Upright Vacuum Cleaner With Cyclonic Air Path

• US 20070226951A1
• Filed: 06/06/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midea America, Corp. (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Care Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Hampton, Len, Eisenmenger, Rich, Kontio, Christer, Hawkins, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,334,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/19 Means for monitoring filtering operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2821 Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner with a cyclonic airflow path includes a floor-engaging base unit, a body unit pivotally mounted to the base unit and a motor/fan assembly mounted on one of the base unit or body units. A dirt collecting enclosure is also mounted on the body unit and includes a first large chamber and a second smaller chamber. A filter unit is disposed in the first large chamber. Dirt laden air is introduced into the first large chamber in a tangential manner so as to impart a cyclonic action to the airflow. The filter in the first large chamber is effective for removing larger particles of debris from the airflow. The remaining airflow is communicated to the second chamber where smaller particles of debris are removed. Airflow from the second smaller chamber is then communicated through a cyclonic chamber disposed above and transverse to the dirt collecting enclosure to a third chamber where a second filter is disposed. The smallest particles of debris are removed from the airflow by the second filter disposed in this third chamber. The upright vacuum cleaner can include an arrangement for sensing pressure differences across one or more of the filters thereby providing an indication that the filter is dirty or clogged. The upright vacuum cleaner can also include an elevator mechanism for raising and lowering the dirt collecting enclosure thereby facilitating the task of emptying and then reinstalling the dirt collecting enclosure.

Claims

1. An upright suction cleaner comprising:

a floor engaging base unit;

a body unit pivotally mounted on the base unit;

a suction generating device disposed on one of said base unit and body unit;

a dirt collecting enclosure disposed on said body unit, said dirt collecting enclosure having at least two chambers associated therewith;

an airflow path disposed between said floor engaging base unit and said dirt collecting enclosure;

at least one filter member disposed in said airflow path;

means for sensing air pressure in said airflow path before and after said filter member; and

,

an indicator member activated upon detection by said sensing means of a pressure differential across said filter member that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2-19. -19. (canceled)