Vacuum cleaning apparatus

Claim 2

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer container comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom, the sidewall having an interior surface, a dirty air inlet at an upper portion of the outer container spaced from the bottom and is oriented for supplying dirt laden air into the container tangentially to the interior surface of the outer container which has a circular cross-section and an air outlet from the container at the upper portion of the container; (b) a circular cross-sectioned cyclone with a longitudinal axis mounted inside the container, the cyclone comprising a cyclone air inlet at an upper end having a first diameter of the cyclone in air communication with the air outlet of the container, an interior dirt rotational surface of frusto-conical shape for receiving an air flow from the air inlet and for maintaining its velocity to a cone opening smaller in diameter than the diameter of the upper end of the cyclone, the air inlet being oriented for supplying air tangentially to the surface, an outer surface of frusto-conical shape, and a cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the cyclone adjacent the upper end of the cyclone; (c) a dirt receiving and collecting chamber extending from the bottom of the container to a portion of the outer surface of the cyclone such that a portion of the cyclone projects into the receiving chamber wherein the receiving chamber has a circular cross-sectioned inner tapered surface around the axis having frusto-conical shape increasing in diameter away from the cone opening and cyclone with a minimum diameter furthest from the cone opening of 3 times the diameter of the cone opening; and (d) means for generating an air flow which passes sequentially through the dirty air inlet, the container, the cyclone air inlet, the cyclone, the receiving chamber and the cyclone air outlet, the air flow rotating around the frusto-conical interior surface of the cyclone and the inner tapered surface of the receiving chamber and depositing the dirt in the receiving chamber.

Claim 3

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer cyclone comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom, the sidewall having an interior surface having a circular cross-section which acts as a dirt rotation surface, a dirty air inlet at an upper portion of the outer cyclone spaced from the bottom and is oriented for supplying dirt laden air tangentially to the interior surface, and a cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the outer cyclone; (b) a circular cross-sectioned inner cyclone with a longitudinal axis mounted inside the outer cyclone, the inner cyclone comprising an air inlet at an upper end of the cyclone having a first diameter in air communication through a passage with the air outlet of the outer cyclone, an interior dirt rotational surface of frusto-conical shape defining the cyclone for receiving an air flow from the passage and maintaining its velocity to a cone opening smaller in diameter than the diameter of the upper end of the cyclone, the air inlet being oriented for supplying air tangentially to the surface, an outer surface of frusto-conical shape, and an inner cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the inner cyclone adjacent the upper end of the cyclone as defined by the frusto-conical shaped surface; (c) a dirt receiving and collecting chamber extending from the bottom of the outer cyclone and cone opening to a portion of the outer surface of the inner cyclone such that a portion of the inner cyclone and cyclone opening projects into the receiving chamber, wherein the receiving chamber has a circular cross-sectioned inner tapered surface around the axis having a frusto-conical shape increasing in diameter away from the cone opening of the cyclone and with a minimum diameter of the cross-section furthest from the cone opening of 3 times the diameter of the cone opening; and (d) means for generating an air flow which passes sequentially through the dirty air inlet, the outer cyclone, the outer cyclone air outlet, the passage, the inner cyclone, the receiving chamber and the inner cyclone air outlet, the air flow rotating around the interior surface of the outer cyclone, the frusto-conical interior surface of the inner cyclone and the inner tapered surface of the receiving chamber and then is removed through the air outlet.

Claim 4

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer cyclone comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom, the sidewall having an interior surface having a circular cross-section which acts as a dirt rotation surface, a dirty air inlet at an upper portion of the outer cyclone spaced from the bottom and is oriented for supplying dirt laden air tangentially to the interior surface, and a cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the outer cyclone; (b) a circular cross-sectioned inner cyclone with a longitudinal axis mounted inside the outer cyclone, the inner cyclone comprising an air inlet at an upper end of the cyclone having a first diameter in air communication through a passage with the air outlet of the outer cyclone, an interior dirt rotational surface of frusto-conical shape defining the cyclone for receiving an air flow from the passage and maintaining its velocity to a cone opening smaller in diameter than the diameter of the upper end of the cyclone, the air inlet being oriented for supplying air tangentially to the surface, an outer surface of frusto-conical shape, and an inner cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the inner cyclone adjacent the upper end of the cyclone as defined by the frusto-conical shaped surface; (c) a dirt receiving and collecting chamber extending from the bottom of the outer cyclone and cone opening to a portion of the outer surface of the inner cyclone such that a portion of the inner cyclone and cyclone opening projects into the receiving chamber, wherein the receiving chamber has a circular cross-sectioned inner tapered surface around the axis having a frusto-conical shape increasing in diameter away from the cone opening of the cyclone and with a minimum diameter of the cross-section furthest from the cone opening of 3 times the diameter of the cone opening; and (d) means for generating an air flow which passes sequentially through the dirty air inlet, the outer cyclone, the outer cyclone air outlet, the passage, the inner cyclone, the receiving chamber and the inner cyclone air outlet, the air flow rotating around the interior surface of the outer cyclone, the frusto-conical interior surface of the inner cyclone and the inner tapered surface of the receiving chamber and then is removed through the air outlet.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the receiving chamber comprises a circular cross-sectioned tubular portion which is cylindrical around the axis with one end connected to the portion of the outer surface of the inner cyclone and the opposite end connected to the tapered surface in spaced relation to the cone opening, wherein the tubular portion has a diameter smaller than the minimum diameter of the tapered surface.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the receiving chamber and the portion of the outer surface of the inner cyclone are joined together in use and separable for emptying the receiving chamber, wherein the receiving chamber is open adjacent to the bottom of the outer cyclone and wherein a flexible seal is provided between the bottom and the chamber to prevent air leakage between them during use.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a flexible tapered air seal is provided between the receiving chamber and the outer surface of the inner cyclone such that the inner cyclone is separable from the receiving chamber.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the interior surface of the outer cyclone is substantially cylindrical.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the outer cyclone and the inner cyclone are concentric around a common longitudinal axis, wherein the interior surface of the outer cyclone is substantially cylindrical, wherein the receiving chamber comprises a circular cross-sectioned tubular portion which is cylindrical around the axis with one end connected to the portion of the outer surface of the inner cyclone and the opposite end connected to the inner tapered surface of the receiving chamber in spaced relation to the cone opening and wherein the tubular portion has a diameter smaller than the minimum diameter of the tapered wall such that finely divided dirt is trapped in the receiving chamber.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a flexible tapered seal is provided between the receiving chamber and the outer surface of the inner cyclone such that the inner cyclone is separable from the receiving chamber.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the tapered seal is composed of a series of concentric rings which engage the outer surface of the inner cyclone to provide the seal.

Claim 12

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer container comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom, the sidewall having an interior surface, a dirty air inlet at an upper portion of the outer container spaced from the bottom and is oriented for supplying dirt laden air into the container tangentially to the interior surface of the outer container which has a circular cross-section and an air outlet from the container at the upper portion of the container; (b) a circular cross-sectioned cyclone with a longitudinal axis mounted inside the container, the cyclone comprising a cyclone air inlet at an upper end having a first diameter of the cyclone in air communication with the air outlet of the container, an interior dirt rotational surface of frusto-conical shape defining the cyclone for receiving an air flow from the air inlet and for maintaining its velocity to a cone opening smaller in diameter than the diameter of the upper end of the cyclone, the air inlet being oriented for supplying air tangentially to the surface, an outer surface of frusto-conical shape, and a cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the cyclone adjacent the upper end of the cyclone; (c) a dirt receiving and collecting chamber extending from the bottom of the container to a portion of the outer surface of the cyclone wherein the receiving chamber has a circular cross-sectioned inner surface around the axis with a minimum diameter furthest from the opening of 3 times the diameter of the cone opening and wherein the chamber is separable from the cyclone to facilitate emptying of the dirt; (d) seal means between the chamber and cyclone; and (e) means for generating an air flow which passes sequentially through the dirty air inlet, the container, the cyclone air inlet, the cyclone, the receiving chamber and the cyclone air outlet, the air flow rotating around the frusto-conical interior surface of the cyclone and the inner surface of the receiving chamber and depositing dirt in the receiving chamber and then is removed through the air inlet.

