Cyclone Or Centrifugal Whirl Type Deflector Patents (Class 55/337)
  • Publication number: 20120047683
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a dust removing apparatus includes a main body in which a dust collecting unit is disposed, a filter disposed inside the dust collecting unit, the dust removing apparatus to dust off the filter, a rotating handle that allows the dust removing apparatus to be rotated, the rotating handle disposed in an outer surface of the dust collecting unit, and a body cover in which a rotating-handle exposing hole is formed for the rotating handle to be exposed outside in a state that the dust collecting unit is disposed in the main body, the body cover rotatably disposed at the main body. The vacuum cleaner can remove dust from filter regardless whether the dust collecting unit is disposed in or separated from the main body. The vacuum cleaner also can remove dust from the filter while the vacuum cleaner operates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Tak-Soo Kim, Keon-soo Choi, Young-Jun Cho
  • Patent number: 8119000
    Abstract: A combined degassing and flotation tank for separation of a water influent containing considerable amounts of oil and gas. A rotational flow is created in the tank which forces the lighter components such as oil and gas droplets towards an inner concentric cylindrical wall where they coalesce and rise to the surface of the liquid and are removed via the outlet. The heavier parts are forced down where the heavy particles sink to the lower part where they can be removed as a sludge. The water is discharged via an outlet in the lower part of the tank. The combined degassing and flotation tank is particular suited for use in oil production at sea for removal of oil and gases from water streams before the water is returned to the sea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Norge AS
    Inventor: Stein Egil Oserød
  • Patent number: 8110025
    Abstract: A dust collector for collecting sawdust and wood chips during use of wood working tools includes a conduit or hose connected through an impeller forcing air with entrained dust and chips to an inlet ring of a single stage dust collector. A particle collector reservoir is connected on the bottom of the inlet ring and a filter element is connected on top of the inlet ring. A tapered ring wall with a central opening is provided in the inlet ring and a baffle is mounted in the central opening of the ring wall. The baffle is of a cone shape and tapers an opposite direction from the frusto-conical ring wall. The inlet opening of the inlet ring is directed to between the ring wall and the baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Walter Meier (Manufacturing) Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Martin Schwaiger
  • Patent number: 8097057
    Abstract: Apparatus for separation of particles from a fluid stream entraining said particles comprises an inlet zone, a centrifugal separation zone, particles collection means and exhaust means, in which the inlet and separation zones are in communication via a transition zone for inducing vortical flow in the fluid stream, the transition zone having a diameter greater than the diameter of the inlet zone and comprising means defining an outlet port to the separation zone, an entry port being formed in the transition zone upstream of the baffle means, the entry and outlet ports being mutually arranged to minimise fluid perturbation in the fluid stream in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Euro-Pro Operating LLC
    Inventor: Adrian Christopher Arnold
  • Patent number: 8083824
    Abstract: A gas-solid separator has: an inner cylinder 10 having a closed lower end 11 and an opened upper end 1, and extending in a vertical direction; and an outer cylinder 2 that coaxially covers the inner cylinder 10 from the outside and has a gas vent port 6 formed on the upper end side and communicating with an exterior, wherein a plurality of axially extending long holes 4 are formed on a side surface on the lower end 11 side of the inner cylinder 10 in a circumferential direction, one of long side edge parts of each of the long holes 4 is provided with a guide blade 5 that protrudes outward and is inclined circumferentially so as to cover the long hole 4, and in a section of the outer cylinder 2 that surrounds the plurality of long holes 4 of the inner cylinder 10, an inner diameter D1 of a lower part is larger than an inner diameter D2 of an upper part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignees: Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum, Nippon Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Fujiyama, Toshiaki Okuhara, Shigeko Okuhara, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8080075
    Abstract: In order to provide an intake system for sucking in combustion air of an internal combustion engine of a piece of equipment, in particular a portable, manually guided piece of equipment, having more than one centrifugal separator comprising a centrifugal separator housing, and having an air filter device comprising an air filter housing, which bounds an air filter receiving space for an air filter, in which the combustion air can be separated by means of the centrifugal separator into a core volume stream and an outer volume stream, wherein the core volume stream is fed to the internal combustion engine through the air filter receiving space, which intake system is as compact as possible and correspondingly designed to be not very component-intensive, it is proposed for the centrifugal separator housing to be arranged on the air filter housing such that it ends directly at the air filter receiving space or projects directly into the air filter receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: DOLMAR GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Doering, Carsten Ziegs, Torsten Luethje, Jan Janzen, Florian Soldat
