Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02899653 2015-09-22
TITLE: SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS
[0001] Blank.
FIELD
[0002] The specification relates to surface cleaning apparatus. In a
preferred
embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a portable surface
cleaning
apparatus, such as a hand vacuum cleaner or a pod.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The following is not an admission that anything discussed below is
part of the
prior art or part of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the
art.
[0004] Various types of surface cleaning apparatus are known. Surface
cleaning
apparatus include vacuum cleaners. Currently, a vacuum cleaner typically uses
at least
one cyclonic cleaning stage. More recently, cyclonic hand vacuum cleaners have
been
developed. See for example, US 7,931,716 and US 2010/0229328. Each of these
discloses a hand vacuum cleaner which includes a cyclonic cleaning stage. US
7,931,716
discloses a cyclonic cleaning stage utilizing two cyclonic cleaning stages
wherein both
cyclonic stages have cyclone axis that extends vertically. US 2010/0229328
discloses a
cyclonic hand vacuum cleaner wherein the cyclone axis extends horizontally and
is co-axial
with the suction motor. In addition, hand carriable (e.g., pod style) cyclonic
vacuum
cleaners are also known (see US 8,146,201).
SUMMARY
[0005] This summary is intended to introduce the reader to the more
detailed
description that follows and not to limit or define any claimed or as yet
unclaimed invention.
One or more inventions may reside in any combination or sub-combination of the
elements
or process steps disclosed in any part of this document including its claims
and figures.
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[0006] According to one broad aspect, a pod or other hand carriable
surface
cleaning apparatus, such as a vacuum cleaner, is provided utilizing at least
one cyclone
stage wherein the cyclone chamber has two dirt outlets which are preferably
positioned
front and rear. An advantage of this design is that the dirt carrying capacity
of the
vacuum cleaner may be increased. For example, if the vacuum cleaner is being
used
and is tilted upwardly, the dirt in the dirt collection chamber will tend to
move rearwardly.
The amount of dirt in the dirt collection chamber may be below the fill line.
However,
when the vacuum cleaner is tilted upwardly, movement of the dirt rearwardly
may cause
the dirt in the dirt collection chamber to extend above the fill line and
could potentially
block a rearwardly positioned dirt outlet. The provision of a second spaced
apart
(preferably forwardly positioned) dirt outlet may provide an alternate dirt
outlet which
may be used in such a situation. Similarly, the hand vacuum cleaner may be
tilted
forwardly. In such a case, the dirt in the dirt collection chamber may move
forwardly
blocking a forward dirt outlet. However, the provision of a second spaced
apart
(preferably rearwardly positioned) dirt outlet may provide an alternate dirt
outlet which
may be used in such a situation. Accordingly, provision of different dirt
outlets may
allow the vacuum cleaner to continue to function despite the vacuum cleaner
being
operated at an angle to the horizontal. It will be appreciated that such a
design is
usable in hand vacuum cleaners, pod vacuum cleaners or other vacuum cleaners
or
surface cleaning apparatus which are meant to be carried by a hand or shoulder
strap or
the like (which may be referred to as hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus).
[0006] It will be appreciated that in a preferred embodiment, the
dirt outlets are
positioned adjacent the forward end and the rearward end of the cyclone
chamber or
cyclone chambers. However, it will be appreciated that displacing the dirt
outlets from
being exactly forward or rearward will still increase the dirt capacity of the
hand carriable
surface cleaning apparatus when operated at an angle to the horizontal.
[0007] The cyclone chamber may be of any particular design.
Preferably, the
cyclone chamber has the dirt outlet provided at a lower end. For example, the
vacuum
cleaner may have an upper air inlet and an upper air outlet. The dirt outlets
may be
provided in the sidewall at or close to the lower end wall of the cyclone
chamber.
Accordingly, the dirt outlets may be defined by cutouts or slots provided in
the sidewall
of the cyclone chamber. However, it will be appreciated that the dual dirt
outlet design
may be utilized with other cyclone constructions such as an inverted cyclone
(e.g., the
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air inlet and air outlet are provided at a lower end and the dirt outlets are
provided at an
upper end of the cyclone chamber).
[0008]
Each of the dirt outlets may be the same size. However, in a preferred
embodiment, one of the dirt outlets is larger than the other. In addition, the
positioning
of the dirt outlets with respect to the position of the cyclone air inlet may
vary. For
example, one or both of the dirt outlets may have a radial extent of 15-135 ,
preferably
30-105 and, still more preferably, 60-75 . One of the dirt outlets may be
positioned at
the same radial position on the sidewall of the cyclone chamber as the cyclone
air inlet.
For example, if the dirt outlet is at the lower end of a cyclone chamber and
the air inlet is
at the upper end, one of the dirt outlets may be positioned directly below the
air inlet
such that the radial displacement around the sidewall of the cyclone chamber
from the
air inlet may be less than 10 degrees. In such an embodiment, it is preferred
that the
opposed dirt outlet is larger and may be twice as large (e.g., its angular
extent may be
twice that of the slot which is aligned with the air inlet).
[0009] It will also be appreciated that the hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus may be mountable on a base, such as a wheeled base or an upper
portion of
an upright surface cleaning apparatus. In such a case, the hand carriable
surface
cleaning apparatus may function as the air treatment member of an upright
surface
cleaning apparatus or a canister style surface cleaning apparatus.
[0010] In another embodiment, an improved air flow path for a hand
carriable
surface cleaning apparatus and, preferably, a hand vacuum cleaner or hand
surface
cleaning apparatus, is provided. In accordance with this embodiment, the
suction motor
inlet is positioned below the upper end of the cyclone chamber and preferably
at a
position between the upper and lower ends of the cyclone chamber or a cyclone
bin
assembly (e.g., a cyclone bin assembly which includes a cyclone chamber and a
dirt
collection chamber, wherein the dirt collection chamber may be positioned
below the
cyclone chamber). According to such an embodiment, the air may enter the
cyclone
chamber, either at the upper end or the lower end of the cyclone chamber, and
exit the
cyclone chamber via an air outlet positioned in the upper end wall of the
cyclone
chamber. The air may then travel through a pre-motor filter. The pre-motor
filter is
preferably positioned above the cyclone chamber. The air exiting the cyclone
chamber
may either travel upwardly through the pre-motor filter and then travel
downwardly via a
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conduit provided through the pre-motor filter or at a position that is
laterally spaced (e.g.,
rearwardly) from the pre-motor filter. Alternately, the air exiting the
cyclone chamber
may pass via a conduit through the pre-motor filter and then travel downwardly
through
the pre-motor filter before travelling laterally (e.g., rearwardly). A conduit
may then
extend downwardly from the downstream side of the pre-motor filter (e.g.,
adjacent the
cyclone chamber and/or an exterior dirt collection chamber of the cyclone
chamber) to
the suction motor inlet. This down flow conduit may be spaced from the cyclone
chamber and dirt collection chamber or it may share a common wall with one or
both
thereof.
[0011] An advantage of this design is that the pre-motor filter may be
accessible
for cleaning or replacement by opening a panel on the upper portion of the
hand
carriable surface cleaning apparatus. Concurrently, the hand carriable surface
cleaning
apparatus may be emptiable by opening a bottom door. The bottom door may open
the
cyclone chamber, the dirt collection chamber, and, preferably, both
simultaneously.
Accordingly, the surface cleaning apparatus is provided in a hand carriable
configuration
wherein a bottom opening door and an upper opening pre-motor filter chamber is
provided.
[0012] It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that
any of the features
of the air flow passage discussed herein may not be utilized with the dual
dirt outlet
design disclosed herein, but may be used by itself or in combination with any
other
feature disclosed herein.
[0013] In another embodiment, a hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus is
provided wherein the suction motor is positioned horizontally (e.g.,
transverse to the
vertical axis of the cyclone) and located between the upper and lower ends of
the
cyclone chamber or a cyclone bin assembly (preferably at or proximate a
midpoint of the
cyclone or cyclone bin assembly). A handle is provided which extends upwardly
from
the suction motor housing and is secured to an upper portion of the hand
carriable
surface cleaning apparatus. For example, a lower end of the handle may be
provided
on an upper surface of the suction motor housing. The upper end of the handle
may
extend to the pre-motor filter housing or a bridging portion which extends
rearwardly
from the pre-motor filter housing. The handle is preferably positioned so as
to be
rearward of the centre of gravity of the hand vacuum cleaner. Preferably, the
centre of
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gravity is also located below the lower end of the handle. The handle may also
be
angled forwardly such that a vertical line extending upwardly from the center
of gravity
may pass through an upper portion of the handle (preferably a bridging portion
extending between the pre-motor filter housing and the upper portion of the
handle). An
advantage of this design is that the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus
has
improved ergonomics. The hand vacuum cleaner may impart a downward force of
less
than two pounds, preferably less than one pound, and preferably essentially no
downward force on the hand of the user when the user holds the hand carriable
surface
cleaning apparatus horizontally disposed.
[0014] It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that any of
the features
of the ergonomic design of the hand vacuum cleaner discussed herein may not be
utilized with the dual dirt outlet design disclosed herein, but may be used by
itself or in
combination with any other feature disclosed herein.
[0015] In accordance with another embodiment, a hand carriable
surface
cleaning apparatus is provided wherein the dirt collection chamber is
removable with the
handle of the surface cleaning apparatus for emptying. An advantage of this
design is
that a user need not carry the entire hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus to a
garbage can or the like for emptying the dirt collection chamber. Instead, the
user may
be able to manipulate a lighter portion while emptying the dirt collection
chamber. In
addition, utilizing the handle of the hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus provides
an easy way for a user to transport and hold the dirt collection chamber while
it is being
emptied. In addition, as the dirt collection chamber has been removed from the
suction
motor, the dirt collection chamber may be washed or otherwise cleaned once
removed
from the suction motor. It will be appreciated that the dirt collection
chamber may be a
lower portion of the cyclone chamber or a separate chamber in communication
with a
dirt outlet of the cyclone chamber. Preferably, if the dirt collection chamber
is exterior to
the cyclone chamber, then the cyclone chamber and dirt collection chamber may
be
removable with the handle as a unit (e.g., a cyclone bin assembly). It will be
appreciated by a person skilled in the art that any of the features of the
removable dirt
collection chamber and handle assembly discussed herein may not be utilized
with the
dual dirt outlet design disclosed herein, but may be used by itself or in
combination with
any other feature disclosed herein.
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[0016] In accordance with another embodiment, a bleed valve is
provided
downstream of the cyclone chamber. For example, the air exiting the cyclone
chamber
may travel upwardly via a conduit (which may be an extension of the vortex
finder)
through the pre-motor filters so that the upper side of the pre-motor filter
is the upstream
or dirty side of the pre-motor filter. In such a construction, the bleed valve
may be
positioned in the up flow conduit and connect with an air flow passage on the
downstream side of the pre-motor filter (e.g., a downstream header of the pre-
motor
filter). Accordingly, the bleed valve may be positioned so as to draw bleed
air in through
a port on the upper side of the pre-motor filter housing and convey the bleed
air through
the up flow conduit from the cyclone chamber to a position downstream of the
pre-motor
filter. An advantage of this design is that the bleed valve is positioned at a
location
which will not be blocked during operation of the hand vacuum cleaner and does
not
require another passage through the pre-motor filter (which would reduce the
cross
sectional area of the upstream surface area of the pre-motor filter). In an
alternate
embodiment, it will be appreciated that the bleed valve could be exterior to
the up flow
conduit and may pass through the pre-motor filter.
[0017] In another embodiment, the bleed valve could be provided on a
rearward
surface of the surface cleaning apparatus. For example, the bleed valve could
be
position coaxial with, and above, the suction motor housing. Accordingly,
bleed air
could travel essentially forwardly through the bleed valve into the down flow
conduit
adjacent to the cyclone chamber/dirt collection chamber and then rearwardly
into the
suction motor. In an alternate embodiment, the bleed valve could be radially
spaced
around the hand vacuum cleaner but still communicate with the down flow
passage.
[0018] It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that
any of the features
of the bleed valve discussed herein may not be used with the dual dirt outlet
design
disclosed herein, but may be used by itself or in combination with any other
feature
disclosed herein.