Claim 13

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer container comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom, the sidewall having an interior surface, a dirty air inlet at an upper portion of the outer container spaced from the bottom and is oriented for supplying dirt laden air into the container tangentially to the interior surface of the outer container which has a circular cross-section and an air outlet from the container at the upper portion of the container; (b) a circular cross-sectioned cyclone with a longitudinal axis mounted inside the container, the cyclone comprising a cyclone air inlet at an upper end having a first diameter of the cyclone in air communication with the air outlet of the container, an interior dirt rotational surface of frusto-conical shape defining the cyclone for receiving an air flow from the air inlet and for maintaining its velocity to a cone opening smaller in diameter than the diameter of the upper end of the cyclone, the air inlet being oriented for supplying air tangentially to the surface, an outer surface of frusto-conical shape, and a cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the cyclone adjacent the upper end of the cyclone; (c) a dirt receiving and collecting chamber extending from the bottom of the container to a portion of the outer surface of the cyclone wherein the receiving chamber has a circular cross-sectioned inner surface around the axis with a minimum diameter furthest from the opening of 3 times the diameter of the cone opening and wherein the chamber is separable from the cyclone to facilitate emptying of the dirt; (d) seal means between the chamber and cyclone; and (e) means for generating an air flow which passes sequentially through the dirty air inlet, the container, the cyclone air inlet, the cyclone, the receiving chamber and the cyclone air outlet, the air flow rotating around the frusto-conical interior surface of the cyclone and the inner surface of the receiving chamber and depositing dirt in the receiving chamber and then is removed through the air inlet.

Claim 14

The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the chamber is removable from the outer container and second seal means is provided between the container and receiving chamber.

Claim 15

The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the receiving chamber is open adjacent the bottom of the outer container such that dirt remains in the outer container upon removal of the receiving chamber from the outer container.

Claim 16

The cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein a portion of the cyclone projects into the receiving chamber and wherein the receiving chamber has a circular cross-sectioned inner tapered surface around the axis having a frusto-conical shape increasing in diameter away from the cone opening and cyclone.

Claim 17

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer container comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom, the sidewall having an interior surface, a dirty air inlet at an upper portion of the outer container spaced from the bottom and is oriented for supplying dirt laden air into the container tangentially to the interior surface of the outer container which has a circular cross-section and an air outlet from the container at an upper portion of the container; (b) a circular cross-sectioned cyclone with a longitudinal axis mounted inside the container, the cyclone comprising a cyclone air inlet at an upper end having a first diameter of the cyclone in air communication with the air outlet of the container, an interior dirt rotational surface of frusto-conical shape defining the cyclone for receiving an air flow from the air inlet and for maintaining its velocity to a cone opening smaller in diameter than the diameter of the upper end of the cyclone, the air inlet being oriented for suppyling air tangentially to the surface, an outer surface of frusto-conical shape, and a cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the cyclone adjacent the upper end of the cyclone; (c) a dirt receiving and collecting chamber extending from the bottom of the container to a portion of the outer surface of the cyclone, wherein the chamber and cyclone are separable from the outer container wherein the receiving chamber has a circular cross-sectioned inner surface around the axis with a minimum diameter furthest from the opening of 3 times the diameter of the cone opening and wherein the chamber is open to the bottom of the container to facilitate emptying of the dirt; (d) ring seal means between the chamber and outer container; and (e) means for generating an air flow which passes sequentially through the dirty air inlet, the container, the cyclone air inlet, the cyclone, the receiving chamber and the cyclone air outlet, the air flow rotating around the frusto-conical interior surface of the cyclone and the inner surface of the receiving chamber and depositing dirt in the receiving chamber.

