US6989039B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cyclonic separating apparatus
Assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
•
Filing: 2002-03-21
•
Granted: 2006-01-24
•
Expires: 2022-03-21
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a cyclonic separating apparatus that includes a plurality of cyclones, each having an inlet and being arranged in parallel with one another, and a passageway arranged upstream of the cyclones for carrying an airflow to the inlets of the cyclones, wherein dividers are provided in the passageway for dividing the airflow within the passageway into a number of separate flowpaths, the number of flowpaths being equal to the number of cyclones, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath ( 142 a ), decreases along the direction of air flow. The invention also provides a method of operating a cyclonic separating apparatus ( 100 ) comprising a plurality of cyclones ( 104 ), each having an inlet and being arranged in parallel with one another, and a passageway ( 142 ) arranged upstream of the cyclones ( 104 ), the method comprising the steps of:(a) introducing a flow of dirt-laden air to the passageway ( 142 ); (b) dividing the flow of dirt-laden air into a plurality of airflow portions, the number of airflow portions being equal to the number of cyclones ( 104 ); and (c) reducing the cross-sectional area of each of the airflow portions in the direction of flow of the dirt-laden air.
Inventors
- 👤 Remco Douwinus Vuijk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:20
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L9/00; A47L9/10; A47L9/16; A47L9/1616; A47L9/1625; A47L9/1641; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A cyclonic separating apparatus comprising a plurality of cyclones, each of the cyclones having a single inlet and being arranged in parallel with one another, a passageway upstream of the cyclones for carrying an airflow to the inlets of the cyclones and dividers provided in the passageway for dividing the airflow within the passageway into a number of separate flowpaths, the number of flowpaths being equal to the number of cyclones, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath decreases in the direction of the airflow toward each inlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A cyclonic separating apparatus comprising a plurality of cyclones, each of the cyclones having a single inlet and being arranged in parallel with one another, a passageway upstream of the cyclones for carrying an airflow to the inlets of the cyclones and dividers provided in the passageway for dividing the airflow within the passageway into a number of separate flowpaths, the number of flowpaths being equal to the number of cyclones, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath decreases in the direction of the airflow toward each inlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
A cyclonic separating apparatus, comprising a plurality of cyclones, each having an inlet and being arranged in parallel with one another, a passageway upstream of the cyclones for carrying an airflow to the inlets of the cyclones and dividers provided in the passageway for dividing the airflow within the passageway into a number of separate flowpaths, the number of flowpaths being equal to the number of cyclones, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath decreases in the direction of the airflow along each flowpath, wherein the length of each flowpath is at least five times the effective radius of the flowpath at the inlet of the respective cyclone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
A cyclonic separating apparatus, comprising a plurality of cyclones, each having an inlet and being arranged in parallel with one another, a passageway upstream of the cyclones for carrying an airflow to the inlets of the cyclones and dividers provided in the passageway for dividing the airflow within the passageway into a number of separate flowpaths, the number of flowpaths being equal to the number of cyclones, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath decreases in the direction of the airflow along each flowpath, wherein the length of each flowpath is at least five times the effective radius of the flowpath at the inlet of the respective cyclone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each flowpath is separate from the remaining flowpaths between the point in the passageway at which the airflow is divided and the inlet of the respective cyclone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein each flowpath is the same length as the remaining flowpaths between the point in the passageway at which the airflow is divided and the inlet of the respective cyclone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the length of each flowpath is at least five times the effective radius of the flowpath at the inlet of the respective cyclone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 2 , wherein the length of each flowpath is at least seven times the effective radius of the flowpath at the inlet of the respective cyclone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the length of each flowpath is at least nine times the effective radius of the flowpath at the inlet of the respective cyclone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 or 2 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath decreases at a substantially constant rate along a majority of the length thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath at the inlet to the respective cyclone is no more than 40% of the cross-sectional area of the flowpath at the point in the passageway at which the airflow is divided.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath at the inlet to the respective cyclone is no more than 30% of the cross-sectional area of the flowpath at the point in the passageway at which the airflow is divided.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath at the inlet to the respective cyclone is no more than 20% of the cross-sectional area of the flowpath at the point in the passageway at which the airflow is divided.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 or 2 , wherein the dividers comprise barrier members arranged in the passageway.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein adjacent barrier members approach one another in the direction of flow along the passageway.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein each barrier member incorporates a cyclone entry duct at or adjacent the downstream end thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 or 2 , wherein the number of cyclones and flowpaths is greater than five.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 or 2 , wherein the number of cyclones and flowpaths is seven.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 or 2 , wherein the cyclones are equiangularly spaced about a longitudinal axis of the cyclonic separating apparatus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 or 2 , further comprising an upstream cyclone arranged upstream of the plurality of cyclones.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cyclonic separating apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein each barrier member incorporates a cyclone entry duct at or adjacent the downstream end thereof.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of operating a cyclonic separating apparatus comprising a plurality of cyclones, each of the cyclones having a single inlet and being arranged in parallel with one another, and a passageway arranged upstream of the cyclones, comprising: (a) introducing a flow of dirt-laden air to the passageway; (b) dividing the flow of dirt-laden air into a plurality of airflow portions, the number of airflow portions being equal to the number of cyclones; and (c) reducing the cross-sectional area of each of the airflow portions in the direction of flow of the dirt-laden air.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of operating a cyclonic separating apparatus comprising a plurality of cyclones, each of the cyclones having a single inlet and being arranged in parallel with one another, and a passageway arranged upstream of the cyclones, comprising: (a) introducing a flow of dirt-laden air to the passageway; (b) dividing the flow of dirt-laden air into a plurality of airflow portions, the number of airflow portions being equal to the number of cyclones; and (c) reducing the cross-sectional area of each of the airflow portions in the direction of flow of the dirt-laden air.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each airflow portion is reduced by at least 60% before the dirt-laden air reaches the inlet of the respective cyclone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each airflow portion is reduced by at least 70% before the dirt-laden air reaches the inlet of the respective cyclone.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each airflow portion is reduced by at least 80% before the dirt-laden air reaches the inlet of the respective cyclone.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each airflow portion is reduced at a substantially constant rate.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23 , wherein the dirt-laden air is passed through an upstream cyclone before being passed to the passageway.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
89 words
A vacuum cleaner comprising a cyclonic separating apparatus comprising a plurality of cyclones, each having an inlet and being arranged in parallel with one another, a passageway upstream of the cyclones for carrying an airflow to the inlets of the cyclones and dividers provided in the passageway for dividing the airflow within the passageway into a number of separate flowpaths, the number of flowpaths being equal to the number of cyclones, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath decreases in the direction of the airflow along each flowpath.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
89 words
A vacuum cleaner comprising a cyclonic separating apparatus comprising a plurality of cyclones, each having an inlet and being arranged in parallel with one another, a passageway upstream of the cyclones for carrying an airflow to the inlets of the cyclones and dividers provided in the passageway for dividing the airflow within the passageway into a number of separate flowpaths, the number of flowpaths being equal to the number of cyclones, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath decreases in the direction of the airflow along each flowpath.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the length of each flowpath is at least five times the effective radius of the flowpath at the inlet of the respective cyclone.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
68 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath decreases at a substantially constant rate along a majority of the length thereof and wherein the cross-sectional area of each flowpath at the inlet to the respective cyclone is no more than 40% of the cross-sectional area of the flowpath at the point in the passageway at which the airflow is divided.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the number of cyclones and flowpaths is greater than five.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the cyclones are equiangularly spaced about a longitudinal axis of the cyclonic separating apparatus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1928702A
Cited
GB671221A
Cited
GB686779A
Cited
US2866518A
Cited
GB1039485A
Cited
US3425192A
Cited
GB1455579A
Cited
EP0018197A1
Cited
US4711720A
Cited
DE3811400A1
Cited
JPH0330A
Cited
EP0836827A1
Cited
US20050102982A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-01-23 | 2009-07-25 | 2010-01-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-01-23 | 2013-07-25 | 2014-01-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-01-23 | 2017-07-25 | 2018-01-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |