Cleaning head for vacuum cleaning appliance

[0034] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, in which numerous features will be discussed in detail in order to provide a thorough understanding of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. It will be apparent to the reader, however, that the present invention may be practiced without specific details and, in some instances, well-known methods, techniques and structures have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the concepts of the present invention .

[0035] figure 1 A known vacuum cleaning appliance or vacuum cleaner 2 is shown comprising a dirt and dust separation unit 4 , a motor-driven fan unit 6 and a cleaning head 8 . The vacuum cleaner 2 also includes a wand 10 connecting the dirt and dust separating unit 4 and the cleaning head 8 . The motor-driven fan unit 6 draws the dirt-laden air from the surface to be cleaned (eg floor surface) via the cleaning head 8 to the dirt and dust separation unit 4, where the dirt and dust particles (hereinafter referred to as " Dirt particles") are separated from the air carrying the dirt and relatively clean air is discharged from the vacuum cleaner 2. The dirt and dust separation unit 4 shown in this example is a cyclone separation unit. However, the type of separation unit is not critical to the present invention and the reader will understand that alternative separation units or combinations of different separation units may be used. Similarly, figure 1 The vacuum cleaner 2 shown is a so-called stick vacuum cleaner, but the nature of the vacuum cleaner is not important to the present invention and the reader will understand that the present invention can be used with other types of vacuum cleaners, such as uprights or cartridges vacuum cleaner.

[0036] refer to figure 2, the cleaning head 8 includes a body 12 rotatably attached to the coupling 14 . The coupling 14 is configured to be removably connected to the wand 10, hose or other such conduit of the vacuum cleaner. The body 12 includes a housing, generally indicated at 16, that includes an upper section 18 and a lower plate or bottom plate 20 that defines a generally rectangular suction port 22 through which dust-laden air passes 22 Enter the cleaning head 8 from the floor surface. The housing 16 defines a suction passage extending through the interior volume of the body 12 from the suction port 22 to the outlet duct 24 located at the rear section 26 of the housing 16 . The coupling 14 includes a conduit ( figure 2 not visible in ), the conduit is supported by the rolling assembly 28. The conduit includes a front portion connected to the outlet conduit 24 and a rear portion pivotally connected to the front portion. The portion of the coupler 14 that defines the rear of the catheter includes securing means, generally designated 30 , for connecting the free end 15 of the coupler 14 to the rod 10 . A rigid curved hose assembly is retained within the conduit and extends between the front and rear of the conduit.

[0037] refer to image 3 , two wheels 32 are mounted in recessed portions in the bottom surface of the base plate 20 for supporting the cleaning head 8 on the floor surface. The wheels 32 are configured to support the soleplate 20 above the floor surface when the cleaning head 8 is on a hard floor surface, and when the cleaning head 8 is on a carpeted floor surface, the wheels 32 sink into the fuzz of the carpet so that the The bottom surface of the base plate 20 is capable of engaging the fibers of the carpet. The base plate 20 is movable relative to the housing 16, allowing it to ride smoothly on the carpeted floor surface during cleaning.

[0038] The interior volume of the body 12 includes an agitator cavity 34 that is partially defined by the upper section 18 of the housing 16 . An elongated brush bar or agitator assembly 36 is supported within the agitator cavity 34 and includes a hollow elongated body 42 rotatable about its longitudinal axis. In this example, the elongated body 42 is cylindrical, having a generally circular cross-section, and will be referred to as the cylindrical body 42 from this point forward. However, the reader will understand that the shape of the cylindrical body 42 is not critical to the present invention. The body 12 also includes two end caps 38 , 40 mounted on the housing 16 at each end of the agitator cavity 34 for rotatably supporting the agitator assembly 36 within the agitator cavity 34 . Preferably, at least one of the end caps 38, 40 is removable from the housing 16 to provide access to the agitator cavity 34 so that the agitator assembly 36 can be removed from the agitator cavity 34 and subsequently to replace. In the example shown, a recessed portion is provided in the end cap 40 to facilitate removal of the end cap from the housing 16 to gain access to the agitator cavity 34 . The agitator assembly 36 houses an electric motor and a drive mechanism that connects the agitator assembly 36 to the electric motor for driving the agitator assembly 36 about its longitudinal axis. Such drive means are known and therefore will not be explained in detail here, alternative drive means may be used.