  • Patent number: 8080080
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for separating liquids from gases comprising a preseparator that separates an untreated gas region from a preseparator gas region, a main separator comprising a coalescing element for increasing the size of liquid droplets and a post-separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Becker, Carsten Schippers, Wolfgang Heikamp, Tobias Neumann, Andreas Stephan, Jens Gutekunst, Peter Biebricher
  • Publication number: 20110296806
    Abstract: A filter element, a safety element and fluid cleaner assembly. The fluid cleaner assembly generally includes a housing having a cover and a primary fluid cleaner section. The element generally comprises z-filter media, arranged in a straight through configuration, and an axial seal gasket positioned to extend continuously around at outer perimeter of the straight through flow construction. The fluid cleaner assembly can have a precleaner positioned therein. Methods of assembly and use are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: JOSEPH WILLIAM KRISKO, WAYNE R.W. BISHOP, STEVEN SCOTT GIESEKE, CAROLYN J. FINNERTY, DAVID W. NELSON
  • Publication number: 20110296648
    Abstract: A cyclonic separation device in accordance with an embodiment of the present application preferably includes a first cyclone chamber having a cylindrical shape with a predetermined diameter, the first cyclone chamber including, a tangential inlet positioned on a first longitudinal end of the first cyclone chamber, a baffle plate positioned in the first cyclone chamber a predetermined distance from the tangential inlet, a tangential dirt outlet positioned on a second end of the cyclone chamber, opposite the inlet and on an opposite side of the baffle plate from the tangential inlet and a center exit duct mounted in the center of the cyclone chamber having an inlet opening positioned upstream from the baffle plate such the centrifuged fluid without particles flows into the center exit duct and out of the cyclone chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Carl L.C. Kah, JR.
  • Patent number: 8070846
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas-solid separator that has: an inner cylinder 10 having a closed lower end 11 and an opened upper end 1, and extending in a vertical direction; an outer cylinder 2 that coaxially covers the inner cylinder 10 from the outside and has a gas vent port 6 formed on the upper end side of the inner cylinder and communicating with an exterior; and a plurality of axially extending long holes 4 having a length L[m] and formed on a side surface on the lower end 11 side of the inner cylinder 10 in a circumferential direction, one of long side edge parts of each of the long holes being provided with a guide blade 5 that protrudes outward and is inclined circumferentially so as to cover the long hole 4, wherein the length L of each long hole 4 is defined such as to satisfy an expression of non-dimensional Stokes number St=(?pdp2/(18?))·U/L?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignees: Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum, Nippon Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Fujiyama, Toshiaki Okuhara, Shigeko Okuhara, legal representative, Akira Uchiura
  • Publication number: 20110289720
    Abstract: The hand-held cleaner includes a body, and a cyclone dust collecting apparatus detachably mounted in the body. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus includes a pre-motor filter unit having a filter grill and a filter member, a dust collecting bin having one end to which the pre-motor filter unit is coupled and the other end opposite to the one end in which an cyclone inlet is formed, and a cyclone bin disposed in the dust collecting bin and having a spiral flow path-guide member integrally formed therein. A moving path of air drawn into the cyclone inlet is maintained in the same direction until the air is discharged through the pre-motor filter unit via the cyclone bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-gyun Han, Ki-man Kim, Seog-bong Baek, Dong-jun Kim
  • Patent number: 8062398
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with a cyclone module assembly comprising a separation chamber for separating dust and debris from air, a dirt collection chamber for collecting dust and debris that is separated from the air in the cyclone separation chamber, wherein the separation chamber further includes an exhaust grill that is removable for cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Luo, Wing-Hei Cho
  • Patent number: 8051532
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for a dust cup assembly on a bottom exit cyclone-separator vacuum cleaner including a non-rotating sealing conduit member that supports a dust cup assembly above a discharge outlet coupled to a sliding latch member via pin-mounted linkages. The conduit member raises and lowers the dust cup assembly into and out of engagement with the cyclone separator coincident with horizontal sliding movement of the latch member in and out underneath the dust cup to releasably attach and detach the dust cup assembly from the cyclone separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventors: Aaron P. Griffith, Eric R. Metzger
  • Patent number: 8048183
    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: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 8048180
