US20240337273A1

US20240337273A1 - Vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: US20240337273A1
Application number: US18/746,956
Authority: US
Inventors: Joongkeun CHOI; Jinbaek KIM
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-01-03
Filing date: 2024-06-18
Publication date: 2024-10-10
Also published as: WO2023128231A1; KR20230105100A

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner including an intake portion within a main body, wherein the intake portion includes an impeller to draw in air while rotating about a shaft, and a plurality of diffuser vanes to guide air discharged from the impeller, wherein each of the diffuser vanes includes a single vane body having an airfoil shape in cross section, and a passage to cross through at least a portion of the vane body. The vacuum cleaner is capable of effectively changing the direction of a flow flowing into a diffuser, and reducing losses caused by flow separation.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application, filed under 35 U.S.C. § 111 (a), of International Application PCT/KR2022/017268 filed Nov. 4, 2022, and is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Applications No. 10-2022-0000243, filed on Jan. 3, 2022 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner having an improved structure for improving intake performance.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a vacuum cleaner is a device that draws in air containing dirt on a surface to be cleaned, separates and collects the dirt from the air, and discharges the cleaned air to the outside of a main body.
A vacuum cleaner may include an impeller and a diffuser as components that determine intake performance.
The air drawn into the main body passes sequentially through the impeller and the diffuser along a series of bends in a flow path. Such a process increases the pressure loss of the air, so the impeller and the diffuser are designed to be closely spaced to compensate for the decrease in intake power due to pressure loss. However, the closer the impeller and the diffuser are spaced, the more noise may be generated due to pressure fluctuations. To prevent noise, the size of the impeller and the motor coupled to the impeller may be increased. However, this may also increase the size of the vacuum cleaner, thereby not meeting the recent market trend for compact products.
Because small vacuum cleaners, such as handheld vacuum cleaners, are usually not designed to use powerful intake motors, the reduction in intake efficiency due to pressure loss or flow loss is a significant factor.
In addition, the diffuser that guides the discharged air of the impeller is arranged in a circumferential direction, and a vane is mounted thereon to guide the air, but in order to reduce the diameter a certain length of the vain is required. Accordingly, there is a limit to the diameter reduction.
In addition, the discharge air from the impeller has a sharp change in direction, which may cause losses, resulting in poor performance.
In addition, when the diffuser is arranged in multiple layers to gradually change the flow direction, the direction change performance is improved, but the overall length of the motor may be increased.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vacuum cleaner having an improved structure capable of being miniaturized or compacted.
Further, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vacuum cleaner having an improved structure capable of improving intake performance by reducing flow losses through flow control of a vane.
Further, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vacuum cleaner having an improved structure to effectively change the direction of a flow entering a diffuser and reduce losses caused by flow separation.

Technical Solution

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vacuum cleaner including a main body, and an intake portion in the main body, wherein the intake portion includes a shaft, an impeller configured to draw in air while rotating about the shaft, and a plurality of diffuser vanes configured to guide the air discharged from the impeller, wherein each of the plurality of diffuser vanes includes a single vane body having an airfoil in cross section, and a passage configured to cross through at least a portion of the vane body.
The vane body may include a first surface, a second surface forming a rear surface of the first surface, and wherein the passage is configured to connect the first surface and the second surface by penetrating therebetween.
The passage may include an entry portion formed on the second surface, and an exit portion connected to the entry portion and formed on the first surface.
The passage may be inclined with respect to an axial direction of the impeller.
The entry portion and the exit portion may have different positions in a thickness direction of the diffuser vane.
The entry portion and the exit portion may have different positions in a width direction of the diffuser vane.
An angle of the exit portion may correspond to a tangential direction of the first surface.
A length of the entry portion may be greater than a length of the exit portion.
The passage may further include a curved portion having a curvature at least in part.
Further, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vacuum cleaner including a main body, an intake head configured to draw foreign substances from a surface to be cleaned into the main body, a motor disposed within the main body to generate an intake force, a shaft, an impeller coupled to the shaft of the motor to generate a flow of air, and a diffuser disposed between the motor and the impeller to guide the air discharged from the impeller, wherein the diffuser includes a first casing configured to receive the motor, a second casing disposed to be spaced apart along an outer circumference of the first casing so as to form a diffuser flow path through which air discharged from the impeller moves, a plurality of diffuser vanes disposed between the first casing and the second casing to guide the air discharged from the impeller, wherein each of the plurality of diffuser vanes includes a single vane body having an airfoil shape in cross section, and a passage configured to cross through at least a portion of the vane body.
The vane body may include a first surface, a second surface forming a rear surface of the first surface, and wherein the passage is configured to connect the first surface and the second surface by penetrating therebetween.
The passage may include an entry portion formed on the second surface, and an exit portion connected to the entry portion and formed on the first surface.
The passage may be inclined with respect to an axial direction of the impeller.
The entry portion and the exit portion may have different positions in a thickness direction of the diffuser vane.
The entry portion and the exit portion may have different positions in a width direction of the diffuser vane.
An angle of the exit portion may correspond to a tangential direction of the first surface.
A length of the entry portion may be greater than a length of the exit portion.
Further, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vacuum cleaner including a main body, an intake head configured to draw foreign substances from a surface to be cleaned into the main body, and an intake portion disposed within the main body to generate an intake force, wherein the intake portion includes a motor, a housing to receive the motor, an impeller rotatably coupled to an upper portion of the housing to generate a flow of air, and a diffuser disposed to guide the air discharged from the impeller, wherein the diffuser includes a plurality of diffuser vanes disposed on an outer circumference of the housing, wherein each of the plurality of diffuser vanes includes a single vane body having an airfoil shape in cross section, and a passage configured to cross through at least a portion of the vane body.
The passage may include an entry portion and an exit portion connected to the entry portion.
The entry portion and the exit portion may have different positions in a thickness direction of the diffuser vane.

Advantageous Effects

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the length of the vane may be shortened, thereby reducing the axial length of the motor, resulting in miniaturization or compactness.
Further, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the direction of the flow introduced into the diffuser may be effectively switched, and losses due to flow separation may be reduced.
Further, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, flow losses may be reduced by flow control of the vanes, thereby improving intake performance.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating an intake portion mounted on a main body of the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of the main body of the vacuum cleaner equipped with the intake portion according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along portion A-A′ of FIG. 3 , illustrating a cross-sectional state of the intake portion according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the intake portion according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the intake portion according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating the intake portion according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a diffuser according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the diffuser according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 9 , illustrating a diffuser vane according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the diffuser vane of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a flow state of air flowing into the diffuser according to an embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a view of a passage positioned above the center of the diffuser vane according to an embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a plurality of passages in the diffuser vane according to an embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a vane of the diffuser vane according to an embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view illustrating the passage of the diffuser vane shown in FIG. 15 .

FIG. 17 is a front view illustrating the vanes of the diffuser vane shown in FIG. 15 .

MODES OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described in the disclosure and configurations shown in the drawings are merely examples of the embodiments of the disclosure and may be modified in various different ways at the time of filing of the present application to replace the embodiments and drawings of the disclosure.
In addition, the same reference numerals or signs shown in the drawings of the disclosure indicate elements or components performing substantially the same function.
Also, the terms used herein are used to describe the embodiments and are not intended to limit and/or restrict the disclosure. The singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this disclosure, the terms “including”, “having”, and the like are used to specify features, figures, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more of the features, figures, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.
It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”, “primary”, “secondary”, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, but elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of the disclosure, a first element may be termed as a second element, and a second element may be termed as a first element. The term of “and/or” includes a plurality of combinations of relevant items or any one item among a plurality of relevant items. The expression “at least one of A, B and C” may include any of the following: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, A and B and C.
In addition, as used in the following description, the terms “front end”, “rear end”, “top”, “bottom”, “top” and “bottom” are defined with reference to the drawings and are not intended to limit the shape and position of each component.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing an intake portion mounted on a main body of the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , a vacuum cleaner 1 may include a cleaner main body 10, an extension tube 11 detachably coupled to the cleaner main body 10, and an intake head 16 detachably coupled to the extension tube 11, and a dust collection device 20 (hereinafter referred to as a dust container) detachably coupled to the cleaner main body 10.
The cleaner main body 10 may include an intake portion 100 that generates an intake force (or suction force) necessary to draw in foreign substances on a surface to be cleaned, and a dust container 20 that receives foreign substances drawn in from the surface to be cleaned.
The intake portion 100 may include a motor 400 capable of driving the vacuum cleaner 1. The motor 400 may generate power to produce intake force within the interior of the cleaner main body 10.
A detailed description of the intake portion 100 of the cleaner main body 10 of the cleanser will be described later.
The dust container 20 may be configured to filter and collect dust, dirt, or the like in the air drawing in through the intake head 16. The dust container 20 may be configured to be detachable from the cleaner main body 10.
The cleaner main body 10 may include a filter housing 14. The filter housing 14 is provided in a roughly donut shape to accommodate a filter 15 therein. There is no restriction as to the type of filter, but for example, a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter may be located within the filter housing 14. The filter 15 may filter out ultra-fine dust or the like that is not filtered out of the dust container 20.
The cleaner main body 10 may include a handle 12 for a user to grasp and operate the vacuum cleaner 1. The user may grasp the handle 12 and move the vacuum cleaner 1 in a forward and backward direction to clean.
The cleaner main body 10 may further include an operating portion 13. The user may turn the vacuum cleaner 1 on/off or adjust the intake intensity by manipulating a power button or the like provided on the operating portion 13.
The intake head 16 may be configured to contact the surface to be cleaned. The intake head 16 may be configured to contact the surface to be cleaned and draw in foreign substances, such as dust present on the surface to be cleaned.
The intake head 16 and the cleaner main body 10 may be connected by the extension tube 11. The extension tube 11 may be pivotally connected at one end to the intake head 16 such that the intake head 16 is jointly movable with respect to the extension tube 11.
The extension tube 11 may include an extension tube connection portion 11 a. The extension tube connection portion 11 a may be configured to allow the extension tube 11 to be decoupled from or coupled to the cleaner main body 10. The extension tube 11 may include an extension tube separation button 11 b. The user may separate the extension tube 11 from the cleaner main body 10 by pressing the extension tube separation button 11 b. After the extension tube 11 is separated from the cleaner main body 10, the intake head 16 may be directly connected to the cleaner main body 10.
The extension tube 11 of the cleaner main body 10 of the cleaner may include an intake head connection portion 11 c. The intake head connection portion 11 c may be configured to separate the intake head 16 from the cleaner main body 10 or to couple the intake head 16 to the cleaner main body 10.
The cleaner main body 10 may further include a battery 15. The battery 15 may be detachably attached to the cleaner main body 10.
In addition, although not shown, the battery 15 may be electrically connected to a charging terminal provided on a vacuum cleaner holder or docking station (not shown). The battery 15 may be charged by receiving power from a charging terminal provided on the docking station.
Hereinafter, an operation process of the vacuum cleaner 1 will be described.
The user may turn on/off the power of the intake portion 100 inside the cleaner main body 10 using the power button provided on the operating portion 13.
The intake head 16 of the vacuum cleaner 1 may be brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned and moved using the handle 12 to draw in external air and dust.
When the vacuum cleaner 1 is operated, external air may be drawn into the dust container 20 via the intake head 16 and a cyclone (not shown). External air containing inflowing dust may be rotated and enter a centrifugal separation chamber (not shown), and the dust contained in the air may be separated from the air by centrifugal force and stored in the dust container 20. In addition, the air from which the dust is separated may move upward without changing the direction of travelling and pass through the filter 15 mounted on an upper portion thereof.
At this time, the fine dust remaining in the air may be removed by the filter 15 and may be discharged to an outlet portion 14 a of the vacuum cleaner 1 through the intake portion 100.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a portion of the cleaner main body equipped with the intake portion according to an embodiment, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along portion A-A′ of FIG. 3 , showing a cross-sectional state of the intake portion according to an embodiment, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the intake portion according to an embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the intake portion according to an embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 , the intake portion 100 of the vacuum cleaner 1 may be provided inside the cleaner main body 10 to generate an intake force.
The intake portion 100 may include an intake housing 110 that forms the exterior thereof.
The intake portion 100 may include the motor 400. The motor 400 may include a stator 410 and a rotor assembly 420. The intake portion 100 may further include a circuit board 190 that controls the motor 400. The intake portion 100 may include housings 300 and 500 provided to accommodate the motor 400. The housings 300 and 500 may include an upper housing 300 and a lower housing 500.
The intake portion 100 may include an impeller 200 coupled to the motor 400 to generate a flow of air.
The intake housing 110 may be provided to cover the impeller 200. The intake housing 110 may further include a guide member (not shown) for guiding the air drawn in by the impeller 200. The intake housing 110 may be provided to be coupled to the upper housing 300.
The intake housing 110 may be disposed upwardly along an axial direction X of the impeller 200. The intake housing 110 may be formed in a cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.
The intake housing 110 may be provided with an air inlet 111 to allow air to enter the interior of the intake portion 100. The intake housing 110 may include a shroud 111 a. The shroud 111 a may be configured to correspond to the impeller 200. The shroud 111 a may be configured to guide air entering the intake housing 110. In particular, the shroud 111 a is configured to guide air entering through the air inlet 111 into the interior of the intake housing 110.
The motor 400 may include the impeller 200 coupled to a shaft 421 to generate a flow of air.
The impeller 200 may include a shaft coupling portion 210 to which the shaft 421 is coupled. When the shaft 421 is coupled to the shaft coupling portion 210, the impeller 200 may rotate together with the shaft 421.
The impeller 200 may include a hub 230 and a plurality of blades 220 protruding from the hub 230 to form a flow of air.
The hub 230 may be arranged such that its cross-sectional area decreases along the axial direction of the shaft 421. Accordingly, as the impeller 200 rotates, air entering in the axial direction X may be discharged in a radial direction of the shaft 421.
The plurality of blades 220 may be disposed on the hub 230 and rotate together with the hub 230 to form an airflow. The plurality of blades 220 may be disposed on an outer surface of the hub 230.
A bearing (not shown) may be disposed on an inner side of the hub 230, and the plurality of blades 220 may be disposed on an outer side of the hub 230 to form the airflow.
The housings 300 and 500 may be configured to accommodate the stator 410 and the rotor assembly 420. The housings 300 and 500 may be formed by injection molding. The housings 300 and 500 formed from injection molded materials may have a relatively light weight compared to housings formed from a metallic material. Of the housings 300 and 500, the upper housing 300 arranged at the top may be referred to as a first housing. The lower housing 500 arranged at the bottom may be referred to as a second housing.
The upper housing 300 and the lower housing 500 may be coupled to each other in a state in which the rotor 422 and the stator 410 are interposed therebetween. When the upper housing 300 and the lower housing 500 are coupled, the rotor 422 may be coupled to the stator 410 at a distance from each other.
The upper housing 300 may be provided in a substantially cylindrical shape. The upper housing 300 may include an outer circumferential surface 320 arranged to be coupled to the intake housing 110, an upper surface 310 arranged to cover upper surfaces of the stator 410 and the rotor 422, and an inner circumferential surface 311 extending from the upper surface 310 and forming a flow path 340 between the outer circumferential surface 320 and the inner circumferential surface 311.
The upper housing 300 may further include a first coupling portion 322 extending in the axial direction and coupled to the lower housing 500. The first coupling portion 322 may be arranged to protrude downwardly in the axial direction from the outer circumferential surface 320. The first coupling portion 322 may be spaced apart along a circumferential direction of the upper housing 300, and may be provided in a plurality. For example, three first coupling portions are shown spaced apart as an example, but the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
The upper housing 300 may include a seating portion 312 on which an upper frame 430 is seated. The shaft 421 of the motor 400 may pass through the seating portion 312 of the upper housing 300.
The upper housing 300 may include the flow path 340 through which air discharged from the impeller 200 flows, and a diffuser vane 330 that guides the air flowing through the flow path 340.
The upper housing 300 may be a diffuser 600 provided with the diffuser vane 330.
The diffuser vane 330 may be formed integrally with the upper housing 300. The diffuser vane 330 may be formed by being injected together with the upper housing 300. The diffuser vane 330 will be described in more detail later.
The lower housing 500 may include a motor seating portion 312 on which the motor 400 is seated. The motor seating portion 312 may be coupled to a lower frame 440. The lower housing 500 may include a second coupling portion 520 that is coupled to the first coupling portion 322 of the upper housing 300. The second coupling portion 520 may be provided to correspond to the number of first coupling portions 322. The first coupling portion 322 and the second coupling portion 520 may couple the upper housing 300 and the lower housing 500 via a fastening member 540. The lower housing 500 may be provided with a coupling hole 530 through which the fastening member 540 may pass. The fastening member 540 may pass through the coupling hole 530 of the lower housing 500 to couple the upper housing 300 and the lower housing 500.
The motor 400 may be coupled to the upper housing 300 and the lower housing 500 by the upper frame 430 and the lower frame 440, respectively.
The upper frame 430 and the lower frame 440 may include a first contact rib 431 and a second contact rib 441, respectively. For example, the first contact rib 431 may extend to a lower side of the upper frame 430 and be arranged to contact an outer circumferential surface of a stator core 413. The second contact rib 441 may extend to an upper side of the lower frame 440 and be arranged to contact the outer circumferential surface of the stator core 413. The first contact rib 4 and the second contact rib 441 may be arranged to be connected to each other.
The stator 410 of the motor 400 may include the stator core 413, a stator coil 412, an insulator 411, and a rotor receiving portion 414. The stator 410 may be configured to generate a magnetic flux when current is applied to the stator coil 412.
The rotor receiving portion 414 for receiving the rotor 422 may be disposed in a central portion of the stator core 413. The rotor 422 may be disposed in the rotor receiving portion 414. The rotor 422 may electromagnetically interact with the stator 410.
The rotor 422 may be provided with a permanent magnet having magnetic properties, or may include a coil having electromagnetic properties. Accordingly, the rotor 422 may be configured to be rotatable by electromagnetically interacting with the stator 410.
The stator coil 412 may be wound on the stator core 413 while the insulator 411 is coupled to the stator core 413.
The insulator 411 may be made of a material having electrical insulating properties. The insulator 411 may wrap around the stator core 413 to insulate the stator core 413 and the stator coil 412.
The motor 400 may be arranged to allow the insulator 411 to be inserted into and secured to the circuit board 190.
The rotor assembly 420 may include the shaft 421. The shaft 421 may be arranged to rotate as the rotor 422 electromagnetically interacts with the stator 410.
The motor 400 may further include the circuit board 190 configured to control a speed. The circuit board 190 may be disposed on a lower portion of the motor 400, but is not limited thereto.
FIG. 7 is a front view showing the intake portion according to an embodiment, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the diffuser according to an embodiment, FIG. 9 is a partial cross-section view of the diffuser according to an embodiment, FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 9 and showing the diffuser vane according to an embodiment, FIG. 11 is a front view of the diffuser vane of FIG. 9 , and FIG. 12 is a view showing a flow state of air entering the diffuser according to an embodiment. Hereinafter, reference numerals not shown may refer to FIGS. 1 to 6 .
As shown in FIGS. 7 to 12 , the flow paths 340 of the intake portion 100 may be used interchangeably with the diffuser flow paths 340. In addition, the upper housing 300 may be used interchangeably with the diffuser 600.
The diffuser 600 may include casings 611 and 620. The casings 611 and 620 may include a first casing 611 and a second casing 620. The second casing 620 may be located outside the first casing 611 in the radial direction. The second casing 620 may be arranged to be spaced apart from an outer circumference of the first casing 611. The diffuser flow paths 340 may be formed between the first casing 611 and the second casing 620.
The first casing 611 may include an upper surface 610 having a disc shape and an inner surface extending from the upper surface 610. The first casing 611 may include the seating portion 312. The seating portion 312 of the first casing 611 may be formed at the center of the upper surface 610. The seating portion 312 may have a hole shape. The impeller 200 may be connected to the shaft 421 of the motor 400 through the seating portion 312 of the first casing 611.
The second casing 620 may be formed in a cylindrical shape. The second casing 620 may be formed to be spaced outwardly from an inner surface of the first casing 611. The second casing 620 may be arranged to be spaced apart from the inner surface along the outer circumference. The second casing 620 may include an outer surface disposed to be spaced apart from the inner surface.
The diffuser 600 may further include the diffuser flow path 640. The diffuser flow path 640 may be disposed within the casings 611 and 620 to allow the air discharged from the impeller 200 to move. The diffuser flow path 640 may be disposed between the first casing 611 and the second casing 620. The diffuser flow path 640 may be disposed between the inner surface of the first casing 611 and the outer surface of the second casing 620.
The diffuser flow path 640 may include an inlet 640 a positioned on an upstream side of a direction M in which the air discharged from the impeller 200 moves, and an outlet 640 b positioned on a downstream side of the direction M in which the air discharged from the impeller 200 moves.
The diffuser 600 may include a plurality of diffuser vanes 630. The plurality of diffuser vanes 630 may be positioned in the diffuser flow path 640 to guide the air discharged from the impeller 200. The diffuser vanes 630 may be disposed between the first casing 611 and the second casing 620. The diffuser vanes 630 may connect between the first casing 611 and the second casing 620. The diffuser vanes 630 may be disposed between the inner and outer surfaces of the casings 611 and 620. The diffuser vanes 630 may be formed integrally with the casings 611 and 620. The diffuser vane 630 may be formed integrally with at least one of the first casing 611 and the second casing 620. The diffuser vane 630 may be formed integrally with at least one of the first casing 611 and the second casing 620 so as to connect the first casing 611 and the second casing 620. There may be the plurality of diffuser vanes 630. Each of the diffuser vanes 630 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the diffuser flow path 640. The diffuser vanes 630 may be arranged to be spaced apart at regular intervals. The diffuser vanes 630 may be arranged to be inclined along a direction of rotation R of the impeller 200.
The diffuser vanes 630 may be provided such that the axial cross section of the impeller 200 has an airfoil shape. Each of the diffuser vanes 630 may be arranged to be inclined with respect to the axial direction of the impeller 200.
The rotational flow of air generated by the rotation of the impeller 200 may be converted into an axial flow along the diffuser vanes 630.
The diffuser vanes 630 may include a vane body 630 a. The diffuser vanes 630 may be formed from a single vane body 630 a. The vane body 630 a may include a first surface 631 arranged on one side to form an airfoil shape in cross-section, and a second surface 632 connected to the first surface 631. The air discharged from the impeller 200 may move along the first surface 631 and the second surface 632 of the vane body 630 a.
The air moving along the diffuser vanes 630 may transition from a rotational flow to an axial flow.
Air flow may be separated from a flow surface along which it flows, which may increase flow resistance and increase losses. In particular, air moving along the diffuser vanes 630 may experience flow separation in a pressure surface of the vane body. In other words, air moving along the vane body may be separated in an area of high pressure, resulting in losses.
Each of the diffuser vanes 630 may include a passage 700. The diffuser vane 630 may include the passage 700 formed to prevent flow separation. The diffuser vane 630 may include the passage 700 formed by at least a portion of the diffuser vane being partially cut.
The passage 700 may be formed in the vane body 630 a to prevent flow separation of the diffuser vane 630. The diffuser vane 630 may each include the passage 700 formed to cross through at least a portion of one vane body 630 a. The passage 700 may be formed by cutting the vane body 630 a forming the diffuser vane 630 in the thickness t direction. The passage 700 of the diffuser vane 330 may be formed to penetrate the diffuser vane 330 in the thickness t direction. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the passage is shown as an example positioned at the center of the vane body of the diffuser vane, but the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the passage may be located on an upper side or lower side from the center of the diffuser vane.
In addition, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, a single passage formed at the center of the vane body of the diffuser vane is shown as an example, but the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, at least one passage may be formed in the vane body.
The passage 700 of the diffuser vane 630 may include an entry portion 710 and an exit portion 720 formed to correspond to the entry portion 710. The entry portion 710 and the exit portion 720 of the passage 700 may be connected. The entry portion 710 and the exit portion 720 of the passage 700 may be connected in the direction of the thickness t of the diffuser vane 630.
The entry portion 710 of the passage 700 may be located on the second surface 632 of the vane body 630 a. The exit portion 720 of the passage 700 may be located on the first surface 631 of the vane body 630 a. The entry portion 710 and the exit portion 720 of the passage 700 may be connected to each other and may be arranged to cross through at least a portion of the vane body 632 a.
The entry portion 710 and the exit portion 720 of the passage 700 may be formed at different positions in the thickness t direction of the diffuser vane 630. The entry portion 710 and the exit portion 720 of the passage 700 may be formed to be inclined in the axial direction. The entry portion 710 and the exit portion 720 of the passage 700 may further include a curved portion 730 including a curvature at least in part. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the curved portion 730 is shown as being formed at the exit portion 720, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the curved portion may also be formed at the entry portion.
The entry portion 710 forming the passage 700 may be formed to have a first length d1 on the second surface 632 of the vane body 630 a. The exit portion 720 forming the passage 700 may be formed to have a second length d2 on the first surface 631 of the vane body 630 a. The entry portion 710 and the exit portion 720 of the passage 700 may have different lengths. The first length d1 of the entry portion 710 of the passage 700 may be larger than the second length d2 of the exit portion 720. In an embodiment, it is shown as an example that the first length forming the entry portion of the passage and the second length forming the exit portion of the passage are different from each other, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the first length of the entry portion and the second length of the exit portion forming the passage may be the same length. In addition, the first length d1 of the entry portion 710 of the passage 700 may be formed smaller than the second length d2 of the exit portion 720.
The exit portion 720 forming the passage 700 may be formed to have the second length d2 on the first surface 631 of the vane body 630 a. The exit portion 720 of the passage 700 may be formed at a first angle θ1, and the first angle θ1 of the exit portion 720 may correspond to a tangential direction of the first surface 631 of the vane body 630 a.
The entry portion 710 of the passage 700 may be formed at a second angle θ2, and the second angle θ2 of the entry portion 710 may correspond to the tangential direction of the second surface 632 of the vane body 630 a. The first angle θ1 of the exit portion 720 and the second angle θ2 of the entry portion 710 of the passage 700 may be formed differently.
The entry portion 710 forming the passage 700 may include a first inner point 711 located inwardly in the width w direction of the vane body 630 a, i.e., on the first casing 611 side.
In addition, the entry portion 710 may include a first outer point 712 located outwardly in the width w direction of the vane body 630 a, i.e., on the second casing 620 side. The first inner point 711 and the first outer point 712 may be positioned at the same height. The first inner point 711 and the first outer point 712 of the entrance portion 710 may be formed horizontally.
The exit portion 720 forming the passage 700 may include a second inner point 721 located inwardly in the width w direction of the vane body 630 a, i.e., on the first casing 611 side.
In addition, the exit portion 720 may include a second outer point 722 located outwardly in the width w direction of the vane body 630 a, i.e., on the second casing 620 side. The second inner point 721 and the second outer point 722 may be located at the same height. The second inner point 721 and the second outer point 722 may be formed horizontally.
The air discharged from the impeller 200 may be diverted in the axial direction along the vane body 630 a of the diffuser vane 630. The air moving axially along the vane body 630 a may move axially along the first and second surfaces 631 and 632 of the vane body 630 a. A portion of the air moving axially along the vane body 630 a may be guided into the passage 700 of the vane body 630 a. A portion of the air moving axially along the vane body 630 a may be guided into the passage 700 formed in the vane body 630 a. The air discharged from the impeller 200 may move along the vane body 630 a of the diffuser vane 630. In addition, a portion of the air moving axially along the vane body 630 a may flow in through the entry portion 710 of the passage 700 and move through the exit portion 720.
The flow of air guided to the passage 700 of the diffuser vane 330 may improve the efficiency of the redirection of the overall flow to convert the rotational flow generated by the rotation of the impeller 200 into the axial flow.
FIG. 13 is a view showing the passage positioned above the center of the diffuser vane according to an embodiment, and FIG. 14 is a view showing a plurality of passages provided in the diffuser vane according to an embodiment. In the following, duplicate descriptions of the above will be omitted.
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 , a passage 700A formed in the diffuser vane 630 of the diffuser 600 may be positioned upwardly spaced from the center C of the diffuser vane 630.
The location of the passage 700A of the diffuser vane 630 may be formed at a location where separation of the diffuser vane 630 occurs.
The passage 700A of the diffuser vane 630 may be positioned upwardly spaced from the center C of one vane body 630 a. The passage 700A of the diffuser vane 630 may be positioned at a position spaced upwardly from the center C of the vane body 630 a. In an embodiment, the passage is shown as being spaced upwardly from the center of the vane body, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the passage may be formed at a location where separation of the diffuser vane occurs. For example, the passage may be positioned spaced downwardly from the center of the vane body.
