Vacuum cleaner with divided discharge

Claim 2

A vacuum cleaner having a blower feature as well as a pickup feature, said cleaner comprising a tank having an interior space for receiving dirt and debris, a blower assembly mounted on said tank, said assembly comprising a housing defining an interior space in communication with the interior space of said tank through an inlet passage, and motor-driven blower means for moving air from said tank through said inlet passage into said housing, said housing providing a discharge port for its said interior space proportioned and constructed such that a blower hose can be connected thereto, and said housing providing discharge vents for its said interior space, said discharge vents being in addition to and separate from said discharge port, said housing being devoid of valve means between said discharge vents and discharge port such that said vents and port are always in communication and open, said tank being generally cylindrically shaped and upright with said blower housing being generally coaxially mounted on said tank, said housing being axially relatively shallow and constructed to provide upper and lower, generally radially outwardly extending circular walls, with said discharge port in said upper wall, said inlet passage in said lower wall and Said discharge vents between the outer peripheral edges of said walls, and said blower means being disposed between said upper and lower walls to direct the air radially outwardly toward said discharge vents.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 in which the outer peripheral edge portion of at least one of said walls is formed such that the axial depth of said vents is less than the depth of the interior space of said housing.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 in which said blower means includes an axially short blower wheel disposed coaxially in said housing between said walls, said blower wheel being disposed to expel air radially outwardly from its periphery, said inlet passage being a circular passage located in said lower wall coaxially with said blower wheel, said vents extending substantially about the full periphery of said housing.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 in which said discharge port is positioned radially inwardly from the outer peripheral edge of said upper wall.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 4 in which said upper wall provides a depending, generally U-shaped shield having leg portions extending toward the outer periphery of said blower wheel and a central portion extending about the outer periphery of the radially outer portion of said discharge port, said shield being effective to direct a portion of the air leaving said blower wheel to said discharge port.

Claim 7

A vacuum cleaner comprising a tank providing an interior space for collecting dust and debris, a blower assembly mounted on said tank, said blower assembly including a housing providing an interior space, an inlet port and a discharge port, a blower disposed in said housing, and a motor for driving said blower, said inlet port providing communication between the interior space of said tank and the interior space of said housing, said housing being constructed, at said discharge port, such that a hose can be connected to said discharge port to be used for blowing purposes when said blower is driven, said housing also providing, in addition to and separate from said discharge port, bleed-off vents for its said interior space, said bleed-off vents being proportioned to bleed off from approximately 60 to 80% of the air drawn through said inlet port, said blower assembly being devoid of valve means between said discharge port and said bleed-off vents such that said port and vents are in open communication, said tank being an upright tank providing, at its upper extent, a circular opening, said housing being mounted on said tank to close said circular opening, said housing including a lower, circular wall covering said tank opening and an upper wall cooperating with said lower wall to define the interior space of said housing, said lower wall having a concentrically located opening therein providing said inlet port, said blower including an axially short blower wheel disposed in said interior space and including lower and upper axially spaced apart circular discs with blade elements extending therebetween, said lower disc being adjacent said lower wall and providing a concentric opening registering with said inlet port, said blade elements being constructed to draw air into the center opening of said lower disc to expel the air radially outwardly from said blower wheel, the outer peripheral edges of said upper and lower wall cooperating to define axially short, peripherally elongated openings therebetween serving as said bleed-off vents disposed generally radially outwardly from the axial space between said blower wheel discs.

Claim 8

A vacuum cleaner comprising a tank providing an interior space for collecting dust and debris, a blower assembly mounted on said tank, said blower assembly including a housing providing an interior space, an inlet port and a discharge port, a blower disposed in said housing, and a motor for driving said blower, said inlet port providing communication between the interior space of said tank and the interior space of said housing, said housing being constructed, at said discharge port, such that a hose can be connected to said discharge port to be used for blowing purposes when said blower is driven, said housing also providing, in addition to and separate from said discharge port, bleed-off vents for its said interior space, said bleed-off vents being proportioned to bleed off from approximately 60 to 80% of the air drawn through said inlet port, said blower assembly being devoid of valve means between said discharge port and said bleed-off vents such that said port and vents are in open communication, said tank being an upright tank providing, at its upper extent, a circular opening, said housing being mounted on said tank to close said circular opening, said housing including a lower, circular wall covering said tank opening and an upper wall cooperating with said lower wall to define the interior space of said housing, said lower wall having a concentrically located opening therein providing said inlet port, said blower including an axially short blower wheel disposed in said interior space and including lower and upper axially spaced apart circular discs with blade elements extending therebetween, said lower disc being adjacent said lower wall and providing a concentric opening registering with said inlet port, said blade elements being constructed to draw air into the center opening of said lower disc to expel the air radially outwardly from said blower wheel, the outer peripheral edges of said upper and lower wall cooperating to define axially short, peripherally elongated openings therebetween serving as said bleed-off vents disposed generally radially outwardly from the axial space between said blower wheel discs.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 6 in which said bleed-off vents are disposed substantially about the full periphery of said housing.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 7 in which said lower wall is provided with a raised portion extending about its outer peripheral edge to define an upper surface, said upper wall being provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced apart, downwardly and radially outwardly extending ribs resting on said upper surface to define said bleed-off Vents therebetween.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 8 in which the axial depth of said vents is substantially less than the axial depth of the space between said walls.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 6 in which said upper wall is formed to provide said discharge port, said port being positioned radially inwardly from the outer peripheral edge of said upper wall.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 10 in which said upper wall provides a depending, generally U-shaped shield having leg portions extending toward the outer periphery of said blower wheel and a central portion extending about the outer periphery of the radially outer portion of said discharge port, said shield being effective to direct a portion of the air leaving said blower wheel to said discharge port.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 3 in which the diameter of said blower housing is approximately three times the diameter of said blower wheel, such that said bleed-off vents are spaced relatively a considerable distance from the outer diameter of said blower wheel.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 1 in which said blower means includes an axially short centrifugal blower wheel disposed coaxially in said housing between said walls to expel air radially outwardly toward said vents, the diameter of said housing being approximately three times the diameter of said blower wheel.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 6 in which the diameter of said housing is approximately three times the diameter of said blower wheel.