Floor brush and dust collector

Abstract

The invention provides a floor brush and a dust collector, and belongs to the field of cleaning equipment. The floor brush comprises a shell and a dust separation assembly. The shell comprises a containing cavity and a suction port, and the suction port is communicated with a dust collection pipeline of the dust collector through an airflow channel. The dust separation assembly is arranged near the suction port and located on a path through which the particulate matter enters the airflow channel, and the dust separation assembly comprises a rotatable impeller and a collection cabin matched with the impeller; the impeller is configured to be driven by airflow flowing through the suction port to rotate when the dust collector works, so that at least part of coarse particles in the particles entering the suction port deviate from main airflow flowing along the airflow channel and enter the collecting cabin under the effect of a local steering flow field generated by rotation of the impeller. According to the floor brush and the dust collector provided by the invention, partial coarse particles can be shunted in advance at the front end of the floor brush, and the number of the coarse particles entering the dust collection pipeline and a subsequent cyclone separation structure is reduced, so that the impact wear of the coarse particles to the inner wall of the dust collection pipeline and a post-stage overflowing structure is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure belongs to the field of cleaning equipment technology, specifically relating to a floor brush and a vacuum cleaner. Background Technology

[0002] The floor brush, as the front part of the vacuum cleaner that contacts the surface to be cleaned and performs the function of picking up dirt, plays a crucial role in disturbing, gathering, and guiding dirt onto the floor into the suction airflow during the overall cleaning process. In common usage scenarios such as homes, offices, and pet-friendly environments, the dirt on the surface to be cleaned is usually not of a single type, but rather consists of various particles with significant differences in size, mass, and shape. For example, the floor may contain fine particles such as dust, pollen, and dander, which are small in size and light in mass, as well as coarse particles such as sand, food crumbs, hair clumps, and cat litter, which are larger in size or heavier in mass. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In existing vacuum cleaners, the floor brush typically only serves to suck up various types of dirt. The floor brush generally does not pre-separate or separate particles of different properties. Instead, it mixes coarse and fine particles and sends them together with the airflow into the main suction duct, where they are then transported to the cyclone separation structure or filtration system inside the main unit for unified processing.

[0004] However, the above-mentioned treatment methods have significant shortcomings in practical applications. Because coarse particles typically have a large mass and strong inertia, when carried by high-speed airflow into the suction pipes, bends, hoses, and cyclone separators, they easily cause continuous impact and friction on the inner walls of the relevant flow components. Over time, this can lead to surface wear, localized structural aging, and even affect the lifespan of the components. This impact and wear phenomenon is particularly pronounced when cleaning high-density particles such as gravel, cat litter, and hard debris.

[0005] On the other hand, after coarse and fine particles are mixed and enter the subsequent separation system, the large particles cause greater disturbance to the internal airflow field, which can easily disrupt the flow field stability during the cyclone separation process. This affects the separation effect of fine particles, thereby increasing the burden on the subsequent filtration structure and making it difficult for the whole machine to maintain a relatively stable dust removal performance.

[0006] Furthermore, the existing method of directing coarse particles directly into the main suction duct via floor brushes is prone to clogging. When coarse particles pass through areas of change in cross-section, bends, or flexible sections of the duct, they can easily accumulate, entangle, or become stuck with other particles and hair, especially when cleaning larger, irregularly shaped, or easily agglomerated particles, leading to localized blockages in the airflow channels. Once clogging occurs, it not only reduces suction power and cleaning effectiveness but also increases the frequency of disassembly and cleaning, impacting the user experience.

[0007] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a floor brush and a vacuum cleaner that can actively separate coarse and fine particles at the end of the floor brush, thereby reducing the risk of wear on the vacuum cleaner's suction pipes and cyclone separator.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution provided in this disclosure is as follows:

[0009] In a first aspect, this disclosure provides a floor brush, comprising a housing and a dust-separating assembly. The housing includes a receiving cavity and a suction port, the suction port being connected to the vacuum cleaner's suction pipe via an airflow channel. The dust-separating assembly is disposed near the suction port and located on the path of particulate matter entering the airflow channel. The dust-separating assembly includes a rotatable impeller and a collection chamber cooperating with the impeller. The impeller is configured to rotate when the vacuum cleaner is operating, driven by the airflow passing through the suction port, so that at least a portion of the coarse particles entering the suction port are deflected from the main airflow flowing along the airflow channel and enter the collection chamber under the action of the localized turning flow field generated by the impeller rotation. By distributing the dust-separating assembly near the suction port and using the airflow passing through the suction port to drive the impeller to rotate, at least a portion of the coarse particles entering the suction port are deflected from the main airflow and enter the collection chamber under the action of the localized turning flow field generated by the impeller rotation. This achieves pre-separation and collection of coarse particles at the front end of the floor brush, which helps reduce the entry of coarse particles into the vacuum pipe and cyclone separation structure, reducing the risk of subsequent flow channel wear and blockage.

[0010] In one or more embodiments, the floor brush further includes a roller brush rotatably disposed within the receiving cavity, the roller brush being used to move particles on the surface to be cleaned to the suction port. By providing a rotatable roller brush within the receiving cavity, particles on the surface to be cleaned can be actively moved to the suction port, thereby enhancing the floor brush's ability to pick up and collect particles at the front end, and improving the efficiency of particles entering the suction port.

[0011] In one or more embodiments, the receiving cavity has an open side facing the surface to be cleaned, the roller brush at least partially protrudes to the outside of the open side, and the suction port is located behind the roller brush. By making the receiving cavity open to the surface to be cleaned and by making the roller brush at least partially protrude to the outside of the open side, the roller brush can act more directly on the particles on the surface to be cleaned, and the particles conveyed by the roller brush can be smoothly drawn into the suction port at the rear, which helps to improve cleaning efficiency.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, the rotation axis of the impeller is parallel to the rotation axis of the roller brush. By making the rotation axis of the impeller parallel to the rotation axis of the roller brush, it is beneficial to optimize the spatial arrangement of the impeller and the roller brush inside the floor brush, making it easier to connect the conveying action of the roller brush with the diversion action of the impeller, and at the same time, it is beneficial to make the overall structure of the floor brush more compact.

[0013] In one or more embodiments, the impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades arranged circumferentially spaced along the hub. The blades are inclined relative to the direction of airflow through the suction port, so that the airflow through the suction port acts on the blades and drives the impeller to rotate. By inclining the blades relative to the direction of airflow through the suction port, the airflow can act on the blades more effectively and drive the impeller to rotate, which helps to improve the impeller's self-driving capability and the stability of dust separation operation.

[0014] In one or more embodiments, the collection chamber is located radially outside the impeller; or, the collection chamber is located in the direction of the ejection path of the particles under the influence of the localized turning flow field generated by the impeller rotation. By placing the collection chamber radially outside the impeller, or in the direction of the ejection path of the particles under the influence of the localized turning flow field generated by the impeller rotation, the position of the collection chamber is adapted to the movement direction of the coarse particles after deviating from the main airflow, thereby improving the collection effect of the coarse particles.

[0015] In one or more embodiments, a guide wall is provided above the collection chamber, which is used to guide coarse particles that deviate from the main airflow into the collection chamber. By providing a guide wall above the collection chamber, coarse particles that deviate from the main airflow can enter the collection chamber more smoothly under the guidance of the guide wall, thereby reducing the occurrence of particles bouncing, scattering, or returning to the main airflow.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, a stop is provided between the collection chamber and the airflow channel, the stop blocking the direct path between the collection chamber and the airflow channel. By providing a stop between the collection chamber and the airflow channel, it is possible to prevent particles that have entered the collection chamber from returning to the airflow channel, which helps to improve the collection chamber's ability to retain coarse particles.

[0017] In one or more embodiments, the stop and the housing together define an inlet facing the collection chamber, the inlet being located between the outer edge of the impeller and the collection chamber. By having the stop and the housing together define an inlet facing the collection chamber, and by positioning the inlet between the outer edge of the impeller and the collection chamber, an entry path is provided for coarse particles to enter the collection chamber from the impeller's operating area, thereby improving the efficiency of particle introduction into the collection chamber.

[0018] In one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the collection chamber is located below the rotation axis of the impeller, so that particles entering the collection chamber can settle and remain within the collection chamber under gravity. By positioning at least a portion of the collection chamber below the rotation axis of the impeller, it is beneficial to reduce the probability of particles escaping or returning.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the collection chamber is provided with an openable door, which is hinged to the housing; the door is provided with a locking structure to keep the door closed when not open. By providing an openable door to the collection chamber, it is convenient for users to open the door to clean the particulate matter inside the collection chamber when needed.

[0020] Secondly, this disclosure provides a vacuum cleaner including a main unit, a suction pipe, and the aforementioned floor brush. The main unit is used to provide negative pressure to the suction pipe and the floor brush. By incorporating the aforementioned floor brush into the vacuum cleaner and providing negative pressure to the suction pipe and the floor brush by the main unit, the impeller in the floor brush rotates and drives at least a portion of the particles into the collection chamber, thereby enabling the entire machine to have a front-end pre-diversion and collection capability, which is beneficial to improving the overall machine's treatment effect on mixed particles.

[0021] The floor brush and vacuum cleaner disclosed herein utilize a dust-splitting component near the suction inlet of the floor brush. The impeller within this component is driven to rotate by the airflow passing through the suction inlet. This deflects coarse particles entering the suction inlet before they enter the airflow channel, causing them to deviate from the main airflow and be collected in the collection chamber. This pre-splitting of some coarse particles at the front end of the floor brush reduces the amount of coarse particles entering the suction duct and subsequent cyclone separation structure. This helps reduce the impact and wear of coarse particles on the inner wall of the suction duct and subsequent flow structures, decreases the probability of blockages in bends and hoses, and lessens the interference of coarse particles on the stability of the subsequent flow field, improving subsequent separation conditions. Furthermore, the impeller rotates using the working airflow of the vacuum cleaner, eliminating the need for an independent drive source, which helps to ensure effective dust separation while maintaining structural simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a floor brush in one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a floor brush according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Explanation of key figure labels:

[0026] 1-Shell, 11-Containment cavity, 12-Suction port, 13-Airflow channel, 14-Open side, 2-Dust separation assembly, 21-Impeller, 211-Hub, 212-Blade, 22-Collection chamber, 23-Guide wall, 24-Baffle, 25-Inlet, 26-Door, 3-Roll brush. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in this disclosure, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this disclosure, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0028] Unless otherwise expressly stated, throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprising" or its variations such as "including" or "comprises" shall be understood to include the stated elements or components without excluding other elements or other components.

[0029] It should be noted that when an element is described as being "fixed to" another element, it can be directly attached to the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. In the embodiments shown in this disclosure, directional representations such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are relative and are used to explain the relative structure and movement of different components in this disclosure. These representations are appropriate when the components are in the positions shown in the figures. However, if the description of the component positions changes, then these representations are considered to change accordingly.

[0030] In the actual cleaning process of a vacuum cleaner, the floor brush not only performs the front-end pickup function of sucking up dirt from the floor, but also determines the state in which the dirt enters the subsequent flow channel and separation system. The inventors, in analyzing existing technologies, discovered that current floor brushes generally guide particles of different properties indiscriminately into the main suction path, which are then processed uniformly by the back-end system. While this approach is structurally straightforward, its underlying premise is that all types of dirt can participate in the subsequent transport and separation processes in a basically uniform manner.

