A connection device for the fluidic connection of a suction tube to a function unit. The connection device includes a first hollow-cylindrical connection section and a second hollow-cylindrical connection section. One of the connection sections is connectable or connected to the suction tube and the other connection section is connectable or connected to the function unit. One of the connection sections is located at least partly within the other connection section and with its outer periphery bears on the inner periphery of the other connection section, where the two connection sections are rotatably mounted, in order to provide a rotation compensation for the suction tube, and where an electrical connection for providing an antistatic function exists between the two connection sections. The first connection section includes a spring section which is deformable in the radial direction and with which the bearing contact on the second connection element takes place.

An upright surface cleaning apparatus has a surface cleaning head and an upper section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position. The upper section comprises a bendable wand and a portable surface cleaning unit. The wand comprises an upper wand portion and a lower wand portion that are hollow and form part of the air flow path. The upper wand portion is rotationally mounted to the lower wand portion between a first configuration and a second configuration wherein, when the upper section is in the storage position and the upper section is in the first configuration, the upper wand portion extends upwardly from the lower wand portion and, when the upper section is in the storage position and the support structure is moved to the second configuration, the upper wand portion is rotated forwardly with respect to the lower portion.

A vacuum tool configured to be removably coupled to hose or wand of a vacuum includes a body including a first end, a second end, and a first longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end. The vacuum tool also includes a head coupled to the first end of the body, a connection portion coupled to the second end of the body and configured to couple the body to a hose or wand of a vacuum cleaner, and a brush coupled to the head. The brush includes an elongate support defining a second axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body and configured to couple the brush to the head, and a plurality of bristles positioned on the elongate support.

A blast gate has a branch dust connector, a main duct connector, and a gate. The branch duct connector has a first tubular portion. The main duct connector is stably connected with the branch duct connector and has a second tubular portion, an inside surface, and a leak-proof protrusion. The inside surface faces the branch duct connector, and the leak-proof protrusion protrudes from the inside surface of the main duct connector and has a protrusion opening communicating with an interior of the second tubular portion. The gate is configured to slide in contact with the leak-proof protrusion to make an interior of the first tubular portion and the protrusion opening isolated from or communicate with each other. The blast gate reduces possibility of formation of gaps between the gate and the main duct connector and thus reduces possibility of air loss.

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a system that includes at least one suction device and at least one hand-held power tool. The method includes establishing a communications link between the suction device and the hand-held power tool by means of at least one suction device communication unit and at least one hand-held power tool communication unit, and transmitting at least one communication signal by means of the communications link from the hand-held power tool, in particular the hand-held power tool communication unit, to the suction device, in particular the suction device communication unit. When the suction device is switched on, at least one start signal is sent to the hand-held power tool, the hand-held power tool being activatable only if the start signal is received by the hand-held power tool.

In an embodiment, a system includes a tool that includes an exhaust port and a vacuum. The vacuum also includes an exhaust intake port configured to couple to the exhaust port of the tool. The exhaust intake port may be configured to receive exhaust from the exhaust port. The vacuum includes a vacuum intake port, a vacuum exhaust port opposed to the vacuum intake port, and a mixing chamber between the vacuum intake port and the vacuum exhaust port. The vacuum intake port, the vacuum exhaust port, and the mixing chamber may all be on a same centerline.

A cleaning bin mountable to an autonomous cleaning robot operable to receive debris from a floor surface includes an inlet positioned between lateral sides of the cleaning bin and an outlet configured to connect to a vacuum assembly, the vacuum assembly operable to direct an airflow from the inlet of the cleaning bin to the outlet of the cleaning bin. The cleaning bin also includes a debris chamber to receive debris from the airflow, an airflow chamber separated from the debris chamber by a prefilter, the prefilter forming at least a portion of a top surface of the debris chamber and at least a portion of a bottom surface of the airflow chamber, and a filter socket configured to receive a filter and provide the airflow to through the filter to the outlet of the cleaning bin, wherein the filter is positioned substantially perpendicular to the prefilter when the filter is positioned in the filter socket.

A surface cleaning apparatus includes a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet and an upper section mount and an upper portion moveably mounted to the upper section. The upper portion includes a wand. A portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted to the upper portion. An air flow path extends from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and includes an upstream portion comprising the wand and a flexible air flow conduit downstream of the wand. Each of the wand and the portable cleaning unit can be separately removable from the upper section mount.

A vacuum cleaner and filter cleaning system includes a filter cleaning mechanism which allows the filter to be cleaned without removal from the vacuum. Operation of the filter cleaning mechanism both flows air backwards through the filter and strikes the filter to more effectively clean the vacuum filter. The vacuum allows for filter cleaning and debris disposal without significant interruption of the use of the vacuum cleaner.

An environmental control unit comprises a housing, a vacuum cleaner, a filtration unit, and a blower. The vacuum cleaner is positioned in the housing and is configured to receive a tool contaminant stream produced by at least one tool. The vacuum cleaner filters particulate matter from the tool contaminant stream, thereby producing a filtered air stream. The filtration unit is also positioned within the housing and comprises at least one filter. The blower is positioned within the housing downstream of the filtration unit. The blower is configured to create negative air pressure within the second compartment to draw an area contaminant stream from an exterior of the environmental control unit into the housing. A second blower may also be present. The blower draws the filtered air stream and the area contaminant stream through the at least one filter in the filtration unit to produce a filtered mixture stream.