EP4265166A1 - Appareil de nettoyage de surfaces - Google Patents

Appareil de nettoyage de surfaces Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4265166A1
EP4265166A1 EP23168484.6A EP23168484A EP4265166A1 EP 4265166 A1 EP4265166 A1 EP 4265166A1 EP 23168484 A EP23168484 A EP 23168484A EP 4265166 A1 EP4265166 A1 EP 4265166A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid
surface cleaning
liquid separation
cleaning apparatus
cyclone
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP23168484.6A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Wayne Ernest Conrad
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Omachron Intellectual Property Inc
Original Assignee
Omachron Intellectual Property Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US17/726,640 external-priority patent/US11980334B2/en
Application filed by Omachron Intellectual Property Inc filed Critical Omachron Intellectual Property Inc
Publication of EP4265166A1 publication Critical patent/EP4265166A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L7/00—Suction cleaners adapted for additional purposes; Tables with suction openings for cleaning purposes; Containers for cleaning articles by suction; Suction cleaners adapted to cleaning of brushes; Suction cleaners adapted to taking-up liquids
    • A47L7/0004—Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners
    • A47L7/0009—Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
    • A47L11/4013—Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
    • A47L11/4016—Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like specially adapted for collecting fluids
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
    • A47L11/4027—Filtering or separating contaminants or debris
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A47L9/1683—Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles

Definitions

  • This application relates to the field of liquid separation and surface cleaning apparatus including the same.
  • ⁇ cleaning apparatus including upright surface cleaning apparatus, canister surface cleaning apparatus, stick surface cleaning apparatus, central vacuum systems, all-in-the-head surface cleaning apparatus, and hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus such as hand vacuums. Further, various designs for wet/dry surface cleaning apparatus have been used to collect both solid and liquid material.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus has a surface cleaning head with a liquid separation stage and an air treatment stage that is downstream from the liquid separation stage.
  • the liquid separation stage may comprise a liquid separation chamber having a porous separating element provided on one or more walls that define the chamber.
  • the liquid separation chamber may have one or more walls that comprise, consist essentially of or consist of a mesh material.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head, the surface cleaning head comprising:
  • the separated liquid storage region may be emptyable independent of emptying the separated solid storage region.
  • the separated liquid storage region and the separated solid storage region may be emptyable concurrently.
  • the liquid separation stage may comprise a liquid separation chamber having a separated liquid outlet that is in flow communication with the separated liquid storage region, and the liquid separation chamber, the separated liquid storage region and the separated solid storage region may be emptyable concurrently.
  • the liquid separation stage may comprise a liquid separation chamber having a separated liquid outlet that is in flow communication with the separated liquid storage region, the liquid separation chamber may comprise a non-cyclonic momentum separator and the separated liquid outlet may comprise an opening in an angled lower wall of the liquid separation chamber.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise a porous member overlying the opening.
  • the porous member may overlie and may be vertically spaced from at least a portion of the angled lower wall.
  • the liquid separation stage may comprise a liquid separation chamber comprising a lower wall, a sidewall and an upper wall, the lower, side and upper walls may define a volume having an air inlet and a partially treated air outlet, at least a portion of one or more of the lower and side walls may comprise a separated liquid outlet that is in flow communication with the separated liquid storage region, the separated liquid outlet may comprise a porous member and liquid separated as air travels through the volume may exit the volume through the separated liquid outlet and flows to the separated liquid storage region due to gravity.
  • the porous member may form at least a portion of the lower and side walls.
  • At least a portion of the lower and side walls may comprise a screen and at least a portion of the separated liquid storage region may be positioned under the volume.
  • the liquid separation stage may further comprise an air impermeable wall spaced from and facing the porous member that forms at least a portion of the side wall, the liquid separation stage may have a separated liquid outlet port provided in an upper portion of the liquid separation stage and the separated water outlet port may be provided between the air impermeable wall and the porous member that forms at least a portion of the sidewall.
  • the separated liquid outlet port may be provided in a sidewall of the liquid separation stage.
  • the separated liquid outlet port may comprise an openable top wall of the liquid separation stage.
  • the air inlet may be provided in a front side of the liquid separation chamber and the air outlet may be provided in a rear side of the liquid separation chamber and the air impermeable wall may be provided at the rear side of the liquid separation chamber.
  • the liquid separation stage may have a front side having an air inlet, a rear side and first and second laterally opposed sides, the separated liquid storage region may have a lower wall having upwardly extending baffles wherein the baffles may be disposed laterally between the first and second laterally opposed sidewalls.
  • the liquid separation stage may comprise a liquid separation chamber having a separated liquid outlet that may be in flow communication with the separated liquid storage region, at least a portion of the liquid separation chamber may overlie the separated liquid storage region, the liquid separation stage may have a front side having an air inlet, a rear side and first and second laterally opposed sides, and one of the first and second laterally opposed sides may be openable whereby the liquid separation chamber and the separated liquid storage region are opened.
  • the separated liquid storage region may have a lower wall having upwardly extending baffles wherein the baffles may be disposed laterally between the first and second laterally opposed sidewalls.
  • the liquid separation stage may have a front side having an air inlet, a rear side and first and second laterally opposed sides and the air treatment stage may comprise a cyclone that has a cyclone axis of rotation that extends laterally.
  • At least a portion of the separated solid storage region may be positioned under the separated liquid storage region.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise a suction motor positioned in the surface cleaning head downstream of the air treatment stage.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus has a liquid separation stage comprising a liquid separation chamber being formed, at least in part, by a porous member (e.g., a screen) that overlies a liquid storage chamber.
  • a porous member e.g., a screen
  • a surface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head, the surface cleaning head comprising:
  • the liquid separation chamber may have a lower wall with a front angled portion and a rear angled portion forming a separated liquid outlet therebetween.
  • An advantage of this design is that the angled portions may provide a funnel like outlet for separated water, which may inhibit or reduce the separated water that has exited the chamber through the separated liquid outlet reentering the chamber.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
  • a liquid separation chamber has a porous sidewall and a downflow region is provided between an air impermeable wall and the porous sidewall member, whereby liquid separated as air travels through the liquid separation chamber exits the liquid separation chamber through the porous sidewall and flows downwardly through the downflow region.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
  • the liquid separation stage comprises a cyclone with a portion of the cyclone sidewall, e.g., a lower portion, formed by a porous member (e.g., a screen).
  • a porous member e.g., a screen.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
  • a liquid separation stage comprises a cyclone with a liquid collection region, which may be located at least partially below (underlying) the cyclone.
  • An openable separated liquid outlet port is in communication with the liquid collection region.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
  • a liquid separation stage comprises a cyclone with a liquid collection region, which may be located at least partially below (underlying) the cyclone.
  • An openable wall is provided which, when opened, opens both the cyclone and liquid collection region.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
  • the liquid separation stage has a cyclone with a cyclone axis that extends generally vertically when a surface cleaning apparatus (e.g., an extractor) is in use.
  • the liquid separation stage has a separated liquid outlet that includes a screen positioned at a lower end of the cyclone.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
  • the liquid separation stage has at least two cyclones in parallel with a screen forming a separated liquid outlet of each cyclone.
  • the cyclones have a cyclone axis of rotation that extends generally vertically, with the liquid collection region underlying the at least two cyclones.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
  • a surface cleaning head comprises a liquid separation stage that has at least two cyclones in parallel and a per-motor filter housing positioned rearward of the at least two cyclones.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head, the surface cleaning head comprising:
  • an embodiment means “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the present invention(s),” unless expressly specified otherwise.
  • two or more parts are said to be “coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, or “fastened” where the parts are joined or operate together either directly or indirectly (i.e., through one or more intermediate parts), so long as a link occurs.
