WO2004073476A1

WO2004073476A1 - Polishing vacuum cleaner for hard surfaces

Info

Publication number: WO2004073476A1
Application number: PCT/AU2004/000228
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Deleo
Original assignee: Joseph Deleo
Priority date: 2003-02-21
Filing date: 2004-02-23
Publication date: 2004-09-02
Also published as: EP1603443A1; EP1603443A4

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner and polisher having: a vacuum cleaner head forming a substantially enclosed cavity with an open base; at least one rotating brush with each brush able to rotate around at least one axis at an angle normal to the open base such that each brush can simultaneously rotate and be substantially continually in contact with a surface being cleaned; and a vacuum source having at least one feed inlet from the vacuum cleaner head with the at least one rotating brush relatively positioned and moving to direct any swept material into the path of the feed inlet within the vacuum cleaner head.

Description

Polishing Vacuum Cleaner for Hard Surfaces

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner. It particularly relates to a polishing vacuum cleaner. It more particularly relates to a vacuum cleaner and polisher having rotary action brushes for use in cleaning hard uncarpeted surfaces such as polished floor boards or linoleum but is not limited to such goods.

BACKGROUND ART

In one known apparatus that uses a combination of vacuum suction and polishing the suction is directed at a front central portion of the apparatus and the rotating polishing discs provide a polishing action behind the suction. However such structure does not combine the operations of the two functions but merely has them operating individually without any significant combination effect.

It should be noted that any disclosure of known products is not an admission that the product is so well known such that it forms part of the common general knowledge. Instead such description is included merely to assist in more clearly describing the present new vacuum cleaner.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved vacuum cleaner which synergistically combines two or more cleaning operations to provide an improved cleaning apparatus.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved vacuum cleaner which overcomes or at least ameliorates some of the problems of the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner and polisher having: a vacuum cleaner head forming a substantially enclosed cavity with an open base; at least one rotating brush with each brush able to rotate around at least one axis at an angle normal to the open base such that each brush can simultaneously rotate and be substantially continually in contact with a surface being cleaned; and a vacuum source having at least one feed inlet from the vacuum cleaner head with the at least one rotating brush relatively positioned and moving to direct any swept material into the path of the feed inlet within the vacuum cleaner head.

The invention also provides a vacuum cleaner and polisher for cleaning a hard surface including: a vacuum cleaner head forming a substantially enclosed cavity with an open base; a vacuum source having a plurality of spaced feed inlets in direct communication with the cavity and located at a rear of the vacuum cleaner head; a plurality of rotating brushes with each brush able to rotate around its respective axis at an angle normal to the open base such that each brush can simultaneously rotate in a direction sweeping from the side and front and be substantially continually in contact with the surface being cleaned and wherein the plurality of rotating brushes are relatively positioned at least partially laterally outwards of one of the spaced feed inlets and rotating to direct any swept material into the path of the feed inlets within the vacuum cleaner head; and wherein the effective vacuum suction width is greater than the cumulative width of the plurality of feed inlets.

The cavity within the head may be formed as two cavities, each providing a brush housing allowing the clear rotation of the brushes. In this case, the cavities would be open to each other at their adjoining inner edge and could have a skirt-like circumferential wall surrounding the conjoined cavity and serving to keep the air suction pressure substantially constant throughout the cavity. The resulting effect is that air is extracted equally through each suction feed inlet and is thus is drawn into the cavity substantially evenly all around the base of the head.

The walls of the cavity may be shaped to provide a collecting channel or chamber for each feed inlet. It is then an advantage for the brushes to be arranged to sweep into the collecting channels.

The rotating brushes can include a fan or impeller structure such that the dust and dirt is assisted to be released from the surface or brushes and by centrifugal forces directed towards the inlet feeds of the vacuum source. In addition, the fans cause an up-draft of air from the surface, through the brushes and into the suction stream of the inlet feeds. By this effect, the rotating brushes add to the suction created by the vacuum source.

