What exactly is "Windtunnel technology"?

VacuumLand – Vintage & Modern Vacuum Enthusiasts

Help Support VacuumLand:

superocd

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 18, 2019
Messages
160
Location
PNW US
I never understood what the meaning behind Windtunnel technology was of various Hoover vacuums made over the past 20 years. What exactly is it? Also, somebody on here said that the idea of Windtunnel technology went as far back as the Hoover Convertible, it just wasn't called that at the time.
 
“WindTunnel” refers to a Hoover-designed brush roll chamber that has segregated air channels which improve air flow around the spinning brush. The standard brush roll chamber often causes dirt to be left behind on carpet because the spinning brush roll creates an opposing air flow that counteracts the flow of air toward the suction hose. Though the brush roll agitates dirt so that it disconnects from carpet fibers, it also can counteract the force of the airflow created by the suction fan. The worst version of this was seen in Hoover’s first Dial-a-Matic in which the agitator actually moved dirt away from the suction hose that was positioned on one far end of the brush roll chamber.

The WindTunnel brush roll chamber has some well designed air channels that are separated and protected from the effects of the spinning brush roll. The most important air channel bypasses the brush roll completely: it goes over the brush roll and opens at the front of the nozzle where it can suck up dirt that has been dislodged by the spinning brush. If you run an old fashioned broom over the surface of a deep pile carpet, the embedded dirt is flung forward in the opposite direction of the broom. So often, uprights leave behind dirt because the brush roll has flung dirt forward toward the front of the powerhead just at the time you are pulling the vacuum backward and away from the dirt left behind. The WindTunnel chamber provides an effective suction channel in the front edge of the brush roll chamber - thus capturing lots of the dislodged dirt that was flung forward.

Owners need to periodically disassemble the WindTunnel chamber to keep the segregated air pathways clear - but the design really does improve pick up!
 

Latest posts

Back
Top