[0019] In another embodiment, the hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus has
a cyclone chamber with a vertically extending axis and the pre-motor filter is
positioned
above the cyclone chamber and is preferably positioned so as to extend
perpendicular
to the axis of the cyclone. Accordingly, the air exiting the cyclone chamber
may travel
upwardly to the pre-motor filter. In such an embodiment, the lower side of the
pre-motor
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filter may be the upstream side or alternately, the upper side may be the
upstream side
of the pre-motor filter (if a conduit such as the vortex finder extends
through the pre-
motor filter). An advantage of this design is that a header may be provided
and the air
will tend to distribute itself radially outwardly over the entire upstream
surface of the pre-
motor filter.
[0020] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any
of the features of
the positioning of the pre-motor filter discussed herein may not be utilized
with the dual
dirt outlet design disclosed herein, but may be used by itself or in
combination with any
other feature disclosed herein.
[0021] In another embodiment, a pod or other hand carriable surface
cleaning
apparatus may be provided with a pre-motor filter that is positioned above the
cyclone
chamber and the vortex finder or an extension thereof may extend through the
pre-
motor filter to the upstream side of the pre-motor filter. The pre-motor
filter may be
essentially coaxial with the vortex finder (e.g., the pre-motor filter may
overlie the
cyclone chamber and be essentially centered above the cyclone chamber). It
will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that any of the features of a pre-
motor filter with a
conduit therethrough disclosed herein may not be utilized with the dual dirt
outlet
discussed herein, but may be used by itself or in combination with any other
feature
disclosed herein.
[0022] In one embodiment there is provided a hand carriable surface
cleaning
apparatus comprising:
(a) a body housing a suction motor;
(b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection
chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber, the cyclone chamber comprising two
dirt
outlets provided in a lower portion of the cyclone chamber; and,
(c) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet
and including
the suction motor and the cyclone chamber.
[0023] In some embodiments, the dirt outlets may be positioned on
opposed
sides of the cyclone chamber.
[0024] In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus may have a front
end and a rear end and one of the dirt outlets may be positioned on a front
side of the
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cyclone chamber and another of the dirt outlets may be positioned on a rear
side of the
cyclone chamber. Preferably, at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber
may be
positioned below the dirt outlets.
[0025] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the dirt
collection chamber may
be positioned below the dirt outlets.
[0026] In some embodiments, the air inlet may be positioned at an
upper end of
the cyclone chamber, the air outlet may be configured so that air exits the
cyclone
chamber through the upper end and the dirt outlets may be positioned at a
lower end of
the cyclone chamber.
[0027] In some embodiments, the air inlet and the dirt outlet may be
positioned at
a lower end of the cyclone chamber and the air outlet may be positioned at an
upper
end of the cyclone chamber.
[0028] In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus may
comprise a hand vacuum cleaner.
[0029] In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus
may
be removably mountable on a base and, when so mounted, the hand carriable
surface
cleaning apparatus and the base together define a surface cleaning apparatus
in which
the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus is an operating component of the
surface
cleaning apparatus when so mounted, and the at least one cyclone is oriented
in a
generally upright position when mounted on the base.
[0030] In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus may
be removably mountable on an upper portion of an upright vacuum cleaner
wherein the
upper portion is moveably mounted to a surface cleaning head between a storage
position and a floor cleaning position.Preferably, the at least one cyclone is
oriented in a
generally upright position when mounted on the upright vacuum cleaner.
[0031] In some embodiments, the dirt collection chamber may have a
lower
openable door.
[0032] In another embodiment there is provided a surface cleaning
apparatus
comprising:
(a) a body housing a suction motor;
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(b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection
chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber, the cyclone chamber comprising two
dirt
outlets provided in the cyclone chamber wherein at least a portion of the dirt
chamber is positioned below the dirt outlets; and,
(c) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet
and including
the suction motor and the air treatment member.
[0033]
In some embodiments, the dirt outlets may be provided in a lower end of
the cyclone chamber.
[0034]
In some embodiments, the dirt outlets may be positioned on opposed
sides of the cyclone chamber.
[0035]
In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus may have a front
end and a rear end and one of the dirt outlets may be positioned on a front
side of the
cyclone chamber and another of the dirt outlets may be positioned an a rear
side of the
cyclone chamber.
[0036] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the dirt collection
chamber may
be positioned below the dirt outlets.
[0037]
In some embodiments, the dirt collection chamber may have a lower
openable door.
[0038]
In another embodiment there is provided a surface cleaning apparatus
comprising:
a) a dirty fluid inlet;
b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber downstream of the
dirty fluid inlet, the cyclone chamber comprising a first end, a second end, a
cyclone axis, an air inlet and an air outlet at the second end;
c) a pre-motor filter positioned downstream of the cyclone;
d) a suction motor positioned downstream of the pre-motor filter;
e) an air flow path extending from the pre-motor filter to the suction motor
wherein the air flow path has a first portion that is exterior to the cyclone
chamber and extends to a position that is between and laterally spaced from
the
first and second ends of the cyclone chamber and a second portion that extends
laterally to a suction motor inlet; and,
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f) a clean air outlet downstream of the suction motor.
[0039] In some embodiments, the suction motor may have a suction
motor inlet
and the suction motor inlet may be positioned exterior to the cyclone chamber
and
between the first and second ends of the cyclone bin assembly.
[0040] In some embodiments, the suction motor may have a motor axis that is
generally perpendicular to the cyclone axis.
[0041] In some embodiments, the suction motor may have a motor axis
that is
generally perpendicular to the cyclone axis.
[0042] In some embodiments, the air inlet may be provided at the
second end
and the dirt outlet may be provided at the first end.
[0043] In some embodiments, the first portion of the air flow path
may extend
along an exterior wall of the cyclone chamber.
[0044] In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus may
further
comprise a dirt collection chamber positioned exterior to the cyclone chamber.
The first
portion of the air flow path may extend along an exterior wall of the dirt
collection
chamber.
[0045] In some embodiments, the pre-motor filter may be spaced from
and may
face the second end of the cyclone chamber, the pre-motor filter may have an
upstream
side and a downstream side and the upstream side may be spaced further from
the
cyclone chamber than the downstream side.
[0046] In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus may
further
comprise a conduit that is in flow communication with the air outlet of the
cyclone
chamber and extends through the pre-motor filter.
[0047] In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus may
further
comprise a downstream header on the downstream side of the pre-motor filter.
The air
flow path may extend downstream from the downstream header.
[0048] In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus may
further
comprise an upstream header on the upstream side of the pre-motor filter. The
upstream header may be openable.
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[0049] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the upstream
header may be
transparent.
[0050] In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus may be a
hand
carriable surface cleaning apparatus. The surface cleaning apparatus may
further
comprise a handle, a suction motor housing and a pre-motor filter housing. The
handle
may extend between the suction motor housing and the pre-motor filter housing.
[0051] In some embodiments, the pre-motor filter housing may be
openable.
[0052] In some embodiments, the suction motor may have a motor axis
that is
generally perpendicular to the cyclone axis.
[0053] In some embodiments, the handle may have a suction motor housing end
that may be spaced laterally from a pre-motor filter end of the handle. The
pre-motor
filter end of the handle may be spaced in the direction of the cyclone axis
from the
suction motor end of the handle.
[0054] In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus may
further
comprise an opening having a perimeter. The perimeter may comprise portions of
the
handle, the pre-motor filer housing and the suction motor housing.
[0055] In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus may be a
hand
carriable surface cleaning apparatus. The surface cleaning apparatus may
further
comprise a handle. A portion of the handle may be placed rearward of a centre
of
gravity of the surface cleaning apparatus.
[0056]
In another embodiment, there is provided a surface cleaning apparatus
comprising:
a) a dirty fluid inlet;
b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber downstream of the
dirty fluid inlet, the cyclone chamber comprising a first end, a second end, a
cyclone axis, an air inlet and an air outlet at the second end;
C) a pre-motor filter positioned downstream of the cyclone wherein air travels
in
a first direction from the cyclone chamber to an upstream side of the pre-
motor
filter;
d) a suction motor positioned downstream of the pre-motor filter, the suction
motor has a suction motor inlet positioned between the first and second ends
of
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the cyclone bin assembly and a motor axis that is generally perpendicular to
the
cyclone axis;
e) an air flow path extending from the pre-motor filter to the suction motor
wherein the air flow path includes a portion through which air travels in an
opposite direction to the first direction; and,
f) a clean air outlet downstream of the suction motor.
[0057] In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus further
comprises a
bleed valve having an inlet end in the air flow path and an axis that is
generally parallel
to an axis of the suction motor.
[0058] In another embodiment there is provided a hand carriable surface
cleaning
apparatus having a front end, a rear end and comprising:
(a) a dirty fluid inlet;
(b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber downstream of the
dirty
fluid inlet, the cyclone chamber comprising a lower end, an upper end, a
cyclone
axis, an air inlet and an air outlet at the upper end;
(c) a pre-motor filter comprising an upstream side and a downstream side, the
motor
filter is positioned above the upper end and downstream of the cyclone
chamber;
(d) a suction motor positioned downstream of the pre-motor filter and rearward
of the
cyclone bin assembly;
(e) an air flow path extending from the pre-motor filter to the suction motor;
and,
(f) a clean air outlet downstream of the suction motor.
[0059] In some embodiments, the suction motor may have a suction
motor inlet
that is positioned between the lower and upper ends of the cyclone bin
assembly.
[0060] In some embodiments, the suction motor may have a motor axis
that is
generally perpendicular to the cyclone axis.
[0061] In some embodiments, the suction motor may have a motor axis
that is
generally perpendicular to the cyclone axis.
[0062] In some embodiments, the air inlet may be provided at the
upper end and
the dirt outlet may be provided at the lower end and a dirt collection chamber
may be
positioned below the cyclone chamber.
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[0063] In some embodiments, the air flow path may have a portion
that is exterior
to and extends part way along an exterior wall of the cyclone chamber to a
suction
motor inlet.
[0064] In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus may
further comprise a dirt collection chamber positioned exterior to the cyclone
chamber.
The air flow path may have a portion that extends part way along an exterior
wall of the
dirt collection chamber to a suction motor inlet.
[0065] In some embodiments, the upstream side may be spaced further
from the
cyclone chamber than the downstream side.
[0066] In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus
may
further comprise a conduit that is in flow communication with the air outlet
of the cyclone
chamber and extends through the pre-motor filter.
[0067] In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus may
further comprise a downstream header on the downstream side of the pre-motor
filter
and the air flow path may extend downstream from the downstream header.
[0068] In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus may
further comprise an upstream header on the upstream side of the pre-motor
filter and
the upstream header may be openable.
[0069] In some embodiments, wherein at least a portion of the
upstream header
is transparent.
[0070] In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus may
further comprise a handle, a suction motor housing and a pre-motor filter
housing
positioned above the cyclone chamber. The handle may extend between the
suction
motor housing and the pre-motor filter housing.
[0071] In some embodiments, the pre-motor filter housing may be openable.
[0072] In some embodiments, the suction motor may have a motor axis
that is
generally perpendicular to the cyclone axis.
[0073] In some embodiments, the handle may have a suction motor
housing end
that is spaced rearward of the cyclone bin assembly and below the pre-motor
filter
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housing and a pre-motor filter end that is spaced above and forward of the
suction motor
end of the handle.
[0074]
In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus may
further comprise an opening having a perimeter. The perimeter may comprise
portions
of the handle, the pre-motor filer housing and the suction motor housing.
[0075]
In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus may
further comprise a handle. A portion of the handle may be placed rearward of a
centre
of gravity of the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus.
[0076]
In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus may
further comprise a bleed valve having an inlet end in the air flow path.
[0077]
In some embodiments, the bleed valve may have an axis that is generally
parallel to an axis of the suction motor.
[0078]
In another embodiment there is provided a hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus having a front end, a rear end and comprising:
(a) a dirty fluid inlet;
(b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber downstream of the
dirty
fluid inlet, the cyclone chamber comprising a lower end, an upper end, a
cyclone
axis, an air inlet and an air outlet at the upper end;
(c) a pre-motor filter comprising an upstream side and a downstream side,
(d) a conduit in communication with the cyclone air outlet, extending through
the pre-
motor filter and in communication with the upstream side of the pre-motor
filter;
(e) a suction motor positioned downstream of the pre-motor filter and rearward
of the
cyclone bin assembly;
(f) an air flow path extending from the pre-motor filter to the suction motor;
and,
(g) a clean air outlet downstream of the suction motor.
[0079]
In some embodiments, the pre-motor filter may be positioned above the
cyclone chamber and the upstream side is spaced further from the cyclone
chamber
than the downstream side.