  • two or more parts are said to be “directly coupled”, “directly connected”, “directly attached”, or “directly fastened” where the parts are connected in physical contact with each other. None of the terms “coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, and “fastened” distinguish the manner in which two or more parts are joined together.
  • X and/or Y is intended to mean X or Y or both, for example.
  • X, Y, and/or Z is intended to mean X or Y or Z or any combination thereof.
  • FIGS. 1A-3B an exemplary embodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus is shown generally as 100.
  • apparatus 100 provides a basis for understanding several of the features that are discussed herein. As discussed subsequently, each of the features may be used individually or in any particular combination or sub-combination in this or in other embodiments disclosed herein.
  • Embodiments described herein include a surface cleaning apparatus 100.
  • Surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be any type of wet/dry surface cleaning apparatus, including for example an all-in-the-head vacuum cleaner as shown (100 in Figures 1A-29 ), an upright vacuum cleaner (100 in Figures 30A-39B ), a hand vacuum cleaner, a stick vacuum cleaner, a canister vacuum cleaner, or an extractor. It will be appreciated that the liquid separator and air treatment assembly provided herein may enable a surface cleaning apparatus to be used both as an extractor and also as a vacuum cleaner.
  • surface cleaning apparatus 100 is illustrated as an all-in-the-head vacuum cleaner.
  • Surface cleaning apparatus 100 has a front end 102, a rear end 104, an upper end (also referred to as the top) 106, and a lower end (also referred to as the bottom) 108.
  • Surface cleaning apparatus 100 includes a surface cleaning head 120 having a main body 122, a front roller 124, and rear wheels 126. As shown, the surface cleaning head 120 is connectable to an upright portion 130.
  • the upright section 130 may be a rigid tubular member which has a drive handle at an upper end thereof.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus 100 has a dirty air inlet 160, a clean air outlet 162, and an air flow path extending between the dirty air inlet 160 and the clean air outlet 162. As shown, the dirty air inlet 160 is in the surface cleaning head 120 forming a surface cleaning head inlet.
  • the all-in-the-head vacuum cleaner has all of the operating components in the surface cleaning head. Accordingly the liquid separation stage, the air treatment assembly and the suction motor may be provided in the surface cleaning head. In other embodiments, one or more of these components may be provide elsewhere, such as part of the upright section 130.
  • dirty air inlet 160 is at a lower portion of apparatus front end 102 and clean air outlet 162 is at a rearward portion of apparatus 100 at apparatus rear end 104. It will be appreciated that dirty air inlet 160 and clean air outlet 162 may be positioned in different locations of apparatus 100.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may have a liquid separation stage 300, which may have any one or more of the features discussed subsequently.
  • the liquid separation member may be permanently affixed to the main body 122 or may be removable in part or in whole therefrom for emptying.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may have an air treatment member 140 (which may be permanently affixed to the main body 122 or may be removable in part or in whole therefrom for emptying).
  • the air treatment member 140 may be downstream of the liquid separation stage 300 and may have an air treatment chamber 142, an air inlet 144, and an air outlet 146.
  • Air treatment member 140 is configured to remove particles of dirt and other debris from the air flow.
  • Air treatment member 140 has a solid collection region 150 (also referred to as a "solid storage region", "dirt collection region”, “dirt collection bin”, “dirt bin”, or "dirt chamber”).
  • the solid collection region(s) may be external to the air treatment chamber or internal thereof.
  • the air treatment member 140 may be positioned anywhere on the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
  • the air treatment member 140 may be positioned in the surface cleaning head 120 ( Figures 1A-29 ) or may be positioned in an upright portion ( Figures 30A-39B ).
  • the air treatment member 140 may be, including, but not limited to, a cyclonic separator and/or a filter media.
  • a suction motor 180 is provided to generate vacuum suction through the air flow path, and is positioned within a motor housing 182.
  • Suction motor 180 may be a fan-motor assembly including an electric motor and impeller blade(s).
  • suction motor 180 is positioned in the air flow path downstream of air treatment member 140.
  • suction motor 180 may be referred to as a "clean air motor”.
  • suction motor 180 may be positioned upstream of air treatment member 140, and referred to as a "dirty air motor”.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include an air treatment assembly having two or more air treatment members arranged in series with each other.
  • Each air treatment stage may include a momentum separator and/or a cyclone arranged in parallel with each other, of any suitable configuration.
  • Each air treatment member may have its own solid collection region or two or more air treatment members fluidically connected in parallel may have a single common solid collection region.
  • One or more air treatment members may include a cyclone assembly 200 (also referred to as a "cyclone bin assembly") having a cyclonic cleaning stage with a single cyclone 202 having a cyclone axis of rotation 206 and a cyclone chamber 204.
  • Cyclone 202 and cyclone chamber 204 may be of any configuration suitable for separating dirt from an air stream and collecting the separated dirt respectively, and may be in communication with dirt outlet(s) of the cyclone chamber.
  • surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include a pre-motor filter 190 provided in the air flow path downstream of air treatment member 140 and upstream of suction motor 180.
  • Pre-motor filter 190 may be formed from any suitable physical, porous filter media.
  • pre-motor filter 190 may be one or more of a foam filter, felt filter, HEPA filter, or other physical filter media.
  • pre-motor filter 190 may include an electrostatic filter, or the like. As shown, pre-motor filter 190 may be located in a pre-motor filter housing 192 that is external to the air treatment member 140.
  • Power may be supplied to suction motor 180 and other electrical components of apparatus 100 from an onboard energy storage member, which may include, for example, one or more batteries or other energy storage device.
  • apparatus 100 includes a battery pack.
  • the battery pack may be permanently connected to apparatus 100 and rechargeable in-situ, or removable from apparatus 100.
  • power may be supplied to apparatus 100 by an electrical cord (not shown) connected to apparatus 100 that can be electrically connected to mains power by at a standard wall electrical outlet.
  • dirty air inlet 160 is the inlet end 172 of an air inlet conduit 170 having an outlet end 174 that forms the air inlet 320 of the liquid separation stage 300.
  • the airflow path 164 continues through the liquid separation stage 300 until it reaches an air inlet 177 of a second air inlet conduit 176 having an outlet end 178 which forms the air inlet 144 of the air treatment member 140.
  • dirty air enters apparatus 100 through dirty air inlet 160 and is directed along air inlet conduit 170 to the air inlet 320 of the liquid separation stage 300. Liquid is separated from the air as it passes through the liquid separation stage 300. The dirty air flow travels from the air outlet 322 to the air inlet 144 of the optional air treatment stage 140. Dirt particles and other debris may be dis-entrained (i.e., separated) from the dirty air flow as the air flows from the air inlet 144 to air outlet 146 of the air treatment stage 140. The dis-entrained dirt particles and debris may be collected in the solid storage region 150 until solid collection region 150 is emptied.
  • the air outlet 146 may have an air outlet passage 148.
  • the air outlet passage 148 may include an air permeable portion 149 (which may be referred to as a screen or shroud, e.g., a fine mesh screen) in the air flow path to remove large dirt particles and debris, such as hair, remaining in the exiting air flow.
  • the air permeable portion 149 may be the outlet screen of the cyclone.
  • the air flow may be directed into an optional pre-motor filter housing 192 at an upstream side of pre-motor filter 190.
  • the air flow may pass through pre-motor filter 190, and then exit through pre-motor filter chamber air outlet into motor housing 182.
  • the clean air flow may be drawn into suction motor 180 and then discharged from apparatus 100 through clean air outlet 162.
  • the treated air may pass through an optional post-motor filter, which may be one or more layers of filter media.
