U.S. patent application number 10/936384 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-06 for brush assembly and vacuum cleaner including bursh assembly.
Invention is credited to Kim, Hoa-joong, Moon, Dae-yeoun, Park, Jin-soo.
Application Number | 20050217068 10/936384 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36095663 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050217068 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Hoa-joong ; et
al. |
October 6, 2005 |
Brush assembly and vacuum cleaner including bursh assembly
Abstract
A brush assembly and the vacuum cleaner using such a brush
assembly comprises a brush main body having an air suction opening
and a turbine chamber, a turbine mounted in the turbine chamber and
having an air passage, and a connecting pipe connecting a vacuum
cleaner main body with the brush main body, the turbine being
mounted only within a portion of the air passage. Accordingly, a
brush connected with the turbine can efficiently be operated, and
unpleasantness to the user caused by noise generated during
cleaning can be reduced.
Inventors: |
Kim, Hoa-joong;
(Gwangju-city, KR) ; Park, Jin-soo; (Seoul,
KR) ; Moon, Dae-yeoun; (Gwangju-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY LLP
224 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE
SUITE 1600
CHICAGO
IL
60604
US
|
Family ID: |
36095663 |
Appl. No.: |
10/936384 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/387 ;
15/377 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/0416
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/387 ;
015/377 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/04; A47L
005/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 2, 2004 |
KR |
2004-23097 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A brush assembly comprising: a brush 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 for connecting a vacuum cleaner main body with the
brush main body, the connecting pipe further comprising a
connecting pipe entrance; wherein the turbine is mounted only
within a portion of the air passage.
2. The brush assembly according to claim 1, wherein the turbine is
mounted at one side of the connecting pipe entrance opening to the
turbine chamber, so as to cover only a portion of the connecting
pipe entrance.
3. The brush assembly according to claim 1, wherein the turbine is
mounted in the turbine chamber and is located in the center of the
connecting pipe entrance, so as to cover a central portion of the
connecting pipe entrance.
4. The brush assembly according to claim 1, wherein the turbine
comprises a plurality of blades, each blade having a regularly
changing thickness as measured from an inner diameter toward an
outer diameter.
5. The brush assembly according to claim 4, wherein each blade has
a thickness gradually decreasing from the inner diameter toward the
outer diameter of the turbine.
6. The brush assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting
pipe entrance further comprises a gradually decreasing diameter
portion and a constant diameter portion.
7. The brush assembly 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 dust
collecting chamber; a brush 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 with the brush main body, the
connecting pipe comprising a connecting pipe entrance, wherein the
turbine is mounted only within a portion of the air passage.
9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the turbine is
mounted at the turbine chamber and disposed toward one side of the
entrance of the connecting pipe entrance, so as to cover only a
portion of the connecting pipe entrance.
10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the turbine is
mounted at the turbine chamber and is located in the center of the
connecting pipe entrance, so as to cover a central portion of the
connecting pipe entrance.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2004-023097 filed on Apr. 2, 2004, in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to vacuum cleaners,
and more particularly, to a brush assembly having a structure
developed to increase cleaning efficiency and a vacuum cleaner
including the brush assembly.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0005] Generally, a brush assembly used in a vacuum cleaner drives
a rotating brush by using the kinetic energy of a stream of air.
The brush assembly usually comprises a brush main body, wherein the
brush contacts a surface to be vacuumed and so, to clean dirt on
the surface by utilizing the rotating motion of the brush. A
connecting pipe for guiding alien substances, such as dust, to a
dust chamber of a vacuum cleaner main body and a turbine, which
drives the brush are also provided.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,633 discloses a brush assembly for a
vacuum cleaner having the above-described structure. The brush
assembly disclosed in the aforementioned patent has a turbine
mounted over an air passage in a turbine chamber. The brush
assembly can increase the initial rotation force of the turbine,
however, relatively large size particles of dirt can not pass
through the air passage and are caught or become stuck in the
turbine blade, thereby decreasing the rotation force of the turbine
and subsequently degrading the suction force of the vacuum
cleaner.
[0007] The dust entrained in the drawn-in air enters into the
turbine chamber and passes through an abruptly narrowing entrance
of the connecting pipe, such that the flow speed of the air is
accelerated therein and unwanted noise is generated.
[0008] The thickness of the turbine blade is generally regular and
constant, such that the suction force of the vacuum cleaner can not
be fully delivered to the turbine, and when alien substances, such
as dust or dirt, pass through the blade surface, the alien
substances can not easily flow through and thereby are liable to
stick to the blade surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention has been conceived to solve the
above-mentioned problems occurring in the known vacuum cleaners,
and an aspect of the present invention is to provide a brush
assembly having a structure developed to increase cleaning
efficiency and to decrease noise generated by the vacuum cleaner,
and a vacuum cleaner utilizing such a brush assembly.
[0010] In order to achieve the above aspects, there is provided a
brush assembly comprising a brush 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 for connecting a vacuum cleaner main body with the brush main
body, wherein the turbine is mounted only within a portion of the
air passage. The connecting pipe includes a connecting pipe
entrance and the turbine may be mounted at one side of the
connecting pipe entrance, or in the center of the connecting pipe
entrance, within the turbine chamber so as to cover only a portion
of the connecting pipe entrance.
[0011] The turbine preferably comprises a plurality of blades, each
blade having a regularly changing thickness, as measured from an
inner diameter toward an outer diameter of the turbine. The blades
each have a thickness gradually decreasing from the inner diameter
toward the outer diameter of the turbine.
[0012] The connecting pipe entrance may further comprise a
gradually decreasing diameter portion and a constant diameter
portion. Additionally, the connecting pipe entrance may be
configured in the shape of Fallopian tube.
[0013] In order to achieve the above aspects, there is provided a
vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner main body having a dust
collecting chamber, a brush 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
including a connecting pipe entrance connecting the cleaner main
body with the brush main body, wherein the turbine is mounted only
within a portion of the air passage.
[0014] The turbine may be mounted either at one side of the
connecting pipe entrance, or alternatively in the center of the
connecting pipe entrance, in the turbine chamber, so as to cover
only a portion of the connecting pipe entrance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more readily apparent from an
understanding of the following detailed description when considered
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded, perspective view of a vacuum
cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are partially cut-away perspective views
of alternative inventive embodiments showing the relationship
between the position of a turbine and a connecting pipe entrance of
the brush assembly shown in FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the turbine in the brush
assembly shown in FIG. 1 including a detail view of the turbine
blade engagement;
[0019] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a connecting pipe used in
the brush assembly shown in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 4B is a sectional view of a portion of the connecting
pipe taken approximately along line IV-IV of FIG. 4A; and
[0021] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the brush
assembly and connecting pipe taken approximately along line V-V of
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Certain embodiments of the present invention will be
described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0023] In the following description, identical drawing reference
numerals are used to indicate the same or similar elements between
the different drawing figures. The matters defined in the
description, such as the detailed construction and 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 the below-described
elements. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not
described in detail since they would obscure the invention in
unnecessary detail.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded, perspective view of a vacuum
cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] A brush assembly 200 comprises a brush main body 210 having
an air suction opening 212 and a turbine chamber 211, a turbine 220
mounted in the turbine chamber 211, a brush 240 for contacting the
surface to be vacuumed and being capable of rotating to dislodge
and clean dirt on the surface, a connecting member 230 for
delivering a rotation force to the turbine 220 so as to rotate the
brush 240, and a connecting pipe 250 for guiding dust-laden air to
a dust collection chamber (not shown) disposed in the vacuum
cleaner main body 100.
[0026] The turbine chamber 211 supports and receives the turbine
220 so that the turbine 220 freely rotates by action of the airflow
generated by the vacuum cleaner.
[0027] A plurality of blades 221 are arrayed circumferentially to
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 220 to be rotated. The detailed configuration of
the blades 221 will be described below.
[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the connecting pipe 250
guides dust-laden air being drawn into the vacuum cleaner to a
chamber (not shown) disposed inside the vacuum cleaner main body
100. The detailed configuration of a connecting pipe entrance 251
formed at the connecting pipe 250 in alternative embodiments will
be described below.
[0029] When the turbine 220 is rotated by suction airflow generated
by the vacuum cleaner, the connecting member 230 delivers
rotational force of the turbine 220 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.
[0030] The brush 240 (FIG. 1) is rotatable by a brush supporting
member 241, which is 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.
[0031] When air flows through an air suction opening 212 and
rotates the turbine 220, a rotation force of the turbine 220 is
delivered, via the connecting member 230, to the brush 240, which
is rotatable about an axis mounted in the brush supporting member
241.
[0032] The brush 240 is moved along the surface to be vacuumed in
close contact therewith, and dislodges dust and dirt off the
surface so as to enable the vacuum cleaner to more easily vacuum
the dirt from the surface. The dirt removed from the surface is
collected through the air suction opening 212 and the connecting
pipe 250 to a dust chamber (not shown) disposed in the vacuum
cleaner main body 100.
[0033] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are partially cut-away, perspective
views showing alternative embodiments of the relationship between
the position of the turbine and a connecting pipe entrance of the
brush assembly shown in FIG. 1. 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.
[0034] The turbine 220 may be disposed laterally toward one side
with respect to the connecting pipe entrance 251, to cover a
portion of the connecting pipe entrance 251.
[0035] More specifically, the connecting pipe entrance 251 being
assumed as having a width A, the turbine 220 is mounted laterally
toward one side of the connecting pipe entrance 251, leaving clear
a width B in the turbine chamber 211. The connecting pipe entrance
251 having a width A may alternatively be configured to mount the
turbine 220 centrally in the connecting pipe entrance 251 of the
turbine chamber 211, being spaced apart at a regular distance C
from both sides of a connecting pipe entrance 251, as shown in FIG.
2B.
[0036] The proportion between a width D of the turbine 220 and the
width A of the connecting pipe entrance 251 may be substantially in
a ratio of 1:2, in view of obtaining passage of dust-laden air
through the connecting pipe entrance 251 and in providing an
appropriate size of blade 221 for conveniently receiving the
suction force from the vacuum cleaner.
