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
  • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
  • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
  • A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
  • A47L5/24—Hand-supported suction cleaners
• • 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
  • A47L9/102—Dust separators
• • 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
  • A47L9/1616—Multiple arrangement thereof
• • 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
  • A47L9/1616—Multiple arrangement thereof
  • A47L9/1641—Multiple arrangement thereof for parallel flow
• • 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
  • A47L9/165—Construction of inlets
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D45/00—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces
  • B01D45/12—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by centrifugal forces
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
  • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
  • B04C3/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex flow following a screw-thread type line remains unchanged ; Devices in which one of the two discharge ducts returns centrally through the vortex chamber, a reverse-flow vortex being prevented by bulkheads in the central discharge duct
  • B04C3/04—Multiple arrangement thereof
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
  • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
  • B04C3/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex flow following a screw-thread type line remains unchanged ; Devices in which one of the two discharge ducts returns centrally through the vortex chamber, a reverse-flow vortex being prevented by bulkheads in the central discharge duct
  • B04C3/06—Construction of inlets or outlets to the vortex chamber
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
  • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
  • B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
  • B04C5/02—Construction of inlets by which the vortex flow is generated, e.g. tangential admission, the fluid flow being forced to follow a downward path by spirally wound bulkheads, or with slightly downwardly-directed tangential admission
  • B04C5/04—Tangential inlets
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
  • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
  • B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
  • B04C5/24—Multiple arrangement thereof
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
  • B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
  • B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
  • B04C5/24—Multiple arrangement thereof
  • B04C5/28—Multiple arrangement thereof for parallel flow

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a separation system for a vacuum cleaner, and a vacuum cleaner comprising such a separation system.
• Vacuum cleaners rely on a suction generator to generate an airflow, which is used to pick up dirt from a surface to be cleaned.
• the airflow is passed through one or more separation stages to separate dirt from the airflow before the airflow is ejected from the vacuum cleaner.
• Some vacuum cleaners utilise cyclonic separators as a separation stage.
• a separation system for a vacuum cleaner comprising: a first cyclonic separator comprising a first inlet; a second cyclonic separator comprising a second inlet, the second cyclonic separator arranged in parallel with the first cyclonic separator; and a movable member movable between a first position in which the movable member permits airflow through the first and second inlets, and a second position in which the movable member permits airflow through the first inlet and inhibits airflow through the second inlet.
• Use of the movable member to selectively permit or inhibit airflow through the second inlet may provide increased separation efficiency compared to arrangements where airflow always needs to flow through the second cyclonic separator when also flowing through the first cyclonic separator.
• vacuum cleaners having a wide range of power modes may have a similarly large variation of flow rate across those power modes.
• Cyclonic separators can typically only be designed for an optimal balance of separation efficiency and restriction for a single flow rate, or a small range of flow rates. For a typical separation system having one cyclonic separator, or two cyclonic separators that are always fluidically connected in parallel, when the flow rate through the separation system changes, the separation efficiency and restriction through the separation system also changes. This may mean that the vacuum cleaner is unable to function at peak separation and energy efficiency in all modes and with all flow rates.
• Reduced separation efficiency can reduce a lifetime of a filter downstream of the cyclonic separators, for example as a result of more dirt or debris remaining in the air and passing through to the filter, and may result in a user needing to perform maintenance, such as washing the filter, more often.
• Increased airflow restriction may result in more energy being required by the motor to draw a same volume of air, and therefore a reduction in battery life where the vacuum cleaner is a battery-operated vacuum cleaner.
• increased airflow restriction may reduce airflow through a vacuum cleaner, which may reduce pick-up of dirt.
• the separation system described herein may mitigate for the above by allowing for the second cyclonic separator to be selectively utilised via positioning of the movable member.
• this may allow for the first and second cyclonic separators to be tuned to give performance at peak separation efficiency in multiple power modes, and at multiple airflow rates. This may result in increased separation efficiency and reduced flow restriction in particular modes of operation.
