VACUUM CLEANER WITH EXHAUST TUBE HAVING AN INCREASING CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA
First Claim
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
- a cyclonic chamber having an inlet for introducing airflow for circulation around a central axis of the cyclonic chamber;
a filter chamber positioned downstream of the cyclonic chamber and having a wall;
a filter positioned in the filter chamber; and
an exhaust tube extending along the central axis into the cyclonic chamber, the exhaust tube including an inlet portion receiving the airflow from the cyclonic chamber and an outlet portion directing the airflow toward the filter chamber and the filter, which is in close proximity to the outlet portion, wherein the outlet portion includes an outlet opening on the wall of the filter chamber upstream of the filter, wherein the cross-sectional area of the outlet portion increases in the downstream direction to reduce the speed of the airflow passing into the filter chamber and to evenly distribute the airflow passing through the outlet opening across the filter, and wherein the exhaust tube defines a substantially constant diameter over a portion of its length.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner includes a cyclonic chamber having an inlet for introducing airflow for circulation around a central axis of the cyclonic chamber. A filter chamber is positioned downstream of the cyclonic chamber and has a wall. A filter is positioned in the filter chamber. An exhaust tube extends along the central axis into the cyclonic chamber. The exhaust tube includes an inlet portion receiving the airflow from the cyclonic chamber and an outlet portion directing the airflow toward the filter chamber and the filter. The filter is in close proximity to the outlet portion. The cross-sectional area of the outlet portion increases in the downstream direction to reduce the speed of the airflow passing into the filter chamber and to evenly distribute the airflow passing through the outlet opening across the filter.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a cyclonic chamber having an inlet for introducing airflow for circulation around a central axis of the cyclonic chamber; a filter chamber positioned downstream of the cyclonic chamber and having a wall; a filter positioned in the filter chamber; and an exhaust tube extending along the central axis into the cyclonic chamber, the exhaust tube including an inlet portion receiving the airflow from the cyclonic chamber and an outlet portion directing the airflow toward the filter chamber and the filter, which is in close proximity to the outlet portion, wherein the outlet portion includes an outlet opening on the wall of the filter chamber upstream of the filter, wherein the cross-sectional area of the outlet portion increases in the downstream direction to reduce the speed of the airflow passing into the filter chamber and to evenly distribute the airflow passing through the outlet opening across the filter, and wherein the exhaust tube defines a substantially constant diameter over a portion of its length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
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a housing having a central axis and an outer wall extending from a first end to a second end, the outer wall defining an air inlet between the first end and the second end; a lid assembly selectively, movably coupled to the first end, the housing and lid assembly at least partially defining a dirt collection chamber; a shroud disposed within the housing, the shroud and the outer wall at least partially defining a first cyclonic separation region; a cyclone body at least partially disposed within the shroud, the cyclone body at least partially defining a second cyclonic separation region; an exhaust assembly coupled to the second end, the exhaust assembly including an inlet portion extending into and receiving air from the second cyclonic separation region, the inlet portion having a substantially uniform cross sectional area, and an outlet portion downstream of the inlet portion, the outlet portion having an increasing cross-sectional area in the downstream direction; a cover member coupled to the exhaust assembly downstream of the outlet portion, the cover member and exhaust assembly defining a filter chamber; a filter member disposed in the filter chamber and separated from the exhaust assembly outlet portion by an air gap, the filter member receiving a substantially evenly distributed airflow from the exhaust assembly outlet portion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification