Suction head with perforated support ring

Abstract

The suction head comprises a main body (4); a rotating brush (11) comprising a brush body (12); a drive motor (17) housed in a motor housing (21) delimited by the brush body (12) and configured to drive the brush body (12) in rotation about an axis of rotation; a bearing support (31) fixed relative to the main body (4); a bearing (28) mounted on the bearing support (31); and a support ring (26) interposed between the bearing (28) and an internal circumferential surface of the brush body (12) and having at least one through hole (44) through which an airflow is able to pass.

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vacuum cleaners equipped with a suction head allowing the vacuuming of dust and waste present on a surface to be cleaned. State of the art

[0002] Vacuum cleaners equipped with a suction head are well-known on the market; they allow for cleaning surfaces by suction to remove dust and debris. The surface to be vacuumed can include, for example, tile, hardwood flooring, laminate flooring, carpet, or rugs.

[0003] A suction head, as is known, comprises a main body with a soleplate having a lower face and a suction nozzle opening into the lower face of the soleplate. The lower face of the soleplate is intended to be positioned adjacent to the surface to be vacuumed during the use of the suction head.

[0004] To improve the cleaning performance of a vacuum head, it is known to equip it with: of a rotating brush comprising a brush body which is movable in rotation about an axis of rotation and which is mounted, for example in a removable manner, in a suction chamber delimited by the main body of the suction head, the brush body having a first end portion delimiting a motor housing, and a second end portion located opposite the first end portion, of a first support ring fixed to the first end portion of the brush body and configured to support said first end portion, and of a second support ring fixed to the second end portion of the brush body and configured to support said second end portion, of a first bearing, such as a roller bearing, configured to guide the first support ring in rotation, and of a second bearing, such as a roller bearing, configured to guide the second support ring in rotation, and of a drive device configured to drive the brush body in rotation around the axis of rotation, the drive device comprising a drive motor disposed in the motor housing delimited by the first end portion of the brush body.

[0005] During operation of such a suction head, where the rotating brush is set in motion, the first bearing tends to overheat due to the rotational speed of the first support ring and its proximity to the drive motor. This can impair the operation of the first bearing and thus the reliability of the suction head. A suction head according to the preamble of claim 1 is known, for example, from EP-A-3900595. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks.

[0007] The technical problem underlying the invention consists in particular of providing a suction head, equipped with a rotating brush and a brush drive motor, which is of simple and economical structure, while ensuring satisfactory cooling of a brush bearing located near the brush drive motor.

[0008] To this end, the present invention relates to a suction head comprising: a main body comprising a suction chamber opening into a lower face of the main body which is configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned, a rotating brush comprising a brush body which has a generally tubular shape and which has a central longitudinal axis, the brush body being mounted movably in rotation within the suction chamber around an axis of rotation which is substantially coaxial with the central longitudinal axis of the brush body, a drive device configured to drive the brush body in rotation around the axis of rotation, the drive device comprising a drive motor housed at least in part, and for example entirely, in a motor housing delimited at least in part by the brush body, a support ring disposed inside the brush body, the support ring being configured to support the brush body and having a first axial face oriented towards the drive motor and a second axial face opposite to the first axial face, a bearing support which is fixed relative to the main body, a bearing, such as a roller bearing and for example a ball bearing, mounted on the bearing support and supported by the bearing support, the support ring being interposed between the bearing and an internal circumferential surface of the brush body.

[0009] The support ring has at least one through hole which opens respectively into the first and second axial faces of the support ring, the suction head being configured such that, when the suction head is in operating configuration and in particular when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber and / or when the drive motor is running, an airflow is able to flow through at least one through hole and for example from the first axial face of the support ring to the second axial face of the support ring.

[0010] Such a configuration of the support ring, and in particular the presence of at least one through hole, ensures that when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber, an airflow passes through at least one through hole, thus providing cooling, by thermal conduction, of the support ring and the bearing located near the drive motor. This cooling limits the heating of the bearing and thus preserves its integrity, thereby increasing the reliability of the suction head according to the present invention, and also allowing the use of a smaller bearing, thereby reducing the radial dimensions of the rotating brush.

[0011] The suction head may also have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one through hole is fluidically connected to the suction chamber.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support ring is fixed to an end portion of the brush body which is located on the side of the drive motor.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the brush body comprises a first end portion delimiting at least in part the motor housing, and a second end portion which is located opposite the first end portion, the support ring being fixed to the first end portion of the brush body and being configured to support said first end portion.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support ring is disposed in the first end portion of the brush body.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one through hole opens into the motor housing.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the bearing is a rolling bearing and comprises an inner ring fixed to the bearing support and extending around the support, and an outer ring fixed to the support ring, the support ring extending around the outer ring of the bearing. Thus, the presence of at least one through hole ensures, in particular, cooling of the outer ring of the bearing.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction head comprises an additional support ring attached, for example by bonding or welding, to the second end portion of the brush body and configured to support this second end portion. Such a configuration of the suction head ensures optimized rotational guidance of the rotating brush, which significantly reduces the generation of vibrations within the suction head and the risk of the rotating brush seizing.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the drive motor is arranged axially between the support ring and the additional support ring.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the drive motor is closer to the support ring than to the additional support ring. Advantageously, the drive motor is arranged axially between the support ring and a vertical median plane of the suction head. Hence the need to cool the support ring, which heats up more quickly than the additional support ring due to its proximity to the drive motor.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction head includes an additional bearing, such as a roller bearing and for example a ball bearing, configured to guide the rotation of the additional support ring.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the bearing support, the bearing and the support ring are arranged substantially coaxially with the central longitudinal axis of the brush body.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction head comprises an air-circulating cooling circuit delimited at least partially by the support ring and fluidically connected to the suction chamber. The suction head is configured such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber, air is drawn into the air-circulating cooling circuit from outside the rotating brush and circulated within the cooling circuit. Such an air-circulating cooling circuit provides further cooling of the bearing, and in particular of the outer bearing ring, because the air circulating in the cooling circuit flows close to the support ring.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the air circulation cooling circuit is delimited at least in part also by the brush body.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the air-circulating cooling circuit comprises at least one air inlet opening through which air is drawn into the air-circulating cooling circuit and at least one air outlet opening through which the air flowing in the air-circulating cooling circuit is discharged from the air-circulating cooling circuit, the at least one air outlet opening being formed by the at least one through hole provided on the support ring. Thus, the intake head is configured such that the air drawn into the air-circulating cooling circuit is discharged from the air-circulating cooling circuit via the at least one through hole provided on the support ring.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one air intake opening is provided on a side wall of the main body, and for example on a side wall of the main body located on the side of the bearing support and advantageously to which the bearing support is fixed.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one air inlet opening is oriented substantially axially, that is, substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the brush body. Such an orientation of at least one air inlet opening limits the risk of dust being drawn into the air-circulating cooling circuit, thereby significantly reducing the risk of fouling or even clogging of the air-circulating cooling circuit and thus ensuring optimal cooling of the bearing and also of the drive motor when the air-circulating cooling circuit is partially delimited by the drive motor.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the drive motor comprises a motor housing. The drive motor further comprises a rotor and a stator which are housed within the motor housing.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the air circulation cooling circuit is delimited at least in part by the drive motor such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber, the air circulating in the air circulation cooling circuit flows into or near the drive motor.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the air circulation cooling circuit is delimited at least in part by the support ring, the brush body and the drive motor.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, the air-cooling circuit comprises at least one air inlet opening provided on a peripheral wall of a motor housing of the drive motor, through which air, circulated in the air-cooling circuit when a vacuum is generated in the intake chamber, is able to enter the drive motor, and at least one air outlet opening provided on an end wall of the motor housing, through which air, having entered the drive motor via the at least one air inlet opening, is able to flow out of the drive motor. Such a configuration of the air-cooling circuit ensures cooling of the drive motor by thermal conduction, thereby preserving the integrity of the drive motor and further limiting bearing heating.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one air inlet opening of the engine casing is oriented substantially radially and at least one air outlet opening of the engine casing is oriented substantially axially.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction head comprises a motor compartment which is fixed to the bearing support and which is disposed at least in part in the motor housing, the drive motor being disposed at least in part, and for example entirely, in the motor compartment.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the invention, the air circulation cooling circuit comprises a first circuit portion which is delimited in part by the drive motor and a second circuit portion which is delimited in part by the motor compartment and the brush body and which is located downstream of the first circuit portion.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, the air circulation cooling circuit is configured such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber, the air, circulated in the air circulation cooling circuit, flows in the first portion of the circuit away from the support ring, and flows in the second portion of the circuit towards the support ring.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, the air-cooling circuit is configured such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber, the air circulated in the first portion of the circuit flows at least partially inside the drive motor, and such that the air circulated in the second portion of the circuit flows at least partially between the motor compartment and the brush body. Under operating conditions, the drive motor reaches a temperature significantly higher than that of the motor compartment.Thus, the fact that the air circulating in the air-cooling circuit first flows inside the drive motor and then along an external surface of the engine compartment limits the heating of the airflow in the first part of the circuit before it enters the drive motor, thereby ensuring optimized heat exchange between the drive motor and the airflow (due to a significant temperature difference). Such optimized heat exchange ensures optimal cooling of the drive motor.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the invention, the air circulation cooling circuit is configured such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber, the air, circulated in the first portion of the circuit, flows into contact with the rotor and / or stator of the drive motor, and for example into contact with the stator winding and / or the rotor winding.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first portion of the circuit is configured such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber, the air, flowing inside the drive motor, flows in a direction of flow which is substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the brush body.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the air circulation cooling circuit is configured such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber, the air, circulated in the second portion of the circuit, flows substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the brush body.

[0040] According to one embodiment of the invention, the bearing support defines an airflow duct that forms part of the air-cooling circuit, and for example, part of the first portion of the circuit, the bearing extending around the airflow duct. Such a configuration of the bearing support ensures cooling, by thermal conduction, of the bearing support and the bearing, and in particular of the outer ring of the bearing. Advantageously, the airflow duct is fluidly connected to at least one air intake opening.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the invention, the air flow duct extends substantially coaxially with the bearing.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the invention, the engine compartment delimits an internal housing which is fluidly connected to at least one air intake opening belonging to the air circulation cooling circuit, and in particular to the air flow duct delimited by the bearing support.

[0043] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one air inlet opening, provided on the engine casing, opens into the internal housing delimited by the engine compartment.

[0044] According to one embodiment of the invention, the motor compartment and the brush body define a connecting chamber located axially opposite the support ring with respect to the drive motor, and configured to fluidly connect the first circuit segment to the second circuit segment. Advantageously, at least one air outlet opening is fluidly connected to the connecting chamber.

[0045] According to one embodiment of the invention, the engine compartment includes an engine hood extending around the drive motor and a hood support attached to the bearing support and configured to support the engine hood. In another embodiment of the invention, the engine hood has an open end, and the hood support at least partially closes the open end of the engine hood.

[0046] According to one embodiment of the invention, the motor hood comprises a tubular wall extending around the drive motor and substantially coaxial with the motor axis of the drive motor, and an end wall located opposite the hood support and provided with a central opening through which the output shaft of the drive motor protrudes.

[0047] According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction head includes a damping element interposed axially between the drive motor and the hood support.

[0048] According to one embodiment of the invention, the drive motor is located at a distance from the side walls of the main body, and in particular is axially offset from the side wall of the main body to which the bearing support is fixed. Such an arrangement of the drive motor ensures better mass balance within the main body, and in particular around the central longitudinal axis.

[0049] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support ring is rotationally fixed to the brush body, and the at least one through hole provided on the support ring is delimited at least partially by at least one flow guide wall inclined with respect to a central axis of the support ring and configured to generate a vacuum within the at least one through hole when the drive motor is running and rotating the rotating brush. Such a configuration of the support ring increases the airflow in the air circulation cooling circuit, and thus further promotes bearing cooling.

[0050] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one flow guide wall forms a flow guide fin, also called a blade.

[0051] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one flow guide wall has an axial dimension and a radial dimension which is less than the respective axial dimension.

[0052] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one through hole provided on the support ring is delimited at least in part by two flow guide walls which are inclined with respect to the central axis of the support ring and which are located opposite each other, the two flow guide walls delimiting at least in part the at least one through hole being configured to generate a depression within the at least one through hole when the drive motor is running.

[0053] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support ring is rotationally fixed to the brush body. The support ring forms a turbine equipped with flow-guiding vanes distributed around a central axis of the support ring. Each pair of adjacent flow-guiding vanes partially defines a respective through-hole. The support ring, forming the turbine, is configured to generate a vacuum within at least one through-hole when the drive motor is running and rotating the rotating brush. Thus, when the brush body is rotated, the support ring, forming the turbine and rotationally fixed to the brush body, is also rotated such that the turbine can draw air from the first axial face of the support ring to the second axial face of the support ring.In other words, the turbine-forming support ring, when driven into rotation by the rotation of the rotating brush, forces an airflow from the inside of the rotating brush to the outside of the rotating brush.

[0054] According to one embodiment of the invention, each flow guide fin has an axial dimension and a radial dimension that are smaller than the respective axial dimension. Such a configuration of the support ring optimizes the radial dimensions of the support ring, thereby either reducing the radial dimensions of the rotating brush or increasing the radial dimensions of the bearing and thus extending its service life.

[0055] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support ring comprises an internal wall that is generally cylindrical and extends around and in contact with the bearing, and for example around and in contact with the outer ring of the bearing. The internal wall of the support ring has at least one radial through-hole extending in a radial direction, opening into at least one through-hole provided on the support ring and located opposite the bearing, and for example opposite the outer ring of the bearing. Such a configuration of the support ring further enhances the cooling of the bearing, and in particular its outer ring, by the airflow passing through the at least one through-hole.

[0056] According to one embodiment of the invention, the inner wall of the support ring has a plurality of radial through openings distributed around the central axis of the support ring, each radial through opening opening into a respective through hole provided on the support ring and located opposite the bearing, and for example opposite the outer ring of the bearing.

[0057] According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction head includes a fastening device configured to fix the bearing to the support ring.

[0058] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fastening device comprises at least one fastening tab which is elastically deformable and which is provided on the support ring, at least one fastening tab being configured to cooperate with the bearing, and more particularly with the outer ring of the bearing, so as to fix the bearing to the support ring.

[0059] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one fixing tab extends substantially parallel to the central axis of the support ring.

[0060] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support ring comprises at least one stop element, such as a stop rib, provided with an axial stop surface against which the bearing comes to rest when the bearing is fixed to the support ring.

[0061] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support ring includes a bearing housing in which the bearing is received.

[0062] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one fixing lug includes a retaining portion configured to retain the bearing in the bearing housing.

[0063] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one fixing lug is configured to axially immobilize the bearing relative to the support ring.

[0064] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fastening device comprises a plurality of fastening lugs distributed around the central axis of the support ring.

[0065] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support ring comprises a plurality of through holes distributed around the central axis of the support ring, each through hole opening respectively into the first and second axial faces of the support ring and being configured to allow the passage of an airflow through said through hole.

[0066] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rotating brush further comprises coupling means disposed in the brush body and configured to couple in rotation with complementary coupling means which belong to the drive device and which are coupled in rotation to the output shaft of the drive motor.

[0067] According to one embodiment of the invention, the brush body is configured to be mounted removably in the suction chamber, for example in a mounting direction which extends substantially perpendicular to a direction of movement of the suction head.

[0068] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main body has a passage opening leading into the suction chamber and through which the brush body is able to be introduced into and removed from the suction chamber, the suction head comprising a closing plug which is configured to at least partially close the passage opening, the brush body being rotatably mounted relative to the closing plug.

[0069] According to the embodiment of the invention, the passage opening is provided on a side wall of the main body.

[0070] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second end portion of the brush body is supported by the closing cap and is mounted to rotate freely relative to the closing cap.

[0071] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rotating brush comprises bristles provided on the external surface of the brush body. Advantageously, the rotating brush comprises at least one row of bristles provided on the external surface of the brush body.

[0072] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main body comprises a soleplate having a lower face configured to be oriented towards the surface to be cleaned, and a suction inlet opening into the lower face. Advantageously, the suction chamber opens into the lower face of the soleplate via the suction inlet.

[0073] According to one embodiment of the invention, the suction mouth has an elongated shape and extends substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the suction head. Brief description of the figures

[0074] In any case, the invention will be well understood with the aid of the following description with reference to the attached schematic drawings representing, by way of non-limiting example, one embodiment of this suction head. There figure 1 is a top perspective view of a suction head according to the present invention. figure 2 is a top perspective view of the suction head of the figure 1 showing a rotating brush from the partially removed suction head. figure 3 is a top perspective view of the suction head of the figure 1 . There figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the suction head of the figure 1 . There figure 5is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the suction head of the figure 1 showing the rotating brush of the partially removed suction head. The figure 6 is a view, at an enlarged scale, of a detail of the figure 4 . There figure 7 is a perspective view of a subset, belonging to the suction head of the figure 1 comprising a drive unit, a hood support, a bearing, a bearing support, and a support ring. figure 8 is a perspective view of a support ring belonging to the suction head of the figure 1 . There figure 9 is a truncated perspective view of the support ring of the figure 8 . There Figure 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the suction head of the figure 1 in which the left and right portions of the suction head were cut according to two longitudinal cutting planes offset from each other. Detailed description

[0075] Unless otherwise stipulated, the term "substantially" means, in this document, "exactly or to within 10% or to within 10°".

[0076] THE figures 1 to 10 represent a suction head 2 comprising a connecting sleeve 3 to which is intended to be connected a nozzle of a rigid or flexible tube, itself connected to a suction system of a vacuum cleaner (not shown). Various variants of vacuum cleaners already exist on the market and can be used with the suction head 2 according to the invention; these variants being known to those skilled in the art, they are not detailed in this patent application.

[0077] The suction head 2 comprises a main body 4 configured to be moved over a surface to be cleaned. The connecting sleeve 3 is advantageously mounted in a pivot joint relative to the main body 4 so as to allow the connecting sleeve 3, relative to the main body 4, to pivot forward and backward when the suction head 2 is moved along a direction of travel D1.

[0078] The main body 4 comprises a soleplate 5 having a lower face 6 configured to face the surface to be cleaned, and a suction inlet 7 opening onto the lower face 6. The suction inlet 7 communicates with the connecting sleeve 3 via, in particular, a suction duct formed at least in part, for example, by a flexible connecting duct. The suction inlet 7 may, for example, have an elongated shape and extend transversely, and for example perpendicularly, to the direction of movement D1 of the suction head 2.

[0079] The main body 4 further includes a suction chamber 9 which opens into the lower face 6 of the sole 5 via the suction mouth 7, and which is fluidly connected to the suction conduit.

[0080] The suction head 2 also includes a rotating brush 11 comprising a brush body 12 which has a generally tubular shape and which has a central longitudinal axis A. The brush body 12 is mounted movably in rotation in the suction chamber 9 around an axis of rotation which is coaxial with the central longitudinal axis A of the brush body 12.

[0081] Advantageously, the brush body 12 is removably mounted in the suction chamber 9 and is configured to be inserted into and removed from the suction chamber 9 according to a mounting direction D2. The mounting direction D2 extends transversely, and preferably perpendicularly, to the direction of movement D1 of the suction head 2.

[0082] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the main body 4 has a passage opening 13 leading into the suction chamber 9 and through which the brush body 12 can be introduced into and removed from the suction chamber 9. Advantageously, the passage opening 13 is provided on a side wall of the main body 4.

[0083] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the rotary brush 11 has bristles 14 provided on the external surface of the brush body 12. Advantageously, the brush body 12 is generally cylindrical with a circular cross-section, and the rotary brush 11 has a plurality of rows of bristles extending, for example, helically around the central longitudinal axis A of the brush body 12. According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the rows of bristles could be replaced by elastically deformable strips or by a foam cleaning sleeve. According to another alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the rotary brush 11 could have at least one row of bristles and at least one elastically deformable strip.

[0084] The suction head 2 further includes a closing plug 15 which is configured to at least partially close the passage opening 13 when the brush body 12 is mounted in the suction chamber 9.

[0085] The suction head 2 also includes a drive device 16 configured to rotate the brush body 12 around the axis of rotation. The drive device 16 more particularly includes a drive motor 17, preferably electric, comprising an output shaft 18 which is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the brush body 12.

[0086] The drive motor 17 is housed in a motor compartment 19 fixed to a side wall of the main body 4, and the motor compartment 19 and the drive motor 17 are arranged in a motor housing 21 delimited by the brush body 12. As is known, the drive motor 17 comprises a motor housing 22, and also a rotor and a stator (not shown in the figures) which are housed in the motor housing 22. Advantageously, the drive motor 17 is located away from the side walls of the main body 4. Advantageously, the drive motor 17 is offset from a median vertical plane of the main body 4 and is arranged between the median vertical plane of the main body 4 and one of the two side walls.

[0087] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the brush body 12 comprises a first end portion 12.1 which is located near the drive device 16 and which delimits the motor housing 21, and a second end portion 12.2 which is supported by the closing plug 15 and which is mounted to rotate freely relative to the closing plug 15.

[0088] The rotary brush 11 further comprises a coupling portion 24 disposed within the brush body 12 and configured to mate rotationally with a complementary coupling portion 25 belonging to the drive device 16 and which is rotationally coupled to the output shaft 18 of the drive motor 17. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the coupling portion 24 is a female coupling portion and the complementary coupling portion 25 is a male coupling portion. However, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the coupling portion 24 could be a male coupling portion and the complementary coupling portion 25 could be a female coupling portion.

[0089] The suction head 2 also includes a support ring 26 which is fixed to the first end portion 12.1 of the brush body 12 and which is configured to support the first end portion 12.1, and an additional support ring 27 which is fixed, for example by bonding or welding, to the second end portion 12.2 of the brush body 12 and which is configured to support the second end portion 12.2. Advantageously, the support ring 26 and the additional support ring 27 are arranged coaxially with the central longitudinal axis A of the brush body 12, and the drive motor 17 is arranged axially between the support ring 26 and the additional support ring 27.

[0090] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the drive motor 17 is closer to the support ring 26 than to the additional support ring 27. Advantageously, the drive motor 17 is arranged axially between the support ring 26 and the median vertical plane of the brush body 12.

[0091] The suction head 2 further comprises a bearing 28, such as a roller bearing and for example a ball bearing, configured to guide the support ring 26 in rotation, and an additional bearing 29, such as a roller bearing and for example a ball bearing, configured to guide the additional support ring 27 in rotation. Advantageously, the additional bearing 29 is interposed between the additional support ring 27 and a support portion belonging to the closing cap 15.

[0092] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the suction head 2 includes a bearing support 31 which is fixed to a side wall of the main body 4 and which is coaxial with the central longitudinal axis A, and the bearing 28 is mounted on the bearing support 31 and is supported by the bearing support 31.

[0093] The bearing 28 more particularly comprises an inner ring 28.1 which is fixed to the bearing support 31 and which extends around the bearing support 31, and an outer ring 28.2 which is rotationally movable relative to the inner ring 28.1 and which is fixed to the support ring 26. Advantageously, the support ring 26 is disposed in the first end portion 12.1 of the brush body 12, and is interposed between the outer ring 28.2 of the bearing 28 and an internal circumferential surface of the brush body 12.

[0094] As shown more specifically on the figure 8, the support ring 26 has an inner wall 32 which is generally cylindrical and which extends around and in contact with the outer ring 28.2 of the bearing 28, and an outer wall 33 which is generally cylindrical and which cooperates with the internal circumferential surface of the brush body 12.

[0095] The suction head 2 advantageously includes a fastening device configured for fixing the bearing 28 to the support ring 26. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the fastening device comprises a plurality of fastening lugs 34 provided on the support ring 26, distributed around the central axis of the support ring 26 and extending substantially parallel to the central axis of the support ring 26. The fastening lugs 34 are configured to cooperate with the bearing 28, and more particularly with the outer ring 28.2 of the bearing 28, so as to fix the bearing 28 to the support ring 26 and in particular to axially immobilize the bearing 28 relative to the support ring 26.Advantageously, the support ring 26 has a bearing housing 35 in which the bearing 28 is received, and each fixing lug 34 is elastically deformable and has a retaining portion configured to retain the bearing 28 in the bearing housing 35.

[0096] The support ring 26 may, for example, comprise a plurality of thrust members 36, such as thrust ribs, distributed around the central axis of the support ring 26 and extending circumferentially. Each thrust member 36 partially defines the bearing housing 35 and is provided with an axial thrust surface against which the bearing 28 abuts when the bearing 28 is housed in the bearing housing 35.

[0097] As shown on the figure 6, the engine compartment 19 is fixed to the bearing support 31, and the bearing 28 is axially clamped between a first thrust surface provided on the bearing support 31 and a second thrust surface provided on the engine compartment 19.

[0098] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the engine compartment 19 comprises an engine cover 37 extending around the drive motor 17 and a cover support 38 fixed to the bearing support 31 and configured to support the engine cover 37. The engine cover 37 more specifically comprises a tubular wall 37.1 extending around the drive motor 17 and substantially coaxial with the motor axis of the drive motor 17, and an end wall 37.2 located opposite the cover support 38 and having a central opening through which the output shaft 18 of the drive motor 17 protrudes. The engine cover 37 further comprises an open end that is at least partially closed by the cover support 38. Advantageously, the suction head 2 comprises a damping element 39 interposed axially between the drive motor 17 and the cover support 38.

[0099] The suction head 2 further comprises an air circulation cooling circuit 41 which is delimited at least in part by the bearing support 31, the drive motor 17, the motor compartment 19, the brush body 12 and the support ring 26 and which is fluidly connected to the suction chamber 9. The suction head 2 is configured such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber 9, air is drawn into the air circulation cooling circuit 41 from outside the rotating brush 11 and is circulated in the air circulation cooling circuit 41, in order to ensure cooling in particular of the drive motor 17 and the bearing 28.

[0100] The air circulation cooling circuit 41 includes at least one air inlet opening 42 through which air is suitable for being drawn into the air circulation cooling circuit 41. Advantageously, the air inlet opening(s) 42 is / are provided on a side wall of the main body 4, and more particularly on the side wall of the brush body to which the bearing support 31 is attached.

[0101] The air circulation cooling circuit 41 further includes a plurality of air evacuation openings through which the air flowing in the air circulation cooling circuit 41 is able to be evacuated out of the air circulation cooling circuit 41. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the air evacuation openings are formed by through holes 44 provided on the support ring 26 and configured to fluidly connect the motor housing 21 to the suction chamber 9, and therefore to the suction duct.

[0102] As shown on the figure 8The through holes 44 are distributed around the central axis of the support ring 26, and each through hole 44 opens respectively into a first axial face 26.1 of the support ring 26 which is oriented towards the drive motor 17 and which partially delimits the motor housing 21 and into a second axial face 26.2 of the support ring 26 which is located outside the brush body 12 and which is oriented towards the side wall of the main body 4 to which the bearing support 31 is fixed. Each through hole 44 is more particularly configured to allow the passage of an airflow through said through hole 44 and from the first axial face 26.1 of the support ring 26 (and therefore from the motor housing 21) to the second axial face 26.2 of the support ring 26 (and therefore towards the outside of the rotating brush 11).

[0103] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, each through hole 44 provided on the support ring 26 is delimited by the inner and outer walls 32, 33 of the support ring 26 and by two flow guide walls 45 which are inclined with respect to the central axis of the support ring 26 and are located opposite each other. Advantageously, the flow guide walls 45 are regularly distributed around the central axis of the support ring 26 and are configured to mechanically connect the inner and outer walls 32, 33 of the support ring 26.

[0104] The two flow guide walls 45, which partially define a respective through hole 44, are more specifically configured to generate a depression within the respective through hole 44 when the drive motor 17 is running and rotating the rotating brush 11 and the support ring 26. Thus, each flow guide wall 45 provided on the support ring 26 forms a flow guide vane, and the support ring 26 forms a turbine provided with flow guide vanes distributed around the central axis of the support ring 26. Advantageously, each flow guide vane, and therefore each flow guide wall 45, has an axial dimension and a radial dimension that is smaller than the respective axial dimension.

[0105] The air circulation cooling circuit 41 more particularly includes a first circuit portion 41.1 which includes at least one air intake opening 42 and which is delimited in part by the bearing support 31, the hood support 38, the drive motor 17 and the engine hood 37, and a second circuit portion 41.2 which includes the air exhaust openings (formed by the through holes 44), which is delimited in part by the engine compartment 19 and the brush body 12 and which is located downstream of the first circuit portion.

[0106] As shown on the figure 6, the air circulation cooling circuit 41 is configured such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber 9, the air, put into circulation in the air circulation cooling circuit 41, flows in the first portion of the circuit 41.1 away from the support ring 26 (and therefore towards the closing plug 15), and flows in the second portion of the circuit 41.2 towards the support ring 26.

