Rotary brush device and vacuum cleaner using the same

• US 6,437,465 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishimura, Hiroshi, Hayashi, Seizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Nestor
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Dang Dinh
• Application Number:
  US10/061,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20020079761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 200 Days
• Field of Search: 310/47, 310/50, 310/154, 15/521, 154/12, 154/13, 154/16, 153/19, 153/39
• US Class Current: 310/47
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• 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 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/281 the amount or condition of incoming dirt or dust
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2821 Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2826 the condition of the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user

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.

Claims

1. An electric apparatus comprising:

a pair of front and rear rollers, a floor detector for detecting a type of floor over which the electric apparatus is rolled, a switch operated by engagement with said floor detector, and a rotary brush device having a cylindrical body with a motor housed in the cylindrical body, an outer wall of the cylindrical body is provided with at least one of a brush, a thin-plate agitator, and a thin-plate scraper, the cylindrical body is provided at one end with a first opening for receiving outside air and a second opening at an opposite side of the cylindrical body, said first opening and said second opening being connected to one another through the inside of the motor;

wherein the rotary brush device is operated by operation of the switch.

2. An electric apparatus comprising:

a pair of front and rear rollers, a floor detector for detecting a type of floor over which the electric apparatus is rolled, a switch operated by engagement with said floor detector, and a rotary brush device having a cylindrical body having at least one of a brush agitator, a thin-plate agitator and a thin-plate scraper;

a motor disposed in said cylindrical body and for rotating said cylindrical body;

a speed reduction mechanism for reducing rotational speed of said motor;

wherein said motor is disposed on a first end of said cylindrical body and said speed reduction mechanism is disposed on a second end of said cylindrical body;

wherein the rotary brush device is operated by operation of the switch.

3. An electric apparatus comprising:

a floor nozzle having disposed therein a rotary brush device having a cylindrical body having at least one of a brush agitator, a thin-plate agitator and a thin-plate scraper;

a motor disposed in said cylindrical body and for rotating said cylindrical body;

a speed reduction mechanism for reducing rotational speed of said motor;

wherein said motor is disposed on a first end of said cylindrical body and said speed reduction mechanism is disposed on a second end of said cylindrical body,

the floor nozzle having an intake chamber with a downwardly facing opening, an electric blower for air intake, a dust chamber for capturing dust, and a dust detector provided at a part of an air intake path connecting said intake chamber and the electric blower;

wherein rotation of the cylindrical body of the rotary brush device is controlled in accordance with an output of said dust detector.