GB2322068A

GB2322068A - Electrically operated brush roller

Info

Publication number: GB2322068A
Application number: GB9802446A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Woerwag
Original assignee: Duepro AG
Current assignee: Duepro AG
Priority date: 1997-02-18
Filing date: 1998-02-04
Publication date: 1998-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-04
Also published as: GB2322068B; FR2759572A1; GB9802446D0; DE19706239C1

Abstract

An electrically operated brush roller 2 for a vacuum cleaning tool comprises an outer cylindrical member 12 with bristles 8 driven about its central long axis 11 by an electric motor 20 mounted within member 12. The motor 20 rotates the brush roller via a planetary gear 19 and may be powered by batteries also held within the cylinder. The brush roller is mounted on bearings 15, 16 mounted in bearing plates 17, 18 which serve as end faces to close the ends of cylinder 12. The brush roller has a simple construction, is easily exchanged and has a powerful electric drive.

Description

1 2322068

The invention relates to an electrically operated brush roller according to the preamble of Claim 1.

DE-C 519 890 discloses a vacuum-cleaning tool provided with a brush roller, for connection to the suction tube of a vacuum cleaner, in which the basic member of the brush roller is provided as the external rotor of an electric motor. On account of its function as an external rotor, the basic casing of the brush roller is to be manufactured from suitable magnetically soft material, which is expensive and makes the construction difficult. In addition, in order to achieve an adequate torquel the drive must be correspondingly high-powered, which necessitates an expensive current supply. If the bristle set of the brush roller is worn, the external rotor together with the stator must be exchanged, which necessitates an expenditure of materials and is expensive.

It is the object of the invention to provide a brush roller which has a simple construction, can be easily exchanged and has a powerful electric drive.

The invention is achieved according to the characterising features of Claim 1.

A complete electric motor is located in the basic member as an independent drive unit, in which case the electric motor is retained between the bearing plates and its output shaft drives an inner gear unit. Due to the arrangement of the gear unit, high-speed, simply constructed electric motors can be used, in which case due to the speed reduction of the gearing, a desired peripheral speed of the brush roller can be structurally predetermined with adequate torque.

As the gear unit, a sun-and-planet gear is preferably provided, which has a small construction, a high speed reduction and can transmit high torques. The gear unit preferably lies between the electric motor and a bearing plate, in which case the planet 2 wheels are retained on the bearing plate, so that the latter can be used to transmit the torque to the brush roller.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a set of batteries is located in the basic member of the brush roller, so that the brush roller can be operated independently of an external electric-supply line. Since, due to the use of step-down gearing, high-speed motors with a low power consumption can be used, then even with a small set of batteries located in the basic member of the brush roller, a satisfactory operating time can be achieved. In this case it has been shown that on account of the weight of the electric motor and also of the set of batteries, a uniform weightloading is applied to the bristles of the brush roller, so that appliances of this type have a uniform cleaning pattern and preferably also can be used for polishing.

Appropriately, to provide adequate cooling, air intake openings are provided in the basic member of the brush roller, in particular in the region of a spacer member. The air flowing through the air intake openings into the basic member is set in turbulence by suitable inner air compartments and conveyed axially so that it can escape by way of air outlet openings located in the bearing plates.

Claims

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the other

Claims, Description and drawings, in which an embodiment of the invention, described in detail hereafter, is illustrated. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a section through a brush roller with electric drive, fitted in a vacuum-cleaning tool, Figure 2 is a view according to Figure 1 with a set of batteries 35 arranged in the brush roller for the supply of power, Figure 3 is a view according to Figure 2 with inner ventilation 3 of the brush roller, Figure 4 shows diagrammatically the cross-section of a brush roller at the height of the set of batteries.

The brush roller 2 operated electrically and illustrated in the embodiment according to Figure 1 is illustrated diagrammatically in its fitted position in the casing of a vacuum-cleaning tool 1. The casing is essentially closed and consists of side cheeks 3, 4, an upper part 5 and a base 6, which comprises a suction slot 7. The bristles 8 of the brush roller 2 project through the suction slot 7 in order to clean a hard or textile floor covering 10. The vacuum-cleaning tool 1 is supported on the floor by way of rollers 9.

The brush roller 2 consists essentially of a cylindrical basic member 12, which supports the bristles 8 and is able to rotate about its longitudinal central axis 11. For this purpose, bearings 15, 16 are located on the end faces 13, 14 of the tubular, cylindrical basic member 2, which bearings are retained essentially in bearing plates 17, 18, which preferably close-off the end faces 13, 14 of the basic member 12 of the brush roller 2.

An electric motor 20 is provided inside the basic member 12, between the bearing plates 17 and 18, for the rotary drive of the brush roller 2. The electric motor 20 drives the brush roller 2 by way of a gear unit 19, in which case the gear unit 19 is preferably a sun-and-planet gear. The planet gears 21 located in the annular gear 22 are rotatably held against the bearing plate 18 and are overlapped by the annular gear 22, which is non- rotatably connected to the stator of the electric motor 20 by means of screws 23 or such fastening means. The sun gear 24 of the sun-and-planet gear 19 is located on the output shaft 25, which penetrates the bearing 16 located in the bearing plate 18. The free end 26 of the output shaft 25 forms a bearing stub, which engages in a mounting plate 27, which is 4 fixed on the inside of the cheek 4. The output shaft 25 is secured axially in the bearing plate 18 by a securing member 28.

The sun-and-planet gear 19 lies inside a cylindrical cup 29, whereof the base is formed by the bearing plate 18. The sunand-planet gear 19 is located between the bearing plate 18 and the electric motor 20.

On the side remote from the motor 20, the bearing plate 18 comprises a cylindrical locking projection 30, whereof the outer diameter corresponds to the cup 29. The cup 29 and the locking projection 30 thus form a cylindrical component of constant outer diameter, in the axial centre of which is located the bearing plate 18. The locking projection 30 is divided into at least one axially extending locking tongue 31, which engages by a locking lug 32 located on its f ree outer end, in a locking recess 33 of the basic member 12. The locking recess 33 is provided in the region of the end f ace 14 on the inside of the basic member 12. In the embodiment according to Figure 1, only one locking tongue 31 is shown; several, for example three locking tongues are preferably provided over the periphery of the locking projection 30. With the provision of several locking tongues, the latter are appropriately uniformly distributed over the periphery of the locking projection 30.

The bearing plate 18 is located with the receiving cup 29 and the locking projection 30 completely inside the basic casing 12, in which case the end face of the locking projection 30 lies approximately in one plane with the end face 14 of the basic member 12. The transmission of torque by the electric motor 20 to the basic member 12 takes place by way of the sun gear 24 and the planet gears 21 to the bearing plate 18, which is in turn non-rotatably connected by way of the locking tongues 31 to the basic member 12. In order to prevent damage to the electric motor and the sun-and-planet gear 19, it may be provided to intentionally construct the locking tongues 31 in a resilient manner, due to which a restriction of the torque which can be transmitted is provided. If a maximum allowable torque is exceeded, the locking lug 32 slides with resilient deflection of the locking tongue 31 out of the locking recess 33, so that the drive shaft 25 of the motor 20 can rotate further despite the jammed brush roller 12.

The bearing plate 17 located at the other end of the basic member closes off the end face 13 of the basic member 12 in the manner of a cover, in which case the end face 13 bears against a step 34 of the cover-like bearing plate 17, which projects slightly beyond the outer surface of the brush roller 2. At its inner end 35, the bearing plate 17 retains the bearing 15, which in the embodiment illustrated is constructed as a roller bearing. The bearing 16 held in the other bearing plate 18 is preferably a sliding bearing.

