(19)
(11) EP 1 273 256 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
18.02.2004 Bulletin 2004/08

(43) Date of publication A2:
08.01.2003 Bulletin 2003/02

(21) Application number: 02254643.6

(22) Date of filing: 02.07.2002
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A47L 5/22, A47L 9/22
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 05.07.2001 GB 0116539

(71) Applicant: HOOVER LIMITED
Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan CF48 1PQ (GB)

(72) Inventor:
  • Fumagalli, Silvano
    20052 Monza (IT)

(74) Representative: Evans, Huw David Duncan 
Urquhart-Dykes & Lord, Three Trinity Court, 21-27 Newport Road
Cardiff CF24 OAA
Cardiff CF24 OAA (GB)

   


(54) Vacuum cleaner


(57) A vacuum cleaner comprises a fan unit having a radial flow impeller (15) and a motor (13) for rotating the impeller (15) to cause an airflow along a flow path of the cleaner. The impeller (15) comprises a plurality of blades (16) extending radially from an axially extending central hollow region (17) having an air inlet at one axial end thereof. The air flow path through the cleaner has a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along a substantial part of its length, and comprises a portion (22) which leads directly to the impeller (15) and has an outlet end directly aligned with the air inlet of the impeller (15).
The portion (22) of the airflow path leading to the impeller (15) may extend through an insert (20) mounted inside the fan chamber (19) of a conventional vacuum cleaner.
The vacuum cleaner has an increased suction power compared with conventional vacuum cleaners having the same motor power, because the air is communicated directly to the impeller (15) through a duct having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along a substantial part of its length.






Search report