How Does a Vacuum Cleaner Work?

Good for every owner of an Electrolux to know.

Aerus Electrolux Guardian Upright  

Check out the comments section of this video.

This is probably the best lux upright I've used thus far, even though it looks like all the others the motor in this is strong and it produces a lot of airflow at the nozzle compared to the other models I've used.

Another commentor, Kirby Vacuum Collector & Fixer, writes

I want one.

Even a Kirby vacuum collector wants a Guardian Upright. I know where he can get one.  Call Marie in Lakewood at 562-804-2100.

Got an Electrolux Ergorapido?  

Check out this review:

Upgrade to a brand new Electrolux upright: 

Vintage Electrolux Vacuum Cleaners

From the ElectroluxMan

The above vacuum is the 1927 Electrolux Model XI.

This Model XI is the second vacuum cleaner Electrolux produced. It's really something to see and think about how folks got their homes cleaned early on--  This Electrolux is in nice shape for being 83 years old and worked like a charm--  I sold the XI awhile back, but I think it merits leaving the picture of it here for folks to see what Electrolux had to offer years ago.  --The ElectroluxMan 

The front side of the Electrolux Model 30, 1937.

Here's where the suction side of the machine is--and where the cloth / reusable dust / dirtbag is placed.  This model 30 comes just like you see it---along with the wands, carpet, bare floor tool.  The vacuum comes with a cord, hose & dust bag.  Not really expensive either for an all original rebuilt vacuum at $160.00 plus shipping.  If you want a new hose, bag, filter's, cord, or any other parts added to the rebuild, they are all available at an additional cost. 

Please ask.  --The ElectroluxMan 

Rear view of the Electrolux Model 30, 1937.

The exhausted air passes through the spring loaded louverd doors.  The hose can be placed in the doors to use as a blower, or to insert the optional moth ball vaporizer or spray gun.  That's right--you could paint you car with this vacuum & the spray attachment.  --The ElectroluxMan

Electrolux Model 30, 1937

The Model 30 has been around since 1937 and is one tough vacuum cleaner.  This Electrolux is a 1948.  It's simple, built totally out of steel & aluminum, has a re-usable dust bag, and is pretty much the standard for a tough dirt eating machine.           --The ElectroluxMan

AERUS/ELECTROLUX HISTORY

Aerus LLC, formerly Electrolux Corp. USA, manufactures vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners and air purifiers. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has over 500 independently owned franchises in the U.S. and Canada. Aerus is the successor to Electrolux USA, the iconic manufacturer of vacuum cleaners. However, the Electrolux name is now used in the U.S. by the Electrolux Group of Sweden, which also manufactures Eureka vacuum cleaners.

Electrolux was founded in 1924 by Gustaf Sahlin, a Swedish businessman who emigrated to the United States. Its tank vacuum quickly became an industry standard, and was very popular for many decades.

In 1968, Consolidated Foods Corporation (now known as Sara Lee Corporation) acquired Electrolux.

In 1989, Electrolux Corp. USA created Purelux the first residential under-the-sink water purification system combining ultraviolet (UV) light and activated carbon filtration. Actor Lloyd Bridges was the company's spokesperson.

In 2000, the North American rights to the Electrolux brand name were sold to Electrolux Group of Sweden, which was previously unaffiliated since 1968. The corporation that originally manufactured Electrolux vacuums has been known as Aerus since 2001.

Company History[edit]

Aerus LLC was formed in 1924 as Electrolux Corporation USA.

In 1924, Gustaf Sahlin came to America to set up Electrolux Corp USA to import and sell the new tank type vacuum cleaner in America. The machine was the revolutionary Lux Model V made by AB Electro-Lux of Sweden and invented by Axel Wenner-Gren.^[1] People did not know what the new contraption was at first, but when showed how well it cleaned in their home, they were sold. In 1929, a shipment of Model XI cleaners sank, forcing Electrolux Corp. to build machines in the US. In 1931, the White Sewing Machine Company in Cleveland, OH was contracted to build the Model XII,^[2] however this was not a permanent move as Electrolux Corp wanted its own factory. In 1933, Electrolux Corp. set up a new factory in Old Greenwich, Conn. With Electrolux Corp in good shape and making its own products, AB Electrolux divested its stock to focus on refrigerator production and made itself a minority shareholder. From then on the two companies sold different products. The American products were never sold in Europe and the European Products were never sold in America.^[3]

