Agitator construction

• US 20040019992A1
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Muhlenkamp, Eric E., Roney, Jeffrey T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,165,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/179
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/001 Cylindrical or annular brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3066 Brush specifically designed for use with street cleaning machinery
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0455 Bearing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49563 with coating or casting about a core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

An agitator includes a high strength, continuous metal axle, a pulley held on one end of the metal axle and a sleeve of lightweight plastic material received over the axle. The agitator is manufactured by molding a pulley body onto an underlying metal support or D-nut, fitting an axle into the pulley, molding a sleeve around the axle and securing a cleaning structure on the sleeve.

Claims

1. An agitator, comprising:

a continuous metal axle;

a pulley held on one end of said metal axle;

a sleeve of lightweight plastic material received over said metal axle.

2. The agitator of claim 1, wherein said sleeve carries a cleaning structure.

3. The agitator of claim 2, wherein said cleaning structure is selected from a group consisting of a beater bar, a brush, tufted bristles, a wiper and combinations thereof.

4. The agitator of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is cylindrical in shape having a diameter no greater than 22.00 mm.

5. The agitator of claim 4, wherein said axle has a diameter between about 4.00 mm to about 8.00 mm.

6. The agitator of claim 1, wherein said pulley includes a hub for securing to said axle.

7. The agitator of claim 6, wherein said pulley also includes a metal D-nut for engaging a stub shaft of a drive gear.

8. The agitator of claim 7, wherein said pulley includes a pair of projecting box ribs and said sleeve includes a pair of projecting flanges for receiving said box ribs.

9. The agitator of claim 8, wherein said sleeve also includes a collar and a pair of projecting lugs for engaging in a cooperating pair of slots in said pair of box ribs.

10. The agitator of claim 9, wherein said collar includes a pair of slots for receiving said box ribs.

11. The agitator of claim 10, wherein said pulley includes a projecting hub and said collar includes a gap for receiving and holding said hub.

12. An agitator for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

an axle;

a pulley held on one end of said axle;

a sleeve received over said axle; and

said pulley including a mounting fixture for engaging a stub shaft of a drive gear.

13. The agitator of claim 12, wherein said pulley includes a pair of projecting box ribs and said sleeve includes a pair of projecting flanges for receiving and engaging said box ribs.

14. The agitator of claim 13, wherein said sleeve also includes a collar and a pair of projecting lugs for engaging in said pair of box ribs.

15. A method of manufacturing an agitator comprising:

molding a pulley onto a metal support;

fitting an axle into the pulley; and

molding a sleeve around the axle.

16. The method of claim 15 including securing a cleaning structure on the sleeve.