Surface Cleaning Apparatus

• US 20140053367A1
• Filed: 03/05/2012
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 9,962,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/362 of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0023 Recovery tanks for cleaning machines A47L11/4013
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0038 with means for emptying the tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and includes a suction motor. The surface cleaning apparatus may be battery powered and/or may have a power requirement of 200 Watts or less. A cyclone chamber is provided in the air flow path and has an air outlet which is covered by a screen. In one embodiment, there is an absence of a vortex finder. In another embodiment, a vortex finder that extends into the cyclone chamber less than the height of the cyclone inlet and optionally less than the height of the cyclone inlet may be provided.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;

(b) a cyclone chamber positioned in the air flow passage and having an end wall, a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet;

(c) a screen positioned in the cyclone chamber upstream of the cyclone air outlet, the screen comprising a solid wall facing the cyclone air inlet and a portion containing air flow passages that is opposed to and aligned with the air inlet; and

(d) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screen has an interior volume that is fully open.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the solid wall has a height that is greater than a height of the cyclone air inlet.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the solid wall has a distal end spaced from an end wall of the cyclone chamber by a first distance and the cyclone air inlet has a distal end spaced from an end wall of the cyclone chamber by a second distance and the first distance is greater than the second distance.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein air rotates in the cyclone chamber in a direction and the height of the solid wall decreases in the direction.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air entering the cyclone chamber rotates around the screen in a direction and the air rotating in the direction adjacent the screen has a height and the height of the solid wall is greater than the height of the air.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone air outlet includes a collar positioned adjacent the screen extending inwardly into the screen a distance up to half the height of the cyclone air inlet.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone air outlet has a diameter and the screen adjacent the cyclone air outlet has an open end having a diameter proximate the diameter of the cyclone air outlet.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface cleaning apparatus is an upright surface cleaning apparatus.

3. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

12. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;

(b) a cyclone chamber positioned in the air flow passage and having a cyclone air inlet and an end wall having a cyclone air outlet;

(c) a screen positioned in the cyclone chamber upstream of the cyclone air outlet, the screen having a solid wall facing the cyclone air inlet; and

(d) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage,

wherein air rotates in the cyclone chamber is a direction and the height of the solid wall decreases in the direction.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the screen has an interior volume and the interior volume is fully open.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the solid wall has a height that is greater than a height of the cyclone air inlet.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the solid wall has a distal end spaced from an end wall of the cyclone chamber by a first distance and the cyclone air inlet has a distal end spaced from an end wall of the cyclone chamber by a second distance and the first distance is greater than the second distance.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the air entering the cyclone chamber rotates around the screen in a direction and the air rotating in the direction adjacent the screen has a height and the height of the solid wall is greater than the height of the air.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the outlet end of the screen is open and defines an airflow passage which is at least the same size as an airflow passage defined by the cyclone air outlet.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the outlet end of the screen is positioned adjacent the end wall.

21. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 20 wherein the cyclone air outlet has a diameter and the screen adjacent the cyclone air outlet has an open end having a diameter proximate the diameter of the cyclone air outlet.

22. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 20 wherein the cyclone air outlet is an opening in the end wall of cyclone chamber.

23. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the surface cleaning apparatus is an upright surface cleaning apparatus.

14. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

24-56. -56. (canceled)