    Abstract: A dual cyclone dust-collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The dust-collecting apparatus includes an air inlet through which an external air is drawn in, two cyclone chambers into which the external air drawn in through the air inlet air is drawn in, the two cyclone chamber being disposed in parallel, at least one dust-collecting chamber divided in parallel with respect to the two cyclone chambers, and two air outlets through which the external air from the two cyclone chambers is discharged. The air inlet is formed between the two cyclone chambers at a lower part of a cyclone body and the two air outlets are formed in bottom surfaces of the two cyclone chambers, respectively, so that the external air is drawn in through lower parts of one sides of the two cyclone chambers and then discharged through the bottom surfaces of the two cyclone chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-Keun Oh, Jung-Gyun Han
  • Patent number: 8048181
    Abstract: A filter apparatus deposits impurities from a fluid stream by use of a filter element (10) accommodated in a filter casing (12). The filter casing (12) has a swirl space (14) such that the fluid stream to be filtered is conducted at least partly in a swirling flow around the filter element (10). The properties of a cyclone are utilized for the actual filtration operation to the extent that the swirl space of the filter casing brings about multiple deflection of the direction of motion of the fluid to be filtered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hydac Process Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Schneider, Ralf Wnuk
  • Patent number: 8043394
    Abstract: A particulate matter (PM) filter assembly includes a PM filter that filters PM from an exhaust stream and that includes an entry face facing a first direction of flow of the exhaust stream, and a swirl element disposed in the exhaust stream and that includes a blade that directs a portion of the exhaust stream in a second direction of flow that is different than the first direction of flow. The blade directs the portion of the exhaust stream to distribute the exhaust stream over a frontal area of the entry face of the PM filter. A related method of filtering particulate matter from an exhaust stream is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventors: Rahul Mital, David B. Brown, Jianwen Li, Michael Christopher Luckham, Kevin B. Fuqua, Kasser A. Jaffri, Linda Garcia
  • Patent number: 8034140
    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. A transition member is provided adjacent the end of the cyclone casing distal to the fluid inlet. The transition member has an inner surface the extends inwardly between the sidewall and the distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20110219733
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber. The cyclone chamber has an air inlet and an opposed end. The dirt outlet from the cyclone chamber comprises a gap at the terminal end of a cyclone chamber wall proximate the opposed end. A shroud extends inwardly into the cyclone chamber from the opposed end and is preferably tapered in the upstream direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Euro-Pro Operating, LLC
    Inventor: Mason Isaac Greene
  • Patent number: 8016902
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner including multiple cleaning stages comprises a first cyclonic stage and a second cyclonic stage, which is spaced from the first cyclonic stage. A housing defines a first particle collector that communicates with the first cyclonic stage. The first particle collector includes an opening. A removable lid covers the first particle collector opening. A second particle collector in communication with the second cyclonic stage is removable with the lid. A suction motor is supported by the vacuum cleaner. The suction motor establishes and maintains a flow of air through the vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventor: Sergey V. Makarov
  • Patent number: 8012227
    Abstract: A filter for filtering a fluid has a filter housing and a filter element arranged in the filter housing. A cyclone preseparator is arranged upstream of the filter element, wherein a fluid to be cleaned is guided through the preseparator to the filter element. The cyclone preseparator has at least two cyclone cells that have a different diameter, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbH
    Inventor: Volker Greif
  • Patent number: 8012226
    Abstract: An air separator and purifier device, structured to mainly include a main air extractor installed within a cylindrical housing, an air inlet and an air vent are provided in the upper and lower ends of the housing respectively to form a filter passageway, and filtering equipment is installed in the filter passageway. The air separator and purifier device is characterized in that: the housing includes an upper cylindrical body and a lower cylindrical body; a partition plate is located between the upper and lower cylindrical bodies; a round hole defined in the center of the partition plate connects with an air suction port of the main air extractor installed within the lower cylindrical body; and a preseparation structure and an air filter screen are installed within the upper cylindrical body and the lower cylindrical body respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Ging-Chung Chen
  • Patent number: 8007554
    Abstract: An air purifier (10) for an animal transport vehicle, such as a horse float (12), has a first air flow passageway (22) for receiving air and directing it in a first direction, and a second air flow passageway (40) continuous with the first air flow passageway and adapted to direct air received from the first air flow passageway in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction. There is a bend region (42) joining the first and second air flow passageways where the change in the direction of air occurs. An air egress passageway (34) has an opening (36) adjacent the bend region so as to divert some of the air therethrough. The passageway (34) is so configured as to create a venturi effect on the diverted air. A filter (43) is located downstream of the second air flow passageway (40) and is mounted across an opening of the transport vehicle so that air flowing through the second air flow passageway is filtered before entering the transport vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Giovanni Bercich
