Apparatus and method separating particles from a cyclonic fluid flow including an apertured particle separation member within a cyclonic flow region

A separator for separating entrained particles from a fluid flow, the separator comprising:

• (a) a cyclone chamber for containing a cyclonic flow in a cyclonic flow region;
• (b) fluid entry means for introducing a fluid flow to the cyclone flow region for cyclonic rotation therein;
• (c) fluid exit means for removing the fluid flow from the cyclone chamber;
• (d) fluid pump means for causing fluid flow through the cyclone chamber;
• (e) particle receiving means disposed beneath the cyclone flow region for receiving particles separated from the fluid flow;
• (f) separation means for dividing the particle receiving means from the cyclone chamber;
• (g) transporting means associated with the separation means for connecting the particle receiving means in flow communication with the cyclonic flow region such that, in operation, a boundary layer flow of fluid develops over the separation means and the particles disentrained from the fluid flow pass through the transporting means to the particle receiving means;
• and,
• (h) means for pulsing the fluid flow through the cyclone chamber.

A method for separating entrained particles from a fluid flow, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing a fluid to flow cyclonically in a chamber having a cyclonic flow region and a particle separation member positioned in the cyclone chamber to define a particle receiving chamber;
• (b) adjusting the back pressure in the chamber to promote the formation of a laminar boundary layer adjacent the particle separation member;
• (c) removing particles from the fluid flow in the cyclone chamber via passages provided in the particle separation member;
• and,
• (d) removing the fluid flow from the chamber.

A vacuum cleaner comprising:

• (a) a cyclone chamber having an outer wall and a cyclonic flow region;
• (b) a air inlet for introducing a cyclonic air flow to the cyclonic flow region;
• (c) a cleaner head adapted for movement over a surface and having a air nozzle positionable adjacent the surface, the nozzle in air flow communication via a passageway with the air inlet;
• (d) a air outlet for removing the air flow from the cyclone chamber;
• (e) a particle separation member positioned in the cyclone chamber beneath at least a portion of the cyclonic flow region, the particle separation member having an upper surface and plurality of apertures;
• (f) a particle receiving chamber disposed beneath the particle separation member for receiving particles passing into the particle receiving chamber through the apertures;
• and,
• (g) a motor for causing the air to flow through the vacuum cleaner wherein the motor receives an electrical signal and the electrical signal is pulsed whereby the air flow through the cyclone chamber is pulsed.

A vacuum cleaner comprising:

• a) a cyclone chamber having an outer wall and a cyclonic flow region;
• b) an air inlet for introducing a cyclonic air flow to the cyclonic flow region;
• c) a cleaner head adapted for movement over a surface and having a air nozzle positionable adjacent the surface, the nozzle in air flow communication via a passageway with the air inlet;
• d) an air outlet for removing the air flow from the cyclone chamber;
• e) a particle separation member positioned in the cyclone chamber beneath at least a portion of the cyclonic flow region, the particle separation member having an upper surface and plurality of apertures
• f) wherein the number of apertures in the particle separation member is calculated by the formula:
• number ⁢ ⁢ of ⁢ ⁢ apertures = H D × 4 ± 20 ⁢ %
• where H=the vertical height of the cyclonic flow region
• D=the diameter of the cyclone chamber;
• g) a particle receiving chamber disposed beneath the particle separation member;
• and
• h) a motor.

A vacuum cleaner comprising:

• a) a cyclone chamber having an outer wall and a cyclonic flow region;
• b) an air inlet for introducing a cyclonic air flow to the cyclonic flow region;
• c) a cleaner head adapted for movement over a surface and having a air nozzle positionable adjacent the surface, the nozzle in air flow communication via a passageway with the air inlet;
• d) an air outlet for removing the air flow from the cyclone chamber;
• e) a particle separation member positioned in the cyclone chamber beneath at least a portion of the cyclonic flow region, the particle separation member having an upper surface and plurality of apertures, wherein the cyclone chamber has a diameter and each aperture has a longitudinally extending upstream edge and a longitudinally extending downstream edge, relative to the air flow, and transverse sides extending between the edges, the edges have a length which is less than 10% of the diameter of the cyclone chamber and the sides have a length which is 25-35% of the length of the edges;
• f) a particle receiving chamber disposed beneath the particle separation member;
• and,
• g) a motor.

A vacuum cleaner comprising:

• a) a cyclone chamber having an outer wall and a cyclonic flow region;
• b) an air inlet for introducing a cyclonic air flow to the cyclonic flow region;
• c) a cleaner head adapted for movement over a surface and having a air nozzle positionable adjacent the surface, the nozzle in air flow communication via a passageway with the air inlet;
• d) an air outlet for removing the air flow from the cyclone chamber;
• e) a particle separation member positioned in the cyclone chamber beneath at least a portion of the cyclonic flow region, the particle separation member having an upper surface and plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture has an upstream edge and a downstream edge, relative to the air flow, and the upstream edge is angled towards the particle receiving chamber, the included angle between the upstream edge and the upper surface of the particle separation member is from 15 to 90°;
• f) a particle receiving chamber disposed beneath the particle separation member;
• and
• g) a motor.

A vacuum cleaner comprising:

• a) a cyclone chamber having an outer wall and a cyclonic flow region;
• b) an air inlet for introducing a cyclonic air flow to the cyclonic flow region;
• c) a cleaner head adapted for movement over a surface and having a air nozzle positionable adjacent the surface:
• the nozzle in air flow communication via a passageway with the air inlet;
• d) an air outlet for removing the air flow from the cyclone chamber;
• e) a particle separation member positioned in the cyclone chamber beneath at least a portion of the cyclonic flow region, the particle separation member having an upper surface and plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture has an upstream edge and a downstream edge, relative to the air flow, and the upstream edge is angled towards the particle receiving chamber, the included angle between the downstream edge and the upper surface of the particle separation member is from 15 to 90°;
• f) a particle receiving chamber disposed beneath the particle separation member;
• and
• g) a motor.

A vacuum cleaner comprising:

• a) a cyclone chamber having an outer wall and a cyclonic flow region;
• b) an air inlet for introducing a cyclonic air flow to the cyclonic flow region;
• c) a cleaner head adapted for movement over a surface and having a air nozzle positionable adjacent the surface, the nozzle in air flow communication via a passageway with the air inlet;
• d) an air outlet for removing the air flow from the cyclone chamber;
• e) a particle separation member positioned in the cyclone chamber beneath at least a portion of the cyclonic flow region, the particle separation member having an upper surface and plurality of apertures;
• f) a particle receiving chamber disposed beneath the particle separation member;
• and
• g) a motor, wherein the air flow changes direction and travels to the air outlet at a position as it travels over the particle separation member and the vacuum cleaner further comprising a baffle positioned beneath the particle separation member at a position 10 to 20° downstream of the position at which the air flow changes direction.

A separator for separating entrained particles from a fluid flow, the separator comprising:

• (a) a cyclone chamber having an outer wall and a cyclonic flow region;
• (b) a fluid inlet for introducing a cyclonic fluid flow to the cyclonic flow region;
• (c) a fluid outlet for removing the fluid flow from the cyclone chamber;
• (d) a particle separation member positioned in the cyclone chamber beneath at least a portion of the cyclonic flow region, the particle separation member having an upper surface and plurality of apertures;
• and,
• (e) a particle receiving chamber disposed beneath the particle separation member for receiving particles passing into the particle receiving chamber through the apertures, the cyclone chamber has a diameter and each aperture has a longitudinally extending upstream edge and a longitudinally extending downstream edges, relative to the fluid flow, and transverse sides extending between the edges, the edges have a length which is less than 10% of the diameter of the cyclone chamber and the sides have a length which is 25-35% of the length of the edges.

A separator for separating entrained particles from a fluid flow, the separator comprising:

• (a) a cyclone chamber having an outer wall and a cyclonic flow region;
• (b) a fluid inlet for introducing a cyclonic fluid flow to the cyclonic flow region;
• (c) a fluid outlet for removing the fluid flow from the cyclone chamber;
• (d) a particle separation member positioned in the cyclone chamber beneath at least a portion of the cyclonic flow region, the particle separation member having an upper surface and plurality of apertures;
• and,
• (e) a particle receiving chamber disposed beneath the particle separation member for receiving particles passing into the particle receiving chamber through the apertures, each aperture has an upstream edge and a downstream edge, relative to the fluid flow, and the upstream edge is angled towards the particle receiving chamber, the included angle between the upstream edge and the upper surface of the particle separation member is from 15 to 90°.

A separator for separating entrained particles from a fluid flow, the separator comprising:

• (a) a cyclone chamber having an outer wall and a cyclonic flow region;
• (b) a fluid inlet for introducing a cyclonic fluid flow to the cyclonic flow region;
• (c) a fluid outlet for removing the fluid flow from the cyclone chamber;
• (d) a particle separation member positioned in the cyclone chamber beneath at least a portion of the cyclonic flow region, the particle separation member having an upper surface and plurality of apertures;
• and,
• (e) a particle receiving chamber disposed beneath the particle separation member for receiving particles passing into the particle receiving chamber through the apertures, each aperture has an upstream edge and a downstream edge, relative to the fluid flow, and the downstream edge is angled towards the particle receiving chamber, the included angle between the downstream edge and the upper surface of the particle separation member is from 15 to 90°.

A separator for separating entrained particles from a fluid flow, the separator comprising:

• (a) a cyclone chamber having an outer wall and a cyclonic flow region;
• (b) a fluid inlet for introducing a cyclonic fluid flow to the cyclonic flow region;
• (c) a fluid outlet for removing the fluid flow from the cyclone chamber;
• (d) a particle separation member positioned in the cyclone chamber beneath at least a portion of the cyclonic flow region, the particle separation member having an upper surface and plurality of apertures;
• (e) a particle receiving chamber disposed beneath the particle separation member for receiving particles passing into the particle receiving chamber through the apertures;
• and,
• (f) a baffle positioned beneath the particle separation member, the fluid flow changes direction and travels to the fluid outlet at a position as it travels over the particle separation member and the baffle is positioned at a position 10 to 20° downstream of the position at which the fluid flow changes direction.