[0080]
In some embodiments, the cyclone air outlet may comprise a vortex finder
and the conduit comprises an extension of the vortex finder.
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[0081] In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus
may
further comprise a downstream header on the downstream side of the pre-motor
filter.
The air flow path may extend downstream from the downstream header.
[0082] In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus
may
further comprise an upstream header on the upstream side of the pre-motor
filter. The
upstream header may be openable.
[0083] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the upstream header may
be
transparent.
[0084] In some embodiments, the suction motor may have a suction motor
inlet
that is positioned between the lower and upper ends of the cyclone bin
assembly.
[0085] In some embodiments, the suction motor may have a motor axis that is
generally perpendicular to the cyclone axis.
[0086] In some embodiments, the suction motor may have a motor axis that is
generally perpendicular to the cyclone axis.
[0087] In some embodiments, the air inlet may be provided at the upper end
and
the dirt outlet is provided at the lower end and a dirt collection chamber is
positioned
below the cyclone chamber.
[0088] In some embodiments, the air flow path motor may have a portion that
is
exterior to and extends part way along an exterior wall of the cyclone chamber
to a
suction motor inlet.
[0089] In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus
may
further comprise a dirt collection chamber positioned exterior to the cyclone
chamber.
The air flow path may have a portion that extends part way along an exterior
wall of the
dirt collection chamber to a suction motor inlet.
[0090] In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus
may
further comprise a handle, a suction motor housing and a pre-motor filter
housing
positioned above the cyclone chamber. The handle may extend between the
suction
motor housing and the pre-motor filter housing.
[0091] In some embodiments, the pre-motor filter housing may be openable.
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[0092]
In some embodiments, the suction motor may have a motor axis that is
generally perpendicular to the cyclone axis.
[0093]
In some embodiments, the handle may have a suction motor housing end
that is spaced rearward of the cyclone bin assembly and below the pre-motor
filter
housing and a pre-motor filter end that is spaced above and forward of the
suction motor
end of the handle.
[0094]
In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus may
further comprise an opening having a perimeter. The perimeter may comprise
portions
of the handle, the pre-motor filer housing and the suction motor housing.
[0095] In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus
may
further comprise a handle. A portion of the handle may be placed rearward of a
centre
of gravity of the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus.
[0096]
In some embodiments, the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus may
further comprise a bleed valve having an inlet end in the air flow path.
[0097] In some embodiments, the bleed valve may have an axis that is
generally
parallel to an axis of the suction motor.
[0098]
In another embodiment there is provided a hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus having a front end, a rear end, an upper end and a lower end and
comprising:
(a) a dirty fluid inlet;
(b) a body housing a suction motor and a cyclone bin assembly positioned
forward of
the suction motor, the cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a
dirt collection chamber;
(c) a handle, at least a portion of the handle disposed rearward of and above
a
centre of gravity of the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus;
(d) a clean air outlet downstream of the suction motor; and,
(e) an airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet
and
including the suction motor and the cyclone bin assembly.
[0099]
The surface cleaning apparatus of this embodiment may further comprise
any one or more of the forgoing features.
[00100] In another embodiment there is provided a hand carriable surface
cleaning
apparatus comprising:
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(a) an air flow path extending from a dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet;
(b) a main body comprising a handle and housing a cyclone bin assembly and a
pre-
motor filter;
(c) a suction motor housing comprising a suction motor, the suction motor
housing
being removably coupled to the main body; and,
(d) a clean air outlet downstream of the suction motor.
[00101]
The surface cleaning apparatus of this embodiment may further comprise
any one or more of the forgoing features.
[00102]
In another embodiment there is provided a hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus comprising:
(a) a body housing a suction motor;
(b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection
chamber, the cyclone chamber extending along a cyclone axis and comprising an
air inlet, a dirt outlet in communication with the dirt collection chamber and
an air
outlet;
(c) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet
and including
the suction motor and the cyclone chamber; and,
(d) a bleed valve extending along a valve axis that is co-axial with the
cyclone axis,
having an inlet port to receive air from outside the air flow path and an
outlet port
in communication with the air flow path between the cyclone air outlet and the
suction motor.
[00103]
The surface cleaning apparatus of this embodiment may further comprise
any one or more of the forgoing features.
[00104]
In another embodiment there is provided a hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus comprising:
(a) a body housing a suction motor;
(b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection
chamber, the cyclone chamber extending along a cyclone axis and comprising an
air inlet, a dirt outlet in communication with the dirt collection chamber and
an air
outlet;
(c) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet
and including
the suction motor and the cyclone chamber;
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(d) a pre-motor filter disposed in the air flow path and having a, upstream
side and
an opposed downstream side; and
(e) a bleed valve having an inlet port that is generally co-planar with the
upstream
side and configured to receive air from outside the air flow path and an
outlet port
in communication with the air flow path between the cyclone air outlet and the
suction motor.
[00105]
The surface cleaning apparatus of this embodiment may further comprise
any one or more of the forgoing features.
[00106]
In another embodiment there is provided a hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus comprising:
(a) a body housing a suction motor;
(b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection
chamber, the cyclone chamber extending along a cyclone axis between a first
end and a second end having a second end wall and comprising an air inlet, a
dirt outlet in communication with the dirt collection chamber and an air
outlet in
the second end wall;
(c) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet
and including
the suction motor and the cyclone chamber;
(d) a pre-motor filter disposed in the air flow path between the clean air
outlet and
the suction motor and overlying at least a portion of the second end wall of
the
cyclone chamber, the pre-motor filter having an upstream side and an opposed
downstream side spaced apart from the upstream side and a filter aperture
extending from the upstream side to the downstream side; and,
(e) a bleed valve having an inlet port configured to receive air from outside
the air
flow path and an outlet port in communication with the air flow path between
the
cyclone air outlet and the suction motor, the bleed valve being at least
partially
nested within the filter aperture.
[00107]
The surface cleaning apparatus of this embodiment may further comprise
any one or more of the forgoing features.
[00108] In another embodiment there is provided a hand carriable surface
cleaning
apparatus comprising:
(a) a body housing a suction motor;
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(b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection
chamber, the cyclone chamber comprising an air inlet, a dirt outlet in
communication with the dirt collection chamber and a vortex finder;
(c) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet
and including
the suction motor and the cyclone chamber;
(d) a pre-motor filter disposed in the air flow path between the clean air
outlet and
the suction motor; and,
(e) a bleed valve having an inlet port configured to receive air from outside
the air
flow path and an outlet port in communication with the air flow path between
the
cyclone air outlet and the suction motor, the bleed valve being at least
partially
nested within the vortex finder.
[00109]
The surface cleaning apparatus of this embodiment may further comprise
any one or more of the forgoing features.
[00110]
In another embodiment there is provided a hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus comprising:
(a) a body housing a suction motor;
(b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection
chamber, the cyclone chamber extending along a cyclone axis and comprising an
air inlet, a dirt outlet in communication with the dirt collection chamber and
an air
outlet;
(c) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet
and including
the suction motor and the cyclone chamber;
(d) a pre-motor filter disposed in the air flow path between the cyclone bin
assembly
and the suction motor and comprising an upstream side and a downstream side;
(e) a bleed valve having an inlet port to receive air from outside the air
flow path and
an outlet port positioned upstream of the downstream side of the pre-motor
filter;
and,
(f) a conduit having an inlet end in communication with the outlet port of the
bleed
valve and an outlet end in communication with the air flow path between the
pre-
motor filter and the suction motor.
[00111]
The surface cleaning apparatus of this embodiment may further comprise
any one or more of the forgoing features.
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[00112] It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that a
surface cleaning
apparatus may embody any one or more of the features contained herein and that
the
features may be used in any particular combination or sub-combination.
DRAWINGS
[00113] The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various
examples of
articles, methods, and apparatuses of the teaching of the present
specification and are
not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way.
[00114] In the drawings:
[00115] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of a hand held
surface
cleaning apparatus;
[00116] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the surface cleaning
apparatus of Figure
1 attached to a cleaning tool;
[00117] Figure 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the
surface cleaning
apparatus of Figure 1;
[00118] Figure 4 is another partially exploded perspective view of the
surface
cleaning apparatus of Figure 1;
[00119] Figure 5 is bottom perspective view of the surface cleaning
apparatus of
Figure 1 with the bottom door in an open position;
[00120] Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the surface cleaning
apparatus of
Figure 1, taken along line 6-6 in Figure 1;
[00121] Figure 7 is the cross sectional view of Figure 6 with the
surface cleaning
apparatus tilted forward;
[00122] Figure 8 is the cross sectional view of Figure 6 with the
surface cleaning
apparatus tilted backward;
[00123] Figure 9 is a side view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure
1;
[00124] Figure 10 is a side view of another embodiment of a surface
cleaning
apparatus with the cyclone bin assembly and handle removed for emptying;
[00125] Figure 11 is a rear perspective view of the surface cleaning
apparatus of
Figure 10;
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[00126]
Figure 12 is a schematic top plan representation of an example of a
cyclone bin assembly;
[00127]
Figure 13 is a schematic top plan representation of another example of a
cyclone bin assembly;
[00128] Figure 14 is a schematic top plan representation of another example
of a
cyclone bin assembly;
[00129]
Figure 15 is a schematic top plan representation of another example of a
cyclone bin assembly;
[00130]
Figure 16 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a surface
cleaning apparatus;
[00131]
Figure 17 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a surface
cleaning apparatus;
[00132]
Figure 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a surface
cleaning apparatus;
[00133] Figure 19 is a perspective view from the front of another
embodiment of a
surface cleaning apparatus;
[00134]
Figure 20 is another perspective view from the rear of the surface cleaning
apparatus of Figure 19;
[00135]
Figure 21 is a partially exploded perspective view of the surface cleaning
apparatus of Figure 19;
[00136]
Figure 22 is a perspective view of a portion of the surface cleaning
apparatus of Figure 19;
[00137]
Figure 23 is a cross sectional view of the Figure 22, taken along line 23-23
in Figure 22;
[00138] Figure 24 is the cross sectional view of Figure 23 with a bottom
door in an
open position;
[00139]
Figure 25 is a bottom perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus
of Figure 19;
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[00140] Figure 26 is a cross sectional view of the surface cleaning
apparatus of
Figure 19, taken along line 26-26 in Figure 19;
[00141] Figure 27 is a cross sectional view taken along line 27-27 in
Figure 19;
[00142] Figure 28 is a perspective view of the surface cleaning
apparatus of Figure
19 with a cover open;
[00143] Figure 29 is the perspective view of Figure 28 with a filter
cartridge
removed;
[00144] Figure 30 is the perspective view of Figure 29 with a filter
removed from
the filter cartridge;
[00145] Figure 31 is a cross sectional view of a portion of another
embodiment of a
surface cleaning apparatus;
[00146] Figure 32 is a cross sectional view of a portion of another
embodiment of a
surface cleaning apparatus;
[00147] Figure 33 is the perspective view of Figure 29 with a
different embodiment
of a filter cartridge; and,
[00148] Figure 34 is a cross sectional view of the filter cartridge
taken along line
34-34 in Figure 33 with the filter cartridge in the surface cleaning
apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00149] Referring to Figure 1, an embodiment of a surface cleaning
apparatus 900
is shown. In the embodiment illustrated, the surface cleaning apparatus 900 is
a hand
carriable or hand-held vacuum cleaner. It will be appreciated that surface
cleaning
apparatus 900 could be carried by a hand of a user, a shoulder strap or the
like and
could be in the form of a pod or other portable surface cleaning apparatus.
Surface
cleaning apparatus 900 could be a vacuum cleaner, an extractor or the like.
All such
surface cleaning apparatus are referred to herein as a hand carriable surface
cleaning
apparatus. Optionally, surface cleaning apparatus 900 could be removably
mounted on
a base so as to form, for example, an upright vacuum cleaner, a canister
vacuum
cleaner, a stick vac, a wet-dry vacuum cleaner and the like. Power can be
supplied to
the surface cleaning apparatus 900 by an electrical cord (not shown) that can
be
connected to a standard wall electrical outlet. Alternatively, or in addition,
the power
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source for the surface cleaning apparatus can be an onboard energy storage
device,
including, for example, one or more batteries.
