Abstract: A motor assembly for use in a vacuum cleaner utilizes a clam-shell type housing having a plurality of shell components that cooperate with each other to define a fan cavity and a motor cavity adjacent to the fan cavity. The housing has a fan cavity inlet and a fan cavity outlet. A field is received in the motor cavity. An armature assembly includes an armature shaft extending through the field and extending into the fan cavity. A pair of brushes are mounted to the housing in the motor cavity, and contact a commutator. A fan blade is disposed in the fan cavity and secured to the armature shaft for rotation together therewith. The fan blade rotates with the armature shaft during motor operation to cause airflow from the fan cavity inlet to the fan cavity outlet.

Abstract: An armature assembly for use in a motor has an annual creepage shield received on the armature shaft between the bearing and the commutator. The creepage shield has a first face adjacent to the commutator, and a second face adjacent to the bearing. The second face has at least one generally annular surface interruption to increase effective creepage distance between the commutator and the bearing.