Air Cooling By Other Than Main Air Stream Patents (Class 15/413)
  • Patent number: 11963654
    Abstract: A cleaner includes: a suction motor that generates suction force; a dust separation unit that separates dust from air sucked by the suction force; a motor housing that covers the suction motor; a flow guide that surrounds an outer side of the motor housing and guides air discharged from the dust separation unit to the suction motor; and a body that forms an external appearance by surrounding the flow guide and guides air discharged from the suction motor together with the flow guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bohyun Nam, Namhee Kim, Jinju Kim, Hyeonjeong An, Jungbae Hwang, Philjae Hwang, Mantae Hwang, Eunji Sung, Taekgi Lee
  • Patent number: 10791890
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a first air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a suction motor and an air treatment member positioned in the first air flow path. A second air flow path extends from an ambient air inlet to a secondary air outlet. An energy storage chamber having at least one energy storage member is positioned in the second air flow path. Ambient air can be drawn through the second air flow path to promote cooling of the energy storage members. A fan unit and/or an air foil can be used to draw ambient air into the second air flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9095246
    Abstract: A cleaning appliance of the canister type, including a separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, a support for supporting the separating apparatus on the appliance, a duct having a fluid inlet for receiving the fluid flow from a fluid outlet of the separating apparatus, and a handle connected to the duct. The duct is pivotable between a raised position in which the separating apparatus can be removed from the appliance and a lowered position in which the duct is connected to the separating apparatus. The handle may be used for moving the duct between the first and second positions and for carrying the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventor: Roy MacNaughton
  • Patent number: 8997311
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner (1) having a housing (2, 2?) and at least one battery (4) arranged therein, and/or at least one battery compartment (3) that serves to hold at least one battery (4). The vacuum cleaner (1) has a vacuum generator (5) that serves to generate an air stream along a flow path (A), wherein the at least one battery (4) or the at least one battery compartment (3) is arranged in said flow path (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Franz Huber, Bernd Ziegler
  • Patent number: 8898858
    Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner has a rotating brush bar driven by an air-cooled motor, which is mounted inside the cleaner head with at least a section of the motor being located inside the brush bar. To cool the motor in use, an external casing of the motor is provided a plurality of air-cooling holes comprising at least one air intake and at least one air exhaust. These cooling holes are connected—intake to exhaust—to form one or more air-cooling paths through the inside of the motor. Each air intake is connected to an upstream clean air inlet by a stationary—not rotating—intake duct, and each air exhaust is similarly connected to a downstream clean air outlet by a stationary—not rotating—exhaust duct. This avoids the problems associated with using the rotating brush bar itself as a duct for carrying cooling air to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: James Dyson, Christopher Lesniowski, Stephen Benjamin Courtney
  • Patent number: 8844095
    Abstract: A floor care apparatus includes a body having a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly. The handle assembly is pivotally attached to the nozzle assembly. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the body. Further, the nozzle assembly includes a cord reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Kyle A. Hawkins, Michael L. Fry, Samuel A. Marsh, Ryan T. Dant, Shannon D. Phegley, Eric J. Streciwilk
  • Patent number: 8776312
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with a cooled drive belt is described. The vacuum has a handle, body, base housing, cooling fan, motor, drive belt and a drive belt housing. A fan draws ambient air over a drive belt within the belt housing. The belt housing can have a main belt housing and a belt housing cover. The belt housing can contain an air intake and air exhaust connected by an air duct. Belt housing can have a filter in order to clean intake air. The result is a vacuum with significantly greater longevity—reducing costs and increasing reliability of the vacuum for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Overholt, Charles Jeff Morgan, Bruce Kiern, Victor Brent McClearen
  • Patent number: 8776310
    Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner has a dirty-air inlet provided in a main suction chamber of the cleaner head, an outlet duct extending from the main suction chamber for connection to a suction source, and a rotating brush bar housed inside the main suction chamber for agitating a floor surface contacted through the dirty-air inlet. The brush bar is driven by an air-cooled motor housed inside a hollow section of the brush bar, the motor having an air intake and an air exhaust fluidly connected to one another to form an air cooling path through the inside of the motor. The air intake is connected to a clean air inlet on the cleaner head and the air exhaust is fluidly connected to the outlet duct by an exhaust duct which bypasses the main suction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Lloyd Genn, Christopher Lesniowski, Stephen Benjamin Courtney