  • the surface cleaning head of a surface cleaning apparatus 100 has a liquid separation stage 300. Accordingly, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be used to clean up liquid spills.
  • An advantage of this design is that the weight of liquid collected by the surface cleaning apparatus may be stored in the surface cleaning head. If the collected liquid was stored in the upright section, then the weight of the upright section perceived by a user would be increased. Therefore, the surface cleaning apparatus may be more easily maneuvered by a user.
  • This aspect may be used with one or more of the porous liquid separation chamber, the angled floor of the liquid separation chamber, the emptying of the separated liquid storage region, the baffled wall of the separated liquid storage region, the emptying of the liquid separation chamber, the downflow region, the cyclonic liquid separator, the dual cyclone liquid separation stage, the pre-motor filter housing, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage with an emptying channel, and the vertical cyclone with a downstream liquid separation stage.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 may have a separated liquid storage region 302 that is exterior to the liquid separating member. Solid material may be retained in the liquid separating member.
  • An advantage of this aspect is that the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be used to clean surfaces having both solid and liquid matter.
  • the user may be able to more easily dispose of the separated liquids and solids. For example, the separated liquid may be emptied into a sink or toilet with a reduced risk of clogging plumbing.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 may be any system capable of separating liquid from an airflow.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 may be a non-cyclonic momentum separator wherein liquid is separated from an air flow due to the air flow following a tortuous path or the air flow entering a non-cyclonic momentum separator chamber wherein the velocity of the air flow decreases in the non-cyclonic momentum separator chamber such that entrained water will separate out of the air flow, as exemplified in Figures 1A-24B .
  • the liquid separation stage 300 may be a cyclonic separator, as exemplified in Figures 25A-39B .
  • the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may have a plurality of stages.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 may be the first stage of the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
  • the surface cleaning head has the liquid separation stage 300 and an air treatment stage 140 that is downstream from the liquid separation stage 300.
  • the air treatment stage 140 may be upstream from the liquid separation stage 300.
  • the air treatment stage 140 may also be referred to as air treatment member 140.
  • the air treatment stage 140 may be positioned rearward of the liquid separation stage 300. In some embodiments, the air treatment stage 140 may be positioned forward of, and/or may overlap with, the liquid separation stage 300.
  • the cyclone 202 may include a porous member 330 that allows for separated liquid to move to a second liquid collection region. For example, as shown, the porous member 330 is a screen. Accordingly, the air treatment stage 140 may also operate as a second liquid separation stage 400.
  • the air treatment member 140 may have a separated solid storage region 150.
  • the solid storage region 150 may be positioned anywhere in the surface cleaning head.
  • the separated solid storage region 150 may be positioned adjacent, above, and/or below the separated liquid storage region 302.
  • the separated solid storage region 150 may overlap with the liquid separation stage 300.
  • at least a portion of the separated solid storage region 150 may be positioned under the separated liquid storage region 302.
  • the air treatment stage 140 may include a cyclone assembly 200 having a cyclone 202. As exemplified in Figure 26B the cyclone 202 has a cyclone axis of rotation 206 that extends laterally.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 comprises a liquid separation chamber 310 defined by one or more walls wherein at least a portion of one of more of the walls, and optionally all or substantially all of one of more of the walls, is porous whereby water may pass out of the liquid separation chamber 310 into a separated liquid storage region 302, optionally by gravity.
  • a liquid separation chamber 310 defined by one or more walls wherein at least a portion of one of more of the walls, and optionally all or substantially all of one of more of the walls, is porous whereby water may pass out of the liquid separation chamber 310 into a separated liquid storage region 302, optionally by gravity.
  • This aspect may be used with one or more of the surface cleaning head with a liquid separation stage, the angled floor of the liquid separation chamber, the emptying of the separated liquid storage region, the baffled wall of the separated liquid storage region, the emptying of the liquid separation chamber, the downflow region, the cyclonic liquid separator, the dual cyclone liquid separation stage, the pre-motor filter housing, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage with an emptying channel, and the vertical cyclone with a downstream liquid separation stage.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 has a lower wall 312, a sidewall 314, an upper wall 316, an air inlet 320 and an air outlet 322.
  • At least a portion or one or more of lower wall 312, sidewall 314 and upper wall 316 may be porous, e.g., it may be made of a screen or the like.
  • the porous portion is referred to as a screen.
  • the screen may be made of a wire mesh material.
  • the liquid separation chamber 310 is provided in the liquid separation stage 300 and may be provided in an upper portion thereof.
  • the liquid separation chamber 310 has an interior volume 318 that is defined by a volume lower wall 350, a volume sidewall 352, and a volume upper wall 354.
  • the separated liquid storage region 302 is provided in the liquid separation stage 300 and may be provided in a lower portion thereof. Accordingly, liquid may exit the liquid separation chamber 310 and pass to the separated liquid storage region 302 by gravity flow.
  • the liquid separation chamber 310 has a separated liquid outlet 304 that connects the liquid separation chamber 310 in flow communication with the separated liquid storage region 302.
  • airflow containing liquid enters through the air inlet 320.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 separates at least some of the liquid from the airflow, allowing the liquid to pass through the separated liquid outlet 304 into the separated liquid storage region 302.
  • the partially treated air flow then exits the liquid separation chamber 310 and travel downstream.
  • the liquid separation chamber 310 may be a non-cyclonic momentum separator. As such, the velocity of the air flow as it enters and/or passes through the liquid separation chamber 310 is reduced whereby entrained liquid becomes dis-entrained from the air flow.
  • air that enters the dirty air inlet of a surface cleaning head travels rearwardly up an incline (e.g., a ramp) to the air inlet 320, the air inlet 320 comprises an opening in, e.g., a side wall 314 of the liquid separation chamber 310. Heavier material is then collected in the liquid separation chamber 310 and the air flow continues to the air outlet 322.
  • the air outlet 322 is a partially treated air outlet since the liquid separation chamber 310 removes some solid debris and/or liquid from the airflow, but may allow some finer solid debris to pass through the partially treated air outlet 322.
  • the air outlet may be any opening in the liquid separation chamber 310 and/or the liquid separation stage 300.
  • the air outlet 322 may be an opening in a wall of the liquid separation chamber 310, e.g., a side wall 314, through which the air passes, e.g., to a second stage air treatment stage as discussed subsequently.
  • the air outlet may be at the inlet port to the air flow passage that extends downstream to the next air treatment stage.
  • the air outlet 322 may be a port in the wall of the liquid separation chamber 310 which is also a wall defining the liquid separation stage.
  • the air may flow through a porous section of the walls that define the liquid separation chamber 310 and then through a further portion of the liquid separation stage 300 (e.g., a portion of the separated liquid storage region 302) before exiting through a port in an air impermeable wall 340 defining the liquid storage stage 300.
  • the air inlet 320 is positioned in a front side of the liquid separation chamber 310 and the air outlet 322 is positioned in a rear side of the liquid separation chamber 310, with the air outlet 322 being positioned in the air impermeable wall 340.
  • liquid separation chamber 310 is exemplified as rectangular, it may be of any shape (e.g., circular, cylindrical, etc.) and may be formed of one or more walls.
  • the separated liquid outlet 304 may be any shape, size, and/or material that facilitates liquid to pass from the liquid separation chamber 310 to the separated liquid storage region 302.
  • the separated liquid outlet 304 may be an opening or slot in one or more walls of the liquid separation chamber 310.
  • the separated liquid outlet 304 may be funnel shaped (e.g., the separated liquid outlet 304 may be an opening in an angled lower wall 313 of the liquid separation chamber 310).
  • the separated liquid outlet 304 may include a porous member 330.
  • the porous member 330 may be any material that allows for the trapping of at least some solid particles while allowing liquid to pass through the separated liquid outlet 304 to the separated liquid storage region 302.
