Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02730444 2016-12-07
TITLE: BLEED AIR VALVE OF A SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS
FIELD
[0001] The disclosure relates to surface cleaning apparatuses, such as
vacuum
cleaners. Particularly, the disclosure relates to bleed valves for surface
cleaning
apparatuses.
INTRODUCTION
[0002] Blank.
[0003] Various constructions for surface cleaning apparatus such as
vacuum
cleaners are known. Currently, many surface cleaning apparatus are constructed
using
at least one cyclonic cleaning stage. The air is drawn into the vacuum cleaner
through a
dirty air inlet and conveyed to a cyclone inlet. The rotation of the air in
the cyclone
results in some of the particulate matter in the airflow stream being
disentrained from
the airflow stream. This material is then collected in a dirt collection
chamber, which
may be at the bottom of the cyclone or in a dirt collection chamber exterior
to the
cyclone chamber (see for example W02009/026709 and US 5,078,761). One or more
additional cyclonic cleaning stages and/or filters may be positioned
downstream from
the cyclone.
SUMMARY
[0004] The following summary is provided to introduce the reader to the
more
detailed discussion to follow. The summary is not intended to limit or define
the claims.
[0005] According to one aspect, a surface cleaning apparatus has a bleed
air
valve wherein the bleed air valve has an outlet that provides bleed air as
required to the
downstream side of a pre-motor filter. The bleed air preferably travels
through the bleed
valve mechanism in a direction that is generally parallel to, and optionally
parallel to and
in the same direction, as the direction of air flow exiting a cyclone.
Alternately, or in
addition, the bleed air preferably travels through the bleed valve mechanism
in a
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direction that is generally parallel to, and optionally parallel to and in the
same direction,
as the direction of entering the suction motor.
[0006] An advantage of this configuration is that the bleed air is
delivered directly
to the suction motor. If the pre-motor filter is dirty or clogged, which may
be the reason
the bleed valve opens, then the flow of bleed air to the suction motor will
not be
impeded by the pre-motor filter.
[0007] Another advantage is that the configuration permits a more compact
construction of the surface cleaning apparatus. This permits the weight of the
surface
cleaning apparatus to be reduced and increases the portability of the surface
cleaning
apparatus for the elderly or the infirm.
[0008] Another advantage is that the configuration permits the bleed valve
air
flow passage to be integrally molded with the suction motor housing of the
surface
cleaning apparatus. This permits fewer seals to be used in the manufacturing
process
and reduces the likelihood that air will leak into the motor through the bleed
valve and
reduce the air flow at the dirty air inlet.
[0009] In accordance with this aspect, a surface cleaning apparatus is
provided.
The surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow passage extending from a
dirty
air inlet to a clean air outlet. The surface cleaning apparatus further
comprises a
cyclone comprising a cyclone air outlet and positioned in the air flow passage
downstream of the dirty air inlet. A suction motor is provided in the air flow
passage
downstream of the cyclone. A pre-motor filter is upstream of the suction motor
and
downstream of the cyclone. The pre-motor filter has an upstream side and a
downstream side. The surface cleaning apparatus further comprises a bleed
valve
having an air inlet and an air outlet. The air outlet is positioned between
the suction
motor and the downstream side of the pre-motor filter and facing the
downstream side
of the pre-motor filter.
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[0010] The cyclone may have a longitudinal axis, the bleed valve may
comprise
an airflow passageway having a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axes
may be
parallel. The air outlet of the bleed valve may face the cyclone air outlet.
[0011] The bleed valve may be integrally formed with a suction motor
housing.
The air inlet of the bleed valve may be provided in a sidewall of the suction
motor
housing. The bleed valve may be provided in a suction motor housing and may
have a
longitudinally extending passageway that is aligned with a longitudinal axis
of the
suction motor.
[0012] The air inlet of the bleed valve may be at an angle to the
longitudinally
extending passageway of the bleed valve.
[0013] The pre-motor filter may be removable and the air outlet of the
bleed valve
may be visible when the pre-motor filter is removed.
[0014] The bleed valve may have a longitudinally extending passageway that
is
aligned with a longitudinal axis of the suction motor and a direction of flow
through the
pre-motor filter.