• the separation system may comprise an inlet duct for receiving an airflow, the inlet duct connected to the first and second inlets, and the movable member may be located within the inlet duct.
• the movable member By placing the movable member in the inlet duct, as opposed to the first inlet itself, increased flexibility in design of the movable member may be achieved, for example enabling use of a simpler movable member.
• the first inlet may typically be smaller than the inlet duct itself, with the inlet duct providing extra space for location of the movable member.
• the first position may be a first position within the inlet duct.
• the second position may be a second position within the inlet duct.
• the second inlet may be spaced from the first inlet along a length of the inlet duct. This may enable the first and second cyclonic separators to be in a stacked, for example at least partially one above the other along the length of the inlet duct, which may provide a reduced form factor for the separation system in a radial direction. Spacing the second inlet from the first inlet along the length of the inlet duct may also facilitate inhibition of airflow through the second inlet, for example by enabling the movable member to provide at least a portion of a seal within the inlet duct between the first and second inlets of the first and second cyclonic separators. This is in contrast to an arrangement where the first and second inlets are located at a same length along the inlet duct.
• the length of the inlet duct may extend in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of bulk airflow through the inlet duct in use.
• the separation system may comprise a sealing member extending about an inner surface of the inlet duct, and the movable member may be movable relative to the sealing member between the first and second positions such that the movable member is spaced from the sealing member in the first position, and the movable member contacts the sealing member in the second position.
• This may provide a relatively simple sealing arrangement compared to, for example an arrangement where sealing takes place at the second inlet itself.
• the sealing member may extend about substantially the entirety of the inner surface of the inlet duct. This may provide increased strength, for example hoop strength, of the sealing member in comparison to a sealing member that extends about only a portion of the inner surface of the inlet duct.
• the inlet duct may be substantially cylindrical in form
• the sealing member may be substantially annular in form
• the movable member may be substantially conical in form.
• the sealing member may be located within the inlet duct intermediate the first and second inlets. This may facilitate movement of the movable member between the first and second positions, for example as a result of a pressure difference between the second cyclonic separator and the inlet duct as the movable member moves between the first and second positions toward the sealing member.
• the first cyclonic separator may have a different geometry to the second cyclonic separator.
• the first and second cyclonic separators may facilitate provision of different restrictions and separation efficiencies when the movable member is in the first and second positions, which may enable optimisation of the separation system to provide different restrictions and separation efficiencies across different power modes of a vacuum cleaner that incorporates the separation system.
• the first cyclonic separator may have a different size and/or shape to the second cyclonic separator.
• the separation system may comprise a user operable actuator to move the movable member between the first and second positions. This may allow a user to choose when to switch the movable member from the first position to the second position, or vice versa, which may provide improved control over efficiency and/or restriction when the separation system is utilised in a vacuum cleaner in use.
• the user operable actuator may comprise a switch actuable by a hand of a user.
• the separation system may comprise a first dirt collection chamber in fluid communication with the first cyclonic separator, and a second dirt collection chamber, different to the first dirt collection chamber, in fluid communication with the second cyclonic separator. This may inhibit flow leakage between the first dirt collection chamber and the second cyclonic separator when the movable member is in the second position.
• the first inlets may be arranged in a first annular array
• the second inlets may be arranged in a second annular array
• the first annular array may be spaced apart from the second annular array.
• a vacuum cleaner comprising a separation system according to the first aspect of the present invention.
• the vacuum cleaner may comprise an airflow generator for generating an airflow through the separation system, the vacuum cleaner may be operable in a first mode in which the airflow generator generates airflow at a first flow rate through the separation system, and a second mode in which the airflow generator generates airflow at a second flow rate, different to the first flow rate, through the separation system, and the movable member is in the first position in the first mode and in the second position in the second mode.
• Use of the movable member when the vacuum cleaner experiences different flow rates in different modes may provide improved flow restriction and/or improved separation efficiency when compared to a vacuum cleaner where both the first and second cyclonic separators are utilised for each mode of operation.
• the second flow rate may be less than the first flow rate, for example with the second mode being a lower power mode of operation than the first mode.
• the movable member may move automatically between the first and second positions based on a selected one of the first and second modes. This may provide improved performance of the vacuum cleaner in comparison to an arrangement where a user has to decide when to move the movable member between the first and second positions.
• the second airflow path may be in fluid communication with ambient atmosphere external to the vacuum cleaner.
• the second airflow path may be in fluid communication with an interior of the vacuum cleaner downstream of the airflow generator. This may provide increased response time compared to an arrangement where the second airflow path is in fluid communication with ambient atmosphere external to the vacuum cleaner, for example as a result of a greater pressure internal to the vacuum cleaner when compared to ambient pressure external to the vacuum cleaner.
• Airflow may be allowed through the first airflow path, and inhibited through the second airflow path, by the valve member, to deflate the inflatable member and place the movable member in the first position. Airflow may be allowed through the second airflow path, and inhibited through the first airflow path, by the valve member, to inflate the inflatable member and place the movable member in the second position.
• Movement of the valve member may be electrically actuated. This may provide a relatively quick response time, for example compared to a manual actuation of the valve member.
• the valve assembly may comprise a solenoid valve assembly, for example with the valve member movable in response to a solenoid.
• Movement of the valve member may be electrically actuated in response to selection of one of the first and second modes by a user. This may enable the movable member to be moved automatically in response to selection of one of the first and second modes by a user.
• the separation system may comprise a drive motor to drive movement of the movable member between the first and second positions.
• a drive motor may provide more accurate positioning of the movable member than for example use of an inflatable member, where flow through the separation system can vary during use.
• the drive motor may be actuated in response to selection of one of the first and second modes by a user. This may enable the movable member to be moved automatically in response to selection of one of the first and second modes by a user.
• Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a vacuum cleaner
• Figure 2 is a schematic view of an actuator of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 is a schematic view of a secondary separation stage of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a combined first configuration of the actuator of Figure 2 and the secondary separation stage of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a combined first configuration of the actuator of Figure 2 and the secondary separation stage of Figure 4;
• Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a vacuum cleaner
• Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a vacuum cleaner
• Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a vacuum cleaner.
• Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a vacuum cleaner. Detailed Description of the Invention
• a vacuum cleaner 10 is illustrated schematically in Figure 1 , and comprises a main body 12, a primary separation stage 14, and a secondary separation stage 16.
• a separation system as discussed herein.
• the secondary separation stage 16 along with appropriate ancillary components that facilitate operation of the secondary separation stage, may be thought of as a separation system as discussed herein.
• the main body 12 is shaped to define a handle 18, and houses a battery pack 20, a suction motor 22, and an actuator 24.
• the actuator 24 is shown in isolation in Figure 2, and comprises a housing 28, a valve member 30 movable within the housing 28, a coil 32 for selectively moving the valve member 30, and first 34, second 36, and third 38 airflow paths in fluid communication with the housing 28.
• the valve member 30 takes the form of a solenoid core.
• the valve member is resiliently biased by a spring 31 to a position where the valve member blocks airflow through the first airflow path 34, and allows airflow through the second 36 and third 38 airflow paths.
• the valve member may comprise appropriate sealing surfaces.
• the coil 32 is energised in response to operation of the user input 26 to move the valve member 30.
• the first airflow path 34 is in fluid communication with a location slightly upstream of the suction motor 22.
• the second airflow path 36 is in fluid communication with a location downstream of the suction motor 22 within the main body 22.
• the third airflow path 38 is in fluid communication with an inflatable member 62 of the second separation stage 16, as will be discussed in more detail hereafter.
• the primary separation stage 14 comprises a generally annular chamber 40, an air inlet 42, and an air outlet 44.
• the primary separation stage 44 can be thought of as an inertial separator, and in some examples a filter (not shown in Figure 1 ) is located between the air inlet 42 and the air outlet 44.
• a filter not shown in Figure 1
• the air inlet 42 has a connection formation for connecting to at least one of an elongate tube and a cleanerhead.
