Air Flow Losses in a Vacuum Cleaners

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having a handle with a handle air passage, a base attached to a first end of the handle by an articulating joint and having a base inlet positioned to face a surface to be cleaned, a base air passage extending from the base inlet and past the articulated joint by a flexible hose and to the handle air passage, a dirt collection assembly associated with the handle and in fluid communication with the handle air passage, a fan associated with the handle and in fluid communication with the handle air passage, and a motor associated with the handle and adapted to drive the fan to thereby generate an airflow through the base inlet, flexible hose, handle air passage, and dirt collection assembly. The flexible hose has a generally rectangular cross-section along a substantial portion thereof.

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a handle having a handle air passage extending therein;    a base attached to a first end of the handle by an articulating joint, the base having a base inlet positioned to face a surface to be cleaned;    a base air passage extending from the base inlet, past the articulated joint by a flexible hose, and to the handle air passage;    a dirt collection assembly associated with the handle, and in fluid communication with the handle air passage;    a fan associated with the handle, and in fluid communication with the handle air passage;    a motor associated with the handle, and adapted to drive the fan to thereby generate an airflow through the base inlet, flexible hose, handle air passage, and dirt collection assembly;    wherein the flexible hose comprises a generally rectangular cross-section along a substantial portion thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible hose is attached to the base at a first end thereof, and to the handle at a second end thereof, and wherein the flexible hose is connected to one or both of the base and the handle by a quick release fitting.  
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible hose is positioned behind, and at least partially concealed by, the articulating joint when viewed from the front of the vacuum cleaner.  
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the dirt collection assembly comprises at least one of a cyclone separator, a flat filter, and a bag filter.  
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the handle air passage comprises a generally rectangular cross-section along at least a portion thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the fan and motor are mounted within the handle.  
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the fan, motor and dirt collection assembly are mounted to a canister, the canister being selectively connectable to the handle air passage by a canister hose.  
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible hose has a generally rectangular cross-section along substantially all of its length.  
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible hose comprises a portion that flexes during normal use, and one or more portions that do not flex by a substantial amount during normal use, and the portion that flexes during normal use has a generally rectangular cross-section along substantially all of its length.  
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the articulating joint comprises at least two pivot axes.  
     
     
         11 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a handle having a handle air passage extending therein;    a base attached to a first end of the handle by an articulating joint, the base having a base inlet positioned to face a surface to be cleaned;    a base air passage extending from the base inlet, past the articulated joint by a flexible hose having a generally rectangular cross-section along a substantial portion thereof, and to the handle air passage;    a handheld unit selectively removable from the handle, the handheld unit comprising a handheld unit inlet, a dirt collection assembly, a fan, and a motor, the motor being adapted to drive the fan to thereby generate an airflow through the handheld unit inlet and the dirt collection assembly;    wherein the handheld unit inlet is in fluid communication with the handle air passage when the handheld unit is attached to the handle, and when so positioned, the motor is adapted to drive the fan to thereby generate an airflow through the base air passage, the handle air passage, the handheld unit inlet, and the dirt collection assembly.    
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible hose is attached to the base at a first end thereof, and to the handle at a second end thereof, and wherein the flexible hose is connected to one or both of the base and the handle by a quick release fitting.  
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible hose is positioned behind and at least partially concealed by the articulating joint when viewed from the front of the vacuum cleaner.  
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the handle air passage comprises a generally rectangular cross-section along at least a portion thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the handheld unit further comprises a handheld conduit extending between the handheld unit inlet and the dirt collection assembly.  
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein the handheld conduit comprises a generally rectangular cross-section along at least a portion thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one elastic seal adapted to seal the handheld unit inlet to the handle air passage when the handheld unit is attached to the handle.  
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the handheld unit comprises an air outlet positioned to face the handle when the handheld unit is attached to the handle, and the handle comprises an airflow opening positioned to receive exhaust air from the air outlet and pass the exhaust air through the handle.  
     
     
         19 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a handle having a handle air passage extending therein;    a base attached to a first end of the handle by an articulating joint, the base having a base inlet positioned to face a surface to be cleaned;    an air passage extending from the base inlet, past the articulated joint by a flexible hose, and to the handle air passage;    a dirt collection assembly in fluid communication with the handle air passage;    a fan assembly in fluid communication with the handle air passage;    a motor adapted to drive the fan assembly to thereby generating an airflow through the base inlet, the flexible hose, the handle air passage, and the dirt collection assembly;    wherein the flexible hose comprises a non-ovate cross-section along a substantial portion thereof.    
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the handle air passage comprises a generally non-ovate cross-section corresponding to the non-ovate cross-section of the flexible hose along at least a portion thereof.