Royal Appliance Mfg., Co.

Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited

Charles J Thur

Paul Dana Stephens

Michael F Wright

Jeffrey M Kalman

Mark Edward Cipolla

Robert A Salo

Steven J Paliobeis

Brett A Latimer

Craig M Saunders

Craig J Barbeck

Richard C Farone

Cynthia M Caffoe

Robert A Vystrcil

Craig Saunders

David Di Nunzio

David M Brickner

Robert Nolan McKee

Victor Younger

Paul K Foisy

Michael A Seifried

Mark D Bosses

A vacuum cleaner includes a cyclonic airflow chamber that facilitates the separation of contaminants from a suction airstream. The airflow chamber includes a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, with the chamber inlet being fluidically connected with at least one of a suction nozzle and an above-the-floor cleaning tool. An exhaust filter housing includes a suction duct and an exhaust plenum, with the suction duct communicating with the chamber outlet. A suction source housing includes an open end communicating with the exhaust plenum and a closed end. A suction source is positioned within the suction source housing to define an annular exhaust flow passageway surrounding the suction source from the housing closed end to the housing open end. The suction source includes a suction inlet communicating with the suction duct and an exhaust outlet communicating with the housing closed end.

Vacuum cleaner with noise suppression features

An upright vacuum cleaner includes an upright housing section and a nozzle base section. A cyclonic airflow dirt and dust separating chamber is defined in the upright housing section. A suction source pulls air and entrained dirt, dust, and other contaminants through a main suction opening formed in the underside of the nozzle base section and into the cyclonic airflow chamber. The cyclonic airflow chamber causes the suction airstream to travel in a cyclonic path such that the entrained contaminants are separated therefrom and deposited into a dirt container that defines the chamber. A main filter element filters residual contaminants from the suction airstream between the chamber and the suction source. An exhaust filter housing includes an airstream suction duct in fluid communication with an outlet of the airflow chamber and an inlet of the suction source. An outlet of the suction source is in fluid communication with an exhaust plenum of the exhaust filter housing. An exhaust filter is positioned radially outward of the exhaust plenum such that exhaust air is forcedly radially outward through the exhaust filter from the exhaust plenum to ensure that the air discharged into the atmosphere is contaminant free, including those contaminants introduced into the airstream by the suction source itself.

Upright vacuum cleaner with cyclonic airflow pathway

A vacuum cleaner includes a first housing defining a cyclonic airflow chamber and a second housing defining a main suction opening that is in communication with an inlet of the cyclonic chamber. A suction source has a suction airstream inlet in communication with an outlet of the cyclonic chamber, and establishes a suction airstream that enters the main suction opening, passes through the cyclonic chamber, and passes to an outlet of the suction source. Particulates entrained in the suction airstream are separated therefrom when said suction airstream moves in a cyclonic fashion through the cyclonic chamber. A main filter assembly is located in the cyclonic chamber so that a suction airstream moving from the main suction opening to the inlet of the suction source by way of the cyclonic airflow chamber passes through the filter medium thereof after the airstream moves in a cyclonic fashion within the cyclonic airflow chamber to remove residual particulates from the suction airstream before it leaves the cyclonic chamber.

Upright vacuum cleaner with cyclonic airflow

A vacuum cleaner includes a first housing defining a cyclonic airflow chamber and a second housing defining a main suction opening that is in communication with an inlet of the cyclonic chamber. A suction source has a suction airstream inlet in communication with an outlet of the cyclonic chamber, and establishes a suction airstream that enters said main suction opening, passes through said cyclonic chamber, and passes to an outlet of said suction source. A substantial portion of particulates entrained in the suction airstream are separated therefrom when said suction airstream moves in a cyclonic fashion through the cyclonic chamber. A main filter assembly, preferably including filter medium comprising polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), is located in the cyclonic chamber so that a suction airstream moving from the main suction opening to the inlet of said suction source by way of the cyclonic airflow chamber passes through the filter medium thereof after said airstream moves in a cyclonic fashion within the cyclonic airflow chamber to remove residual particulates from the suction airstream before it leaves the cyclonic chamber. A HEPA filter can be provided to filter the suction airstream exhausted through the outlet of the suction source prior to the airstream being discharged from the vacuum.

An upright vacuum cleaner (A) includes an upright housing section (B) and a nozzle section (C). A cyclonic airflow dirt and dust separating chamber () is defined in said upright housing section. A suction source (E) pulls air and entrained dirt, dust, and other contaminants through a main suction opening () formed in the underside () of the nozzle and into the cyclonic airflow chamber (). The cyclonic airflow chamber causes the suction airstream to travel in a cyclonic path such that the entrained contaminants are separated therefrom and deposited into a dirt container () that defines the lower portion of the chamber (). A main filter element () filters residual contaminants from the suction airstream between the chamber and the suction source. The main filter element is preferably made from high-density polyethylene porous filter media. A final filter assembly (F) filters the section airstream discharged by the suction source to ensure that the air discharged into the atmosphere is contaminant free, including those contaminants introduced into the airstream by the suction source itself.

An upright vacuum cleaner is provided. The upright vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle base section including a main suction opening formed in an underside thereof. An upright housing section is hingedly connected with the nozzle base section. The housing section includes a cyclonic airflow chamber and a dirt cup for receiving dirt and dust separated by the cyclonic airflow chamber. A hose connects the nozzle base section to the upright section and is selectively detachable from the nozzle base section. The hose communicates an airstream that flows from the main suction opening to airflow chamber. A suction source is located in one of the upright housing section and the nozzle base section and is in fluid communication with the cyclonic airflow chamber. A filter assembly is located in an airflow chamber upstream from the suction source.

Vacuum cleaner having hose detachable at nozzle

An airflow indicator for a vacuum cleaner is provided. The airflow indicator comprises a housing mounted to a casing of the vacuum cleaner. A piston chamber is defined within the housing. A piston is received in the piston chamber and is movable therein between a first position and a second position. A first port is formed in the housing and communicates with the piston chamber. The first port is open to ambient. A second port is formed in the housing and communicates with the piston chamber. The second port is spaced from the first port and is open to the filter chamber of the vacuum cleaner. A valve is mounted to the housing for obstructing air passage into the piston chamber. The valve includes a diaphragm having a slit that opens in response to a predetermined pressure differential between the first port and the second port.

Airflow indicator

Conically shaped filter

Growing community of inventors

Chardon, OH, United States of America

Charles J Thur