[0039] refer to Figure 4 , the cylindrical body 42 of the agitator assembly 36 carries the agitator structure, generally designated 44 . In this example of the agitator assembly 36, the agitator structure 44 includes two agitator rows 46 extending axially in a helical fashion along the outer surface 48 of the cylindrical body 42, each agitator row 46 extends 360° around the outer surface 48 of the cylindrical body 42 . The agitator row 46 extends in a direction away from the outer surface 48 of the cylindrical body 42 for agitating dust particles and other debris on the floor surface as the agitator assembly 36 is rotated by the electric motor in the agitator cavity 34 . The agitator row 46 has a base secured to the cylindrical body 42 by corresponding retaining members 47 and is configured to rotate with the cylindrical body 42 when the electric motor drives the agitator assembly 36 . Retention member 47 may include one or more channels for receiving and retaining agitator row 46 and, in some examples, may form part of cylindrical body 42 . The agitator row 46 may include a plurality of soft filaments, stiff bristles, or continuous strips of material, and may be made of carbon fiber or nylon, to name two common materials, the soft filaments having the ability to oppose each other when in contact with the floor surface. at the curved end of the cylindrical body 42 . Furthermore, instead of a continuous ribbon of bristles or filaments, as shown here, the row of agitators 46 may consist of a row of discrete tufts of bristles or filaments. In the example in which the agitator row 46 is made of nylon, when the agitator assembly 36 is installed in the agitator cavity 34, the radially outer end of the agitator row 46 and the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34 are formed. The gap is in the range of 0.5mm to 2mm. However, in the example where the agitator rows 46 are made of carbon fiber, the agitator rows 46 are configured to extend outwardly from the outer surface 48 of the cylindrical body 42 at an angle such that they are in the direction in which the agitator assembly 36 is configured to rotate Tilt up.

[0040] The general arrangement of the agitator structure 44, which in this example includes two agitator rows 46 arranged in a spiral, with negligible clearance between the agitator rows 46 and the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34, during use causes an asymmetric flow through the agitator chamber 34, which will now be referred to Figure 5 Explain in more detail.

[0041] Figure 5 The upper side of the agitator assembly 36 is shown, in this example, the upper side of the agitator assembly 36 is configured to rotate forwardly away from the outlet duct 24 and the lower side rotates rearwardly toward the outlet duct 24 . During use, whether the base plate 20 is in a gap in a floor surface (eg, on a hard floor surface) or on a porous medium (eg, on a carpeted floor surface), air can be trapped in the air around the perimeter of the suction port 22. Enter the agitator chamber 34 at any point. Rotation of the agitator assembly 36 creates a so-called "brush bar-induced flow" (hereafter "primary airflow structure") within the agitator cavity 34 that imposes a large lateral flow on the airflow entering the agitator cavity 34 from the suction port 22 The flow component, pushes or pumps the airflow from the left hand side of the agitator chamber 34 to the right hand side, as indicated by arrow 52 , before it continues to exit the cleaning head 8 through the outlet conduit 24 . Thus, while one side of the agitator chamber 34 (in this case the right hand side) experiences high velocity airflow, the other side experiences relatively lower airflow velocity. Over time, dust particles will accumulate in the areas of the agitator cavity 34 that are affected by the lower velocity airflow, thereby reducing the expulsion of dust particles from the cleaning head 8 and increasing the likelihood that they will inadvertently return to the floor surface. One such area is Figure 5 is circled in and is usually represented by 53. This "pumping" effect is especially prevalent when using agitator assemblies comprising at least one agitator row arranged in a helical fashion, but if the agitator rows are arranged in a so-called herringbone pattern, where the opposing agitator rows are at an angle Extending from opposite sides of the cylindrical body to meet in the center of the cylindrical body, this "pumping" effect also occurs.

[0042] Image 6 A cleaning head 8 is shown comprising an embodiment of an agitator assembly 36 according to the present invention. The agitator assembly 36 of this embodiment is substantially the same as the previous agitator assembly 36 , except that it includes a compressor structure, generally designated 56 , that includes at least one compressor element 58 . Two compressor elements 58 are shown diametrically opposed to each other, although the benefits of the present invention may also be achieved, at least in part, by using a single compressor element 58 or more than two compressor elements 58 . The compressor element 58 is distinct from the retention structure 47 and the agitator row 46 and is configured to extend from the outer surface 48 of the cylindrical body 42 such that the radial direction defined between the compressor element 58 and the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34 The distance is less than the radial distance defined between the outer surface 48 of the cylindrical body 42 and the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34 . The compressor structure 56 is typically used to disrupt the primary airflow structure by displacing the air between the agitator assembly 36 and the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34, thereby mitigating the effects of the primary airflow structure. For example, the primary airflow structure within the agitator cavity 34 includes, in addition to the transverse airflow component, a circumferential airflow component indicated at 60 , both of which are caused by the rotation of the agitator assembly 36 . exist Image 6 In the orientation of cleaning head 8 shown, agitator assembly 36 is configured to rotate counterclockwise, establishing a primary airflow structure in agitator cavity 34 having a circumferential airflow component 60 that also circulates counterclockwise. During rotation of the agitator assembly 36, the compressor elements 58 compress the air between their radial ends and the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34, effectively pushing the air toward the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34, where the agitator A secondary airflow structure superimposed on the primary airflow structure is induced within the cavity 34 . In this embodiment, the secondary air flow structure, generally designated 62, rotates in the opposite direction to the circumferential flow component 60 to disrupt the primary air flow structure and reduce its asymmetry, thereby providing a higher velocity of airflow, otherwise the area will be affected by lower velocity airflow. In this way, the accumulation of dust particles and other light debris within the agitator cavity 34 can be avoided, thereby improving the evacuation of the cleaning head 8 . In addition to the primary effect of reducing the asymmetry of the primary airflow structure, the secondary effect of the compressor elements 58 is that as they rotate over the floor surface, they also compress the air above the floor surface to create a fan on the floor surface The fanning effect promotes dust particles and other light debris from the floor surface into the agitator cavity 34, thereby increasing the pickup efficiency of the cleaning head 8.

[0043] Figure 7 A cleaning head 8 is shown comprising another embodiment of an agitator assembly 36 according to the present invention. This embodiment of the agitator assembly 36 is the same as the previous embodiment, except that the compressor element 58 has the same Image 6 The rectangular profile shown differs from the generally triangular cross-sectional profile. In this embodiment, the radial distance defined between the apex 61 of the compressor element 58 and the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34 is less than that defined between the outer surface 48 of the cylindrical body 42 and the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34 radial distance. The compressor element 58 includes a first flat surface 63 extending tangentially away from the outer surface 48 of the cylindrical body 42 and a second flat surface 65 arranged substantially perpendicular to the first flat surface 63 , and extends between the first flat surface 63 and the outer surface 48 of the cylindrical body 42 . In this embodiment, the first flat surface 63 is arranged to extend from the outer surface 48 of the cylindrical body 42 in a direction generally opposite to the direction in which the cylindrical body 42 is configured to rotate. This arrangement has the effect of gradually decreasing the radial distance between the compressor element 58 and the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34 as the agitator assembly 36 rotates, up to the apex 61 of the compressor element 58 . This directs the airflow between the first flat surface 63 and the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34 to impose the secondary airflow structure 62 on the primary airflow structure when combined with the Image 6 The secondary airflow structure 62 has a relatively higher instantaneous velocity when compared to the instantaneous velocity of the secondary airflow structure 62 caused by the sudden or "stepped" reduction in radial distance provided by the rectangular compressor unit 58 .

[0044] In the embodiment shown in the previous two figures, two diametrically opposed compressor elements 58 are included, the compressor elements 58 being positioned angularly midway between the agitator rows 46 . It is advantageous to space the compressor elements 58 in the middle between the agitator rows 46 , or in embodiments including a single compressor element 58 , as this results in a The main air flow structure is disturbed in the middle, where the displacement of the air contributing to the main air flow structure is minimal.

[0045] As defined in the appended claims, the concepts of the present invention are intended to cover any compressor structure 56 separate from the retention structure 47 and the agitator row 46, including at least one compressor element 58, when combined with the cylindrical body 42 defined in the cylindrical body 42. When compared to the radial distance between the outer surface 48 of the agitator cavity 34 and the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34, the compressor element 58 reduces the radial distance to the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34 to reduce A secondary airflow structure is induced in 34. There are many embodiments of compressor structures 56 with different structures, orientations, number of compressor units 58, and the like. All of these meet the primary consideration of reducing the radial distance to the inner surface 50 of the agitation chamber 34 in order to promote the secondary air flow structure, thereby disturbing the primary air flow structure. It should be noted, however, that unlike the agitator row 46, none of the compressor elements 58 include multiple soft filaments, stiff bristles, or continuous strips of material.

[0046]The agitator row 46 may include a plurality of soft filaments, stiff bristles, or continuous strips of material, and may be made of carbon fiber or nylon, to name two common materials, the soft filaments having the ability to oppose each other when in contact with the floor surface. at the curved end of the cylindrical body 42 .

