IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,957,472
Granted Patent B2
US 6,957,472 · App. 10/050,501 · Granted Oct 25, 2005

Cannister and upright vortex vacuum cleaners

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,957,472
App. No.
10/050,501
Granted
Oct 25, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to upright and cannister vacuum cleaners. The improved vacuum cleaners utilize toroidal vortex technology to provide efficient airflow in a sealed system. The sealed system prevents dust from escaping into the atmosphere and retains kinetic energy of flowing air. The present invention is also quieter, lighter, and simpler than conventional designs.

Claims (71)

1. A cannister-style toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system utilizing a fluid flow, said cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner comprising:

a cannister-style vacuum cleaner housing;

a centrifugal separator located within said housing;

fluid delivery means fluidly coupled to said centrifugal separator;

a toroidal vortex nozzle comprising;

an outer tube fluidly coupled to said centrifugal separator at a proximal end, a distal end of said outer tube being open to the atmosphere;

an inner tube coaxially positioned inside said outer tube, wherein a gap between said inner tube and said outer tube forms an annular delivery duct which receives said fluid flow from said fluid delivery means; and

guide means to guide said fluid flow out of said annular delivery duct and into said inner tube, said guide means comprising an inner fairing positioned at a distal end of said inner tube;

wherein said guide means guide said flow such that said flow has substantially the characteristics of a toroidal vortex, and further wherein said fluid flow does not escape substantially into the atmosphere outside of said outer tube.

2. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said toroidal vortex nozzle is vented between said inner tube and said outer tube.

3. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said toroidal vortex nozzle further comprises a brush.

4. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said toroidal vortex nozzle further comprises a rotating brush.

5. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said toroidal vortex nozzle further comprises a wheel.

6. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said toroidal vortex nozzle is hinged between said toroidal vortex nozzle and said centrifugal separator.

7. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a hose removably attached at a first end to said toroidal vortex nozzle and removably attached at a second end to said housing.

8. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 having a hose removably attached to said housing being capable of being fitted with interchangeable toroidal vortex nozzle attachments.

9. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a hose that couples said toroidal vortex nozzle to said centrifugal separator.

10. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a hose removably attached at a first end to said toroidal vortex nozzle and removably attached at a second end to said housing where the hose comprises a plurality of tubes in a side by side configuration.

11. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a hose removably attached at a first end to said toroidal vortex nozzle and removably attached at a second end to said housing where the hose comprises a plurality of tubes in a siamese twin configuration.

12. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a hose removably attached at a first end to said toroidal vortex nozzle and removably attached at a second end to said housing where the hose comprises a plurality of tubes in a concentric configuration.

13. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a flexible hose removably attached at a first end to said toroidal vortex nozzle and removably attached at a second end to said housing.

14. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 having a removable hose removably attached at a first end to said toroidal vortex nozzle and removably attached at a second end to said housing.

15. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a handle removably attached to said housing.

16. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a container coupled to said centrifugal separator.

17. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a removable container coupled to said centrifugal separator.

18. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said fluid delivery means and said centrifugal separator is disposed inside said cannister-style vacuum cleaner housing.

19. The cannister toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a coarse mesh trap upstream of said centrifugal separator to protect said fluid delivery means from large objects in said fluid flow.

20. An upright-style toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system utilizing fluid flow, said upright-style toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner comprising:

an upright-style vacuum cleaner housing;

a centrifugal separator located within said housing; fluid delivery means fluidly coupled to said centrifugal separator;

a toroidal vortex nozzle comprising;

an outer tube fluidly coupled to said centrifugal separator at a proximal end, a distal end of said outer tube being open to the atmosphere;

an inner tube coaxially positioned inside said outer tube, wherein a gap between said inner tube and said outer tube forms an annular delivery duct which receives said fluid flow from said fluid delivery means; and

guide means to guide said fluid flow out of said annular delivery duct and into said inner tube, said guide means comprising an inner fairing positioned at a distal end of said inner tube;

wherein said guide means guide said flow such that said flow has substantially the characteristics of a toroidal vortex, and further wherein said fluid flow does not escape substantially into the atmosphere outside of said outer tube.

21. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 wherein said toroidal vortex nozzle is vented between said inner tube and said outer tube.

22. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 wherein said toroidal vortex nozzle further comprises a brush.

23. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 wherein said toroidal vortex nozzle further comprises a rotating brush.

24. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 wherein said toroidal vortex nozzle further comprises a wheel.

25. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 wherein said toroidal vortex nozzle is hinged between said toroidal vortex nozzle and said centrifugal separator.

26. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 further comprising a hose that connects said toroidal vortex nozzle to said centrifugal separator.

27. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 further comprising a hose removably attached at a first end to said toroidal vortex nozzle and removably attached at second end to said housing where the hose comprises a plurality of tubes in a side by side configuration.

28. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 further comprising a hose removably attached at a first end to said toroidal vortex nozzle and removably attached at second end to said housing where the hose comprises a plurality of tubes in a siamese twin configuration.

29. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 further comprising a hose removably attached at a first end to said toroidal vortex nozzle and removably attached at second end to said housing where the hose comprises a plurality of tubes in a concentric configuration.

30. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 further comprising a flexible hose removably attached at a first end to said toroidal vortex nozzle and removably attached at second end to said housing.

31. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 further comprising a removable hose removably attached at a first end to said toroidal vortex nozzle and removably attached at second end to said housing.

32. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 further comprising a removable hose being capable of being fitted with interchangeable toroidal vortex nozzle attachments.

33. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 further comprising a handle removably attached to said housing.

34. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 further comprising a container coupled to said centrifugal separator.

35. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 further comprising a removable container coupled to said centrifugal separator.

36. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 wherein at least one of said fluid delivery means and said centrifugal separator is disposed inside said upright-style vacuum cleaner housing.

37. The upright toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 20 further comprising a coarse mesh trap upstream of said centrifugal separator to protect said fluid delivery means from large objects in said fluid flow.

38. A toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner system utilizing fluid flow, said toroidal vortex vacuum cleaner comprising:

a centrifugal separator;

a container coupled to said centrifugal separator;

fluid delivery means fluidly coupled to said centrifugal separator;

a toroidal vortex nozzle comprising;

an outer tube fluidly coupled to said centrifugal separator at a proximal end, a distal end of said outer tube being open to the atmosphere;

an inner tube coaxially positioned inside said outer tube, wherein a gap between said inner tube and said outer tube forms an annular delivery duct which receives said fluid flow from said fluid delivery means; and

guide means to guide said fluid flow out of said annular delivery duct and into said inner tube, said guide means comprising an inner fairing positioned at a distal end of said inner tube;

wherein said guide means guide said flow such that said flow has substantially the characteristics of a toroidal vortex, and further wherein said fluid flow does not escape substantially into the atmosphere outside of said outer tube.

39. The vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 38 wherein the pressure in said container is greater than the pressure in said centrifugal separator.

40. The vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 38 wherein said fluid flow is contained in concentric tubing between said toroidal vortex nozzle and said centrifugal separator.

41. The vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 38 wherein said fluid flow is generated by an impeller upstream of said centrifugal separator.

42. The vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 38 wherein said fluid flow is generated by a centrifugal pump within said concentric tubing.

43. The vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 38 wherein said fluid flow is generated by a propeller within said concentric tubing.

44. The vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 39 wherein the difference in said pressures maintains vortex fluid flow without impeding matter from entering said container.

45. The vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 38 wherein said container is removable from said centrifugal separator.

46. The vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 38 wherein said container further comprises a door.

47. The vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 38 wherein said container further comprises a removable plug.

48. The vacuum cleaner system in accordance with claim 38 further comprising a coarse mesh trap upstream of said centrifugal separator to protect said fluid delivery means from large objects in said fluid flow.