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EP 1 707 098 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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17.02.2010 Bulletin 2010/07 |
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Date of filing: 24.02.2006 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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Water filtration vacuum cleaner apparatus having sloping baffle
Staubsauger mit Flüssigkeitsfilter und mit einer schrägen Luftleitfläche
Aspirateur à bain de liquide avec un déflecteur incliné
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE
SI SK TR |
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Priority: |
29.03.2005 CN 200520070275
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Date of publication of application: |
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04.10.2006 Bulletin 2006/40 |
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Proprietor: SUZHOU SU-VAC ELECTRIC MOTOR CO., LTD. |
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Wuzhong District,
Suzhou, Jiangsu Province
215164 (CN) |
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Inventor: |
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- Dai, Xiangming
Wuzhong District,Suzhou,Jiangsu Province (CN)
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Representative: Bucher, Ralf Christian |
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Patentanwalt Dipl.-Ing.
Alte Landstrasse 23 85521 Ottobrunn 85521 Ottobrunn (DE) |
| (56) |
References cited: :
EP-A- 1 088 508 DE-A1- 19 926 828 US-A- 5 829 092
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EP-A1- 1 112 712 GB-A- 576 851
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
|
Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to a household water filtration vacuum cleaner having a liquid
container removable from a cleaner housing.
Background of the Invention
[0002] The conventional water filtration vacuum cleaner either has a complex configuration
that is not suitable for home use, or has a simple construction that fails to thoroughly
capture and dissolve the dust carried in sucked airflow. Hence, a large quantity of
dust which is not filtrated by water needs additional means to further filtrate it,
or else it is exhausted to the atmosphere, causing secondary pollution.
[0003] EP1112712A1 discloses a vacuum cleaner with a dust-collection reservoir. The vacuum cleaner contains
a fluid and at least one duct for conveying an air-flow comprising the dust into the
reservoir, the flow being mixed with the fluid so as to generate a dynamic and turbulent
mixture, and is
characterized in that the reservoir comprises means for intercepting the flow in order to generate a swirling
motion of the mixture inside the reservoir.
Summary of the Invention
[0004] An object of the invention is to provide a water filtration vacuum cleaner apparatus
having a sloping baffle, which improves the filtration efficiency and is easier to
use.
[0005] To accomplish the above object, the water filtration vacuum cleaner apparatus having
a sloping baffle according to the invention comprises a liquid container removable
from a cleaner housing for keeping water and filtrating dust, having an inwardly sloping
wall; a vertical baffle adjacent to the sloping wall; a sloping baffle attached to
the vertical baffle which forms an angle αwith the vertical baffle; and at least one
bending tube provided in the liquid container for conveying the dust-laden airflow
into the liquid container, and an air outlet of the bending tube facing the sloping
wall of the liquid container.
[0006] According to one embodiment, attached to the vertical baffle there are two or more
sloping baffles, the outlet of the bending tube in the liquid container forms to be
a flat shape, and there is a secondary filter screen in the opening of the liquid
container, the bottom side of the vertical baffle is lower than the bottom side of
the secondary filter screen.
[0007] The liquid container is provided at one side of the cleaner housing; and a suction
duct provided in the liquid container includes a vertical air duct and a horizontal
air duct. The suction duct is connected to an airflow inlet for sucking dust-laden
air. A suction motor and a cable winder are provided at the other side of the cleaner
housing. At least one filter is provided before an air inlet of the suction motor,
and at least one filter is provided at the air outlet of the suction motor.
[0008] The cleaner housing is provided with a clean air outlet in fluid communication with
an exhaust tube connected to the air outlet of the suction motor and the air outlet
is connected to a hose so as to form a clean air blower. A wall of the liquid container
is made of transparent or semi-transparent materials.
