Air flow passage for a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner is provided having improved pressure loss characteristics. A fluid supply conduit in flow communication with an inlet to a cyclone is integrally formed as part of a cyclone bin. The present invention may be adapted for use with cyclonic separation devices of all types, including single- and multi-stage cyclonic separators.

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 (a) a cleaning head for cleaning a surface;    (b) a cyclone container having a wall having an inner surface and a longitudinally extending axis;    (c) a fluid inlet to the at least one cyclone container; and,    (d) a fluid conduit integrally formed as part of the cyclone container.    
   
   
       2 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fluid conduit extends through a central portion of the cyclone container.  
   
   
       3 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fluid conduit includes an exit portion which extends within the cyclone container from the central portion outwardly to the fluid inlet.  
   
   
       4 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fluid inlet is positioned adjacent the inner wall of the cyclone container.  
   
   
       5 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fluid conduit has an outlet portion, and the outlet portion and the fluid inlet are configured to redirect air traveling there through in a first direction towards the wall and in a second direction to introduce the fluid tangentially to the cyclone container.  
   
   
       6 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fluid conduit is positioned exterior to the cyclone container.  
   
   
       7 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein in the fluid conduit extends linearly.  
   
   
       8 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fluid conduit is positioned exterior to the cyclone container and the fluid conduit extends linearly.  
   
   
       9 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fluid conduit extends through the cyclone container to an opening in the bottom of the cyclone container and comprises an air exit for the cyclone container.  
   
   
       10 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the fluid conduit extends linearly.  
   
   
       11 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 (a) a cleaning head for cleaning a surface;    (b) a cyclone container having a wall having an inner surface and a longitudinally extending axis;    (c) a fluid inlet to the at least one cyclone container; and,    (d) a fluid conduit extending through the cyclone container to an opening in the bottom of the cyclone container and comprises an air exit for the cyclone container.    
   
   
       12 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the fluid conduit extends through a central portion of the cyclone container.  
   
   
       13 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the fluid inlet is positioned adjacent the inner wall of the cyclone container.  
   
   
       14 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 11  wherein in the fluid conduit extends linearly.  
   
   
       15 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 12  wherein in the fluid conduit extends linearly.