[00150] The surface cleaning apparatus 900 comprises a main body 901
having a
handle 902, a dirty air inlet 903, a clean air outlet 904 (see for example
Figure 6) and an
air flow path extending therebetween. In the embodiment shown, the dirty air
inlet 903 is
the inlet end 905 of connector 906. Optionally, the inlet end can be used to
directly
clean a surface. Alternatively, the inlet end 905 can be connected to the
downstream
end of any suitable hose, cleaning tool or accessory, including, for example a
wand 907
that is pivotally connected to a surface cleaning head 908 (Figure 2), a
nozzle and a
flexible suction hose. In the configuration illustrated in Figure 2, the
surface cleaning
apparatus 900 can be used to clean a floor or other surface in a manner
analogous to
conventional upright-style vacu urn cleaners.
[00151] Referring again to Figure 1, the connector 906 may be any
suitable
connector that is operable to connect to, and preferably detachably connect
to, a hose,
cleaning tool or other accessory. Optionally, in addition to providing an air
flow
connection, the connector 906 may also include an electrical connection.
Providing an
electrical connection may allow cleaning tools and accessories that are
coupled to the
connector to be powered by the surface cleaning apparatus 900. For example,
the
surface cleaning unit 900 can be used to provide both power and suction to a
surface
cleaning head, or other suitable tool. In the illustrated embodiment, the
connector 906
includes an electrical coupling in the form of a female socket member 909, and
a
corresponding male prong member may be provided on the hose, cleaning tool
and/or
accessory that is connected to inlet end 905. Providing the female socket 909
on the
electrified side of the electrical coupling may help prevent a user from
inadvertently
contacting the electrical contacts. In other embodiments, socket member 909
may
include male connectors. In such a case, it is preferred that the male
connectors are de-
energized when exposed (i.e., they are not plugged into a female connector).
[00152] From the dirty air inlet 903, the air flow path extends
through an air
treatment member. The air treatment member may be any suitable member that can
treat the air in a desired manner, including, for example, removing dirt
particles and
debris from the air. In the illustrated example, the air treatment member
includes a
cyclone bin assembly 910. Alternatively, the air treatment member can comprise
a bag,
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a filter or other air treating means. In the illustrated embodiment, the
cyclone bin
assembly forms part of the main body 901 of the surface cleaning apparatus. A
suction
motor 911 (see Figure 6) is mounted within a motor housing 912 portion of the
main
body 901 and is in fluid communication with the cyclone bin assembly 910. In
this
configuration, the suction motor 911 is downstream from the cyclone bin
assembly 910
and the clean air outlet 904 is downstream from the suction motor 911.
CYCLONE BIN ASSEMBLY
[00153] The following is a description of a cyclone and a cyclone bin
assembly that
may be used by itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination
or sub-
combination with any other feature or features disclosed herein.
[00154] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, in the illustrated embodiment,
the cyclone bin
assembly 910 includes a cyclone chamber 913 and a dirt collection chamber 914.
The
cyclone chamber 913 and the dirt collection chamber 914 may be of any suitable
configuration.
[00155] In the illustrated embodiment the dirt collection chamber 914 is
positioned
outside or exterior to and substantially below the cyclone chamber 913.
Preferably, a
least a portion, if not all, of the dirt collection chamber is below the
cyclone chamber.
The dirt collection chamber 914 comprises a sidewall 915, a first end wall 916
and an
opposed second end wall 917. The dirt collection chamber 914 extends along a
dirt
collection axis 918.
[00156] The dirt collection chamber 914 may be emptyable by any means
known
in the art and is preferably openable concurrently with the cyclone chamber
913.
Preferably, the second dirt collection chamber end wall 917 is moveably (e.g.,
pivotally)
connected to e.g., the dirt collection chamber sidewall 915, for example using
hinge 919.
In this configuration, the second dirt collection chamber end wall 917
functions as an
openable door to empty the dirt collection chamber 914 and can be opened as
shown in
Figure 5 to empty dirt and debris from the interior of the dirt collection
chamber 914.
The second dirt collection chamber end wall 917 can be retained in the closed
position
by any means known in the art, such as by a releasable latch 919a. In the
illustrated
example, the hinge 919 is provided on a back edge of the end wall 917 and the
latch
919a is provided at the front of the end wall 917 so that the door swings
backwardly
when opened. Alternatively, the hinge and latch may be in different positions,
and the
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door may open in a different direction or manner. Optionally, instead of being
pivotal or
openable, the end wall may be removable.
[00157] In the embodiment shown, the cyclone chamber 913 extends
along a
cyclone axis 920 and is bounded by a sidewall 921. The cyclone chamber 913
includes
an air inlet 922 and an air outlet 923 and two dirt outlets 924a and 924b in
communication with the dirt collection chamber 914. The air inlet, air outlet
and dirt
outlets may be of any design known in the art. Preferably, the air inlet 922
is generally
tangentially oriented relative to the sidewall 921, so that air entering the
cyclone
chamber 913 will tend to swirl and circulate within the cyclone chamber 913,
thereby
dis-entraining dirt and debris from the air flow, before leaving the chamber
via the air
outlet 923. The air inlet 922 extends along an inlet axis 925 that may be
generally
perpendicular to the cyclone axis 920, and in the illustrated example is
generally parallel
to and offset above a suction motor axis 926.
[00158] In the illustrated example, the cyclone air outlet 923
comprises a conduit
member or vortex finder 927. Optionally, a screen 928 can be positioned over
the
vortex finder 927 to help filter lint, fluff and other fine debris.
Preferably, the screen 928
can be removable. Optionally, the screen 928 can be tapered such that the
distal, inner
or free end 930 of the screen 928 has a smaller diameter 931 than the diameter
932 at
the base 933 of the screen 928 and/or the air inlet 922.
[00159] Optionally, the screen 928 can be configured so that the diameter
931 of
the free end 930 of the screen is between about 60% and about 100% of the
diameter
932 of the base 933 of the screen 928 and/or the air inlet 922, and may be
between
about 60%-90%, about 70-80% and preferably is between about 63-67% of the base
diameter 932 and/or the air inlet 922.
[00160] The air inlet 922 has an inlet diameter 934, and a related inlet
flow cross-
sectional area (measure in a plane 935 perpendicular to the inlet axis 925).
Preferably,
the air outlet 923 is sized so that the diameter 936 of the air outlet 923,
and therefore
the corresponding flow area of the air outlet, is the same as the diameter 934
of the air
inlet 922. Alternatively, the air outlet diameter 936 may be between about 50%
and
about 150%, and between about 85-115% of the air inlet diameter 934.
[00161] In the example illustrated the cyclone bin assembly 910 and
the cyclone
chamber 913 are arranged in a generally vertical, inverted cyclone
configuration. In this
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configuration, the air inlet 922 and the air outlet 923 are provided toward
the upper end
of the cyclone chamber 913. Alternatively, the cyclone bin assembly 910 and
cyclone
chamber 913 can be provided in another orientation, including, for example, as
a
horizontal cyclone or in other configurations, e.g., with the dirt collection
chamber beside
the cyclone chamber and/or with the inlet and outlets at differing positions.
[00162] Optionally, some or all of the sidewall 921 can coincide with
portions of the
external sidewalls of the cyclone bin assembly 910 and the dirt collection
chamber
sidewall 915 (see Figures 5 and 6). This may help reduce the overall size of
the cyclone
bin assembly. Alternative, the sidewall 921 may be distinct from the
sidewalls. In
alternative embodiments, the cyclone chamber 915 may include only a single
dirt outlet
924, or more than two dirt outlets.
[00163] Referring to Figure 7, in the illustrated embodiment, the
cyclone chamber
913 includes a first or upper end wall 937. The end wall 937 is connected to
the upper
end of the sidewall 921 to enclose the upper end of the cyclone chamber 913.
In the
illustrated example, a juncture 938 between the end wall 937 and the side wall
921
includes a curved surface 939. The radius 940 of the curved surface 939 may be
selected to be similar to the radius (i.e. half of the diameter 934) of the
air inlet 922, and
optionally may be selected so that the juncture surface 939 has the same
radius as the
air inlet.
[00164] Optionally, the juncture 941 between the end wall 937 and the
vortex
finder 927 may also be curved, and preferably is sized to have a radius 942
that is
similar to or is the same as the radius 940 of the juncture between the end
wall 937 and
the sidewall 921. Providing curved surfaces at one or both of the junctures
938, 941
may help reduce backpressure and may help improve cyclone efficiency.
Optionally,
the upper end wall 937 of the cyclone chamber 913 can be openable or removable
to
allow access to the interior of the cyclone chamber 913 from above.
[00165] Referring also to Figure 5, a deflector or arrestor plate 943
may be
positioned at the lower end of the cyclone chamber 913, at the interface
between the
cyclone chamber 913 and the dirt collection chamber 917. The arrestor plate
943 is
preferably sized to cover substantially all of the lower end of the cyclone
chamber 913,
and to abut the lower end of the cyclone sidewall 921 to form a lower end wall
of the
cyclone chamber. When the arrestor plate 943 abuts the lower ends of the
sidewall 921
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it helps define the gaps or slots that form the dirt outlets 924a, 924b. In
this
configuration, the dirt outlet slots 924a, 924b are bound on three sides by
the cyclone
chamber sidewall 921 and on a fourth side by the arrestor plate 943.
Alternatively, the
dirt outlet slots 924a, 924b may be entirely bounded by the sidewall 921 and
may be
spaced apart from the arrestor plate 943. In the illustrated example the dirt
outlets
924a, 924b are vertically spaced apart from the air inlet 922 and air outlet
923 and are
positioned at the opposite, lower end of the cyclone chamber 913.
[00166] In the illustrated embodiment, the arrestor plate 943 forms
the bottom of
the cyclone chamber and may be of any suitable configuration. Optionally the
arrestor
plate 943 may be fixed in its position adjacent the sidewall 921, or may be
moveable or
openable. Providing an openable arrestor plate 943 may help facilitate
emptying of the
cyclone chamber 913. Optionally, the arrestor plate 943 may be openable
concurrently
with another portion of the surface cleaning apparatus, including, for
example, the dirt
collection chamber 917.
[00167] In the illustrated embodiment, the arrestor plate 943 is mounted to
and
supported spaced from the openable wall 917 by a support member 944. The
support
member 944 may be of any suitable configuration and may be formed from any
suitable
material that is capable of supporting the arrestor plate 943 and resisting
stresses
exerted on the arrestor plate 943 by the air flow in the cyclone chamber or
dirt particles
exiting the cyclone chamber 913. In this configuration, the arrestor plate 943
is
openable concurrently with the end wall 917, so that opening the end wall 917
simultaneously opens the dirt collection chamber 914 and the cyclone chamber
913.
Alternatively, the arrestor plate 943 may be mounted to the sidewall 921 (or
other
portion of the surface cleaning apparatus) and need not open in unison with
the end wall
917.
[00168] Referring to Figure 8, each dirt outlet 924a and 924b is a
slot that includes
an upper edge 945 and a lower edge 946 spaced apart from each other by a slot
height
947, measured axially. The slot height 947 may be any suitable distance,
including for
example, between 1mm and 49mm or more, and preferably is between about 3mm and
about 25mm. Each slot 924a, 924b also includes two side edges 948 (Figure 5)
spaced
apart by a slot width 949, measured along the perimeter of the cyclone chamber
sidewall 921. Each slot width may be between about 5% and about 50% of the
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perimeter of the cyclone chamber sidewall 921, and preferably may be between
about
10% and about 35% and may be about 25%. In the illustrated embodiment the
cyclone
chamber sidewall 921 is circular in axial cross-sectional shape, and the angle
950
(Figure 5) subtended by the dirt outlet 924b may between about 20 and about
180 ,
and may be between about 35 and 125 , and between about 45 and 90 . In the
illustrated embodiment the angle 950 between the dirt outlets 924a and 924b,
measured
from the centre line of the slots (Figure 5) is 180 . Optionally, the dirt
outlets 924a, 924b
may be generally identical. Alternatively, the dirt outlets 924a and 924b may
be of
different configurations (i.e. may have different heights and/or widths).
Optionally, slot
924a, which is at the same end as the cyclone air inlet, is smaller than the
opposed dirt
outlet 924b and may be about half the size.