[0047] One such example is in Figure 8 , which shows the agitator assembly 36 including the cylindrical body 42 and the compressor structure 56 having two compressor elements 58 located in the cylindrical body 42 The same diameter side of the outer surface 48 and upright from this outer surface 48 . One of the compressor elements 58 is located on the left side of the cylindrical body 42 and the other is located on the right side. The compressor elements 58 are elongated such that they extend axially generally in a direction from the respective edge of the cylindrical body 42 towards the axial center of the cylindrical body 42 . This elongated structure increases the area of ​​the compressor element 58 for pushing air toward the inner surface 50 of the agitator cavity 34, creating a larger secondary air flow structure and further reducing the asymmetry of the primary air flow structure sex. The compressor element 58 may extend axially substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the agitator assembly 36 . Alternatively, as Figure 8 As shown, either or both of the compressor units 58 may be angled such that the axially inner ends 64 of the compressor units 58 are configured to rotate more toward the direction of rotation relative to the cylindrical body 42 than their axially outer ends 66 Angled front. This helps direct airflow from the axially inner ends 64 of the compressor units 58 to their axially outer ends 66 and ends of the agitator chambers 34 . Conversely, one or both of the compressor elements 58 may be arranged such that their axially outer ends 66 are configured to be inclined more forward in the direction of rotation relative to the cylindrical body 42 than their axially inner ends 64, as in Figure 9 shown. The sloping arrangement of compressor elements 58 is advantageous if the sloping arrangement of compressor elements 58 is substantially opposite to the sloping arrangement of agitator banks 46 because it increases disturbance to the main airflow structure.

[0048] refer to Figure 10 , in yet another embodiment, the compressor structure 56 includes a plurality of compressor elements 58 interposed between the agitator rows 46 and co-arranged such that they follow the cylindrical body 42 in a helical direction It extends axially from the edge of the cylindrical body 42 towards the axial center of the cylindrical body 42 . The compressor elements 58 are collectively arranged to extend in the opposite direction to the direction in which the agitator row 46 extends, although it is envisaged that both the agitator row 46 and the compressor elements 46, 58 extend around the cylindrical body 42 in the same helical direction example. In the embodiment shown, the compressor element 58 is located on only one side of the cylindrical body 42 and when installed within the agitator cavity 34 is subject to the low velocity airflow. This concentrates the disturbance to the main airflow structure caused by the compressor element 58 on the side of the agitator cavity 34 where it is most needed. However, positioning the compressor structure 56 on only one side of the cylindrical body 42 does not depend on the helical arrangement of the compressor elements 58, and the reader will understand that other compressor structures may also be located on only one side of the cylindrical body 42. side. Furthermore, embodiments are contemplated in which the screw compressor structure 56 extends substantially the entire width of the cylindrical body 42 . Due to their helical arrangement, the compressor elements 58 encircle a larger circumferential portion of the outer surface 48 of the cylindrical body 42 when compared to the previous embodiment, increasing the compressor elements 58 per revolution of the cylindrical body 42 Time to disturb the main airflow structure.

[0049] Figure 8-10 The illustrated compressor structure 56 includes a compressor element 58 having a generally rectangular cross-section, similar to Image 6 Compressor element 58 shown. The reader will understand, however, that these compressor structures 56, as well as any subsequently described compressor structures 56, may include Figure 7 Compressor element 58 of alternate cross-sectional shape is shown.

[0050] In all embodiments, at least one of the compressor elements 58 may be arranged to extend substantially axially from the respective side edges of the cylindrical body 42 towards the axial center. This arrangement promotes a secondary air flow structure at the side edges of the cylindrical body 42, near the end of the agitator cavity 34, and is particularly advantageous for the ends of the agitator cavity 34 that experience low velocity air flow in order to displace in this region airflow to prevent the accumulation of dust particles.

[0051] In all embodiments comprising two compressor units 58 on the same diametrical side of the cylindrical body 42, the compressor units 58 may be arranged to extend substantially axially in a direction from respective edges of the cylindrical body 42 to The axial centers of the shaped bodies 42 meet. Alternatively, in all embodiments including two compressor elements 58 on diametrically opposite sides of the cylindrical body 42, the compressor elements 58 may be arranged from one edge of the cylindrical body 42 or a region near one edge to The other edge or a region near the other edge extends substantially axially on the cylindrical body 42 .

[0052] The agitator assembly according to the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof in order to illustrate the principles of operation. Accordingly, the above description is by way of illustration and directional reference (including: up, down, up, down, left, right, left, right, top, bottom, side, above, below, front, center, back, vertical, horizontal, height, depth width, etc.), and any other terms with an implied orientation refer only to the orientation of the features shown in the figures. Unless specifically set forth in the appended claims, they should not be construed as requirements or limitations, particularly with respect to the position, orientation or use of the invention. Connection references (eg, attached, coupled, connected, retained, engaged, secured, etc.) are to be construed broadly and can include intermediate members between connections of elements and relative movement between elements. Likewise, connecting references do not necessarily imply that two elements are directly connected and in a fixed relationship to each other, unless specifically recited in the appended claims.