VACUUM CLEANER WITH TWO STAGE FILTRATION

• US 20070067945A1
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Santiago, Jose, Scott, Allen, Kasper, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,117,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0028 Security means, e.g. float valves or level switches for preventing overflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0038 with means for emptying the tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0042 Gaskets; Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1658 Construction of outlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/181 Separating by passing the air through a liquid bath

Abstract

A canister vacuum cleaner comprises a base, a recovery tank, and a clean solution tank. The vacuum cleaner can be used for dry vacuuming, wet vacuuming, and can distribute cleaning solution to a floor surface and has means for a fluid distribution system and a recovery system. The clean solution tank can be filled with a cleaning solution for distribution to a floor surface and the recovery tank is used for collecting dry or liquid matter recovered from vacuuming.

Claims

1. A combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner comprising:

a recovery tank adapted for wet and dry cleaning is connected to a suction nozzle, the recovery tank having an air-liquid separator for separating air from liquid in an air-liquid mixture from the suction nozzle;

a cyclone separator having an inlet that it connected to the recovery tank and an outlet;

a suction source that is connected to the suction nozzle through the recovery tank and the cyclone separator, thereby creating a working air path, to draw dry, dirt-laden air and liquid-laden air from the suction nozzle and to the recovery tank wherein dirt is separated from the dry, dirt-laden air and liquid is separated from the liquid-laden air, and the thus separated air is drawn through the cyclone separator.

2. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising a water bath filter in the bottom portion of the recovery tank, and a diverter valve between the suction nozzle and the recovery tank for selectively directing the liquid-laden air to the air-liquid separator and alternatively for directing the dry dirt-laden air to a bottom portion of the recovery tank.

3. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the recovery tank further comprises a conduit to pass dry, dirt-laden air into a lower portion of the recovery tank as it enters the recovery tank so that the dry dirt-laden air can be filtered in the water bath in the recovery tank.

4. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 wherein the recovery tank comprises a lower portion and an upper portion wherein the upper portion is selectively removable from the lower portion and the upper and lower portions are separated by seals, wherein the upper and lower portions are shaped so that the seals are above the maximum fill level of the water in the recovery tank.

5. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the recovery tank comprises a lower portion and an upper portion wherein the upper portion is selectively removable from the lower portion and the upper and lower portions are separated by seals, wherein the upper and lower portions are shaped so that the seals are above the maximum fill level of the water in the recovery tank.

6. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the recovery tank comprises a lower portion and an upper portion wherein the upper portion is selectively removable from the lower portion and the upper and lower portions are separated by seals, wherein the upper and lower portions are shaped so that the seals are above the maximum fill level of the water in the recovery tank.

7. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the recovery tank further comprises a conduit to pass dry dirt-laden air into a lower portion of the recovery tank as it enters the recovery tank so that the dry dirt-laden air can be filtered in the water bath in the recovery tank.

8. A combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner comprising:

a recovery tank that is connected to a suction nozzle, the recovery tank having a first air-liquid separator for separating air from liquid from the suction nozzle when an air-liquid mixture enters the recovery tank;

a second separator that is connected to an outlet in the recovery tank to remove liquid from air before it passes from the recovery tank;

a suction source that is connected to the suction nozzle through the recovery tank and the second separator to draw dry dirt-laden air and liquid-laden air from the suction nozzle through the recovery tank and the cyclone separator;

wherein the recovery tank is adapted for both wet and dry cleaning, the dry dirt-laden air is filtered with a water bath for dry cleaning and the liquid-laden air is separated in the air-liquid separator in the recovery tank and the second separator for wet cleaning; and

any remaining liquid in the air is recovered before entering the suction source.

9. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 and further comprising a diverter valve between the suction nozzle and the recovery tank for directing the liquid-laden air to the air-liquid separator and for directing the dry dirt-laden air into a water bath in the recovery tank.

10. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 wherein the recovery tank further comprises a conduit to pass dry dirt-laden air into a lower portion of the recovery tank as it enters the recovery tank so that the dry dirt-laden air can be filtered in the water bath in the recovery tank.

11. A combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner comprising:

a recovery tank that is connected to a suction nozzle, the recovery tank having an air-liquid separator for separating air from liquid from the suction nozzle;

a diverter valve between the suction nozzle and the recovery tank for directing the liquid-laden air to the air-liquid separator and alternately for directing the dry dirt-laden air into a water bath in the recovery tank;

a suction source that is connected to the suction nozzle through the recovery tank to draw dry dirt-laden air and liquid-laden air from the suction nozzle through the recovery tank and the cyclone separator;

wherein the recovery tank is adapted for both wet and dry cleaning;

wherein the dry dirt-laden air is filtered with a water bath for dry cleaning and the liquid-laden air is separated in the air-liquid separator in the recovery tank.

12. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a nozzle housing having a suction nozzle opening, a brush rotatably mounted to the housing and positioned in the suction opening; and

at least a pair of wheels mounted in the housing;

a source of suction connected to the suction nozzle opening; and

a dust collector in communication with the source of suction and the suction nozzle opening to remove dust from the air drawn from the suction nozzle;

wherein the wheels are connected to the brush to drive the brush about an axis of rotation when the wheels are rotated.

13. A canister cleaner having a housing and a glide mounted to an under surface thereof, the glide comprising at least a partial spherical surface that is adapted to glide over a carpet surface to distribute the load over the carpet for easy movement.

14. A canister cleaner according to claim 13 wherein the glide is mounted to the housing for rotation about a vertical axis.

15. A canister cleaner according to claim 14 and further comprising at least one wheel mounted to the glide and adapted to contact a bare floor surface when the canister moves along a bare floor.