Liquid Filtration Vacuum
20180153366 ยท 2018-06-07
Inventors
Cpc classification
A47L9/0027
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A47L9/181
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B01D47/02
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
A47L5/28
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A47L9/26
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A47L9/26
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B01D47/02
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
The liquid filtration vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum nozzle head and a housing moveably coupled to the vacuum nozzle head. The vacuum cleaner further includes a liquid tank that includes a wall defining an interior volume and a tank intake channel positioned in the interior volume. The interior volume is configured to hold a liquid. The tank intake channel is positioned to direct debris received from an intake passageway into the liquid tank so that the liquid in the interior volume of the liquid tank filters the debris into the liquid so that clean air is exhausted. The vacuum cleaner further includes a separator configured to generate an airflow.
Claims
1. An upright vacuum cleaner that filters air using water, the upright vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing having a front, back, top, and bottom; a handle extending from the top of the housing; a suction head extending from the bottom of the housing; an air intake that conveys air from the suction head, upwardly through the housing, and to an inlet port; a water tank intended to hold water to act as a filter; the water tank removably affixed within the housing, the housing partially surrounding the water tank when the water tank is installed; a basin intake channel carrying air from the inlet port into the water; wherein the water tank is non-structural, and thus is readily removable without affecting the ability of the upright vacuum to remain standing.
2. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, where in the inlet port of the air intake is formed from a first port and a second port; the first port of the inlet port located within a wall of the housing, allowing air to exit the air intake.
3. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the second port of the inlet port is located within a wall of the water tank, allowing air to enter the water tank.
4. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the water tank is molded from a combination of plastic and nano-silver.
5. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the water tank is molded from a combination of plastic and micro-silver.
6. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising: an inlet port seal mechanically connected to the inlet port; a spring affixed to the inlet port seal, the spring acting to close the inlet port seal to prevent water leakage.
7. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising: a separator powered by a first motor, the separator affixed to the housing and protruding outward from the housing; the separator drawing the air through the water tank, removing water entrained in the air, and pushing the resulting air to an exhaust; and the separator passing through the upper opening of the water tank when the water tank is installed within the housing.
8. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the suction head further comprises: a second motor; the second motor powering a rotating brush; whereby the rotating brush acts to lift debris from an underlying surface, allowing the debris to be lifted away by the air.
9. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising: a two-part socket, the first part affixed to the housing, the second part located on the water tank; a solenoid-actuated inlet port seal electrically connected to the socket; whereby installation of the water tank connects the first part of the two-part socket to the second part of the two-part socket, activating the solenoid-actuated inlet port seal, and closing the inlet port.
10. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising: a male circular connector protruding from the back of the housing; a retractable power cord contained within a cord housing; the cord housing including a female circular connector; whereby the male circular connector and the female circular connector mate to affix the retractable power cord to the upright vacuum cleaner.
11. An upright vacuum cleaner that filters air using only water, the upright vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing having a front, back, top, and bottom; a handle extending from the top of the housing; a suction head extending from the bottom of the housing; an air intake that conveys air from the suction head, upwardly through the housing, and to an inlet port; the inlet port formed from a first port and a second port; the first port of the inlet port located within a wall of the housing, allowing air to exit the air intake; a water tank to hold water to act as a filter; the water tank removably affixed within the housing, the housing partially surrounding the water tank when the water tank is installed; the second port of the inlet port located within a wall of the water tank, allowing air to enter the water tank; a basin intake channel carrying air from the second port and into the water; the first port and the second port connected when the water tank is installed within the housing; the water tank including an upper opening; an inlet port seal mechanically connected to the inlet port; a spring affixed to the inlet port seal, the spring acting to close the inlet port seal to prevent water leakage; a separator powered by a first motor, the separator drawing the air through the water tank, removing water entrained in the air, and pushing the resulting air to an exhaust; and wherein the water tank is non-structural, and thus is readily removable without affecting the ability of the upright vacuum to remain standing.
12. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the suction head further comprises: a second motor; the second motor powering a rotating brush; whereby the rotating brush acts to lift debris from an underlying surface, allowing the debris to be lifted away by the air.
13. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 11, further comprising: a male circular connector protruding from the back of the housing; a retractable power cord contained within a cord housing; the cord housing including a female circular connector; whereby the male circular connector and the female circular connector mate to affix the retractable power cord to the upright vacuum cleaner.
14. An upright vacuum cleaner that uses water as a filtration mechanism, the upright vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing; a handle affixed to a top of the housing; a head affixed to a bottom of the housing; a water tank partially surrounded by the housing; wherein the water tank is non-structural, and thus is removable without affecting the ability of the upright vacuum to remain standing.
15. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 14, further comprising: a separator powered by a first motor; the separator drawing the air through the water tank, removing water entrained in the air, and pushing the resulting air to an exhaust; and the separator passing through the upper opening of the water tank when the water tank is installed within the housing.
16. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the head further comprises: a second motor; the second motor powering a rotating brush; whereby the rotating brush acts to lift debris from an underlying surface, allowing the debris to be lifted away by the air.
17. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 14, further comprising: a two-part socket, the first part affixed to the housing, the second part affixed to the water tank; a solenoid-actuated inlet port seal electrically connected to the socket; whereby installation of the water tank connects the first part of the two-part socket to the second part of the two-part socket, activating the solenoid-actuated inlet port seal, and closing the inlet port.
18. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 14, further comprising: a male circular connector protruding from the back of the housing; a retractable power cord contained within a cord housing; the cord housing including a female circular connector; whereby the male circular connector and the female circular connector mate to affix the retractable power cord to the upright vacuum cleaner.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.
[0043] Examples of the present disclosure are best understood by referring to
[0044] Referring now to the figures and particularly to
[0045] The water tank 14 may include liquid (such as water) that contacts the air flow into the vacuum cleaner 10 and removes debris. The vacuum cleaner 10 directs incoming air and debris into contact with the liquid, which is typically water that absorbs the debris. Air flow through the water tank 14 also causes the liquid to circulate or agitate, which increases the efficiency of the absorption. The use of liquid as a filter (as opposed to a dry, mechanical filter) has a significant advantage in that the vacuum cleaner 10 uses readily available water, thereby eliminating the need for replaceable filters. In addition, the liquid in the water tank 10 may provide a room humidifying effect since some of the water may become vaporized in the air discharged from the vacuum cleaner 10 during use.
[0046] Air is discharged out exhaust port 18.
[0047] Further shown is vacuum cleaner handle 32 that may telescope up and down, and compartment 30 for storing attachments typically used with vacuum cleaners. Vacuum nozzle head 22 contains a brushing unit (not shown in
[0048] In operation, switch 34 initializes motor 20 of vacuum cleaner 10 creating an airflow and suction force, or vacuum, to draw air (shown by arrows) entrained with debris. The debris can be any non-liquid matter, such as dust, dirt, particulates, microbes, and/or contaminants, or as is seen in
[0049] The housing 12 may be moveably coupled to the vacuum nozzle head 22. For example, the housing 12 may be tilted (or otherwise moved) with respect to the vacuum nozzle head 22. As is illustrated in
[0050] Tilting of the housing 12 may be accomplished by pressing a button or lever positioned on the housing 12 or the vacuum nozzle head 22, or the housing 12 may tilt freely with respect to the vacuum nozzle head 22. This button or lever may release the housing 12, allowing housing 12 to be tilted. When the housing 12 is tilted, all of the components of the housing 12 (including the water tank 14) may be titled at the same (or substantially the same) angle as the housing 12.
[0051] Water tank 14 can be a liquid reservoir or basin made of plastic or other materials and molded using known techniques. Liquid or dry micro silver, or nano silver, may be used as an antimicrobial component in the exemplary embodiment, although any suitable microbial agent may be used. The micro or nano silver can be included into the plastic mold during processing. Any amount of micro or nano silver may be poured into the plastic mold. For example, the micro silver (or any other antimicrobial particle) may make up 1%-6% of the plastic mold. In some examples, the micro silver may make up 5% of the plastic mold. In some examples, this percentage of micro silver may allow the water tank 14 to achieve approximately 100% efficiency for killing contaminants in the water tank 14. Antimicrobial particles 407, such as nano-silver, are shown in
[0052] Antimicrobial particles may be nano particles, e.g., nano metal ions, oxides, and salts placed in the liquid bath, air flow stream, and/or embedded in the airflow pathway/componentry. Antimicrobial particles may also be micro particles, e.g., micro metal ions, oxides, and salts. Micro particles may be particles with a size within 0.1-100 m, 0.3-300 m, 0.7-700 m, or any combination of the preceding. In particular examples, the micro particles may have a size of 200 m (or approximately 200 m, such as 200 m+/100 m).