Claim 18

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer container comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom, the sidewall having an interior surface, a dirty air inlet at an upper portion of the outer container spaced from the bottom and is oriented for supplying dirt laden air into the container tangentially to the interior surface of the outer container which has a circular cross-section and an air outlet from the container at an upper portion of the container; (b) a circular cross-sectioned cyclone with a longitudinal axis mounted inside the container, the cyclone comprising a cyclone air inlet at an upper end having a first diameter of the cyclone in air communication with the air outlet of the container, an interior dirt rotational surface of frusto-conical shape defining the cyclone for receiving an air flow from the air inlet and for maintaining its velocity to a cone opening smaller in diameter than the diameter of the upper end of the cyclone, the air inlet being oriented for suppyling air tangentially to the surface, an outer surface of frusto-conical shape, and a cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the cyclone adjacent the upper end of the cyclone; (c) a dirt receiving and collecting chamber extending from the bottom of the container to a portion of the outer surface of the cyclone, wherein the chamber and cyclone are separable from the outer container wherein the receiving chamber has a circular cross-sectioned inner surface around the axis with a minimum diameter furthest from the opening of 3 times the diameter of the cone opening and wherein the chamber is open to the bottom of the container to facilitate emptying of the dirt; (d) ring seal means between the chamber and outer container; and (e) means for generating an air flow which passes sequentially through the dirty air inlet, the container, the cyclone air inlet, the cyclone, the receiving chamber and the cyclone air outlet, the air flow rotating around the frusto-conical interior surface of the cyclone and the inner surface of the receiving chamber and depositing dirt in the receiving chamber.

Claim 19

The cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein a portion of the cyclone projects into the receiving chamber, wherein the receiving chamber has a circular cross-sectioned inner surface around the axis having a frusto-conical shape increasing in diameter away from the cone opening and cyclone.

Claim 20

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer cyclone comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom, the sidewall having an interior surface having a circular cross section which acts as a dirt rotation surface, a dirty air inlet at an upper portion of the outer cyclone spaced from the bottom and is oriented for supplying dirt laden air tangentially to the interior surface, and a cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the outer cyclone; (b) a circular cross-sectioned inner cyclone with a longitudinal axis mounted inside the outer cyclone, the inner cyclone comprising an air inlet at an upper end of the cyclone having a first diameter in air communication through a passage with the air outlet of the outer cyclone, an interior dirt rotational surface of frusto-conical shape defining the cyclone for receiving an air flow from the passage and maintaining its velocity to a cone opening smaller in diameter than the diameter of the upper end of the cyclone, the air inlet being oriented for supplying air tangentially to the surface, an outer surface of frusto-conical shape, and an inner cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the inner cyclone adjacent the upper end of the cyclone as defined by the frusto-conical shaped surface; (c) a dirt receiving and collecting chamber extending from the bottom of the outer cyclone and cone opening to a portion of the outer surface of the inner cyclone such that a portion of the inner cyclone and cyclone opening projects into the receiving chamber, wherein the receiving chamber has a circular cross-sectioned inner tapered surface around the axis having a frusto-conical shape increasing in diameter away from the cone opening of the cyclone and with a minimum diameter of the cross-section furthest from the cone opening of 3 times the diameter of the cone opening; and (d) means for generating an air flow which passes sequentially through the dirty air inlet, the outer cyclone, the outer cyclone air outlet, the passage, the inner cyclone, the receiving chamber and the inner cyclone air outlet, the air flow rotating around the interior surface of the outer cyclone, the frusto-conical interior surface of the inner cyclone and the inner tapered surface of the receiving chamber and then is removed through the air outlet wherein the outer cyclone and the inner cyclone are concentric around a common longitudinal axis, wherein the interior surface of the outer cyclone is substantially cylindrical, wherein the receiving chamber comprises a circular cross-sectioned tubular portion which is cylindrical around the axis with one end connected to the portion of the outer surface of the inner cyclone and the opposite end connected to the inner tapered surface of the receiving chamber in spaced relation to the cone opening wherein the tubular portion has a diameter smaller than the minimum diameter of the tapered wall such that finely divided dirt is trapped in the receiving chamber and wherein a diameter of the inner surface of the outer cyclone and the minimum diameter of the tapered surface of the receiving chamber is such that larger particles of the dirt are collected at the bottom of the outer cyclone and smaller particles of the dirt are collected inside the receiving chamber.