  • porous member 330 may be, including, but not limited to, a mesh, a screen, a foam, or any other material that can allow liquid to pass therethrough.
  • the porous member 330 forms at least a portion of the volume lower wall 350 and/or the volume sidewall 352.
  • the porous member 330 may overly the separated liquid outlet 304. As shown, the porous member 330 overlies and is vertically spaced from at least a portion of the angled lower wall 313. In some embodiments, the porous member 330 may form the separated liquid outlet 304, as exemplified in Figure 3B .
  • liquid separated from air travelling through the volume 318 exits the volume 318 by passing through the porous member 330, exits through the separated liquid outlet 304, and flows into the separated liquid storage region 302.
  • the liquid may pass into the separated liquid storage region 302 due to gravity.
  • at least a portion of the separated liquid storage region 302 may be positioned at a lower elevation than the volume 318 and, optionally, at least a portion of or all of the separated liquid storage region 302 may be positioned under the volume 318 (i.e., it may underlie the separated liquid storage region 302) , as exemplified in Figure 25A-26B .
  • liquid separated from air as it travels through the volume 318 exits the volume 318 through the separated liquid outlet 304 and flows to the separated liquid storage region 302 due to gravity.
  • An advantage of this aspect is that solid debris such as hair may be captured by the porous member 330 while still allowing liquid to be separated from the air and collected in the separated liquid collection region 302. Separating the liquid and solid matter collection regions may improve the emptying of the surface cleaning apparatus 100. For example, by maintaining a liquid collection region mostly free of solid debris, the liquid may be emptied in the sink or toilet without clogging the plumbing. Additionally, the solid debris captured in the volume 318 by the porous member 330 may be emptied in a different location and/or a different time than the separated liquid.
  • the porous member 330 may form at least a portion of the lower and/or sidewalls of the liquid separation chamber 310.
  • at least a portion of the lower and/or sidewalls may be formed of a screen.
  • the porous member 330 may form at least a portion of the volume lower wall 350 and/or the volume sidewall 352. It will be appreciated that the porous member 330 may form at least a portion of any one or more of the walls of the volume 318.
  • the porous member 330 forms the volume lower wall 350, volume sidewall 352, and the volume upper wall 354.
  • the volume sidewall 352 may include a front sidewall 360, a rear sidewall 362, a first sidewall 364 and a second laterally opposed sidewall 366, with the rear sidewall 362 formed by the porous member 330.
  • one or more of the walls defining the liquid separation chamber 310 may be air impermeable wall.
  • the lower wall of the volume 318 may have an angled surface which may comprise or consist of the separated liquid outlet 304.
  • An advantage of this aspect is that the angled lower wall may inhibit separated liquid re-entering the liquid separation chamber 310 as the surface cleaning head, or the surface cleaning apparatus, is moved across a floor.
  • This aspect may be used with one or more of the surface cleaning head with a liquid separation stage, the porous liquid separation chamber, the emptying of the separated liquid storage region, the baffled wall of the separated liquid storage region, the emptying of the liquid separation chamber, the downflow region, the cyclonic liquid separator, the dual cyclone liquid separation stage, the pre-motor filter housing, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage with an emptying channel, and the vertical cyclone with a downstream liquid separation stage.
  • the lower wall 312 of the liquid separation chamber 310 may be angled downwardly, forming the angled lower wall 313.
  • the angled lower wall 313 includes a front portion 313a that is angled rearwardly and downwardly and a rear portion 313b that is angled forwardly and downwardly.
  • the separated liquid outlet 304 is formed by the opening between the front portion 313a and the rear portion 313b.
  • the angled wall(s) may reduce sloshing in the liquid collection region 302. It will be appreciated that there may be a plurality of liquid outlets 304 formed by a plurality of lower walls 313. As exemplified in Figure 19B and 24B , there are four liquid outlets 304.
  • angled wall 313a, 313b may be provided.
  • front angled wall 313a may be provided.
  • angled wall(s) may optionally extend in the forward/rearward direction.
  • one or more baffles may be provided in the liquid collection region 302.
  • An advantage of this aspect is that the baffles may inhibit separated liquid moving around the liquid collection region 302 as the surface cleaning head, or the surface cleaning apparatus, is moved across a floor, which may cause separated liquid to re-enter the liquid separation chamber 310.
  • This aspect may be used with one or more of the surface cleaning head with a liquid separation stage, the porous liquid separation chamber, the angled floor of the liquid separation chamber, the emptying of the separated liquid storage region, the emptying of the liquid separation chamber, the downflow region, the cyclonic liquid separator, the dual cyclone liquid separation stage, the pre-motor filter housing, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage with an emptying channel, and the vertical cyclone with a downstream liquid separation stage.
  • the separated liquid storage region 302 has a lower wall 312 having upwardly extending baffles 305. It will be appreciated that the baffles need not be provided on the lower wall 312, but descend from the upper wall or they may extend between the sidewalls.
  • the sidewall 314 has first and second laterally opposed sides 314a and 314b and the baffles 305 are disposed laterally between the first and second laterally opposed sidewalls 314.
  • the baffles need not extend laterally but may extend in any direction.
  • the baffles extend at least at an angle to the forward/rearward direction to reduce or inhibit water sloshing in the liquid storage region 302 as the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is moved over a surface.
  • baffles may extend from one side of the liquid storage region 302 to the other.
  • the baffles may extend continuously.
  • a series of discrete baffles may extend part way across the liquid storage region 302.
  • the baffles may extend only part way across the liquid storage region 302.
  • the liquid separation chamber 310 may be openable so as to remove solid material collected therein and/or to remove and clean the porous member.
  • This aspect may be used with one or more of the surface cleaning head with a liquid separation stage, the porous liquid separation chamber, the angled floor of the liquid separation chamber, the baffled wall of the separated liquid storage region, the emptying of the separated liquid storage region, the downflow region, the cyclonic liquid separator, the dual cyclone liquid separation stage, the pre-motor filter housing, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage with an emptying channel, and the vertical cyclone with a downstream liquid separation stage.
  • liquid separation chamber 310 may be openable by itself. Alternately, as discussed subsequently, liquid separation chamber 310 may be openable concurrently with one or more collection regions of the surface cleaning apparatus, such as the liquid storage region 302.
  • the porous member 330 may be removable from the liquid separation stage 300 to empty solid matter collected in the volume 318.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 may be openable, e.g., openable door 307 may be opened, so as to enable the porous member to be removed.
  • the liquid separation chamber 310 may be defined by a plurality of porous walls and, accordingly, when the door 307 is opened, the entire liquid separation chamber 310 may be removed for emptying and/or cleaning.
  • the door 307 may be provided on any surface of the liquid separation stage 300.
  • the door 307 is an upper wall and the porous member 330 is removeable upwardly.
  • the door 307 is a sidewall, enabling the porous member 330 to be slide laterally outwardly.
  • liquid separation chamber 310 may be removable.
  • the upper portion e.g., the upper wall of the liquid separation chamber 310 may be subsequently removed so as to provide access to the interior volume 318 of liquid separation chamber 310.
  • the liquid separation chamber may be defined in part by the openable door 307 and therefore, opening the openable door opens the liquid separation chamber 310. In such a case, a user may be able to remove solid material from the liquid separation chamber 310 without removing the liquid separation chamber 310 from the surface cleaning apparatus.
  • the first laterally opposed sidewall 364 is porous while the second laterally opposed sidewall 366 is open. Therefore, when door 307 is opened, solids collected in the volume 318 may be poured out.
  • the liquid storage region 302 may be openable, by itself or concurrently with one or more other regions, to enable the liquid storage region 302 to be emptied.
