Dual Fluid Channel Vacuum Apparatus

Abstract

Improvements to dual channel vacuums as disclosed herein. Dual channel vacuums have a set of substantially fluid tight fluid plenums with a fluid exhaust channel having a redirection member proximate its exit and a fluid intake channel. Also provided is a vacuum blower motor to draw fluid into said fluid intake channel. The redirection member is configured to reflect fluid expelled from said fluid exhaust channel to the fluid intake channel such that the reflected fluid agitates the surface to be cleaned. One improvement is the fluid plenums being formed of an upper element, center element and bottom element, wherein the upper element and the center element form the fluid exhaust channel and the center element and the lower element form the fluid intake channel. Another improvement is a an outflow generator is provided to either create or supplement the fluid flow in the fluid exhaust channel.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A dual channel vacuum comprising:
 a fluid exhaust channel defining a flow path therethrough, said exhaust channel having a redirection member proximate to the distal end of said flow path;   a fluid intake channel defining a flow path therethrough;   wherein said fluid exhaust channel and said fluid intake channel terminate in a fluid exhaust port and a fluid intake port respectively, said ports being proximate to the redirection member;   
       a vacuum blower motor operative to draw fluid into said fluid intake channel
 said redirection member being configured to reflect fluid expelled from said fluid exhaust channel toward said fluid intake channel such that the reflected fluid agitates the surface to be cleaned; 
 
       said redirection member terminating at least a given distance from the termination of the suction port; and 
       an outflow generator separate from the vacuum blower motor providing at least some of the fluid flow to expel fluid out of said fluid exhaust channel. 
     
     
         2 . The dual channel vacuum of  claim 1  wherein the outflow generator provides all of the fluid flow to expel fluid out of said fluid exhaust channel. 
     
     
         3 . The dual channel vacuum of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the outflow generator is a ducted fan. 
     
     
         4 . The dual channel vacuum of one of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the outflow generator selected from a group consisting of a screw compressor, a root type supercharger and a centrifugal fan. 
     
     
         5 . The dual channel vacuum of one of the preceding claims wherein the dual channel vacuum is a canister vacuum. 
     
     
         6 . The dual channel vacuum of one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the dual channel vacuum is an upright vacuum. 
     
     
         7 . The dual channel vacuum of one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the dual channel vacuum is a hand held vacuum. 
     
     
         8 . The dual channel vacuum of one of the proceeding claims, wherein said fluid intake channel is substantially parallel to a surface to be cleaned for a majority of a bottom of a cleaning head. 
     
     
         9 . The dual channel vacuum of one of the proceeding claims, wherein said exhaust port and said suction port terminate substantially co-planar with each other. 
     
     
         10 . A dual channel vacuum comprising:
 a set of substantially fluid tight fluid plenums;   a fluid exhaust channel defining a flow path through the fluid plenums, said exhaust channel having a redirection member proximate to the distal end of said flow path;   a fluid intake channel defining a flow path through the fluid plenums;   wherein said fluid exhaust channel and said fluid intake channel terminate in a fluid exhaust port and a fluid intake port respectively, said ports being proximate to the redirection member;   
       a vacuum blower motor operative to draw fluid into said fluid intake channel
 said redirection member being configured to reflect fluid expelled from said fluid exhaust channel toward said fluid intake channel such that the reflected fluid agitates the surface to be cleaned; 
 
       said redirection member terminating at least a given distance from the termination of the suction port; and 
       the fluid plenums being formed of an upper element, center element and bottom element, wherein the upper element and the center element form the fluid exhaust channel and the center element and the lower element form the fluid intake channel. 
     
     
         11 . The dual channel vacuum of  claim 10  wherein the redirection member if formed as part of the upper element. 
     
     
         12 . The dual channel vacuum of one of  claim 10  or  11 , wherein the side walls of the fluid intake channel are formed as part of the lower element. 
     
     
         13 . The dual channel vacuum of one of  claims 10  to  12 , wherein the side walls of the fluid exhaust channel are formed as part of the center element. 
     
     
         14 . The dual channel vacuum of one of  claim 10  or  13 , wherein an outflow generator separate from the vacuum blower motor provides at least some of the fluid flow to expel fluid out of said fluid exhaust channel. 
     
     
         15 . The dual channel vacuum of  claim 14  wherein the outflow generator provides all of the fluid flow to expel fluid out of said fluid exhaust channel. 
     
     
         16 . The dual channel vacuum of  claim 14  or  15 , wherein the outflow generator is a ducted fan. 
     
     
         17 . The dual channel vacuum of one of  claim 14  or  15 , wherein the outflow generator selected from a group consisting of a screw compressor, a root type supercharger and a centrifugal fan. 
     
     
         18 . The dual channel vacuum of one of one of  claims 10  to  17  wherein the dual channel vacuum is a canister vacuum. 
     
     
         19 . The dual channel vacuum of one of  claims 10  to  17 , wherein the dual channel vacuum is an upright vacuum. 
     
     
         20 . The dual channel vacuum of one of  claims 10  to  18  wherein the dual channel vacuum is a hand held vacuum. 
     
     
         21 . The dual channel vacuum of one of  claims 10  to  20 , wherein said fluid intake channel is substantially parallel to a surface to be cleaned for a majority of a bottom of a cleaning head. 
     
     
         22 . The dual channel vacuum of one of  claims 10  to  21 , wherein said exhaust port and said suction port terminate substantially co-planar with each other.