  • Patent number: 8615845
    Abstract: The disclosed vacuum cleaner system for an automobile fits in a cavity in the vehicle and has a tank that can be removed in a lateral direction without tools and without detaching the vacuum hose. A circuit board that carries an electronic controller is positioned alongside the motor and extends generally parallel to both the axis of the motor and the lateral direction in which the tank is removed. Cooling air is drawn though a cooling air inlet on the cabin wall to the circuit board, and then one side of the motor, through the center of the motor, to the cooling fan. From there, it is blown into a cavity where it joins exhausted working air from the vacuum and is exhausted from the vehicle through an air release opening that leads to the exterior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Shop Vac Corporation
    Inventors: Neil N. Norell, James M. Robitaille, Matthew L. Huff
  • Patent number: 8533902
    Abstract: A vacuum assembly having a housing and a motor and motor shaft secured within the housing; a fan coupled to the motor shaft and an air intake port and an air exhaust port located within the housing; a circuit board mounted in a cooling air path in the housing, wherein the cooling air path is located between the air intake port and the air exhaust port such that the fan causes cool air to flow across the circuit board; a pulley assembly coupled to the motor shaft and including a disposable belt, the pulley assembly located in the housing in such position that the circuit board blocks access to the disposable belt; a first connector portion secured to the circuit board; a second connector portion coupled to a plurality of wires coupled to at least the motor; the first and second connector portions configured to mate in a single direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Shop Vac Corporation
    Inventors: Neil N. Norell, Melvin E. Wolfe, Jr., James M. Robitaille, Doug Adams, Jonathan Miller
  • Patent number: 8533906
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising a receptacle having a working air inlet and an associated filter, the filter in communication with and downstream from the working air inlet, is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner further includes a housing containing a motor and having a cooling air outlet from the motor and a working air outlet, the working air outlet in communication with the working air inlet of the receptacle through a working air impeller, wherein the cooling air is directed to the receptacle, and the cooling air passes through the filter before exiting the working air outlet of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Shop Vac Corporation
    Inventor: Li H. Liu
  • Patent number: 8528167
    Abstract: A floor care apparatus includes a body having a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly. The handle assembly is pivotally attached to the nozzle assembly. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the body. A cord reel is carried on the nozzle assembly in a cord reel compartment. A rotary agitator drive motor is carried on the nozzle assembly in an airflow pathway which directs cooling air toward the cord reel in the cord reel compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Kyle A. Hawkins, Michael L. Fry, Samuel A. Marsh, Ryan T. Dant, Shannon D. Phegley, Eric J. Streciwilk
  • Patent number: 8413294
    Abstract: A fan motor unit and a vacuum cleaner having the same are provided. The fan motor unit includes a motor assembly comprising an impeller and a motor, a first upper case configured to surround the motor assembly, the first upper case comprising an inlet tube in communication with an entry of the impeller, configured to a first lower case configured to surround a lower portion of the motor assembly, a damper and a pressure switch, each in communication with the inlet tube and, a warning member connected to the pressure switch, wherein when the pressure of the interior pressure of the motor assembly is below a predetermined value, external air is flowed through the damper and a warning is generated by the warning member and the pressure switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-Jo Lee
  • Patent number: 8365350
    Abstract: A wet/dry vacuum that is configured to be powered by a DC power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: John R Cochran, Jason M Goger, Daniel N Lopano, Christine H Potter, James B Watson
  • Publication number: 20130007984
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising a receptacle having a working air inlet and an associated filter, the filter in communication with and downstream from the working air inlet, is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner further includes a housing containing a motor and having a cooling air outlet from the motor and a working air outlet, the working air outlet in communication with the working air inlet of the receptacle through a working air impeller, wherein the cooling air is directed to the receptacle, and the cooling air passes through the filter before exiting the working air outlet of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: SHOP VAC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Li H. Liu
  • Publication number: 20120279011
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with a cooled drive belt is described. The vacuum has a handle, body, base housing, cooling fan, motor, drive belt and a drive belt housing. A fan draws ambient air over a drive belt within the belt housing. The belt housing can have a main belt housing and a belt housing cover. The belt housing can contain an air intake and air exhaust connected by an air duct. Belt housing can have a filter in order to clean intake air. The result is a vacuum with significantly greater longevity—reducing costs and increasing reliability of the vacuum for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Jonathan Overholt, Charles Jeff Morgan, Bruce Kiern, Victor Brent McClearen
  • Patent number: 7900315
    Abstract: An integrated apparatus has a cooling section, a motor section, a suction section and control module. The motor section drives the suction section to draw vacuum air through inlet and exhaust vacuum air through outlet. The motor section also drives the cooling section to draw cooling air through cooling air inlet, and push it through the motor section to cool the motor section. The control module controls the operation of the motor section. The control module is located in the cooling air path after the motor section. The cooling air for the motor section also cools the control module. The cooling section, motor section, suction section and control module are integrally mounted to form a single unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
    Inventor: J. Vern Cunningham
  • Patent number: 7761957
    Abstract: A canister of a vacuum cleaning system has first and second motor support plates mounted within the canister forming an intervening chamber and an upper motor cooling chamber. An auxiliary plate is attached to the second motor plate and has a dimension sized to enable the auxiliary plate to be removed from the canister interior past auxiliary components mounted on the side wall of the canister avoiding removal of the auxiliary components. A first motor is removably mounted on the first support plate and extends through an opening formed in the second support plate and is fastened to the auxiliary plate by a plurality of fasteners. The first motor is removable from the canister interior with the auxiliary plate after unfastening the auxiliary plate from the second motor support plate. A second motor is removably seated in a retainer ring attached to the second motor support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: H-P Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew L. Gabric
  • Patent number: 7752707
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a suction generator carried by the housing, a bag compartment and a bag cage. The bag compartment is defined by a bag compartment wall including an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. The bag cage is received in the bag compartment. The bag cage defines a bag cavity that hold a filter bag in a position spaced from the bag compartment wall so as to maintain a clear airflow passage. The bag cage includes a bag caddy having a bag holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: R. Michael Mayes, Ronald E. Davis, Kerry L. Dever
  • Patent number: 7690077
    Abstract: Central vacuum units are provided with a canister having a sidewall forming a hollow interior, a vacuum motor disposed within the hollow interior, an exhaust port in fluid communication with the hollow interior, and an acoustic damping pathway. Examples of the acoustic damping pathway can include a plurality of acoustic damping chambers in fluid communication with each other. In addition or alternatively, the acoustic damping pathway can include an inner acoustic damping chamber and an outer acoustic damping chamber. In addition or alternatively, the acoustic damping pathway can form a serpentine passage from the motor to the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Care Products, Ltd.
    Inventor: Darin Jay Biere
  • Patent number: 7690485
    Abstract: A power cord cooling apparatus disposed in a cord reel chamber formed inside a main body of the vacuum cleaner to cool a power cord wound around a cord reel, wherein the power cord cooling apparatus allows outside air to enter the cord reel chamber, to contact the power cord wound around the cord reel, and to be discharged outside the cord reel chamber via a center space in the cord reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-jun Cho, Tak-soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7607197
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, inside of which is a suction chamber with a suction device and control electronics therein. A structural unit on the housing includes operating elements to operate the vacuum cleaner. There is an opening in the housing to the suction chamber. A support element is included that covers the opening. The support element includes contact strips providing electrical connection to the operating elements. There are plug-in connectors inside the housing connectable with the contact strip that provide a wired connection to the control electronics. The control electronics are cooled by an air stream resulting from the suction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Bartsch, Andreas Schmedt, Udo Mersmann, Heinz Guenter Steinkoetter
  • Patent number: 7487570
    Abstract: A motor protection apparatus for a vacuum cleaner includes: a motor chamber adapted to mount a motor; a penetration hole formed on a partition surrounding the motor chamber; a valve member configured to move between a first position closing the penetration hole and a second position at a distance from the penetration hole; and a casing adapted to be connected to an inner wall of the partition to surround the valve member and to guide movement of the valve member. A casing distance between an inner circumference of the casing and the valve member is minimized when the valve member is in the first position and maximized when the valve member is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tak-soo Kim, Hyoung-min Cho, Doo-han Yang