[0031] However, the particulate matter in actual cleaning objects often varies significantly in terms of particle size, mass, morphology, and motion inertia, and different particles have different motion responses in the airflow. Completely mixing and uniformly conveying them not only easily causes large particles or particles that are not easy to change their motion direction with the airflow to place an additional burden on the subsequent flow channels and separation structures, but also makes the downstream system simultaneously undertake multiple tasks such as conveying, buffering, separating, and containing, thereby causing a series of problems such as wear, blockage, and decreased separation stability.

[0032] Based on the above understanding, this disclosure proposes a technical approach to shift the focus of waste treatment forward, namely, to differentiate and guide particulate matter of different properties at the front end of the cleaning process, so that some particulate matter that is more likely to burden the subsequent system is diverted in advance before entering the main conveying path, while the remaining particulate matter that is more suitable to continue to be conveyed with the airflow enters the subsequent system for further processing.

[0033] In other words, the core of this disclosure is not simply about enhancing suction power or optimizing the post-stage separation structure, but about reconstructing the waste processing flow within the entire machine, transforming the floor brush from a traditional pick-up inlet into a front-end node with both pick-up and pre-treatment capabilities. This approach mitigates the wear and tear, clogging risks, and separation burdens that the back-end system previously passively bore, before waste even enters the main flow path.

[0034] Furthermore, the implementation approach of this disclosure utilizes the differences in response of different particles during the flow process to establish a selective front-end diversion mechanism, enabling the system to determine different destinations based on the characteristics of the particles themselves. In this way, the entire machine no longer relies on the centralized load of a single back-end structure for treating mixed contaminants, but instead forms a processing mode combining front-end pre-diversion and back-end continued processing. This not only improves the adaptability of the entire cleaning system to complex contaminant scenarios, but also helps to balance cleaning efficiency, reliability, and ease of maintenance without significantly increasing system complexity.

[0035] It should be noted that in this disclosure, the front-back direction is defined based on the normal use of the floor brush and its direction of travel relative to the surface to be cleaned. Specifically, when the floor brush is mounted on the vacuum cleaner and close to the surface to be cleaned, the side of the floor brush facing its path is defined as the front, and the side opposite to the front is defined as the rear. In other words, if the floor brush moves along a certain direction on the surface to be cleaned, the side of the floor brush that first contacts the area to be cleaned is the front side, and the side that subsequently passes through the area is the rear side.

[0036] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the floor brush includes a housing 1 and a dust-splitting assembly 2. The housing 1 includes a receiving cavity 11 and a suction port 12, which is connected to the vacuum cleaner's suction pipe via an airflow channel 13. The dust-splitting assembly 2 is located near the suction port 12 and on the path of particulate matter entering the airflow channel 13. The dust-splitting assembly 2 includes a rotatable impeller 21 and a collection chamber 22 that cooperates with the impeller 21. The impeller 21 is configured to rotate when the vacuum cleaner is working, driven by the airflow flowing through the suction port 12, so that at least some of the coarse particles entering the suction port 12 are deviated from the main airflow flowing along the airflow channel 13 and enter the collection chamber 22 under the action of the local turning flow field generated by the rotation of the impeller 21.

[0037] The housing 1 serves as the main supporting structure of the floor brush, forming the external outline and internal installation space of the brush, and defining the movement path of particles and airflow within the brush. The housing 1 includes a receiving cavity 11 and a suction port 12. The receiving cavity 11 serves as a collection area and transition area for particles to be sucked in before entering the suction port 12, allowing particles on the surface to be cleaned to first enter the receiving cavity 11 when the brush is working close to the surface to be cleaned, and then move further toward the suction port 12. The particles in the receiving cavity 11 can be sucked into the suction port 12 under negative pressure.

[0038] The suction port 12 is connected to the vacuum cleaner's suction pipe via the airflow channel 13. The negative pressure generated when the vacuum cleaner is working can be transmitted to the suction port 12 and the receiving cavity 11 area through the suction pipe and the airflow channel 13, thereby establishing a suction airflow path inside the housing 1 that extends from the receiving cavity 11 toward the suction port 12 and then toward the airflow channel 13.

[0039] The dust separation component 2 is located near the suction port 12 and along the path of particulate matter entering the airflow channel 13. The area near the suction port 12 is a critical region where particulate matter transitions from the receiving cavity 11 to the airflow channel 13. In this region, the particulate matter is already under relatively clear suction guidance, its movement direction is relatively concentrated, and it has not yet formally entered the subsequent longer conveying channel. Therefore, by arranging the dust separation component 2 in this position, the particulate matter passes through the effective area of ​​the dust separation component 2 before entering the airflow channel 13, thus enabling the particulate matter to be separated at the front end.

[0040] In other words, the dust-separating component 2 is positioned before the particulate matter enters the airflow channel 13, allowing for the pre-separation of at least some of the coarse particles before they enter the vacuum cleaner's suction pipe in large quantities. This arrangement creates a seamless connection between the dust-separating component 2, the suction port 12, and the airflow channel 13. Particulate matter first enters the suction port 12 through the receiving cavity 11, then passes through the area where the dust-separating component 2 is located, and subsequently, the remaining particulate matter and airflow continue into the airflow channel 13. Therefore, the dust-separating component 2 remains within the overall structure of the brush's pickup area while effectively influencing the subsequent conveying process.

[0041] The impeller 21, as a dynamic actuator in the dust separation assembly 2, is rotatably configured to rotate under the influence of airflow. The impeller 21 is located in the path of particulate matter entering the airflow channel 13; that is, the airflow passing through the suction port 12 and the particulate matter moving with the airflow pass near the impeller 21. The impeller 21 is configured to rotate under the influence of the airflow passing through the suction port 12 when the vacuum cleaner is operating. The impeller 21 itself does not require an additional independent power source; instead, it directly utilizes the negative pressure airflow already present during vacuum cleaner operation to achieve its motion.

