Handheld vacuum cleaner, and vacuum cleaner comprising a handheld vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A handheld vacuum cleaner having an air inlet, an air outlet, a fan configured to rotate around a fan axis to create an air flow through an air flow path extending from the air inlet to the air outlet, and a separation device arranged in the air flow path. The separation device is configured to separate dust from air flowing through the air flow path. The air flow path comprises a sound reducing section extending from the fan in an extension direction, and wherein the angle between the extension direction and the fan axis is less than 45 degrees.

1 . A handheld vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an air inlet;   an air outlet   an air flow path extending from the air inlet to the air outlet;   a fan located in the air flow path and configured to rotate around a fan axis to create an air flow, through the air flow path, from the air inlet to the air outlet; and   a separation device located in the air flow path and configured to separate dust from air flowing through the air flow path;   wherein the air flow path comprises a sound reducing section extending from the fan to the air outlet in an extension direction, and wherein an angle between the extension direction and the fan axis is less than 45 degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of the sound reducing section in the extension direction is greater than 5 cm. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of the sound reducing section in the extension direction is at least 30% of a distance between the air inlet and the air outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the sound reducing section comprises one or more blades protruding into the air flow path in the sound reducing section and configured to counteract vortex flow of air in the sound reducing section. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 4 , wherein each blade of the one or more blades extends in a direction parallel to the fan axis. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the sound reducing section comprises a first portion and a second portion downstream of the first portion, and wherein a cross sectional area of the second portion, as viewed along the extension direction is smaller than a cross sectional area of the first portion, as viewed along the extension direction. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 6 , wherein the cross sectional area of the second portion is at least 30% smaller than the cross sectional area of the first portion. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 6 , wherein the sound reducing section comprises one or more blades protruding into the air flow path in the sound reducing section and configured to counteract vortex flow of air in the sound reducing section and wherein each of the one or more blades is arranged upstream of the second portion. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 6 , wherein the sound reducing section comprises a narrowing portion between the first and second portions. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 9 , wherein the sound reducing section comprises one or more blades protruding into the air flow path in the sound reducing section and configured to counteract vortex flow of air in the sound reducing section, and wherein each of the one or more blades is arranged in, or upstream of, the narrowing portion. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 6 , wherein the sound reducing section comprises a third portion downstream of the second portion, and wherein a cross sectional area of the third portion, as viewed along the extension direction, is greater than the cross sectional area of the second portion. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 11 , wherein the cross sectional area of the third portion is at least 30% greater than the cross sectional area of the second portion. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 6 , wherein a length of the second portion, measured in a direction coinciding with the fan axis, is more than 3 cm, or more than 5 cm. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 6 , wherein an outer surface of the second portion comprises a handle configured for a user of the handheld vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 6 , wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a motor configured to rotate the fan around the fan axis, and wherein the motor is arranged in the first portion. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the sound reducing section comprises a third portion downstream of the second portion, and a cross sectional area of the third portion, as viewed along the extension direction, is greater than the cross sectional area of the second portion; and   the vacuum cleaner comprises a battery located in the third portion and configured to provide electricity to the motor.   
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 11 , wherein the third portion comprises the air outlet. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shield located at the air outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 18 , wherein the shield is configured to direct the air to directions that are angled away from the fan axis. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 18 , wherein the shield is configured to direct the air to substantially radial directions relative to the fan axis. 
     
     
         21 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises at least one sound absorbing material arranged in the sound reducing section. 
     
     
         22 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 6 , further comprising at least one sound absorbing material arranged in the second portion of the sound reducing section. 
     
     
         23 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 11 , wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises at least one sound absorbing material arranged in the third portion of the sound reducing section. 
     
     
         24 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle between the extension direction and the fan axis is less than 10 degrees. 
     
     
         25 . A vacuum cleaner comprising a shaft part and a detachable handheld vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft part comprises a handle, two tube parts a floor nozzle, and a holder configured to hold the handheld vacuum cleaner between the two tube parts. 
     
     
         26 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 25 , wherein the air outlet of the handheld vacuum cleaner is positioned between the two tube parts when the handheld vacuum cleaner is attached to the holder. 
     
     
         27 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 21 , wherein the sound absorbing material comprises an air permeable sound absorbing material or a sound absorbing surface coating.