Cyclonic separator assembly for a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A cyclonic separator assembly for use with a vacuum cleaner includes a body having an inlet, an outlet, and an inner surface. The cyclonic separator assembly also includes a cyclone unit positioned within the body between the inlet and the outlet. The cyclone unit has an outer perimeter that is spaced apart from the inner surface of the body to define an inlet space therebetween. The cyclone unit includes a plurality of first cyclones in communication with the inlet space and arranged along an outer circle adjacent the outer perimeter. The cyclone unit also includes a plurality of second cyclones in communication with the inlet space and arranged along an inner circle that is spaced apart from the outer circle such that each second cyclone is nested between two adjacent first cyclones. The plurality of first cyclones and the plurality of second cyclones are arranged in parallel.

1 . A cyclonic separator assembly for use with a vacuum cleaner, the cyclonic separator assembly comprising:
 a body having an inlet, an outlet, and a central longitudinal axis; and   a cyclone unit positioned within the body between the inlet and the outlet, the cyclone unit having an outer perimeter that defines a total cross-sectional area of the cyclone unit measured perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis, the cyclone unit including
 a plurality of first cyclones arranged along an outer circle adjacent the outer perimeter, each first cyclone having an air outlet, a particle outlet, a first longitudinal axis extending between the air outlet and the particle outlet, and a first cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis, and 
 a plurality of second cyclones arranged along an inner circle that is spaced apart from the outer circle, each second cyclone having an air outlet, a particle outlet, a second longitudinal axis extending between the air outlet and the particle outlet, and a second cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the second longitudinal axis; 
   wherein the plurality of first cyclones and the plurality of second cyclones are arranged in parallel, and wherein a ratio of the sum of the first and second cross-sectional areas to the total cross-sectional area is between about 0.4 and about 0.6.   
     
     
         2 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio is about 0.5. 
     
     
         3 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each first cyclone has a first maximum diameter and each second cyclone has a second maximum diameter, and wherein the first maximum diameter is generally equal to the second maximum diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first maximum diameter and the second maximum diameter are about 1.2 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes an inner surface, wherein the outer perimeter of the cyclone unit is spaced apart from the inner surface to define and inlet space therebetween, and wherein the plurality of first cyclones and the plurality of second cyclones are in communication with the inlet space. 
     
     
         6 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the inlet space has a cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis, and wherein a ratio of the sum of the first and second cross-sectional areas to the cross-sectional area of the inlet space is between about 1.3 and about 1.5. 
     
     
         7 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first cyclones and the plurality of second cyclones alternate around the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each second cyclone is nested between two adjacent first cyclones. 
     
     
         9 . A cyclonic separator assembly for use with a vacuum cleaner, the cyclonic separator assembly comprising:
 a body having an inlet, an outlet, and an inner surface; and   a cyclone unit positioned within the body between the inlet and the outlet, the cyclone unit having an outer perimeter that is spaced apart from the inner surface of the body to define an inlet space therebetween, the cyclone unit including
 a plurality of first cyclones arranged along an outer circle adjacent the outer perimeter, 
 a plurality of first inlet paths extending from the inlet space to the plurality of first cyclones, each first inlet path having a first length, 
 a plurality of second cyclones arranged along an inner circle that is spaced apart from the outer circle, and 
 a plurality of second inlet paths extending from the inlet space to the plurality of second cyclones, each second inlet path having a second length; 
   wherein a ratio of the second length to the first length is less than 2.   
     
     
         10 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the ratio of the second length to the first length is about 1.8. 
     
     
         11 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the body defines a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the plurality of first inlet paths and the plurality of second inlet paths alternate around the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each second inlet path extends from the inlet space to one of the plurality of second cyclones between two adjacent primary cyclones. 
     
     
         13 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each second cyclone is nested between two adjacent first cyclones. 
     
     
         14 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the number of inlet paths in the plurality of first inlet paths is substantially equal to the number of inlet paths in the plurality of second inlet paths. 
     
     
         15 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the number of cyclones in the plurality of first cyclones is substantially equal to the number of cyclones in the plurality of second cyclones. 
     
     
         16 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the number of inlet paths in the plurality of first inlet paths is substantially equal to the number of cyclones in the plurality of first cyclones. 
     
     
         17 . The cyclonic separator assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each first cyclone has a first maximum diameter and each second cyclone has a second maximum diameter, and wherein the first maximum diameter is generally equal to the second maximum diameter.