[0015] The surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise an openable door
and the bleed valve may be provided in the openable door. The openable door
may
provide access to at least one of the pre-motor filter and a dirt collection
chamber of the
cyclone.
[0016] The bleed valve may extend through the pre-motor filter.
[0017] According to another aspect, another surface cleaning apparatus is
provided. The surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow passage
extending
from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. A filtration member is
positioned in the air flow
passage downstream of the dirty air inlet. A suction motor is provided in the
fluid flow
path downstream of the filtration member. A pre-motor filter is upstream of
the suction
motor and downstream of the filtration member. The pre-motor filter has an
upstream
side and a downstream side. The surface cleaning apparatus further comprises a
bleed
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valve having an air inlet and an air outlet. The air outlet is positioned
between the
suction motor and the downstream side of the pre-motor filter.
[0018] The filtration member may have a filtration member air outlet
extending
along a longitudinal axis, the bleed valve may comprise an airflow passageway
having a
longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axes may be parallel.
[0019] The filtration member may comprise a cyclone having a cyclone air
outlet
and the bleed valve outlet may face towards the cyclone air outlet. The air
outlet of the
bleed valve may face the downstream side of the pre-motor filter.
[0020] The bleed valve may be integrally formed with a suction motor
housing.
The air inlet of the bleed valve may be provided in a sidewall of the suction
motor
housing. The bleed valve may be provided in a suction motor housing and may
have a
longitudinally extending passageway that is aligned with a longitudinal axis
of the
suction motor.
[0021] The air inlet of the bleed valve may be at an angle to the
longitudinally
extending passageway of the bleed valve.
[0022] The pre-motor filter may be removable and the air outlet of the
bleed valve
may be visible when the pre-motor filter is removed.
[0023] The bleed valve may have a longitudinally extending passageway that
is
aligned with a longitudinal axis of the suction motor and a direction of air
flow through
the pre-motor filter.
[0024] The surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise an openable door
and the bleed valve may be provided in the openable door. The openable door
may
provide access to at least one of the pre-motor filter and a dirt collection
chamber.
[0025] The filtration member may comprise a cyclone and the pre-motor
filter
may comprise foam.
[0026] The bleed valve may extend through the pre-motor filter.
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[0027] The filtration member may comprise a cyclone having a cyclone air
outlet
that has an outlet on the upstream side of the pre-motor filter, the surface
cleaning
apparatus may further comprise an openable door, and the bleed valve may be
provided in the openable door and may extend through the pre-motor filter.
[0028] The cyclone outlet may extend through the pre-motor filter.
DRAWINGS
[0029] Reference is made in the detailed description to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0030] Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of an embodiment of a surface
cleaning apparatus;
[0031] Figure 2 is a cross section taken along line 2-2 in Figure 1;
[0032] Figure 3 is a top perspective illustration of a suction motor
housing of the
surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 1;
[0033] Figure 4 is a top perspective illustration of the surface cleaning
apparatus
of Figure 1, with a filtration member housing removed, and a pre-motor filter
exploded
from the suction motor housing;
[0034] Figure 5 is a perspective illustration of another embodiment of a
surface
cleaning apparatus;
[0035] Figure 6 is a cross section taken along line 6-6 in Figure 5;
[0036] Figure 7 is a perspective illustration of the surface cleaning
apparatus of
Figure 5, showing an openable door in an open position;
[0037] Figure 8 is a cross section showing another embodiment of a surface
cleaning apparatus;
[0038] Figure 9 is a cross section showing another embodiment of a surface
cleaning apparatus; and
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,
[0039] Figure 10 is a perspective illustration of the surface
cleaning apparatus of
Figure 9, showing an openable door in an open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] Referring to Figure 1, a first embodiment of a surface
cleaning apparatus
100 is shown. In the embodiment shown, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is
an
upright vacuum cleaner. In alternate embodiments, the surface cleaning
apparatus may
be another suitable type of surface cleaning apparatus, such as a canister
type vacuum
cleaner, and hand vacuum cleaner (see for example Figure 5), a stick vac, a
wet-dry
type vacuum cleaner or a carpet extractor.
[0041] Referring still to Figure 1, the surface cleaning
apparatus 100 has a dirty
air inlet 102, a clean air outlet 104, and an air flow passage extending
therebetween. In
the embodiment shown, the dirty air inlet 102 is provided in a lower surface
of a surface
cleaning head 106. From the dirty air inlet 102, the airflow passage extends
through the
surface cleaning head 106, and through an air conduit 108, to a suction and
filtration
unit 110. The clean air outlet 104 is provided in the suction and filtration
unit 110. In
the embodiment shown, the air conduit 108 includes a pivoting joint member 112
connected to the surface cleaning head 106, a lower upflow duct 114, an upper
upflow
duct 116, a hose 117, and an elbow joint 118. The elbow joint 118 is in
airflow
communication with the suction and filtration unit 110. In alternate
embodiments, the air
conduit 108 may be of another configuration. For example, only a pivoting
joint member
112 and a lower upflow duct 114 may be provided.
[0042] A handle 119 is optionally mounted to the upper upflow
duct 116, for
manipulating the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
[0043] Referring now to Figure 2, the suction and filtration unit
110 includes a
filtration member housing 120, and a suction motor housing 122. The filtration
member
housing 122 houses filtration member 124, which is positioned in the airflow
passage
downstream of the dirty air inlet 102 for removing particulate matter from air
flowing
through the airflow passage. The suction motor housing 122 houses a suction
motor
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126, which is provided in the airflow passage downstream of the filtration
member 124
for drawing air through the airflow passage.
[0044] In the embodiment shown, the suction and filtration unit 110 is
supported
by and mounted to the lower upflow duct 114. Particularly, a mount 128 is
provided
which mounts the suction and filtration unit 110 to the lower upflow duct 114.
The
mount 128 may be of any suitable configuration. In the embodiment shown, the
mount
128 is integrally formed with the suction motor housing 122, and is mountable
to the
lower upflow duct 114. The mount 128 may be mountable to the lower upflow duct
114
in any suitable manner, and is preferably removably mountable to the lower
upflow duct
114.
[0045] In the embodiment shown, the filtration member housing 120 includes
a
sidewall 130, a top wall 132, and a bottom wall 134. The suction motor housing
122
includes a sidewall 136 and a bottom wall 138, and an open top 140. The
sidewall 136
of the suction motor housing 122 is removably mounted to the bottom wall 134
of the
filtration member housing 120, so that the bottom wall 134 of the filtration
member
housing 120 seals the open top 140 of the suction motor housing 122. The
sidewall 136
of the suction motor housing 122 may be removably mounted to the bottom wall
134 of
the filtration member housing 120 in any suitable manner, such as by one or
more latch
members 142.
[0046] In the embodiment shown, as the suction motor housing 122 is
mounted
to the lower upflow duct 114, and the filtration member housing 120 is
removably
mounted to the suction motor housing 122 above the suction motor housing 122,
the
filtration member housing 120 may be removed from the suction motor housing by
unlatching the one or more latch members 142, and lifting the filtration
member housing
120 off of the suction motor housing 122. When this is done, the filtration
member
housing 120 will be generally sealed, except for any airflow passages leading
to or from
the filtration member housing 120, and the top 140 of the suction motor
housing 122 will
be open.
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[0047]
Referring still to Figure 2, in the embodiment shown, the filtration member
124 is a cyclone 144. In alternate embodiments, the filtration member 124 may
be, for
example, a filter, such as a filter bag or a foam filter. In further alternate
embodiments,
the filtration member 124 may include a plurality of cyclones, or a plurality
of cyclonic
stages.
[0048] The
cyclone 144 may be of any suitable configuration. In the embodiment
shown, the cyclone 144 extends along a longitudinal axis 146, which is
generally
vertically extending, and includes a generally cylindrical cyclone wall 148,
which defines
a cyclone chamber 150. The upper end 152 of the cyclone wall 148 is open, and
the
lower end 154 of the cyclone wall includes lower wall 156. The cyclone wall
148 is
positioned in the filtration member housing 120 such that it is spaced from
the sidewall
130, top wall 132, and bottom wall 134 of the filtration member housing 120. A
plurality
of struts 158 may be provided to support the cyclone wall 148 within the
filtration
member housing 120. The space between the lower wall 156 of the cyclone 144
and
the bottom wall 134 of the filtration member housing 122 forms a lower end of
dirt
collection chamber 160.
[0049] The
cyclone 144 further includes a cyclone air inlet 162, and a cyclone air
outlet 164. The cyclone air inlet 162 extends from a first end (not shown)
that is in
communication with the hose 117, through the sidewall 130 of the filtration
member
housing 120, to a second end (not shown) that is in communication with the
cyclone
chamber 150. The cyclone air outlet 164 extends along the axis 146, from a
first end
170 that is positioned within the cyclone chamber 150, through the lower wall
156, and
to a second end 172 that is in communication with the interior of the suction
motor
housing 122. A screen (not shown) is preferably mounted over the first end 170
of the
cyclone air outlet.
[0050] In
use, air flows from the hose 117 into the cyclone chamber 150 through
the cyclone air inlet 162. In the cyclone chamber 150, the air flows within
the cyclone
wall 148 in a cyclonic pattern, and particulate matter is separated from the
air. The
particulate matter exits the cyclone chamber 150 through the first end 152,
and settles
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in the dirt collection chamber 160. The air exits the cyclone chamber 150
through the
cyclone air outlet 164, and enters the suction motor housing 122.
[0051] The dirt collection chamber 160 may be emptied in any suitable
manner.
In the embodiment shown, the bottom wall 134 is pivotally mounted to the
sidewall 130,
and serves as an openable door. The dirt collection chamber 160 may be emptied
by
removing the filtration member housing 120 from the suction motor housing 124,
as
described hereinabove, and pivoting the bottom wall 134 away from the sidewall
130.
[0052] Referring still to Figure 2, the suction motor housing 122 houses
the
suction motor 126, a pre-motor filter 176 upstream of the suction motor 126
and
downstream of the cyclone 144, and a post-motor filter (not shown) downstream
of the
suction motor 126 and upstream of the clean air outlet 104 in a post-motor
filter region
178.
[0053] The pre-motor filter 176 extends across the open top 140 of the
suction
motor housing 122, and has an upstream side 180 that faces the cyclone air
outlet 164,
and an opposed downstream side 182 that faces the bottom wall 138 of the
suction
motor housing 122. The pre-motor filter 176 is supported within the suction
motor
housing 122 by an apertured support wall 184 (seen most clearly in Figure 3),
which
extends across the suction motor housing 122. The pre-motor filter 176 is
sized to be
generally snugly received within the suction motor housing 122, such that air
entering
the suction motor housing 122 from the cyclone air outlet 164 passes through
the pre-
motor filter 176, in a direction indicated by arrow A. The pre-motor filter
176 may be any
suitable type of filter. Preferably, the pre-motor filter includes a foam
layer 186 and a
felt layer 188.
[0054] Referring to Figure 4, when the filtration member housing 120 is
lifted off
of the suction motor housing 122, the pre-motor filter 176 is exposed, and may
be
removed, replaced, or cleaned.
[0055] It will also be appreciated that, by configuring the surface
cleaning
apparatus such that the upstream side of the pre-motor filter is visible when
the cyclone
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is emptied, that a user will be provided with a visual cue to clean or replace
the pre-
motor filter if the upstream side of the pre-motor filter is dirty when the
cyclone is
removed for emptying. Preferably, the pre-motor filter is not provided in a
filter housing
so the view of the upstream surface of the pre-motor filter is not impaired.
[0056] Referring back to Figure 2, the suction motor 126 is housed within
the
suction motor housing 122 beneath the apertured support wall 184. The suction
motor
126 may be any suitable type of suction motor. In the embodiment shown, the
suction
motor 126 extends along a longitudinal axis 190 that is generally vertically
extending.
[0057] The post motor filter 178 is housed within the suction motor
housing 122
adjacent the suction motor 126, and between the suction motor 126 and the
clean air
outlet 104. Preferably, a second apertured wall 192 is provided between the
suction
motor 126 and the post-motor filter 178. The post-motor filter 178 may be any
suitable
type of filter, such as a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter.
[0058] It will be appreciated that the various elements discussed herein
are for
reference for the discussion of the specific exemplified embodiments and that
the
elements such as the cleaning head, the cyclone, the upper section and the
like may be
of various constructions known in the art. It will also be appreciated that
some elements
that are discussed are optional and need not be in any particular embodiment.
[0059] It is possible that in some instances, the airflow passage may
become fully
or partially clogged. For example, a large object, such as a ball of hair or
popcorn, may
become lodged anywhere in the airflow passage, such as in the surface cleaning
head
106. For further example, the pre-motor filter 176 may become clogged with
particulate
matter. If this occurs, the suction motor 126 may burn out. Referring still to
Figure 2, a
bleed-valve 101 is provided in the suction motor housing 122. If a clog occurs
in the
airflow passage, the pressure in the suction motor housing 122 will decrease.
The
bleed valve 101 is preferably configured to open when the pressure decreases,
and
allow air to flow through the suction motor housing 122 to the clean air
outlet 104 so that
the suction motor 126 does not burn out.
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. .
[0060] Referring still to Figure 2, the bleed valve 101 includes
an air inlet 103,
and air outlet 105, and a longitudinally extending airflow passageway 107
extending
therebetween. The air inlet 103 is preferably formed through the sidewall 136
of the
suction motor housing 122, and is preferably at angle to the airflow
passageway 107.
The air outlet 105 is formed through the apertured support wall 184, and is
positioned
between the suction motor 126 and the downstream side 182 of the pre-motor
filter 176.
Preferably, as shown, the air outlet 105 faces the downstream side 182 of the
pre-motor
filter 176. More preferably, the air outlet 105 additionally faces the cyclone
air outlet
164.
[0061] The airflow passageway 107 is defined by a sidewall 109
extending
between the sidewall 136 of the suction motor housing 122 and the apertured
support
wall 184. The sidewall 109 is preferably integral with the suction motor
housing 122 (in
other words, the bleed valve 101 is integrally formed with the suction motor
housing
122). The airflow passageway 107 extends along a longitudinal axis 111. As
shown,
the longitudinal axis 111 is preferably parallel with the longitudinal axis
146 of the
cyclone 144 and the cyclone air outlet 164, and is preferably aligned with the
longitudinal axis 190 of the suction motor 126. Further, the airflow
passageway 107 is
preferably aligned with a direction of flow (as shown by arrow A) through the
pre-motor
filter 176. It will be appreciated that, in an alternate embodiment,
passageway 107 may
extend all the way to wall 138 so that the inlet 103 is in wall 138.
[0062] The bleed valve 101 may be opened and closed in any
suitable manner,
and is preferably opened automatically when the pressure in the suction motor
housing
122 decreases. In the embodiment shown, the bleed valve 101 includes an
actuating
member 113. The actuating member 113 includes a cap 115, that is mounted to
the
apertured support wall 184 over the air outlet 105 of the bleed valve 101. The
cap 115
has apertures 121 therethrough, to allow air to flow out of the air outlet
105. A bearing
member 123 is suspended from the cap 115 by a spring 125. The bearing member
123
includes a lower plate 127 that has a diameter that is slightly less than the
diameter of
the portion of the airflow passage 107 adjacent the lower plate 127. The
sidewall 109 of
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the airflow passage includes a shelf 129, and a seal 131 is seated on and
secured to
the shelf 129, facing the lower plate 127. During normal use of the surface
cleaning
apparatus, the spring 125 forces the lower plate 127 against the seal 131, so
that air
cannot flow between the lower plate 127 and the seal 127, and cannot flow
through the
airflow passage 107. When the pressure in the suction motor housing 122
decreases
enough to overcome the spring force of the spring 125, the lower plate 127
will lift away
from the seal 131, so that air may flow laterally between the lower plate 127
and the
seal 131, and upwardly between the lower plate 127 and the sidewall 109.
[0063] Referring to Figure 3, when the pre-motor filter 176 is removed from
the
suction motor housing 122, the air outlet 105 of the bleed valve 101 is
preferably visible.
[0064] Referring to Figures 5 to 7, another embodiment of a surface
cleaning
apparatus 200 is shown. In this embodiment the surface cleaning apparatus 200
is a
hand vacuum cleaner.
[0065] Referring to Figure 5, the surface cleaning apparatus 200 has a
dirty air
inlet 202, a clean air outlet 204 (shown in Figure 6), and an air flow passage
extending
therebetween. In the embodiment shown, the dirty air inlet 202 is provided in
a nozzle
206. From the dirty air inlet 202, the airflow passage extends through the
nozzle 206,
and through an air conduit 208, to a suction and filtration unit 210. The
clean air outlet
204 is provided in the suction and filtration unit 110. In the embodiment
shown, the air
conduit 108 includes a wand 214, and a hose 217.
[0066] Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the suction and filtration unit
210
includes a housing 220. The housing 220 houses a filtration member 224, which
is
positioned in the airflow passage downstream of the dirty air inlet 202, for
removing
particulate matter from air flowing through the airflow passage. The housing
220 further
houses a suction motor 226, which is provided in the airflow passage
downstream of the
filtration member 224 for drawing air through the airflow passage. In the
embodiment
shown, the filtration member 224 and suction motor 226 are positioned side-by-
side.
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. .
[0067] Referring to Figure 5, in the embodiment shown, the
housing 220 includes
a central wall 230, a first side wall 232, and a second side wall 234. The
first side wall
232 is pivotally mounted to the central wall 230, and serves as an openable
door. The
second sidewall 234 has a first portion 233 adjacent the filtration member
224, and a
second portion 235 adjacent the suction motor 226. The first portion is
pivotally
mounted to the central wall 230. The second portion 235 is removable from the
central
wall 230 when the first portion 233 is open. A plurality of interior walls,
including a
central interior wall 237, extend within the housing 220, to separate the
suction motor
226 from the filtration member 224, so that fluid communication between the
filtration
member 224 and the suction motor 226 may generally only occur between a
filtration
member air outlet 264, and a suction motor air inlet 239, as will be described
in further
detail hereinbelow.
[0068] Referring to Figure 6, in the embodiment shown, the
filtration member 224
is a cyclone 244. In alternate embodiments, the filtration member 224 may be,
for
example, a filter, such as a filter bag or a foam filter. In further alternate
embodiments,
the filtration member 224 may include a plurality of cyclones, or a plurality
of cyclonic
stages.
[0069] The cyclone 244 may be of any suitable configuration. In
the embodiment
shown, the cyclone 244 extends along a longitudinal axis 246, which is
generally
horizontally extending. The cyclone 244 includes a cyclone wall 248, which is
integral
with the central wall 230, and together with the central wall 230 defines a
cyclone
chamber 250. A first end 252 of the cyclone wall 148, which is positioned
towards the
second sidewall 234, is open, and an opposed second end 254 of the cyclone
wall
includes a second end wall 256. The cyclone wall 248 is positioned in the
housing 220
such that it is spaced from the second sidewall 234. The central interior wall
237 is
integral with the cyclone wall 248, and extends away from the cyclone wall
248, and
along the cyclone wall 248, towards the second sidewall 234. The space between
the
first end 252 of the cyclone wall 248, the first portion 233 of the second
sidewall 234,
and the central interior wall 237 forms a dirt collection chamber 260.
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[0070] The cyclone 244 further includes a cyclone air inlet (not shown),
and a
cyclone air outlet 264. The cyclone air inlet extends from a first end that is
in
communication with the hose 217 through the central wall 230 of the filtration
member
housing 220, to a second end that is in communication with the cyclone chamber
250.
The cyclone air outlet 264 extends along the axis 246, from a first end 270
that is
positioned within the cyclone chamber 250, through the lower wall 156, and to
a second
end 272 (also referred to herein as an outlet 272 of the cyclone air outlet
264) that is in
communication with a chamber 241 adjacent the first sidewall 232 of the
suction and
filtration unit 210. A screen 272 is preferably mounted over the first end 270
of the
cyclone air outlet.
[0071] In use, air flows from the hose 217 into the cyclone chamber 250
through
the cyclone air inlet. In the cyclone chamber 250, the air flows within the
cyclone wall
248 in a cyclonic pattern, and particulate matter is separated from the air.
The
particulate matter exits the cyclone chamber 250 through the first end 152,
and settles
in the dirt collection chamber 260. The air exits the cyclone chamber 250
through the
cyclone air outlet 264, and enters the chamber 241
[0072] The dirt collection chamber 260 may be emptied in any suitable
manner.
In the embodiment shown, the first portion 233 of the second side wall 234 is
pivotally
openable, so that the dirt collection chamber 260 may be opened.
[0073] Referring still to Figure 6, the surface cleaning apparatus includes
a pre-
motor filter 276. The pre-motor filter 276 is housed in the chamber 241, and
is snugly
received within the central wall 230. The pre-motor filter has an upstream
side 280 that
faces the first sidewall 232 of the housing 220, and an opposed downstream
side 282
that faces the second sidewall 234 of the housing 220. The pre-motor filter
276 may be
any suitable type of filter. Preferably, the pre-motor filter includes a foam
layer 286 and
a felt layer 288.
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[0074] Referring still to Figure 6, the cyclone air outlet 264 extends
through the
pre-motor filter 276, so that air exiting the pre-motor filter 276 is in
contact with the
upstream side 280 of the pre-motor filter 286.
[0075] The air then passes through the pre-motor filter 276, towards a
suction
motor inlet 239 that faces the downstream side 282 of the pre-motor filter
276. From
the suction motor inlet 239, the air passes towards and out of the clean air
outlet 204.
[0076] Once again, it will be appreciated that the various elements
discussed
herein are for reference for the discussion of the specific exemplified
embodiments and
that the elements such as the air flow path upstream of the cyclone, the
cyclone, the
suction motor and the like may be of various constructions known in the art.
It will also
be appreciated that some elements that are discussed are optional and need not
be in
any particular embodiment.
[0077] Referring still to Figure 6, the surface cleaning apparatus further
includes
a bleed valve 201. As described hereinabove with respect to the surface
cleaning
apparatus 100, the bleed valve 201 allows air to flow from the suction motor
inlet 239 to
the clean air outlet 204 so that the suction motor 226 does not burn out if a
clog occurs.
[0078] Referring still to Figure 6, the bleed valve 201 extends through
the pre-
motor filter 276. Specifically, the bleed valve 201 includes an air inlet 203,
and air outlet
205, and a longitudinally extending airflow passageway 207 extending
therebetween.
The air inlet 203 is preferably formed through the first side wall 232 of the
housing 220,
and is adjacent the upstream side 280 of the pre-motor filter 276. A grate 243
is
preferably provided over the air inlet 203. The airflow passageway 207 is
defined by a
sidewall 209 extending through the pre-motor filter 276. The air outlet 205 is
defined by
an open end of the airflow passageway 207, and is adjacent the downstream side
282
of the pre-motor filter 276. The air outlet 205 faces and is in communication
with the
motor inlet 239.
[0079] The airflow passageway 207 extends along a longitudinal axis 211.
As
shown, the longitudinal axis 211 is preferably parallel with the longitudinal
axis 246 of
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CA 02730444 2011-01-31
the cyclone 244 and the cyclone air outlet 264, and is preferably aligned with
a
longitudinal axis 290 of the suction motor 226. Further, the airflow
passageway 207 is
preferably aligned with a direction of flow (as shown by arrow A) through the
pre-motor
filter 176.
[0080] The bleed valve 201 may be opened and closed in any suitable manner,
and is preferably opened automatically when the pressure at the suction motor
226
decreases. In the embodiment shown, the bleed valve 201 includes an actuating
member 213 that maybe similar to the actuating member 113 described
hereinabove,
and will not be described in detail herein, although it will be appreciated
that various
mechanisms may be utilized in any embodiment.
