Vacuum cleaner

• US 6,363,574 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Parron Developments Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pullman-Holt Corporation
• Inventors: Worden, Michael, Brigner, Jon, Christen, Jack P., Schulze, Curt J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US09/793,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20010005919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 153/26, 153/272, 153/276, 153/53, 154/12, 154/13
• US Class Current: 15/413
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/365 of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type
• 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 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0081 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/127 tube- or sleeve-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/20 Means for cleaning filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0654 Support layers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/069 Special geometry of layers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/083 of organic material
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/1623 of synthetic origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a tank assembly having an open end, a cap assembly removably connected to and generally closing off the open end, an inlet assembly disposed on one of the tank and cap assemblies, an exit opening disposed on one of the tank and cap assemblies, a vacuum source connected to one of the tank and cap assemblies for drawing process air through the inlet assembly, a filter assembly disposed between the inlet assembly and the exit opening, the filter assembly comprising a filter, and a filter bag assembly covering at least part of the filter, wherein the filter bag assembly comprises a filter bag and a drain tube connected to the filter bag. Preferably, the drain tube is integrally built into the filter bag.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a tank assembly having an open end;

an inlet assembly disposed on the tank assembly;

a cap assembly removably connected to and generally closing off the open end, the cap assembly comprising a bottom wall substantially closing off the open end, a partition disposed on the bottom wall, and a cover disposed on at least one of the bottom wall and the partition;

a motor disposed in the cap assembly;

a fan driven by the motor disposed in the cap assembly for drawing process air through the inlet assembly;

an exit opening disposed on the cap assembly;

a filter assembly disposed between the inlet assembly and the exit opening;

a ducting layer disposed between the fan and the exit opening and between the partition and the bottom wall; and

an expansion chamber between the ducting layer and the exit opening;

wherein cooling air flows through the motor and between the partition and the cover, and process air flows through the filter assembly, the fan and between the partition and the bottom wall without commingling with the cooling air; and

wherein the ducting layer has at least one protrusion or depression disposed in the path of process air for forcing the process air to make multiple turns prior to entering the expansion chamber.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the expansion chamber is defined by the partition and the bottom wall.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the ducting layer is made of rubber.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the ducting layer is made of high-density foam.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the ducting layer is made of a material substantially impenetrable by air.