The inner ring of the roller bearing 15 is seated on a journal 36 of a bearing block 37, which is fixed by way of a mounting plate 38 on the side cheek 3 of the vacuum-cleaning tool 1. The journal 36 of the bearing block 37 engages in the plug 39 of a spacer member 40, which at its other end is connected by way of a connector 41 to the electric motor 20. The bearing plate 18, the gear unit 19, the electric motor 20, the spacer member 40 and the other cover-like bearing plate 17 form an independent, in particular self-supporting component, which can be inserted as the electrical drive in the cylindrical tube of the basic member 12. With the abutment of the end face 13 against the step 34 of the bearing plate 17, the locking lug 32 engages in the inner locking recess 33 of the basic member 12 of the brush roller 2, so that the brush roller 2 is axially non-detachably connected to the component and is driven by the latter. The component advantageously also comprises the bearing block 37 and if necessary the mounting plate 27.

The basic member 12 of the brush roller 2 can thus be pushed onto the drive unit and locked so that it is easily exchangeable. The basic member 12 may therefore consist of 6 plastic material, paper, cardboard, papier-mach6, wood, steel or similar recyclable materials; it solely supports the bristles 8.

In the embodiment according to Figure 1, the electrical power for the electric motor 20 is supplied by an external voltage source, which has to be connected by way of a connector socket 42 to a plug 43 of the drive unit. The plug 43 is held securely in the bearing block 37; the connection leads 44 to the electric motor 20 are guided through a bore in the journal 36 and the spacer member 40.

The embodiment according to Figure 2 corresponds essentially to the construction of the brush roller according to Figure 1, for which reason the same reference numerals are used for identical parts. The spacer member 40 is preferably constructed as a spacer tube, which is used to receive a power supply, in particular a set of batteries 45. After removing the plug 39 engaging in the spacer member 40, the set of batteries 45 can be inserted in the spacer tube from the end face, in which case the leads 44 guided outwards through the journal 36 are connected to a plug 43 in the bearing block 37. Provided on the plug 43 is a switch 46, whereof the actuating head 47 penetrates the upper part 5 of the casing of the vacuum-cleaning tool 1 and can be actuated from outside. Depending on the capacity of the set of batteries 45, independently of an external source of current, the electric motor 20 can be operated for thirty to approximately fortyfive minutes. The set of batteries 45 can be charged by way of a charging socket 48, the charging voltage being supplied by way of a jack 49.

In the embodiment according to Figure 3, differingfrom the other embodiments, the spacer member 40 is constructed in the form of a cage; it may be sufficient to use the set of batteries itself as the spacer member 40, so that a component surrounding the set of batteries 45 may be dispensed with. For cooling the electric motor 20 as well as the set of batteries 45, radial bores for example are provided as air openings 50 in 7 the basic casing 12. As can be seen in particular from Figure 4, the air openings 50 may be constructed exactly radially or inclined in the direction of rotation 51 of the brush roller 2, thus essentially tangentially. Preferably an air baffle 52 following an air opening 50 in the direction of rotation 51 of the brush roller 2 is provided, which extends in the direction of rotation 51 appropriately above the air opening 50. In this way, positive guidance of the external air into the basic member 12 of the brush roller 2 is promoted. To assist the conveying effect, air compartments 53 may be located on the inside of the basic member 12, which extend in opposition to the direction of rotation 51 of the brush roller 2 and project as far as the set of batteries 45. As shown in particular in Figure 4, the set of batteries 45 has an angular, in particular rectangular cross section, in which case - as also shown in Figure 3, the cross section can be staggered in sections over the length of the set of batteries. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated according to Figure 3, three sections 45a, 45b and 45c are provided, which are staggered in each case by 45 with respect to each other.

The inner air compartments 53 appropriately extend respectively over the axial length of one section 45a, 45b or 45cand cooperate with the angular cross-section of the set of batteries in the manner of a "wankel rotary engine" or according to the positive-displacement principle. Upon rotation of the basic member 12 along the set of batteries 45, the air is compressed between the air compartments 53, the basic member 12 and the sections 45a, 45b, 45c of the set of batteries 45 and consequently conveyed axially. For the purpose of better air conveyance, the inner wall of the basic member may be constructed in a helical manner, for example in the manner of a worm conveyor. Air openings 60 are provided in the bearing plates, preferably in the bearing plate 18, for the discharge of the masses of air entering the basic member 12 by way of the air intake openings 50. The air flowing through the gaps between the drive unit and the basic member serves for cooling; the emerging cooling air is thus discharged with the intake air 8 stream by way of the vacuum connection socket of the casing.

