EP-4734807-A1 - VACUUM CLEANER UNIT INCLUDING AN AIR SWIRLING SPACE AND A DIRT SPACE

EP4734807A1EP 4734807 A1EP4734807 A1EP 4734807A1EP-4734807-A1

Abstract

In a vacuum cleaner unit (4) comprising a a cleaned air discharge arrangement (10), an air swirling space (13) surrounding the cleaned air discharge arrangement (10), and a dirt space (15) that is at a position further down the cleaned air discharge arrangement (10) and the air swirling space (13), one or more special features are present to promote dirt retention in the dirt space (15) and/or renewed separation of any fallback dirt from the air and subsequent renewed discharge of the dirt to the dirt space (15). The special features are an extension body (17) located in the extension of the cleaned air discharge arrangement (10), a flow deflection element (19) for preventing fallback dirt from reaching an area where the air is practically stationary, a tangential rib (18) on a wall structure (14) defining the dirt space (15), and a corner rib (20) on said wall structure (14).

Inventors

VAN DER KOOI, JOHANNES TSEARD
VENEMA, Peter
LUBBERS, MATTHIJS HENDRIKUS
Kleine-Doepke, Bastian Cornelis

Assignees

Versuni Holding B.V.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240607

Claims (1)

CLAIMS 1. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) configured to be used in a vacuum cleaner (1) and to receive incoming dirt- laden air in the vacuum cleaner (1) and to bring about separation of dirt and air, the vacuum cleaner unit (4) comprising: - a cleaned air discharge arrangement (10); - a first wall structure (12) defining an air swirling space (13) in the vacuum cleaner unit (4) surrounding the cleaned air discharge arrangement (10) in a direction about a longitudinal axis (AL) of the cleaned air discharge arrangement (10) defining a longitudinal direction in the vacuum cleaner unit (4); - at least one inlet (6) configured to let in dirt-laden air to the air swirling space (13); and - a second wall structure (14) defining a dirt space (15) in the vacuum cleaner unit (4); wherein the cleaned air discharge arrangement (10) is configured to discharge air from the vacuum cleaner unit (4); wherein the second wall structure (14) is configured to receive and store dirt of the dirt-laden air at the position of the dirt space (15); wherein the second wall structure (14) is located in the extension of the first wall structure (12); and wherein the vacuum cleaner unit (4) further comprises at least one of the following: - a tangential rib (18) projecting inwardly from the second wall structure (14) in the substantially radial direction and extending in a direction being a substantially tangential direction relative to the longitudinal direction; and - a corner rib (20) arranged on the second wall structure (14) in a substantially radial orientation relative to the longitudinal direction, at a position where a portion (14a) of the second wall structure (14) extending in the longitudinal direction connects to a portion of the second wall structure (14) being an end portion (14b) in the longitudinal direction. 2. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vacuum cleaner unit (4) further comprises at least one of the following: - a flow deflection element (19) located at a position that is between the air swirling space (13) and the dirt space (15) in the longitudinal direction, of which at least a portion projects outwardly relative to the cleaned air discharge arrangement (10) in a direction being a substantially radial direction relative to the longitudinal direction; - an extension body (17) located in the extension of the cleaned air discharge arrangement (10), wherein in the longitudinal direction, an end of the extension body (17) at a side of the extension body (17) facing away from the cleaned air discharge arrangement (10) is at a distance from the second wall structure (14). 3. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extension body (17) is generally tube-shaped, having both a circular interior periphery and a circular exterior periphery. 4. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in claim 1-3, wherein the tangential rib (18) extends along an angular distance of less than 360° in the substantially tangential direction, preferably along an angular distance of at most 180° in the substantially tangential direction. 5. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in any of claims 1-4, wherein the tangential rib (18) is crescent- shaped. 6. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in any of claims 2-5, comprising both the extension body (17) and the tangential rib (18). 7. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in claim 6, wherein in the longitudinal direction, a position of the tangential rib (18) substantially corresponds to a position of the end of the extension body (17) at the side of the extension body (17) facing away from the cleaned air discharge arrangement (10). 8. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein in the substantially radial direction, the tangential rib (18) extends from the second wall structure (14) to cover half or less of a distance between the second wall structure (14) and the extension body (17). 9. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in any of claims 2-8, comprising both the flow deflection element (19) and the extension body (17), and wherein the flow deflection element (19) and the extension body (17) are integrated in a single component. 10. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in any of claims 1-5, wherein in the longitudinal direction, a position of the tangential rib (18) substantially corresponds to a position of an end of the cleaned air discharge arrangement (10). 11. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in any of claims 1-10, wherein the corner rib (20) is plate-shaped and has a generally beveled appearance. 12. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in any of claims 1-11, wherein the corner rib (20) is plate-shaped and comprises both a triangular portion (21) and a rectangular portion (22), wherein the corner rib (20) is connected to the portion (14a) of the second wall structure (14) extending in the longitudinal direction through the triangular portion (21), and wherein the corner rib (20) is connected to the end portion (14b) of the second wall structure (14) through the rectangular portion (22). 13. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in any of claims 1-12, comprising both the tangential rib (18) and the comer rib (20), wherein the tangential rib (18) and the comer rib (20) are at substantially diametrically opposed positions. 14. Vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in any of claims 1-13, wherein the first wall structure (12) and the portion (14a) of the second wall structure (14) extending in the longitudinal direction are integrated in a single component. 15. Vacuum cleaner (1), comprising a conduit (2), a suction nozzle (3) at an end of the conduit (2), a vacuum cleaner unit (4) as claimed in any of claims 1-14 connected to the conduit (3), and an arrangement (5) configured to generate air suction forces at the position of the suction nozzle (3) and an air flow from the suction nozzle (3) towards the vacuum cleaner unit (4), through the conduit (2).

