Surface cleaning apparatus having a brush motor internal of a rotating brush and brush motor for driving a rotatable brushing member
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brush motors for household appliances generate excessive heat, require larger and more expensive magnetic elements, and occupy valuable space, limiting the size and efficiency of the appliances.
Innovation Solution
A brush motor design featuring multiple axially spaced motor sub-units with rotor and stator portions that generate magnetic fields, allowing for reduced heat generation, smaller magnetic elements, and the ability to be housed within the rotatable brushing member, promoting heat dissipation and compact appliance design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a single unit motor is used to drive the rotatable output member, then the motor can provide sufficient power, but the heat generated is excessive and concentrated in one location
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is divided into multiple motor sub-units (first motor sub-unit, second motor sub-unit, etc.) that are axially spaced along the motor axis. Each sub-unit includes its own rotor portion, stator portion, and magnetic elements. This segmentation distributes the heat generation across multiple locations, preventing excessive heat concentration while maintaining the required total power output.
2Force
If larger magnetic elements are used in a single unit motor, then sufficient magnetic field strength is achieved, but the motor size increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one large magnetic element, the invention uses multiple smaller magnetic elements distributed across several motor sub-units. Each sub-unit has its own rotor and stator portions with smaller magnetic elements. This approach achieves the required total magnetic field strength through cumulative effect while reducing the size of individual magnetic elements and overall motor volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor sub-units are arranged axially along the motor axis, extending in the longitudinal dimension. This allows the magnetic fields from multiple sub-units to combine in series along the axis, achieving sufficient total magnetic field strength without requiring larger radial dimensions, thus maintaining a compact motor size.
3Device complexity
If a single unit motor is used, then the motor structure is simple, but the heat dissipation is insufficient and motor size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is segmented into multiple axially spaced sub-units, each generating heat at different locations along the motor axis. This spatial distribution of heat sources significantly improves heat dissipation efficiency, as heat from each sub-unit can dissipate independently to the surrounding environment rather than accumulating in a single location.
4Power
If a traditional motor design is used, then the motor can be mounted externally, but it occupies valuable space within the household appliance
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is designed with a compact structure where the rotor portions rotate about the motor axis within the space defined by the stator portions. The magnetic elements are arranged on the rotor and stator surfaces, allowing the motor to be self-contained. This nested arrangement enables the motor to be mounted within the hollow cylindrical space of the rotatable output member, effectively utilizing otherwise wasted space.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces heat generation, enables the use of smaller, less expensive magnetic elements, and allows for a more compact motor design that can be integrated within the appliance, enhancing efficiency and reducing overall size.
Implementation Method 1
Each rotor portion is operable to generate a rotor magnetic field, and each stator portion is operable to generate a stator magnetic field opposing the rotor magnetic field, thereby driving rotation of the rotor portions
Implementation Method 2
Each rotor portion is operable to generate a rotor magnetic field, and each stator portion is operable to generate a stator magnetic field opposing the rotor magnetic field, thereby driving rotation of the rotor portions
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus is provided. The surface cleaning apparatus includes a dirt inlet, a rotatable brushing member, and a brush motor drivingly connected to the rotatable brushing member. The brush motor includes a plurality of field coils, a first motor sub-unit, a second motor sub-unit, and a motor controller. The first motor sub-unit includes a first rotor portion, a first stator portion, and a first field coil. The second motor sub-unit includes a second rotor portion, a second stator portion, and a second field coil. The first and second rotor portions are rotatable about a motor axis and are drivingly connected to the brushing member. The second motor sub-unit is axially spaced along the motor axis from the first motor sub-unit. The motor controller is operable to direct electric current through the plurality of field coils generating magnetic fields and driving rotation of the rotor portions.