  • This aspect may be used with one or more of the surface cleaning head with a liquid separation stage, the porous liquid separation chamber, the angled floor of the liquid separation chamber, the emptying of the separated liquid storage region, the baffled wall of the separated liquid storage region, the downflow region, the cyclonic liquid separator, the dual cyclone liquid separation stage, the pre-motor filter housing, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage with an emptying channel, and the vertical cyclone with a downstream liquid separation stage.
  • liquid storage region may be emptied in situ, without having to remove the liquid storage region 302 from the surface cleaning apparatus. Accordingly the liquid storage region need not have to be sealingly connected to the surface cleaning apparatus after emptying to avoid the surface cleaning apparatus leaking during operation.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 has a separated liquid outlet port 306.
  • the separated liquid outlet port 306 may be used to remove liquid collected in the liquid collection region 302 from the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
  • the user may tip the surface cleaning head 120 in the direction of the separated liquid outlet port 302 to pour collected liquid out of the liquid collection region 302.
  • the surface cleaning head 120 may be tipped to empty the liquid collection region 302.
  • the separated liquid outlet port 306 may be positioned anywhere in the liquid separation stage 300 such that liquid may be removed from the separated liquid storage region 302.
  • the separated liquid outlet port 306 may be positioned in an upper portion of the liquid separation stage 300 or in a sidewall of the liquid separation stage 300, as exemplified in Figure 5B .
  • An air impermeable wall 340 of the liquid separation stage may be spaced from and face the porous member 330, which may form at least a portion of the sidewall of the volume 318, and the separated liquid outlet port 306 may be provided between the air impermeable wall 340 and the porous member 330.
  • an openable door may comprise part or all of an air impermeable wall 340.
  • the separated liquid outlet port 306 may have an openable top wall, bottom wall, or side wall of the liquid separation stage 300.
  • the sidewall of the liquid separation stage 300 is an openable door 307 such that the liquid separation chamber 310 and the separated liquid storage region 302 are opened.
  • the top wall of the liquid separation stage is the openable door 307 that opens the separated liquid outlet port 306.
  • the bottom wall forms the openable door 307 that opens the separated liquid outlet port 306.
  • first and/or second air treatment stages of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be emptiable independently or concurrently.
  • the separated liquid storage region 302 is emptiable independently of emptying the separated solid storage region 150.
  • the separated liquid storage region 302 and the separated solid storage region 150 are emptiable concurrently.
  • the second air treatment stages may also separate water from the air flow and the separated water may be stored in a second stage liquid collection region and/or the first stage liquid collection region 302.
  • the liquid collection region(s) may be emptied concurrently with the liquid separation chamber 310.
  • the liquid collection regions may be emptied concurrently by a single openable door.
  • the air outlet of the internal volume 318 comprises, consists essentially of or consists of an air flow passage provided between a porous sidewall of the internal volume 318 and an opposed facing wall, which is air impermeable but may have an air outlet 322 provided therein.
  • This aspect may be used with one or more of the surface cleaning head with a liquid separation stage, the porous liquid separation chamber, the angled floor of the liquid separation chamber, the emptying of the separated liquid storage region, the baffled wall of the separated liquid storage region, the emptying of the liquid separation chamber, the cyclonic liquid separator, the dual cyclone liquid separation stage, the pre-motor filter housing, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage with an emptying channel, and the vertical cyclone with a downstream liquid separation stage.
  • the air impermeable wall 340 may be spaced apart from and face at least a portion of the volume sidewall 352 that is formed by the porous member 330 such that a downflow region or passage 370 is formed between the porous member 330 and the air impermeable wall 340.
  • liquid is separated from air that flows through the liquid separation stage 300 as air travels through the volume 318, exits the volume 318 through the porous member 330, and flows downwardly through the downflow region 370 between the porous member 330 and the air impermeable wall 340.
  • the liquid is subsequently captured and stored in the separated liquid storage region 302.
  • solid material and elongate material such as hair may also be separated during the flow of air through volume 318.
  • This separated material may block part of the porous member 330.
  • some or all of the volume sidewall 352 may be porous, thereby providing a large surface area through which air may exit the volume 318. Accordingly, if the porous member 330 is partially blocked, a large surface area that is open for air flow may remain, thereby avoid the backpressure through the liquid separation sate increasing as material is collected in the volume 318.
  • volume lower wall 350 may also be porous.
  • more than one sidewall 352 may have a porous section or may be porous. Such a sidewall may be spaced from an opposed air impermeable wall of the liquid separation stage 300. Accordingly, air may exit the volume 318 through one or more sidewalls 352 and a downflow region 370 may be provided on more than one side of the volume 318.
  • the liquid collection region 302 may be located at the lower end of downflow passage 370. As exemplified, liquid separation region 302 underlies the downflow passage 370 and the downflow passage 370 may extend vertically when the surface cleaning head is positioned on a horizontal surface. Alternately, the liquid separation region 302 may be at a lower elevation that the porous region of the volume sidewall 352 and the downflow region 370 may extend downwardly, e.g., at an angle to the vertical, whether linearly or otherwise, to the liquid collection region 302.
  • the rear portion 313b of the angled lower wall 313 may be located at the downflow region 370.
  • the rear portion 313b of the angled lower wall 313 forms a forward side of a lower end of the downflow region 370.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 comprises a cyclone 200.
  • An advantage of this aspect is that liquid separation efficiency may be improved, thereby reducing the amount of entrained water passing downstream to the suction motor.
  • This aspect may be used with one or more of the surface cleaning head with a liquid separation stage, the porous liquid separation chamber, the angled floor of the liquid separation chamber, the emptying of the separated liquid storage region, the baffled wall of the separated liquid storage region, the emptying of the liquid separation chamber, the downflow region, the dual cyclone liquid separation stage, the pre-motor filter housing, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage with an emptying channel, and the vertical cyclone with a downstream liquid separation stage.
  • the cyclone 200 may be a second stage liquid separator, e.g., downstream from volume 318. Alternately, the cyclone 200 may be used as a first stage liquid separator or as the sole liquid separator (see for example Figures 25A-26B ). Alternately, a plurality of cyclones 200, in parallel and/or in series, may be used as part of or as the liquid separator. If a plurality of liquid separation stages are provided, then each liquid separation stage may be any design capable of separating liquid from an airflow.
  • the first and the second stage may both be momentum separators, cyclones, or one may be a cyclone and the other may be a momentum separator.
  • the first stage is a cyclonic liquid separator and the second stage is a momentum separator, or vice versa.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus is used as a vacuum cleaner (e.g., it is not being used to clean up a spill or as an extractor), then the cyclone(s) 200 may be used to separate dry solid material entrained in the incoming air stream.
  • the cyclone 200 is positioned in the surface cleaning head 120.
  • the cyclone 200 has a cyclone first end 210, an axially spaced apart second end 212, a cyclone air inlet 214, a cyclone air outlet 216, and a cyclone axis of rotation 206.
  • the airflow in the cyclone 200 may vary depending on the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
  • the cyclone air inlet 214 is provided at the first end 210 and the cyclone air outlet 216 is provided at the second end 212.
  • the cyclone air inlet 214 and cyclone air outlet 216 may be positioned at the same end.
  • the suction motor 180 is positioned in the surface cleaning head 120 downstream of the cyclone 202 and the suction motor has an inlet end 184 that faces the cyclone air outlet 216.
  • the cyclone axis of rotation 206 when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is in use to clean a floor, the cyclone axis of rotation 206 extends generally horizontally. Further, as exemplified, the cyclone axis of rotation 206 is generally transverse to a forward direction of motion of the surface cleaning apparatus 100. In some embodiments, the cyclone axis of rotation 206 may be generally parallel to the forward direction of motion of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, or may be at an angle to the forward direction of motion. Optionally, the cyclone axis may extend vertically or at an angle to the vertical.