[0042] There is a dynamic coupling relationship between the impeller 21 and the suction port 12. That is, the airflow formed at the suction port 12 not only performs the function of sucking in particulate matter, but also provides driving force for the impeller 21. In this way, the original suction force of the vacuum cleaner can drive the particulate matter to be transported, and at the same time drive the impeller 21 to rotate, so that the impeller 21 can establish a local rotational environment near the suction port 12.

[0043] The collection chamber 22 can be located on one side of the impeller 21, which places the collection chamber 22 in the arrival area where particles may deviate from the main airflow. During the rotation of the impeller 21, it generates a local turning flow field for the particles passing near it. Among the particles entering the suction port 12, at least some of the coarse particles, due to their relatively large mass and relatively strong inertia, are more likely to deviate from the main airflow flowing along the airflow channel 13 and move away from the center path of the main airflow under the action of the local turning flow field generated by the rotation of the impeller 21.

[0044] The collection chamber 22 is positioned to provide a containment space in this offset direction, allowing coarse particles that deviate from the main airflow to enter and be collected. Thus, the impeller 21 is responsible for steering the particles, causing at least some of the coarse particles to detach from the original main airflow path; the collection chamber 22 is responsible for receiving the coarse particles that have deviated from the main airflow, preventing them from returning to the airflow channel 13 for further transport. In this arrangement, the impeller 21 and the collection chamber 22 together constitute the front-end diversion and collection unit.

[0045] When the vacuum cleaner is working, negative pressure is transmitted through the suction pipe and airflow channel 13 to the suction port 12 and the receiving chamber 11, causing particles on the surface to be cleaned to move towards the suction port 12. When the particles pass near the suction port 12, they enter the working area of ​​the dust separation component 2, and the airflow flowing through the suction port 12 drives the impeller 21 to rotate. After the impeller 21 rotates, an environment that diverts particles is formed around the impeller 21. At least some of the coarse particles entering the suction port 12, under the action of the local turning flow field generated by the rotation of the impeller 21, no longer follow the same trajectory as the main airflow, but deviate from the main path that originally extended along the airflow channel 13, and move towards the collection chamber 22, eventually entering the collection chamber 22. At the same time, other particles and airflow that are not thrown away from the main airflow continue to flow along the airflow channel 13 and enter the vacuum cleaner's suction pipe.

[0046] Specifically, after the impeller 21 rotates under the action of the airflow passing through the suction port 12, it can create a local turning flow field near the suction port 12, which deflects the airflow direction and / or has a rotational component, thereby causing the streamlines of the airflow passing through this area to bend. As the particles entering the suction port 12 move with the airflow, they need to change their direction of movement according to the changes in the local turning flow field.

[0047] For particles with smaller mass and lower inertia, they are more likely to follow the airflow streamline and continue moving along the main airflow direction, entering the subsequent airflow channel 13. For coarser particles with larger mass and higher inertia, it is more difficult for them to change their direction of motion in time with the airflow streamline, thus causing them to deviate relative to the main airflow. The deviated coarse particles can move towards the collection chamber 22, enter and remain inside the collection chamber 22. Thus, the impeller 21 creates conditions for coarse particles to deviate from the main airflow and enter the collection chamber 22 by changing the flow field near the suction port.

[0048] The aforementioned floor brush, by incorporating a dust-separating component 2 before particles enter the airflow channel 13, not only possesses the basic function of sucking particles into the vacuum cleaner but also the ability to pre-treat different types of particles. Since at least some coarse particles can enter the collection chamber 22 near the suction port 12, the number of coarse particles entering the airflow channel 13 and the suction pipe is reduced, thereby minimizing the impact of coarse particles on the inner wall of the subsequent suction pipe and related flow structures. Furthermore, the pre-separation of coarse particles also helps reduce the possibility of accumulation and blockage of coarse particles in the subsequent transport path.

[0049] In one exemplary embodiment, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the floor brush also includes a roller brush 3 rotatably disposed within the receiving cavity 11. The roller brush 3 is used to move particles on the surface to be cleaned to the suction port 12. The receiving cavity 11 provides installation and movement space for the roller brush 3, enabling the roller brush 3 to be stably arranged inside the floor brush and to maintain its relative positional relationship with the housing 1 when rotating around its own axis.

[0050] The roller brush 3 is disposed within the receiving cavity 11, positioning it at the front end where particles enter the brush from the surface to be cleaned. This allows the roller brush to agitate, roll, and transport the particles before they enter the suction port 12. The suction port 12 is connected to the receiving cavity 11, creating a seamless connection between the roller brush 3 and the suction port 12. Specifically, the roller brush 3 guides the particles from the front or middle area of ​​the receiving cavity 11 to the vicinity of the suction port 12, where the suction port 12, under negative pressure, further draws the particles into the subsequent flow path within the brush.

[0051] The roller brush 3 is configured to move particles on the surface to be cleaned to the suction port 12. Although the negative pressure generated by the suction port 12 can suck up some light particles, it is often difficult to achieve efficient collection of particles that are attached to the surface to be cleaned, are scattered, or have a certain rolling resistance. Especially when facing particles with large differences in shape and mass, such as hair clumps, food crumbs, and gravel, the particles are easy to stay on the surface to be cleaned or move randomly in the receiving cavity 11.

[0052] After the roller brush 3 is set, its outer periphery can actively contact or be adjacent to the surface to be cleaned during rotation, causing the particles on the surface to be cleaned to detach from their original attached state under the mechanical agitation and move towards the suction port 12 along the rotation direction of the roller brush 3. In other words, the roller brush 3 can take the particles away from the surface to be cleaned and send the particles to the suction port 12, so that the particles enter the suction port 12 more concentratedly.