[0009] The invention is
characterized in that the liquid container is so constructed that one of its walls is sloping inwardly;
adjacent to the inwardly sloping wall there is a vertical baffle which can be an integral
baffle or is formed by connecting an upper part and a lower part; the bottom side
of the vertical baffle is higher than the predetermined highest water level in the
liquid container; attached to the vertical baffle there is a sloping baffle; when
the vertical baffle is formed by connecting an upper part and a lower part, the sloping
baffle can be integrally formed with the lower part of the vertical baffle. The sloping
baffle can be provided in various ways. In addition, the outlet of the bending tube
for conveying the dust-laden airflow into the liquid container is facing the inwardly
sloping wall of the liquid container. When the cleaner is in operation, the dust-laden
airflow rushes into the water in the liquid container along the bending tube to form
a mixture of water and air so that the dust and water will mix in the following two
ways: in one way the mixture of water and air hits the sloping wall of the liquid
container and moves upward along it, wherein the part with more momentum hits the
vertical baffle, falls to the upper surface of the sloping baffle and rushes onto
the sloping wall again under the baffle of the sloping wall; in the other way, the
part with less momentum together with some water pieces produced by the above process
is carried by the sucked airflow and hits the lower part of the vertical baffle (the
lower surface of the sloping baffle), and it then falls downward under the baffle
of the vertical baffle and the lower surface of the sloping baffle. As a result, the
dust-laden airflow and water undergo a rotary motion, sufficiently mix with each other
in the liquid container, so that the dust in the air will be dissolved or collected
in the water sufficiently. Meanwhile, the clean air rushes to the air outlet of the
liquid container through the gap between the vertical baffle and water level, enters
into suction chamber of the suction motor and is discharged to the atmosphere.
[0010] Experiments show that by using sloping baffles the efficiency of filtration is improved
and the water drips carried by the airflow is not likely to be expelled to the air
outlet of the liquid container and enter into the suction motor. Hence, the dust will
be completely filtrated by water using a relatively simple structure like this.
[0011] The liquid container is easily removed from the cleaner housing and it is easy to
add fresh water to the liquid container or remove dirty water from the liquid container.
Experiments indicate that the dust in the airflow is easier to mix with water by forming
the outlet of the bending tube for conveying the airflow into the liquid container
into flat shape.
[0012] There is an opening in the upper part of the liquid container and around the opening
there are an air intake tube, an air out tube and a secondary filter screen. Experiments
indicate that the dust and water drips in the airflow can be filtered more effectively,
so that the air entering into the suction motor is as clean and dry as possible. Experiments
also indicate that when the bottom side of the vertical baffle is lower than the bottom
of the secondary filter screen, the water drips in the airflow are not likely to rush
to the secondary filter screen and thus the efficiency of filtration is further improved.
[0013] In addition, at least one high-performance HEPA filter is provided before the air
inlet of the suction motor. Experiments indicate that the fine dust and water vapor
that is not filtrated by water or leaks from the secondary filter screen will pass
through the HEPA and get filtrated before entering the suction motor, making the air
entering the suction motor almost 100% pure.