  • the cyclone(s) 200 may be of various designs that will separate water from an air stream.
  • some or all of the axially extending sidewall 220 may be porous (e.g., it may comprise or consist essentially of or consist of a screen 330).
  • the screen 330 provides a separated liquid outlet 304 for the cyclone 220 that is in flow communication with a separated liquid collection region 302, which may be the separated liquid collection region 302 of the volume 318.
  • the cyclone may also separate solid material from the air stream the solid material may be retained in the cyclone 200. Accordingly, a region of the cyclone 200, e.g., opposed to the cyclone air outlet 216, may be the dirt collection region of the cyclone 200. Alternately, a dirt collection chamber may be provided that is external to the cyclone 200. Accordingly, the cyclone 200 may have a dirt outlet of any design known in the cyclonic arts. As exemplified in Figure 26B , the dirt outlet is a slot 228 proximate the cyclone second end 212. The slot may be formed as a gap between an end face of the cyclone sidewall and the end wall of the cyclone 200 at second end 212. It will be appreciated that water may also exit through the slot 228.
  • the slot 228 may be in flow communication with a liquid collection region that is isolated from the liquid collection region that is in flow communication with the screen 330 of the cyclone. Alternately, both the screen 330 and the slot 228 may be in flow communication with a single liquid collection region.
  • this single liquid collection region may be isolated from the liquid collection region of a first stage liquid separator (e.g., volume 318), it may be in flow communication with the liquid collection region of a first stage liquid separator (e.g., volume 318), of the first and second liquid collection regions may be a single continuous liquid collection region which may underlie part or all of the first stage liquid separator (e.g., volume 318) and the cyclone 200.
  • the liquid collection region 302 is positioned at a lower elevation than the screen 330.
  • the screen (porous member) 330 may be positioned at a higher elevation than the liquid collection region 302 and part or all of the screen may overlie the liquid collection region 302. Therefore, as water is separated in the cyclone 00, water may flow downwardly into the liquid collection region 302.
  • the liquid collection region 302 of the cyclone stage 200 may have a one or more baffles 305 (e.g., a plurality of upwardly extending baffles), which may be disposed laterally between the first and second laterally opposed walls. Accordingly, the baffles 305 may extend generally parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation 206.
  • a baffles 305 e.g., a plurality of upwardly extending baffles
  • the liquid collection region of the cyclone 200 may be opened in a similar manner as discussed with respect to the opening of volume 318. If the cyclone is the sole liquid separation member as exemplified in Figures 25A, 25B , 26A and 26B , then the liquid collection region may be openable for emptying by itself or concurrently with the cyclone 200. As exemplified in Figures 25A, 25B , 26A and 26B , the liquid separation region 302 has a separated liquid outlet port 306. As described previously, the liquid outlet port 306 is openable. The openable separated liquid outlet port 306 may be provided anywhere on the surface cleaning apparatus 100. As exemplified in Figure 26B , the openable separated liquid outlet port 306 is provided on a lateral side of the liquid separation stage 300.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 may be opened in various ways. As exemplified in Figure 26B , the liquid separation stage 300 has an openable wall 307, with the cyclone axis of rotation 206 extending through the openable wall when the openable wall is in the closed position. As shown, both the cyclone 200 and the liquid collection region 302 are opened when the openable wall 307 is in the openable position. Accordingly, each of the solid collection region 150 (e.g., the interior of the cyclone 220 as exemplified in Figure 5B ) and the liquid collection region 302 are emptyable concurrently. In some embodiments the liquid collection region 302 and the solid collection region 150 may be independently openable.
  • Figure 1A-24B exemplify a surface cleaning apparatus 100 having a first liquid separation stage 300 and a second liquid separation stage 400.
  • the first liquid separation stage 300 may be a non-cyclonic momentum separator and the second liquid separation stage 400 may be cyclone 200.
  • FIG 1A-2B exemplify an embodiment wherein the second liquid separation stage 400 is openable separately from the first liquid separation stage 300.
  • the second liquid separation stage 400 has a second liquid collection region 402.
  • the second liquid collection region 402 may form a part of the first liquid collection region 302, but in the exemplified embodiment, it is separate.
  • the second liquid collection region 402 is external to a second liquid separation chamber 410 (e.g., the cyclone chamber as exemplified in Figure 8B ).
  • the second liquid separation stage may in this embodiment is opened by an openable door 407, which is opened separately from door 307. Accordingly, the first liquid collection region 302 and the second liquid collection region 402 may be emptied independently.
  • door 407 opens both the cyclone 200 and the second liquid collection region 402, then both the cyclone 200 and the second liquid collection region 402 may be emptied concurrently.
  • door 307 opens both the volume 318 and the first liquid collection region 302, then both the volume 318 and the first liquid collection region 302 may be emptied concurrently. It will be appreciated that a single door, which essentially comprises both doors 307 and 407, may be provided, in which case volume 318, the first liquid collection region 302, the cyclone 200 and the second liquid collection region 402 may be emptied concurrently.
  • first liquid collection region 302 and second liquid collection region 402 may be in flow communication with a single separated liquid outlet port 306.
  • liquid collected in the first liquid collection region 302 and additional liquid collected in the second liquid collection region 402 may be emptiable concurrently through a single separated liquid outlet port 306.
  • each liquid collection region may have its own outlet port and the outlets ports may be openable concurrently, e.g., a single door may open both.
  • FIG. 6A-6C Such an embodiment is exemplified in Figure 6A-6C , wherein at least a portion of the second liquid collection region 402, or a conduit from the second liquid collection region 402, is positioned underneath the first liquid collection region 302.
  • the first liquid collection region 302 has a first separated liquid outlet port 306 and the second liquid collection region 402 has a second separated liquid outlet port 406.
  • the openable end may be lifted such that both of the first separated liquid outlet port 306 and the second separated liquid outlet port 406 may be opened concurrently, such that liquid collected in each region may be emptied concurrently.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 has a cyclone assembly 200 having two or more cyclones 202 in parallel.
  • An advantage of this aspect is that even if one cyclone 202 is partially or completely blocked with solid debris, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may continue to operate through suction in the second cyclone 202.
  • This aspect may be used with one or more of the surface cleaning head with a liquid separation stage, the porous liquid separation chamber, the angled floor of the liquid separation chamber, the emptying of the separated liquid storage region, the baffled wall of the separated liquid storage region, the emptying of the liquid separation chamber, the downflow region, the cyclonic liquid separator, the pre-motor filter housing, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage with an emptying channel, and the vertical cyclone with a downstream liquid separation stage.
  • the cyclones 202 are positioned over the liquid collection region 302, which is separated by a porous member 330 in each cyclone 202.
  • two cyclones 202 are positioned laterally side by side.
  • the cyclone axis of rotation 206 extends generally vertically.
  • each cyclone 202 has a separated liquid outlet 304 having a porous member 330 positioned over the liquid collection region 302.
  • the liquid collection region 302 underlies the two cyclones 202. It will be appreciated that the liquid collection region 302 may be located anywhere that is at a lower elevation than the separated liquid outlet 304 such that separated liquid will flow into the liquid collection region 302 due to gravity.
  • each cyclone may have its own liquid collection region that are independent from one another.
  • the liquid collection region 302 may include a first portion 302a in flow communication with the first cyclone 202a and a second portion 302b in flow communication with the second cyclone 202b.
  • the first portion 302a and the second portion 302b are isolated from each other. It will be appreciated that, alternately, they may form a single contiguous region in communication with the cyclones 202.