• the secondary separation stage 16 is illustrated in isolation in Figure 3, and comprises an inlet duct 46, an array 48 of first cyclonic separators 50, a first dirt collection chamber 52, an array 54 of second cyclonic separators 56, a second dirt collection chamber 58, a sealing member 60, and an inflatable member 62.
• the second cyclonic separators 56 each have substantially the same size and shape, and are larger than the first cyclonic separators 50.
• the second cyclonic separators 56 are tuned, along with the first cyclonic separators 50, to have optimal separation efficiency and flow restriction for a second, relatively high flow rate, mode of operation of the vacuum cleaner 10, as will be described in more detail hereafter.
• the inflatable member 62 As the first airflow path 34 is in fluid communication with a location slightly upstream of the suction motor 22, and airflow is permitted through the first airflow path 34 and the third airflow path 38, a suction force is generated that causes the inflatable member 62 to deflate.
• the inflatable member 62 In a fully deflated configuration, the inflatable member 62 is located in a first, retracted, position, relative to the sealing member 60. In the first position the inflatable member 62 is not in contact with the sealing member 60, and airflow is free to enter the inlets 66 of the first cyclonic separators 50, and the inlets 72 of the second cyclonic separators 56.
• use of the inflatable member 62 to selectively permit or inhibit airflow through the second cyclonic separators 56 may provide increased efficiency compared to arrangements where airflow always needs to flow through the second cyclonic separators 56 when flowing through the first cyclonic separators 50.
• this may allow for the first and second cyclonic separators 50,56 to be tuned to give performance at peak efficiency in multiple power modes, and at multiple airflow rates. This may result in increased separation efficiency and reduced flow restriction in particular modes of operation, use of the inflatable member 62 may also utilise existing airflow through the vacuum cleaner 10 to selectively close off the second cyclonic separators 56.
• FIG. 6 A second embodiment of a vacuum cleaner 100 is illustrated schematically in Figure 6, where like reference numerals are used for sake of clarity.
• the second embodiment 100 of the vacuum cleaner differs from the first embodiment 10 of the vacuum cleaner in the form of the actuator 102, and the presence of a user operated trigger 104.
• the actuator 102 does not comprise a coil.
• the actuator 102 is manually actuated, with the valve member 30 movable in response to movement of the trigger 104.
• the valve member 30 is movable in response to manual operation of the trigger 104 to enable inflation and deflation of the inflatable member 62, and hence selective operation of the second cyclonic separators 56, in a similar manner to that described in relation to the first embodiment 10 of the vacuum cleaner described above.
• a sensor is provided to sense a position of the trigger 104, and to communicate a position of the trigger 104 to a controller that can automatically control a mode of operation of the vacuum cleaner 100 based on the position of the trigger 104.
• FIG. 7 A third embodiment of a vacuum cleaner 200 is illustrated schematically in Figure 7, where like reference numerals are used for sake of clarity.
• the third embodiment 200 of the vacuum cleaner differs from the first embodiment 10 of the vacuum cleaner in the form of the actuator 202 and presence of a movable, but not necessarily inflatable, member 204.
• the actuator 202 comprises a controller 206, a drive motor 208, a pinion 210 and a rack 212.
• the controller 206 is configured to control the drive motor 208 in response to selection of a mode of operation of the vacuum cleaner 200 via the user input 26.
• the pinion 210 is coupled to an output of the drive motor 208, and is meshed with the rack 212.
• the rack 212 is coupled to the movable member 204.
• the movable member 204 is fixedly attached at one end to a wall of the main body 12 of the vacuum cleaner 200.
• the movable member 204 is located in the inlet duct 46 downstream of the sealing member 60, and formed of a resiliently deformable material such as rubber.
• the movable member 204 generally has the form of a rolling diaphragm seal, and comprises an external sealing surface for engaging with the sealing member 60.
• the controller 206 controls the drive motor 208 in response to selection of a mode of operation of the vacuum cleaner 200 via the user input 26.
