Power head for vacuum systems

• US 10,052,002 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2015
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tiger Tool International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tiger Tool International Incorporated
• Inventors: Andrews, Michael, Ervondy, Doddy
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG V
• Application Number:
  US15/302,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20170027398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/362 of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0438 with gears having orbital motion, e.g. planetary gearing
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0455 Bearing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0494 Height adjustment of dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0673 with removable brushes, combs, lips or pads
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/28 Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation

Abstract

A power head for use with a vacuum system. The power head comprises a main body assembly, a brush assembly, and a latch system. The latch system detachably attaches the brush assembly to the main body assembly such that a main inlet portion of the main chamber is in fluid communication with a brush outlet and the battery is operatively connected to the motor. When the vacuum system is detachably attached to the main housing and the latch system detachably attaches the main housing to the brush housing, the vacuum system draws air through a brush inlet, a brush chamber, the brush outlet, the main inlet, a main chamber, and a main outlet and the battery supplies power to the motor such that the motor rotates the brush assembly relative to the brush housing.

Claims

1. A power head for use with a vacuum system comprising:

a main body assembly comprising

a main housing defining

a main chamber defining a main inlet and a main outlet, and

first and second main contacts supported by the main housing and operatively connected to a power supply;

a brush assembly comprising

a brush housing defining a brush chamber, a brush inlet, and a brush outlet,

a brush defining an axle chamber,

first and second bearings arranged to support the brush within the brush chamber for rotation relative to the brush housing,

a motor comprising a motor shaft, where the motor is supported by the brush housing such that the motor shaft is arranged within the axle chamber;

a motor gear assembly arranged within the axle chamber and operatively connected between the motor shaft and the brush such that operation of the motor causes rotation of the brush assembly relative to the brush housing;

first and second brush contacts supported by the brush housing and operatively connected to the motor;

a latch system for detachably attaching the brush assembly to the main body assembly such that

the main inlet portion of the main chamber is in fluid communication with the brush outlet, and

the first and second main contacts are in contact with the first and second brush contacts;

wherein when the vacuum system is operatively connected to the main housing and the latch system detachably attaches the main housing to the brush housing,

the vacuum system draws air through the brush inlet, the brush chamber, the brush outlet, the main inlet, the main chamber, and the main outlet; and

the power supply supplies power to the motor such that the motor rotates the brush assembly relative to the brush housing.

2. A power head as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a battery chamber is arranged between a rear portion of the main chamber and the main inlet, where the battery chamber is arranged between a first side portion of the main chamber and a second side portion of the main chamber; and

a battery arranged within the battery chamber and operatively connected to the first and second main contacts.

3. A power head as recited in claim 2, in which:

the main chamber further defines a central portion; and

the battery chamber is arranged above at least a portion of the central portion.

4. A power head as recited in claim 1, in which:

the main chamber further defines a central portion; and

a battery chamber is arranged above at least a portion of the central portion.

5. A power head as recited in claim 1, in which the motor gear assembly comprises:

a drive gear operatively connected to the motor shaft;

a ring gear formed on an interior surface of the brush; and

a plurality of planetary gears;

wherein

the planetary gears transfer rotation of the drive gear to the ring gear.

6. A power head as recited in claim 1, in which the ring gear is rigidly secured to the interior surface of the brush.

7. A power head as recited in claim 1, in which:

the brush comprises a brush axle defining the axle chamber and bristles outwardly extending from the brush axle; and

at least a portion of the motor is arranged within the axle chamber.

8. A power head as recited in claim 1, in which:

the brush comprises a brush axle defining the axle chamber and bristles outwardly extending from the brush axle; and

the motor is supported within the axle chamber.

9. A method of directing air and debris into a vacuum system comprising:

providing a main body assembly comprising

a main housing defining a main chamber defining a main inlet and a main outlet, and

first and second main contacts supported by the main housing and operatively connected to a power supply;

providing a brush assembly comprising

a brush housing defining a brush chamber, a brush inlet, and a brush outlet,

a brush defining an axle chamber;

first and second bearings arranged to support the brush within the brush chamber for rotation relative to the brush housing, and

a motor comprising a motor shaft, where the motor is supported by the brush housing such that the motor shaft is arranged within the axle chamber;

a motor gear assembly arranged within the axle chamber and operatively connected between the motor shaft and the brush such that operation of the motor causes rotation of the brush assembly relative to the brush housing;

detachably attaching the brush assembly to the main body assembly such that

the main inlet portion of the main chamber is in fluid communication with the brush outlet, and

the first and second main contacts are in contact with the first and second brush contacts;

operating the vacuum system to draw air through the brush inlet, the brush chamber, the brush outlet, the main inlet, the main chamber, and the main outlet; and

connecting the power supply to the motor such that the motor rotates the brush assembly relative to the brush housing.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, in which the step of providing the main housing comprises the steps of:

arranging a battery chamber between a rear portion of the main chamber and the main inlet;

arranging the battery chamber between a first side portion of the main chamber and a second side portion of the main chamber;

arranging a battery within the battery chamber; and

operatively connecting the battery to the first and second main contacts.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, in which the step of providing the main housing comprises the step of arranging the battery chamber above at least a portion of a central portion of the main chamber.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, in which the step of providing the motor gear assembly comprises the step of rigidly securing the ring gear to the interior surface of the brush.

13. A method as recited in claim 9, in which the step of providing the main housing comprises the step of arranging a battery chamber above at least a portion of a central portion of the main chamber.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, in which the step of providing the motor gear assembly comprises the steps of:

operatively connecting a drive gear to the motor shaft;

forming a ring gear on an interior surface of the brush;

arranging a plurality of planetary gears to transfer rotation of the drive gear to the ring gear.

15. A method as recited in claim 9, in which the step of providing the brush comprises the step of providing a brush axle defining the axle chamber and bristles outwardly extending from the brush axle, the method further comprising the step of arranging at least a portion of the motor within the axle chamber.

16. A method as recited in claim 9, in which the step of providing the brush comprises the step of providing a brush axle defining the axle chamber and bristles outwardly extending from the brush axle, the method further comprising the step of arranging the motor within the axle chamber.

17. A vacuum system comprising:

a vacuum source;

a hose connected to the vacuum source;

a handle connected to the hose;

an extension tube connected to the handle;

a power head comprising

a main body assembly comprising

a main housing defining

a main chamber defining a main inlet and a main outlet, and

a battery chamber, and

a battery arranged in the battery chamber;

a brush assembly comprising

a brush housing defining a brush chamber, a brush inlet, and a brush outlet,

a brush rotatably supported within the brush chamber, and

a motor arranged to rotate the brush assembly relative to the brush housing;

a latch system for detachably attaching the brush assembly to the main body assembly such that

the main inlet portion of the main chamber is in fluid communication with the brush outlet, and

the battery is operatively connected to the motor;

wherein when the extension tube is detachably attached to the main housing and the latch system detachably attaches the main housing to the brush housing,

the vacuum source draws air through the brush inlet, the brush chamber, the brush outlet, the main inlet, the main chamber, the main outlet, the extension tube, the handle, and the hose; and

the battery supplies power to the motor such that the motor rotates the brush assembly relative to the brush housing.

18. A vacuum system as recited in claim 17, further comprising a charger, where the latch system further detachably attaches the brush assembly to the charger to charge the battery.