Internally driven agitator
First Claim
1. In combination, a brushroll and motor assembly for a cleaning device, comprising:
- a dowel having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis;
a housing to which the dowel is rotatably mounted;
at least one cleaning element protruding from the dowel;
a first shaft connected to the dowel and extending along the longitudinal axis;
a magnet frame housing secured to the dowel and encircling at least a portion of the first shaft, the housing defining an interior volume;
a motor assembly supported within the interior volume and encircling at least a portion of the first shaft;
a controller which selectively powers the motor assembly inducing rotational movement in the housing and the dowel; and
a sensor in communication with the controller which senses rotational speed of the housing and the dowel wherein the controller adjusts power to the motor assembly based on the sensed rotational speed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner includes a housing adapted for movement on a subjacent surface and a nozzle defined in the housing, the nozzle having an opening. A brushroll tube, having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis, is rotatably mounted to the housing adjacent the nozzle opening. At least one cleaning element protrudes from the brushroll tube. A shaft is located in the brushroll tube and extends along the longitudinal axis thereof. A stator is rigidly mounted on the shaft. A cylinder surrounds the shaft and the stator and is spaced therefrom. The cylinder is rigidly connected to the brushroll tube. A permanent magnet rotor is fixedly mounted to an interior surface of the cylinder. The permanent magnet rotor overlies and is coaxial with the stator and is spaced therefrom. The rotor and stator form a motor for rotating the brushroll tube wherein the rotor is driven by changes in induced magnetic fields in the stator.
34 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In combination, a brushroll and motor assembly for a cleaning device, comprising:
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a dowel having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis;
a housing to which the dowel is rotatably mounted;
at least one cleaning element protruding from the dowel;
a first shaft connected to the dowel and extending along the longitudinal axis;
a magnet frame housing secured to the dowel and encircling at least a portion of the first shaft, the housing defining an interior volume;
a motor assembly supported within the interior volume and encircling at least a portion of the first shaft;
a controller which selectively powers the motor assembly inducing rotational movement in the housing and the dowel; and
a sensor in communication with the controller which senses rotational speed of the housing and the dowel wherein the controller adjusts power to the motor assembly based on the sensed rotational speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a nozzle; and
,an agitator positioned adjacent the nozzle, the agitator comprising;
a tube, defining an interior volume, having first and second ends and a longitudinal rotation axis;
a shaft positioned in the tube and extending along the longitudinal axis;
a rotor assembly fixedly mounted to an internal surface of the tube;
a magnetic assembly supported within the interior volume by the shaft, the magnetic assembly selectively magnetically interacting with the rotor assembly to induce rotation of the tube; and
support cones mounted on the first and second ends of the shaft, said support cones having ventilation openings formed in a wall thereof. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a housing adapted for movement on a subjacent surface;
a nozzle defined in said housing, said nozzle having an opening;
a brushroll rotatably mounted to said housing adjacent said nozzle opening, said brushroll comprising;
a tube having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis;
an interior volume defined in said tube;
a magnet rotatably mounted in said interior volume; and
an armature rigidly mounted in said interior volume and spaced from said magnet;
a controller which varies power applied to the armature controlling speed and rotational direction of the brushroll; and
a sensor which senses rotational speed and direction of the brushroll, the sensor in data communication with the controller. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a housing adapted for movement on a subjacent surface;
a nozzle defined in said housing, said nozzle having an opening;
a tube having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis, said tube being rotatably mounted to said housing adjacent said nozzle opening;
at least one agitating element protruding from said tube;
a shaft located in an interior volume of the tube and extending along the longitudinal axis thereof;
a stator rigidly mounted on said shaft;
a magnet yoke surrounding said shaft and said stator and spaced therefrom, said magnet yoke being rigidly connected to said tube; and
a permanent magnet rotor fixedly mounted to an interior surface of said magnet yoke, said permanent magnet rotor overlying and being coaxial with said stator and spaced therefrom said rotor and stator forming a motor for rotating said tube wherein said rotor is driven by changes in induced magnetic fields in the stator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of rotating a surface working apparatus in a vacuum cleaner comprising:
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applying an electrical signal to a motor disposed within the surface working apparatus;
responsive to the applied electrical signal, generating an electromagnetic field which interacts with a permanent-magnetic field associated with an interior wall of the surface working apparatus, inducing rotation of the surface working apparatus;
computing rotational information of the surface working apparatus; and
altering the applied electrical signal to the motor based on the computed rotational information. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification