining portion of the cage cross-sectional areas provides one or more flow paths outward from the float container in the direction of the major axis of the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Robert Hollis
  • Patent number: 7966690
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus with a recovery tank that has side rails to facilitate alignment of the recovery tank with the base. The recovery tank can include a float assembly with a pivotable closure member. The recovery tank can have a lid with a handle and latch to secure the lid to the recovery tank. Further, the recovery tank can include a lid with a working air conduit mounted to the lid and removable from the recovery tank with the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz
  • Patent number: 7966692
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-cyclone dust collector and a vacuum cleaner employing the same that forms an upwardly whirling air current so as to separate contaminants. The multi-cyclone dust collector for the vacuum cleaner includes a first cyclone unit causing dust-laden air sucked through a lower portion of the first cyclone unit to form a first upwardly whirling air current so as to separate contaminants from the dust-laden air by centrifugal force, and a second cyclone unit disposed under the first cyclone unit and making partially clean air, which is discharged from the first cyclone unit and then sucked in a lower portion of the second cyclone unit, to form a second upwardly whirling air current so as to separate dust from the partially clean air by centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Tak-soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7958598
    Abstract: Disclosed related to a vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner body in which a dust collector mount part is formed; a dust collector attached and removed at the dust collector mount part, and having a dust storage part in the inside; at least one of the compressing member reducing the volume of the dust stored in the dust storage part as arranged in the dust storage part movably; a power transfer unit transferring the driving force to the compressing members from outside as connected with the compressing members; and a control unit deciding the amount of the dust stored in the dust storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Ho Yun, Gun Ho Ha, Jin Young Kim, Man Tae Hwang, Hae Seock Yang, Jong Su Choo, Chang Hoon Lee, Jin Wook Seo, Myung Sig Yoo, Moo Hyun Ko, Pil Jae Hwang, Hyuk Min Kwon
  • Patent number: 7950104
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is disclosed that includes a dust-separating apparatus, a shutter unit, and a dust receptacle. The dust-separating apparatus can be fixed to a cleaner body and includes a dust outlet. The shutter unit is formed on the dust-separating apparatus to selectively open and close the dust outlet. The dust receptacle is detachably attached to a lower portion of the dust-separating apparatus. The dust receptacle opens the shutter unit when attached to the dust-separating apparatus and closes the shutter unit when detached from the dust-separating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-hun Yoo
  • Patent number: 7951216
    Abstract: The present exemplary embodiments relate to a dust separating apparatus for a vacuum cleaner. The dust separating apparatus for a vacuum cleaner according to present exemplary embodiments includes a cyclone in which a plurality of cyclone airflows is formed; a dust outlet for discharging dust separated by the plurality of cyclone airflows; and a dust container for storing dust discharged from the dust outlet, wherein the cyclone includes a body in which air flows along an inner surface thereof, and a pair of sides, each of the sides forming one of both side surfaces of the body and defining an outlet for discharging air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Gun-Ho Ha, Kyeong-Seon Jeong, Jin-Wook Seo, Kie-Tak Hyun, Chang-Ho Yun, Jin-Young Kim, Chang-Hoon Lee, Jin-Hyouk Shin, Seong-Koo Cho, Heon-Pyeong Ji, Geun-Bae Hwang
  • Patent number: 7951218
    Abstract: A dust separating apparatus of a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The dust separating apparatus includes a body unit to separate dust from air and to store the dust separated from the air, a cover unit detachably coupled with the body unit and having an air discharging part with an inlet projected into the body unit, and a horizontal movement-permitting part formed in the body unit to prevent the body unit from colliding with the air discharging part when one of the body unit and the cover unit is moved in a horizontal direction with respect to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jang-Keun Oh
  • Patent number: 7941895
    Abstract: A cyclone separator useable in a surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber and having first and second opposed ends and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends. The first end is provided with a fluid inlet and the second end is provided with a dirt outlet. The dirt outlet provides a lateral outlet to a dirt collection chamber in communication with the cyclone chamber via the dirt outlet. The dirt outlet is positioned from about 90 to about 330° around the cyclone casing in a flow direction from the fluid inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 7931722
    Abstract: A cyclonic vacuum cleaner includes a body portion, a nozzle portion and a dirt cup which is removable from the body portion. The dirt cup collects dirt and other debris separated by a cyclone and a cyclone slinger portion in the body portion. A main filter may be housed in a transparent filter door downstream of the cyclone. The dirt cup may be inserted into and sealingly held within the body portion by using a rotational caroming structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Sepke, Brad Chenoweth
  • Patent number: 7926201
    Abstract: A clogging detecting apparatus for a dryer is provided that checks and displays a clogging degree of an air passage. The clogging detecting apparatus includes a judgment device for judging the clogging degree of the air passage, a storing device for storing the clogging degree of the air passage, and a display for displaying the clogging degree to the user. The clogging detecting apparatus provides information on the clogging degree, so that the user precisely checks the state of the air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ju-hyun Kim, Kyung-hun Kim, Sun-cheol Bae, Jin-seok Hu, Yang-hwan Kim, Ju-young Min, Ja-in Koo
  • Patent number: 7921508
    Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner (A) includes a housing (B) having a suction airstream inlet and a suction airstream outlet. A dirt container (50, 500) is selectively mounted to the housing for receiving and retaining dirt and dust separated from the suction airstream. The suction airstream inlet and the suction airstream outlet are in fluid communication with, respectively, an inlet and an outlet of the dirt container. The dirt container includes a first cyclonic air-flow chamber (66, 508) and a second cyclonic airflow chamber (68, 510), each cyclonic airflow chamber including a longitudinal axis. The second cyclonic airflow chamber is spaced from the first chamber, wherein the first and second chambers are each approximately vertically oriented and are arranged in a parallel relationship. An air manifold (52, 540, 540?) is disposed at a top portion of the dirt container. The air manifold includes an inlet section (54, 536, 565) through which dirty air passes and an outlet section (138, 560, 560?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Royal Appliance Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Bengt Ivar Anders Ivarsson, Glenn Matusz, Reuben Proud, Sergey V. Makarov
  • Patent number: 7918909
    Abstract: A cyclone separator assembly comprises a cyclone separator that removes large particles of dirt from a working airstream as it flows through the cyclone separator, and the separated large particles of dirt are deposited into a dirt cup. The cyclone separator assembly further includes a fine particle separation member comprising a plurality of apertures for separating fine particles of dirt from air in the cyclone separator or the dirt cup. The fine particle separation member can be formed in a wall of the cyclone separator, a sidewall of the dirt cup, or in the outlet of the cyclone separator assembly. The cyclone separator assembly can further include a guide plate for creating a direction change in the path of the working airstream to aid in the separation of fine particles of dirt from air passing through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: David E. McDowell
  • Patent number: 7908706
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner dirt container having a chamber with an upper opening, and a removable filter element. The filter element has an upper portion with an opening and a peripheral edge that engages an upper edge of the chamber. A filter portion extends from the upper portion, and a handle extends across the opening. The filter portion extends into the chamber when the filter element is mounted thereto. Also provided is an upright vacuum cleaner with a base unit, body unit , and dirt chamber removably mounted to the body unit. A combined filter and lid is mounted to the dirt chamber, and includes a filter member, and a mounting ring extending from the filter member to a sidewall of the dirt chamber to hold the filtration device at a fixed location away from the chamber sidewall. Also provided is a cyclone lid having an annular wall, filter, and handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Hawkins, Rich Eisenmenger, Len Hampton, Christer Kontio
  • Patent number: 7908707
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a dirt collection vessel carried on that housing. The dirt collection vessel includes a dirty air inlet, a clean air inlet, a dirt collection chamber and a clean air outlet. A filter is received in the dirt collection vessel. A suction generator is carried on the housing. The floor cleaning apparatus also includes a flow control valve assembly. The flow control valve assembly is selectively displaceable between a first position wherein dirt and debris are captured in the dirt collection vessel and a second position wherein clean air is drawn through at least a portion of the filter to clean the filter. An activator is provided for automatically displacing the flow control valve assembly between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Michael S. Yacobi, Donald E. Proffitt, II
  • Patent number: 7892305
    Abstract: Object of the present invention is to provide a dust collecting device (100) for a vacuum cleaner of which dust collecting performance is improved. For this, the dust collecting device (100) includes a primary cyclone unit (110) having two parallel primary cyclones (111,112) for separating dust form air introduced therein by a cyclone principle, and a secondary cyclone (120) unit at a downstream of the primary cyclones (111,112) for cleaning the air again by the cyclone principle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Tak Hyun, Young Bok Son, Kyeong Seon Jeong, Il Joong Kim
  • Patent number: 7891049
    Abstract: An upright extraction cleaning machine for cleaning a surface comprises a base assembly having a housing having at least one side wall and a rear wall extending toward the surface. A source of heated air is enclosed within the base assembly and the heated air is dischargeable through a bottom of the base assembly to the surface. At least one side wall skirt extends from the at least one side wall toward the surface, and a rear wall skirt extends from the rear wall toward the surface. The at least one side wall skirt and the rear wall skirt define an enclosed space beneath the base assembly for retaining heated air discharged from the base assembly against the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan L. Miner
  • Patent number: 7887612
    Abstract: A portable appliance comprises a dirt inlet, first and second cyclonic stages wherein each cyclonic stage comprises a plurality of cyclones in parallel and the second cyclonic stage is downstream from the first cyclonic stage and a fluid flow motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 7887613
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a nozzle assembly with a suction inlet and a control assembly including a control stalk. A dirt collection vessel is carried on the body. The dirt collection vessel includes a toroidal cyclone. The toroidal cyclone has an inlet port, a clean air outlet port and a particle outlet provided in a wall of the toroidal cyclone between the inlet and outlet port. A cork screw baffle is received in the toroidal cyclone. The cork screw baffle defines a spiraling air path through the toroidal cyclone. A suction generator, carried on the body, draws the air stream through the dirt collection vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventor: Brian K. Ruben
  • Patent number: 7883560
    Abstract: A dust separating apparatus of a vacuum cleaner, includes a housing, a first cyclone separator integrated within the housing, and second cyclone separators arranged around the first cyclone separator, wherein the second cyclone separators are removably mounted into the housing. The first and second cyclone separators respectively have a separate dust receiving cavity and separate dust collecting chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kingclean Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zugen Ni
  • Patent number: 7882592
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes both a main dust separation unit and a secondary dust separation unit. One of the dust separation units is provided on a main body of the vacuum cleaner, and the other dust separation unit is provided on a removable dust collection unit that is mountable on the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Man Tae Hwang, Hae Seock Yang, Hoi Kil Jeong, Myung Sig Yoo, Jae Kyum Kim, Moo Hyun Ko, Kie Tak Hyun, Jong Su Choo, Young Bok Son, Kyeong Seon Jeong, Min Park, Sung Hwa Lee, Il Joong Kim, Jin Hyouk Shin, Gun Ho Ha, Jin Wook Seo, Chang Ho Yun, Jin Young Kim, Chang Hoon Lee, Yun Hee Park
  • Patent number: 7882593
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having an elongated support body, a nozzle attached to a lower end of the elongated support body by an articulated joint, a motor, a fan unit, a debris container, and an air passage that extends from the nozzle device, past the articulated joint by a flexible hose and to an air passage in the support body. The flexible hose is formed with a generally rectangular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: AB Electrolux
    Inventors: Jonas Beskow, Håkan Miefalk, Ulrik Danestad
  • Patent number: 7879121
    Abstract: A cyclone dust-collecting apparatus is provided. The dust-collecting apparatus is detachably mounted in a main cleaner body of a vacuum cleaner and disposed on a suction flow path extending from a suction port body to a suction source. The dust-collecting apparatus includes a body having an opened lower portion; at least one cyclone unit disposed to one side in the body to separate dust from air flowing into the body and discharge air from which the dust has been separated; and a bottom cover to open or close the lower portion of the body. The body has an inflow pipe penetrating the body from a rear portion of the body and connected to the cyclone unit and the inflow pipe has an inclined top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jang-keun Oh
  • Patent number: 7879120
    Abstract: A multi-cyclone dust-collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner mounted in a main cleaner body to separate dust from air flowing from a suction port body and collect the dust separated from the air, the apparatus including a dust-separating unit including a primary cyclone unit to separate large dust particles contained in the air flowing from the suction port body, and a secondary cyclone unit that is disposed inside the primary cyclone unit and that tapers downwards; and a dust-collecting unit detachably mounted in a lower portion of the dust-separating unit, the dust-collecting unit including a first dust-collecting chamber to collect the large dust particles discharged from the primary cyclone unit, and a second dust-collecting chamber disposed inside the first dust-collecting chamber to collect fine dust particles discharged from the secondary cyclone unit. The first dust-collecting chamber may be greater in volume than the second dust-collecting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-ho Seo, Dong-hun Yoo, Min-ha Kim
  • Patent number: 7879142
    Abstract: A cyclone dust collector includes a cyclone body including a first cyclone chamber to centrifugally separate dust from drawn-in air for a first time, a plurality of second cyclone chambers to centrifugally separate dust from the drawn-in air for a second time, and a plurality of discharge ports to cause the drawn-in air to be discharged from the plurality of second cyclone chambers; an upper cover to cover an upper portion of the cyclone body, the upper cover having an inner wall facing the plurality of discharge ports; and a noise reduction part disposed between the plurality of discharge ports and the inner wall of the upper cover, to reduce noise generated inside the upper cover by the air discharged through the plurality of discharge ports. Therefore, it is possible to reduce noise generated inside the upper cover of the cyclone dust collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-gyun Han, Joung-soo Park, Byung-jo Lee, Tae-gwang Kim, See-hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7874040
    Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a cyclonic separator for separating dirt and dust from an airflow, an inlet to the cyclonic separator and a shroud comprising a wall having a multiplicity of through-holes forming an outlet from the cyclonic separator. The apparatus also includes a plurality of separate passageways provided immediately downstream of the through-holes. By providing this arrangement, the separate passageways can be located around other parts of the cyclonic separating apparatus inwardly of the shroud, allowing for better packaging of the components of the cyclonic separating apparatus. The shroud may be reduced in size because some of the space previously required for a single, large passageway can be used for other components of the cyclonic separating apparatus such a collector or a cyclone. The reduction in size of the shroud in turn allows for the cyclonic separating apparatus to be more compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Thomas James Dunning Follows, Andrew Phillip Stokes
  • Patent number: 7874039
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a dust tank is arranged in the lower side of the machine frame. A dust bag is sleeved by the dust tank. The top side of the dust tank is connected to a filter tank. The filter tank has an air inlet pipe at the bottom side thereof, a filter thereinside, and an air outlet at the top side thereof. The air outlet is connected to a closed chamber arranged at the other side of the machine frame via the air suction pipe. A suction blower is arranged inside the closed chamber. A motor drives the suction blower to operate and suck air to flow through the air suction pipe and go out from through-holes on the top of the closed chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Meta International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun-Yen Lin
  • Patent number: 7867308
    Abstract: A cyclonic cleaning stage for a, e.g., surface cleaning apparatus is provided. The cyclonic cleaning stage comprises a plurality of cyclones, which are integrally molded as a single body. Each cyclone has a cyclone body having an upper end, a lower end, a cyclone inlet, and a cyclone outlet. Each cyclone inlet has a top. A separately molded upper cover is mounted to the top of the single body at the upper ends. A separately molded lower cover is mounted on the single body at the lower ends of the cyclones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 7861367
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with a dirt collection tank which has a suction inlet and is in flow connection with at least one suction unit via at least one filter and at least one extraction line, and with at least one external air inlet which opens into the extraction line downstream of the filter and can be closed by means of at least one closing valve, wherein the closing valve has a movable valve member which is acted upon by a spring-elastic restoring device with a closing force and in the closing position, in addition, by a magnetic holding device with a magnetic holding force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Eckstein, Thorsten Langen, Martin Wegner
  • Patent number: 7857878
    Abstract: A dust collection unit for a vacuum cleaner includes a first dust collection part for filtering foreign objects in air, a second dust collection part for filtering foreign objects in the air that has passed through the first dust collection part, and a dust collection container having first and second dust collection chambers that correspond to the first and second dust collection parts, respectively. The first and second dust collection chambers store the foreign objects filtered by the respectively first and second dust collection parts in a state where parts of the respective first and second dust collection parts are received in the respective first and second dust collection chambers and the first and second dust collection chambers are provided in a line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Jin Park, Seong Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 7854782
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum cleaner body, a cyclone unit which is mounted at the vacuum cleaner body, and separates dust from drawn air, a dust separating unit which is engaged with a lower end of the cyclone unit, said dust separating unit being configured to collect separated dust, said dust separating unit being detachable from the cyclone, and said dust separating unit comprising a compressing plate compressing the collected dust; and a driving unit which is disposed at a lower end of the dust separating unit, said driving unit being configured to ascend and descend the dust separating unit to be detachably connected to the cyclone unit and drives the compressing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-Keun Oh, Seung-Yong Cha, Min-Ha Kim, Hyoun-Soo Kim, Hyun-Ju Lee
  • Patent number: 7846331
    Abstract: A vacuum truck has a cylindrical tank which can be pivoted to discharge through a rear door is arranged for transporting collected solids while liquid is extracted and returned. Two tank extraction outlets in the top wall at the front and rear are connected to the vacuum pump and each includes a float valve ball contained in a receptacle above the top wall as to allow the tank to be filled to the top wall. For separating the materials into liquid which is pumped away and solids for transportation, the tank includes a generally upstanding dividing wall across the tank having a bottom wall portion, which can pivot away as the tank is tilted, and has a top edge defining a weir over which liquid can flow into the liquid collection area, and an upper screening section defined by a support screen and a hanging chain curtain in front of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Inventor: Slawko Morris Baziuk
  • Publication number: 20100299866
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a filtration apparatus comprising a cyclone and an openable dirt collection chamber in communication with the cyclone dirt outlet. The dirt collection chamber has an openable end portion that comprises a wall that is intersected by the longitudinally extending axis, and when the end portion is in an open position, the cyclone chamber has an absence of any member having a larger diameter than the vortex finder whereby the dirt collection chamber and the cyclone are concurrently emptyable when the dirt collection chamber is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: G.B.D. CORP.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20100299865
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone having a dirt outlet with an impingement surface positioned in a dirt collection chamber and spaced up to 50 mm, preferably from 8 to 30 mm, from the dirt outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: G.B.D. CORP.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 7824457
    Abstract: A portable dust collector for woodshop or other use with portable tools has a conic body that is supported on a tripod carriage formed of three legs attaching to gussets at the sides of the conic body. A divider plate within the conic body divides it into a cyclonic chamber between the divider plate and the lower nose, and a fan chamber between the divider plate and a motor plate that closes the upper mouth of the conic body. A final filter cartridge is fitted onto the outlet pipe, so that the dust collector exhausts clean, filtered air into the ambient. The final filter may be supported from a 90-degree elbow, with a removable tray for catching process dust that is knocked off the interior of the filter. The process dust in the cyclone settles into a dust collection barrel supported on a barrel cradle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Inventor: Robert M. Witter
  • Patent number: 7824456
    Abstract: An extractor that may have a diffuser located a vacuum chamber to which a vacuum is applied by a vacuum pump. The diffuser has cavity and at least one diffuser aperture, and receives a mixture of waste cleaning liquid and aspirated air. The diffuser and the vacuum chamber separate the waste cleaning liquid from the aspirated air. A suction hose and pump may remove the separated waste cleaning liquid from the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Inventor: Clifford L. Monson
  • Publication number: 20100269289
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a canister assembly and a nozzle assembly including a suction inlet. A suction generator is carried on the body. In addition a dirt collection vessel is carried on the body. The dirt collection vessel includes a cyclonic separator having a cylindrical sidewall, a tangentially directed inlet and an axially directed outlet. The dirt collection vessel is characterized by a compound airflow guide provided adjacent the axially directed outlet. The compound airflow guide includes a blade portion and a frustoconical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventor: Brian K. Ruben
  • Patent number: 7819933
    Abstract: A cyclone dust collector is provided, including a cyclone unit that includes a first cyclone unit including a cyclone chamber to separate dust from dust-laden air, and a second cyclone unit, which is mounted in the first cyclone unit, including a plurality of cones to separate fine dust, and a cover unit that is formed on the cyclone unit to gather air discharged from the second cyclone unit and guide the air outside the cyclone dust collector, wherein the first cyclone unit includes a blocking plate at a lower part of the first cyclone unit, the blocking plate including a plurality of holes that are in fluid communication with the plurality of cones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-sung Moon, Dong-hun Yoo, Ji-won Seo
  • Publication number: 20100263163
    Abstract: A sealing member for reducing or preventing loss of air from a multi-cyclone dust separating apparatus in a vacuum cleaner is provided. A sealing member comprises an inner sealing portion for maintaining sealing between a first cyclone unit and second cyclone units, an outer sealing portion for reducing or preventing the inflow of air to the cyclone dust separating apparatus from its exterior, and a cyclone receiving portion connected to the inner and outer sealing portions by a connecting member. The cyclone receiving portion includes holes in which at least portions of the second cyclone units are respectively received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Jung-gyun HAN
  • Publication number: 20100263162
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system includes a nozzle assembly comprising a first nozzle and a second nozzle, a first air conduit in communication with the first nozzle, an air blower that can produce a suction air stream into the first nozzle and through the first air conduit and produce an exhaust air stream out of the second nozzle, a dirt separation member that can stop dirt in the suction air stream and to allow the exhaust air stream to pass through the dirt separation member, a dirt collection chamber that can collect the dirt in the suction air stream, and a second air conduit that can guide the exhaust air stream to the second nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Alan A. Song, Oliver R. Song
  • Patent number: 7815702
    Abstract: A multi cyclone collector with an improved structure is disclosed for providing the highest number of second cyclone collector (300) by disposing a plurality of second cyclone collector (300) in a non circular shape (400) arrangement along a first cyclone collector, thereby increasing collecting efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Tak Hyun, Young Bok Son, Hyoung Joo Cho, Kyeong Seon Jeong