[00169]
Referring to Figure 12, a cross-sectional schematic representation of an
alternate embodiment of a cyclone bin assembly 2910 is shown. The
cyclone bin
assembly 2910 is generally similar to cyclone bin assembly 910 and analogous
features
are indicated using like reference characters indexed by 2000. This schematic
illustrates a top view of an example of a circular cyclone chamber 2913
positioned within
a generally square dirt collection chamber 2914. The cyclone chamber 2913
includes a
tangential air inlet 2922 and an air outlet 2923. Two dirt outlets 2924a and
2924b are
provided in the cyclone chamber sidewall 2921. The
angle 2951 between the dirt
outlets 2924a, 2924b is about 180 . In this embodiment, the angle 2952a
between the
air inlet 2922 (measured from the point of tangential intersection between the
air inlet
and the cyclone chamber sidewall 2921) and the first dirt slot 2924a, in the
direction of
air circulation (arrow 2953), is approximately 90 , and the angle 2952b
between the air
inlet 2922 and the second dirt slot 2924b is about 270 . Alternatively, angles
2952a
and 2952b may be different
[00170] In the
illustrated configuration, each slot subtends an angle 2950a, 2950b
that is about 45 , the leading edge (in the direction of air circulation) of
dirt slot 2924a is
aligned with the leading edge of dirt slot 2924b, and the trailing edge (in
the direction of
air circulation) of dirt slot 2924a is aligned with the trailing edge of dirt
slot 2924b.
[00171]
Referring to Figure 13, a cross-sectional schematic representation of
another alternate embodiment of a cyclone bin assembly 3910 is shown. Cyclone
bin
assembly 3910 is generally similar to cyclone bin assembly 910, and analogous
features
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CA 02899653 2015-12-11
are identified using like reference characters indexed by 3000. This
embodiment is
similar to the embodiment of Figure 12, except that the position of the dirt
outlets 3924a
and 3924b has been shifted by 90 relative to the air inlet 3922. In this
configuration,
the angle 3951 between the dirt outlets 3924a, 3924b remains 1800, but the
angle
between the dirt outlet 3924a and the air inlet is 0 and the angle 3952b
between the dirt
outlet 3924b and the air inlet is 180 .
[00172]
Referring to Figure 14, a cross-sectional schematic representation of
another alternate embodiment of a cyclone bin assembly is shown. Cyclone bin
assembly 4910 is generally similar to cyclone bin assembly 910, and analogous
features
are identified using like reference characters indexed by 4000. In this
example, the
individual dirt slots 4924a and 4924b have the same configuration as the slots
illustrated
in Figures 12 and 13, but are positioned differently. In this configuration,
the first dirt slot
4924a is positioned generally adjacent the air inlet 4922, and the angle 4952a
between
the air inlet 4922 and the first dirt slot 4924a is about 30 downstream from
the air inlet,
and the angle 4952b between the first dirt slot and the second dirt slot 4924b
is about
90 . In this configuration, both dirt slots 4924a and 4924b are positioned on
the same
side of the cyclone chamber 4913 (i.e. within 180 of each other).
[00173]
Referring to Figure 15, a cross-sectional schematic representation of
another alternate embodiment of a cyclone bin assembly is shown. Cyclone bin
assembly 5910 is generally similar to cyclone bin assembly 910, and analogous
features
are identified using like reference characters indexed by 5000. In this
example, the dirt
slots 5924a and 5924b are opposite each other (i.e. the angle 5951 is about
180 ) but
each dirt slot 5924a and 5924b is much wider than the other illustrated
examples, such
that the angles 5950a and 5950b subtended by each dirt slot is about 150 . In
this
configuration, the dirt slots 5924a and 5924b represent more than 50% of the
total
perimeter of the cyclone chamber 5913. Also in this embodiment, portions of
the
cyclone chamber sidewall 5921 are coincident with the dirt collection chamber
sidewalls
5916. Optionally, if the cyclone chamber walls 5921 extend the entire height
of the dirt
collection chamber 5914, in this configuration the cyclone chamber 5913 may
sub-divide
the dirt collection chamber 5914 into two different portions 5914a and 5914b,
separated
by the cyclone chamber 5913. Each dirt collection region 5914a and 5914b
is in
communication with a respective one of the dirt slots 5924a and 5924b. Also,
in this
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illustrated embodiment, the air inlet axis 5925 is not tangentially oriented
(i.e. is not
parallel to a tangential plane 5954). Instead, the air inlet 5922 is arranged
at an angle
5955, relative to the tangential plane 5954. This may alter the
characteristics of the air
flow entering the cyclone chamber.
[00174] Referring again to Figure 7, in the illustrated embodiment the dirt
outlets
924a and 924b are arranged generally opposite each other, are arranged at
approximately 1800 from each other (measured as a centre-to-centre angle 951
in
Figure 5). In this configuration, dirt outlet 924a is positioned at the front
of the cyclone
chamber 913 (e.g. in a portion of the sidewall that is located toward the
connector and
air inlet) and the dirt outlet 924b is positioned at the back of the cyclone
chamber 913.
When the surface cleaning apparatus 900 is in use, dirt and debris may
accumulate
within the dirt collection chamber 914 and when the surface cleaning apparatus
is
manipulated by a user, dirt within the dirt collection 914 chamber may tend to
shift and
may collect toward the lowest portion of the dirt collection 914 chamber due
to gravity.
For example, when the surface cleaning apparatus is tipper forward, so that
the
connector is angled downward and the handle is lifted (Figure 7), dirt 956 may
tend to
collect toward the front of the dirt collection chamber 914. If the level of
the dirt 956 is
sufficiently high it may partially or completely block the front dirt outlet
924a as
illustrated. In this configuration the first dirt outlet 924a may be blocked,
but the rear dirt
outlet 924b remains free. Similarly, if the surface cleaning apparatus is
tipped rearward,
the dirt may tend to collect in a rear portion of the dirt collection chamber
(Figure 8) and
may partially or completely block the rear dirt outlet 924b. In this
configuration the rear
dirt outlet 924b is blocked, but the front dirt outlet924a is free. Providing
two dirt outlets
924a and 924b on opposite sides of the cyclone chamber may help ensure that at
least
one outlet 924a and 924b remains free and unblocked to allow dirt to exit the
cyclone
chamber 913even if the surface cleaning apparatus 900 is tilted forward or
backward.
Alternatively, instead of being provided toward the front and back of the
cyclone
chamber, the dirt slots may be positioned in other locations. For example, the
cyclone
chamber may be configured to have a rear dirt outlet and a side dirt outlet,
or two side
outlets provided toward the left and right sides of the cyclone chamber.
PRE-MOTOR FILTER
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[00175] Optionally, one or more pre-motor filters may be placed in
the air flow path
between the cyclone bin assembly and the suction motor. Alternatively, or in
addition,
one or more post-motor filters may be provided downstream from the suction
motor. The
following is a description of a pre-motor filter housing construction that may
be used by
itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-
combination with
any other feature or features disclosed herein.
[00176] Referring to Figure 3, in the illustrated embodiment a pre-
motor filter
chamber or housing 956 is provided as a portion of the body 901 of the surface
cleaning
apparatus 900, above the cyclone bin assembly 910. Referring also to Figure 8,
the
pre-motor filter chamber 956 is bounded by a bottom wall 957, a sidewall 958
and an
upper wall 958a. In the illustrated example the upper wall 958a is provided by
an upper
cover 959. Preferably, at least one of the bottom wall, sidewall and upper
cover are
openable to allow access to the interior of the pre-motor filter chamber. In
the illustrated
embodiment, the upper cover 959 is removable (Figure 3) to provide access to
the
interior of the chamber 956. Alternatively, instead of being removable the
upper cover
may be pivotally openable or otherwise moveably coupled to the main body.
[00177] One or more filters may be positioned within the pre-motor
filter chamber
956 to filter fine particles from the air stream exiting the air outlet,
before it flows into
inlet of the suction motor. The filters may be of any suitable configuration
and formed
from any suitable materials. In the illustrated embodiment, a foam filter 960
and a
downstream felt filter 961 are positioned within the pre-motor filter chamber
956.
[00178] In the illustrated example, the bottom wall 957 includes a
plurality of
upstanding support ribs 962 to support the filters 960, 961 positioned within
the chamber
956. The support ribs 962 may hold the filters 960, 961 above the surface 963
of the
bottom wall 957 to define a lower header or headspace 964, to allow for air to
flow
laterally between the bottom surface 965 of filter 961 and the bottom wall
957. In the
illustrated embodiment, the lower or downstream headspace 964 is defined
between the
outer surface 965 of the felt 961 and the surface 963 of the bottom wall 957.
[00179] To help reduce the overall size of the surface cleaning
apparatus, in the
illustrated embodiment the pre-motor filter chamber 956, and the filters
therein 960, 961,
is positioned above the cyclone chamber 913 and covers the upper end of the
cyclone
chamber 913. In this configuration, a plane 966 containing the foam filter 960
is
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generally parallel and spaced above a plane 967 containing the air outlet 923
of the
cyclone chamber 913, and both planes 966, 967 are generally perpendicular to
the
cyclone axis 920. Arranging the filters in this configuration results in the
upstream side
of the pre-motor filter (in this example the upper side 968 of the foam filter
960) being
spaced further apart from the cyclone chamber 913 than the downstream side of
the
pre-motor filter (in this example the lower surface 965 of the felt filter
961). Alternatively,
in other embodiments, the pre-motor filter chamber may cover only a portion of
the
upper end of the cyclone chamber and/or may be laterally spaced apart from the
cyclone chamber and/or may be inclined with respect to plane 967.
[00180] In the illustrated embodiment, the pre-motor filter chamber or
downstream
header 956 is configured so that the upstream side 968 of the foam filter 960
is provided
toward the top of the chamber, and air flows generally downwardly through the
filters. In
this configuration, the upper cover 959 is shaped so that when it is closed
(Figure 8) an
upper or upstream headspace or header 970 is provided between the inner
surface of
the upper cover 959 and the upstream side 968 of the foam filter 960. To
provide air
flow communication between the cyclone air outlet 923 and the upstream
headspace
970, it is preferred that the vortex finder 927 or an extension thereof
extends through the
pre-motor filters and preferably extends into the interior of the pre-motor
filter chamber
956, through the filters 960, 961 therein, and has an outlet end 971 that is
located within
the upstream head space 970 and above filters 960, 961. To accommodate the
extension of the vortex finder 927, each filter includes a correspondingly
shaped conduit
aperture 972 (Figure 4). It will be appreciated that other flow paths may be
used to
connect vortex finder 927 in air communication with upstream headspace 970.
[00181] When the surface cleaning apparatus is in use, air exiting
the cyclone
chamber 913 may flow into the upstream head space 956 via the vortex finder
927.
Within the upstream headspace the air can flow laterally across the upstream
surface
968 of the foam filter 960, and down through the filters 960, 961 into the
downstream
head space 964.
[00182] In this configuration, the upper side 988 of the foam filter
960 is exposed to
the dirty air exiting the cyclone air outlet 923, and may become dirty or
soiled during
use. Optionally, the upper cover 959 may include at least one transparent
region
overlying the upper side 968 of the filter 960. For example, some or all of
the upper
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cover may be formed from a transparent material (such as plastic) or one or
more
windows may be provided within the upper cover member. Providing a transparent
region allows a user to visually inspect the condition of the upstream side
698 of the
filter 960 without having to open the upper cover 959. Alternatively, the
upper cover 959
need not include any type of transparent portion or inspection region, and a
user may
inspect the upstream side 968 of the filter 960 when the upper cover 959 is
opened or
removed.
[00183] Alternatively, the pre-motor filter may be provided laterally
from the vortex
finder. For example, referring to Figure 16, a cross sectional view of another
embodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus 6900 is shown. Apparatus 6900 is
similar
to apparatus 900, and analogous features are identified using like reference
numerals
indexed by 6000. In this embodiment, the pre-motor filter 6960 is spaced
laterally from
the vortex finder 6927. An extension 6927a of the vortex finder extends above
the top of
filter 6960 to define a dirt collection area, which may be emptied when the
lid is opened
and the surface cleaning apparatus is inverted.
DOWNFLOW CONDUIT
[00184] Optionally, the inlet of the suction motor is positioned
along the length of
one side (preferably the rear side) of the cyclone bin assembly. The following
is a
description of a flow path that may be used by itself in any surface cleaning
apparatus or
in any combination or sub-combination with any other feature or features
disclosed
herein.
[00185] The suction motor preferably has an axis that is generally
perpendicular to
the cyclone axis and has an air inlet between the upper end and lower end of
the
cyclone bin assembly and preferably, between the upper end and the lower end
of the
cyclone chamber. Accordingly, from the downstream head space 964, the air may
flow
to the inlet 973 of the suction motor 911 via an internal air conduit 974
formed within the
body 901. Air may be drawn through the suction motor 911 and then be exhausted
from
a motor outlet 975, and expelled via the clear air outlet 904 (see also Figure
6).
