U.S. patent application number 10/947109 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-23 for double motor vacuum.
Invention is credited to Ling Wai Lau.
Application Number | 20060059655 10/947109 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36072288 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060059655 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lau; Ling Wai |
March 23, 2006 |
Double motor vacuum
Abstract
A vacuum having a series of motors and fans. As the fans rotate,
they draw air into the vacuum. The volume of the air brought into
the vacuum is maximized by positioning the fans in series. A
plurality of fans is positioned so that outflow from a first fan is
the primary inflow into a second fan, and so forth. Together the
fans will draw more air than one could alone. By positioning the
fans in series, the external diameter of the vacuum does not need
to be any larger than it would for a vacuum having a single fan.
The fans and motors are contained in a housing having an intake
aperture. The intake aperture is preferably separated from the
intake opening to the first fan and is preferably slightly smaller
than the intake openings to the first fan. This will cause air
entering the housing to accelerate.
Inventors: |
Lau; Ling Wai; (Hong Kong,
HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
R. Bennett Ford
P.O. Box 15928
Baton Rouge
LA
70895-5928
US
|
Family ID: |
36072288 |
Appl. No.: |
10/947109 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/412 ;
15/344 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 5/24 20130101; A47L
5/22 20130101; A47L 9/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/412 ;
015/344 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/24 20060101
A47L005/24; A47L 5/12 20060101 A47L005/12 |
Claims
1. A vacuum comprising a body having a nozzle configured to allow
air into said body and an exhaust vent configured to allow air to
exit said body; a filter configured to separate dust and debris
from air passing through said body; a power source a housing
containing a leading fan and at least one following fan, each said
fan being operatively connected to and rotated by a motor in
operative connection with said power source, each said fan
configured to intake and discharge air, wherein said leading fan is
positioned to intake air external to said housing and wherein said
following fan is positioned to intake the air discharged from said
leading fan, and wherein said leading fan and said following fan
are aligned with each other in said housing so that said fans
rotate in substantially parallel planes and so that said fans
rotate on substantially the same axis; and wherein said housing and
said fans are positioned in said body to draw air into said nozzle,
through said filter, through said housing and out said exhaust
vent.
2. A vacuum according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said fans
is a radial fan.
3. A vacuum according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said fans
further comprises a plurality of curved vanes.
4. A vacuum according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said fans
is enclosed within a base plate and a fan cover.
5. A vacuum according to claim 4 wherein said base plate comprises
a vent and wherein said fan cover comprises a centrally located
intake opening, whereby the intake and discharge of air from said
at least one of said fans may be controlled.
6. A vacuum according to claim 1 wherein said housing further
comprises and intake end, a discharge end, and substantially
airtight sidewalls extending therebetween.
7. A vacuum according to claim 6 wherein said intake end further
comprises an intake aperture and wherein said discharge end further
comprises a discharge vent.
8. A vacuum according to claim 7 further comprising a base plate
positioned between said leading fan and said at least one following
fan, said base plate having a vent providing air passage through
said base plate and wherein said base plate and said sidewalls are
in substantially air tight engagement whereby air may not pass from
said leading fan to said at least one following fan via said
housing without passing through said vent in said base plate.
9. A vacuum according to claim 8 wherein said leading fan is
separated from said intake aperture of said housing by a distance
that is at least about the diameter of said leading fan.
10. A vacuum according to claim 8 wherein said leading fan is
provided with a fan cover having a centrally positioned intake
opening, said cover and intake opening positioned and configured to
substantially prevent the intake of air by said leading fan except
through said intake opening.
11. A vacuum according to claim 10 wherein said intake opening of
said cover is separated from said intake aperture of said housing
by a distance that is at least about the diameter of said leading
fan.
12. A vacuum according to claim 11 wherein said intake aperture of
said housing is smaller in area than said intake opening of said
cover.
13. A vacuum according to claim 12 wherein said sidewalls taper
outward from said intake aperture to where said sidewalls meet said
base plate.
14. A vacuum according to claim 11 wherein said sidewalls taper
outward from said intake aperture to where said sidewalls meet said
base plate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to vacuum motors in general and in
particular to high efficiency high strength vacuum motors.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] Electric motors are commonly used to drive the fans in
vacuums. The more air the fan entrains, the stronger the vacuum
will be. Typically, greater suction strength is obtained by
providing the vacuums with more powerful motors which are capable
of rotating the fans at a higher rate. However, strengthening the
vacuum output in this manner creates several problems. First, more
powerful motors require more amperage. Where the vacuum is battery
operated, these more powerful motors will exhaust the battery more
quickly, resulting in a shorter operating life for the vacuum.
[0005] Another problem with increasing vacuum strength by simply
using a stronger motor is that stronger motors are generally larger
than their standard counterparts. Thus, increasing motor strength
will generally require the size of the vacuum housing to be
increased as well. This can be undesirable, particularly in hand
held vacuums. Smaller more compact vacuums are often desired in
many of the environments where hand held vacuums are used and
stored, such as in automobiles, office work spaces, and the like.
Anything that increases the girth of these vacuums is often
unwanted.