  • Patent number: 7475449
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a main body, a motor assembly installed at the main body, the motor assembly including a motor for generating a suction force, an exhaust filter for filtering fine foreign substances from air passing through the motor assembly, and a guide member for guide a portion of air going via the exhaust filter to the inside of the main body. The guide member has a horizontal guide member and a vertical guide member for guiding portions of air passing through the exhaust filter to the side and the top of the main body respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Duck Lee
  • Patent number: 7475451
    Abstract: An upright deep cleaner including a base housing pivotally connected to an upright handle, the upright handle carrying a liquid supply tank and the base housing including a recovery tank. The liquid supply tank includes an internal siphon tube for ensuring liquid flow to a feed valve when the upright handle is in the inclined position. The base housing includes a suction nozzle adjacent a spray bar, and removable floating brush for contacting a surface being cleaned, the brush being interchangeable with a bare floor tool including a sponge, brush, and squeegee. The recovery tank includes an internal baffle for preventing foaming of solution and a tank vent housing including a sponge-type filter to prevent spray from exiting the recovery tank. A vacuum motor cooling outlet is positioned on underside of the base housing to distribute air heated by the motor onto the surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz, Alan J. Krebs, Timothy E. Kasen
  • Patent number: 7472456
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a vacuum unit and a waste container. The vacuum unit applies a vacuum to clean an area to collect debris and the waste container collects waste by a user separate from debris collected by the vacuum unit. The vacuum unit includes an exhaust port in fluid communication with the waste container for releasing a waste liner from the waste container. A transport mechanism supports the vacuum unit and the waste container for moving the vacuum unit and the waste container across the area while applying the vacuum to collect the debris and while allowing independent filling of the waste container with waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Vacbarrell LLC
    Inventors: Glen E. Moore, Susan Williamson
  • Publication number: 20080235898
    Abstract: A motor assembly for a steam vacuum cleaner comprises a flow separation packing which is coupled within a motor cooling casing between a cold air intake duct and an air exhaust duct, so as to maximize cooling efficiency of a wet type motor by separating the sucked cold air from the hot air having undergone a cooling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Gyung-Hee Haan
  • Patent number: 7406744
    Abstract: A central vacuum system includes a motor-cooling airflow path that provides sufficient cooling for the motor and its drive components even though the cooling air is partially restricted by a downstream filter that captures airborne carbon dust emitted from the motor's commutator brushes. A divider system creates multiple chambers within the vacuum system's canister, and in some embodiments, air passageways in the canister and in the divider system direct the cooling air through the chambers in a flow pattern that avoids contaminating the drive components with carbon dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Marc Bruneau
  • Patent number: 7383606
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner 2 having a housing 4 having an inlet 12 and an outlet 54 is disclosed. Actuation of a motor 46 causes a fan to displace air out of outlet 54, and the resulting suction upstream of the fan draws dirty air through inlet 12 and inwardly through walls of filter unit 22. Air from filter unit 22 passes along a duct to the motor 46 and fan. The housing 4 is formed from a first housing part defining a recess 36, and the recess is then closed by means of a closure member 56 to define the duct between the filter unit 22 and the motor 46.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: David Barker, Barry Pears, Martyn Riley
  • Patent number: 7353565
    Abstract: A battery-powered vacuum cleaner is provided with a battery pack that generates heat and is capable of efficiently cooling the battery pack. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner comprises a battery pack (3) including a plurality of secondary batteries, a battery pack container (2) containing the battery pack, a motor (7) driven for operation by power supplied by the battery pack, a fan (5) driven by the motor to suck air, a dust cup (9) for separating dust from air sucked therein by the fan and storing the dust separated from the sucked air, a housing (1) containing the battery pack container, the motor, the fan and the dust cup, and provided with a first suction opening (30) through which external air is sucked, a first airflow duct (32) for guiding the air sucked in by the fun through the dust cup to the motor, and a second airflow duct (36), for guiding air for cooling the battery pack through the battery pack, joined to the first airflow duct at a junction (34) on the upstream side of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Katsumi Hisano, Hideo Iwasaki, Hideyuki Kanai, Motoya Kanda