  • a lower end of the liquid separation stage 300 may be openable to empty the cyclone chamber 204 and/or the pre-motor filter liquid collection region.
  • an upper end 301 of the pre-motor filter liquid collection region 302 is located at the elevation of the porous member 330.
  • the upper end 301 of the liquid collection region 302 is moveably mounted to ta lower end of the liquid separation stage 300 between a closed position and an open emptying position in which the liquid collection region 302 is moved with respect to the cyclone chamber 210.
  • the porous member 330 may move to an open position when the liquid collection region 302 is moved to the open emptying position. In some embodiments, the porous member 330 may remain in position when the liquid collection region 302 is moved to the open emptying position.
  • the liquid collection region 302 may have one or more drain plugs 308 positioned in openings. During operation, the drain plug 308 is removed from the opening to allow liquid to drain from the liquid collection region 302. Drain plugs may be used in any liquid collection region and may be provided in any surface of the liquid collection region.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include a pre-motor filter housing 192 in which a pre-motor filter media 190 is positionable.
  • This aspect may be used with one or more of the surface cleaning head with a liquid separation stage, the porous liquid separation chamber, the angled floor of the liquid separation chamber, the emptying of the separated liquid storage region, the baffled wall of the separated liquid storage region, the emptying of the liquid separation chamber, the downflow region, the cyclonic liquid separator, the dual cyclone liquid separation stage, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage with an emptying channel, and the vertical cyclone with a downstream liquid separation stage.
  • the pre-motor filter housing 192 is positioned in the surface cleaning head 120 rearward of the cyclone assembly 200.
  • the pre-motor filter housing 192 may extend from the first lateral side to the second lateral side of the surface cleaning head 120.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 may be removably mounted in the surface cleaning head 120.
  • the pre-motor filter housing 192 may also be removable from the surface cleaning head 120, optionally concurrently with the liquid separation stage 300 as exemplified in Figure 27B .
  • the surface cleaning head 120 may include a pre-motor filter liquid collection region that is in flow communication with the pre-motor filter housing 192.
  • the pre-motor filter liquid collection region may be positioned rearward of the first liquid collection region 302. As discussed with respect to the second liquid collection region 402, this pre-motor filter liquid collection region may be emptied independently from or concurrently with the first liquid collection region 302. In some embodiments, the pre-motor filter liquid collection region may be contiguous with the first liquid collection region 302.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 is a cyclonic liquid separation stage having one or more cyclones 202 with a cyclone axis of rotation 206 that extends generally vertically and with a separated liquid outlet 304, which may be a porous member 330, provided at a lower end of the cyclone(s) 202 and optionally positioned above a liquid collection region 302.
  • This aspect may be used with one or more of the surface cleaning head with a liquid separation stage, the porous liquid separation chamber, the angled floor of the liquid separation chamber, the emptying of the separated liquid storage region, the baffled wall of the separated liquid storage region, the emptying of the liquid separation chamber, the downflow region, the cyclonic liquid separator, the dual cyclone liquid separation stage, the pre-motor filter housing, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage with an emptying channel, and the vertical cyclone with a downstream liquid separation stage.
  • An advantage of this aspect is that by positioning the liquid collection region 302 below the cyclone assembly 200, the centre of mass may be lowered, thereby making the surface cleaning apparatus 100 easier for the user to operate, particularly if the cyclone assembly 200 is provided on the upright portion 130 of an upright vacuum cleaner as exemplified in Figure 38A . Liquid collected by the cyclone assembly 200 can increase in weight rapidly during cleaning. Accordingly, lowering the centre of mass of the upright portion 130 may make it easier for the user to move the apparatus while also reducing the likelihood of injury.
  • the liquid separation stage 300 is positioned on the upright portion 130 of the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
  • the upright portion 130 is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head 120 between an upright storage position and a reclined in use position.
  • the suction motor 180 may be positioned above the liquid separation stage 300, as exemplified in Figures 30A , 32A , 36A , and 38A or may be positioned below the liquid separation stage as exemplified in Figure 34A .
  • the upright portion 130 has a single cyclone 202 with a cyclone axis of rotation 206 that extends generally vertically when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is positioned on a floor and the upright portion 130 is in a storage position.
  • the liquid collection region 302 may underly the porous member 330 such that the cyclone axis of rotation 206 extends through the liquid collection region 302.
  • the liquid collection region 302 underlies the separated liquid outlet 304, which comprises or consists of a porous member 330.
  • the porous member 330 is positioned at the lower end of the cyclone 202 with the liquid collection region 302 positioned at an elevation below the porous member 330.
  • the cyclone stage second end 208 has a lower wall 213 that forms a liquid collection surface of the liquid collection region 302.
  • the liquid collection region 302 may be at a lower elevation than the outlet 304 and need not partially or fully underlie the cyclone 202.
  • the cyclone chamber 204 may have a cyclone chamber lower end wall 224.
  • the cyclone chamber lower end wall 224 may be, for example, a moveable plate as discussed subsequently.
  • the lower end wall 224 is positioned at an elevation above the porous member 330 and the separated liquid outlet 304 includes a gap 226 between the cyclone chamber lower end wall 224 and the sidewall 220. Accordingly, solid material may exit the cyclone chamber via the gap 226 and collect in a solid collection region that is located between the plate and the screen 330. Liquid may also exit the cyclone chamber via the gap 226 and then flow downwardly through the screen in to the liquid collection region.
  • each of the cyclone chamber, the solid collection region and the liquid collection region may be emptiable concurrently or one or more, and optionally all, may be emptied concurrently. Accordingly, as discussed previously with respect to Figure 29 , the lower end of the cyclone assembly 200 may be openable to empty the liquid collection region and/or the cyclone 202.
  • FIG 31A exemplifies an embodiment wherein the cyclone chamber and the liquid collection region are opened concurrently.
  • the cyclone stage second end 208 is openable such that liquid collection region is opened.
  • the porous member 330 is, e.g., pivotally mounted to a sidewall of the cyclone chamber 204 such that, when cyclone stage second end 208 is opened, the porous member 330 is moveable from the in use position in which the screen overlies the lower wall 213 of the liquid collection region 302 (as shown in Figure 31B ) to an emptying position in which the porous member 330 is moved (pivots) downwardly to an open position (as shown in Figure 31A ). In the open position, the cyclone chamber 204 is opened.
  • Figure 33A exemplifies an embodiment wherein the cyclone chamber, the solid collection region and the liquid collection region are opened concurrently.
  • the cyclone chamber lower end wall 224 is moveable between an in use position, in which the cyclone chamber lower end wall 224 closes the cyclone chamber other than the gap 226 and an emptying position in which the cyclone chamber lower end wall 224 is moved (e.g., rotated) so as to open the lower end of the cyclone chamber.
  • the cyclone chamber lower end wall 224 and the porous member 330 are supported by lower wall 213 such that cyclone chamber lower end wall 224, porous member 330 and lower wall 213 move concurrently to open each of the cyclone chamber, the solid collection region and the liquid collection region.
  • the cyclone chamber lower end wall 224 is moveable separately from the porous member 330 and lower wall 213.
  • the cyclone chamber lower end wall 224 is pivotally mounted to the cyclone chamber sidewall.
  • the porous member 330 moves concurrently with the lower end wall 213 such that the liquid collection region remains closed.
  • the cyclone chamber lower end wall 224 moves when the lower end wall 213 opens whereby the cyclone chamber and the solid collection region may be emptied concurrently. Accordingly solid material collected in the cyclone chamber and the solid collection region may be empties separately from liquid collected in the liquid collection region.
  • baffles may be provided in the liquid collection region 302.