In 1937, the now American-Owned Electrolux Corp debuted the Electrolux Model XXX (30). It was the first American-only Electrolux. The Model XXX was sold from 1937-1954, making it the longest made vacuum and in that time span over 14 million where sold. A Model XXX is currently on display at the Smithsonian and it is considered one of the top 100 U.S. inventions of all time.^[4] During World War II, Electrolux Corp halted vacuum production to focus on the war effort. The company made electric motors and control systems for the Army and Navy.^[5]

In 1952, the company debuted the Electrolux Model LX, the first vacuum that would know when it is full and also the first vacuum to use a self-sealing bag.^[6] That same style bag is still in use on some of the new Aerus - Lux model canister vacuums today. This machine would lay the foundation for every other North American Electrolux vacuum produced.

In 1968, AB Electrolux sold its minority shares to Consolidated Foods, which then bought enough stock to make it the majority shareholder. From the late '60s to the late '90s Electrolux Corp was a subsidiary to Consolidated Foods. In 1970, Electrolux Corp opened up its Bristol, VA manufacturing center^[7] which eventually replaced the much older Old Greenwich factory. As of 2014 it is still the main factory.

In 1998, Consolidated Foods (now Sara Lee) sold Electrolux Corp to a firm owned by Joe Urso (who still owns the company.) The company was then renamed Electrolux LLC. In 2000, the company sold certain name rights back to AB Electrolux which would go into effect in 2004. In 2001, the company began to transition into the new name: Aerus. In early 2004, the rights to the name "Electrolux" on products in North America ended. 2003 was the last year the company sold products that had the word "Electrolux" on them; however, Aerus LLC still holds certain rights to the Electrolux name and to the word "Lux." Electrolux LLC was formally renamed Aerus LLC.^[8] After 2003, all products that used to be sold by Electrolux Corp/LLC will either have the "Aerus" or "Lux" brand name on them.

Aerus currently makes and sells high-quality canister vacuums, upright vacuums, central vacuum systems, air purification systems and water purification systems.^[9]

Comparing the Dyson vacuum with the Electrolux Epic Series, 6500 SR.  See here how to take one of these apart. 

Okay, what does that mean?  To which of the modern vacuums does this machine compare?


The Epic could be a 2012 vacuum cleaner but have also found 2002 models of this Epic 6500 SR series.  Not easy to find product specs online.  Here's another model.  Not sure of the year.

Dyson DC07 Animal.  The vacuuming does not begin until the 3:20 minute mark.  Looks like the owner made 10 passes over the thick sawdust.  To me they were comparable.  He points out at the end that the Dyson left whole pieces of sawdust behind deep in the rug, whereas the Aerus picked up everything through on the opening sweeps.  Nice.  Nice to have that visual confirmation.  Not sure what it confirms or predicts.  Are Aerus vacuums better than Dysons?  I believe they are.  The Dysons are bagless vacuums.  That's not good on the motor.  Bagless means that dust will permeate the housing of the vacuum and settle on and in the motor, wear it down which in turn makes the engine run hotter.  That's not good for mechanical parts.  Let's see which vacuum wins.

Another comparison.  Let's see which vacuum wins.  He claims that the Bissell PowerForce Bagless vacuum won. 

Guardian Angel True HEPA Air Purifier

A sealed system so that all air passes through the system. 

Laundry Pro by Aerus

Check it out.

Uses cold water only. 
Keeps your clothes softer, static-free, chemical-free, and irritant-free.  Environmentally friendly. 


Eliminates the need for:
1.  Hot water.
2.  Laundry detergent and bleaches.
3.  Fabric softener.
4.  The cold water is infused with oxygen peroxide gases that allow for the water to bubble and fizz, which lifts the grime and dirt from your clothing. 
5.  To separate clothes by fabric or color.  Wow!! 
6.  Might eliminate the need for rubbing alcohol to get rid of sweaty smells from clothes. 




SAVES YOU MONEY
Yes, it does that too.  Costs average family $500/year to do their laundry with 90% of the costs going to just to heat the water.  Really?  I thought it would have been more.  Which means that you can save up to $450 a year on your energy bill alone. 

The Laundry Pro creates Hydrogen Peroxide, O2.  Hydrogen Peroxide is the only germicidal agent composed only of water and oxygen.  Like ozone, it kills disease organisms by oxidation.  Hydrogen peroxide is considered the worlds' safest all natural effective sanitizer

*  Whitens clothes.  A great alternative to chlorine bleach.