[0107] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the bearing support 31 is hollow and includes an air flow duct 46 which extends substantially coaxially with the bearing 28 and which forms part of the first portion of the circuit 41.1. Advantageously, the air flow duct 46 is fluidly connected to at least one air inlet opening 42, and the bearing 28 extends around the air flow duct 46.

[0108] The air flow duct 46 is fluidically connected to an internal housing delimited by the engine compartment 19 (and forming part of the first section of circuit 41.1) via at least one passage 31.1 (see the Figure 10 ) provided on the bearing support 31 and opening into the air flow duct 46, and at least one air flow passage 38.1 (see the figures 6 And 10 ) provided on the hood support 38 and fluidly connecting at least one passage 31.1 to the internal housing delimited by the engine compartment 19.

[0109] Advantageously, the air circulation cooling circuit 41 is configured such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber 9, the air, circulated in the first portion of the circuit 41.1, flows at least partly inside the drive motor 17. For this purpose, the first portion of the circuit 41.1 comprises at least one air inlet opening 49 provided on a peripheral wall of the engine casing 22, through which air, circulated in the cooling circuit by air circulation 41 when a vacuum is generated in the intake chamber 9, is able to enter the drive motor 17, and at least one air outlet opening 50 provided on an end wall of the engine casing 22 (which is located opposite the support ring 26), through which air, having entered the drive motor 17 via at least one air inlet opening 49, is able to flow out of the drive motor 17. Advantageously, at least one air inlet opening 49 is oriented substantially radially and opens into the internal housing delimited by the engine compartment 19, and at least one air outlet opening 50 is oriented substantially axially.

[0110] As shown on the figure 6The motor compartment 19 and the brush body 12 define a connecting chamber 52 which is located axially opposite the support ring 26 with respect to the drive motor 17 and which is configured to fluidly connect the first circuit portion 41.1 to the second circuit portion 41.2. Advantageously, at least one air outlet 50, provided on the motor housing 22, is fluidly connected to the connecting chamber 52 via at least one connecting orifice 51 (see the Figure 10 ) provided on the engine cowling 37, and more particularly on the end wall 37.2 of the engine cowling 37.

[0111] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the air circulation cooling circuit 41 is configured such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber 9, the air, circulated in the second portion of the circuit 41.2, flows between an external surface of the engine compartment 19 and an internal surface of the brush body 12, before reaching the through holes 44 provided on the support ring 26. Advantageously, the air circulation cooling circuit 41 is configured such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber 9, the air, circulated in the second portion of the circuit 41.2, flows substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis A of the brush body 12.

[0112] Cooling of the bearing 28 and the drive motor 17 via the air circulation cooling circuit 41 is described below.

[0113] Under conditions of use of the suction head 2 according to the present invention, and in particular when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber 9, air is drawn into the air circulation cooling circuit 41 via at least one air intake opening 42 due in particular to the vacuum generated in each of the through holes 44 provided on the support ring 26. The air, circulated in the air circulation cooling circuit 41, then flows into the air flow duct 46 where it provides cooling, by thermal conduction, of the bearing support 31 and the inner ring 28.1 of the bearing 28, then the air flows through the bearing support 31 and the hood support 38 (via at least one passage orifice and at least one flow passage), and enters the drive motor 17 (via the air inlet opening 49) where it provides cooling, by thermal conduction, of the rotor and / or stator of the drive motor 17. The air is then discharged from the drive motor 17 via at least one air outlet opening 50, enters the link chamber 52 via at least one link orifice, flows towards the support ring 26 via the annular longitudinal passage delimited between the motor compartment 19 and the brush body 12, and is discharged from the rotating brush 11 via the through holes 44 and is drawn into the suction duct. By flowing through the through holes 44, the air ensures cooling, by thermal conduction, of the support ring 26 and the outer ring 28.2 of level 28.

[0114] As shown on the figure 9 The inner wall 32 of the support ring 26 has a plurality of radial through-holes 54 distributed around the central axis of the support ring 26. Each radial through-hole 54 extends in a radial direction and opens into a respective through hole 44 provided on the support ring 26, and is located opposite the bearing 28, and more particularly opposite the outer ring 28.2 of the bearing 28. Such a configuration of the support ring 26 further promotes the cooling of the bearing 28 by the airflows flowing through the through holes 44.

