Filterless and bagless vacuum cleaner incorporating a sling shot separator

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a nozzle assembly including a suction inlet and a control assembly. A suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are both carried on the body. The dirt collection vessel includes a fine particle separator unit having at least one sling shot separator. Each sling shot separator includes a flow channel having an inlet, a debris discharge port and a clean air discharge port. The flow channel has a radius of curvature of between about 12 mm and about 25 mm and extends in an arc of less than 360° from the inlet to the clean air discharge outlet.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention relates generally to the floor care equipment field and, more particularly, to a highly efficient and effective vacuum cleaner incorporating a fine particle separator unit having at least one sling shot separator.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]Cyclonic vacuum cleaners have long been known in the art. Such vacuum cleaners remove dirt and debris from the air stream by means of vortex separation. Specifically, a high speed rotating air flow is established within a cylindrical chamber often referred to as a cyclone. Air flows in a spiral pattern before exiting the cyclone through an axially directed outlet. Rotational effects, centrifugal force and gravity all function to separate dirt and debris from the air stream. Specifically, larger particles in the rotating stream have too much inertia to follow the tight curve of the stream. Such particles strike the outer wall of the cyclone falling to t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, a vacuum cleaner is provided comprising a body including (a) a nozzle assembly including a suction inlet and (b) a control assembly. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the body. The dirt collection vessel includes a fine particle separator unit having at least one sling shot separator. Each sling shot separator includes a flow channel having an inlet, a debris discharge port and a clean air discharge port. The flow channel also has a radius of curvature of between about 12 mm and about 25 mm and extends in an arc of less than 360° from the inlet to the clean discharge outlet. In one possible embodiment the flow channel extends in an arc of less than 270°. In yet another possible embodiment the flow channel extends in an arc of about 180°. In yet another possible embodiment the flow channel has a radius of curvature of between about 12 mm and about 16 mm.

Problems solved by technology

Specifically, larger particles in the rotating stream have too much inertia to follow the tight curve of the stream.

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