  • Patent number: 7815703
    Abstract: A dust collecting unit of a vacuum cleaner has a dust collecting body including a first dust separating unit for separating dust from air and a first dust storing unit for storing the separated dust. A cover member is coupled to the dust collecting body and a second dust separating unit for further separating dust from the air is formed in the cover member. A second dust storing unit for storing dust separated by the second dust separating unit is formed in the dust collecting body. A dust passage for guiding the dust separated by the second dust separating unit to the second dust storing unit is also provided on the dust collecting body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Jun Park
  • Patent number: 7811349
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with a cyclone module assembly comprises a cyclone separation chamber for separating dust and debris from air, a dirt cup for collecting dust and debris that is separated from the air in the cyclone separation chamber, and a vortex stabilizer. The vortex stabilizer can be pivotally mounted to the cyclone separation chamber to allow access to the cyclone separation chamber when the dirt cup is removed from the cyclone module assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Minh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7811345
    Abstract: A portable vacuum cleaner having at least first and second cleaning stages wherein the first cleaning stage has a dirt collection member and the second cleaning stage comprises a plurality of cyclones and at least one dirt collection chamber, wherein the first and second cleaning stages are emptied separately. One cleaning stage can be removably mounted from the vacuum cleaner without removing another cleaning stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 7803207
    Abstract: An indoor vacuum cleaner comprises a dirty air inlet, a handle, a cyclone separator having an outer wall, a fluid inlet downstream from the dirty air inlet and a fluid outlet, a plate having a cyclone chamber surface and positioned to substantially divide the cyclone separator into a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, each of the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber having an outer wall, the outer wall of each of the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber having an outer perimeter, the dirt collection chamber having a cyclone chamber end spaced from a dirt collection floor, a passage extending between the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber, the passage configured such that separated dirt travels at least outwardly as the dirt travels through the passage and, an air flow motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 7799105
    Abstract: An apparatus for the elimination of dusts from gases, with a filter arrangement, which is flown through by a loaded volume flow, and a cyclone which is arranged upstream to the filter arrangement, wherein a collector funnel below the filter arrangement forms the cover of the cyclone, wherein a branch stub forming the dust outlet opening of the collector funnel forms the dip pipe of the cyclone and an outlet opening of the cyclone is connected to a dust collector tank arranged under it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Fette GmbH
    Inventors: Detlef Nuppenau, Gabriele Oelerich, Dieter Schmidt, Eugen Krüger, Regine Wrage, Harald Römer
  • Patent number: 7797792
    Abstract: A floor cleaning device (10) includes a housing (40) and a container (43) removably received by the housing. A suction nozzle (18, 18?, 18?) is fluidly connected with the container and with a suction source (52) when the container is received by the housing. A filter (114) is selectively fluidly connected with the container and with the suction source. A float (170) selectively closes the fluid connection of the filter with the container. The filter and the float may be removable as a unit (42) from the cleaning device. The nozzle may be removable, allowing an appropriate nozzle to be selected according to the type of floor surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Royal Appliance Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Mark E. Cipolla, Michael F. Wright, John S. Murphy, Richard C. Farone
  • Patent number: 7797791
    Abstract: A vacuum is provided with a removable filter tray that allows a user to access the filter without having to disassemble the vacuum. The filter can then be changed or cleaned and easily replaced without disassembly of the vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. White, Michael P. Kunz, Gregg L. Sheddy, Stuart J. Wright, Spencer G. Maid, David E. Scheerer
  • Publication number: 20100229334
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a dirt chamber. The dirt chamber comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the dirt chamber is transparent and the second portion has an increased opacity compared to the first portion to simulate a dirt fill line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: G.B.D. CORP.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 7793385
    Abstract: A portable cleaning apparatus comprises a base module for movement along a surface, the base module having a front portion, an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module, a cleaning liquid dispensing system for applying a cleaning liquid to a surface to be cleaned, an agitation assembly associated with the base module, and a vacuum inlet associated with the base module, the improvement comprising a blower assembly associated with one of the base module and the upright handle for blowing air tangentially across the surface to dry the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare Inc.
    Inventor: Eric C. Huffman