  • Patent number: 7302734
    Abstract: A mobile floor or ground cleaning machine includes a hydraulic motor for propulsion and/or operating a cleaning brush. Airflow produced by a fan is directed through a housing located adjacent the cleaning brush for creating an area of low pressure adjacent the brush. The housing includes a filter system through which the airflow is directed. Under the influence of the airflow, the closed housing, which preferably is a unitary structure, directs dirt directly into a receptacle and directs dust through the filter system for subsequent deposit in the receptacle. The housing forms a reservoir for oil which drives the hydraulic motor, with the airflow within the housing serving to cool the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Hako-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Nowak, Carsten Protz
  • Patent number: 7120965
    Abstract: A battery-powered vacuum cleaner is provided with a battery pack that generates heat and is capable of efficiently cooling the battery pack. The battery pack of the battery-powered vacuum cleaner is cooled by a vacuum cleaner cooling method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Katsumi Hisano, Hideo Iwasaki, Hideyuki Kanai, Motoya Kanda
  • Patent number: 6880201
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a main body and a handle, the main body being formed with a nozzle which delivers a stream of dirt-laden air through a dirt duct through a motor-fan inlet, the handle being supported on the motor-fan assembly and housing a filter bag which communicates with the motor-fan assembly for receiving the dirt-laden air, the motor-fan assembly having a motor housing, a motor with commutated brushes which give off carbon dust particles, a motor cooling fan for drawing a cooling airstream and a working fan for drawing the dirt-laden air, the vacuum comprising: an opening formed in the motor housing for receiving the cooling airstream; a cooling outlet formed in the motor housing through which the cooling airstream exists; means for directing the existing cooling airstream into the dirt-laden air; a collar extending axially outwardly from the motor housing, the collar allowing pivotal rotation of the motor housing relative to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventor: William H. Theiss
  • Patent number: 6807709
    Abstract: A cooling system for providing cooling air for a motor having a shaft extending through an opening within the motor, the motor being contained within a vacuum cleaner housing having a top and a bottom, the cooling system including a cooling-air inlet located in a side of the vacuum cleaner housing, a motor housing integral with the vacuum cleaner housing, the motor housing having a top portion defining a hole passing therethrough, the hole having a first dimension and being in flow communication with the cooling-air inlet, a side wall surrounding the hole and extending from the top portion of the motor housing, thereby enabling the cooling air to flow from the motor housing through an interior of the side wall, a baffle circumscribing the motor, the baffle having a second dimension that is greater than the first dimension enabling cooling air to pass through the opening in the motor adjacent the shaft with at least a portion of the motor positioned within the side wall and a cooling-air exhaust outlet located
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Koblenz Electrica, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: Jesus Fernandez-Grandizo Martinez
  • Patent number: 6757935
    Abstract: In a vacuum cleaner with a motor suction assembly (8) comprising a motor part and a suction part (6) providing a carrier air stream and a cooling air stream, respectively, the motor suction assembly (8) is built into a cover (7, 12, 13) with a cylindrical cavity (23). The cover (7, 12, 13) separates the carrier air stream from the cooling air stream, said cover thus being sealed (14) against the motor suction assembly (8) in such a way that the carrier air stream cannot be affected by the cooling air stream and vice versa. Furthermore, the motor suction assembly (8) is surrounded and protected by the cover (12, 13). In this way, a construction is provided using only one cover, eliminating the need to position two covers, one of which solely serves to separate the air streams, while the other cover, together with the first one, provide a compartment for receiving the motor suction assembly (8). Thus, in other words, two covers are replaced by a universal cover (12, 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Nilfisk Advance A/S
    Inventor: Jan Sjoberg
  • Patent number: 6668421
    Abstract: A motor brush dust removing filter for use in a vacuum cleaner in which the vacuum cleaner includes a cylinder-shaped canister, a supporting portion having wheels and attached to a lower portion of the canister, an air outlet formed in a cover so as to discharge air at an upper portion of the cylindrical canister, and a vacuum generating unit for sucking air into the cylindrical canister. The cover has at a center thereof a circular aperture, a circular protrusion or shelf along the aperture, a filter, and a brush dust removing filter having a connection portion. The connection portion of the filter is fastened to a case of a motor brush assembly so that brush dust discharged via an air vent in an upper surface of the brush assembly case is filtered by the filter of the filter unit from air exhausted to the ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Conet Industry Inc.