[0081] As mentioned hereinabove the first sidewall 232 is pivotally mounted
to
the central wall 230, and serves as an openable door. Referring to Figure 7,
the first
sidewall 232 is openable to provide access to the pre-motor filter 276, so
that it may be,
for example, removed, replaced, or cleaned. In alternate embodiments, the
surface
cleaning apparatus 200 may alternately or additionally be configured such that
the first
sidewall 232 may be openable to provide access to the dirt collection chamber
260.
[0082] Referring to Figure 8, a further alternate surface cleaning
apparatus 800 is
shown. The surface cleaning apparatus is similar to the surface cleaning
apparatus
500, and like numerals in the surface cleaning apparatus 800 will be used to
describe
like features as in the surface cleaning apparatus 500, with the first digit
incremented to
8.
[0083] In the surface cleaning apparatus 800, the cyclone air outlet 864
does not
extend through the pre-motor filter 876. The upstream side 280 of the pre-
motor filter
876 faces towards the second sidewall 834 of the housing 820, and the
downstream
side 882 of the pre-motor filter 876 faces the first sidewall 834. Air passes
out of the
second end 872 of the cyclone air outlet 864, through the pre-motor filter,
and into the
chamber 841.
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CA 02730444 2011-01-31
[0084] The suction motor 826 has a suction motor inlet that extends through
the
pre-motor filter 876, so that it is in communication with the downstream side
882 of the
pre-motor filter 876.
[0085] In this embodiment, the bleed valve 801 is provided in the openable
door,
and has an air outlet 805 that is within the chamber 841, so that it is in
communication
with the suction motor air inlet 239.
[0086] When the openable door is open, the suction motor inlet 839 is
visible,
and the downstream side 882 of the pre-motor filter 876 is visible.
[0087] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, a further alternate surface cleaning
apparatus 900 is shown. The surface cleaning apparatus is similar to the
surface
cleaning apparatus 500, and like numerals in the surface cleaning apparatus
900 will be
used to describe like features as in the surface cleaning apparatus 500, with
the first
digit incremented to 9.
[0088] In this embodiment, the pre-motor filter 976 extends only across the
suction motor 226. The cyclone air outlet 974 is in communication with the
chamber
941. The upstream side 980 of the pre-motor filter the first sidewall 932 of
the housing
920, and an opposed downstream side 982 that faces the second sidewall 934 of
the
housing 220.
[0089] The air passes through the pre-motor filter 976, towards the suction
motor
inlet 939 that is facing the downstream side 982 of the pre-motor filter 976.
From the
suction motor inlet 939, the air passes towards and out of the clean air
outlet 904.
[0090] Referring still to Figure 9, the surface cleaning apparatus further
includes
a bleed valve 901. As described hereinabove with respect to the surface
cleaning
apparatus 500, bleed valve 901 extends through the pre-motor filter 976.
[0091] Referring to Figure 10, when the openable door is open, the upstream
side 980 of the pre-motor filter 976 is visible.
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CA 02730444 2016-12-07
[0092] It will be appreciated that by positioning the bleed valve in line
with the air
flow direction, that the size of the outer housing of the surface cleaning
apparatus may
be reduced. This is particularly preferred for hand operable surface cleaning
apparatus.
As exemplified herein, part or all of a bleed valve may itself be placed in
the pre-motor
filter. Accordingly, by utilizing space otherwise occupied by the pre-motor
filter, then size
of the surface cleaning apparatus may be reduced. As exemplified in the
embodiment of
Figures 6 and 8, the pre-motor filter may extend over a portion or all of the
cyclone.
Accordingly, the surface area of the pre-motor filter exposed to the air flow
may be
increased. Therefore, even if the bleed valve is placed in the pre-motor
filter, the
capacity of the pre-motor filter need not be impaired.
[0093] It will also be appreciated that, by configuring the surface
cleaning
apparatus such that the upstream side of the pre-motor filter is visible when
a filter door
is opened, that a user will be provided with a visual cue to clean or replace
the pre-
motor filter if the upstream side of the pre-motor filter is dirty when the
door is opened.
[0094] Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been
disclosed for
illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many
additions,
modifications, and substitutions are possible and that the scope of the claims
should not
be limited by the embodiments set forth herein, but should be given the
broadest
interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
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