VACUUM CLEANER HEAD INCLUDING INSUFFLATION AND PULLING FANS
Embodiments include a vacuum head portion and a combined suction and blowing mechanism configured to agitate and remove debris. A set of powered fans provide an external pressured air source to provide pressured air for the blowing mechanism. The vacuum head portion may include blowing and suction nozzles arranged with the blowing nozzles flanking the suction nozzles. The set of powered fans may be driven an electric motor or via air turbines disposed in an air stream of the suction nozzles. The blowing nozzles may be in parallel rows adjacent to the suction nozzles. The blowing mechanism may be operated to act as a suction device by reversing the rotational direction of the set of powered fans via a switching mechanism to create a negative pressure or suction to assist the suction nozzles. The vacuum head portion may be formed as a removable detachment to the vacuum cleaner.
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The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.
A conventional vacuum cleaner may include a head portion that is in contact with a surface to be cleaned, a tube or flexible hose or a combination thereof to connect the head portion to a main body, and an air suction mechanism housed in the main body. When the suction mechanism is switched on, the tube provides a suction flow path from the head portion to the main body, so dirt, dust and other debris may be removed from the surface to be cleaned. The main body typically includes a dirt bag or other container to collect the debris.
The suction mechanism in the main body is conventionally generated by an electric motor driving a fan. A suction flow path connects the low pressure side of the fan to the head portion. Conventionally, an exhaust flow path connects the high pressure side of the fan to a filtered exhaust to establish an exhaust air flow from the high pressure side of the fan to outside the main body.
As similarly above, vacuum cleaners typically use a suction nozzle that is movable across a surface to be cleaned. The suction created at an inlet in the nozzle results in the removal of free dirt particles accumulated on the surface. However, ground in dirt is frequently encountered when cleaning carpets or other textured surfaces, and reliance on suction for removal of such ground-in dirt has proven to be unsatisfactory.
The head portion of a vacuum cleaner is conventionally equipped with a mechanical agitator, mimicking a sweeping function. The agitator may be in the form of a stationary brush or a rotating brush which rolls as the head portion is moved against the cleaning surface. Alternatively, the brush may be mechanically driven by an electric motor which is primarily used for the mechanical agitator. Alternatively, the brush may be mechanically driven by a belt to connect to the electric motor within the main body which is primarily used for the suction mechanism.
The mechanical agitator is sometimes undesirable due to the nature of the surface to be cleaned. One disadvantage of a mechanical agitator is damage to the surface being cleaned. Delicate material or surfaces prohibit the use of a mechanical brush as it might cause damage to the surface. One remedy may be to substitute the mechanical agitator with a touchless agitation mechanism such as a sonic agitator which relies on fluctuation in air flow through the nozzle opening to dislodge dirt particles. Although sonic agitators avoid physical damage to a carpet often caused by mechanical agitators, they are not as effective in dislodging dirt on the surface of a carpet pile. At the same time, mechanical agitators are not as effective in removing particles embedded deeply in the carpet pile. Also, mechanical agitators tend to push dirt particles down into the carpet, thereby making it more difficult to effectively clean the carpet.
SUMMARYAnother remedy may be to instead use a touchless agitator where the debris is agitated by a pressured air flow blown to the surface to be cleaned. This option also provides for better dusting when the surface to be cleaned has hard to reach dusty grooves, an example of which is a keyboard. The touchless agitation mechanism may also be used in conjunction with the conventional mechanical agitator for improved debris removal.
To provide the pressured air flow for the touchless agitation mechanism, the touchless agitation mechanism may be provided by a separate motor or drive mechanism driving a fan, wherein a blowing flow path connects the high pressure side of the fan to the head portion.
Embodiments include an apparatus, which includes a housing including a suction portion having a suction source connected to a motor connected to a power source; a suction pipe connected to the housing and the vacuum suction portion; a head portion connected to the suction hose via an inlet opening; and a set of rotating fans connected to a drive mechanism and disposed in the head portion. The set of rotating fans is further disposed adjacent to the inlet opening, and the set of rotating fans are configured to synchronously push or pull air to or from a surface to be cleaned when the vacuum suction portion is in operation.
Embodiments also include an apparatus, which includes a base; a head portion connected to the base via a suction pipe; a suction inlet in the head portion; and a set of rotating fans connected to a drive mechanism and disposed in the head portion adjacent to the suction inlet. The set of rotating fans are configured to synchronously push or pull air to or from a surface to be cleaned.
The foregoing paragraphs have been provided by way of general introduction, and are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Further, roller mechanism 105 may be configured to act as a pressure-sensitive switch in which a predetermined amount of pressure will cause both fans 110 and the suction device to operate at the same time, as discussed above. In some embodiments, roller mechanism 105 may be configured to also change the speed of fans 110 when a predetermined amount of pressure is placed upon roller mechanism 105. For example, if an operator wishes or needs increased agitation of the surface to be cleaned, then by increasing pressure applied towards head portion 100 may affect an increase in insufflation (blowing) by fans 110.
Further, fans 110 may be configured with a reversible motor (not shown) for insufflation or blowing of air towards a surface to be cleaned thereby effecting a more efficient cleaning of the surface.
In some embodiments, head portion 100 may be configured as a removable detachment from suction hose 120 for cleaning purposes or the like.
The high pressure side of fans 110 may be changed by changing the rotational direction of fans 110, thus effecting whether an operator wishes to blow/push air or suction/pull air near the surface to be cleaned.
Alternatively, embodiments of the invention are not limited to the pressure switch arrangement shown in
Alternatively,
Alternatively, in some embodiments, fans 110 may be incorporated into either vacuum cleaner 300 or vacuum cleaner 400 such that fans 110 are directly powered by the vacuum cleaner (300, 400) itself via wires (325, 425).
Shutters 615 may provide the advantages of preventing any possible upheaval of dust or debris via blowing fans 610 by closing off the air stream from blowing fans 610 when removing head portion 600 from a surface. Further, shutters 615 may also provide some safety advantages by limiting access to the rotating fans 610 when not in a normal operation position parallel to a surface to be cleaned. This may even be an advantage when the fans 610 are powering down but still in rotation.
Brushes 1010 and 1015 may be driven by a conventional drive mechanism (not shown) or by other driving means, for example, brushes 1010 and 1015 may be configured to be coupled to wheels 105, 605, for example, to provide the proper rotational direction of brushes 1010 and 1015, that is, forward rotational brushes 1010 and rearward rotational brushes 1015, rotate in opposing directions towards suction inlet 1030 to assist in sweeping a surface and pushing air with dust or debris towards suction inlet 1030. In other words, when wheels 105, 605 rotate, then in turn brushes 1010 and 1015 rotate as well. Alternatively, brushes 110 and 1015 may be configured to be coupled to drive belts, for example, to provide the rotation, as discussed above.
Thus, the foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting of the scope of the invention, as well as other claims. The disclosure, including any readily discernible variants of the teachings herein, define, in part, the scope of the foregoing claim terminology such that no inventive subject matter is dedicated to the public.
The above disclosure also encompasses the embodiments noted below.
(1) An apparatus, comprising: a housing including a suction portion having a suction source connected to a motor connected to a power source; a suction pipe connected to the housing and the suction portion; a head portion connected to the suction hose via an inlet opening; and a set of rotating fans connected to a drive mechanism and disposed in the head portion, wherein the set of rotating fans is further disposed adjacent to the inlet opening, and the set of rotating fans are configured to synchronously push or pull air to or from a surface to be cleaned when the suction portion is in operation.
(2) The apparatus according to (1), further comprising: a roller mechanism disposed in the head portion, wherein the roller mechanism is attached to an arm holder having an area slip configured for translational motion of the roller mechanism, wherein the arm holder is attached to an electric switch having electric contacts separated by at least one compression spring, the electric switch is configured to turn on the set of rotating fans based on pressure applied to the head portion and the at least one compression spring.
(3) The apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the drive mechanism includes at least one turbine disposed in an air stream of the inlet opening and configured to rotate the set of rotating fans via a rotational axis arm in communication with a rotational arm of the set of rotating fans.
(4) The apparatus according to (1) to (3), wherein the at least one turbine is further disposed adjacent a wall of the suction pipe and the at least one turbine has an axis of rotation orthogonal to an axis of rotation of the set of rotating fans.
(5) The apparatus according to (1) to (4), wherein the at least one turbine is further disposed in parallel to the set of rotating fans and parallel to the air stream, where the at least one turbine includes a horizontally aligned axis arm in rotational communication with the set of rotating fans.
