Vacuum Cleaner
First Claim
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a vacuum source adapted to generate an airstream;
a filter;
a separating unit comprising a first sub-separator and a second sub-separator;
airflow passages to connect the vacuum source, the filter and the separating unit in a first configuration corresponding to a vacuum cleaning mode and a second configuration corresponding to a filter cleaning mode, wherein;
in the vacuum cleaning mode, the airflow passages are configured to direct the airstream through the separating unit such that the airflow passes in parallel through the first sub-separator and the second sub-separator, then in a forward direction through the filter, andin the filter cleaning mode, the airflow passages are configured to direct the airstream through the separating unit such that airflow passes in a reverse direction through the filter, and then through the separating unit such that the airflow passes in series through the first sub-separator and the second sub-separator.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner having a vacuum source adapted to generate an airstream, a filter, a separating unit having a first sub-separator and a second sub-separator, and airflow passages to connect the vacuum source, the filter and the separating unit in a first configuration corresponding to a vacuum cleaning mode and a second configuration corresponding to a filter cleaning mode. In the vacuum cleaning mode, the airflow passages are configured to direct the airstream through the separating unit such that the airflow passes in parallel through the first sub-separator and the second sub-separator, then in a forward direction through the filter. In the filter cleaning mode, the airflow passages are configured to direct the airstream through the separating unit such that airflow passes in a reverse direction through the filter, and then through the separating unit such that the airflow passes in series through the first sub-separator and the second sub-separator.
12 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a vacuum source adapted to generate an airstream; a filter; a separating unit comprising a first sub-separator and a second sub-separator; airflow passages to connect the vacuum source, the filter and the separating unit in a first configuration corresponding to a vacuum cleaning mode and a second configuration corresponding to a filter cleaning mode, wherein; in the vacuum cleaning mode, the airflow passages are configured to direct the airstream through the separating unit such that the airflow passes in parallel through the first sub-separator and the second sub-separator, then in a forward direction through the filter, and in the filter cleaning mode, the airflow passages are configured to direct the airstream through the separating unit such that airflow passes in a reverse direction through the filter, and then through the separating unit such that the airflow passes in series through the first sub-separator and the second sub-separator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a vacuum source adapted to generate an airstream, the vacuum source having a vacuum source inlet and a vacuum source outlet; a filter having a front side and a back side; a separating unit comprising a first sub-separator having a first sub-separator inlet and a first sub-separator outlet, and a second sub-separator having a second sub-separator inlet and a second sub-separator outlet; a dirty air inlet associated with an inlet nozzle; airflow passages connecting the vacuum source, the filter and the separating unit in a first configuration corresponding to a vacuum cleaning mode and a second configuration corresponding to a filter cleaning mode, wherein; in the vacuum cleaning mode, the airflow passages connect the dirty air inlet in parallel to the first sub-separator inlet and the second sub-separator inlet, connect the first sub-separator outlet and the second sub-separator outlet in parallel to the filter front side, and connect the filter back side to the vacuum source inlet, and in the filter cleaning mode, the airflow passages connect the filter front side to the first sub-separator inlet, connect the first sub-separator outlet to the second sub-separator inlet, and connect the second sub-separator outlet to the vacuum source inlet. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for operating a vacuum cleaner comprising a first sub-separator, a second sub-separator and a filter, the method comprising:
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in a first mode of operation, passing a first airstream through the first sub-separator and the second sub-separator in parallel to separate a first amount of dust from the first airstream, and passing the air stream leaving the first sub-separator and the second sub-separator through the filter in a forward direction for filtering a second amount of dust from the air stream; and
,in a second mode of operation, passing a second airstream through the filter in a backwards direction to remove a third amount of dust from the filter, then passing the second airstream through the first sub-separator and then the second sub-separator in series to remove a fourth amount of dust from the second airstream.
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Specification