[00186] In the illustrated embodiment, the internal air conduit 974
is formed within
the main body 901 and is external the cyclone chamber 913 and the dirt
collection
chamber 914 and is partially bounded by an exterior surface of the cyclone
chamber
sidewall 921 and an exterior surface of the dirt collection chamber sidewall
915. The air
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conduit 974 extends generally vertically between the pre-motor filter chamber
956 and
the suction motor 911, and is positioned laterally intermediate the suction
motor 911 and
the cyclone chamber 913. The suction motor 911 is positioned at an elevation
where its
air inlet 973 is vertically between the upper and lower ends of the cyclone
chamber 913,
and the motor axis 926 passes through the cyclone chamber 913 (above the dirt
collection chamber ¨ see Figure 6). In the illustrated embodiment the inlet
axis 925
intersects the air conduit 974 and is positioned below and does not intersect
the pre-
motor filter chamber 956.
[00187] The internal air conduit 974 may extend downwardly at an
angle to the
vertical. It may or may not be bounded on one side by the sidewall of the
cyclone
chamber and/or the dirt collection chamber.
BLEED VALVE
[00188] Optionally, a bleed valve 976 may be provided to supply bleed
air to the
suction motor inlet 973 in case of a clog in the air flow path upstream from
the suction
motor 911. When the surface cleaning apparatus is in use, the air flow path
may
become clogged or otherwise blocked in a number of different ways, including,
for
example if a cleaning wand and/or suction hose becomes blocked with debris, if
the
cyclone chamber becomes fouled with debris and/or if the pre-motor filters are
soiled to
an extent that it significantly impedes airflow through the filters.
Preferably the bleed
valve 976 can be positioned and configured to supply bleed air into the
airflow path at a
location that is upstream from the suction motor inlet 973 and downstream from
the
likely clog or blockage locations.
[00189] The following is a description of the positioning and
orientation of a bleed
valve that may be used by itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any
combination
or sub-combination with any other feature or features disclosed herein.
[00190] For example, the bleed valve 976 may be positioned to supply
bleed air to
the air flow path 974 between the pre-motor filter chamber 956 and the suction
motor
inlet 973. The bleed valve 976 may be any suitable valve, including a pressure
sensitive
valve that is opened automatically when there is a blockage in the air flow
path
upstream from the suction motor 911.
[00191] In the illustrated embodiment, the bleed valve 976 extends
along a valve
axis 977 that is generally parallel to the suction motor axis 926, and is
generally
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orthogonal to the cyclone axis 920. To provide outside air, a port 978 is
provided in the
main body 901, in air flow communication with the inlet end of the bleed valve
976. The
outlet end of the bleed valve is in communication with the air conduit 974.
[00192]
In the illustrated embodiment, the bleed valve 976 is located at an
elevation between the pre-motor filter chamber 956 and the suction motor 911,
partially
laterally underlies the pre-motor filter chamber 956 (and the filters 960, 961
therein) and
partially laterally overlies the suction motor 911 and its housing 912.
Alternatively, the
bleed valve 976 may be located at a different elevation (for example below the
suction
motor and/or in line with or above the pre-motor filter chamber) and need not
laterally
overlap the suction motor, pre-motor filter chambers or the filters therein.
[00193]
Alternatively, instead of extending laterally through the main body of
the
surface cleaning apparatus, the bleed valve may be provided in a different
location.
Referring to Figure 16, a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a
surface
cleaning apparatus 6900 is shown. Apparatus 6900 is similar to apparatus 900,
and
analogous features are identified using like reference numerals indexed by
6000. In this
embodiment, the bleed valve 6976 is positioned within the pre-motor filter
chamber 6956
and is generally vertically oriented, along axis 6977. In the illustrated
example, the
bleed valve 6976 is generally co-axial with the cyclone chamber. To supply
outside air
to the bleed valve, a port 6978 is provided in the upper cover 6959 of the pre-
motor filter
housing 6956 and is in air flow communication with the inlet end of the bleed
valve
6976. The outlet end of the bleed valve 6976 is in air flow communication with
the air
conduit 6974 via a conduit 6979 or optionally via the downstream headspace
6964, to
supply the outside air to the suction motor in the event that the pre-motor
filters are
blocked. The conduit 6979 can be any suitable conduit and can be sized to
supply a
desired quantity of air to the suction motor 6911.
[00194]
As exemplified in Figure 16, the pre-motor filter or filters 6960 in the
pre-
motor filter chamber 6956 may partially overlie the upper end wall of the
cyclone
chamber 6913 and each filter may include an axially extending aperture that
may be
spaced from and aligned with, or may be generally laterally registered with
the vortex
finder 6927 and air outlet 6923 (i.e. in a direction generally orthogonal to
the cyclone
axis 6920). In the illustrated configuration, the apertures have a larger
diameter than
the bleed valve 6976. In this configuration, the bleed valve 6976 is
recessed/nested
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within the filter apertures and the inlet port on the bleed valve 6976 is may
be generally
flush with/co-planar with the upstream side of the filter 6960. At least
partially axially
nesting the bleed valve 6976 within the pre-motor filters may help reduce the
overall
size of the housing required to accommodate the pre-motor filter of filters
and the bleed
valve. It will be appreciated that the a bleed valve may be nested within a
pre-motor filter
regardless of the position or orientation of the pre-motor filter.
HANDLE
[00195]
Optionally, the surface cleaning apparatus may be provided with one or
more handles to allow a user to grasp and manipulate the surface cleaning
apparatus.
Each handle may have one or more grip portions and may be configured to allow
the
user to grasp the handle in one or more configurations and/or orientations.
Providing a
generally upright or pistol-grip style handle may allow a user to grasp the
surface
cleaning apparatus while keeping his/her wrist in a comfortable, ergonomic
position.
[00196] The following is a description of the positioning and orientation
of a handle
that may be used by itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any
combination or
sub-combination with any other feature or features disclosed herein.
[00197]
Referring to Figure 9, in the illustrated embodiment, handle 902 is
configured as a generally upright handle and includes a grip portion 980 that
is
configured as a pistol-grip style handle. The handle 902 has a first or bottom
end 981
that is adjacent the suction motor housing 912 (e.g., the upper surface
thereof) and a
second or upper end 982 that is spaced above from the lower end 981. The upper
end
982 of the handle may be adjacent the rear side wall of the housing of the pre-
motor
filter chamber 956 or may be attached to bridge portion that extends
rearwardly from the
pre-motor filter housing.
[00198] The hand
grip portion 980 may extend along a handle axis 983. In the
illustrated embodiment, the handle axis 983 is inclined slightly forwardly,
and forms and
angle 983a, relative to a vertical axis. The angle 983a can be any suitable
angle, and
preferably is between about 0-45 , and may be between about 20-35 . The handle
axis
983 intersects the cyclone axis, the suction motor axis 926 and suction motor
housing
912 and a bridge portion 901a of the main body that is an extension of the pre-
motor
filter housing 956.
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[00199] When grasping the hand grip portion 980, a user's fingers may
pass
through an opening 984 in front of the hand grip portion 980. In the
illustrated
embodiment, the perimeter of the opening 984 is formed by an upper portion
912a
(Figure 7) of the suction motor housing 912, the front surface 980a of the
hand grip
portion 980, a rear portion of the pre-motor filter chamber sidewall 958 and
connecting
portions of the main body. Optionally, the air inlet port for the bleed valve
976 may be
formed in one of the surfaces forming the perimeter of the handle opening 984.
[00200] Preferably, the primary on/off power switch for the surface
cleaning
apparatus is positioned proximate the handle 902, so that a user may turn the
vacuum
cleaner on or off while holding it by the handle 902. Referring to Figures 4
and 7, in the
illustrated embodiment, the primary power switch 985 is provided on the upper
end of
the handle 902 and is configured so that it can be pressed by the thumb of a
user while
holding the hand grip portion 980. The hand grip portion 980 can include an
internal
passage for routing electrical wires or mechanical linkages to provide
communication
between the primary power switch and the electrical circuit powering the
suction motor
911. Optionally, the primary power switch 985 can be positioned so that it is
intersected
by the handle axis 9083. Alternatively, the primary power switch 985 may be
provided
at another suitable location.
[00201] Optionally, the handle 902 can be positioned so that the hand
weight of
the surface cleaning apparatus when held in a horizontally disposed position
(e.g., axis
988 is horizontal) is less than 2 lbs, preferably less than 1 lbs and more
preferably about
0 lbs, thereby reducing the stress on a user's wrist. Accordingly, the user
may
experience only a slight down force even though the motor is below the handle.
The
handle 902 may accordingly be positioned so that it is behind the centre of
gravity of the
surface cleaning apparatus. Preferably, the handle may also be configured so
that all or
a portion of it (e.g., the portion gripped by a user) is located at a higher
elevation than
the centre of gravity.
[00202] Positioning the handle behind and optionally above the centre
of gravity
may result in the surface cleaning apparatus tending to tip forwardly when
being held
horizontally by a user. This may tend to rotate the front of the surface
cleaning
apparatus downwardly when the surface cleaning apparatus is in use and may
allow at
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least a portion of the weight of the surface cleaning apparatus to be carried
by a surface
cleaning head (or other tool) that rollingly contacts the floor.
[00203] For example, referring to Figure 9, in the embodiment
illustrated, the
centre of gravity 986 is located in a vertical plane 987 that is forward of
the handle and
horizontal plane 988 that lies below the lower end 981 of the handle 902. In
the
illustrated embodiment the handle axis 983 does not intersect the centre of
gravity of the
surface cleaning apparatus.
DETACHABLE MOTOR HOUSING
[00204] The following is a description of detachable motor housing
may be used by
itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-
combination with
any other feature or features disclosed herein.
[00205] Optionally, the suction motor and at least a portion of its
surrounding motor
housing may be detachable from the main body of the surface cleaning
apparatus.
Referring to Figures 10 and 11, an alternate embodiment of a surface cleaning
apparatus 7900 is shown. Apparatus 7900 is generally similar to apparatus 900
and
analogous features are identified using like reference characters indexed by
7000. In
this embodiment the suction motor housing 7912 can be detachably connected to
the
main body 7901, so that the suction motor housing 7912, and the suction motor
therein,
can be separated from the cyclone bin assembly 7910, handle 7902 and,
preferably,
pre-motor filter housing 7956. The suction motor and related electrical
components may
form a significant portion of the weight of the surface cleaning apparatus
7900.
Separating the suction motor housing 7912 from the main body 7901 may allow a
user
to manipulate the main body 7901 and empty the dirt collection chamber 7914
and
cyclone 7913 using the handle 7902 without having to carry around the extra
weight of
the suction motor.
[00206] The detachable suction motor housing module 7912 may
removably
coupled to the main body 7901 using any suitable attachment mechanisms. In the
illustrated embodiment the attachment mechanism is a latch 7990 that can be
triggered
by a user. In this embodiment, the suction motor module 7912 includes an air
inlet port
7991 that is configured to be coupled to a reciprocal air outlet port 7992 on
the main
body 7901. The ports 7991, 7992 may be of any compatible configurations, and
one or
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more seals or gasket members may be provided at their interface to help
provide an air-
tight connection.
[00207] If the primary on/off switch 7985 is provided on the main
body portion (as
described above) in addition to the air flow connection, the suction motor
module 7912
also includes at least one control/ electrical connection that is configured
to mate with a
corresponding control port on the main body 7901. In the illustrated example,
the on/off
switch 7985 on the main body 7901 is an electrical switch, and the control
connection
between the suction motor module 7912 and the main body includes mating
electrical
connectors (e.g., male prongs 7993 and a female electrical socket 7994) to
supply
electricity to the switch 7985. Alternatively, primary on/off switch 7985 may
be a
mechanical switch that is connected to the suction motor module via a
mechanical
linkage. In such a configuration, the control connection can include a
mechanical
linkage to translate movements of the on/off switch to open and close an
electrical
circuit in the suction motor housing. Alternatively, control signals may be
transmitted
wireless (e.g. via radio signal) or in any other suitable manner between the
on/off switch
and the suction motor housing. In such configurations, the suction motor
module and the
main body need not include a physical control connection.
