The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners, and more particularly, to a filter arrangement for vacuum cleaners.
Vacuum cleaners typically include a suction source that generates an airflow. The airflow is typically drawn through a suction nozzle and into a dirt separator. The dirt separator can include a cyclonic separator. Downstream from the cyclonic separator, the vacuum often includes a filter that filters the airflow before the airflow is discharged to atmosphere.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a vacuum cleaner that includes a suction source, a main body, a dirt separator removably coupled to the main body, a pre-motor filter in contacting engagement with the main body in a vertically orientated plane, and a post-motor filter in contacting engagement with the main body along the vertically orientated plane.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a vacuum cleaner that includes a suction source, a main body, a dirt separator removably coupled to the main body, and a pre-motor filter removably coupled to the main body. The pre-motor filter is configured to be coupled to the main body in a first orientation and a second orientation.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a vacuum cleaner that includes a suction source, a main body, and a dirt separator removably coupled to the main body. The dirt separator having an outlet along an axis and a pre-motor filter in contacting engagement with the main body in a vertically orientated plane, the filter intersecting the axis.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
The suction source 12 is located within the body 16 and in one embodiment the suction source 12 includes an electric motor and a fan. The motor is operable to rotate the fan to generate a suction airflow. The vacuum cleaner 10 further includes an inlet duct 20. The inlet duct 20 is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle 15 and the dirt separator 14 and the inlet duct 20 directs the airflow from the suction nozzle 15 to the dirt separator 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the dirt separator 14 is removably coupled to the body 16 and the inlet duct 20.
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Also, in the illustrated embodiment, both filters 40, 42 remain attached to the main body 16 when the dirt separator 14 is removed or uncoupled from the main body 16. Generally, both filters 40, 42 are located behind the dirt separator 14. The main body 16 includes a first side 61 that generally faces the dirt separator 14 and a second side 63 opposed to the first side 61. In the illustrated embodiment, the filters 40, 42 are accessible from the first side 61 of the main body 16. Therefore, the filters 40, 42 are generally inaccessible when the dirt separator 14 is coupled to the main body 16 and the filters 40, 42 are accessible when the dirt separator in uncoupled from the main body 16. In other embodiments, the filters 40, 42 are accessible from the second side 63 of the body 16 so that the filters 40, 42 are accessible when the dirt separator 14 is attached to the main body 16. A door 64 provides access to a post-motor filter chamber 65. The filter chamber 65 receives the post-motor filter 42 to couple the filter 42 to the main body 16. The door 64 may include vent apertures 66. In one embodiment, the door 64 is pivotally coupled to the main body 16. In another embodiment, the door 64 is coupled to the dirt separator 14 and the door 64 is removed from the main body 16 when the dirt separator 14 is uncoupled from the main body 16.
The main body 16 further includes a handle 67 (
In operation, the suction source 12 generates an airflow that is drawn through the suction nozzle 15, along with debris, through the inlet duct 20 and into the cyclonic separator 24. A majority of the debris is separated from the airflow in the cyclonic separator 24 and travels through the aperture 32 and into the dirt cup 26. The airflow then travels through the screen 34 where any remaining coarse debris is separated from the airflow. The airflow then exits through the outlet 30 and travels generally perpendicularly through the face 49 of the pre-motor filter 40 and through the pre-motor filter 40 and into the duct 68 (
When the dirt cup 26 is full, the user detaches the dirt separator 14 from the main body 16 to empty the dirt cup 26. Meanwhile, in the illustrated embodiment, the filters 40, 42 remain attached to the main body 16. The user can open the door 64 to inspect and change the post-motor filter 42. Also, the user can inspect, change, or rotate the pre-motor filter 40, as discussed above.
Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/975,332, filed Apr. 4, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2015/024199 | 4/3/2015 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2015/153943 | 10/8/2015 | WO | A |
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