Vacuum cleaner beater brush structure

• US 5,249,328 A
• Filed: 08/27/1991
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Goldstar Jewellery LLC
• Original Assignee: Goldstar Jewellery LLC
• Inventors: Shin, Gug J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US07/750,417
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 15/179, 15/182, 15/183, 15/366, 15/370, 15/372, 15/5, 15/376, 15/392
• US Class Current: 15/182
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0433 Toothed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0455 Bearing means therefor

Abstract

In a vacuum cleaner beater brush structure, a beater brush roller is provided with a helical brush strip and a beater strip. A sprocket comprises a support flange and a gear pulley, the gear pulley comprising a carrier having brush tufts and beater bars, a step, a toothed array for engaging with the timing belt, the circular rib for preventing inflow of air containing dirt toward rotating portions of the structure, and an axle for supporting rotation of the structure and integrally formed therewith. A support pulley comprises a circular rib for preventing inflow of air containing dirt toward the rotating portion and an axle adapted for supporting rotation of the structure and integrally formed therewith. A pair of bearing mounts are coupled with the pulleys. The bearing mount comprises a rectangular supporter, a bearing housing portion for receiving an oil-filled sleeve bearing adapted to rotatably support the axle, and openings for allowing air containing dirt to flow therethrough. The present invention provides a vacuum cleaner beater brush structure which is protected against damage of the rotating parts due to overheating, in which the rotating parts rotate smoothly and in which the noise and vibration are reduced.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner beater brush structure comprising:

a) a beater brush roller, the beater brush roller comprising;

1) a center portion and first and second end portions wherein the end portions are reduced in diameter;

2) a brush strip having a plurality of brush bundles, the brush strip provided on the center portion of said beater brush roller;

3) a beater strip having a plurality of rigid projections, the beater strip provided on said center portion of the beater brush roller; and

4) a pair of axle holes on each end portion of the beater brush roller;

b) a sprocket coupled to the second end portion of the beater brush roller, the sprocket comprising;

1) a support flange having a belt retainer flange, the support flange comprising;

a cylindrical recess for receiving a second end portion of the beater brush roller, an axial opening disposed opposite the cylindrical recess of the support flange and co-axial with the axle hole of the beater brush roller, and a pair of bolt openings positioned adjacent to the axial opening;

2) a gear pulley integrally molded with a first axle and coupled with the support flange, the gear pulley comprising;

a first cylindrical recess for receiving the support flange, a second cylindrical recess disposed opposite to the first cylindrical recess and having a pair of wedge-type snap projections positioned within the second cylindrical recess, an annular reduced-diameter step portion disposed around the first cylindrical recess and on an outer surface of the gear pulley wherein the annular step portion and the belt retainer flange couple to form a belt retainer portion for receiving a timing belt, a plurality of brushes and beater bars disposed on an outer surface of the gear pulley, and a ring-type anti-dust rib surrounding the second cylindrical recess and extending outwardly therefrom;

c) a support end molded integrally with a second axle and coupled to the first end portion of the beater brush roller, the support end comprising;

1) a third cylindrical recess for receiving the first end portion of said beater brush roller;

2) a fourth cylindrical recess disposed opposite to the third cylindrical recess and having a pair of wedge-type snap projections positioned within the fourth cylindrical recess;

3) a ring-type anti-dust rib surrounding the fourth cylindrical recess and extending outwardly therefrom; and

d) a first bearing mount disposed opposite the second cylindrical recess and a second bearing mount disposed opposite the fourth cylindrical recess, each bearing mount comprising;

1) a cylindrical bearing housing having a washer and a oil-filled bearing wherein the washer prevents oil leakage;

2) a pair of wedge-type snap projections disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical bearing housing;

3) an axial opening disposed throughout the cylindrical bearing housing for receiving the axle;

4) a plurality of ventilation openings disposed adjacent to the cylindrical housing for exhausting dust in the oil-filled bearing and for cooling the oil-filled bearing; and

5) a supporter having a top end and a bottom end for supporting the cylindrical bearing housing in a centered manner, the supporter having grooves disposed on the top end and the bottom end wherein the grooves are capable of engagement with a supporting frame of a vacuum cleaner head;

wherein the gear pulley being integrally molded with the first axle and the support end being integrally molded with the second axle are accurately engaged onto the beater brush roller and the first and second bearing mounts for efficiently and quietly rotating the beater brush roller during operation of the vacuum beater brush structure.

2. A vacuum cleaner beater brush structure as in claim 1, wherein said beater brush roller further comprises a plurality of axial holes disposed on the first and second end portions of the beater brush roller and wherein corresponding axial projections are provided within the cylindrical recess disposed on the support flange and within the third cylindrical recess disposed on the support end, such that the axial projections are adapted to be fitted into the corresponding axial holes for coupling the support flange and the support end to the beater brush roller.

3. A vacuum cleaner beater brush structure as in claim 1, wherein an adhesive is provided on the first and second end portions of the beater brush roller for adhering the beater brush roller to the support flange and to the support end.