Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-01
2001-01-09
Moore, Chris K. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
C015S387000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170119
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to vacuum cleaner heads having an agitator such as a rotatably mounted brush. Such vacuum cleaner heads may be used with upright vacuum cleaners, canister vacuum cleaners, central vacuum cleaners and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various configuration for vacuum cleaner heads are known in the art. Vacuum cleaner heads may be used in conjunction with upright vacuum cleaners. In such a case, a vacuum cleaner head may include a motor for creating an air flow through the vacuum cleaner. In such a case, the vacuum cleaner may also be connected to an electric motor to drive a rotatably mounted brush. Alternately, a turbine driven rotatably mounted brush may be provided in the vacuum cleaner head. Similarly, in the case of canister vacuum cleaners and central vacuum cleaning systems, a rotatably mounted brush which is driven either by an electric motor or a turbine is known in the industry.
If a turbine is placed in the air flow path, it may become clogged (such as by hairs or other elongate particulate material) which may be entrained in the dirty air stream entering the vacuum cleaner head. Accordingly, it is well known in the industry to mount the turbine so as to be operated by clean air which enters the vacuum cleaner head such as through the top of the vacuum cleaner head. One disadvantage with this approach is that not all of the air which enters the vacuum cleaner head enters through the dirty air inlet. Accordingly, a portion of the suction created by the motor is used to operate the turbine and is not available for use in entraining dirt.
While it is known to locate a turbine in the dirty air flow path through the vacuum cleaner head, suitable means for preventing the clogging of the turbine have not been developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the instant invention, cutting means are provided in the air flow path for reducing the size of a portion of a particulate material entering the dirty air inlet. Thus, materials such as hair and the like may be cut into smaller portions so as to avoid clogging or filing the turbine. In addition, by reducing the size of such elongate material, the likelihood of the air flow path downstream of the turbine becoming clogged is reduced. Accordingly, the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner head, and in fact the entire vacuum cleaning system, may be maintained at a higher level.
Accordingly, in accordance with the instant invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner head for cleaning a surface comprising a casing having a dirty air inlet for receiving an air flow having entrained particulate material, an air outlet and an air flow path extending between the dirty air inlet and the air outlet, a first member having a cutting edge and, a second member cooperative with the first member for reducing the size of a portion of the particulate material entering the dirty air inlet.
The first member may be mounted at a stationary position in the casing with the cutting edge positioned in the air flow path. The second member may be rotatably mounted in the casing. Preferably, the second member rotates in response to air flow through the air flow path. In such a case, the second member may cooperate with the first member as it rotates. For example, the second member may comprise a turbine positioned in the air flow path and at least some of the blades of the turbine cooperate with the first member as the turbine rotates. In such an embodiment, the first member comprises a knife which is mounted adjacent the outlet port.
The blades may be positioned whereby at any one time at most only a portion of one of the blades is cooperatively disposed with respect to the first member. Thus, the blades may comprise longitudinally extending members having a first end and a second end and the second end is rotationally displaced around the turbine with respect to the first end.
The second member may comprise a longitudinally extending member and at any one time at most only a portion of the second member cooperates with the first member.
In accordance with the instant invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner head for cleaning a surface comprising a casing having a dirty air inlet for receiving an air flow having entrained particulate material, an air outlet and an air flow path extending between the dirty air inlet and the air outlet and, cutting means positioned in the air flow path for reducing the size of a portion of the particulate material entering the dirty air inlet.
In one embodiment, the cutting means comprises a first cutting means and a second cutting means and the interaction of the first and second cutting means acts to reduce the size of a portion of the particulate material entering the dirty air inlet. The second cutting means may comprise a plurality of cutting members configured such that at any one time at most only a portion of one of the cutting members is cooperatively disposed with respect to the first cutting means. The first cutting means may be a stationary member and the second cutting means is a movably (eg. rotatably) mounted member.
The second cutting means may be a motive force means for producing motive power in response to the air flow through the vacuum cleaner head and/or used to drive a brushing means.
In accordance with the instant invention there is provided a method of cleaning a surface using a vacuum cleaner head having a dirty air inlet, an air outlet and an air flow path there between, the method comprising introducing dirty air having entrained particulate material into the dirty air inlet and, reducing the size of a portion of the particulate material as it passes through the air flow path.
The vacuum cleaner head may include a motive force means for producing motive power in response to the air flow through the vacuum cleaner head and the method further comprises using the motive force means to reduce the size of a portion of the particulate material as it passes through the air flow path. The motive force means may comprise a turbine and the method further comprises reducing the size of a portion of the particulate material as it passes by the turbine.
The method may further comprise conveying the dirty air having entrained particulate matter from the air outlet to filtration means to remove particulate matter from the air.
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Conrad Wayne Ernest
Hamilton Scott
Bereskin & Parr
Fantom Technologies Inc.
Mendes da Costa Philip C.
Moore Chris K.
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