(19)
(11) EP 0 357 189 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
17.07.1991 Bulletin 1991/29

(43) Date of publication A2:
07.03.1990 Bulletin 1990/10

(21) Application number: 89306732.2

(22) Date of filing: 03.07.1989
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5A47L 5/24, A47L 7/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT

(30) Priority: 29.08.1988 US 237828

(71) Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
Newark Delaware 19711 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Reed, Charles A.
    Shelton Connecticut 06484 (US)
  • Kosten, Richard B.
    West Haven Connecticut 06477 (US)

(74) Representative: Randall, John Walter et al
Emhart Patents Department Emhart International Ltd. 177 Walsall Road
Birmingham B42 1BP
Birmingham B42 1BP (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Apparatus for separating material from a flow of air in a vacuum cleaner


    (57) A wet-dry vacuum cleaner includes a liquid separator (52) having an end wall (54) facing air flow from an inlet chute (50). The end wall (54) is surrounded by a top shelf (60), lateral sidewalls (58) and a lower shelf (62) to define a pocket (64) within which moisture droplets entrained in the flow of air are encouraged to precipitate. Turbulence fences (68, 70, 72) within the pocket (64) induce eddies in the air flow to further induce moisture precipitation. The top shelf (60) forces swirling air from the inlet chute (50) to contact the top shelf (60) before entering the air inlet (66), thereby reducing the tendency for swirling air flow to carry moisture directly into the air inlet (66). An entry step (84) at the bottom of the air inlet (66) inhibits moisture precipitated on the top shelf (60) from passing into the air inlet (66). Additional ribs and/or turbulence fences (86, 88) may be disposed on an inner surface of the dust bowl housing (42).







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