Abstract:
This document discusses, among other things, a cleaning apparatus including a housing, at least one fan contained within the housing, a suction inlet in communication with a low pressure side of the fan and defining a suction flow path extending into the suction inlet, and a gas outlet proximate the suction inlet, the gas outlet defining a gas outlet flow path extending in or near the suction flow path. An example method includes blowing a gas from an apparatus toward a particulate matter and lifting the particulate matter off a surface, drawing the particulate matter into the apparatus, and collecting the particulate matter in the apparatus.

Description:
FIELD  
       [0001]     This patent document pertains generally to vacuum cleaning systems, apparatus, and methods, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to vacuum cleaning methods, apparatus, and systems having contemporaneous blowing and suction capability.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     A vacuum cleaner apparatus or system typically includes an electric motor-driven fan. The fan creates a lowered-pressured region (“vacuum”). Air is drawn into the lowered-pressure region of the apparatus and exhausted on a high-pressure side. Along with the air, materials such as particles are drawn into the device. Some vacuum cleaner devices have a brush at an inlet that facilitates the lifting of particles, hairs, or other objects off a surface and into the vacuum inlet. Most vacuum cleaner devices have a trap and/or a filter that captures materials in the device. For example, some devices use a filter bag to capture materials.  
         [0003]     Improved vacuum cleaner devices are needed.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     A cleaning apparatus including a housing, at least one fan contained within the housing, a suction inlet in communication with a low pressure side of the fan and defining a suction flow path extending into the suction inlet, and a gas outlet proximate the suction inlet. The gas outlet defines a gas outlet flow path extending in or near the suction flow path. In an example, the apparatus includes a second fan, and the gas outlet is in communication with a high pressure side of the second fan. In an example, the apparatus includes a first electric drive motor coupled to the first fan, a second electric drive motor coupled to the second fan, and a speed control for the second motor, and an air velocity at the gas outlet is controllable by adjustment of the speed of the second motor.  
         [0005]     In another example, a cleaning apparatus includes a particulate collector, a means for drawing particulate matter through a first opening in communication with the particulate collector, and a means for blowing a gas through a second opening proximate the first opening. Blowing the gas through the second opening lifts particulate matter into an airstream flowing into the first opening.  
         [0006]     An example method includes blowing a gas from an apparatus toward a particulate matter and lifting the particulate matter off a surface, drawing the particulate matter into the apparatus contemporaneous with the blowing, and collecting the particulate matter in the apparatus. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional illustration of a portion of an example vacuum device including a fan outlet near a section inlet.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional illustration of a portion of another example vacuum device including a fan outlet near a section inlet.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a vacuum device including a fan outlet near a suction inlet.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional illustration of a portion of a vacuum device including a fan outlet near a suction inlet.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4A  is a schematic illustration of an example configuration of motors and fans for a vacuum device including a fan outlet near a suction inlet.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4B  is a schematic illustration of another example configuration in which a single fan is coupled to both a fan outlet and a suction inlet.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4C  is a schematic illustration of another example configuration having a blower outlet near a suction inlet and two fans connected to a single motor.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5A  is an end view of an example configuration of a suction inlet and a fan outlet.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-section view of the suction inlet and fan outlet shown in  FIG. 5A .  
         [0016]      FIG. 5C  is a cross-section view of an alternative arrangement of the suction inlet and fan outlet shown in  FIG. 5A .  