[00208] Optionally, the surface cleaning apparatus 7900 can be
configured so that
most or all of the electrical components are located within the suction motor
housing
7912. In such a configuration, when the motor housing 7912 is separated from
the main
body 7901, substantially all of the components remaining in the main body 7901
may be
washed without exposing the suction motor and other electrical components to
water or
other cleaning materials. This may help prevent inadvertent damage to the
electrical
components when washing the surface cleaning apparatus 7900.
OTHER SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS
[00209]
Optionally, instead of a hand-held or carriable surface cleaning
apparatus,
the surface cleaning apparatus may be an upright-style surface cleaning
apparatus or a
canister-style cleaning apparatus that includes a cyclone bin assembly having
some or
all of the features described herein. Referring to Figure 17, an alternate
embodiment of
a surface cleaning apparatus 8900 is shown. Apparatus 8900 includes a dirty
air inlet
8903, a clean air outlet 8904 and a cyclone bin assembly 8910 mounted to a
suction
motor housing 8912. A pre-motor filter chamber 8956 is defined between the
cyclone
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bin assembly 8910 and the motor housing 8912. The cyclone bin assembly 8910,
suction motor housing 8912 and pre-motor filter chamber 8956 may include some
or all
of the features described herein, alone or in combination with each other.
[00210] Referring to Figure 18, an alternate embodiment of a surface
cleaning
apparatus 9900 is shown. Apparatus 9900 includes a dirty air inlet 9903, a
clean air
outlet 9904 and a cyclone bin assembly 9910 mounted to a suction motor housing
9912.
A pre-motor filter chamber 9956 is defined between the cyclone bin assembly
9910 and
the motor housing 9912. The cyclone bin assembly 9910, suction motor housing
9912
and pre-motor filter chamber 9956 may include some or all of the features
described
herein, alone or in combination with each other.
ALTERNATE HAND CARRIABLE SHURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS
[00211] The
following description exemplifies a number of the features disclosed
herein in an alternate construction for a hand carriable surface cleaning
apparatus.
Referring to Figure 19, another embodiment of a hand carriable surface
cleaning
apparatus 10900 is shown. The surface cleaning apparatus 10900 is similar to
surface
cleaning apparatus 900, and like features are indicated using analogous
reference
numbers indexed by 10,000.
[00212] The
surface cleaning apparatus 10900 includes a main body 10901 having
a handle 10902, a dirty air inlet 10903, a clean air outlet 10904 (see for
example
Figure 26) and an air flow path extending therebetween. In the embodiment
shown, the
dirty air inlet 10903 is the inlet end of connector 10906. Optionally, the
inlet end can be
used to directly clean a surface. Alternatively, the inlet end can be
connected to the
downstream end of any suitable cleaning tool or accessory, including, for
example a
wand, a nozzle and a flexible suction hose.
[00213] The
connector 10906 may be any suitable connector that is operable to
connect to, and preferably detachably connect to, a cleaning tool or other
accessory.
Optionally, in addition to provide an air flow connection, the connector may
also include
an electrical connection 10909 (Figure 20). Providing an electrical connection
10909
may allow cleaning tools and accessories that are coupled to the connector
10906 to be
powered by the surface cleaning apparatus 10900. For example, the surface
cleaning
unit 10900 can be used to provide both power and suction to a surface cleaning
head,
or other suitable tool. In the illustrated embodiment, the connector 10906
includes an
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electrical coupling in the form of a female socket member, and a corresponding
male
prong member may be provided on the cleaning tools and/or accessories.
Providing the
female socket on the electrified side of the electrical coupling may help
prevent a user
from inadvertently contacting the electrical contacts.
[00214] Referring to Figure 21, a construction technique that may be used
by itself
or with any other feature disclosed herein is exemplified. In this embodiment,
the main
body portion 10901 of the surface cleaning apparatus includes a core cleaning
unit
11000 and an outer shell 11001. In the illustrated example, the core cleaning
unit
11000 is a generally, self-contained functional unit that includes the dirty
air inlet 10903,
air treatment member 10910, pre-motor filter chamber 10956, suction motor
10911 and
clean air outlet 10904. The outer shell includes mating side panels 11002, the
handle
portion 11003 of the surface cleaning apparatus (including the primary power
switch
10985) and an openable pre-motor filter chamber cover 10959. When the outer
shell
11001 is assembled around the core cleaning unit 11000 the exposed outer
surfaces of
the surface cleaning apparatus 10900 are formed from a combination of portions
of the
core cleaning unit 11000 and the outer shell 11001. For example, the external
suction
motor housing 10912 and handle 10902 are provided by the outer shell 11001,
whereas
the shell is shaped so that portions of the cyclone bin assembly 10910
sidewalls remain
visible in the assembled configuration.
If these portions are at least partially
transparent, they can allow a user to see into the dirt collection chamber
10914 to
determine if the dirt collection chamber 10914 is getting full.
[00215] From the dirty air inlet 10903, the air flow path extends
through the
cyclone bin assembly 10910 which forms part of the main body of the surface
cleaning
apparatus. A suction motor 10911 (see Figure 26) is mounted within a motor
housing
frame 11004 (Figure 21) of the core cleaning unit 11000 and is in fluid
communication
with the cyclone bin assembly 10910. In this configuration, the suction motor
10911 is
downstream from the cyclone bin assembly 10910 and the clean air outlet 10904
is
downstream from the suction motor 10911.
[00216] Referring to Figures 23 and 26, a uniflow cyclone and/or a
cyclone with
rounded junctures, and/or a cyclone with an insert member any of which may be
used
by itself or with any other feature disclosed herein is exemplified. In the
illustrated
embodiment, the cyclone bin assembly 10901 includes a cyclone chamber 10913
and a
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dirt collection chamber 10914. The dirt collection chamber 10914 comprises a
sidewall
10915, a first end wall 10916 and an opposing second end wall 10917. The dirt
collection chamber 10914 may be emptyable by any means known in the art and is
preferably openable concurrently with the cyclone chamber 10913. Preferably,
the
second dirt collection chamber end wall 10917 is pivotally connected to the
dirt
collection chamber sidewall by hinge 10919. The second dirt collection chamber
end
wall 10913 functions as an openable door to empty the dirt collection chamber
10914
and can be opened (Figures 24 and 25) to empty dirt and debris from the
interior of the
dirt collection chamber 10914. The second dirt collection chamber end wall
10917 can
be retained in the closed position by any means known in the art, such as by a
releasable latch 10919a. In the illustrated example, the hinge 10919 is
provided on a
back edge of the end wall 10917 and the latch 10919a is provided at the front
of the end
wall 10917 so that the door swings backwardly when opened. Alternatively, the
hinge
10919 and latch 10919a may be in different positions, and the door 10917 may
open in
a different direction or manner. Optionally, instead of being openable, the
end wall
10917 may be removable.
[00217] In the embodiment shown, the cyclone chamber 10913 extends
along a
cyclone axis 10920 and is bounded by a sidewall 10921. The cyclone chamber
10913
includes an air inlet 10922 and an air outlet 10923 that is in fluid
connection downstream
from the air inlet 10922 and one dirt outlet 10924 in communication with the
dirt
collection chamber 10914. In this embodiment, the dirt collection chamber
10914 is
positioned adjacent the cyclone chamber 10913 and at least partially surrounds
the
cyclone chamber 10913 in a side-by-side configuration.
[00218] Preferably, the air inlet 10922 is generally tangentially
oriented relative to
the sidewall 10921, so that air entering the cyclone chamber will tend to
swirl and
circulate within the cyclone chamber 10913, thereby dis-entraining dirt and
debris from
the air flow, before leaving the chamber via the air outlet 10923. The air
inlet 10922
extends along an inlet axis 10925 that is generally perpendicular to the
cyclone axis
10920, and in the illustrated example is generally parallel to and offset
above the suction
motor axis 10926.
[00219] In the illustrated example, the cyclone air outlet 10923
includes a vortex
finder 10927. Optionally, a screen 10928 can be positioned over the vortex
finder
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10927 to help filter lint, fluff and other fine debris. Preferably, the screen
10928 can be
removable.
[00220]
The air inlet 10922 has an inlet diameter 10934, and a related inlet flow
cross-sectional area (measure in a plane perpendicular to the inlet axis).
Preferably, the
air outlet 10923 is sized so that the diameter 10932 of the air outlet 10923,
and
therefore the corresponding flow area of the air outlet 10923, is the same as
the
diameter of the air inlet. Alternatively, the air outlet diameter 10932 may be
between
about 50% and about 150%, and between about 85-115% of the air inlet diameter
10925.
[00221] In the example illustrated the cyclone bin assembly 10910, and the
cyclone chamber 10913 are arranged in a generally vertical, uniflow cyclone
configuration. In a uniflow cyclone, the air inlet is located toward one end
of the cyclone
chamber and the air outlet is provided toward the other end of the cyclone
chamber. In
this configuration, air enters one end of the cyclone chamber and generally
exits via the
other end of the cyclone chamber, as opposed to the cyclone chamber
illustrated in the
embodiment of Figures 1 to 18, in which air enters and exits the cyclone
chamber via
the same end. In the illustrated example, the air inlet 10922 is provided
toward the
lower end of the cyclone chamber 10913 and the air outlet 10923 is provided
toward the
upper end of the cyclone chamber 10913, such that air flows into the bottom of
the
cyclone chamber 10913 and exits at the top of the cyclone chamber 10913.
Alternatively, the locations of the air inlet and outlet can be reversed.
[00222]
Optionally, instead of a vertical configuration, the cyclone bin assembly
10910 and cyclone chamber 10913 can be provided in another orientation,
including, for
example, as a horizontal cyclone.
[00223] Optionally, some or all of the cyclone sidewall 10921 can coincide
with
portions of the external sidewalls of the cyclone bin assembly 10910 and the
dirt
collection chamber sidewall 10915.
Referring to Figure 23, in the illustrated
embodiment the front portion of the cyclone chamber sidewall 10921 is
coincident with
the outer sidewall of the cyclone bin assembly 10910, and the rear portion of
the
cyclone sidewall 10921 helps separate the cyclone chamber 10913 from the dirt
collection chamber 10914. This may help reduce the overall size of the cyclone
bin
assembly 10910. Alternative, the sidewall 10921 may be distinct from the
sidewalls
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10915. In alternative embodiments, the cyclone chamber 10913 may include only
two
dirt outlets 10924, or more than two dirt outlets.
[00224] In the illustrated embodiment, the cyclone chamber 10913
includes a first
or upper end wall 10937 (Figure 23) and a second or lower end wall 10943. The
upper
end wall 10937 is connected to the upper end of the sidewall 10921. In the
illustrated
example, a juncture 10938 between the end wall 10937 and the side wall 10921
is a
relatively sharp corner that does not include any type of angled or radiused
surface. In
contrast, the lower end wall 10943 meets the lower end of the cyclone sidewall
10921 at
a juncture 11005 that includes a curved juncture surface 11006 (see also
Figure 27).
The radius 11007 of the curved surface 11006 may be selected based on the
radius of
the air inlet (e.g. half of the diameter 10934), and optionally may be the
selected so that
the juncture surface 11006 has the same radius as the air inlet 10922.
[00225] The curved juncture surface can be provided as a portion of
the sidewall or
as a portion of the endwall. In the illustrated embodiment, the curved
juncture surface
11006 is provided as part of an insert member 11008 that is provided on the
bottom end
wall and extends upward into the interior of the cyclone chamber 10913. The
insert
member also includes an upwardly extending projection member 11009 that
extends
into the interior of the cyclone chamber and engages the distal end 10930 of
the screen
(Figure 23). Together, the vortex finder 10927, screen 10928 and projection
member
11009 form a generally continuous internal column member that extends between
the
first and second end walls 10937 and 10943 of the cyclone chamber 10910.
Providing
the projection member 11009 may help direct air flow within the cyclone
chamber, and
may help support and/or stabilize the distal end 10930 of the screen 10928.
[00226] Optionally, the juncture 11010 between the end wall 10943 and
the
projection member 11009 may include a curved surface 11011 (see Figures 23 and
26),
and preferably is sized so that the surface 11011 has a radius 11012 that is
the same as
radius 11007. Providing curved surfaces 11006 and 11011 at the junctures
between the
end wall 10943 and the sidewall 10921, may help reduce backpressure and may
help
improve cyclone efficiency. Preferably, the two curved juncture surfaces 11006
and
11011 are separated by a generally flat, planar transition surface 11013,
having a width
11014. Providing a flat transition surface 11013 may help improve air flow,
and/or
reduce back pressure to help improve cyclone efficiency.