Claim 21

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer cyclone comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom, the sidewall having an interior surface having a circular cross section which acts as a dirt rotation surface, a dirty air inlet at an upper portion of the outer cyclone spaced from the bottom and is oriented for supplying dirt laden air tangentially to the interior surface, and a cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the outer cyclone; (b) a circular cross-sectioned inner cyclone with a longitudinal axis mounted inside the outer cyclone, the inner cyclone comprising an air inlet at an upper end of the cyclone having a first diameter in air communication through a passage with the air outlet of the outer cyclone, an interior dirt rotational surface of frusto-conical shape defining the cyclone for receiving an air flow from the passage and maintaining its velocity to a cone opening smaller in diameter than the diameter of the upper end of the cyclone, the air inlet being oriented for supplying air tangentially to the surface, an outer surface of frusto-conical shape, and an inner cyclone air outlet communicating with the interior of the inner cyclone adjacent the upper end of the cyclone as defined by the frusto-conical shaped surface; (c) a dirt receiving and collecting chamber extending from the bottom of the outer cyclone and cone opening to a portion of the outer surface of the inner cyclone such that a portion of the inner cyclone and cyclone opening projects into the receiving chamber, wherein the receiving chamber has a circular cross-sectioned inner tapered surface around the axis having a frusto-conical shape increasing in diameter away from the cone opening of the cyclone and with a minimum diameter of the cross-section furthest from the cone opening of 3 times the diameter of the cone opening; and (d) means for generating an air flow which passes sequentially through the dirty air inlet, the outer cyclone, the outer cyclone air outlet, the passage, the inner cyclone, the receiving chamber and the inner cyclone air outlet, the air flow rotating around the interior surface of the outer cyclone, the frusto-conical interior surface of the inner cyclone and the inner tapered surface of the receiving chamber and then is removed through the air outlet wherein the outer cyclone and the inner cyclone are concentric around a common longitudinal axis, wherein the interior surface of the outer cyclone is substantially cylindrical, wherein the receiving chamber comprises a circular cross-sectioned tubular portion which is cylindrical around the axis with one end connected to the portion of the outer surface of the inner cyclone and the opposite end connected to the inner tapered surface of the receiving chamber in spaced relation to the cone opening wherein the tubular portion has a diameter smaller than the minimum diameter of the tapered wall such that finely divided dirt is trapped in the receiving chamber and wherein a diameter of the inner surface of the outer cyclone and the minimum diameter of the tapered surface of the receiving chamber is such that larger particles of the dirt are collected at the bottom of the outer cyclone and smaller particles of the dirt are collected inside the receiving chamber.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein a flexible tapered seal is provided between the receiving chamber and the outer surface of the inner cyclone such that the inner cyclone is separable from the receiving chamber.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the tapered seal is composed of a series of concentric rings which engage the outer surface of the inner cyclone to provide the seal.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein a flexible ring seal is provided between the outer cyclone and the chamber adjacent to the bottom of the outer cyclone to prevent air leakage during use.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the diameter of the inner surface of the outer cyclone and the minimum diameter of the tapered surface of the outer cyclone are approximately the same.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein a flexible tapered seal is provided between the receiving chamber and the outer surface of the inner cyclone such that the inner cyclone is separable from the receiving chamber.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the tapered seal is composed of a series of concentric rings which engage the outer surface of the inner cyclone to provide the seal.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein an airtight joint is provided between the outer cyclone and the receiving chamber adjacent to the bottom of the outer cyclone.