Vacuum cleaner with air bleed
First Claim
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising a cyclonic separator for separating dirt and dust from an incoming airflow, a tool, and a suction conduit for connecting the tool to the separator, wherein the tool comprises a body defining a suction path, the body having a main air inlet aperture for engaging with a surface to be cleaned and for allowing air to enter the suction path, and a bleed air inlet for allowing air to bleed into the suction path, the bleed air inlet being located such that it is separate from the main air inlet aperture and wherein the bleed air inlet is permanently open and the bleed air inlet has a cross sectional area such that, in use, it admits a sufficient quantity of air to maintain adequate separation efficiency in the separator of the cleaner when the main air inlet aperture is fully blocked.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner comprises a cyclonic separator (116) for separating dirt and dust from an incoming airflow. A tool (300) and a suction conduit (114) connect the tool (300) to the separator (116). The tool (300) comprises a main air inlet aperture for engaging with a surface to be cleaned and a bleed air inlet (310) for allowing air to bleed into the suction path. The bleed air inlet (310) is located such that it is separate from the main inlet. The cross-sectional area of the bleed air inlet (310) is sufficiently large that, in use, the bleed air inlet (310) admits a sufficient quantity of air to maintain adequate separation efficiency in the separator of the cleaner even when the main air inlet is fully blocked.
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Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A vacuum cleaner comprising a cyclonic separator for separating dirt and dust from an incoming airflow, a tool, and a suction conduit for connecting the tool to the separator, wherein the tool comprises a body defining a suction path, the body having a main air inlet aperture for engaging with a surface to be cleaned and for allowing air to enter the suction path, and a bleed air inlet for allowing air to bleed into the suction path, the bleed air inlet being located such that it is separate from the main air inlet aperture and wherein the bleed air inlet is permanently open and the bleed air inlet has a cross sectional area such that, in use, it admits a sufficient quantity of air to maintain adequate separation efficiency in the separator of the cleaner when the main air inlet aperture is fully blocked.
Specification