Description

VACUUM CLEANER UNIT INCLUDING AN AIR SWIRLING SPACE AND A DIRT SPACE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner unit configured to be used in a vacuum cleaner and to receive incoming dirt-laden air in the vacuum cleaner and to bring about separation of dirt and air, the vacuum cleaner unit comprising: a cleaned air discharge arrangement; a first wall structure defining an air swig space in the vacuum cleaner unit surrounding the cleaned air discharge arrangement in a direction about a longitudinal axis of the cleaned air discharge arrangement defining a longitudinal direction in the vacuum cleaner unit; at least one inlet configured to let in dirt-laden air to the air swirling space; and a second wall structure defining a dirt space in the vacuum cleaner unit; wherein the cleaned air discharge arrangement is configured to discharge air from the vacuum cleaner unit; and wherein the second wall structure is configured to receive and store dirt of the dirt-laden air at the position of the dirt space. The invention also relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising a conduit, a suction nozzle at an end of the conduit, a vacuum cleaner unit connected to the conduit, and an arrangement configured to generate air suction forces at the position of the suction nozzle and an air flow from the suction nozzle towards the vacuum cleaner unit, through the conduit. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is in the field of vacuum cleaning and vacuum cleaners, particularly vacuum cleaners comprising a vacuum cleaner unit that is designed to separate dirt and air and to rely on an air swirling movement about a cleaned air discharge arrangement in the process. In the context of the invention, the vacuum cleaner can be a handheld vacuum cleaner. Especially when the vacuum cleaner is battery-operated, a very flexible proposition is obtained, and market results demonstrate that such a type of vacuum cleaner is getting more and more popular. More and more people are inclined to use such a vacuum cleaner as the first/preferred vacuum cleaner in the house rather than only an in-between cleaner. This is mostly due to the ease of use. Contrary to a canister type of vacuum cleaner, the handheld vacuum cleaner is easy to maneuver and lift. WO 2022/002591 Al discloses a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a dirt inlet; a motor and fan for delivering suction to the dirt inlet; a cyclone unit for separating particles from a flow generated by the suction of the motor and fan, comprising a vortex finder extending along a cyclone axis of rotation and an annular chamber formed around the outside of the vortex finder; and a delivery duct for delivering air to the cyclone unit such that the air can flow to the annular chamber. The vacuum cleaner for example comprises a head having the dirt inlet, and the delivery duct comprises a tube connecting the head to the cyclone unit. The vacuum cleaner for example comprises a stick vacuum cleaner. EP3488749A1 discloses a bagless hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising a body, a tube arranged at the front of the vacuum cleaner and a suction chamber provided with a bowl. US 2019/200824 A1 discloses a dirt separator includes a separating chamber defined by an outer wall, the separating chamber having a longitudinal axis; an air inlet into the separating chamber; and a shroud comprising a screen through which air is able to flow out of the separation chamber. It is well known to use cyclone units in vacuum cleaners for separating dirt from a flow of air. In the cyclone unit, centrifugal forces arise by rotating air inside the annular chamber. The air follows a helical pattern before exiting the cyclone unit. Particles dragged along in the rotating stream are moved outwardly by centrifugal accelerations. As a consequence, the particles do not follow the tight curve of the air flow path but strike an outside wall of the annular chamber instead, then move along the wall to enter a dirt collection chamber where they are stored. Cyclone units are widely used as a means to separate dry particles from air. Cyclone units are also used to separate water droplets (and dirt particles) from air in the case of wet vacuum cleaners. Typically, the vortex finder that is included in the cyclone unit has a central arrangement in the annular chamber. In one of various known embodiments, the vortex finder is provided in the form of a hollow cylinder- shaped plastic part with slots along the length for enabling air to flow from the annular chamber to inside the vortex finder and be further transported from that position to a position where the air exits the cyclone unit. In the vacuum cleaner known from WO 2022/002591 Al, the dirt collection chamber is in a side-by-side arrangement with the annular chamber, and is particularly coupled to a space that is present between a ceiling of the annular chamber and a forward end of the vortex finder. It is an object of the invention to provide a practical design of a cyclone unit