  • Publication number: 20110203237
    Abstract: A dust collection arrangement employs a variable frequency drive to supply AC to its fan motor. A current sensor measures the current drawn by the motor, and this is compared with a preset value. The variable frequency drive adjusts the frequency of the AC applied to the motor to maintain the motor current at the preset level. This keeps the flow of air in the system optimal as dust producing tools are added or taken off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Robert M. Witter, Jeffrey Hill
  • Patent number: 7998231
    Abstract: An air purifier includes a housing, a centrifugal fan and an air purifying filter. The fan is substantially centered in the housing. The fan has a rotary shaft extending in a depth direction of the air purifier and a fan inlet port facing frontward. Air suctioned by the fan is blown out in a direction perpendicular to the rotary shaft. The filter is aligned with the fan along the direction perpendicular to the rotary shaft. An air inlet port is disposed in front of the fan so as to communicate with the fan inlet port. When the fan rotates, air is suctioned into the air purifier via the air inlet port. An air outlet port is arranged relative to the filter such that air purified by the filter is blown out of the air purifier through the air outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhiming Zheng, Yasuhiro Oda, Tooru Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7996957
    Abstract: A cyclonic separation device in accordance with an embodiment of the present application preferably includes a first cyclone chamber having a cylindrical shape with a predetermined diameter, the first cyclone chamber including, a tangential inlet positioned on a first longitudinal end of the first cyclone chamber, a baffle plate positioned in the first cyclone chamber a predetermined distance from the tangential inlet, a tangential dirt outlet positioned on a second end of the cyclone chamber, opposite the inlet and on an opposite side of the baffle plate from the tangential inlet and a center exit duct mounted in the center of the cyclone chamber having an inlet opening positioned upstream from the baffle plate such the centrifuged fluid without particles flows into the center exit duct and out of the cyclone chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventor: Carl L. C. Kah, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7993422
    Abstract: A filter element, a safety element and fluid cleaner assembly. The fluid cleaner assembly generally includes a housing having a cover and a primary fluid cleaner section. The element generally comprises z-filter media, arranged in a straight through configuration, and an axial seal gasket positioned to extend continuously around at outer perimeter of the straight through flow construction. The fluid cleaner assembly can have a precleaner positioned therein. Methods of assembly and use are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William Joseph Krisko, Wayne R. W. Bishop, Steven Scott Gieseke, Carolyn J. Finnerty, David W. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7988756
    Abstract: A gas-solid separator has: an inner cylinder 10 having a closed lower end 11 and an opened upper end 1, and extending in a vertical direction; and an outer cylinder 2 that coaxially covers the inner cylinder 10 from the outside and has a gas vent port 6 formed on the upper end side of the inner cylinder and communicating with an exterior, wherein a plurality of axially extending long holes 4 are formed on a side surface on the lower end 11 side of the inner cylinder 10 in a circumferential direction, one of long side edge parts of each of the long holes 4 is provided with a guide blade 5 that protrudes outward and is inclined circumferentially so as to cover the long hole 4, and a part between the long holes 4 of the inner cylinder 10 is concaved in a center direction of the inner cylinder 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignees: Japan Cooperation Ctr., Petroleum, Nippon Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Fujiyama, Toshiaki Okuhara, Shigeko Okuhara, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7985272
    Abstract: Sifting apparatus, for sifting solid particles from a gaseous or liquid fluid, having a rotating conical filter and fan blade assembly connected to the filter exterior, both rotated together by a motor/pulley assembly, the fan blades slanted in a direction opposite the rotation direction, so that air is drawn through the filter from its interior to its exterior, having an inlet for admission of air only at the narrow end of the filter, and having a receptacle for collection of the particles at the broad end of the filter. Applications include cleaning of particle contaminants from air; cleaning beach sand by sifting out broken glass, sea weed or other debris; extraction of mineral particles from water slurry; collection of soil samples picked up by an air stream; lawn maintenance collection of weeds, leaves and burrs; biohazard removal operations; and an alternative to auger food particle transport in food processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventor: Charles George Higgins
  • Patent number: 7984567
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a simulated hair article such as a wig or other hairpiece. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing, an ozone generator, an ultraviolet light source, and a gas recirculation structure. The apparatus reduces or eliminates microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, molds, and fungi from the simulated hair article, and also eliminates odors therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventor: Christ Bill Bertakis
  • Patent number: 7985273
    Abstract: A device for the precipitation of liquid from a gas stream includes a preseparator chamber in a first housing portion arranged to flow a gas stream laterally centrally to rebound from an opposing sidewall and deflect upwards to a main separator in a second housing portion. The main separator includes a drainage element separating oil from the gas stream. A guide element is arranged between the housing portions and includes an outer wall with a central opening and at least one guide part arranged on the wall to laterally deflect the gas stream. The deflected gas stream flows laterally through the main separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Mann + Hummel GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Heikamp
  • Patent number: 7981181
    Abstract: A cyclone dust-separating apparatus that may be conveniently maintained and repaired is disclosed. The cyclone dust-separating apparatus includes a cyclone chamber that separates dust using a whirling air current about a horizontal rotating axis, and a first cover that is detachably attached to an end of the cyclone chamber to expose the cyclone chamber. The first cover can be detached, so the cyclone dust-separating apparatus may be conveniently maintained and repaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-hun Yoo
  • Patent number: 7981180
    Abstract: A dust filter of an evaporated fuel treatment device is taught that preferably include a filtration member for filtering air introduced to an atmosphere introduction path, and a casing receiving the filtration member therein. The dust filter being disposed on the atmosphere introduction path of the evaporated fuel treatment device. The filtration member has an arcuate shape in cross section, and wherein the filtration member is arranged and structured such that air flows in a radial direction thereof, so as to be filtered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihasa Yamamoto, Takashi Kato, Masahiro Sugiura
  • Patent number: 7981182
    Abstract: A labyrinth box can include a housing that has an open end, a closed end, and defines two cavities. A cover is configured to cover the opening and can include a divider that extends into one of the two cavities of the housing to define first and second chamber passageways in that cavity. An inlet port is located in the bottom closed end of one of the cavities and an outlet port is located in the other of the cavities. The surfaces that define the chambers can be configured such that the box can be oriented in different positions and still work, namely, in horizontal and vertical positions. When in the vertical position, the divider can include surfaces that are angled off of the horizontal plane and towards the inlet port such that water and debris will return to the inlet port via gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Scott Jeffrey Volchko
  • Patent number: 7967883
    Abstract: An extractor for a vacuum cleaning system of the type based on a cyclonic separator. The extractor comprises an annular body located adjacent the cyclonic separator and has an annular opening communicating with the cyclonic separator. A mesh covers the annular opening. In use the air circulating in the cyclonic separator vents through the extractor but debris in the air stream is stopped by the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Maxivac Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: David Milton Spain
  • 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: 7967884
    Abstract: A bagless vacuum cleaner system dustcup assembly and method for using said system with a vacuum cleaner apparatus to separate dirt from a mixture of dirt and air inducted into said vacuum cleaner apparatus. Said bagless vacuum cleaner system generally comprises a dustcup assembly, a handle assembly and a motor intake adaptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold L. Sepke, Joseph Mulcahy, Joyce Thomas
  • Patent number: 7964010
    Abstract: A coalescing filter element for removing liquid droplets from a gas stream comprises a wall which is made of a coalescing filtration material and which defines a hollow space within it. An end cap at one end of the element has a port in it through which gas is supplied to the hollow space to flow through the wall of the filtration material. The end cap has a peripheral portion which engages the element wall and a tube which extends into the hollow space defined by the element wall, so that the port in the end cap comprises an inner opening defined by the tube and at least one peripheral opening located between the tube and the peripheral portion of the end cap. The tube extends beyond the peripheral opening(s) so as to deliver gas to a region of the element wall which is remote from the end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Domnick Hunter Limited
    Inventors: Brian Lane, David Porter
  • Patent number: 7955404
    Abstract: A dust collector includes a shell, an exit tube, an inner tube, a suction device, a first dust container, a bypass tube and a first dust bag. The shell defines a first receiving room therein. The exit tube defines an exit passage therein. The inner tube defines a connection passage which has a first opening and a second opening. The first opening communicates the first receiving room, and the second opening communicates the exit passage. The suction device provides the exit passage with a negative pressure. The first dust container defines a second receiving room therein. A mesh is disposed on a bottom surface of the first dust container to divide the second receiving room into a first chamber and a second chamber. The bypass tube defines a bypass passage therein, and it communicates the connection passage with the second chamber. The first dust bag is disposed in the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: Tony Lin
  • 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: 7938871
    Abstract: A vehicle filter assembly includes a housing, a cyclone-inducing structure and a self-cleaning trap mechanism. The housing has an inlet, an outlet and a trap aperture. The cyclone-inducing structure is disposed within the housing between the inlet and the outlet to separate particulate from gases passing through the housing from the inlet to the outlet. The self-cleaning trap mechanism is movably arranged with respect to the trap aperture to move between a closed orientation sealing the trap aperture and an opened orientation exposing the trap aperture to release particulate from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Lloyd
  • Patent number: 7935161
    Abstract: A cyclonic separation system filter cartridge with a cylindrical body formed into at least thirty pleats having a solid bottom surface, an open top surface, a rigid inner cylindrical core, a top cap member substantially covering the open top surface except for a central circular opening, and a handle attached to either the rigid inner cylindrical core or to the top cap member, extending across the central circular opening. The pleats form a plurality of filtering chambers. Also, a mounting apparatus is disclosed that includes a top mounting flange, a retainer plate, removably connectable to the top mounting flange, a bottom plate and tie bracing connected to the mounting flange and the bottom plate, wherein the mounting apparatus is configured to be mounted, via the top mounting flange, within a cyclonic separation chamber, wherein the tie bracing is configured to extend along an internal wall of the separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Bulkmatic Transport Company
    Inventor: Scott Richard Adams
  • Patent number: 7935159
    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 of the present invention includes two parallel primary cyclones (210, 220) for separating dust by a cyclone principle, and two secondary cyclones (250, 260) for separating dust introduced thereto from the primary cyclones (210, 220) by the cyclone principle, and a dust container (110) for storing dust separated by the primary cyclones (210, 220) and the secondary cyclones (250, 260), wherein the two primary cyclones (210, 220) surround the two secondary cyclones (250, 260), respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kie Tak Hyun, Young Bok Son, Kyeong Seon Jeong, Il Joong Kim, Sung Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 7935160
    Abstract: A filter assembly has a housing removably receiving a contaminant tray, with a filter element mounted to the contaminant tray and removable therewith from the housing for servicing. The filter element traps contaminant in the contaminant tray including when the contaminant tray is removed from the housing, to prevent spillage of contaminant during servicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark V. Holzmann, Kaarthik Venkataraman, Jim L. Alonzo, Robert A. Bannister
  • Patent number: 7931740
    Abstract: Systems and methods for separating contaminants in a contaminated airstream are described. In one embodiment, a contaminated airstream is received and a vortex is created that separates the contaminated airstream into a clean airstream used in the system and contaminants (e.g., debris and particles).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thamir R. Al-Alusi, Anthony D. Drury, Eric R. Blume, Wayne F. Ledzian
  • Patent number: 7931716
    Abstract: A cleaning appliance includes a main body, a filter and an interlock. The main body includes an airflow generator, a separating apparatus separating dirt and dust from an airflow, and a flowpath between the separating apparatus and the airflow generator delimited by a wall. The interlock has a first part located on the filter and a second part located on the main body outside the flowpath, arranged to communicate remotely when the filter is correctly located in the pre-determined position. The interlock is arranged selectively to allow or prevent operation of the airflow generator depending upon the relative separation between the first and second parts. By providing an interlock which has first and second parts which communicate remotely, the second part located on the main body can be isolated from the airflow path so that the second part is not subject to dirt and dust carried by the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventor: George Francis Paul Oakham
  • Patent number: 7922794
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner cyclone separator having a cyclone chamber with an air inlet and an air outlet. The cyclone chamber directs an airflow into a cyclonic pattern to remove a first amount of debris from the airflow. A filter shroud is located within the cyclone chamber and separates the air inlet from the air outlet. The filter shroud includes an air-pervious filter surface adapted to allow the airflow to pass from the air inlet to the air outlet and remove a second amount of debris from the airflow. One or more protrusions are associated with the filter surface, and configured and dimensioned to direct at least a portion of the airflow passing generally parallel to the filter surface away from the filter surface before passing through the filter surface. A dirt collection assembly having a cyclone separator and a method for using a cyclone separator are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc.
    Inventor: John Morphey
  • 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: 7914609
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is a fan to direct air through a screen to cool the engine. A cyclonic air cleaner assembly receives air from the blower fan and directs the air towards a carburetor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan A. Sullivan, Gary S. Johnson
  • 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