GB2412571A

GB2412571A - Reduced width turbine in vacuum cleaner nozzle head

Info

Publication number: GB2412571A
Application number: GB0422414A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hoa-Joong Kim; Jin-Soo Park; Dae-Yeoun Moon
Original assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2004-04-02
Filing date: 2004-10-08
Publication date: 2005-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2024-10-08
Also published as: DE102004050814A1; KR20050097832A; JP2005288148A; RU2004130735A; CN1323635C; GB2412571B; AU2004214557A1; GB0422414D0; KR100572153B1; FR2868278A1; CN1676085A; US20050217068A1; RU2281681C2; AU2004214557B2

Abstract

A turbine 220 in a vacuum cleaner head, occupies less than the full width of an air passage 251 in which it sits, such as to allow the passage of large objects without excessive clattering noise. Two main embodiments comprise the positioning of the turbine 220 either to one side of the air passage 251, as in fig.2A, or centrally to the air passages 251, as in fig. 2B.

Description

Vacuum Cleaner Nozzle Unit This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and

in particular to a nozzle unit for a vacuum cleaner, and to a vacuum cleaner including such a nozzle unit.

Generally, a vacuum cleaner nozzle unit drives a rotatable brush using the kinetic energy of a stream of air. A known nozzle unit comprises a main body which houses the rotatable brush in such a manner that the brush can contact a surface to be cleaned.

A connecting pipe guides contaminants such as dust (hereinafter referred to as "dust") to a dust-collecting chamber provided in the main body of the vacuum cleaner. A motor is provided for generating the airstream by driving a turbine which drives the brush.

U.S. Patent specification No. 5,701,633 discloses a vacuum cleaner nozzle unit having the above-described structure. That nozzle unit has a turbine mounted over an air passage in a turbine chamber. The nozzle unit is such as to increase the initial rotational force provided by the turbine. However, relatively large particles of dirt cannot pass through the air passage, and are caught in the turbine blades, thereby decreasing the rotational force provided by the turbine, and subsequently degrading the suction force of the vacuum cleaner.

The dust entrained in the drawn-in air enters the turbine chamber, and passes through a sharply-narrowing entrance of the connecting pipe, such that the speed of flow of the air is accelerated therein, and unwanted noise is generated.

The thickness of the turbine blades is generally regular and constant, such that the suction force of the vacuum cleaner cannot be fully delivered to the turbine; and, when dust pass over the blades, the dust cannot easily flow through and so is liable to stick to the blade surfaces.

The aim of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner nozzle unit having a structure developed to increase cleaning efficiency and to decrease noise generated by the vacuum cleaner, and to provide a vacuum cleaner utilising such a nozzle unit.

The present invention provides a vacuum cleaner nozzle unit comprising: a nozzle unit main body having an air suction opening and a turbine chamber, the turbine chamber having an air passage therewith; a turbine mounted in the turbine chamber; and a connecting pipe for connecting the nozzle unit main body to a vacuum cleaner main body, the connecting pipe having a connecting pipe entrance; wherein the turbine is mounted within a portion only of the air passage.

In a preferred embodiment, the turbine is mounted at that side of the connecting pipe entrance that opens to the turbine chamber, so as to cover only a portion of the connecting pipe entrance. Alternatively, the turbine is mounted in the turbine chamber, and is located substantially in the centre of the connecting pipe entrance, so as to cover a central portion of the connecting pipe entrance.

Preferably, the turbine has a plurality of blades, each blade having a thickness that tapers from its inner end towards its outer end. Conveniently, each blade tapers in a regular manner.

Advantageously, the connecting pipe entrance has a gradually decreasing diameter portion and a constant diameter portion. Preferably, the connecting pipe entrance is substantially configured in the shape of a Fallopian tube.

The invention also provides a vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner main body having a dust-collecting chamber; a nozzle unit main body having an air suction opening and a turbine chamber, the turbine chamber having an air passage; a turbine mounted in the turbine chamber; and a connecting pipe connecting the cleaner main body to the nozzle unit main body, the connecting pipe having a connecting pipe entrance, wherein the turbine is mounted within a portion only of the air passage.

Preferably, the turbine is mounted in the turbine chamber and disposed towards one side of the connecting pipe entrance, so as to cover only a portion of the connecting pipe entrance. Alternatively, the turbine is mounted in the turbine chamber, and is located substantially in the centre of the connecting pipe entrance, so as to cover a central portion of the connecting pipe entrance.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure I is a partiallyexploded, perspective view of a vacuum cleaner having a nozzle unit constructed according to the invention; Figures 2A and Figure 2B are partially cut-away perspective views showing alternative relationships between the position of the turbine of the vacuum cleaner and the entrance to a connecting pipe of the nozzle unit of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the motor of the nozzle unit of Figure 1, and shows a detail view of the turbine blade arrangement; Figure 4A is a perspective view of the connecting pipe of the nozzle unit of Figure 1; Figure 4B is a cross-section taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 4A; and Figure 5 is a partial cross-section taken approximately on the line V-V of Figure 1.

In the following description, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar elements in the different figures. The matters defined in the description, such as the detailed construction and the elements described below, are provided to assist in the comprehensive understanding of the invention, and are not to be considered as limiting the invention. The present invention may be carried out without using some or even a majority of those elements. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail, since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

Referring to the drawings, Figure I shows a vacuum cleaner having a main body 100 and a nozzle unit 200. The nozzle unit 200 comprises a main body 210 having an air suction opening 212 and a turbine chamber 211, a turbine 220 mounted in the turbine S chamber, a brush 240 for contacting a surface to be cleaned and being capable of rotating to dislodge and clean dust from that surface, a connecting member 230 for delivering a rotational force to the turbine so as to rotate the brush, and a connecting pipe 250 for guiding dust-carrying air to a dust-collection chamber (not shown) disposed in the vacuum cleaner main body 100.

The turbine chamber 211 supports and receives the turbine 220 so that the turbine is freely rotatable by action of the airflow generated by the motor of the vacuum cleaner.

A plurality of circumferental blades 221 define the turbine 220, so that the suction airflow generated by the vacuum cleaner drawing in air through the main brush body 210 causes the turbine to be rotated. The detailed configuration of the blades 221 will be described below.

Referring now to Figures 2A and 2B, the connecting pipe 250 guides dustcarrying air being drawn into the vacuum cleaner to a chamber (not shown) disposed inside the vacuum cleaner main body 100. The detailed configuration of an entrance 251 to the connecting pipe 250 in alternative embodiments will be described below.

When the turbine 220 is rotated by the suction airflow generated by the vacuum cleaner, the connecting member 230 delivers the rotational force provided by the turbine to the brush 240. The connecting member 230 preferably is a belt; however, this should not be considered as limiting. Various alternative configurations for providing the rotating function, such as a gear, will come to mind to a person skilled in the art.

The brush 240 (see Figure 1) is rotatable with respect to brush support members 241, which are mounted on the main body 210. The turbine 220 is rotatably mounted on a partition 213 of the turbine chamber 211 by means of a turbine axle 222.

When air flows through the air suction opening 212 and rotates the turbine 220, the rotational force of the turbine is delivered, via the connecting member 230, to the brush 240, which is rotatable about an axis defined by the brush support members 241.

As the brush 240 is moved along, and in close contact with, the surface to be cleaned, it dislodges dust from that surface, thereby facilitating dust removal from that surface.

The dust removed is fed, via the air suction opening 212 and the connecting pipe 250, to a dust-collection chamber (not shown) disposed in the vacuum cleaner main body 100.

Figures 2A and Figure 2B are partially cut-away, perspective views showing alternative embodiments of the relationship between the position of the turbine 220 and the connecting pipe entrance 251. The turbine 220 is mounted in the turbine chamber 211 to cover a portion of a connection pipe entrance 251, providing fluid communication with the main body 210.

The turbine 220 may be disposed laterally towards one side with respect to the connecting pipe entrance 251, to cover a portion of the connecting pipe entrance 251.

More specifically, the connecting pipe entrance 251 is assumed to have a width A, and the turbine 220 is mounted laterally towards one side of the connecting pipe entrance, leaving clear a width B in the turbine chamber 211 (see Figure 2A). The connecting pipe entrance 251 of width A may alternatively be configured to mount the turbine 220 centrally therein, being spaced apart by the same distance C from both sides of the entrance, as shown in Figure 2B.

The ratio of the width D of the turbine 220 to the width A of the connecting pipe entrance 251 may be substantially 1:2, thereby to permit passage of dust-carrying air through the connecting pipe entrance and to provide an appropriate size of blade 221 for conveniently receiving the suction force from the vacuum cleaner.

In this way, the passage through which dust-carrying air passes is wide enough so that the air is drawn in smoothly, and turbine rotation is not affected by obstructions such as a toothpick, or a wooden chopstick being trapped in the turbine 220.

Figure 3 shows how the turbine blades 221 are configured in a circumferential pattern to define the turbine 220. The lateral thickness of each blade 221 tapers in a regular manner from its centre part towards its outer circumference.

More specifically, a portion near the centre of each turbine blade 221 has a thickness E. As that blade 221 extends out towards the outer circumferential diameter of the turbine 220, its thickness decreases to a thickness F. The free end G' of each blade is rounded, as shown at G. effectively to reduce the resistance to passage of the dust-carrying air.

Because the blades 221 have this configuration, dust-carrying air flows smoothly along their radially-spaced and curved surfaces I, essentially in the direction of the arrows H. and the air is guided away from the blades at the rounded ends G', such that the impact of the dust-carrying air is efficiently delivered to the ends of the blades. Hence, the rotational force of the turbine 220 is further increased.

That is, since the turbine 220 covers only a portion of the connecting pipe entrance 251 (not shown in Figure 3), instead of covering the entire connecting pipe entrance, the rotational force of the turbine is increased, mainly due to the radially-spaced and curved blades 221.

Additionally, the rotational force of the brush 240 (not shown in Figure 5), being rotated by the rotational force of the turbine 220, is also increased, so that the brush can more strongly impact and dislodge dust from the surface to be cleaned. Accordingly, dust can be more easily removed from that surface.

As a result, a user can more easily clean such a surface, so that cleaning efficiency is increased, and dust flows along the radially- curved surfaces G of the blades 221 in the direction of the arrows H. such that the dust is merely drawn into the vacuum cleaner, and does not become stuck on the blades 221.

Referring to Figures 4A and 4B, the connecting pipe entrance 251 is defined by a portion of the connecting pipe 250, that portion corresponding to a depth Y of the connecting pipe, and providing a connecting part that tapers from a larger diameter J to a smaller diameter K. This structure provides schematically the shape of a Fallopian tube, the part between the larger diameter J and the smaller diameter K defining an inclined plane L providing an annular frustoconical shape having a gently curved surface.

As described above, when dust-carrying air, received from the turbine 220, passes from the larger diameter J to the smaller diameter K of the connecting pipe entrance 251, the air flows along the inclined plane L so as to reduce noise that may be generated by the dust-carrying air as it gains momentum when it flows from the larger diameter J to the smaller diameter K. Figure 5 shows that dust-carrying air passes in the direction of the arrows H through the turbine 220, which is mounted within the turbine chamber 211 to cover a portion of connecting pipe entrance 251. The connecting pipe 250 is connected to the main body 210, and (as described above) the turbine 220 has a plurality of blades 221 extending radially out towards the outer circumference of the turbine, and each blade having a thickness that tapers towards the outside of the turbine. Having passed through the connecting pipe 250, the dust is collected in a dust-collection chamber provided in the vacuum cleaner main body 100.

As described above, with this nozzle unit, dust does not get wedged in the vacuum cleaner turbine 220, so that the brush 240 can be efficiently operated, thereby decrease noise generated in the connecting pipe entrance.