    Inventor: Seoung-Wook Song
  • Publication number: 20030145426
    Abstract: A cooling system for providing cooling air for a motor having a shaft extending through an opening within the motor, the motor being contained within a vacuum cleaner housing having a top and a bottom, the cooling system including a cooling-air inlet located in a side of the vacuum cleaner housing, a motor housing integral with the vacuum cleaner housing, the motor housing having a top portion defining a hole passing therethrough, the hole having a first dimension and being in flow communication with the cooling-air inlet, a side wall surrounding the hole and extending from the top portion of the motor housing, thereby enabling the cooling air to flow from the motor housing through an interior of the side wall, a baffle circumscribing the motor, the baffle having a second dimension that is greater than the first dimension enabling cooling air to pass through the opening in the motor adjacent the shaft with at least a portion of the motor positioned within the side wall and a cooling-air exhaust outlet located
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Jesus Fernandez-Grandizo Martinez
  • Patent number: 6581241
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner system incorporating a closed loop airflow recirculation path for cooling a beater brush motor. A portion of clean, exhaust airflow created by a fan is diverted away from an exhaust port of the housing and directed into a flow path running alongside a portion of the housing. The airflow is used to pressurize a compartment within which a beater brush motor is disposed. A low pressure area created by the fan is used to assist in drawing the cooling exhaust airflow through the compartment, to thus form a closed loop cooling air recirculation system using only clean, filtered exhaust airflow to maintain the beater brush motor cool during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Shaver, Oleksiy P. Sergyeyenko, Murray D. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20030024070
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a main body and a handle, the main body being formed with a nozzle which delivers a stream of dirt-laden air through a dirt duct through a motor-fan inlet, the handle being supported on the motor-fan assembly and housing a filter bag which communicates with the motor-fan assembly for receiving the dirt-laden air, the motor-fan assembly having a motor housing, a motor with commutated brushes which give off carbon dust particles, a motor cooling fan for drawing a cooling airstream and a working fan for drawing the dirt-laden air, the vacuum comprising: an opening formed in the motor housing for receiving the cooling airstream; a cooling outlet formed in the motor housing through which the cooling airstream exists; means for directing the existing cooling airstream into the dirt-laden air; a collar extending axially outwardly from the motor housing, the collar allowing pivotal rotation of the motor housing relative to the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventor: William H. Theiss
  • Publication number: 20020194700
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner system incorporating a closed loop airflow recirculation path for cooling a beater brush motor. A portion of clean, exhaust airflow created by a fan is diverted away from an exhaust port of the housing and directed into a flow path running alongside a portion of the housing. The airflow is used to pressurize a compartment within which a beater brush motor is disposed. A low pressure area created by the fan is used to assist in drawing the cooling exhaust airflow through the compartment, to thus form a closed loop cooling air recirculation system using only clean, filtered exhaust airflow to maintain the beater brush motor cool during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: David M. Shaver, Oleksiy P. Sergyeyenko, Murray D. Hunter
  • Patent number: 6490755
    Abstract: A low-profile and highly-maneuverable vacuum cleaner having improved functionality including, alone or in combination, a headlight, a sidelight, anti-ingestion bars, side brushes, a squeegee, and a scent cartridge for use in cleaning floors, floor coverings, carpets, upholstery, and other surfaces. One embodiment includes a tortuous air flow path created by baffles that divert air flow. The tortuous path creates quieter air flow through the vacuum housing. The tortuous air flow arrangement is for cooling the internal parts of a vacuum cleaner. Another embodiment includes an indicator light assembly for the vacuum cleaner visually providing the user with the vacuum's current operation status. In another embodiment, the rear wheels are recessed within the head housing and slightly offset rearwardly of the rear wall of the head housing to provide enhanced maneuverability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Oreck Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Chris M. Paterson, Javier Verdura, Owen T. Bourgeois, Jeffrey A. Millard, Mel Teitzman, Paul A. Moshenrose
  • Publication number: 20020170138
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a thermal cutoff assembly. The assembly includes a temperature sensor disposed proximate to a motor of the vacuum cleaner. When the temperature sensor reaches a predetermined temperature, a switching element in the assembly disconnects power shutting off the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner cannot be restarted until its power source has been manually disconnected and reconnected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: John A. Huebsch, Christer T. Kontio, William R. Reimer
  • Patent number: 6481050
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a main body and a handle, the main body being formed with a nozzle which delivers a stream of dirt-laden air through a dirt duct through a motor-fan inlet, the handle being supported on the motor-fan assembly and housing a filter bag which communicates with the motor-fan assembly for receiving the dirt-laden air, the motor-fan assembly having a motor housing, a motor with commutated brushes which give off carbon dust particles, a motor cooling fan for drawing a cooling airstream and a working fan for drawing the dirt-laden air, the vacuum comprising: an opening formed in the motor housing for receiving the cooling airstream; a cooling outlet formed in the motor housing through which the cooling airstream exists; means for directing the existing cooling airstream into the dirt-laden air; a collar extending axially outwardly from the motor housing, the collar allowing pivotal rotation of the motor housing relative to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Robert S. Wilson, William H. Theiss
  • Patent number: 6408481
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner (1) comprising a first casing (10) housing dust separation apparatus, a second casing (11) housing at least one filter (21, 23) or other component of the vacuum cleaner (1), a central spine (13) housing at least one conduit and forming part of an airflow path within the vacuum cleaner (1), the first and second casings (10, 11) lying generally parallel to one another and the central spine (13) lying at least partly between the first and second casings (10, 11). Such a construction provides a vacuum cleaner having a more compact profile which enables the vacuum cleaner to be used to clean areas where there is a height restriction, for example underneath furniture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Notetry Limited
    Inventor: James Dyson
  • Patent number: 6400048
    Abstract: A motor is incorporated in a cylindrical body which is a rotary brush. Rotation of a rotor of the motor, directly or via a speed reduction mechanism, drives the rotary brush. Cooling air runs through the cylindrical body so that the motor is cooled and protected. The rotary brush and an electric apparatus using the rotary brush can be downsized and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishimura, Seizo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6363574
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a tank assembly having an open end, a cap assembly removably connected to and generally closing off the open end, an inlet assembly disposed on one of the tank and cap assemblies, an exit opening disposed on one of the tank and cap assemblies, a vacuum source connected to one of the tank and cap assemblies for drawing process air through the inlet assembly, a filter assembly disposed between the inlet assembly and the exit opening, the filter assembly comprising a filter, and a filter bag assembly covering at least part of the filter, wherein the filter bag assembly comprises a filter bag and a drain tube connected to the filter bag. Preferably, the drain tube is integrally built into the filter bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Pullman-Holt Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Worden, Curt J. Schulze, Jon Brigner, Jack P. Christen
  • Publication number: 20020032947
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a case including a dust chamber filtering dust included in air, an appliance chamber sucking the filtered air from the dust chamber and discharging the air through a discharge port, and a cord chamber storing a wound electrical cord. A fan motor assembly is installed inside the appliance chamber of the case for forcedly sucking the air inside the appliance chamber and discharging the air. An exhaust duct is installed between the fan motor assembly and the discharge port in the case and guiding the air discharged from the fan motor assembly to the discharge port, and a flowing passage is disposed between the dust chamber and the cord chamber so that the air is able to flow therein, whereby overheating of case and of the electrical cord can be prevented and the durability and reliability of the cleaner can be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: Dong Yeop Oh, Sang Wook Hong, Yong Dol Park
  • Patent number: 6347428
    Abstract: A hand-held portable wet/dry vacuum comprising a cleaning fluid tank, a motor housing and a dirty fluid tank. The cleaning fluid tank is selectively mounted on the motor housing. A siphon, which is controlled by an actuator, is located in the cleaning fluid tank. The dirty fluid tank is selectively mounted on the motor housing in spaced relation to the cleaning fluid tank. The motor housing houses an air driven turbine and a suction fan and motor assembly. A suction nozzle is located at a first end of the wet/dry vacuum. An air passageway extends from the suction nozzle to the suction fan and motor. The turbine communicates with the air passageway. The housing further comprises at least one air inlet to allow air to pass to the turbine. A brush is operably connected to the turbine via a gear train. A rotational axis of the brush is angled so that a portion of the brush contacts a surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Royal Appliance Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: David Shimko, Jeffrey M. Kalman, David J. Boll, Michael F. Wright
  • Patent number: 6324721
    Abstract: A portable leaf blower having a fan unit (10) with a fan (11) and a combustion engine (12) for driving the fan. The fan unit (10) is arranged in a shell (16,17) provided with a lower inlet opening (23) through which air, during operation, flows to the fan (11). The shell is further provided with an upper opening (24). When the engine (12) has been cut off, air for cooling the engine (12) flows through the shell (16,17) by means of self convection from the lower inlet opening (23) to the upper opening (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventor: Gustaf Döragrip
  • Patent number: 6323570
    Abstract: A motor is incorporated in a cylindrical body which is a rotary brush. Rotation of a rotor of the motor, directly or via a speed reduction mechanism, drives the rotary brush. Cooling air runs through the cylindrical body so that the motor is cooled and protected. The rotary brush and an electric apparatus using the rotary brush can be downsized and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishimura, Seizo Hayashi