In addition, the passages 700A and 700B formed in the diffuser vane 630 of the diffuser 600 may include a first passage 700A formed to be spaced upwardly from the center C of the diffuser vane 630 and/or the second passage 700B formed to be spaced downwardly from the center C of the diffuser vane 630.
The passages 700A and 700B of the diffuser vane 630 may be formed at locations where stripping occurs. The first passage 700A of the diffuser vane 630 may be positioned spaced upwardly from the center C of one vane body 630 a, or the second passage 700B may be positioned spaced downwardly from the center C of one vane body 630 a.
In the embodiment, it is shown that two passages are formed by being spaced upwardly and downwardly from the center of the vane body, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the plurality of passages may be formed at different locations where separation of the diffuser vane occurs.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a vane of the diffuser vane according to an embodiment, FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing the passage of the diffuser vane shown in FIG. 15 , and FIG. 17 is a front view of the vane of the diffuser vane shown in FIG. 15 . In the following, duplicate descriptions of the above will be omitted.
As shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 , a passage 700C formed in the diffuser vane 630 may vary depending on the location of the separation.
The passage 700C may include an entry portion 710C and an exit portion 720C. The entrance portion 710C and the exit portion 720C of the passage 700C may be positioned differently in the width w direction of the diffuser vane 630.
In particular, the diffuser 600 may further include the shroud 111 a that guides the air discharged from the impeller 200, and the passage 700C of the diffuser vane 600 may be positioned such that the position of the shroud 111 a side is above the position of the hub 230 side. In other words, the passage 700C may be positioned differently on the inner side and the outer side in the width direction w. For example, the passage 700C may be positioned such that the position of the inner side is above the position of the outer side in the width direction w of the vane body 630.
The entry portion 710C forming the passage 700C may include a first inner point 711C positioned inwardly in the width w direction of the vane body 630 a, i.e., on the first casing 611 side.
In addition, the entry portion 710C may include a first outer point 712C positioned outwardly in the width w direction of the vane body 630 a, i.e., on the second casing 620 side. The first inner point 711C and the first outer point 712C may be formed at different heights.
The first inner point 711C may be formed at a first position P1. The first outer point 712C may be formed at a second position P2. The first position P1 and the second position P2 may have different heights. The first position P1 may be positioned higher than the second position P2.
The exit portion 720C forming the passage 700C may include a second inner point 721C located inwardly in the width w direction of the vane body 630 a, i.e., on the first casing 611 side.
In addition, the exit portion 720C may include a second outer point 722C located outwardly in the width w direction of the vane body 630 a, i.e., on the second casing 620 side. The second inner point 721C may be formed at the first position P1. The second outer point 722C may be formed at the second position P2. The first position P1 and the second position P2 may have different heights. The first position P1 may be positioned higher than the second position P2.
As such, the passage 700C may be formed at a location where flow separation of the diffuser vane 630 occurs, thereby preventing loss of flow and effectively re directing the flow.
While the present disclosure has been particularly described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood by those of skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising;

a main body; and

an intake portion in the main body, the intake portion comprising:

a shaft;

an impeller configured to draw in air while rotating about the shaft, and

a plurality of diffuser vanes configured to guide the air discharged from the impeller,

wherein each of the plurality of diffuser vanes includes:

a single vane body having an airfoil shape in cross section; and

a passage configured to cross through at least a portion of the vane body.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the vane body comprises:

a first surface;

a second surface forming a rear surface of the first surface, and

wherein the passage is configured to connect the first surface and the second surface by penetrating therebetween.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the passage includes:

an entry portion formed on the second surface; and

an exit portion connected to the entry portion and formed on the first surface.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the passage is configured to be inclined with respect to an axial direction of the impeller.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the entry portion and the exit portion have different positions in a thickness direction of the diffuser vane.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the entry portion and the exit portion have different positions in a width direction of the diffuser vane.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein an angle of the exit portion corresponds to a tangential direction of the first surface.

8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein a length of the entry portion is greater than a length of the exit portion.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the passage further includes a curved portion having a curvature at least in part.