[0014] In addition, the suction motor used is generally a wet/dry vacuum cleaner motor,
which may produce carbon particles when in operation. Hence, by providing an additional
high-performance filer (such as HEPA filter) at the air outlet of the suction motor,
the carbon particles produced can be filtered, preventing the carbon particles from
being discharged into the atmosphere, causing secondary pollution. A clean air blower
can be formed by connecting a hose to a clean air outlet of the cleaner housing. The
walls of the liquid container are made of transparent or semi-transparent materials
so that it is convenient for users to check the water level.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0015] The invention will be described in detail by a preferred embodiment, reference being
made to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig.1 is a partially sectional top view;
Fig. 2 is a partially sectional view taken along the line A-A in Fig. 1;
Fig.3 is a partially sectional view taken along the line B-B in Fig. 1;
Fig.4 is a sectional view of the liquid container according to the preferred embodiment;
and
Fig.5 is an enlarged view of the part P in Fig.3.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[0016] Referring to Fig.1, Fig.2 and Fig.3, a water filtration vacuum cleaner apparatus
having a slopping baffle according to the invention, comprises an airflow inlet 9
for dust-laden airflow, a horizontal air duct 11, a vertical air duct 2, a cleaner
housing 5, a suction motor 19, a cable winder 17, a liquid container 10 for filtering
and collecting dust, and the liquid container is provided with two bending tubes passing
through a cover 4 of the liquid container for conveying the airflow, that is, a suction
duct 3 for conveying the dust-laden airflow into the water in the liquid container
10 and an air outlet tube 15 communicating to the suction motor 19 for conveying the
air filtered by water to the outside of the liquid container 10. Referring to Fig.4
and Fig.5, the invention is
characterized in that the liquid container 10 is so constructed that one of its walls 21 is sloping inwardly;
adjacent to the inwardly sloping wall 21 there is a vertical baffle 6, which can be
an integral baffle or formed by connecting an upper part and a lower part. A bottom
side of the vertical baffle 6 is higher than the predetermined highest water level
8. Attached to the vertical baffle 6 there is a sloping baffle 7; in the situation
that the vertical baffle 6 is formed by connecting an upper part 6-1 and a lower part
6-2, the sloping baffle 7 can be integrally formed with the lower part 6-2 of the
vertical baffle 6. The sloping baffle can be provided in various ways. The angle αbetween
the sloping baffle 7 and the lower part 6-2 of the vertical baffle 6 is larger than
10°. In addition, the outlet of the bending tube 22 for conveying the dust-laden airflow
into the liquid container 10 is facing the inwardly sloping wall 21 of the liquid
container 10. When the cleaner is in operation, the dust-laden airflow rushes into
the water in the liquid container 10 along the bending tube 22 to form a mixture C
of water and air so that the dust and water will mix in the following two ways: in
one way the mixture of water and air hits the sloping wall 21 of the liquid container
10 and moves upward along it, wherein the part with more momentum D hits the vertical
baffle, falls to the upper surface of the sloping baffle 7 and rushes onto the sloping
wall 21 again under the baffle of the sloping wall 21; in the other way, the part
with less momentum E together with some water pieces produced by the above process
is carried by the sucked airflow and hits the lower part of the vertical baffle (the
lower surface of the sloping baffle), and it then falls downward under the baffle
of the vertical baffle and the lower surface of the sloping baffle 7. As a result,
the dust-laden airflow and water undergo a rotary motion respectively in the space
defined by the sloping wall 21, the vertical baffle 6 and the sloping baffle 7 and
the space defined by the lower part 6-2 of the vertical baffle 6, the sloping baffle
7 and bottom 25 of the liquid container, sufficiently mix with each other in the liquid
container 10, so that the dust in the air will be dissolved or collected in the water
sufficiently. Meanwhile, the clean air rushes to the air outlet of the liquid container
through the gap between the vertical baffle and water level, enters the suction chamber
of the suction motor and is discharged to the atmosphere. Experiments indicate that
by using a sloping baffle 7 the efficiency of filtration is improved and the amount
of the water drips carried by the airflow which is expelled to the air outlet tube
15 of the liquid container decreases greatly.
[0017] The above process is illustrated in Fig.4, in which G represents the dust-laden airflow,
C represents a mixture of water and air, E represents the mixture of water and air
with less momentum, D represents the mixture of water and air with more momentum,
and F represents clean air and small amount of water vapor.
[0018] The vertical baffle 6, together with its lower part 6-2 and the sloping baffle 7
may be integrally formed. As shown in Fig.5a), they can also be formed by connecting
two parts. Or as shown in Fig.5 b), they can be formed by connecting three parts through
welding, adhesion and other means.
[0019] The liquid container 10 is easily removed from the cleaner housing 5 and it is easy
to add fresh water to the liquid container 10 or remove dirty water from the liquid
container 10. Experiments indicate that the dust in the airflow is easier to mix with
water by forming the outlet of the bending tube 22 for conveying the airflow into
the liquid container into flat shape.
