# US 2022/0265104 A1 · Integrated cyclonic separator in a wet-dry vacuum > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0265104 A1 - Document ID: US20220265104A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/678,806 - Filed: 2022-02-23 - Published: 2022-08-25 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-25 - Assignees: Techtronic Cordless GP - Applicants: Techtronic Cordless Gp - Inventors: Tyler H. Knight; Stephen A. Hughett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220265104A1 ## CPC - A47L 7/0028: {Security means, e.g. float valves or level switches for preventing overflow} - A47L 9/1666: {with filtering means} - A47L 5/225: {Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners} - A47L 5/365: {of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type} - A47L 7/0004: {Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners (floor-scrubbing machines taking-up dirty liquid by suction A47L11/30)} - A47L 9/122: {flat} - A47L 9/16: Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action - A47L 9/1691: {Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles} - A47L 9/2884: {Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation} - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) ## Abstract A wet-dry vacuum cleaner including a collecting bin and a power head removably coupled to the collecting bin. The power head includes a housing configured to support the power head on the collecting bin, an exhaust outlet, and a cyclonic separator positioned within the housing. The cyclonic separator includes a dirty air inlet, a chamber, and a clean air outlet. The power head further includes a suction motor assembly operable to create a working airflow path from the dirty air inlet to the exhaust outlet, and a filter disposed within a filter housing hanging downwardly from the suction motor assembly. The filter is positioned within the working airflow path adjacent the clean air outlet of the cyclonic separator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wet-dry vacuum cleaner comprising: a collecting bin; a cyclonic separator removably coupled to the bin, the cyclonic separator including a dirty air inlet and a clean air outlet, a housing removably coupled to the cyclonic separator, the housing supporting a filter therein, the filter positioned adjacent the clean air outlet of the cyclonic separator when the housing is coupled to the cyclonic separator; a power head integrally formed on the housing, the power head including an exhaust outlet; and a suction motor assembly operable to create a working airflow path from the dirty air inlet, through the cyclonic separator, through the clean air outlet, and to the exhaust outlet, wherein the cyclonic separator is configured to separate heavier debris from the working airflow and discharge the separated heavier debris into the collecting bin. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the working airflow path from the cyclonic separator through the housing is substantially vertical, and wherein the wet-dry vacuum cleaner is configured to be battery operated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the housing is selectively stackable on an upper portion of the cyclonic separator or directly coupled to the collecting bin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the housing includes a first latch moveable to a latched position in which a portion of the first latch couples the housing to the cyclonic separator, and wherein while in the latched position, the housing supports the power head on top of the cyclonic separator in a stacked configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein the first latch is moveable to an unlatched position, and wherein the housing is configured to alternately be received within the collecting bin while the cyclonic separator is separated from the housing and the first latch is in the unlatched position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein the collecting bin includes a second latch moveable to a first latched position in which a portion of the second latch couples the cyclonic separator to the collecting bin, and wherein the second latch is moveable to a second latched position in which a portion of the second latch, while the cyclonic separator is removed from the wet-dry vacuum cleaner, couples the power head to the collecting bin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the cyclonic separator includes one or more after market parts that can be integrated into the wet-dry vacuum cleaner in a stacked configuration, and wherein the cyclonic separator is configured to operate with a typical wet-dry vacuum cleaner in a non-stacked configuration. ### Claim 8 A wet-dry vacuum cleaner comprising: a collecting bin; and a power head removably coupled to the collecting bin, the power head including a housing configured to support the power head on the collecting bin, an exhaust outlet, a cyclonic separator positioned within the housing, the cyclonic separator including a dirty air inlet, a chamber, and a clean air outlet, a suction motor assembly operable to create a working airflow path from the dirty air inlet to the exhaust outlet, and a filter disposed within a filter housing hanging downwardly from the suction motor assembly, the filter positioned within the working airflow path adjacent the clean air outlet of the cyclonic separator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the cyclonic separator is fluidly disposed between the power head and the collecting bin, and wherein the cyclonic separator is configured to separate heavier debris from working air in the working airflow path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the filter housing receives air from the clean air outlet of the cyclonic separator, wherein working air in the working airflow path passes over the cyclonic separator before entering the filter housing, and wherein working air is drawn from the clean air outlet of the cyclonic separator downwardly into the filter housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the filter includes a conduit upstream from the clean air outlet of the cyclonic separator, the conduit accommodating the working airflow path from the filter housing to the exhaust outlet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the conduit is at least partially surrounded by the clean air outlet of the cyclonic separator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 11, wherein the conduit passes through the clean air outlet of the cyclonic separator, and wherein the conduit separates working air entering the filter housing through the clean air outlet of the cyclonic separator from working air exiting the filter housing toward the exhaust outlet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the filter is disposed fluidly downstream of the cyclonic separator and physically below the cyclonic separator, wherein working air in the working airflow path is drawn into the filter and travels away from the cyclonic separator, and wherein working air is drawn into the suction motor assembly and bypasses the cyclonic separator via the conduit after exiting the filter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the filter includes a cylindrical body at least partially formed by filter media, and wherein working air is drawn horizontally through the filter media and then vertically toward the exhaust outlet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the filter includes a flat body at least partially formed by filter media, and wherein working air is drawn vertically through the filter media and then vertically toward the exhaust outlet. ### Claim 17 A wet-dry vacuum cleaner comprising: a collecting bin; a power head removably coupled to the collecting bin, the power head including a housing configured to support the power head on the collecting bin, dirty air inlet, an exhaust outlet, and a suction motor assembly operable to draw working air from the dirty air inlet and expel air through exhaust outlet; a cyclonic separator integrated within the housing, the cyclonic separator including a plate configured to separate heavier debris from the working air, the plate having an opening defined between the plate and the housing of the power head, the opening allowing heavier debris to fall into the collecting bin, and a clean air outlet positioned within the housing of the power head, the clean air outlet configured to receive working air unladen of heavier debris; a filter housing hanging downwardly from the power head, the filter housing receiving air from the clean air outlet of the cyclonic separator; a filter supported within the filter housing, the filter being disposed fluidly downstream of the cyclonic separator; and a conduit extending from the filter toward the exhaust outlet, the conduit positioned physically in the cyclonic separator but fluidly disposed downstream of the cyclonic separator, the conduit physically separating working air entering into the filter housing though the clean air outlet and working air exiting the filter housing through the conduit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 17, wherein working air is drawn into the filter and travels away from the cyclonic separator, and wherein working air is drawn into the suction motor assembly and bypasses the cyclonic separator via the conduit after exiting the filter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein the filter includes a cylindrical body at least partially formed by filter media, and wherein working air is drawn horizontally through the filter media and then vertically toward the exhaust outlet. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The wet-dry vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein the filter includes a flat body at least partially formed by filter media, and wherein working air is drawn vertically through the filter media and then vertically toward the exhaust outlet.