GB2241430A

GB2241430A - Brush rollers

Info

Publication number: GB2241430A
Application number: GB9004726A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeffrey Gareth Smith
Original assignee: OSPREY Ltd
Current assignee: OSPREY Ltd
Priority date: 1990-03-02
Filing date: 1990-03-02
Publication date: 1991-09-04
Also published as: GB9004726D0

Abstract

The brush roller for the power head of a vacuum cleaner comprises a basically cylindrical body 10 with two rows of bristles 11 extending therealong, ribs 12 extending therealong between the rows of bristles, and grooves 13 extending therealong one behind each rib with respect to the direction of rotation of the roller, the leading side of each grove being contiguous with the trailing side 15 of the corresponding rib. The leading side 16 of each rib is tangential to the preceding part-cylindrical surface of the body and is joined by a rounded peak 17 to the trailing side 15 of the rib, which is co-planar with the leading side 14 of the corresponding groove 13, and a rounded bottom 18 of the groove joins the side 14 to a linear trailing side 19 of the groove. The roller may be made of foamed polypropylene with a chevron formation of ribs and bristles, the latter being stapled. <IMAGE>

Description

BRUSH ROLLERS This invention relates to brush rollers for vacuum cleaners or sweepers, more particularly to such rollers that incorporate beater bars between rows of bristles.

The rows of bristles usually extend helically from end-to-end of the roller, but may be interrupted at the middle of the roller by a narrow circumferential bearing surface, while the beater bars may extend generally parallel to the rows of bristles, or there may between each pair of rows of bristles a plurality of beater bars inclined to the axis of the roller much more than the rows of bristles.

The object of the present invention is to provide a brush roller for a vacuum cleaner or sweeper having an enhanced performance.

According to the present invention, a brush roller for a vacuum cleaner or sweeper comprises a basically cylindrical body with a plurality of rows of bristles extending therealong, ribs extending therealong between the rows of bristles, and grooves extending therealong one behind each rib with respect to the direction of rotation of the roller, the leading side of each groove preferably being contiguous with the trailing side of the corresponding rib.

In use, with the brush roller driven at the usual speed, e.g., in a power head of a vacuum cleaner, the grooves induce swirling flows of air, particularly whilst passing close to the floor or carpet thereon, simulating the action of beater bars, without need for the ribs to touch the carpet.

Preferably, the leading side of each rib is tangential to the preceding part-cylindrical surface of the body and is joined by a rounded peak to a trailing side of the rib that is co-planar with the leading side of the corresponding groove, which has a rounded bottom joining that leading side to a linear trailing side of the grove.

Each rib and groove preferably has a chevron or reversed helix configuration longitudinally of the roller, so as to induce a component of airflow from each end towards the apex, which - naturally - is preferably at the middle of a symmetrical chevron configuration, the rows of bristles obviously - having a similar chevron configuration affording a sweeping component from each end towards the apex.

Each groove end is preferably closed by a wall, and a similar wall may be provided at the middle of the roller, where there may also be a gap in the corresponding rib, with the middle walls and the gaps forming part of a narrow cylindrical surface for adaptation with a split middle bearing or guide for the roller.

The roller may conveniently be formed of foamed polypropylene, in tubular form, complete with a part-spherical pulley at or near one end for a belt drive (but gear or other drive means may be incorporated or attached thereto), and the rows of bristles secured thereto by staples.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a brush roller in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an elevation seen in a direction perpendicular to that of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation from the left hand end of Figure 1 before attachment of the bristles; Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 3 but shows the right hand end of the roller; and Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-section on the line V-V in Figure 1.

The brush roller shown in the drawings is intended for the power head of a vacuum cleaner. It comprises a basically cylindrical body 18 with two rows of bristles 11 extending therealong, ribs 12 extending therealong between the rows of bristles, and grooves 13 extending therealong one behind each rib with respect to the direction of rotation of the roller (which is clockwise in Figure 5), the leading side 14 of each groove 13 being contiguous with the trailing side 15 of the corresponding rib 12.

As can best be seen in Figure 5, the leading side 16 of each rib 12 is tangential to the preceding part-cylindrical surface of the body 18 and is joined by a rounded peak 17 to the trailing side 15 of the rib, which is co-planar with the leading side 14 of the corresponding groove 13, and a rounded bottom 18 of the groove joins the side 14 to a linear trailing side 19 of the groove.

Each rib 12 and groove 13 has a symmetrical chevron (or reversed helix) configuration longitudinally of the roller, and the rows of bristles 11 have a similar chevron configuration. Each groove end is closed by a wall 28.

The roller, which is conveniently formed of foamed polypropylene, in tubular form, complete with a part-spherical pulley 21 at one end for a belt drive (not shown), and the rows of bristles 11 are conveniently secured thereto by staples (not shown).

Claims

1. A brush roller for a vacuum cleaner or sweeper comprising a basically cylindrical body with a plurality of rows of bristles extending therealong, ribs extending therealong between the rows of bristles, and grooves extending therealong one behind each rib with respect to the direction of rotation of the roller.

2. A brush roller as in Claim 1 wherein the leading side of each groove is contiguous with the trailing side of the corresponding rib.

3. A brush roller as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the leading side of each rib is tangential to the preceding part-cylindrical surface of the body and is joined by a rounded peak to a trailing side of the rib that is co-planar with the leading side of the corresponding groove, which has a rounded bottom joining that leading side to a linear trailing side of the grove.

4. A brush roller as in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each rib and groove has a chevron or reversed helix configuration longitudinally of the roller, so as to induce a component of air flow from each end towards the apex.

5. A brush roller as in Claim 4, wherein the apex is at the middle of a symmetrical chevron configuration.

6. A brush roller as in Claim 5, wherein the rows of bristles have a similar chevron configuration affording a sweeping component from each end towards the apex.

7. A brush roller as in any preceding Claim, wherein each groove end is closed by a wall.

8. A brush roller as in Claim 7, wherein a similar wall is provided at the middle of the roller.

9. A brush roller as in Claim 8, wherein there is provided a gap in the corresponding rib, with the middle walls and the gaps forming part of a narrow cylindrical surface for adaptation with a split middle bearing or guide for the roller.

10. A brush roller as in any preceding Claim, wherein the roller is formed of foamed polypropylene, in tubular form, and the rows of brisles are secured to the roller by staples.

11. A brush roller as in any preceding Claim, wherein the roller is provided with a part-spherical pulley at or near one end for a belt drive.

12. A brush roller as in any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein gear or other drive means is incorporated or attached.

13. A brush roller for a vacuum cleaner or sweeper substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.