[0006] Fan size may also be increased to increase the strength of
the vacuum. However, increasing fan size will increase the load on
the motor and require the size of the housing to increase as well.
As with increasing motor power, the increased load on the motor
will more rapidly deplete battery life when cordless vacuums are
employed.
[0007] The volume of air moving through the vacuum will be
controlled by the fan size and speed of rotation. However, the
speed of the air entering the vacuum may also be controlled by the
size and shape of the air inlet. The strength of the vacuum may be
enhanced by accelerating the air as it enters the vacuum.
Accordingly, a vacuum meeting the following objectives is
desired.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a vacuum of
increased strength.
[0009] It another object of the invention to provide a vacuum of
increased strength without increasing the girth of the vacuum
housing.
[0010] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a
vacuum of increased strength without increasing the size of the
vacuum fan.
[0011] It is still another object of the invention to provide a
vacuum of increased strength without increasing the size of the
vacuum motor.
[0012] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a
vacuum having an improved air inlet configuration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The invention comprises a vacuum having a series of motors.
Each motor is equipped with a fan. The motors are configured to
drive the fans. As the fans rotate, they will draw air into the
vacuum. The flow of air into the vacuum will create the suction
used to pick up dirt and other particles. The strength of the
vacuum is determined by the volume of the air moving into the
vacuum and the speed at which the air is moving.
[0014] In the present invention, the volume of air brought into the
vacuum is maximized by positioning the motors and their fans in
series. A plurality of motors is positioned so that the outflow
from a first motor is the sole or primary inflow into a second
motor and fan, and so forth. Together the fans will draw more air
into the vacuum than one could alone. By positioning the motors and
fans in series, the girth or external diameter of the vacuum body
does not need to be any larger than it would for a conventional
vacuum with a single motor and fan.
[0015] In the preferred embodiment, the fans and motors are
provided with a housing. The housing prevents the second motor and
fan from taking in air from anywhere except the outflow of the
first motor and fan. Similarly, it prevents the outflow of air from
the first motor and fan from being discharged anywhere except into
the second motor and fan. An intake aperture is provide in the
housing. In the preferred embodiment, the intake aperture is
slightly smaller than the intake openings to the first fan. This
will cause the air entering the housing to accelerate, thereby
further strengthening the vacuum. The intake aperture to the
housing is preferably separated from the intake opening to the
first fan.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment
of a housing containing a plurality of motors and fans in
series.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a rear end view of a preferred embodiment of a
housing containing a plurality of motors and fans in a series.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cut-away side view of a preferred embodiment of
a housing containing a plurality of motors and fans in series.
[0019] FIG. 4 is an front end view of a preferred embodiment of a
fan.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a rear end view of a preferred embodiment of a
motor and fan.
[0021] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of a motor and fan with cover and base plate.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a partial cut-away front end view of a preferred
embodiment of a fan mounted over a base plate.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a vacuum
containing a preferred embodiment of a housing containing a
plurality of motors and fans in series.
[0024] FIG. 8A is a side view of another preferred embodiment of a
vacuum containing another preferred embodiment of a housing
containing a plurality of motors and fans in series.
[0025] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of one preferred
embodiment of a housing containing a plurality of motors and fans
in series.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION
[0026] A vacuum 1 having a series of motors 2 is disclosed. Each
motor 2 has a motor shaft 2A which drives a fan 3. Fans 3 may take
any conventional shape; however, the preferred embodiment employs a
radial fan configuration. A radial fan 4 has an upper surface 5 and
a lower surface 6. Upper surface 5 contains an intake opening 7.
Intake opening 7 is preferably centrally positioned in upper
surface 5. A plurality of vanes 8 are positioned between upper
surface 5 and lower surface 6. Vanes 8 preferably extend from
intake opening 7 to the outside edge 9 of fan 3. Vanes 8 are
preferably curved. When fan 3 rotates, air will be drawn into
intake opening 7 and pushed out of radial fan 4 at outside edge
9.
[0027] There is preferably a base plate 10 between motor 2 and fan
3. Base plate 10 is preferably wider than fan 3. Base plate 10 is
also preferably provided with a plurality of vents 11 between the
outside edge 9 of fan 3 and periphery of base plate 10. Vents 11
will allow air entrained by fan 3 to pass through base plate 10.
Vents 11 may be provided with fluting 12 to allow air entrained by
fan 3 to pass through base plate 10 at an angle. This will allow
air to pass through base plate 10 with less turbulence than would
be the case if air were required to pass through base plate 10 at a
right angle thereto.
[0028] A fan cover 13 is preferably provided over fan 3. Fan cover
13 will mount to base plate 10 and will contain an intake opening
7A in line with intake opening 7. Fan cover 13 will allow air to
enter fan 3 via intake opening 7 but will ensure that substantially
all of the air exiting fan 3 will pass through vents 1 1 in base
plate 10.
[0029] A plurality of motors 2 and fans 3 are preferably placed in
a series 14, one in line with the other. Although in the preferred
embodiment series 14 only contains two motors 2 and two fans 3, it
will be appreciated that a series 14 comprising any number of
motors 2 and fans 3 may be used.
