Downloading and magnifying the upper photo appears to show that the top visible cell of the battery (still mostly inside the handle) had burst, blowing a hole in the handle. Those cells are pretty small, and if they can power the motor for a while they must contain a substantial amount of chemical energy. An internal short in the cell would rapidly convert all of that energy to heat, turning the electrolyte into very hot, high pressure vapor. If the cell didn't have an overpressure release diaphragm, its metal case would burst like a pipe bomb.
On Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 10:51:34AM -0700, leaking pen wrote: >Static buildup, ignition of dust. I've heard of several cases where >the static buildup from the cyclone style canister vacs spark and >ignite some of the deodorizing powders that have become popular. I >got good 5 inch arcs off a vacuum once, so I can believe it. > >On Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 8:15 AM, Harry Veeder <[email protected]> wrote: >> LENR? >> Harry >> >> Electrolux vacuum explodes, causing third-degree burns >> >> Last Updated: Friday, March 27, 2009 | 10:19 AM ET >> Comments44Recommend29 >> CBC News >> >> A woman is recovering from third-degree burns to her left palm after >> the cordless vacuum she was using to clean the stairs in her Richmond, >> B.C., home exploded in her hands earlier this week... >> >> http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/03/26/bc-vacuum-burns- >> electrolux.html >> >>
