| 摘要 |
<p>A steerable vacuum cleaner and a method to steer the vacuum is described. The vacuum cleaner comprises a base (402, fig 4) , a handle (404, fig 4) having a longitudinal axis and including a conduit and a rotatable coupling 100 pivotally attached between the base (402, fig 4) and the handle (404, fig 4), with the coupling 100 defining an air channel for providing a flow of air from the base (402, fig 4) to the conduit in the handle (404, fig 4). The base (402, fig 4) of the vacuum rotates about the longitudinal axis while pushing the vacuum by twisting the handle (404, fig 4). The rotatable coupling can comprise an inner conduit 102 having an outer surface, a compressible strip 134 disposed on the outer surface of the inner conduit 102, an outer conduit 104 adapted to snugly fit over the strip 134 and the inner conduit 102, and a non-reactive high-viscosity lubricant 144 disposed on the outer surface of the inner conduit 102 adjacent the strip 134. The outer conduit 104 of the coupling is rotatable about the inner conduit 102 and an interference fit is formed between the inner conduit 102 and the outer conduit 104.</p> |
