Dust separation system
First Claim
1. An upright vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a nozzle adapted to be traversed on a surface to be cleaned, the nozzle having an internal passage defined by a nozzle inlet positioned to be substantially adjacent the surface to be cleaned and a nozzle outlet remote from the nozzle inlet;
a handle pivotally attached to the nozzle;
a suction motor, mounted in the nozzle or the handle, and having a suction motor inlet, the suction motor being adapted to generate a working air flow through the nozzle and into the suction motor inlet;
a separation system comprising;
an outer wall;
a closed tube having at least a portion of its length located within the outer wall and forming a separation chamber between the outer wall and the closed tube;
a separation chamber inlet in fluid communication with the nozzle outlet and adapted to impart a tangential component to the working air flow as it flows through the separation chamber;
a hollow tube, generally coaxially aligned with the closed tube, having a tube inlet at an end adjacent the closed tube and a tube outlet at an end opposite the closed tube, the tube outlet being in fluid communication with the suction motor inlet; and
a collection chamber for receiving dirt separated from the working air flow.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An upright vacuum cleaner having a nozzle adapted to be traversed on a surface to be cleaned, and having an internal passage defined by a nozzle inlet positioned to be substantially adjacent the surface to be cleaned and a nozzle outlet remote from the nozzle inlet. A handle is pivotally attached to the nozzle, and a suction motor is provided in the nozzle or the handle. The suction motor has a suction motor inlet, and is adapted to generate a working air flow through the nozzle and into the suction motor inlet. The vacuum includes a separation system having an outer wall, a closed tube having at least a portion of its length located within the outer wall and forming a separation chamber between the outer wall and the closed tube, a separation chamber inlet in fluid communication with the nozzle outlet and adapted to impart a tangential component to the working air flow as it flows through the separation chamber, and a hollow tube that is generally coaxially aligned with the closed tube and has a tube inlet at an end adjacent the closed tube and a tube outlet at an end opposite the closed tube. The tube outlet is in fluid communication with the suction motor inlet. The device also includes a collection chamber for receiving dirt separated from the working air flow.
96 Citations
46 Claims
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1. An upright vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a nozzle adapted to be traversed on a surface to be cleaned, the nozzle having an internal passage defined by a nozzle inlet positioned to be substantially adjacent the surface to be cleaned and a nozzle outlet remote from the nozzle inlet;
a handle pivotally attached to the nozzle;
a suction motor, mounted in the nozzle or the handle, and having a suction motor inlet, the suction motor being adapted to generate a working air flow through the nozzle and into the suction motor inlet;
a separation system comprising;
an outer wall;
a closed tube having at least a portion of its length located within the outer wall and forming a separation chamber between the outer wall and the closed tube;
a separation chamber inlet in fluid communication with the nozzle outlet and adapted to impart a tangential component to the working air flow as it flows through the separation chamber;
a hollow tube, generally coaxially aligned with the closed tube, having a tube inlet at an end adjacent the closed tube and a tube outlet at an end opposite the closed tube, the tube outlet being in fluid communication with the suction motor inlet; and
a collection chamber for receiving dirt separated from the working air flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a nozzle adapted to be traversed on a surface to be cleaned, the nozzle having an internal passage defined by a nozzle inlet positioned to be substantially adjacent the surface to be cleaned and a nozzle outlet remote from the nozzle inlet;
a main vacuum housing attached to the nozzle by way of a flexible hose;
a suction motor, mounted in the main vacuum housing, and having a suction motor inlet, the suction motor being adapted to generate a working air flow through the nozzle and into the suction motor inlet;
a separation system comprising;
an outer wall;
a closed tube having at least a portion of its length located within the outer wall and forming a separation chamber between the outer wall and the closed tube;
a separation chamber inlet in fluid communication with the nozzle outlet and adapted to impart a tangential component to the working air flow as it flows through the separation chamber;
a hollow tube, generally coaxially aligned with the closed tube, having a tube inlet at an end adjacent the closed tube and a tube outlet at an end opposite the closed tube, the tube outlet being in fluid communication with the suction motor inlet; and
a collection chamber for receiving dirt separated from the working air flow. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a nozzle adapted to be traversed on a surface to be cleaned, the nozzle having an internal passage defined by a nozzle inlet positioned to be substantially adjacent the surface to be cleaned and a nozzle outlet remote from the nozzle inlet;
a suction motor, mounted to the vacuum cleaner, and having a suction motor inlet, the suction motor being adapted to generate a working air flow through the nozzle and into the suction motor inlet;
a separation system;
located, in a fluid flow sense, between the nozzle outlet and the suction motor inlet, and comprising a first separator and a second separator, each of the first separator and the second separator being adapted to remove dirt from the working air flow;
and at least one collection chamber adapted to receive dirt separated from the working air flow;
wherein the first separator comprises at least one co-linear tube separator comprising;
an outer wall;
a closed tube having at least a portion of its length located within the outer wall and forming a separation chamber between the outer wall and the closed tube;
a separation chamber inlet in fluid communication with the nozzle outlet and adapted to impart a tangential component to the working air flow as it flows through the separation chamber; and
a hollow tube, generally coaxially aligned with the closed tube, having a tube inlet at an end adjacent the closed tube and a tube outlet at an end opposite the closed tube, the tube outlet being in fluid communication with the suction motor inlet. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification