Vacuum cleaner with two stage filtration

• US 8,117,713 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Kasper, Gary A., Scott, Allen W., Santiago, Jose Carlito
• Primary Examiner(s): SCRUGGS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US11/534,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20070067945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 153/53, 153/28, 153/52, 153/47, 153/20
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• 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 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1658 Construction of outlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/181 Separating by passing the air through a liquid bath

Abstract

A canister vacuum cleaner comprises a base, a recovery tank, and a clean solution tank. The vacuum cleaner can be used for dry vacuuming, wet vacuuming, and can distribute cleaning solution to a floor surface and has means for a fluid distribution system and a recovery system. The clean solution tank can be filled with a cleaning solution for distribution to a floor surface and the recovery tank is used for collecting dry or liquid matter recovered from vacuuming.

Claims

1. A combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner comprising:

a recovery tank adapted for wet and dry cleaning and comprising;

a recovery chamber having an inlet opening adapted to be connected to a suction nozzle and having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to form a water bath receptacle;

an air-liquid separator within the recovery chamber for separating air from liquid in an air-liquid mixture from the suction nozzle; and

a conduit within the recovery chamber and having a first end connected to the inlet opening and a second end forming a discharge opening that is positioned in the lower portion of the recovery chamber;

a cyclone separator having an outlet and an inlet;

a first fluid path between the conduit discharge opening and the cyclone separator inlet;

a second fluid path between the air-liquid separator and the cyclone separator inlet; and

a diverter valve having an outlet opening and mounted within the conduit between the first and second ends thereof for movement between a first position in which the diverter valve outlet opening is in fluid communication with the second fluid path and a second position in which the diverter valve outlet opening is closed to block fluid communication with the second fluid path; and

a suction source that is connected to the cyclone separator outlet, thereby creating a working air path to draw dry, dirt-laden air and liquid-laden air from the recovery chamber inlet opening selectively through either the discharge opening or through the air liquid separator, and through the cyclone separator;

wherein dirt can be separated from dry, dirt-laden air in at least one of the lower portion of the recovery chamber that may contain a water bath and the cyclone separator, and liquid can be separated from liquid-laden air by at least one of the air-liquid separator and the cyclone separator.

2. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising a water bath in the lower portion of the recovery chamber.

3. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the upper portion is selectively removable from the lower portion, and the upper and lower portions are separated by seals.

4. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the upper portion is selectively removable from the lower portion, and the upper and lower portions are separated by seals.

5. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the recovery chamber comprises a single recovery chamber provided in the recovery tank.

6. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the diverter valve comprises a rotatable knob provided on an exterior of the recovery tank.

7. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 further comprising a debris collector in communication with the cyclone separator outlet, wherein the debris collector is separate from the lower portion of the recovery chamber.

8. A combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner comprising:

a recovery tank adapted for both wet and dry cleaning and comprising;

a recovery chamber having an inlet opening adapted to be connected to a suction nozzle and having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to form a water bath receptacle;

a first air-liquid separator within the recovery chamber for separating air from liquid when an air-liquid mixture enters the recovery tank through the inlet opening;

a second air-liquid separator that is fluidly connected to the recovery chamber for removing liquid from air before it passes from the recovery tank; and

a conduit within the recovery chamber and having a first end connected to the inlet opening and a second end forming a discharge opening that is positioned in the lower portion of the recovery chamber; and

a first fluid path between the conduit discharge opening and the second air-liquid separator;

a second fluid path between the first air-liquid separator and the second air-liquid separator;

a diverter valve having an outlet opening and mounted within the conduit between the first and second ends thereof for movement between a first position in which the outlet opening is in fluid communication with the second fluid path and a second position in which the outlet opening is closed to block fluid communication with the second fluid path; and

a suction source that is connected to the inlet opening through the recovery tank and the second air-liquid separator to draw dry dirt-laden air and liquid-laden air from the inlet opening selectively through either the discharge opening or through the first air-liquid separator, and through the second air-liquid separator;

wherein dirt can be separated from dry dirt-laden air in a water bath selectively provided in the lower portion of the recovery chamber and the second air-liquid separator for dry cleaning, and liquid can be separated from liquid-laden air by at least one of the first air-liquid separator and the second air-liquid separator for wet cleaning.

9. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 and further comprising a water bath in the lower portion of the recovery chamber.

10. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 wherein the upper and lower portions are separated by seals.

11. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 wherein the recovery chamber comprises a single recovery chamber provided in the recovery tank.

12. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 wherein the second air-liquid separator comprises a cyclone separator.

13. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 wherein the diverter valve comprises a rotatable knob provided on an exterior of the recovery tank.

14. The combination wet-dry vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 further comprising a debris collector in communication with the second air-liquid separator, wherein the debris collector is separate from the lower portion of the recovery chamber.