*  Healthy.  Your body creates Hydrogen Peroxide to fight infection which must be present for our immune system to function correctly.

*  Infections.  Even gangrene that would not heal with any medicine has been healed by soaking in Hydrogen Peroxide.

*  Tooth whitener.
*  Laundry stain removing.
*  Mold.
*  Tooth Paste.
*  Disinfectant and cleaning agent in the dishwasher.
*  Sanitizing agent & Disinfectant.

INSTALLING YOUR LAUNDRY PRO

"HEPA filters were originally developed in the 1940s for military use"

. . . as part of the Manhattan Project.  ". . . developed during the Manhattan Project (which produced the world's first atomic bomb) as a way of trapping extremely dangerous, tiny radioactive particles."

That "Continuous sheet of filter medium" is a filter made of fibers, like clothing, towel, blanket or carpet fibers. 

BENEFITS of HEPA FILTERS

>  Long-lasting.
>  Replaceable. 
>  Remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles.
> 

WHO INVENTED THE HEPA FILTER?

Like many other inventions, HEPA filters developed over time: there doesn't appear to be a single inventor who deserves sole credit. Fiber-based air filters were originally developed during the Manhattan Project (which produced the world's first atomic bomb) as a way of trapping extremely dangerous, tiny radioactive particles. After the war, German brothers Klaus and Manfred Hammes began developing relatively inexpensive air filtering systems during the early 1960s to reduce soot particles produced by coal-fired stoves; they went on to found a company called IQAir, which has been a pioneer of air filtering equipment ever since. The first inexpensive, pleated air filter was patented on April 19, 1966 by Kenneth W. De Baun and you can read all about it in his US patent 3,246,457: Pleated Air Filter Cartridge.

Aerus Lux Guardian Platinum


Not until the 6-minute mark do we see how the internal parts of the unit are arranged and how they work.  It is definitely worth a look.  This vacuum has a HEPA filtration system.  HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Arresting or High-Efficiency Particulate Air. 

IMPORTANT

Wikipedia explains that "HEPA [filters] have many applications, including use in medical facilities, automobiles, aircraft and homes. The filter must satisfy certain standards of efficiency such as those set by the United States Department of Energy (DOE). To qualify as HEPA by US government standards, an air filter must remove (from the air that passes through) 99.97% of particles that have a size of 0.3 µm.^[3]"

HOW IT WORKS: THREE MECHANISMS

HEPA filters are composed of a mat of randomly arranged fibres. ^[4]The fibres are typically composed of fiberglass and possess diameters between 0.5 and 2.0 micrometers. Key factors affecting its functions are fibre diameter, filter thickness, and face velocity. The air space between HEPA filter fibres is typically much greater than 0.3 μm. The common assumption that a HEPA filter acts like a sieve where particles smaller than the largest opening can pass through is incorrect and impractical. Unlike membrane filters at this pore size, where particles as wide as the largest opening or distance between fibres can not pass in between them at all, HEPA filters are designed to target much smaller pollutants and particles. These particles are trapped (they stick to a fibre) through a combination of the following three mechanisms:

INTERCEPTION

where particles following a line of flow in the air stream come within one radius of a fibre and adhere to it.

IMPACTION

where larger particles are unable to avoid fibres by following the curving contours of the air stream and are forced to embed in one of them directly; this effect increases with diminishing fibre separation and higher air flow velocity.

DIFFUSION

an enhancing mechanism that is a result of the collision with gas molecules by the smallest particles, especially those below 0.1 µm in diameter, which are thereby impeded and delayed in their path through the filter; this behaviour is similar to Brownian motion and raises the probability that a particle will be stopped by either of the two mechanisms above; this mechanism becomes dominant at lower air flow velocities.

Diffusion predominates below the 0.1 μm diameter particle size. Impaction and interception predominate above 0.4 μm. In between, near the most penetrating particle size (MPPS) 0.3 μm, both diffusion and interception are comparatively inefficient. Because this is the weakest point in the filter's performance, the HEPA specifications use the retention of these particles to classify the filter.

Lastly, it is important to note that HEPA filters are designed to arrest very fine particles effectively, but they do not filter out gasses and odor molecules. Circumstances requiring filtration of volatile organic compounds, chemical vapors, cigarette, pet, and/or flatulence odors call for the use of an activated carbon (charcoal) or other type of filter instead of or in addition to a HEPA filter.

The Electrolux Guardian Platinum

Video quality is poor.  He's holding the camera in his right hand as he moves the parts and the vacuum in position with his left.