In one form of the invention the vacuum cleaner and polisher can have two contra rotating brushes or pads that sweep dust inwardly to two vacuum inlets that allow the dust particles to be removed with friction from the brushes to the vacuum pressure of the inlets. Assisting the dust pick up from the floors can be two fans that are built into the rotating brushes causing an up-draft from the floor through the brushes into the air stream of the suction inlets. The combination of the action of the fan brushes and the vacuum force in the brush cavities can give an even amount of suction all around the base of the head.

In essence it can be seen that the invention provides a stereoscopic improvement of vacuum cleaners where the radiating suction forces of each inlet feed combine ( in a similar manner to the interference patterns of stereo sound or twin headlights) to provide an effective broad cleaning action. This is integrally combined with the brushes located at least partially outside the suction inlet to sweep the dust and dirt into the path of the suction force and further effectively expand the vacuum suction width. The rotating brushes can be driven by a single motor. The brushes can be symmetrically located in the vacuum cleaner head and contra rotate on either side of the vacuum cleaner head.

The vacuum cleaner and polisher can use a forked shaped elbow which is the connection tube from the vacuum cleaner head to the vacuum source and can allow the vacuum suction to be evenly distributed to the two brush cavities. Wiring from the motor can be moulded in the walls of the plastic elbow connecting the motor to a plug mounted on the top of the elbow from which power is supplied to the motor.

The motor is preferably situated adjacent to the elbow docking position on the vacuum cleaner head where the suction inlet is positioned and is mounted to lie between the forks of the elbow. The shaft of the motor which can be a triple thread screw protrudes into a gear box, driving two gears in contra direction, which in turn rotate toothed belts (left and right) connected to pulleys on the brush shafts, resulting in the rotation of the brushes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention can be more readily understood an embodiment will be described by way of illustration only with reference to the drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a horizontal cross sectional view of a vacuum cleaner and polisher including a vacuum cleaner head in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of a vacuum suction elbow connecting to the vacuum cleaner head of the vacuum cleaner and polisher of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view from below of the head, without the brushes in place, illustrating the conjoined twin cavity and the location of the feed inlets and collecting channels. The arrows in the drawing indicate directions of air inflow.

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating an embodiment having two drive motors, one for each brush.

Figure 5 is a schematic plan view illustrating an embodiment having a single drive motor arranged laterally and having a twin shaft arranged to drive both brushes. Figures 6A and 6B are alternative shapes of a forked suction elbow suitable for use in the invention.

Figure 7 is another alternative arrangement to provide a forking of the suction in which the suction inlet for each brush cavity is moved further off-centre. Figure 8 is yet another alternative forking suction arrangement.

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 illustrate alternative structures for fanned brushes for use in the invention.

Figures 13 A, B, C and D illustrate an embodiment of the invention having a flexible skirt arranged at the trailing edge of the brush cavities to provide a vacuum seal to enhance suction through the brush cavities.

Figure 14 shows the skirt of figure 13 detached from the polishing vacuum cleaner.

Figure 15 is a perspective view from below of the invention showing fanned brushes and flexible skirt. Figure 16 is a side view of the polishing vacuum cleaner of Figure 15.

The following 10 sheets are engineering drawings of a vacuum cleaner and polisher according to the invention. The drawings illustrate the various components of the device and their assembly.

METHOD OF PERFORMING THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a vacuum cleaner and polisher for cleaning hard surfaces. The cleaner includes a vacuum cleaner head, a vacuum source leading to feed inlets in the vacuum cleaner head, a plurality of rotating brushes and a motor driving the brushes.

The vacuum cleaner head is a shell like structure having a footprint able to include two spaced non intersecting circles of equal diameter and a rear infeed area. The shell like structure forms a substantially enclosed cavity with an open base.

A vacuum source, not shown, is mounted on a rear part of the vacuum cleaner head or on a separate chassis but is connected to the vacuum cleaner head and has a plurality of spaced feed inlets located at a rear of the vacuum cleaner head. In order to provide the dual feed, a bifurcated piping forms a vacuum cleaner suction elbow connecting a single vacuum source to the twin inlet feeds at the rear of the vacuum cleaner head.

The plurality of rotating brushes are mounted on two discs each having a circular footprint that fits in the two spaced non intersecting circles of equal diameter forming the footprint of the vacuum cleaner head. The discs are mounted on two spaced axes extending normal to the open base and symmetrically positioned in the vacuum cleaner head. The axes are laterally spaced relatively to be in line just within the outer sides of the respective inlet feeds such that a substantial portion of the rotation of the brushes is external of the inlet feeds. The brushes contra-rotate from the front to outside towards the centre and due to the relative position of the spaced inlet feeds direct dust towards the vacuum inlet feeds.

The rotating brushes are driven by a single motor mounted between the spaced inlet feeds. The motor drives a worm gear extending towards central front of the vacuum cleaner head and driving simultaneously two gear wheels on either side connected by pulleys in increasing gear ratio to rotationally drive the axial shaft of the rotating brushes. The brushes therefore are symmetrically located in the vacuum cleaner head and contra rotate on either side of the vacuum cleaner head.

It can be seen that the inlet feeds are spaced to provide an effective vacuum suction width which is greater than the cumulative width of the plurality of feed inlets while not being so spaced as to provide a trough of suction strength between the inlet feeds. The relative positioning of the brushes to each other in contra rotating motion and the relative position to the inlet feeds provides a further effective widening and strengthening of the effective vacuum suction width.

Another benefit is the combined effect of brushing action with impeller aerodynamic action. The rotating brushes include a fan or impeller structure such that the dust and dirt is assisted to be released from the surface and/or brushes by up-draft and centrifugal forces towards the inlet feeds of the vacuum source. The vacuum cleaner and polisher has two spaced circular head plates each with a mounting connection on an upper portion of the circular head plate for connection to a drive motor to allow rotation of the circular head plate around its axis. Brushes extend from a lower portion of the circular head plate to enable brushing of the hard surface when in position. An impeller structure is adjacent to and integral with the rotating brushes on a lower portion of the circular head plate such that rotation of the circular head plate around its axis causes impeller airflow whereby the dust and dirt is assisted to be released from the surface in combination with the brushes and directed towards the inlet feeds of the vacuum source.

The lower portion of the circular head plate has spaced blades forming an impeller structure extending radially from the central axis of the circular head. The impeller structure extends to near the circumferential edge of the circular head plate to provide a impeller footprint substantially equal to the entire circular head plate.

The brushes extend from the lower portion of the circular head plate between the spaced blades forming an impeller structure and just beyond the lower edge of the spaced blades to allow rotation of brushes and rotation of impeller structure by the same rotation of the circular head plate and cause a combined effect.

The impeller structure is formed by a plurality of curved partially upstanding blades relative to a lower surface of a planar surface of the circular head plate and each extending from a cental axial position to an outer circumferential position of the lower portion of the circular head plate with the partial upstanding blades forming a leaning surface relative to the rotation of the circular head plate to form a leading edge and following edge and aerodynamic flow characteristics of an impeller. The impeller structure is integral with the lower portion of the circular head plate with each impeller blade connected along its length to a planar lower surface of the lower portion of the circular head plate. The brushes are spaced from at least one edge of the spaced blades to allow improved impeller aerodynamics.

The structure of the vacuum cleaner and polisher also provides a unique and novel compact arrangement. A compact forked shaped connection tube is attached to a top portion of the vacuum cleaner head with two spaced openings into the two brush cavities of the vacuum cleaner head and able to be connected to a vacuum source allowing the vacuum suction to be evenly distributed across the two brush cavities. The compact forked shaped connection tube is pivotally connected to the vacuum cleaner head.

Wiring from the motor is moulded in the walls of the plastic elbow connecting the motor to a plug mounted on the top of the elbow from which power is supplied to the motor.

However a major improvement is that the motor is housed adjacent to the spaced openings of the compact forked shaped connection tube connection on the top of the vacuum cleaner head and between the central mountings of the two circular head plates. The shaft of the motor being a triple thread screw protruding into a gear box, driving two gears in contra direction, which in turn rotate left and right drive belts connected to pulleys mounted on the brush shafts attached to the central mountings of the two circular head plates to allow the contra-rotation of the brushes and impeller structure.