• the drive motor 208 drives rotation of the pinion 210, which in turn causes linear motion of the rack 212. Movement of the rack 212 can cause movement of the movable member 204 between first and second positions in which the movable member is either disengaged from, or engaged with, the sealing member 60, in a manner similar to that described in relation to the first embodiment 10 of the vacuum cleaner described above.
• FIG. 8 A fourth embodiment of a vacuum cleaner 300 is illustrated schematically in Figure 8, where like reference numerals are used for sake of clarity.
• the fourth embodiment 300 of the vacuum cleaner differs from the first embodiment 10 of the vacuum cleaner in the form of the actuator 302 and presence of a user operated trigger 304 and a movable, but not necessarily inflatable, member 306.
• the actuator 302 comprises a first rack 308, a rotatable member 310, and a second rack 312.
• the first rack 308 is connected between the trigger 304 and the rotatable member 310, and drives motion of the rotatable member 310 in response to actuation of the trigger 304.
• the rotatable member 310 is meshed with the second rack 312.
• the second rack 312 is coupled to the movable member 306.
• the movable member 306 is fixedly attached at one end to a wall of the main body 12 of the vacuum cleaner 300.
• the movable member 306 is located in the inlet duct 46 downstream of the sealing member 60, and formed of a resiliently deformable material such as rubber.
• the movable member 306 generally has the form of a rolling diaphragm seal, and comprises an external sealing surface for engaging with the sealing member 60.
• a user actuates the trigger 304, which, via the first rack 308, drives rotation of the rotatable member 310, which in turn causes linear motion of the second rack 312. Movement of the second rack 312 can cause movement of the movable member 306 between first and second positions in which the movable member is either disengaged from, or engaged with, the sealing member 60, in a manner similar to that described in relation to the first embodiment 10 of the vacuum cleaner described above.
• a sensor is provided to sense a position of the trigger 304, and to communicate a position of the trigger 304 to a controller that can automatically control a mode of operation of the vacuum cleaner 300 based on the position of the trigger 304.
• FIG. 9 A fifth embodiment of a vacuum cleaner 400 is illustrated schematically in Figure 9, where like reference numerals are used for sake of clarity.
• the fifth embodiment 400 of the vacuum cleaner differs from the first embodiment 10 of the vacuum cleaner in the form of the actuator 402 and presence of a user operated switch 404, a movable, but not necessarily inflatable, member 406, and a latch 408.
• the actuator 402 comprises a mechanical linkage 410 connected between the switch 404 and the movable member 406.
• the movable member 406 is fixedly attached at one end to a wall of the main body 12 of the vacuum cleaner 400.
• the movable member 406 is located in the inlet duct 46 downstream of the sealing member 60, and formed of a resiliently deformable material such as rubber.
• the movable member 406 generally has the form of a rolling diaphragm seal, and comprises an external sealing surface for engaging with the sealing member 60.
• the latch 408 automatically engages the mechanical linkage 410 to hold the movable member 406 in place when a user moves the switch 404.
• the latch 408 is disengagable, for example either when a user moves the switch 404 in an opposite direction, or in response to selection of a mode of operation of the vacuum cleaner 400 via the user input 26.
• a user moves the switch 404, which, via the mechanical linkage 410, which can cause movement of the movable member 406 between first and second positions in which the movable member is either disengaged from, or engaged with, the sealing member 60, in a manner similar to that described in relation to the first embodiment 10 of the vacuum cleaner described above.
• the latch 408 can be used to selectively hold the movable member 406 in place.
• a movable member including where an inflatable member moves as a result of inflation and deflation, moves between first and second positions to selectively enable or disable airflow through inlets 72 of the second cyclonic separators 56.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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• 2022
  • 2022-11-09 GB GB2216680.5A patent/GB2624189B/en active Active
• 2023
  • 2023-10-24 KR KR1020257018825A patent/KR20250102090A/ko active Pending
  • 2023-10-24 CN CN202380077798.7A patent/CN120112201A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-10-24 EP EP23800579.7A patent/EP4615293A1/de active Pending
  • 2023-10-24 WO PCT/IB2023/060713 patent/WO2024100483A1/en not_active Ceased

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