[0115] Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given only by way of example. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the composition of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. Suction head (2) comprising: • a main body (4) comprising a suction chamber (9) opening into a lower face (6) of the main body (4) which is configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned, • a rotary brush (11) comprising a brush body (12) which has a generally tubular shape and which has a central longitudinal axis (A), the brush body (12) being mounted rotatable in the suction chamber (9) about a rotation axis which is substantially coaxial with the central longitudinal axis (A) of the brush body (12), • a drive device (16) configured to drive the brush body (12) in rotation about the rotation axis, the drive device (16) comprising a drive motor (17) housed at least partly in a motor housing (21) delimited at least partly by the brush body (12), • a support ring (26) arranged inside the brush body (12), the support ring (26) being configured to support the brush body (12) and comprising a first axial face (26.1) oriented towards the drive motor (17) and a second axial face (26.2) opposite the first axial face (26.1), • a bearing support (31) which is fixed relative to the main body (4), characterized in that the suction head comprises: • a bearing (28) mounted on the bearing support (31) and supported by the bearing support (31), the support ring (26) being interposed between the bearing (28) and an internal circumferential surface of the brush body (12), the support ring (26) comprising at least one through-hole (44) which opens respectively into the first and second axial faces (26.1, 26.2) of the support ring (26), the suction head (2) being configured such that, when the suction head (2) is in an operating configuration, an air flow is able to flow through the at least one through-hole (44).

2. Suction head (2) according to claim 1, which comprises an air-circulation cooling circuit (41) delimited at least partly by the support ring (26) and fluidically connected to the suction chamber (9), the suction head (2) being configured such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber (9), air is drawn into the air-circulation cooling circuit (41) from outside the rotary brush (11) and is circulated in the air-circulation cooling circuit (41).

3. Suction head (2) according to claim 2, in which the air-circulation cooling circuit (41) comprises at least one air inlet opening (42) through which air is able to be drawn into the air-circulation cooling circuit (41) and at least one air outlet opening through which the air flowing in the air-circulation cooling circuit (41) is able to be discharged out of the air-circulation cooling circuit (41), the at least one air outlet opening being formed by the at least one through-hole (44) provided on the support ring (26).

4. Suction head (2) according to claim 3, in which the at least one air inlet opening (42) is provided on a lateral wall of the main body (4).

5. Suction head (2) according to claim 3 or 4, in which the at least one air inlet opening (42) is oriented substantially axially.

6. Suction head (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the air-circulation cooling circuit is delimited at least partly by the drive motor (17) such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber (9), the air circulating in the air-circulation cooling circuit (41) flows in or in the vicinity of the drive motor (17).

7. Suction head (2) according to claim 6, in which the air-circulation cooling circuit (41) comprises at least one air inlet opening (49) provided on a peripheral wall of a motor casing (22) of the drive motor (17) and through which the air, circulated in the air-circulation cooling circuit (41) when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber (9), is able to enter into the drive motor (17), and at least one air outlet opening (50) provided on an end wall of the motor casing (22) and through which the air, having entered into the drive motor (17) via the at least one air inlet opening (49), is able to flow out of the drive motor (17).

8. Suction head (2) according to claim 7, in which the at least one air inlet opening (49) of the motor casing (22) is oriented substantially radially and the at least one air outlet opening (50) of the motor casing (22) is oriented substantially axially.

9. Suction head (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 8, in which the bearing support (31) delimits an air flow duct (46) which forms part of the air-circulation cooling circuit (41), the bearing (28) extending around the air flow duct (46).

10. Suction head (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which comprises a motor compartment (19) which is fixed to the bearing support (31) and which is arranged at least partly in the motor housing (21), the drive motor (17) being arranged at least partly in the motor compartment (19).

11. Suction head (2) according to claims 2 and 10, in which the air-circulation cooling circuit (41) comprises a first circuit portion (41.1) which is delimited partly by the drive motor (17) and a second circuit portion (41.2) which is delimited partly by the motor compartment (19) and the brush body (12) and which is located downstream of the first circuit portion (41.1).

12. Suction head (2) according to claim 11, in which the air-circulation cooling circuit (41) is configured such that, when a vacuum is generated in the suction chamber (9), the air, circulated in the air-circulation cooling circuit (41), flows in the first circuit portion (41.1) away from the support ring (26), and flows in the second circuit portion (41.2) towards the support ring (26).

13. Suction head (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the support ring (26) is rotationally fixed to the brush body (12), and the at least one through-hole (44) provided on the support ring (26) is delimited at least partly by at least one flow-guiding wall (45) which is inclined relative to a central axis of the support ring (26) and which is configured to generate a vacuum within the at least one through-hole (44) when the drive motor (17) is running and drives the rotary brush (11) in rotation.

14. Suction head (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, in which the support ring (26) is rotationally fixed to the brush body (12), the support ring (26) forms a turbine provided with flow-guiding vanes distributed around a central axis of the support ring (26), each pair of adjacent flow-guiding vanes partly delimiting a respective through-hole (44), and the support ring (26), forming the turbine, is configured to generate a vacuum within the at least one through-hole (44) when the drive motor (17) is running and drives the rotary brush (11) in rotation.

15. Suction head (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, in which the support ring (26) comprises an internal wall (32) which is generally cylindrical and which extends around and in contact with the bearing (28), the internal wall (32) of the support ring (26) comprising at least one radial through-opening (54), extending in a radial direction, opening into the at least one through-hole (44) provided on the support ring (26) and being situated facing the bearing (28).

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