[0053] Specifically, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the receiving cavity 11 has an open side 14 facing the surface to be cleaned, and the roller brush 3 at least partially protrudes to the outside of the open side 14. The suction port 12 is located behind the roller brush 3. The open side 14 of the receiving cavity 11 forms an opening structure on the corresponding side of the housing 1 that is directly connected to the external environment. When the floor brush is working, particles on the surface to be cleaned can enter the area where the receiving cavity 11 is located through the open side 14, and the airflow range inside the receiving cavity 11 can extend to the vicinity of the surface to be cleaned.

[0054] The arrangement of the open side 14 makes the receiving cavity 11 the front working area for the exchange of dirt and airflow between the floor brush and the surface to be cleaned. By arranging the open side 14 toward the surface to be cleaned, the floor brush can continuously create suction and entrainment conditions for particles attached to the ground as it moves along the surface to be cleaned, thereby providing a basis for the roller brush 3 to pick up particles and the suction port 12 to suck up particles.

[0055] At least a portion of the circumferential area of ​​the roller brush 3 can extend from the open side 14 and be closer to the surface to be cleaned. This arrangement allows the roller brush 3 to contact the particles on the surface more directly when rotating, or to apply a stirring or entraining action on the particles at a closer distance. If the roller brush 3 is completely housed inside the receiving cavity 11, the roller brush 3 may be separated from the surface to be cleaned by the boundary of the housing 1, limiting its ability to disturb ground particles and hindering the efficiency of particle migration from the surface to the inside of the brush.

[0056] After the roller brush 3 extends at least partially to the outside of the open side 14, the outer peripheral working area of ​​the roller brush 3 can participate more fully in the front-end cleaning process, causing particles to be removed from their original position on the surface to be cleaned by the rotation of the roller brush 3 and guided into the receiving cavity 11. Thus, a cooperative relationship is formed between the roller brush 3 and the open side 14. The open side 14 provides the roller brush 3 with an exposed condition, and the roller brush 3 uses this exposed condition to enhance its active picking-up capability of particles on the surface to be cleaned.

[0057] The suction port 12 is located behind the roller brush 3, forming a front-to-back arrangement between the roller brush 3 and the suction port 12 on the particle conveying path. That is, when the floor brush is cleaning normally forward, the roller brush 3 is located closer to the front, and the suction port 12 is located closer to the rear. In this way, the particles on the surface to be cleaned can first be disturbed and moved by the roller brush 3 before entering the suction port 12 located at the rear. When the floor brush moves along the surface to be cleaned, the roller brush 3 first disturbs and moves the particles on the surface to be cleaned, causing the particles to migrate from the front area or the area of ​​action corresponding to the roller brush 3 to the rear area. The suction port 12, located behind the roller brush 3, can promptly receive the particles in their subsequent movement direction after they have been acted upon by the roller brush 3, and suck the particles into the airflow channel 13 under negative pressure.

[0058] In one exemplary embodiment, please refer to Figure 2 As shown, the impeller 21 includes a hub 211 and a plurality of blades 212 arranged circumferentially along the hub 211. The blades 212 are inclined relative to the direction of the airflow flowing through the suction port 12, so that the airflow flowing through the suction port 12 acts on the blades 212 and drives the impeller 21 to rotate.

[0059] The hub 211 serves as the central load-bearing component of the impeller 21, connecting multiple blades 212 into a single unit and forming a rotating structure with circumferential distribution around the hub 211. With the multiple blades 212 arranged circumferentially around the hub 211, an area for airflow is formed between adjacent blades 212. This ensures that the airflow passing through the suction port 12 does not simply sweep across a single plane when passing the impeller 21, but rather continuously acts on the blades 212 at different circumferential positions. Thus, a structural cooperation relationship is formed between the hub 211 and the blades 212: the hub 211 provides support and a connecting foundation, while the blades 212 interact with the airflow; together, they constitute the impeller 21, a whole capable of being driven to rotate by the airflow.

[0060] The blades 212 are tilted relative to the direction of the airflow passing through the suction port 12, allowing the impeller 21 to more fully utilize the airflow to achieve self-driving rotation. If the extension direction of the blades 212 is basically consistent with the direction of the airflow passing through the suction port 12, the impact and tangential force of the airflow on the surface of the blades 212 are relatively limited, and it is difficult for the impeller 21 to obtain a stable rotational torque. However, by tilting the blades 212 relative to the direction of the airflow passing through the suction port 12, the airflow will exert a directional force on the blades 212 when it flows through them. This force includes not only the component along the airflow direction, but also the tangential component that can cause the impeller 21 to rotate around its own axis. This allows the impeller 21 to maintain rotation under the continuous action of the airflow passing through the suction port 12 when the vacuum cleaner is working.

[0061] The rotation axis of the impeller 21 is preferably parallel to the rotation axis of the roller brush 3. This arrangement allows the impeller 21 and the roller brush 3 to form an axial relationship extending in the same direction within the floor brush, thus facilitating their coordinated arrangement within the limited internal space of the housing 1. The roller brush 3 is typically disposed within the receiving cavity 11 and extends along the width direction of the floor brush. The impeller 21 is disposed near the suction port 12 and located on the path of particulate matter entering the airflow channel 13. When the rotation axis of the impeller 21 is parallel to the rotation axis of the roller brush 3, the impeller 21 can be arranged adjacent to the rear side of the roller brush 3 without significantly changing the overall thickness and internal height distribution of the floor brush. This makes it easier to connect the particulate matter conveying path of the roller brush 3 and the particulate matter diversion path of the impeller 21 in space.

[0062] Setting the rotation axis of the impeller 21 parallel to the rotation axis of the roller brush 3 also helps to maintain a good orientational match between the particle flow trend formed by the roller brush 3 and the rotational action area established around the impeller 21. The roller brush 3 first moves along its circumference to push the particles to the rear area, and then the impeller 21 performs rotational diversion of the particles in the same direction as the roller brush 3. This allows the particles to transition more naturally from the action stage of the roller brush 3 to the action stage of the impeller 21 during the forward-backward transfer process, avoiding complex layout or unsmooth action connection caused by excessive difference in the axial direction of the two.

[0063] In one exemplary embodiment, please refer to Figure 2 As shown, the collection chamber 22 is located radially outside the impeller 21; or, the collection chamber 22 is located in the direction of the ejection path of the particles under the action of the local turning flow field generated by the rotation of the impeller 21.

[0064] When the impeller 21 rotates near the inlet 12, the particles entering the area of ​​action of the impeller 21 will be simultaneously affected by the traction of the main airflow and the local turning flow field caused by the rotation of the impeller 21. Among them, coarse particles, due to their large mass and strong inertia, are not easy to follow the streamline of the main airflow and will deviate from the main airflow path, and will be radially offset away from the center of the impeller 21. Based on this motion characteristic, the collection chamber 22 is set on the radially outer side of the impeller 21, so that the collection chamber 22 directly corresponds to the main motion direction of the coarse particles offset from the center of the impeller 21, thereby providing a space for the coarse particles to enter and be contained after they leave the main airflow.

[0065] The collection chamber 22 can also be located along the direction of the ejection path of the particles under the influence of the local turning flow field generated by the rotation of the impeller 21. This arrangement is not limited to the collection chamber 22 being strictly located in a fixed radial position of the impeller 21, but rather it is designed to match the actual motion trend of the coarse particles after they leave the main airflow. Since the motion state of the coarse particles near the impeller 21 is related not only to the rotation state of the impeller 21, but also to the airflow direction near the suction port 12, the initial direction of the particles when they enter the area of ​​action of the impeller 21, and the internal spatial shape of the brush, the trajectory of the coarse particles after deviating from the main airflow under the influence of the local turning flow field may extend along a certain oblique or lateral direction.

[0066] Positioning the collection chamber 22 along the direction of the ejection path allows it to better align with the actual trajectory of coarse particles after ejection. This ensures that the particles, once ejected by the impeller 21, do not require significant directional changes and can easily enter the collection chamber 22. This arrangement helps reduce the probability of coarse particles bouncing, colliding, or being re-entrained into the main airflow within the floor brush.

[0067] Impeller 21 is responsible for applying a rotational force to the particles entering near the suction port 12, causing at least some of the coarse particles to deflect out of the main airflow; collection chamber 22 is located in the target area after this deflection and is used to receive the coarse particles that have separated from the main airflow. The two are spatially adjacent to each other, so that after the particles complete the change of motion at impeller 21, they can enter collection chamber 22, instead of forming a disorderly scattering around impeller 21.

[0068] Specifically, please refer to Figure 2 As shown, a guide wall 23 is provided above the collection chamber 22. The guide wall 23 is used to guide coarse particles that deviate from the main airflow into the collection chamber 22.

[0069] When the impeller 21 rotates near the suction port 12, the particles entering this area are drawn towards the airflow channel 13 by the main airflow. Some of the coarse particles deviate from the original path of the main airflow under the influence of the local turning flow field generated by the rotation of the impeller 21 and move towards the area where the collection chamber 22 is located. Since the coarse particles still have a certain speed after leaving the main airflow, if there is no appropriate guiding structure, the coarse particles may collide and bounce inside the brush, their movement trajectory may diverge, or they may even move back towards the main airflow area, which is not conducive to their stable entry into the collection chamber 22.

[0070] Based on this, a guide wall 23 is provided above the collection chamber 22, which can constrain and guide the movement direction of particulate matter in the upper part of the collection chamber 22, so that coarse particulate matter that deviates from the main airflow can move towards the inside of the collection chamber 22 along the path defined by the guide wall 23 when it approaches the collection chamber 22.

[0071] The guide wall 23 is located above the collection chamber 22, allowing it to cover the upper region of the collection chamber 22 and cooperate with the inlet region of the collection chamber 22. Thus, when coarse particles are ejected from the impeller 21 and move towards the collection chamber 22, the guide wall 23 can constrain the coarse particles at its upper boundary, reducing the possibility of them bouncing upwards or scattering randomly, while simultaneously redirecting their movement back into the collection chamber 22.

[0072] Meanwhile, the guide wall 23 is located above the collection chamber 22, which can also reduce the direct connection between the inside of the collection chamber 22 and the main airflow area to a certain extent, reducing the possibility that coarse particles that have entered the collection chamber 22 will be disturbed by the airflow and leave the collection chamber 22 again.

[0073] In one exemplary embodiment, please refer to Figure 2As shown, a baffle 24 is provided between the collection chamber 22 and the airflow channel 13, blocking the direct path between the collection chamber 22 and the airflow channel 13. The purpose of the collection chamber 22 is not only to receive coarse particles ejected by the impeller 21, but also to ensure that the coarse particles are as far removed from the influence of the main airflow as possible after entering the collection chamber 22, maintaining a relatively stable collection state. The baffle 24 can reduce the direct airflow exchange between the inside of the collection chamber 22 and the airflow channel 13, reducing the disturbance of the particles inside the collection chamber 22 by the main airflow.

[0074] When the impeller 21 is working, some of the coarse particles entering the suction port 12 are deviated from the main airflow and enter the collection chamber 22 under the action of the local turning flow field. After the coarse particles enter the collection chamber 22, if the collection chamber 22 and the airflow channel 13 still maintain a relatively direct and smooth passage path, the particles in the collection chamber 22 may still approach the airflow channel 13 again under the continuous suction of the main airflow, local backflow, or the rebound of the particles themselves, or even be re-entrained into the main airflow, which is not conducive to the stable retention of coarse particles in the collection chamber 22. Based on this, a stop 24 is provided between the collection chamber 22 and the airflow channel 13, so that the stop 24 is located on the main possible path of the particles returning from the collection chamber 22 to the airflow channel 13, thus blocking the path of the particles.

[0075] A baffle 24 is disposed between the collection chamber 22 and the airflow channel 13, with one side of the baffle 24 adjacent to the collection chamber 22 and the other side adjacent to the airflow channel 13, thereby creating a physical separation between the collection space of the collection chamber 22 and the high-speed flow area of ​​the airflow channel 13. After entering the collection chamber 22, even if coarse particles are displaced due to inertia, collision, or local airflow disturbance, they must bypass the baffle 24 or change their original direction of movement before they can re-enter the airflow channel 13. Especially for coarse particles with larger mass and easy rebound, the baffle 24 can reduce the possibility of them re-entering the airflow channel 13 in a straight line, making the particles more likely to settle and remain in the collection chamber 22.

[0076] Specifically, please refer to Figure 2 As shown, the stop portion 24 and the housing 1 together define an inlet 25 facing the collection chamber 22. The inlet 25 is located between the outer edge of the impeller 21 and the collection chamber 22, so that after the coarse particles leave the main airflow, they correspond to the position of the inlet 25. Thus, the coarse particles can enter the collection chamber 22 through the inlet 25 within a shorter movement path.

[0077] The stop 24 and the housing 1 together define the inlet 25. The housing 1 provides the overall boundary and mounting base, while the stop 24 further constrains the particulate matter passage area within the internal space defined by the housing 1. Through their combined operation, the opening position, opening direction, and opening range of the inlet 25 can be set according to the requirements for coarse particulate matter entry, thereby facilitating the guidance of coarse particulate matter ejected from the outer edge of the impeller 21 into the collection chamber 22.

[0078] The radial outward movement of particles at the outer edge of impeller 21 matches the positional relationship of inlet 25, making it easier for particles to pass through inlet 25 and enter collection chamber 22 after being ejected from the outer edge of impeller 21. At the same time, the stop 24, located on one side of inlet 25, can also block the return path of particles, making it difficult for particles that have already entered collection chamber 22 to return to the vicinity of the outer edge of impeller 21 or the area of ​​airflow channel 13 along the original path.

[0079] In one exemplary embodiment, please refer to Figure 2 As shown, at least a portion of the collection chamber 22 is located below the rotation axis of the impeller 21, so that particles entering the collection chamber 22 can settle and remain in the collection chamber 22 under the action of gravity.

[0080] The stability of coarse particulate matter after entering the collection chamber 22 depends not only on the diversion effect of the impeller 21 on the particulate matter, but also on whether the collection chamber 22 can provide a retention environment for the particulate matter that is not easily disturbed again. After at least part of the collection chamber 22 is located below the rotation axis of the impeller 21, once the particulate matter enters the collection chamber 22, it is easier for it to accumulate at the bottom of the collection chamber 22. The direct impact of the main airflow on the particulate matter is relatively weakened, and the probability of the particulate matter leaving the collection chamber 22 again due to rebound or backflow is also reduced accordingly.

[0081] After passing the outer edge of the impeller 21, particulate matter usually retains a certain velocity. If the collection chamber 22 is set too high or is at approximately the same height as the rotation axis of the impeller 21, coarse particles may continue to move after entering the collection chamber 22 due to airflow disturbance, collision rebound, or inertial continuation, thus increasing the possibility of them reappearing near the impeller 21 or returning to the airflow channel 13. By arranging at least part of the collection chamber 22 below the rotation axis of the impeller 21, coarse particles can further settle downwards along the direction of gravity after entering the collection chamber 22, gradually changing the particle motion state from high-speed displacement during the impeller 21 operation to low-speed accumulation inside the collection chamber 22, which is more conducive to the stable retention of particles within the collection chamber 22.

[0082] The rotation axis of the impeller 21 can serve as a height reference for the impeller 21 inside the brush. At least a portion of the collection chamber 22 is located below this height reference, resulting in a sunken arrangement of the collection chamber 22 relative to the impeller 21. In this way, the impeller 21 mainly functions to apply a local turning flow field to the particulate matter and cause it to deviate from the main airflow. The collection chamber 22 then collects the particulate matter in the downstream and lower regions after it has deviated from the main airflow. By utilizing the relatively low position of the collection chamber 22, the particulate matter continues to settle under its own gravity after entering the collection chamber 22, thereby enhancing the collection capacity of the collection chamber 22.

[0083] In one exemplary embodiment, please refer to Figure 1 As shown, the collection chamber 22 is equipped with an openable door 26, which is hinged to the housing 1. The door 26 is equipped with a locking structure to keep it closed when not in the open state. The door 26 can rotate between the closed and open positions relative to the housing 1, so that the collection chamber 22 forms a relatively closed storage space in the normal working state, while in the cleaning state, it can be opened through the door 26 to form a dust discharge channel.

[0084] The hatch 26 is hinged to the housing 1. On the one hand, this makes it easy for the hatch 26 to always be connected to the housing 1, and avoids the hatch 26 from separating from the floor brush body after opening, which would result in the loss of parts. On the other hand, it also helps to limit the opening trajectory of the hatch 26, so that the hatch 26 can open and close smoothly around the predetermined rotation center.

