Nested Agitator Drive Assembly for Stable Cleaner Head Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning appliances with offset center of gravity due to rotary agitator design make handling difficult when the cleaner head is lifted off the floor, as it tends to rotate relative to the duct.
Innovation Solution
The cleaner head design positions the drive assembly within the agitator chamber, ensuring the center of gravity lies on a vertical plane containing the rotational axis, eliminating the need for complex transmission arrangements and allowing easier handling by preventing rotation when lifted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the drive assembly is positioned to enable torque transmission to the agitator, then the cleaner head becomes more compact, but the centre of gravity becomes offset causing handling difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The drive assembly is nested within the agitator chamber, with the motor positioned inside the cylindrical housing that forms part of the agitator assembly. This nested arrangement allows the drive components to be contained within the existing structural envelope, achieving compactness without requiring additional external space that would exacerbate center of gravity offset issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor is positioned asymmetrically within the agitator chamber rather than at the traditional rear end, and the motor mount extends through the vertical plane to balance the center of gravity. This asymmetric positioning combined with strategic mounting allows torque transmission while maintaining handling balance.
2Device complexity
If the electric motor is positioned at one end of the agitator chamber, then the structure is simplified, but the centre of gravity is pulled towards that end causing rotation when lifted
Solution Approach 1:
The motor mount structure acts as a counterbalancing element, extending through the vertical plane containing the rotational axis to position the motor in a location that balances the center of gravity. The mount structure itself provides the counterweight function, extending towards the opposite end of the agitator chamber to offset the weight of the motor and maintain stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor mount extends in the longitudinal dimension through the vertical plane, rather than simply positioning the motor at the rear end in the transverse dimension. This dimensional transition allows the motor to be positioned at an intermediate location that achieves both structural simplicity and center of gravity balance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a complex transmission arrangement is used to position the drive assembly, then the centre of gravity can be balanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex transmission arrangement is extracted and replaced by direct coupling. The motor shaft is directly connected to the agitator through the motor mount structure, eliminating the need for intermediate transmission components such as gears, belts, or shafts. This direct connection achieves center of gravity balance through strategic motor positioning without adding transmission complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor mount structure serves as an intermediary element that performs both mechanical support and center of gravity balancing functions. Rather than using a complex transmission system, the mount structure itself acts as the mediator that transmits torque while positioning the motor to achieve stable center of gravity balance.
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning appliance having a cleaner head rotatably attached to a duct. The cleaner head includes a main body having an agitator chamber, an agitator rotatably mounted within the agitator chamber, and a drive assembly coupled to the agitator such that torque generated by the drive assembly is transmitted to the agitator. The drive assembly is located within the agitator such that the centre of gravity of the cleaner head is located on or near a vertical plane containing the rotational axis about which the cleaner head rotates relative to the duct.