[0030] Series 14 is preferably contained within a housing 15.
Housing 15 is preferably made of plastic, metal or other suitable
airtight material. One or more motors 2, fans 3, base plates 10,
and fan covers 13 will be positioned within housing 15. Housing 15
will have an inside diameter that is coextensive with the periphery
of each base plate 10. The connection between housing 15 and each
base plate 10 will be substantially air tight, such that air will
only be able to pass from one side of base plate 10 to the other by
passing through vents 1 1.
[0031] Housing 15 will have an intake end 16 and a discharge end
17. Fans 3 will be oriented in housing 15 so that intake openings 7
of fans 3 will face intake end 16 of housing 15. Discharge end 17
will include a discharge vent 31 and will preferably comprise the
base plate 10 of one of the motor 2/fan 3 combinations, such that
one of the motors 2 will actually be positioned outside of housing
15. In the preferred embodiment, vents 11 in the base plate 10 at
discharge end 17 will serve as discharge vent 31.
[0032] In one preferred embodiment, intake end 16 will contain an
intake aperture 18. Intake aperture 18 is preferably slightly
smaller than intake openings 7 and 7A. Intake aperture 18 is
preferably separated from intake opening 7 of the leading fan 3 in
housing 15, most preferably by a distance about equal to or greater
than the diameter of base plate 10.
[0033] In another preferred embodiment, intake end 16 of housing 15
will be formed by cover 13 and/or base plate 10 of the leading
motor 2/fan 3 combination as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 9.
[0034] Housing 15 further comprises substantially airtight
sidewalls 19 that extend from intake end 16 to discharge end 17. In
the preferred embodiment, sidewalls 19 will taper outward smoothly
from intake aperture 18 to where housing 15 meets base plate 10 of
the leading fan 3 in housing 15. In one embodiment, illustrated in
FIGS. 1, 3, and 8, the volume within housing 15 will preferably
increase when viewed from intake aperture 18 to base plate 10,
herein the expanded zone 26. In another preferred embodiment, the
volume within housing 15 will remain substantially constant.
[0035] Although sidewalls 19 are preferably airtight, passages may
be provided in sidewalls 19 to accommodate electrical lines leading
to motors 3 contained within housing 15. These passages will
preferably be substantially sealed with silicone or the like in
order to render them substantially airtight after the necessary
wires are in place.
[0036] Positioning the motors 2 and fans 3 of series 14 in housing
15 will allow the power of each fan 3 exerted on the airstream to
be compounded. Air flowing into the leading fan 3 in series 14 will
pass through a base plate 10 which will effectively separate one
fan 3 from the next. The air exiting the leading base plate 10 will
be the only inflow air available to the next fan 3 in series 14.
Acting together, two fans 3 in series 14 are expected to be able to
move roughly twice the amount of air as any one of them acting
alone. Similar results are expected when additional fans 3 are
included in the series.
[0037] In the preferred embodiment, housing 15 containing series 14
is positioned in a vacuum 1 having a body 20. Vacuum body 20 will
include a power source 21 operatively connected to motors 2 in
series 14 and preferably a switch 22 for activating and
deactivating the connection between power source 21 and motors 2.
Power source 21 may be batteries, a connection to a wall or
automotive outlet, or any other conventional power source. Vacuum
body 20 will also include a nozzle 23 configured to allow an
airstream into vacuum 1. Vacuum body 20 will also include a filter
24 for separating dirt, dust, and the like from the airstream
entering vacuum 1. Housing 15 will be positioned within vacuum body
20 to pull the airstream from the surroundings through nozzle 23
and into vacuum 1 so that the airstream passes through filter 24.
Once the debris in the airstream has been removed by filter 24, the
airstream will pass through housing 15 and exit vacuum 1 via an
exhaust vent 25.
[0038] By placing fans 3 in series 14, additional vacuum strength
is obtained without increasing the girth--the external diameter--of
vacuum 1. Because motors 2, fans 3, and especially base plates 10
are positioned in vertical alignment with each other (i.e., fans 3
and base plates 10 are in substantially parallel planes and fans 3
are on substantially the same axis), series 14 will not have any
greater girth than any one motor 2, fan 3, and base plate 10 alone.
Thus, vacuum 1 will not have to be any wider to accommodate series
14 than it would have had to be to accommodate a single less
powerful fan 3 and motor 2.
[0039] As noted above, in one embodiment intake aperture 18 is
preferably narrower than intake opening 7. Forcing the airstream
through a smaller opening should require the airstream to
accelerate. Faster flow of the airstream will also increase the
strength of vacuum 1. Separating intake aperture 18 from intake
opening 7 and providing the expanded zone 26 between intake
aperture 18 and intake openings 7, 7A should help minimize the
effect of any turbulence created in the airstream by the passage
through intake aperture 18.
[0040] Although the invention has been described in terms of its
preferred embodiment, other embodiments will be apparent to those
of skill in the art from a review of the foregoing. Those
embodiments as well as the preferred embodiments are intended to be
encompassed by the scope and spirit of the following claims.
* * * * *