Separator with multiple function vanes for a vacuum cleaner apparatus

A vacuum cleaner apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a motor disposed within said housing and having an output shaft;
• a fan coupled to said output shaft for generating a vacuum airflow through an air intake port in said housing;
• and
• a separator operably coupled to said output shaft for separating dust and dirt particulates entrained in air ingested through said intake port, said separator having a body that defines a longitudinal axis of rotation, said motor driving said separator to rotate about said axis;
• said body including an upper lip and a bottom portion interconnected by a plurality of longitudinally extending vanes and including a plurality of secondary particle impacting vanes formed within said bottom portion and presenting a curved flow surface extending along the length of said impacting vanes for trapping particulates within said separator.

A separator assembly as used in a vacuum cleaner apparatus for separating particulates from fluid ingested into the separator comprising:

• an annular housing having an open upper end defined by an upper lip, a bottom portion, and a body extending between said lip and bottom portion, said housing operable to rotate about a longitudinal axis of rotation to generate a centrifugal force to be applied to the ingested fluid;
• a fluid intake formed within said body for drawing the ingested fluid with particulates into an interior space within said housing;
• and
• a fluid exhaust for expelling fluid and particulates upwardly from said interior space through said open upper end;
• said body including a plurality of longitudinally extending vanes spaced apart from one another about the circumference of said body to define said intake, each of said vanes having a first end connected to said upper lip and a second end connected to said bottom portion wherein said first end is positioned above said second end within a vertical plane that incorporates said vane and said longitudinal axis of rotation, said first and second ends being interconnected by an angled flow surface for increased particulate separation as said body rotates about said axis of rotation.

A separator assembly as used in a vacuum cleaner apparatus for separating particulates from fluid ingested into the separator comprising:

• an annular housing having an open upper end defined by an upper lip, bottom portion, and body extending between said lip and bottom portion, said housing operable to rotate about a longitudinal axis of rotation to generate a centrifugal force to be applied to the ingested fluid;
• a fluid intake formed within said body for drawing the ingested fluid with particulates into an interior space within said housing;
• and
• a fluid exhaust for expelling fluid and particulates upwardly from said interior space through said open upper end;
• said bottom portion including a plurality of horizontally extending secondary particle impacting vanes for trapping particulates within said housing.

A method of separating particulates from fluid ingested into a vacuum cleaner, comprising the steps of:

• (A) drawing fluid having particulates into a vacuum cleaner housing;
• (B) drawing the fluid and particulates into a water bath to filter out a first portion of the particulates;
• (C) drawing fluid and remaining particulates to and outer surface of a separator;
• (D) separating particulates from the fluid via a curved flow surface formed on a plurality of longitudinally extending vanes in the separator;
• (E) increasing fluid flow inside the separator with a plurality of secondary particle impacting vanes formed within a bottom portion of the separator;
• and
• (F) expelling the remaining minute particulates from the separator via an exhaust.

A vacuum cleaner apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a motor disposed within said housing and having an output shaft;
• a fan coupled to said output shaft for generating a vacuum airflow through an air intake port in said housing;
• and
• a separator operably coupled to said output shaft for separating dust and dirt particulates entrained in air ingested through said intake port and including anti-foaming means integrated with said separator.