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Shut-off device for cyclonic vacuum cleaner

  • US 5,062,870 A
  • Filed: 07/06/1990
  • Issued: 11/05/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In a cleaning apparatus including a container comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom, the sidewall having an interior surface, a dirty air inlet at an upper portion of the container spaced from the bottom which is oriented for supplying dirt laden air into the container and having an air outlet from the container at the upper portion of the container;

  • and means for generating an airflow which passes sequentially through the dirty air inlet and the container, and depositing the dirt in the container and then exiting from the container through a clean air outlet the improvement in a dirt level sensing means comprising;

    (a) a housing means mounted inside the container between the dirty air inlet and the clean air outlet and providing an air passage to the clean air outlet from the container, the housing means extending from an opening to the clean air outlet and having a plurality of perforations through the housing means which provide the air passage through which the air flows between the dirty air inlet and the clean air outlet; and

    (b) a valve means slideably mounted inside the housing means wherein some of the perforations in the housing means are below the valve means and wherein in operation of the cleaner, the valve means rests in the housing means with the airflow from the container passing through the perforations in the housing means that provide the air passage through the housing means, before entering the clean air outlet from the container as dirt is being accumulated in the container, and wherein when dirt in the container partially covers at least some of the perforations in the housing means thus reducing the air passage to the clean air outlet from the container, a pressure gradient occurs between the inside of the container and the air inlet to the cyclone so that the valve means moves in the housing means to close off the opening to the clean air outlet to stop the airflow to the clean air outlet from the container.

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