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[00227] In the illustrated embodiment, the second end wall 10943 of
the cyclone
chamber 10913, and the insert member 11008 provided thereon, is integral with
the
openable bottom door 10917 that provides the bottom wall of the dirt
collection chamber
10914. In this configuration, opening the door simultaneously opens the
cyclone
chamber 10913 and the dirt collection chamber 10914 (see for example Figures
24 and
25) for emptying.
[00228] In the illustrated embodiment, the dirt outlet 10924 is in
the form of a slot
having bottom and side edges provided by the cyclone chamber sidewall 10921,
and a
top edge provided by the upper end wall 10937. Alternatively, all four edges
of the slot
10924 may be provided by the cyclone chamber sidewall 10921. The dirt slot
10924 is
positioned at the back of the cyclone chamber 10921 and is generally opposite
the air
inlet 10922. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper wall 10937 of the
cyclone chamber
is integral with the upper wall 10916 (Figures 23 and 26) of the dirt
collection chamber
10914.
[00229] Optionally, one or more pre-motor filters may be placed in the air
flow path
between the cyclone bin assembly 10910 and the suction motor 10911.
Alternatively, or
in addition, one or more post-motor filters may be provided downstream from
the suction
motor.
[00230] Referring to Figures 27, a filter housing construction that
may be used by
itself or with any other feature disclosed herein is exemplified. In the
illustrated
embodiment a pre-motor filter chamber or housing 10956 is provided between the
upper
walls 10937, 10916 of the cyclone 10913 and dirt collection chambers 10914 and
the
openable cover 10959. In this configuration, the bottom wall 10957 of the pre-
motor
filter chamber 10956 is integral with the upper walls 10937, 10916 of the
cyclone 10913
and dirt collection chambers 10914, and the upper wall 10958a and sidewall
10958 of
the pre-motor filter chamber 10956 are provided via a filter cartridge housing
11015 (see
also Figure 28). The filter cartridge housing 11015 is separate from the
openable cover
10959. One or more filters may be positioned within the pre-motor filter
chamber to filter
fine particles from the air stream exiting the air outlet, before it flows
into inlet of the
suction motor. The filters may be of any suitable configuration and formed
from any
suitable materials. In the illustrated embodiment, a foam filter 10960 and a
felt filter
10961 (Figure 30) are positioned within the pre-motor filter chamber 10956.
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[00231] Referring to Figures 27-30, the filter cartridge is a generally
dome shaped
member that includes a upper wall 10958a and a sidewall 10958 extending
downwardly
from the upper wall to surround the pre-motor filters 10960, 10961. The pre-
motor filters
10960, 10961 are shaped to fit within the cartridge member 11015, and when
inserted
within the cartridge member (Figure 29) the downstream side 10965 of the felt
filter
10961 forms the bottom surface of the filter cartridge 11015. When the filter
cartridge
11015 is inserted in its use position (Figure 28) the downstream side 10965 of
the pre-
motor filter rests on the support ribs 10962 (see Figure 29) on the bottom
wall 10957,
and the downstream headspace 10964 (Figure 27) is defined between the
downstream
side 10965 of the filter 10961and the bottom wa1110957.
[00232] In this embodiment, the upstream headspace 10970 (Figure 27) is
provided between the upstream side 10968 of the pre-motor filter 10960 and the
upper
wall 10958a of the cartridge housing 11015 (instead of being formed by the
cover
10959). To provide air into the upstream headspace 10970, the vortex finder
10927
projects upwardly from the bottom wall 10957 and the filters 10960 and 10961
are
provided with a corresponding aperture 10972 to receive the vortex finder
10927.
Preferably, a plurality of spacing ribs 11016 (Figure 30) are provided on the
inner
surface of the upper wall 10958a to keep the upstream surface 10968 of the
filter 10960
spaced apart from the inner surface of the upper wall 10958a to maintain the
upstream
headspace 10970.
[00233] The lower rim 11017 of the filter cartridge 11015 housing is
configured to
seal against the bottom wall 10957 (for example via snap fit or by using any
type of
suitable gasket or sealing member) to provide a generally air tight pre-motor
filter
chamber 10956. The sealed chamber 10956 is then covered by openable chamber
cover 10959. As the filter cartridge housing 11015 provides a sufficiently air
tight
connection to the bottom wall, the chamber cover 10959 need not be air tight.
Preferably, at least a portion of both the chamber cover 10959 and the filter
cartridge
11015 housing is transparent so that a user can inspect the upstream side
10968 of the
pre-motor filter 10960 without having to remove it from the chamber 10956.
Optionally,
both the chamber cover 10959 and filter cartridge housing 11015 may be formed
from
transparent plastic.
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[00234] When a user wishes to remove, clean, change or otherwise
access the
pre-motor filter 10960, 10961 he/she may open the chamber cover 10959 (Figure
30) to
expose the filter cartridge housing 11015. The user may then detach the filter
cartridge
housing 11015 and separate it from the bottom wall 10957. Preferably, the pre-
motor
filters 10960, 10961 are snugly received within the filter cartridge housing
11015 (or
otherwise retained therein) so that the filters 10960, 10961 are removed with
the filter
cartridge housing 11015 and remain inside the filter cartridge housing 11015
until
removed by a user. In this embodiment, the dirty, upstream side 10968 of the
filter
10960 remains enclosed by the filter cartridge housing 11015 when separated
from the
core cleaning unit 11000, and only the relatively clearer downstream side
10965 of the
filter 10961 is exposed. This may help prevent dirt on the upstream side 10968
of the
filter 10960 from spilling or from otherwise contacting the user. When at a
desired
location, for example at a trash receptacle or a sink, a user can grasp the
clean,
downstream side 10965 of the filter and remove it from the filter cartridge
housing
11015. The upstream side 10968 of the filter can then be cleaned and inspected
as
desired.
[00235] To assist a user, the upper side 1958a of the filter
cartridge housing 11015
may be provided with a grip member, for example the flange 11018 in the
illustrated
embodiment (Figure 28), which may allow a user to firmly grasp and manipulate
the filter
cartridge housing 11015. The grip member 11018 may be of any suitable
configuration
and optionally may be provided on other portions of the filter cartridge
housing (for
example as a ridge or groove in the sidewall). Alternatively, the filter
cartridge housing
11015 need not include a separate grip member.
[00236] To help reduce the overall size of the surface cleaning
apparatus, in the
illustrated embodiment the pre-motor filter chamber 10956, and the filters
therein, is
positioned above the cyclone chamber 10913 and covers the upper end of the
cyclone
chamber 10913. In this configuration, a plane 10966 (Figure 26) containing the
foam
filter 10960 is generally parallel and spaced above a plane 10977 containing
the air
outlet 10923 of the cyclone chamber 10913, and both planes 10966, 10967 are
generally perpendicular to the cyclone axis 10920. Arranging the filters
10960, 10961 in
this configuration results in the upstream side of the pre-motor filter (in
this example the
upper side 10968 of the foam filter 10960) being spaced further apart from the
cyclone
chamber 10913 than the downstream side of the pre-motor filter (in this
example the
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lower surface 10965 of the felt filter 10961). Alternatively, in other
embodiments, the
pre-motor filter chamber 10956 may cover only a portion of the upper end of
the cyclone
chamber and/or may be laterally spaced apart from the cyclone chamber.
[00237] When the surface cleaning apparatus is in use, air exiting the
cyclone
chamber 10913 can flow into the upstream head space 10970 via the vortex
finder
10927. Within the upstream headspace 10970 the air can flow laterally across
the
upstream surface 10968 of the foam filter 10960, and down through the filters
into the
downstream head space 10964. From the downstream head space 10964, the air can
flow to the inlet 10973 of the suction motor via an internal air conduit 10974
(Figure 26)
formed within the body 10901. In the illustrated embodiment, the internal air
conduit
10974 is formed within the main body 10901 and is external the cyclone chamber
10913
and the dirt collection chamber 10914 and is partially bounded by an exterior
surface
exterior surface of the dirt collection chamber sidewall 10915. The air
conduit 10974
extends generally vertically between the pre-motor filter chamber 10956 and
the suction
motor 10911, and is positioned laterally intermediate the suction motor 10911
and the
cyclone chamber 10913. The suction motor 10911 is positioned at an elevation
where
its air inlet 10973 is vertically between the upper and lower ends of the
cyclone chamber
10913, and the motor axis passes 10926 through the cyclone chamber 10913 and
the
dirt collection chamber 10914.
[00238] Optionally, the cartridge member 11015 can be provided with a
bottom
cover 11030 to encase the filters 10960 and 10961 and to provide a self-
contained pre-
motor filter chamber 10956. Referring to Figures 33 and 34, in such a
configuration, the
bottom cover 11030 may provide the bottom wall 10957 of the pre-motor filter
chamber
10956, and may be provided with internal ribs 10962 to support the filters
10960, 10961
and to provide the downstream headspace 10964. An outlet port 11031 provided
in the
bottom cover 11030 allows air to exit the cartridge enclosure 11015 and flow
into
conduit 10974. Providing a sealed cartridge may help further contain dirt
within the
cartridge prior to emptying, and may help keep the filters 10960 and 10961 in
position.
[00239] Referring to Figure 20, in the illustrated embodiment, handle 10902
has a
first or bottom end 10981 that is adjacent the suction motor housing 10912, a
second or
upper end 10982 that is spaced above from the lower end 10981 and a grip
portion
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10980 extending therebetween. When grasping the hand grip portion 10980, a
user's
fingers may pass through an opening 10984.
[00240] Referring to Figure 31, a sectional view of an alternate
embodiment
cyclone bin assembly portion 12910 of a core cleaning unit 13000 that may be
used by
itself or with any other feature disclosed herein is exemplified. The cyclone
bin
assembly 12910 is similar to bin assembly 10910, and like features are
identified using
like reference numerals indexed by 2000. The cyclone bin assembly 12910 is
illustrated
in isolation with the outer shell, filter cartridge member and the suction
motor removed.
In this embodiment the cyclone chamber 12913 is flared such that the cross-
sectional
area taken in a plane 13020 that passes through the air inlet 12922 (toward
the bottom
of the cyclone chamber 12913) is smaller than the cross-sectional area taken
in a plane
13021 that passes through the dirt outlet 12924, and is smaller than the cross-
section
area of the upper end wall 12937 of the cyclone chamber 12913 (which includes
the air
outlet 12923). In this configuration, the cyclone chamber sidewall 12921
includes a
vertical portion 13022 and a generally frusto-conical portion 13023 positioned
above the
vertical portion 13022. In this embodiment the volume of the cyclone chamber
12913
increases toward the top to the cyclone chamber, which may help improve
cyclone
efficiency and/or may help dis-entrained dirt exit via the dirt outlet.
[00241] Referring to Figure 32, a sectional view of an alternate
embodiment
cyclone bin assembly 14910 portion of the core cleaning unit 15000 that may be
used
by itself or with any other feature disclosed herein is exemplified. The
cyclone bin
assembly 14910 is similar to cyclone bin assembly 10910, and like elements are
represented using analogous reference numbers indexed by 4000. The cyclone bin
assembly 14910 is illustrated in isolation with the outer shell, filter
cartridge member and
the suction motor removed. In this embodiment the cyclone chamber 14913 is
tapered
such that the cross-sectional area taken in a plane 15020 that passes through
the air
inlet 14922 (toward the bottom of the cyclone chamber 14913) is larger than
the cross-
sectional area taken in a plane 15021 that passes through the dirt outlet
14924, and is
larger than the cross-section area of the upper end wall 14937 of the cyclone
chamber
14913 (which includes the air outlet 14923). In this configuration, the
cyclone chamber
sidewall 14921 includes a vertical portion 15022 and a generally inwardly-
tapering
frusto-conical portion 15023 positioned above the vertical portion. In this
embodiment
the volume of the cyclone chamber 14913 decreases toward the top to the
cyclone
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chamber, which may help improve cyclone efficiency and/or may help dis-
entrained dirt
exit via the dirt outlet.
[00242] What has been described above has been intended to be
illustrative of the
invention and non-limiting and it will be understood by persons skilled in the
art that
other variants and modifications may be made without departing from the scope
of the
invention as defined in the claims appended hereto. The scope of the claims
should not
be limited by the preferred embodiments and examples, but should be given the
broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
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