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 wherein the sidewall is tapered outwardly towards 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 cyclone 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 of the cyclone having frusto-conical shape increasing in diameter away from the cone opening and cyclone with a minimum diameter furthest from the opening of 3 times the diameter of the cone opening; and (d) means in communication with the dirty air inlet and the cyclone air outlet 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 wherein the sidewall is tapered outwardly towards 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 inner cyclone, the cyclone 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 of the cyclone having a frusto-conical shape increasing in diameter away from the cone opening of the inner 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 in communication with the dirty air inlet and the cyclone air outlet 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 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 inner air outlet.

Claim 4

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer cyclone comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom wherein the sidewall is tapered outwardly towards 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 inner cyclone, the cyclone 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 of the cyclone having a frusto-conical shape increasing in diameter away from the cone opening of the inner 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 in communication with the dirty air inlet and the cyclone air outlet 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 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 inner air outlet.

Claim 5

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 6

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer container comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom wherein the sidewall is tapered outwardly towards 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 cyclone 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 inner 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 of the cyclone 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 in communication with the dirty air inlet and cyclone air outlet 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 cyclone air outlet.

Claim 7

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer container comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom wherein the sidewall is tapered outwardly towards 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 cyclone 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 inner 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 of the cyclone 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 in communication with the dirty air inlet and cyclone air outlet 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 cyclone air outlet.

Claim 8

The cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the chamber is removable from the outer container and second seal means is provided between the container and receiving chamber.

Claim 9

The cleaning apparatus of claim 4 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 10

The cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein 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 a frusto-conical shape increasing in diameter away from the cone opening and cyclone.

Claim 11

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer container comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom wherein the sidewall is tapered outwardly towards 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 cyclone 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 chamber and cyclone are separable from the outer container wherein the receiving chamber has a circular cross-sectioned inner surface around the axis of the cyclone 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 in communication with the dirty air inlet and cyclone air outlet 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 12

A cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) an outer container comprising a bottom and a sidewall extending to and meeting the bottom wherein the sidewall is tapered outwardly towards 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 cyclone 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 chamber and cyclone are separable from the outer container wherein the receiving chamber has a circular cross-sectioned inner surface around the axis of the cyclone 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 in communication with the dirty air inlet and cyclone air outlet 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 13

The cleaning apparatus of claim 8 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.