In the embodiment according to Figure 2, the bearing covers 17, 18 may be attached in a liquid-tight manner to the basic member 12, so that the electric drive 20 and the set of batteries 45 are protected from moisture. The brush roller 2 may then also be used wet.

9 Claims 1. Electrically operated brush roller for a vacuum-cleaning tool, the brush roller (2) comprising an outer, cylindrical basic member (12) with bristles (8), which is held in a rotary manner by bearings (15, 16) located on the end faces (13, 14) of the basic member (12) and can be driven to rotate about the longitudinal axis (11) of the basic member (12) by an electric drive (20) located inside the basic member (12), characterised in that the bearings (15, 16) are located in bearing plates (17, 18), which close-off the basic member (12) on the end faces, and the electric drive constructed as an electric motor (20) is retained between the bearing plates (17, 18) inside the basic member (12), the output shaft (25) of the electric motor (20) driving an inner gear unit (19) located between the bearing plates (17, 18).
2. Brush roller according to Claim 1, characterised in that the gear unit (19) is a sun-andplanet gear, whereof the annular gear (22) receiving the planet gears (21) is non-rotatably connected to the stator of the electric motor (20).
3. Brush roller according to Claim 2, characterised in that the gear unit (19) lies between the electric motor (20) and a bearing plate (18) and the planet gears (21) are retained on the bearing plate (18) so that they transmit torque.
4. Brush roller according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the output shaft (25) penetratesthe bearing plate (18) and its free end forms a bearing stub (26).
5. Brush roller according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that located between the electric motor (20) and the other bearing plate (17) is a spacer member (40), in 35 particular a spacer tube.
6.

Brush roller according to one of Claims 1 to 5, JO characterised in that the bearing plates (17, 18), the gear unit (19) and the electric motor (20) with the spacer member (40) form a self- supporting component, which can be inserted axially in the basic member (12) of the brush roller (2).
7. Brush roller according to Claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the electric supply leads (44) leading to the electric motor (20) are guided through the spacer member (40) and the bearing plate (17).
8. Brush roller according to one of Claims 5 to7, characterised in that located in the spacer member (40) is a power supply, in particular a set of batteries (45).
9. Brush roller according to Claim 8, characterised in that the set of batteries (45) forms the spacer member (40).
10. Brush roller according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the basic member (12) bears by one end face (13) against a bearing plate (17) and the other bearing plate (18) lies inside the basic member (12) and is locked to the latter.
11. Brush roller according to Claim 10, characterised in that formed on the other bearing plate (18) is a cylindrical locking projection (30) preferably remote from the electric motor (20), which projection comprises at least one axial locking tongue (31), which engages in an inner locking recess (33) of the basic member (12), facing the locking projection (30).
12. Brush roller according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that formed in the surface of the basic member (12), preferably in the region of the spacer member (40) are air intake openings (50).
13. Brush roller according to Claim 12, characterised in 11 that located in the region of an air intake opening (50) on the surface of the basic member (12) is an air baffle (52) extending in the direction of rotation (51) of the brush roller.
14. Brush roller according to Claim 12 or 13, characterised in that located on the inside of the basic member (12) is an air compartment (53) preferably extending in opposition to the direction of rotation (51) of the brush roller (2).
15. Brush roller according to Claim 14, characterised in that the air compartments (53) are located in the region of the spacer member (40) preferably constructed with a polygonal cross-section and cooperate with the latter.
16. Brush roller according to one of Claims 1 to 15, characterised in that air openings (60) are formed in the bearing plate (17, 18).
17.

A brush roller substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.