  • the baffles may extend generally axially in the liquid collection region 302, extending from the lower wall 213.
  • the baffles may extend perpendicular to the forward direction of the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
  • a vertically oriented cyclone has a pour out channel to enable the liquid collection region to be empties without moving the porous member 300.
  • This aspect may be used with one or more of the surface cleaning head with a liquid separation stage, the porous liquid separation chamber, the angled floor of the liquid separation chamber, the emptying of the separated liquid storage region, the baffled wall of the separated liquid storage region, the emptying of the liquid separation chamber, the downflow region, the cyclonic liquid separator, the dual cyclone liquid separation stage, the pre-motor filter housing, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage, and the vertical cyclone with a downstream liquid separation stage.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus 100 has a top openable cyclone assembly to enable liquid collected in the liquid collection region 302 to be poured out of the cyclone assembly 200.
  • liquid emptying channel 500 extends between the liquid collection region 302 and the cyclone first end 210.
  • the liquid emptying channel 500 is positioned between the cyclone chamber sidewall 220 and the sidewall of the cyclone assembly.
  • the liquid emptying channel 500 has an upper end 502 that is openable such that liquid from the liquid collection region 302 may be poured out when the cyclone assembly 200 is inverted. Accordingly, a user may remove the liquid separation stage from the surface cleaning apparatus 100 and tilt the liquid separation stage 300 to pour out collected liquid from the liquid collection region 302 through the liquid emptying channel 500.
  • the cyclone first end 210 may be openable concurrently with the upper end 502 of the liquid emptying channel 500 such that the cyclone chamber 204 is opened concurrently with the liquid emptying channel 500. Accordingly, the solid and the liquid debris may be emptied through the same end of the liquid separation stage 300. In some embodiments, the cyclone chamber 204 and liquid emptying channel 500 may be emptied independently of each other.
  • the upper end of the liquid emptying channel 500 may open with the lower end of the cyclone assembly 200. Accordingly, as exemplified in Figure 35A , opening the lower end of the cyclone assembly may open the cyclone chamber and the solid collection region and liquid collected in the liquid collection region may then be poured out through upper end 502 of the liquid emptying channel 500 (upper end 502 of the liquid emptying channel 500 may be positioned beside second liquid emptying port 524 but is not shown in Figure 35A .
  • the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include a second liquid separation stage 400 downstream from the vertical cyclone(s). This aspect may be used if the vertical cyclone(s) are the first liquid separation stage. This aspect may be used with one or more of the surface cleaning head with a liquid separation stage, the porous liquid separation chamber, the angled floor of the liquid separation chamber, the emptying of the separated liquid storage region, the baffled wall of the separated liquid storage region, the emptying of the liquid separation chamber, the downflow region, the cyclonic liquid separator, the dual cyclone liquid separation stage, the pre-motor filter housing, the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage and the vertical cyclonic liquid separation stage with an emptying channel.
  • the second liquid separation stage 400 may be any system capable of separating liquid from air flow. As exemplified, the second liquid separation stage 400 may be a filter media.
  • the second liquid separation stage 400 has a second liquid collection region 402 that is at a lower elevation than the second liquid separation stage 400 such that separated water may flow to the second liquid collection region 402 due to gravity.
  • the second liquid collection region 402 may be isolated from the first liquid collection region 302 and emptiable separately or concurrently therewith. Alternately, the second liquid collection region 402 may be in flow communication with or contiguous with the first liquid collection region 302. Any embodiment discussed herein to enable a second liquid collection region 402 and a first liquid collection region 302 to be emptied separately or concurrently may be used. Accordingly, the second liquid collection region 402 may be openable concurrently with the cyclone chamber 204 and/or the liquid emptying channel 500.
  • the second liquid separation stage 400 may be positioned above the first cyclonic liquid separation stage 300 when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is in the storage position and the liquid separation stages are provided on an upright portion 130 that is in the upright storage position.
  • the cyclone first end 210 comprises an openable lid 230 and the second liquid separation stage 400 is positioned in the openable lid 230.
  • the second liquid collection region 402 may be positioned at an elevation below the openable lid 230.
  • the second liquid collection region 402 may have a second liquid emptying channel 520 extending between the second liquid separation stage 400 and the second liquid separation region 402.
  • water separated by the second liquid separation stage may pass through upper port 522 and fall downwardly due to gravity through the second liquid emptying channel 520 to the second liquid collection region 402.
  • the second liquid emptying channel 520 may be openable concurrently with the cyclone first end 210, as exemplified in Figure 35A . Accordingly, as exemplified in Figure 35A , the second liquid collection region 402 may be emptied through the second liquid emptying port 524 of the second liquid emptying channel 520.
  • the first liquid collection region 302 and the second liquid collection region 402 may be isolated from each other during use of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 to clean a floor, but may be connected in flow communication when the liquid separation stage 300 is to be emptied.
  • the second liquid collection region 402 is positioned above the first liquid collection region 302, and may partially or fully overlie it.
  • the second liquid emptying channel 520 may be isolated from the first liquid emptying channel 500 during a cleaning operation and connected in flow communication when the liquid separation stage 300 is to be emptied. Accordingly, the second liquid emptying channel 520 may be positioned above the first liquid emptying channel 500, and may partially or fully overlie it.
  • the liquid collection regions comprise the channels.
  • a valve 530 separates the first liquid emptying channel 500 from the second liquid emptying channel 520.
  • the valve 530 is closed while the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is in operation ( Figure 37A ) and may be opened ( Figure 37A ) when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is turned off or the cyclone assembly 200 is opened. Accordingly, during operation, liquid may collect in the first liquid collection region 302 and in the second liquid collection region 402. When the user opens the openable lid 230 to empty the liquid collection regions, the valve 530 may be opened such that liquid from both regions may be emptied simultaneously.
  • the valve 530 may be a solenoid valve that is coupled to the power supply to the suction motor 180. Accordingly, when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is in use, the valve 530 may be in the closed position, as exemplified in Figure 37A . When the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is no longer in use, the solenoid valve 530 may move to the open position, as exemplified in Figure 37B , causing liquid collected in the second liquid collection region 402 to combine with the liquid collected in the first liquid collection region 302, thereby allowing for concurrent emptying of both liquid collection regions.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
EP23168484.6A 2022-04-22 2023-04-18 Appareil de nettoyage de surfaces Pending EP4265166A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US17/726,640 US11980334B2 (en) 2017-09-15 2022-04-22 Surface cleaning apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4265166A1 true EP4265166A1 (fr) 2023-10-25

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ID=86053942

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP23168484.6A Pending EP4265166A1 (fr) 2022-04-22 2023-04-18 Appareil de nettoyage de surfaces

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EP (1) EP4265166A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1274337A2 (fr) * 2000-06-16 2003-01-15 Polar Light Limited Procede et appareil de transfert de particules utilises dans des separateurs de particules a plusieurs etages
EP2294961A2 (fr) * 2009-09-10 2011-03-16 Bissell Homecare, Inc. Nettoyeur d'extraction et séparateur air/eau centrifuge associé
CN109846419A (zh) * 2019-03-27 2019-06-07 苏州诚河清洁设备有限公司 污液回收装置以及干湿两用吸尘器

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1274337A2 (fr) * 2000-06-16 2003-01-15 Polar Light Limited Procede et appareil de transfert de particules utilises dans des separateurs de particules a plusieurs etages
EP2294961A2 (fr) * 2009-09-10 2011-03-16 Bissell Homecare, Inc. Nettoyeur d'extraction et séparateur air/eau centrifuge associé
CN109846419A (zh) * 2019-03-27 2019-06-07 苏州诚河清洁设备有限公司 污液回收装置以及干湿两用吸尘器

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