Air flow passage for a vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner is provided having improved pressure loss characteristics. A fluid supply conduit in flow communication with an inlet to a cyclone is integrally formed as part of a cyclone bin. The present invention may be adapted for use with cyclonic separation devices of all types, including single- and multi-stage cyclonic separators.
1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
(a) a cleaning head for cleaning a surface;
(b) a cyclone container having a wall having an inner surface and a longitudinally extending axis;
(c) a fluid inlet to the at least one cyclone container; and,
(d) a fluid conduit integrally formed as part of the cyclone container.
2 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit extends through a central portion of the cyclone container.
3 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit includes an exit portion which extends within the cyclone container from the central portion outwardly to the fluid inlet.
4 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid inlet is positioned adjacent the inner wall of the cyclone container.
5 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit has an outlet portion, and the outlet portion and the fluid inlet are configured to redirect air traveling there through in a first direction towards the wall and in a second direction to introduce the fluid tangentially to the cyclone container.
6 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit is positioned exterior to the cyclone container.
7 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein in the fluid conduit extends linearly.
8 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit is positioned exterior to the cyclone container and the fluid conduit extends linearly.
9 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit extends through the cyclone container to an opening in the bottom of the cyclone container and comprises an air exit for the cyclone container.
10 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9 wherein the fluid conduit extends linearly.
11 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
(a) a cleaning head for cleaning a surface;
(b) a cyclone container having a wall having an inner surface and a longitudinally extending axis;
(c) a fluid inlet to the at least one cyclone container; and,
(d) a fluid conduit extending through the cyclone container to an opening in the bottom of the cyclone container and comprises an air exit for the cyclone container.
12 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 11 wherein the fluid conduit extends through a central portion of the cyclone container.
13 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 11 wherein the fluid inlet is positioned adjacent the inner wall of the cyclone container.
14 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 11 wherein in the fluid conduit extends linearly.
15 . The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 12 wherein in the fluid conduit extends linearly.