(6) The apparatus according to (1) to (5), further comprising: at least one roller brush disposed in the head portion adjacent the inlet opening, wherein the at least one roller brush being configured to rotate in a direction toward the inlet opening.
(7) The apparatus according to (1) to (6), wherein the rotational direction of the set of rotating fans is configured to be reversible via an electric switch spaced apart from the head portion.
(8) The apparatus according to (1) to (7), wherein a rotational direction of the set of rotating fans is configured to be reversible based on a predetermined amount of pressure applied to the roller mechanism upon contact with the surface to be cleaned.
(9) The apparatus according to (1) to (8), further comprising: an air duct disposed adjacent to the set of rotating fans; and at least one valve disposed at a distal end within the air duct and adjacent to the set of rotating fans, wherein the at least one valve is configured to direct air flow during synchronous pulling or pushing air via the set of rotating fans and the suction source.
(10) The apparatus according to (1) to (9), wherein a rotational speed of the set of rotating fans is configured to change based on a predetermined amount of pressure applied to the roller mechanism upon contact with the surface to be cleaned.
(11) The apparatus according to (1) to (10), wherein the electric switch is further configured to trigger opening and closing of a set of shutters configured to either allow an airstream from the set of fans when opened or to block the airstream from the set of fans when closed.
(12) An apparatus, comprising: a base; a head portion connected to the base via a suction pipe; a suction inlet in the head portion; and a set of rotating fans connected to a drive mechanism and disposed in the head portion adjacent to the suction inlet, wherein the set of rotating fans are configured to synchronously push or pull air to or from a surface to be cleaned.
(13) The apparatus according to (12), further comprising: a roller mechanism disposed in the head portion, wherein the roller mechanism is attached to an arm holder having an area slip configured for translational motion of the roller mechanism, wherein the arm holder is attached to an electric switch having electric contacts separated by at least one compression spring, the electric switch is configured to turn on the set of rotating fans based on pressure applied to the head portion and the at least one compression spring.
(14) The apparatus according to (12) or (13), wherein the drive mechanism includes at least one turbine disposed in an air stream of the suction inlet and configured to rotate the set of rotating fans via a rotational axis arm in communication with a rotational arm of the set of rotating fans.
(15) The apparatus according to (12) to (14), wherein the at least one turbine is further disposed adjacent a wall of the suction pipe and the at least one turbine has an axis of rotation orthogonal to an axis of rotation of the set of rotating fans.
(16) The apparatus according to (12) to (15), wherein the at least one turbine is further disposed in parallel to the set of rotating fans and parallel to the air stream, where the at least one turbine includes a horizontally aligned axis arm in rotational communication with the set of rotating fans.
(17) The apparatus according to (12) to (16), further comprising: at least one roller brush disposed in the head portion adjacent the inlet opening, wherein the at least one roller brush being configured to rotate in a direction toward the suction inlet.
(18) The apparatus according to (12) to (17), wherein the rotational direction of the set of rotating fans is configured to be reversible via an electric switch spaced apart from the head portion.
(19) The apparatus according to (12) to (18), wherein the rotational direction of the set of rotating fans are configured to be reversible based on the amount of pressure applied to the roller mechanism at the surface to be cleaned.
(20) The apparatus according to (12) to (19), further comprising: an air duct disposed adjacent to the set of rotating fans; and at least one valve disposed at a distal end within the air duct and adjacent to the set of rotating fans, wherein the at least one valve is configured to direct air flow during synchronous pulling or pushing air via the set of rotating fans and the suction inlet.
(21) The apparatus according to (12) to (20), wherein a rotational speed of the set of rotating fans is configured to change based on a predetermined amount of pressure applied to the roller mechanism upon contact with the surface to be cleaned.
(22) The apparatus according to (12) to (21), wherein the electric switch is further configured to trigger opening and closing of a set of shutters configured to either allow an airstream from the set of fans when opened or to block the airstream from the set of fans when closed.
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a housing including a suction portion having a suction source connected to a motor connected to a power source;
- a suction pipe connected to the housing and the suction portion;
- a head portion connected to the suction hose via an inlet opening; and
- a set of rotating fans connected to a drive mechanism and disposed in the head portion,
- wherein the set of rotating fans is further disposed adjacent to the inlet opening, and the set of rotating fans are configured to synchronously push or pull air to or from a surface to be cleaned when the suction portion is in operation.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a roller mechanism disposed in the head portion, wherein the roller mechanism is attached to an arm holder having an area slip configured for translational motion of the roller mechanism,
- wherein the arm holder is attached to an electric switch having electric contacts separated by at least one compression spring, the electric switch is configured to turn on the set of rotating fans based on pressure applied to the head portion and the at least one compression spring.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism includes at least one turbine disposed in an air stream of the inlet opening and configured to rotate the set of rotating fans via a rotational axis arm in communication with a rotational arm of the set of rotating fans.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one turbine is further disposed adjacent a wall of the suction pipe and the at least one turbine has an axis of rotation orthogonal to an axis of rotation of the set of rotating fans.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one turbine is further disposed in parallel to the set of rotating fans and parallel to the air stream, where the at least one turbine includes a horizontally aligned axis arm in rotational communication with the set of rotating fans.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- at least one roller brush disposed in the head portion adjacent the inlet opening, wherein the at least one roller brush being configured to rotate in a direction toward the inlet opening.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotational direction of the set of rotating fans is configured to be reversible via an electric switch spaced apart from the head portion.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a rotational direction of the set of rotating fans is configured to be reversible based on a predetermined amount of pressure applied to the roller mechanism upon contact with the surface to be cleaned.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- an air duct disposed adjacent to the set of rotating fans; and
- at least one valve disposed at a distal end within the air duct and adjacent to the set of rotating fans, wherein the at least one valve is configured to direct air flow during synchronous pulling or pushing air via the set of rotating fans and the suction source.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a rotational speed of the set of rotating fans is configured to change based on a predetermined amount of pressure applied to the roller mechanism upon contact with the surface to be cleaned.
11. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electric switch is further configured to trigger opening and closing of a set of shutters configured to either allow an airstream from the set of fans when opened or to block the airstream from the set of fans when closed.
12. An apparatus, comprising:
- a base;
- a head portion connected to the base via a suction pipe;
- a suction inlet in the head portion; and
- a set of rotating fans connected to a drive mechanism and disposed in the head portion adjacent to the suction inlet,
- wherein the set of rotating fans are configured to synchronously push or pull air to or from a surface to be cleaned.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:
- a roller mechanism disposed in the head portion, wherein the roller mechanism is attached to an arm holder having an area slip configured for translational motion of the roller mechanism,
- wherein the arm holder is attached to an electric switch having electric contacts separated by at least one compression spring, the electric switch is configured to turn on the set of rotating fans based on pressure applied to the head portion and the at least one compression spring.
14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the drive mechanism includes at least one turbine disposed in an air stream of the suction inlet and configured to rotate the set of rotating fans via a rotational axis arm in communication with a rotational arm of the set of rotating fans.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one turbine is further disposed adjacent a wall of the suction pipe and the at least one turbine has an axis of rotation orthogonal to an axis of rotation of the set of rotating fans.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one turbine is further disposed in parallel to the set of rotating fans and parallel to the air stream, where the at least one turbine includes a horizontally aligned axis arm in rotational communication with the set of rotating fans.
17. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:
- at least one roller brush disposed in the head portion adjacent the inlet opening, wherein the at least one roller brush being configured to rotate in a direction toward the suction inlet.
18. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the rotational direction of the set of rotating fans is configured to be reversible via an electric switch spaced apart from the head portion.
19. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the rotational direction of the set of rotating fans are configured to be reversible based on the amount of pressure applied to the roller mechanism at the surface to be cleaned.
20. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:
- an air duct disposed adjacent to the set of rotating fans; and
- at least one valve disposed at a distal end within the air duct and adjacent to the set of rotating fans, wherein the at least one valve is configured to direct air flow during synchronous pulling or pushing air via the set of rotating fans and the suction inlet.
21. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a rotational speed of the set of rotating fans is configured to change based on a predetermined amount of pressure applied to the roller mechanism upon contact with the surface to be cleaned.
22. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the electric switch is further configured to trigger opening and closing of a set of shutters configured to either allow an airstream from the set of fans when opened or to block the airstream from the set of fans when closed.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 3, 2014
Publication Date: Apr 7, 2016
Applicant: UMM AL-QURA UNIVERSITY (Makkah)
Inventor: Saleh Abdullah Saleh AL SALAMEH (Al Rass)
Application Number: 14/391,848