NOZZLE FOR A VACUUM CLEANER

Abstract

 A nozzle (1) for a vacuum cleaner, having: a nozzle housing (2), a floor cleaning roller (3) which is rotatable on an axle (13) relative to the nozzle housing (2) about an axis of rotation (4) during operation of the vacuum cleaner, a driving means (5) producing a drive torque (T) which is transferred to the floor cleaning roller (3) by a transmission means (7), a centrifugal clutch (6) operatively connected between the floor cleaning roller (3) and the transmission means (7) and the centrifugal clutch (6) comprises: a cup (8) having at least one engaging element (9), wherein the cup (8) is firmly connected with the floor cleaning roller (3), a driver (10) spaced radially inwardly apart from the cup (8) and rotatable about the axis of rotation (4), at least one slider (11) which is movably retained by the driver (10), and a disconnecting means (12) retained by the driver (10) acting with force (F) on the slider (11) towards the axis of rotation (4), wherein after exceeding a predetermined rotation speed of the driver (10) a centrifugal force (C) acting on the slider (11) exceeds the radial force (F) what causes that the slider (11) moves outward from the driver (10) and connects with the engaging element (9) then the drive (10) is engaged with the cup (8) and the drive torque (T) which is produced by the driving means (5) can be transmitted by the transmission means (7) and the centrifugal clutch (6) to the floor cleaning roller (3). Thus a nozzle has the centrifugal clutch which disengages the floor cleaning roller from the transmission means when the predetermined rotation speed of the driver is not exceeded, it also means that when it starting to operate, the floor cleaner roller is disengaged from the transmission means thereby easier starting to operate of a nozzle is achieved, namely the driving means easier starts to operate due to disengaged the floor cleaner roller.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner nozzle for cleaning surfaces such as floors, comprising a rotatable, elongated brush, which is provided with brush means, wherein the brush is rotatably driven and adapted to rotate during cleaning to brush off debris and dust from the surface or to accomplish agitation of the surface.

[0002] Document EP2659817A2 describes a nozzle having a nozzle casing provided with a floor cleaning roller movable inside and outside of nozzle casing and rotatable with respect to a nozzle casing during an operation of vacuum cleaner around a rotational axis. A cylindrical portion is extended over 25% of width of nozzle casing, parallel to rotational axis, during operation of vacuum cleaner. The floor cleaning roller and cylindrical portion are arranged such that the floor cleaning roller is contacted with the cylindrical portion when moving inside and outside of nozzle casing. The cleaning roller is driven by a turbine which produces drive torque. The drive torque from the turbine is transmitted via a first pulley rotatable and connected to the turbine and a first belt which is engaged with first and second pulley wherein the second pulley is engaged with third pulley by a shaft. Second belt transmitting the drive torque from the third pulley to a transition means having from one side toothed structure which connects the cleaning roller, therefore the drive torque can be transmitted from the turbine to the cleaning roller. This solution gives possibility to remove the cleaning roller from the nozzle casing. This solution provides the nozzle with a constant drive connection between the turbine and the cleaning roller. In some situations, this solution is unfavourable, namely when the turbine starts to rotate as a result of air flow produced by a suction unit, it has to drive all transition devices and the cleaning roller, therefore when the produced by the turbine the drive torque is smaller than resistance of rotation transition means and resistance produced by the cleaning roller especially when it is in contact with floor or carpet, the turbine is not able to turn the cleaning roller.

[0003] Document US8011063 B2 describes an overload clutch for a rotating agitation member for a surface cleaning machine including a clutch member connected to the agitation member to rotate therewith, a coupling member rotatable relative to the clutch member, and a torque lever having an end pivotally mounted to the coupling member. The other end of the torque lever is biased to engage with the clutch member such that the agitation member is rotated together with the coupling member when a torque load from the agitation member is not greater than a preset level. The torque lever pivots outward away from the clutch member and disengages from the clutch member to disconnect the torque lever from the clutch member when the torque load from the agitation member is greater than the preset level. The rotating agitation member may get stuck, and the motor driving the rotating agitation member will be damaged due to frictional heat if power transmission from the motor to the rotating agitation member is not cut off. This is an object for said solution to disconnect the first torque lever from the clutch member when the torque load from the rotating agitation member is greater than the preset level.

