Abstract:
An indoor vacuum cleaner comprises a dirty air inlet, a handle, a cyclone separator having an outer wall, a fluid inlet downstream from the dirty air inlet and a fluid outlet, a plate having a cyclone chamber surface and positioned to substantially divide the cyclone separator into a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, each of the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber having an outer wall, the outer wall of each of the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber having an outer perimeter, the dirt collection chamber having a cyclone chamber end spaced from a dirt collection floor, a passage extending between the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber, the passage configured such that separated dirt travels at least outwardly as the dirt travels through the passage and, an air flow motor.
Abstract:
A battery-powered surface cleaning apparatus (60) has a closed loop recirculation system to re-entrain at least some of the air which is ejected by a clean air outlet (18) positioned in front of a dirty air inlet (64) so that the surface cleaning apparatus recycles air that exits the surface cleaning apparatus and uses the kinetic energy of the air ejected from the clean air outlet (18) to enhance the performance of a battery-powered vacuum cleaner.
Abstract:
An appliance comprises an electrically operated member; and, a power control system electrically connectable to a power source and the electrically operated member, the power control system reducing the voltage delivered to the electrically operated member to an essentially constant level less than the voltage delivered by the power source when the appliance is actuated. Methods of using the power control system are also provided.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is provided which uses a plurality of batteries (38) that are sequentially used to power an appliance (10). While one or more batteries (38) are used to power the appliance, one or more spare batteries (38) are charged for subsequent use. The rate of charge of the batteries (38) is comparable to the rate of discharge of the batteries (38) by the appliance (10) or faster. Thus the appliance (10) may be essentially continuously used by the user removing the discharged battery (38) and inserting a charged battery (38).
Abstract:
A vacuum cleaner (20) that includes a cyclone separator (38) has a coarse filter (F) disposed in the path of air flowing towards the outlet of the cyclone separator, for holding back hair that would otherwise tend to clog the vacuum cleaner (20), while minimizing impedance to air flow. In a preferred embodiment, the coarse filter (F) comprises a disc-shaped lattice structure of barrier elements (68) that are arranged to "catch" the animal hair.
Abstract:
An apparatus for producing ozone from oxygen comprises a high voltage electrode (14) connectable to an electric current source (50); a ground electrode (12) spaced from the high voltage electrode and having an upstream end and a downstream end; a dielectric element (16) positioned between the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode; a path for air flow (18) positioned between the dielectric element and the ground electrode; and, a current collector (60) positioned downstream of the high voltage electrode (12) and comprising an extension of the ground electrode.
Abstract:
A surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed. In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a member having a dirty fluid inlet. A fluid flow path extends from the dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the surface cleaning apparatus, and includes a suction motor. At least a first air cleaning unit comprising a cyclonic cleaning stage is positioned in the fluid flow path. A material collection chamber is in flow communication with the at least one cyclone and is adapted to receive a liner bag. A vacuum line extends between the fluid flow path and an interior of the material collection chamber and is connectable in flow communication with the fluid flow path. A valve is associated with the vacuum line and moveable between a first position in which the vacuum line is open and a second position wherein the line is closed.
Abstract:
A vacuum cleaner (10) comprises adjacent housings, oriented in a side by side configuration, permitting a more compact size for carrying by means of a strap (74) A first housing (12) of the vacuum cleaner contains a filtration element (34) a second housing (14) contains a suction fan motor assembly (52).
Abstract:
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a dirty air inlet (64), a clean air outlet, an air flow passage extending between the dirty air inlet and the clean air outlet, the air flow passage comprising at least one airflow duct (8,14) and at least one filtration member (11) that is configured to seat downwardly on the at least one airflow duct (8,14) whereby the at least one filtration member (11) is removed for emptying by moving the at least one filtration member (11) upwardly. In another embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a dirty air inlet (64), a clean air outlet, an air flow passage extending between the dirty air inlet and the clean air outlet, the air flow passage comprising a first and second airflow ducts (8,14) and at least one filtration member(11) positioned in the air flow passage, the filtration member (11) having an openable portion (25) and the being filtration member removably mounted on the first and second airflow ducts (8,14) when the openable portion (25) is closed.
Abstract:
An apparatus for producing ozone from oxygen comprises a high voltage electrode connectable to an electric current source; a ground electrode spaced from the high voltage electrode and having an upstream end and a downstream end; a dielectric element positioned between the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode; a path for air flow positioned between the dielectric element and the ground electrode; and, a current collector positioned downstream of the high voltage electrode and comprising an extension of the ground electrode.