[0053] The exemplary embodiment shown in
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[0055] Motor 20 is located in the housing 12 above the water tank 14, and a separator 24 is attached to the bottom of motor 20. Separator 24 may be any device that, when operating, may generate an airflow, and that may further prevent liquid in the water tank 14 from being exhausted out of the water tank 14 through the separator 24. In some examples, separator 24 may separate air from the liquid. For example, separator 24 may draw and separate the clean exhaust air from the heavier water and particulates. This may allow the separator to prevent liquid in the water tank 14 from being exhausted out of the water tank 14 through the separator 24. Separator 24 may also force dirt and debris to mix with liquid in water tank 14.
[0056] When the water tank 14 is in place within the housing 12, separator 24 protrudes through an opening 502 (
[0057] Intake 400 forms an airflow path from the vacuum nozzle head 22 to inlet port 401 on water tank 14. Inlet port 401 forms an airflow path to the interior of water tank 14. Inlet 401 and intake 400 may collectively form an intake passageway that extends from the tank intake channel 402 to an opening in the vacuum nozzle head 22, such as the opening created by inlet ports 16 in the vacuum nozzle head 22.
[0058] Inlet port 401 is above the water level 403 inside water tank 14 to prevent water from entering inlet port 401 and intake tube 400 during operation. Air exhausted from intake 400 passes through inlet port 401 and into tank intake channel 402, which directs the air into the water beneath the water level 403. The tank intake channel 402 may extend under the water level 403 by any distance. This may increase the saturation of the air directed into the water.
[0059] In the front view of
[0060] The flow path of the air is further detailed in
[0061] Another benefit of the current exemplary embodiment of the vacuum cleaner 10 is that it will resist (or prevent) spills and leaks. For example, the vacuum cleaner 10 optionally seals the intakes 400, inlet ports 401, and/or tank intake channels 402 when the vacuum cleaner is deactivated (such as when the separator 24 is not generating airflow). This prevents liquid in the water tank 14 from leaking out of the water tank 14 through the intakes 400, inlet ports 401, and/or tank intake channels 402. Additionally, the vacuum cleaner 10 unseals the intakes 400, inlet ports 401, and/or tank intake channels 402 when the vacuum cleaner is activated (such as when the separator 24 is generating airflow).
[0062] In one example, vacuum cleaner 10 may seal and unseal the intakes 400, inlet ports 401, and/or tank intake channels 402 using sealing flaps 404 shown in
[0063] By closing, and remaining closed, when the vacuum cleaner 10 is not operating, the sealing flap 404 prevents liquid from leaking out of intake 400, thereby resisting spills and leaks of the liquid. The closed sealing flap 404 prevents such leaks even when the vacuum cleaner 10 is tipped or tilted.
[0064] In the exemplary embodiment shown by
[0065] A flap movement resistor 405 may be any device and/or structure that may resist movement of the sealing flap 404 from a closed position (404b) to an open position (404a). By doing so, the flap movement resistor 405 may urge the sealing flap 404 towards the inlet port 401 (e.g., it may urge the sealing flap 405 to a closed position).
[0066] In the absence of an opposing force, the flap movement resistor(s) 405 causes the sealing flap 404 to seal against inlet port 401 and/or intake tube 400 as shown in the closed configuration 404b of
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[0068] Automated flap mover 500 may be any device and/or structure that moves sealing flap 404. For example, automated flap mover 500 may be a solenoid, a solenoid valve, a motorized lever, any other mechanical device for causing movement, any other electro/mechanical device for causing movement, any other device and/or structure for causing automated movement, or any combination of the preceding.
[0069] As previously indicated,
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[0071] Lip 503 around opening 502 (as illustrated in
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[0074] Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.
[0075] It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description.
[0076] It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.