[0004] Also it is known from the prior art nozzles provided with a clutch, namely a centrifugal clutch which prevents the nozzle from being damaged due to uncontrolled increase of a rotation speed e.g. when during a operation the nozzle is taken from the floor or carpet. In such solutions the drive torque is from the start constantly transmitted to the cleaning roller until means being controlled, exceeds preset level of the rotation speed then the transmission of the drive torque to the cleaning roller is stopped.

[0005] The objective of the present invention is to provide a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner wherein the turbine or an electric motor which also can be used in the nozzle for producing drive torque is less loaded during the start working.

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a nozzle for the vacuum cleaner, having: a nozzle housing, a floor cleaning roller which can be removed from the nozzle housing and rotatable on an axle relative to the nozzle housing. The floor cleaning roller rotates about an axis of rotation during operation of the vacuum cleaner. A driving means producing a drive torque "T" which is transferred to the floor cleaning roller by a transmission means, and a centrifugal clutch which is operatively connected between the floor cleaning roller and the transmission means wherein the centrifugal clutch comprises:
a cup having at least one engaging element, wherein the cup is firmly connected with the floor cleaning roller, a driver spaced radially inwardly apart from the cup and rotatable about the axis of rotation, at least one slider which is movably retained by the driver, and a disconnecting means retained by the driver acting with force "F" on the slider towards the axis of rotation. After exceeding a predetermined rotation speed of the driver a centrifugal force "C" on the slider against the radial force "F" exceeds the radial force "F" what causes that the slider moves outward from the driver and connects with the engaging element then the drive is engaged with the cup and the drive torque "T" which is produced by the driving means can be transmitted by the transmission means and the centrifugal clutch to the floor cleaning roller.

[0007] The disconnecting means keeps the driver and the cup not being engaged when the predetermined rotation speed is not exceeded. In such situation the radial force "F" produced by the disconnecting means, acting on the slider prevents from moving out of the slider from the driver.

[0008] Advantageously, a nozzle has the centrifugal clutch which disengages the floor cleaning roller from the transmission means when the predetermined rotation speed of the driver is not exceeded, it also means that when it starting to operate, the floor cleaner roller is disengaged from the transmission means thereby easier starting to operate of a nozzle is achieved, namely the driving means starts easier to operate due to disengaged the floor cleaner roller.

[0009] Preferably, after lowering the rotation speed of the driver below predetermined rotation speed, centrifugal force "C" acting on the slider against the radial force "F" becomes lower than the radial force "F", what causes that the slider moves inward to the driver and disconnects with the engaging element, therefore the drive torque "T" transfer from the driving means to the floor cleaning roller is stopped. In that reason the drive torque "T" is only transferred from the transmission mean to the floor cleaner roller when the rotation speed of the driver exceeds the predetermined rotation speed.

[0010] Preferably, the disconnecting mean comprises at least one slider made of material attractive to magnetism and movably retained by the driver and used to connect the driver with the cup by the engaging element, and a permanent magnet placed in the driver, in the axis of rotation or nearby or the disconnecting means includes at least one slider made of a magnetic material and movably retained by the driver and used to connect the driver with the cup by the engaging element, and an element made of material attractive to magnetism placed in the driver, in the axis of rotation or nearby. Alternatively the magnetic mean includes at a plurality of sliders made of magnetic material and movably retained by the driver and used to connect the driver with the cup by the engaging element, wherein sliders are magnetically urged toward each other in a direction towards the axis of rotation. Usage of a magnetic force i.e. at least one of the cooperating elements is made of magnetic material causes that the disconnecting means is compact, durable and doesn't require a lot of space.

[0011] Preferably, the disconnecting means comprises a coil spring which produces the radial force "F" acting on the slider in the direction towards the axis of rotation. In that variant of solution the disconnecting means can comprise a pulling coil spring, which first end is attached to the closer end of the slider with respect to the axis of rotation and the second end of the pulling coil spring is attached to the driver close to the axis of rotation.

[0012] Preferably, the driving means comprises: a turbine, an axle which is mechanically engaged with the turbine and connected with the transferring means for forwarding the drive torque "T" produced on the turbine by airflow which is created by the vacuum cleaner. Thereby a nozzle doesn't require any additional power supply.

[0013] Preferable, the driving means comprises: an electric motor with an axle which is mechanically connected with the transmission means for forwarding the drive torque "T" produced by the electric motor. Thereby a nozzle can be used regardless of the value of the air stream produced by the vacuum cleaner. Moreover it can be used an electric motor having smaller starting torque with a smaller electric power consumption.

[0014] Preferably, the transmission means comprises: a first gearwheel connected with the driving means, a toothed belt, and a second gearwheel which is connected to the driver. Thereby the transmission means are easy to produce and cost effective. Preferably, the engaging element is created by one through opening disposed in a cylindrical portion of the cup in order to receive a portion of the slider projecting from the driver for temporally engaging the cup with the driver after exceeding a predetermined rotation speed of the driver. This solution is cost effective and durable. Also it is not complicated in production and provides firmly connection between the cup and driver.

[0015] In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner with the preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the internal elements of a nozzle as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the floor cleaner roller and the centrifugal clutch of a nozzle as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the centrifugal clutch of a nozzle as shown in Fig. 3 in a disengage position.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the centrifugal clutch of a nozzle as shown in Fig. 3 in an engage position.

[0016] Reference is made to Fig. 1 which is an exploded perspective view of a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. A nozzle 1 for a vacuum cleaner has a nozzle housing 2 divided horizontally into upper parts and a lower part. A floor cleaning roller 3 is removable placed in the nozzle housing 2 and rotatable on axle 13 (not visible on this figure) relative to the nozzle housing 2 about an axis of rotation 4 during operation of the vacuum cleaner. The axle 13 is made of steel (material attractive to magnetism). A diving mean 5 as a turbine 18 (not visible on this figure) is rotatable retained in a turbine chamber 20 on an axle 19, which is placed in the nozzle housing 2. The axle 13 on which the floor cleaning roller is rotated and the axle 19 for the turbine 18 are parallel each other. The axle 19 is mounted in the turbine chamber 20 on bearings 21 (one of these is visible on this figure). One of the ends of the axle 19 is connected with transmission means 7 to transmit a drive torque "T" produced by the turbine 18 on effect to airflow which is created by the vacuum cleaner to the floor cleaning roller 3. Between the floor cleaning roller 3 and the transmission means 7 a centrifugal clutch 6 (not visible on this figure) is operatively connected. The drive torque "T" is transmitted to the floor cleaning

[0017] Reference is made to Fig. 2 which is a perspective view of the internal parts of a nozzle as shown in Fig. 1. A nozzle 1 for the vacuum cleaner has a nozzle housing 2 (not visible on this figure) divided horizontally into upper parts and lower part. A floor cleaning roller 3 is removable placed in the nozzle housing 2 and rotatable on axle 13 relative to the nozzle housing 2 (not visible on this figure) about an axis of rotation 4 during operation of the vacuum cleaner. The axle 13 is made of steel (material attractive to magnetism). A turbine 18 (not visible on this figure) is rotatable retained in a turbine chamber 20 on an axle 19, which is placed in the nozzle housing 2. The axle 13 on which the floor cleaning roller is rotated and the axle 19 for the turbine 18 are parallel each other. The axle 19 is mounted in the turbine chamber 20 on bearings 21 (one of them is visible on this figure). One of the ends of the axle 19 is provided with a first gearwheel 15 which is a part of the transmission means 7. The transmission means 7 further consist of a toothed belt 17, which connects the first gearwheel 15 with the second gearwheel 16, a transmission means housing 22 and fixing means 23 for establishing appropriate distance between the first gearwheel 15 and the second gearwheel 16, ensuring proper the toothed belt 17 tension. The second gearwheel 16 is coaxially connected to the driver 10 provided with two radially opposite disposed sliders 11. The driver 10 is spaced radially inwardly apart from a cup 8 and rotatable about the axis of rotation 4. The cup 8 is firmly connected with the floor cleaning roller 3 and creates a recess for receiving the driver 10. The cup 8 has two engaging elements 9, which are created by two through openings 9' disposed in a cylindrical portion of the cup 8 in order to receive portions of the sliders 11 projecting from the driver 10 for temporally engaging the cup 8 with the driver 10 after exceeding a predetermined rotation speed of the driver 10. The centrifugal clutch 6 comprises a disconnecting means 12 which includes sliders 11 and are partially made of magnetic material which are being attracted to axle 13 because it is made of steel. Their mutual interaction produces the radial force "F" attracting the sliders 11 towards the axis of rotation 4, therefore only after exceeding a predetermined rotation speed of the driver 10 a centrifugal force "C" acting on the slider 11 exceeds the radial force "F" then sliders 11 move outward from the driver 10 and partially falls into openings 9' thereby the drive 10 is engaged with the cup 8 and the drive torque "T" which is produced by the turbine 18 can be transmitted to the floor cleaning roller 3. The sliders 11 have substantially cylindrical shape and each of them consist of two parts, an inner part is a magnet 111 and an outer cup shape part is a cover 112 which is made of plastic and is used for receiving and fixing the magnet 111.

[0018] Reference is made to Fig. 3 which is a cross-sectional view of the floor cleaner roller and centrifugal clutch of a nozzle as shown in Fig. 1. A nozzle 1 comprises the floor cleaning roller 3 rotating on the axle 13 which is made of steel (material attractive to magnetism), the turbine 18 which is rotatable retained in a turbine chamber 20 on an axle 19 (not visible on this figure) and placed in the nozzle housing 2 (not visible on this figure). The axle 13 of the floor cleaning roller 3 and the axle 19 of the turbine 18 are parallel each other. The axle 19 is mounted in the turbine chamber 20 on bearings 21 (not visible on this figure). One of the ends of the axle 19 is provided with a first gearwheel 15 (not visible on this figure) which is a part of the transmission means 7. The transmission means 7 further consist of a toothed belt 17, which connects the first gearwheel 15 with the second gearwheel 16, a transmission means housing 22 and fixing means 23 for establishing appropriate distance between the first gearwheel 15 and the second gearwheel 16, ensuring a proper tension of the toothed belt 17. The second gearwheel 16 is coaxially connected to the driver 10 provided with two radially disposed sliders 11. The driver 10 is spaced radially inwardly apart from a cup 8 and rotatable about the axis of rotation 4 and the axle 13. The cup 8 is firmly connected with the floor cleaning roller 3 creates a recess for receiving the driver 10. The cup 8 has two engaging elements 9, which are created by two through openings 9' disposed in a cylindrical portion of the cup 8 in order to receive portions of the sliders 11 projecting from the driver 10 for temporally engaging the cup 8 with the driver 10 after exceeding a predetermined rotation speed of the driver 10. The sliders 11 have substantially cylindrical shape and each of them consist of two parts, inner part is the magnet 111 and the outer part is the cover 112, which is made of plastic for receiving and fixing the magnet 111. On this figure a radial force "F" produced by magnetic interaction between the magnet 111 and the axle 13 made of steel keeps the sliders 11 in the contact with the axle 13 what causes that said sliders 11 are hidden in the driver 10. Therefore they don't reach the openings 9' as a consequence of what the driver 10 is not engaged with the cup 8, and the centrifugal clutch 6 is in a disengage position, therefore the driver 10 can rotate without load which would come from driving the floor cleaning roller 3. On this example a disconnecting means 12 includes two sliders 11 each of them consists of two parts, the inner part is the magnet 111 and outer cup shape part is the cover 112, and the axle 13 is made of steel for producing the radial force "F" acting on sliders 11 towards the axle 13 and axis of rotation 4.

[0019] Reference is made to Fig. 4 which is a cross-sectional view of the centrifugal clutch of a nozzle as shown in Fig. 3. In this example of the centrifugal clutch 6, the cup 8 has two through openings 9' disposed in its cylindrical portion and the cup 8 is firmly connected with the floor cleaning roller 3 in the recess of the floor cleaning roller 3. The driver 10 is spaced radially inwardly apart from the cup 8 and rotatable about the axis of rotation 4 on the axle 13. The driver 10 has two radially disposed channels for slidingly retaining two sliders 11. The sliders 11 have substantially cylindrical shape. On this example the disconnecting means 12 includes two sliders 11 each of them consists of two parts, the inner part is the magnet 111 and the outer the cup part is the cover 112 which is made of plastic part for receiving and fixing the magnet 111, and the axle 13 is made of steel. The disconnecting means acts with a radial force "F" on the sliders 11 towards the axis of rotation 4 and the axle 13. The radial force "F" which is produced by magnetic interaction between magnets 111 and the axle 13 which is made of steel, keeps the sliders 11 in a hidden position i.e. in the contact with the axle 13 what causes that said sliders 11 don't protrude from in the driver 10, therefore they don't reach the openings 9' as a consequence of what the drive 10 is not engaged with the cup 8 and the centrifugal clutch 6 is in the disengage position. This causes that the driver 10 can rotate without load which would come from driving the floor cleaning roller 3. The centrifugal clutch 6 stays in this condition when the driver 10 is stopped or its rotation speed does not exceed a predetermined rotation speed at which the centrifugal force "C" acting against the radial force "F" could act on the sliders 11 would exceed the radial force "F" produced by the disconnecting means 12.

[0020] Reference is made to Fig. 5 which is a cross-sectional view of the centrifugal clutch of a nozzle as shown in Fig. 3. In this example of the centrifugal clutch 6, the cup 8 has two through openings 9' disposed in its cylindrical portion and the cup 8 is firmly connected with the floor cleaning roller 3 in the recess of the floor cleaning roller 3. The driver 10 is spaced radially inwardly apart from the cup 8 and rotatable about the axis of rotation 4 on the axle 13. The driver 10 has two radially disposed channels for slidingly retaining two sliders 11. The sliders 11 have substantially cylindrical shape. On this example the disconnecting means 12 includes two sliders 11 each of them consists of two parts, the inner part is a magnet 111 and the outer cup shape part is the cover 112 which is made of plastic for receiving and fixing the magnet 111, and the axle 13 made of steel. The disconnecting means acts with a radial force "F" on the sliders 11 towards the axis of rotation 4 and the axle 13. On this example the centrifugal force "C" which is directed against the radial force "F" and formed during rotation of the driver 10 acting on the sliders 11 is bigger than the radial force "F" which is produced by magnetic interaction between magnets 111 and the axle 13 which is made of steel. Thereby the sliders 11 are moved from the hidden position to an engage position i.e. they protrude from the driver 10, and reach the openings 9' as a consequence of what the drive 10 is engaged with the cup 8 by the sliders 11, and the centrifugal clutch 6 is an engage position. This causes that the driver 10 drives the floor cleaning roller 3. The centrifugal clutch 6 stays in this condition when the driver 10 exceeds the predetermined rotation speed. As the rotation speed of the driver 10 decreases, it also the centrifugal force "C" decreases and when the centrifugal force "C" falls below the radial force "F", sliders 11 move to the hidden position, and the drive torque "T" transmission from the turbine 18 to the floor cleaning roller 3 is stopped, therefore the turbine 18 is without such a load, it can easier drive the driver 10 to achieve the predetermined rotation speed.

List of reference signs:

[0021] 

1

nozzle

2

nozzle housing

3

floor cleaning roller

4

axis of rotation

5

driving mean

6

centrifugal clutch

7

transmission mean

8

cup

9

engaging element

9'

opening

10

driver

11

slider

12

disconnecting mean

13

axle

15

first gearwheel

16

second gearwheel

17

toothed belt

18

turbine

19

axle

20

turbine chamber

21

bearing

22

transmission mean housing

23

fixing mean

111

magnet

112

cover

C

centrifugal force

F

radial force

T

drive torque

Claims

1. A nozzle (1) for a vacuum cleaner, having: a nozzle housing (2), a floor cleaning roller (3) which is rotatable on an axle (13) relative to the nozzle housing (2) about an axis of rotation (4) during operation of the vacuum cleaner, a driving means (5) producing a drive torque (T) which is transferred to the floor cleaning roller (3) by a transmission means (7), a centrifugal clutch (6) operatively connected between the floor cleaning roller (3) and the transmission means (7) characterized in that the centrifugal clutch (6) comprises:

- a cup (8) having at least one engaging element (9), wherein the cup (8) is firmly connected with the floor cleaning roller (3),

- a driver (10) spaced radially inwardly apart from the cup (8) and rotatable about the axis of rotation (4),

- at least one slider (11) which is movably retained by the driver (10),

- and a disconnecting means (12) retained by the driver (10) acting with force (F) on the slider (11) towards the axis of rotation (4),
wherein after exceeding a predetermined rotation speed of the driver (10) a centrifugal force (C) acting on the slider (11) exceeds the radial force (F) what causes that the slider (11) moves outward from the driver (10) and connects with the engaging element (9) then the drive (10) is engaged with the cup (8) and the drive torque (T) which is produced by the driving means (5) can be transmitted by the transmission means (7) and the centrifugal clutch (6) to the floor cleaning roller (3).

2. A nozzle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that after lowering the rotation speed of the driver (10) below predetermined rotation speed, centrifugal force (C) acting on the slider (11) becomes lower than the radial force (F), what causes that the slider (11) moves inward to the driver (10) and disconnects with the engaging element (9), therefore the drive torque (T) transfer from the driving means (5) to the floor cleaning roller (3) is stopped.

3. A nozzle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the disconnecting means (12) includes at least one slider (11) made of material attractive to magnetism and movably retained by the driver (10) and used to connect the driver (10) with the cup (8) by the engaging element (9), and a permanent magnet placed in the driver (10), in the axis of rotation (4) or nearby to produce the radial force (F) attracting the slider (11) towards the axis of rotation (4).

4. A nozzle (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the disconnecting means (12) includes at least one slider (11) made of a magnetic material and movably retained by the driver (10) and used to connect the driver (10) with the cup (8) by the engaging element (9), and an element made of material attractive to magnetism placed in the driver (10), in the axis of rotation (4) or nearby to produce the radial force (F) attracting the slider (11) towards the axis of rotation (4).

5. A nozzle (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the disconnecting means (12) includes at a plurality of sliders (11) made of magnetic material and movably retained by the driver (10) and used to connect the driver (10) with the cup (8) by the engaging element (9), wherein sliders (11) are magnetically urged toward each other in a direction towards the axis of rotation (4).

6. A nozzle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the disconnecting means (12) includes at least one slider (11) and a coil spring which produces the radial force (F) acting on the slider (11) in the direction towards the axis of rotation (4).

7. A nozzle (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the disconnecting means (12) comprises a pulling coil spring, which first end is attached to the closer end of the slider (11) with respect to the axis of rotation (4) and second end of the pulling coil spring is attached to the driver (10) close to the axis of rotation (4).

8. A nozzle (1) according to any of preceding claims, characterized in that the driving means (5) comprises: a turbine (18), an axle (19) which is mechanically engaged with the turbine (18) and connected with the transferring means (7) for forwarding the drive torque (T) produced on the turbine (18) by airflow which is created by the vacuum cleaner.

9. A nozzle (1) according to any of preceding claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that the driving means (5) comprises: an electric motor with an axle which is mechanically connected with the transmission means (7) for forwarding the drive torque (T) produced by the electric motor.

10. A nozzle (1) according to any of preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission means (7) comprises: a first gearwheel (15) connected with the driving means (5), a toothed belt (17), a second gearwheel (16) which is connected to the driver (10).

11. A nozzle (1) according to any of preceding claims, characterized in that the engaging element (9) is created by one through opening (9') disposed in a cylindrical portion of the cup (8) in order to receive a portion of the slider (11) projecting from the driver (10) for temporally engaging the cup (8) with the driver (10) after exceeding a predetermined rotation speed of the driver (10).

Drawing