Attached hereto, as Annex A, is a set of engineering drawings of a device according to the invention. It should be understood that the entire contents of those drawings form part of the disclosure of the invention described in this specification

Further, it should be understood that the above embodiment is by way of illustration only. Clearly there are modifications and variations, which would be understood by a person skilled in the art without any inventive effort, and these are included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner and polisher having: a. a vacuum cleaner head forming a substantially enclosed cavity with an open base; b. at least one rotating brush with each brush able to rotate around at least one axis at an angle normal to the open base such that each brush can simultaneously rotate and be substantially continually in contact with a surface being cleaned; and c. a vacuum source having at least one feed inlet from the vacuum cleaner head with the at least one rotating brush relatively positioned and moving to direct any swept material into the path of the feed inlet within the vacuum cleaner head.

2. A vacuum cleaner and polisher for cleaning a hard surface including: a. a vacuum cleaner head forming a substantially enclosed cavity with an open base; b. a vacuum source connection having a plurality of spaced feed inlets in direct communication with the cavity and mounted at a rear of the vacuum cleaner head; c. a plurality of rotating brushes with each brush able to rotate around its respective axis at an angle normal to the open base such that each brush can simultaneously rotate in a direction sweeping from the side and front and be substantially continually in contact with the surface being cleaned and wherein the plurality of rotating brushes are relatively positioned at least partially laterally outwards of one of the spaced feed inlets and rotating to direct any swept material into the path of the feed inlets within the vacuum cleaner head; and d. wherein the effective vacuum suction width is greater than the cumulative width of the plurality of feed inlets.

3. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 2 with the cavity within the head formed as two cavities, each providing a brush housing allowing the clear rotation of the brushes.

4. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 3 with the cavities open to each other at their adjoining inner edge and having a skirt-like circumferential wall surrounding the conjoined cavity and serving to maintain the air suction pressure throughout the cavity with resulting effect that air is extracted substantially equally through each suction feed inlet and is drawn into the cavity substantially evenly all around the base of the head.

5. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 3 with the walls of the cavity shaped to provide a collecting channel or chamber for each feed inlet with the brushes arranged to sweep into the collecting channels.

6. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 1 or 2 having a fan or impeller structure adjacent to or integral with the rotating brushes such that the dust and dirt is assisted to be released from the surface or brushes and by centrifugal forces directed towards the inlet feeds of the vacuum source.

7. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 6 with the fan or impeller shaped and arranged to cause an up-draft of air from the surface, through the brushes and into the suction stream of the inlet feeds and by this effect, the rotating brushes add to the suction created by the vacuum source.

8. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 6 or 7 having two contra rotating brushes or pads that sweep dust inwardly to two vacuum inlets that allow the dust particles to be removed with friction from the brushes to the vacuum pressure of the inlets; two fans that are adjacent or integral with the rotating brushes causing an up- draft from the floor through the brushes into the air stream of the suction inlets and assisting the dust pick up from the floors.

9. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 8 with the combination of the action of the fan brushes and the vacuum force in the brush cavities giving an even amount of suction all around the base of the head.

10. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 9 with the rotating brushes being driven by a single motor.

11. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 9 with the brushes being symmetrically located in the vacuum cleaner head and contra rotated on either side of the vacuum cleaner head.

12. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 11 having a head including: a. a circular head plate; b. a mounting connection on an upper portion of the circular head plate for connection to a drive motor to allow rotation of the circular head plate around its axis; c. brushes extending from a lower portion of the circular head plate to enable brushing of the hard surface when in position; d. an impeller structure adjacent to or integral with the rotating brushes on a lower portion of the circular head plate such that rotation of the circular head plate around its axis causes impeller airflow whereby the dust and dirt is assisted to be released from the surface in combination with the brushes and directed towards the inlet feeds of the vacuum source.

13. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 12 wherein the lower portion of the circular head plate has spaced blades forming an impeller structure extending radially from the central axis of the circular head.

14. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 13 wherein the impeller structure extends to near the circumferential edge of the circular head plate to provide a impeller footprint substantially equal to the entire circular head plate.

15. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 12, 13 or 14 with the brushes extending from the lower portion of the circular head plate between the spaced blades forming an impeller structure and just beyond the lower edge of the spaced blades to allow rotation of brushes and rotation of impeller structure by the same rotation of the circular head plate and cause a combined effect.

16. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 12, 13, 14 or 15 with the impeller structure formed by a plurality of curved partially upstanding blades relative to a lower surface of a planar surface of the circular head plate and each extending from a cental axial position to an outer circumferential position of the lower portion of the circular head plate with the partial upstanding blades forming a leaning surface relative to the rotation of the circular head plate to form a leading edge and following edge and aerodynamic flow characteristics of an impeller.

17. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 16 with the impeller structure integral with the lower portion of the circular head plate.

18. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 17 with each impeller blade connected along its length to a planar lower surface of the lower portion of the circular head plate.

19. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 16 with the brushes spaced from at least one edge of the spaced blades to allow improved impeller aerodynamics.

20. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to any one of claims 9 to 19 having a compact forked shaped connection tube attached to a top portion of the vacuum cleaner head with two spaced openings into the two brush cavities of the vacuum cleaner head and able to be connected to a vacuum source allowing the vacuum suction to be evenly distributed across the two brush cavities.

21. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 20 with the compact forked shaped connection tube being pivotally connected to the vacuum cleaner head.

22. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 21 having wiring from the motor moulded in the walls of the plastic elbow connecting the motor to a plug mounted on the top of the elbow from which power is supplied to the motor.

23. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 21 with the motor housed adjacent to the spaced openings of the compact forked shaped connection tube connection on the top of the vacuum cleaner head and between the central mountings of the two circular head plates.

24. A vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 23 with the shaft of the motor being a triple thread screw protruding into a gear box, driving two gears in contra direction, which in turn rotate left and right drive belts connected to pulleys mounted on the brush shafts attached to the central mountings of the two circular head plates to allow the contra-rotation of the brushes and impeller structure.

25. A head for a vacuum cleaner and polisher used for cleaning a hard surface and said head having: a. a circular head plate; b. a mounting connection on an upper portion of the circular head plate for connection to a drive motor to allow rotation of the circular head plate around its axis; c. brushes extending from a lower portion of the circular head plate to enable brushing of the hard surface when in position; d. an impeller structure adjacent to or integral with the rotating brushes on a lower portion of the circular head plate such that rotation of the circular head plate around its axis causes impeller airflow whereby the dust and dirt is assisted to be released from the surface in combination with the brushes and directed towards the inlet feeds of the vacuum source.

26. A head for a vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 16 wherein the lower portion of the circular head plate has spaced blades forming an impeller structure extending radially from the central axis of the circular head.

27. A head for a vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 17 wherein the impeller structure extends to near the circumferential edge of the circular head plate to provide a impeller footprint substantially equal to the entire circular head plate.

28. A head for a vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 16, 17 or 18 with the brushes extending from the lower portion of the circular head plate between the spaced blades forming an impeller structure and just beyond the lower edge of the spaced blades to allow rotation of brushes and rotation of impeller structure by the same rotation of the circular head plate and cause a combined effect.

29. A head for a vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 16, 17, 18 or 19 with the impeller structure formed by a plurality of curved partially upstanding blades relative to a lower surface of a planar surface of the circular head plate and each extending from a cental axial position to an outer circumferential position of the lower portion of the circular head plate with the partial upstanding blades forming a leaning surface relative to the rotation of the circular head plate to form a leading edge and following edge and aerodynamic flow characteristics of an impeller.

30. A head for a vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 20 with the impeller structure integral with the lower portion of the circular head plate.

31. A head for a vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 21 with each impeller blade connected along its length to a planar lower surface of the lower portion of the circular head plate.

32. A head for a vacuum cleaner and polisher according to claim 20 with the brushes spaced from at least one edge of the spaced blades to allow improved impeller aerodynamics.