[0020] There is an opening in the upper part of the liquid container 10 and in the opening
there provided a secondary filter screen 16. Experiments indicate that the dust and
water drips carried by the airflow can be filtered more effectively by providing the
secondary filter screen 16, making the air entering into the suction motor 19 as clean
and dry as possible.
[0021] Experiments indicate that when the bottom side of the vertical baffle 6 is lower
than the bottom 23 of the secondary filter screen 16, the water drips carried by the
airflow are not likely rush to the secondary filter screen 16 and thus the efficiency
of filtration is further improved.
[0022] In addition, at least one high-performance HEPA filter 14 is provided before the
air inlet of the suction motor 19. Experiments indicate that the fine dust and water
vapor that is not filtrated by water or leaks from the secondary filter screen will
pass through the HEPA and get filtrated before entering the suction motor, making
the air entering the suction motor almost 100% pure.
[0023] The suction motor 19 used is generally a wet/dry vacuum cleaner motor, which may
produce carbon particles when in operation. Hence, by providing an additional high-performance
filer 13 (such as HEPA filter) at the air outlet 12 of the suction motor 19 the carbon
particles produced can be filtered, preventing the carbon particles from being discharged
into the atmosphere, causing secondary pollution.
[0024] A clean air blower can be formed by connecting a hose to a clean air outlet 1 of
the cleaner housing. And the walls of the liquid container 10 are made of transparent
or semi-transparent materials so that it is convenient for the user to check the water
level.
1. A water filtration vacuum cleaner apparatus having a sloping baffle, comprising
a liquid container (10) removable from a cleaner housing (5) for keeping water and
filtrating dust, having an inwardly sloping wall (21);
a vertical baffle (6) adjacent to the sloping wall (21);
and at least one bending tube (22) provided in the liquid container (10) for conveying
the dust-laden airflow into the liquid container (10), an air outlet of the bending
tube facing the sloping wall (21) of the liquid container (10), characterized by a sloping baffle (7) attached to the vertical baffle (6) which forms an angle (α)
with the vertical baffle (6).
2. A water filtration vacuum cleaner apparatus having a sloping baffle according to claim
1, characterized in that two or more sloping baffles (7) are attached to the vertical baffle (6).
3. A water filtration vacuum cleaner apparatus having a sloping baffle according to claim
1 or 2, characterized in that the outlet of the bending tube (22) in the liquid container (10) forms to be a flat
shape.
4. A water filtration vacuum cleaner apparatus having a sloping baffle according to claim
1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a secondary filter screen (16) is provided in the opening of the liquid container
(10).
5. A water filtration vacuum cleaner apparatus having a sloping baffle according to any
of the preceding claims, particularly to claim 1, characterized in that a bottom side of the vertical baffle (6) is lower than a bottom side (23) of the
secondary filter screen (16).
6. A water filtration vacuum cleaner apparatus having a sloping baffle according to any
of the preceding claims, particularly to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid container (10) is provided at one side of the cleaner housing (5); and
a suction duct (3) provided in the liquid container (10) includes a vertical air duct
(2) and a horizontal air duct (11) and the suction duct (3) is connected to an airflow
inlet (9) for sucking dust-laden air; and a suction motor (19) and a cable winder
(17) are provided at the other side of the cleaner housing (5); and at least one filter
(14) is provided before an air inlet of the suction motor (19).
7. A water filtration vacuum cleaner apparatus having a sloping baffle according to any
of the preceding claims, particularly to claim 6, characterized in that at least one filter (13) is provided at the air outlet (12) of the suction motor
(19).
8. A water filtration vacuum cleaner apparatus having a sloping baffle according to any
of the preceding claims, particularly to claim 6, characterized in that the cleaner housing (5) is provided with a clean air outlet (1) in fluid communication
with an exhaust tube connected to an air outlet (12) of the suction motor (19) and
the air outlet (12) is connected to a hose so as to form a clean air blower.
9. A water filtration vacuum cleaner apparatus having a sloping baffle according to any
of the preceding claims, particularly to claim 1, characterized in that a wall of the liquid container (10) is made of transparent or semi-transparent materials.
1. Staubsauger mit Flüssigkeitsfilter und einer Umlenkplatte aufweisend
einen Flüssigkeitsbehälter (10), der vom Staubsaugergehäuse (5) entfernbar ist, zum
Aufbewahren von Flüssigkeit und Filtrationsstaub, und der eine inwärts geneigte Wand
(21) besitzt;
eine vertikale Umlenkplatte (6), die zur geneigten Wand (21) benachbart ist; und
wenigstens eine gebogene Röhre (22), die im Flüssigkeitsbehälter (10) zum Befördern
des Staub-geladenen Luftstroms in den Flüssigkeitsbehälter (10) vorgesehen ist, wobei
ein Luftauslass der gebogenen Röhre gegenüber der geneigten Wand (21) des Flüssigkeitsbehälter
aus (10) liegt,
gekennzeichnet durch
eine Umlenkplatte (7), die an der vertikalen Umlenkplatte (6) angebracht ist und einen
Winkel (α) mit der vertikalen Umlenkplatte (6) bildet.
2. Staubsauger mit Flüssigkeitsfilter und einer Umlenkplatte gemäß Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
zwei oder mehr Umlenkplatten (7) an der vertikalen Umlenkplatte (6) angebracht sind.
3. Staubsauger mit Flüssigkeitsfilter und einer Umlenkplatte gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
der Auslass der gebogenen Röhre (23) in den Flüssigkeitsbehälter (10) in einer flachen
Gestalt ausgebildet ist.
4. Staubsauger mit Flüssigkeitsfilter und einer Umlenkplatte gemäß Anspruch 1,2 oder
3,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
ein zweites Filtersieb (16) in der Öffnung des Flüssigkeitsbehälters (10) vorgesehen
ist.
5. Staubsauger mit Flüssigkeitsfilter und einer Umlenkplatte gemäß einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprüche, insbesondere Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
eine Unterseite der vertikalen Umlenkplatte (6) niedriger als eine Unterseite (23)
des zweiten Filtersiebs (16) ist.
6. Staubsauger mit Flüssigkeitsfilter und einer Umlenkplatte gemäß einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprüche, insbesondere Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
der Flüssigkeitsbehälter (10) an einer Seite des Staubsaugergehäuses (5) vorgesehen
ist;
und ein Ansaugkanal (3), der in dem Flüssigkeitsbehälter (10) vorgesehen ist, einen
vertikalen Luftkanal (2) und einen horizontalen Luftkanal (11) besitzt, und der Ansaugkanal
(3) mit einem Luftstromeinlass (9) zum Ansaugen von Staub-geladener Luft verbunden
ist;
und ein Saugmotor (19) und eine Kabelwinde (17) an der anderen Seite des Staubsaugergehäuse
s (5) vorgesehen sind;
und wenigstens ein Filter (14) vor einem Lufteinlass des Saugmotors (19) vorgesehen
ist.
7. Staubsauger mit Flüssigkeitsfilter und einer Umlenkplatte gemäß einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprüche, insbesondere Anspruch 6,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
wenigstens ein Filter (13) am Luftauslass (12) des Saugmotors (19) vorgesehen ist.
8. Staubsauger mit Flüssigkeitsfilter und einer Umlenkplatte gemäß einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprüche, insbesondere Anspruch 6,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
das Staubsaugergehäuse (5) mit einem Auslass (1) für saubere Luft versehen ist, der
einen Flüssigkeitsübertragungsweg mit einem Abdampfrohr, das mit einem Luftauslass
(12) des Saugmotors (19) verbunden ist, besitzt, und dass der Luftauslass (12) mit
einem Schlauch verbunden ist, um so ein Gebläse für reine Luft zu bilden.
9. Staubsauger mit Flüssigkeitsfilter und einer Umlenkplatte gemäß einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprüche, insbesondere Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
eine Wand des Flüssigkeitsbehälters (10) aus einem transparenten oder semitransparenten
Material hergestellt ist.
1. Un appareillage d'aspirateur de filtration de l'eau ayant une cloison inclinée, comprenant
un récipient liquide (10) démontable de plus propre à boîtier (5) pour maintenir la
poussière d'eau et de filtrer, ayant un mur intérieurement incliné (21);
une cloison verticale (6) à côté du mur incliné (21) ;
et au moins un tube courbant (22) fourni dans le récipient liquide (10) pour transporter
le flux d'air chargé de poussières dans le récipient liquide (10), une sortie d'air
du parement de tube de bombage le mur incliné (21) du récipient liquide (10)
caractérisée par
une cloison inclinée (7) a fixé à la cloison verticale (6) qui forme un angle (α)
avec la cloison verticale (6).
2. Un appareillage d'aspirateur de filtration de l'eau ayant une cloison inclinée selon
la revendication 1, caractérisée dans celle deux ou de plus nombreuses cloisons inclinées (7) est fixé à la cloison
verticale (6).
3. Un appareillage d'aspirateur de filtration de l'eau ayant une cloison inclinée selon
la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé parce que la sortie du tube de bombage (22) dans le récipient liquide (10) forme est
une forme plate.
4. Un appareillage d'aspirateur de filtration de l'eau ayant une cloison inclinée selon
la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, caractérisée parce qu'un tamis filtrant secondaire (16) est pourvu dans l'ouverture du récipient liquide
(10).
5. Un appareillage d'aspirateur de filtration de l'eau ayant une cloison inclinée selon
des réclamations précédantes l'unes des, pour réclamer notamment 1, caractérisé parce qu'un côté inférieur de la cloison verticale (6) est plus inférieur qu'un côté
inférieur (23) du tamis filtrant secondaire (16).
6. Un appareillage d'aspirateur de filtration de l'eau ayant une cloison inclinée selon
des réclamations précédantes l'unes des, pour réclamer notamment 1, caractérisé parce que le récipient liquide (10) est pourvu sur un côté de à boîtier plus propre (5)
; et un canal d'aspiration (3) fourni dans le récipient liquide (10) comprend un canal
d'air vertical (2) et un canal d'air horizontal (11) et le canal d'aspiration (3)
est relié à une entrée de flux d'air (9) pour l'air chargé de poussières aspirant
; et un moteur d'aspiration (19) et un bobineur de câble (17) sont pourvu sur le côté
autre de à boîtier plus propre (5) ; et au moins un filtre (14) est pourvu avant une
entrée d'air du moteur d'aspiration (19).
7. Un appareillage d'aspirateur de filtration de l'eau ayant une cloison inclinée selon
des réclamations précédantes l'unes des, pour réclamer notamment 6, caractérisé dans ce au moins un filtre (13) est pourvu à la sortie d'air (12) du moteur d'aspiration
(19).
8. Un appareillage d'aspirateur de filtration de l'eau ayant une cloison inclinée selon
des réclamations précédantes l'unes des, pour réclamer notamment 6, caractérisé parce qu'à boîtier plus propre (5) est pourvu avec propre à sortie d'air (1) dans la
communication fluide avec un tube d'échappement relié à une sortie d'air (12) du moteur
d'aspiration (19) et la sortie d'air (12) est relié à un tuyau afin de former propre
à ventilateur.
9. Un appareillage d'aspirateur de filtration de l'eau ayant une cloison inclinée selon
des réclamations précédantes l'unes des, pour réclamer notamment 1, caractérisé parce qu'un mur du récipient liquide (10) est rendu des matériaux transparents ou semi-finale-transparents.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description