[0085] The door 26 can be equipped with a locking structure to form a stable limiting and locking relationship with the housing 1. During the operation of the floor brush, the inside of the collection chamber 22 may be subjected to various effects such as particle impact, airflow disturbance, and vibration from the brush movement. If the door 26 is not stable when closed, there is a risk of accidental opening, causing particles already inside the collection chamber 22 to escape again, affecting the dust separation effect. The locking structure reliably restrains the door 26 when it is closed, ensuring that the door remains closed during normal use, thus guaranteeing the continuous retention of particles inside the collection chamber 22. When cleaning the collection chamber 22 is required, the locking structure can be released under external force, allowing the door 26 to open around the hinged position with the housing 1, so that the accumulated particles inside the collection chamber 22 can be discharged.

[0086] This disclosure also provides a vacuum cleaner including a main unit, a suction pipe, and the aforementioned floor brush, wherein the main unit is used to provide negative pressure to the suction pipe and the floor brush.

[0087] Specifically, the main unit, as the power source for the entire machine, generates negative pressure during operation. This negative pressure is transmitted through the suction pipe to the floor brush, creating an airflow at the brush's suction port. Furthermore, it establishes an airflow path within the brush, extending from the surface to be cleaned towards the suction port and then towards the suction pipe. The suction pipe, located between the main unit and the floor brush, serves two purposes: firstly, to connect the airflow between the two units; and secondly, to collect the airflow and particles sucked in by the brush, ensuring that any particles not collected by the front-end diversion continue to be transported towards the main unit.

[0088] As the front-end component of the machine that directly performs cleaning operations, the floor brush is responsible for picking up and guiding particulate matter, as well as diverting particulate matter at the front end. When the impeller in the floor brush is located near the suction port and in the path of the particulate matter after it enters the suction port, the negative pressure provided by the main unit not only drives the particulate matter towards the suction port, but also causes the airflow flowing through the suction port to act on the impeller, thereby driving the impeller to rotate. After the impeller rotates, some of the particulate matter entering the suction port is deviated from the main airflow under the action of the impeller and enters the collection chamber. Thus, the floor brush has the ability to pre-divert and locally collect particulate matter at the front end of the machine.

[0089] In summary, the floor brush and vacuum cleaner provided in this disclosure, by incorporating a dust-splitting component near the suction port of the floor brush and having the impeller in the dust-splitting component rotate driven by the airflow passing through the suction port, can apply a localized deflecting flow field to coarse particles entering the suction port before they enter the airflow channel. This causes the coarse particles to deviate from the main airflow and enter the collection chamber for collection. Therefore, some coarse particles can be pre-diverted at the front end of the floor brush, reducing the amount of coarse particles entering the suction pipe and subsequent cyclone separation structure. This helps reduce the impact and wear of coarse particles on the inner wall of the suction pipe and subsequent flow structures, reduces the probability of blockage in bends and hoses, and lessens the interference of coarse particles on the stability of the subsequent flow field, improving subsequent separation conditions. Simultaneously, the impeller rotates using the working airflow of the vacuum cleaner, eliminating the need for an additional independent drive source, which helps to ensure effective diversion while maintaining structural simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

[0090] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this disclosure is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that this disclosure can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within this disclosure. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0091] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A floor brush for a vacuum cleaner, characterized in that, include: The housing includes a receiving cavity and a suction port, the suction port being connected to the vacuum cleaner's suction pipe via an airflow channel; The dust separation component is located near the suction port and on the path of particulate matter entering the airflow channel. The dust separation component includes a rotatable impeller and a collection chamber that cooperates with the impeller. The impeller is configured to rotate when the vacuum cleaner is in operation, driven by the airflow flowing through the suction port, so that at least some of the coarse particles in the particles entering the suction port are deflected from the main airflow flowing along the airflow channel and enter the collection chamber under the action of the local turning flow field generated by the rotation of the impeller.

2. The floor brush according to claim 1, characterized in that, The floor brush also includes a roller brush rotatably disposed within the receiving cavity, the roller brush being used to move particles on the surface to be cleaned to the suction port.

3. The floor brush according to claim 2, characterized in that, The receiving cavity has an open side facing the surface to be cleaned, the roller brush extends at least partially to the outside of the open side, and the suction port is located behind the roller brush.

4. The floor brush according to claim 2, characterized in that, The axis of rotation of the impeller is parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller brush.

5. The floor brush according to claim 1, characterized in that, The impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades arranged circumferentially along the hub. The blades are inclined relative to the direction of the airflow flowing through the inlet, so that the airflow flowing through the inlet acts on the blades and drives the impeller to rotate.

6. The floor brush according to claim 1, characterized in that, The collection chamber is located radially outside the impeller; or, the collection chamber is located in the direction of the ejection path of the particles under the action of the local turning flow field generated by the rotation of the impeller.

7. The floor brush according to claim 6, characterized in that, A guide wall is provided above the collection chamber, which is used to guide coarse particles that deviate from the main airflow into the collection chamber.

8. The floor brush according to claim 1, characterized in that, A stop is provided between the collection chamber and the airflow channel, and the stop blocks the direct path between the collection chamber and the airflow channel.

9. The floor brush according to claim 8, characterized in that, The stop portion and the housing together define an inlet facing the collection chamber, the inlet being located between the outer edge of the impeller and the collection chamber.

10. The floor brush according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least a portion of the collection chamber is located below the rotation axis of the impeller, so that particles entering the collection chamber can settle and remain in the collection chamber under the action of gravity.

11. The floor brush according to claim 1, characterized in that, The collection chamber is equipped with an openable door that is hinged to the shell; the door is equipped with a locking structure to keep the door closed when not open.

12. A vacuum cleaner, characterized in that, It includes a main unit, a suction pipe, and a floor brush according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the main unit is used to provide negative pressure to the suction pipe and the floor brush.

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