Additional advantages and features of the various embodiments of the invention are set forth in part in the above description and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following claims, or may be learned from practice of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A vacuum cleaner nozzle unit comprising: a nozzle unit main body

having an air suction opening and a turbine chamber, the turbine chamber having an air passage therewith; a turbine mounted in the turbine chamber; and a connecting pipe for connecting the nozzle unit main body to a vacuum cleaner main body, the connecting pipe having a connecting pipe entrance; wherein the turbine is mounted within a portion only of the air passage.
2. A nozzle unit according to claim 1, wherein the turbine is mounted at that side of the connecting pipe entrance that opens to the turbine chamber, so as to cover only a portion of the connecting pipe entrance.
3. A nozzle unit according to claim 1, wherein the turbine is mounted in the turbine chamber, and is located substantially in the centre of the connecting pipe entrance, so as to cover a central portion of the connecting pipe entrance.
4. A nozzle unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the turbine has a plurality of blades, each blade having a thickness that tapers from its inner end towards its outer end.
5. A nozzle unit according to claim 4, wherein each blade tapers in a regular manner.
6. A nozzle unit according to any one of claims I to 5, wherein the connecting pipe entrance has a gradually decreasing diameter portion and a constant diameter portion.
7. A nozzle unit according to claim 6, wherein the connecting pipe entrance is substantially configured in the shape of a Fallopian tube.
8. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner main body having a dustcollecting chamber; a nozzle unit main body having an air suction opening and a turbine chamber, the turbine chamber having an air passage; a turbine mounted in the turbine chamber; and a connecting pipe connecting the cleaner main body to the nozzle unit main body, the connecting pipe having a connecting pipe entrance, wherein the turbine is mounted within a portion only of the air passage.
9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the turbine is mounted in the turbine chamber and disposed towards one side of the connecting pipe entrance, so as to cover only a portion of the connecting pipe entrance.
10. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the turbine is mounted in the turbine chamber, and is located substantially in the centre of the connecting pipe entrance, so as to cover a central portion of the connecting pipe entrance.
11. A vacuum cleaner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the drawings.

11. A vacuum cleaner nozzle unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the drawings.

12. A vacuum cleaner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the drawings. \\

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A vacuum cleaner nozzle unit comprising: a nozzle unit main body having an air suction opening and a turbine chamber; a turbine mounted in the turbine chamber; and a connecting pipe for connecting the nozzle unit main body to a vacuum cleaner main body, the connecting pipe having a connecting pipe entrance; wherein the turbine chamber defines an air passage leading from the air suction opening to the connecting pipe entrance, wherein the turbine is mounted adjacent to the connecting pipe entrance so as to occupy less than the full width of the connecting pipe entrance, and wherein the connecting pipe entrance has an annular frustoconical shape tapering from the mouth therof and defines any internal, gently curved surface.

2. A nozzle unit according to claim 1, wherein the turbine is mounted at one side of the connecting pipe entrance that opens to the turbine chamber, so as to cover only a portion of the connecting pipe entrance.

3. A nozzle unit according to claim 1, wherein the turbine is mounted in the turbine chamber, and is located substantially in the centre of the connecting pipe entrance, so as to cover a central portion of the connecting pipe entrance.

4. A nozzle unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the turbine has a plurality of blades, each blade having a thickness that tapers from its inner end towards its outer end.

5. A nozzle unit according to claim 4, wherein each blade tapers in a regular manner.

6. A nozzle unit according to any one of claims I to 5, wherein the connecting pipe has a constant diameter portion contiguous with the downstream end of the connecting pipe entrance.

7. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner main body having a dustcollecting chamber; a nozzle unit main body having an air suction opening and a turbine chamber; a turbine mounted in the turbine chamber; and a comecting pipe connecting the cleaner main body to the nozzle unit main body, the connecting pipe having a connecting pipe entrance, wherein the turbine chamber defines an air passage leading from the air suction opening to the connecting pipe entrance, wherein the turbine is mounted adjacent to the connecting pipe entrance so as to occupy less then the full width of the connecting pipe entrance, and wherein the connecting pipe entrance has an annular frustoconical shape tapering from the mouth therof and defines any internal, gently curved surface.

8. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the turbine is mounted in the turbine chamber and disposed towards one side of the connecting pipe entrance, so as to cover only a portion of the connecting pipe entrance.

9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the turbine is mounted in the turbine chamber, and is located substantially in the centre of the connecting pipe entrance, so as to cover a central portion of the connecting pipe entrance.

10. A vacuum cleaner nozzle unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the drawings.