[0037] By the above-mentioned structure, the passage through which
dust-laden air passes is wide enough so that the dust-laden air is
drawn in smoothly, and turbine rotation is not affected by a
toothpick, wooden chopsticks or other obstruction being caught by
the turbine.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the turbine shown in the
brush assembly of FIG. 1. A plurality of blades 221 is configured
in a circumferential pattern to define the turbine 220. The lateral
thickness of each blade 221 changes in regular predetermined
arrangement as measured from the center part toward the outer
circumferential diameter of the turbine 220.
[0039] More specifically, a portion near the center of the turbine
220 has a thickness E. As the blades 221 extend out toward the
outer circumferential diameter of the turbine 220, the thickness of
each blade 221 decreases to a thickness F, and in this manner, the
blades 221 radially extend out from the center toward the outer
circumferential diameter of the turbine 220.
[0040] An end G of the blade is rounded, as shown at point G', to
effectively reduce the resistance of the dust-laden air.
[0041] Because the blade has the above-described structure,
dust-laden air flows smoothly along the radially-spaced and curved
surfaces 1 of the blades 221, essentially in the direction of arrow
H, and the air is guided away from the blades 221 at the rounded
end G', such that the impact of the dust-laden air is efficiently
delivered to the ends of the blades 221, and therefore, the
rotation force of the turbine 220 is further increased.
[0042] That is, since the turbine covers a portion of a connecting
pipe entrance (not shown), instead of the whole connecting pipe
entrance, the rotation force of the turbine may be decreased.
However, the decreased rotation force can be compensated by the
above-described structure of the turbine, mainly due to the
radially-spaced and curved blades.
[0043] Additionally, if the above-described structure is applied to
a turbine, the rotation force of a brush (not shown) being rotated
by the drive force of the turbine 220 is also increased, such that
the brush can more strongly impact and dislodge the dirt on the
surface to be vacuumed. Accordingly, dirt can be more easily
removed from the surface.
[0044] As a result, a user can more easily clean a surface to be
vacuumed such that cleaning efficiency is increased, and an alien
substance, such as dust, flows along a radially-curved surface G of
the blade 221 in the direction of arrow H, such that the alien
substance is merely drawn into the vacuum cleaner and does not
become stuck on the blade 221.
[0045] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a connecting pipe attaching
the brush assembly shown in FIG. 1 to the extension pipes of the
vacuum cleaner, and FIG. 413 is a partial sectional view taken
approximately along line IV-IV of the connecting pipe shown in FIG.
4A.
[0046] A connecting pipe entrance 251 is defined by a portion of
the connecting pipe 250, corresponding to a depth Y of the
connecting pipe 250, and providing a connecting part from a larger
diameter J to a smaller diameter K of the connecting pipe.
[0047] The above structure, as Applied to the connecting pipe
entrance 251, provides schematically the shape of a Fallopian tube,
which may be a preferable embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] If a connecting pipe entrance 251 is changed from a larger
diameter J to a smaller diameter K, the part between the larger
diameter J and the smaller diameter K is configured in with an
inclined plane L providing an annular frusto-conical shape having a
softly curved surface.
[0049] As described above, when dust-laden air, received from a
turbine (not shown), passes from the larger diameter J to the
smaller diameter K, the air flows along the inclined plane L so as
to reduce noise that may be generated by the dust-laden air as it
gains momentum when it flows from the larger diameter J to the
smaller diameter K of the connecting pipe entrance 251.
[0050] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the brush assembly taken
approximately 20 along line V-V of FIG. 1, after the exploded view
of FIG. 1 has been assembled. An alien substance, such as dust,
removed from a surface to be vacuumed by a brush 240, passes in the
direction of arrows H through the turbine 220, which is mounted
within the turbine chamber 211,to cover a portion of connecting
pipe entrance 251. The entrance 251 is configured in a connecting
pipe 250, which is connected with the brush main body 210, and the
turbine 220 has a plurality of blades 221 extending radially out
toward the outer circumference of the turbine 220 and each blade
221 having a regularly changing thickness from an inner diameter
toward the outer diameter. Preferably, the alien substance passes
through the connecting pipe 250, of which the connecting pipe
entrance 251 has the shape of a Fallopian tube, wherein a larger
diameter J smoothly changes to a smaller diameter K, and the
portion between the larger diameter J and the smaller diameter K
provides the inclined plane L having a softly curved surface.
Having passed through the connecting pipe 250, the alien substance
is collected in a dust chamber (not shown) in the vacuum cleaner
main body 100 (FIG. 1).
[0051] As described above, when a brush assembly and a vacuum
cleaner using the brush assembly according to an embodiment of the
present invention are applied, alien substances, such as dust, do
not get wedged in the vacuum cleaner turbine, so that a brush
connected with the turbine can be efficiently operated, and thereby
decrease noise in the inventive structure of a connecting pipe
entrance, such that unpleasant noise otherwise generated during
cleaning can be reduced.
[0052] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the various
embodiments of the invention is 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. These and other
objects and advantages of the embodiments of the invention may be
realized and attained, as particularly pointed out in the appended
claims, the invention only being limited thereby.
* * * * *