Vacuum cleaner motor assembly

• US 8,011,062 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Burlington, Guy James
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US11/579,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20080022486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,315 Days
• Field of Search: 154/12, 15389-391
• US Class Current: 15/390
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/22 with rotary fans
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• 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 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 43/25 controlled by thermo-responsive elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 7/025 with flat clutching surfaces, e.g. discs
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 9/02 by thermal means, e.g. melting member
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/28 with gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18024 Rotary to reciprocating and rotary

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner motor assembly includes a motor in a bucket, configured so as to drive a fan to provide airflow. An epicyclic gear system is attached to the output shaft of the motor, to produce an output of reduced rotational speed. The output is employed to drive an agitator via a belt. The belt is driven at a reduced rotational speed to that achievable hitherto, and thus there is reduced wear on the belt. The provision of a gear arrangement mounted directly to the motor casing provides a compact assembly. One of the epicyclic gears, such as the ring gear, is arranged to slip with respect to a clutch member if the agitator becomes jammed. An actuator switches off the motor if the heat of friction of the slipping gear exceeds a predetermined value, or if the slipping gear rotates at a speed above a predetermined value. Thus, the motor switches off before damage occurs to any of the components of the system.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner motor assembly, comprising:

a vacuum motor,

connected to a fan so as to drive the fan to provide suction airflow for the vacuum cleaner, and

connected to an epicyclic gear system so as to produce an output of a rotational speed that is reduced as compared to that generated by the motor, the output being configured so as to drive an agitator; and

a clutch mechanism comprising clutch members having an engaged position, in which torque generated by the motor is transmitted to the output and a disengaged position in which torque is not transmitted to the output, the clutch members being capable of slipping.

2. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the motor is located in a housing, and the gear system is attached to the housing.

3. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the motor has a shaft and the gear system is mounted to the shaft.

4. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which an end portion of the shaft comprises an input gear of the gear system.

5. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which an end portion of the shaft is secured to an input gear of the gear system.

6. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which the input gear comprises the sun gear of the epicyclic gear system.

7. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the output comprises the planet carrier of the epicyclic gear system.

8. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the output drives the agitator by means of a belt.

9. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the agitator comprises a brush bar.

10. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which one of the clutch members comprises a gear of the gear system.

11. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 10, in which the gear of the gear system comprises the ring gear of the epicyclic gear system.

12. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an actuator associated with a clutch member and configured so as so that, if the clutch members slip and a characteristic associated with slipping of the clutch members is above a predetermined value, transmission of torque to the output is interrupted.

13. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 12, in which the actuator comprises a switch configured so as to interrupt transmission of torque by switching off the motor.

14. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 12, in which the characteristic comprises a rise in temperature due to slipping of the clutch members, the actuator being configured so as to interrupt transmission of torque when the temperature exceeds a predetermined value or when the rate of change of temperature exceeds a predetermined value or when the temperature exceeds a predetermined value for a predetermined time.

15. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 12, in which the characteristic comprises a relative rotational speed of one clutch member with respect to another, the actuator being configured so as to interrupt transmission of torque when the rotational speed exceeds a predetermined value or when the rate of change of rotational speed exceeds a predetermined value or when the rotational speed exceeds a predetermined value for a predetermined time.

16. A vacuum cleaner including a motor assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

17. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which the input gear comprises the sun gear of the epicyclic gear system.

18. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which the input gear comprises the planet gear of the epicyclic gear system.

19. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 10, further comprising an actuator associated with a clutch member and configured so as so that, if the clutch members slip and a characteristic associated with slipping of the clutch members is above a predetermined value, transmission of torque to the output is interrupted.

20. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 19, in which the actuator comprises a switch configured so as to interrupt transmission of torque by switching off the motor.

21. A motor assembly as claimed in claim 19, in which the characteristic comprises a rise in temperature due to slipping of the clutch members, the actuator being configured so as to interrupt transmission of torque when the temperature exceeds a predetermined value or when the rate of change of temperature exceeds a predetermined value or when the temperature exceeds a predetermined value for a predetermined time.

22. A vacuum cleaner including a motor assembly as claimed in claim 3.

23. A vacuum cleaner including a motor assembly as claimed in claim 5.

24. A vacuum cleaner including a motor assembly as claimed in claim 1.

25. A vacuum cleaner including a motor assembly as claimed in claim 12.

26. A vacuum cleaner including a motor assembly as claimed in claim 14.

27. A vacuum cleaner including a motor assembly as claimed in claim 15.