         [0017]      FIG. 5D  is an end view of another example configuration of a suction inlet and a fan outlet.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5E  is an end view of another example configuration of a suction inlet and a fan outlet.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a partially cut-away illustration of a portion of a portion of a vacuum cleaner device including a fan outlet near a suction inlet.  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of an apparatus having contemporaneous blowing and sucking capability and a keyboard.  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart that illustrates an example method.  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is an illustration of an apparatus having a positionable outlet. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]     An example vacuum apparatus has contemporaneous blowing and suction capability. The apparatus has a suction outlet through which air and particulate or other material is drawn into the apparatus. The apparatus also has a blowing outlet near the suction inlet and the capability to blow air or other gas out the blowing outlet at the same time or shortly before drawing air through the suction inlet. In an example, the contemporaneous blowing and sucking lifts particles off a surface and into an inlet air stream. A device can be sized and shaped for cleaning a computer keyboard, for example.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show portions of example devices and schematically illustrate air flow into and out of an inlet and outlet.  FIG. 2  shows an example vacuum cleaner device.  FIG. 3  shows a cross-section of an example vacuum cleaner device.  FIGS. 4A, 4B , and  4 C are schematic illustrations of example configurations of motors and fans for a vacuum device including a fan outlet near a suction inlet.  FIGS. 5A, 5D  and  5 E are end views of example configurations of a suction inlet and a fan outlet.  FIGS. 5B and 5C  are cross-sectional views of the device shown in  FIG. 5A .  FIG. 6  is a partially cut-away illustration of a portion of a vacuum cleaner device including a fan outlet near a suction inlet.  FIG. 7  is a flow chart that illustrates an example method.  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIG. 1A , a portion  115  of a cleaning apparatus  100  includes an outlet  10 S and a suction inlet  110 . The suction inlet  110  is in communication with a low pressure side of a fan. The suction  110  inlet defines a suction flow path  111  extending into the suction inlet. The outlet  105  is near the suction inlet  110 . The outlet  105  defines a gas out-let flow path  106  extending in or near the suction flow path  111 . Gas blows out of the outlet  105  contemporaneous with air being drawn into the suction inlet  110 . For the purpose of description, the gas blown through the outlet  105  will be referred to as air, but it is understood that a gas such as carbon dioxide or a liquid/gas combination could be used instead of air.  FIG. 1A  shows particles  101  that are lifted off a surface  102  by air blowing out of the outlet  105 . The particles are drawn into the suction inlet  110 . In an example, the device simultaneously blows air from the outlet  105  and draws air into the suction inlet  110 . In another example, the blowing and sucking occur sequentially. In an example, air is blown from the outlet  105  and then air is drawn into the suction inlet  110 . In an example, gas is blown from the outlet  105  continuously. In another example, the gas flow out of the outlet  105  is pulsed or intermittent. In an example, the gas is selectively blown from the outlet  105  in response to an input from a user. In an example, a fan is used to create a high pressure chamber from which air is blown out through the outlet  105 . In another example, a source of compressed air, such as a can or air, is configured in communication with the outlet  105 .  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 1B , another example device  126  is shown. A suction tube  120  and blow tube  125  are shown partially cut away to reveal the inner surfaces  130 ,  135  of the suction tube and blow tube. In the example shown in  FIG. 1B , an end portion  140  of the blow tube protrudes past the end  145  of the suction tube  120 . Air blowing out of the blow tube outlet  150  lifts particles into an air stream flowing into the suction inlet  155  of the suction tube  120 .  FIG. 1B  shows air swirling in front of a vertical surface  103 . In an example, air is drawn into the suction inlet  155  using a fan and air is blown out of the outlet  150  using a fan or a compressed air source.  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an example device  200  is shown. A housing  205  houses at least one fan. A hose  210  extends from the housing. An end portion  215  of the hose includes a suction inlet  216 . The suction inlet  216  is in communication with a low pressure side of the fan contained in the housing. A gas outlet  217  is located near the suction inlet  216 . In an example, the gas outlet  217  is integral with the hose. In another example, the device  200  includes a second hose that includes the gas outlet  217 . The device  200  includes one or more controls  230 , which are optionally located on or near an optional handle  220 . In an example, the housing  205  includes air vents  225  that let air into or out of the housing.  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows a cut-away illustration of an example device  300 . In an example, the device  300  includes two fans  320 ,  325  contained in a housing  315  that includes two chambers  321 ,  326  and air vents  330 ,  335  in the chambers. Fan  320  creates a low pressure region in chamber  321  which draws air into the device from the suction inlet  305  and through tube  306 . In an example, fan  325  creates a high pressure region in chamber  326  which drives air through tube  311  and out of outlet  310 , which is situated near the suction inlet  305 . In an example, the device  300  includes a first speed control  340 , which controls the speed of fan  320 , and a second speed control  345 , which controls the speed of fan  325 . Controlling the speed of the fan  320  allows for control of the pressure (vacuum) and suction air flow through suction inlet  305 . Controlling the speed of fan  325  allows for control of the pressure and airflow through outlet  310 . Different airspeeds and pressures are desirable for different circumstances. For example, excessive air speed may adversely affect the collection of light weight or low-density matter such as dust, while heavier or more dense matter may require more airflow to lift the matter from a surface and into the device. In other examples airflow and pressure are controlled by varying physical parameters such as the size or shape of the suction inlet  305  or outlet  310 . In an alternative, the device includes only one fan that blows air from chamber  321  to chamber  326 . The device typically includes some kind of filtering system, such as a filter bag  350 .  
         [0029]     In an example system, one or more motors and one or more fans are used to provide the suction or blower airflow for the device.  FIGS. 4A, 4B , and  4 C are schematic illustrations of example configurations of motors and fans for a vacuum device including a fan outlet near a suction inlet.  FIG. 4A  shows blower system  401  including a blower fan  405  driven by motor  420  and in communication with a blower outlet, such as the outlet  105  shown in FIG. A. A suction system  402  includes fan  410  driven by motor  425 . In an example, fan  410  draws air through a suction intake such as the suction inlet  110  shown in  FIG. 1A , through the fan, and into a collector  415  such as a filter bag. In an alternative arrangement, the collector  415  is configured on the low pressure side of the fan. In an example, an exhaust side of the suction fan system  402  is coupled to an intake side of the blower fan system  401 .  FIG. 4B  shows an alternate configuration where a fan  430  driven by motor  435  provides both the suction at a suction intake and a pressurized airflow at a blower outlet, such as the outlet  105  shown in  FIG. 1A . A collector  440  such as a filter collects particulate matter. The configuration shown in  FIG. 4B  is balanced so that proper pressure and air flow is provided both at the suction intake and at the blower output.  FIG. 4C  shows another configuration in which a single motor  445  drives two fans  450 ,  455 . Fan  450  draws air into a suction inlet. Fan  455  blows air out an outlet near the suction inlet. In an example, the exhaust outlet of fan  450  is coupled to the intake of fan  455 .  
         [0030]      FIGS. 5A, 5B , and  5 C are end views of example configurations of a suction inlet and a fan outlet.  FIG. 5A  shows a device  500  including a suction inlet  505  and an outlet  510  near the suction inlet. In an example, the device  500  is an end of a hose. In an example the suction inlet  505  is cylindrical and the outlet  510  is configured to blow approximately parallel to an axis  501  of the suction inlet, as shown in  FIG. 5B . In another example, shown in  FIG. 5C , the outlet  510  is angled away from the axis  501  of the suction inlet to direct air at a surface  502  next to the device.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 5D , in another example, a device  501  includes a suction inlet  506  and several outlets  511 ,  512 ,  513 ,  514 . In an example, the outlets  511 ,  512 ,  513 ,  514  are spaced along a bottom portion of the device  501 . In an example, the outlets  511 ,  512 ,  513 ,  514  are evenly spaced. The outlets provide four streams of air that are pointable toward a surface to lift particulate from the surface. In another example, shown in  FIG. 5E , a device  502  includes a suction inlet  507  and an elongate outlet  521 . In an example the elongate outlet provides a band of air that lifts particulate from a surface.  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is a partially cut-away illustration of a component  605  at a distal portion  600  of a vacuum cleaner device including a fan outlet  615  near a suction inlet  610 . In an example, the component  605  is coupled to a hose  630 . The component  605  is optionally removably coupled to the hose and replaceable by a different component having a different configuration of the outlet and suction inlet. For example, in the option where the component  605  is removable, a portion having a configuration similar to  FIG. 5E  is replaceable with a portion having a configuration similar to  FIG. 5A  or  FIG. 5D . A portion  621  of a lumen  620  connected to the outlet  615  is connectable to a pressure supply, such as a fan or a can of compressed air. In an example, an interface is provided through techniques known to those skilled in the art to connect the lumen  620  to a lumen integrated into hose  630  or to a separate hose connected to a pressure supply. In another example, a container of compressed air is coupled to the lumen  620 , for example using a tube extending from an aerosol-type can.  
         [0033]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of a device  705  contemporaneously blowing air toward a keyboard  710  and drawing in air and particulate matter raised from between keys  715 ,  720  on the keyboard.  
         [0034]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart that illustrates an example method. At  805 , a gas is blown from an apparatus toward a particulate matter. Blowing the gas lifts the particulate matter off a surface. At  810 , the particulate matter is drawn into the apparatus. In an example, the particulate matter is drawn into a suction inlet and then through a hose. At  815 , the particulate matter is collected in the apparatus. In an example, blowing a gas includes blowing air. In an example, blowing gas includes selectively adjusting a velocity of gas blowing through the second opening, for example by adjustment of a nozzle direction or cross-section, adjustment of a fan speed, adjustment of a restriction in a hose, or adjustment of a restriction in an inlet dimension. In an example, drawing the particulate matter into the apparatus includes drawing the particulate matter into a first opening in a hose, and blowing the gas at particulate matter includes blowing the gas through a second opening in the hose. In an example, the hose includes a component that includes the first and second openings.  
         [0035]      FIG. 9  shows a portion of a device including a first tube  900  having a suction inlet  905  and a second tube  920  coupled to a positionable component  915  including an air outlet  910 . In an example the component  915  is a nozzle that is rotatable around an axis  901  to adjust airflow and selectively positionable with respect to the tube  900 , for example to direct air at a selectable angle at surface  902 . In an example, the component  915  is coupled to tube  920  using a ball and socket joint having a hole in the ball to allow air passage into the component  915 .  
         [0036]     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.