Vacuum Brush

• US 20110252594A1
• Filed: 02/16/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: BLOUIN, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,800,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/383
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0427 Gearing or transmission means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0455 Bearing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls

Abstract

A rotating cleaning element configured to be inserted in a cleaning head compartment of a robotic vacuum, the rotating cleaning element including: a drive end including a drive protrusion configured to engage a drive mechanism of the cleaning head compartment; a bearing end and a shroud configured to surround at least a portion of the bearing end to lessen an amount of hair and similar matter that reaches the bearing; and a central member extending between the bearing end and the drive end.

Claims

14. A cleaning head subsystem for a robotic vacuum, the cleaning head subsystem including a cleaning head compartment and at least one cleaning element, the cleaning element comprising:

a bearing end and a first shroud configured to surround at least a portion of the bearing end and a sleeve thereof;

a first reservoir being defined at least between a portion of the first shroud and the sleeve;

a drive end comprising a drive protrusion configured to engage a drive mechanism of the cleaning head compartment; and

a central member extending between the bearing end and the drive end,

wherein the drive end includes a second shroud configured to surround at least a portion of the drive end of the brush assembly and at least one guard extending radially outwardly from a central axis of the central member toward an interior of the second shroud, a second reservoir being defined at least between a portion of the second shroud and the guard.

15. The cleaning head subsystem of claim 14, wherein the drive end further comprises a retention device and a drive protrusion, the retention device being configured to limit axial motion of the cleaning element.

16. The cleaning head subsystem of claim 15, wherein the retention device includes a plurality of interlocking members configured to engage one or more recesses in a drive gear that engages the drive protrusion.

17. A cleaning head subsystem for a robotic vacuum, the cleaning head subsystem comprising:

a cleaning head compartment;

a cleaning element assembly disposed within the cleaning head compartment, the cleaning element assembly including a main brush and a flapper brush; and

a gearbox comprising a main brush drive gear to drive the main brush, a flapper brush drive gear to drive the flapper brush, and a first shroud configured to surround at least one of the main brush drive gear and the flapper brush drive gear.

1. A rotating cleaning element configured to be inserted in a cleaning head compartment of a robotic vacuum, the rotating cleaning element comprising:

a drive end comprising a drive protrusion configured to engage a drive mechanism of the cleaning head compartment;

a bearing end and a shroud configured to surround at least a portion of the bearing end to lessen an amount of hair and similar matter that reaches the bearing; and

a central member extending between the bearing end and the drive end.

2. The rotating cleaning element of claim 1, wherein the bearing end of the rotating cleaning element further comprises a cylindrical sleeve surrounding a shaft of the rotating cleaning element, a circular flange adjacent the central member of the rotating cleaning element and extending radially outwardly from the sleeve of the central member, and a recess between a portion of the central member and the circular flange.

3. The rotating cleaning element of claim 2, wherein the shroud includes a first wall generally parallel to a central axis of the central member, a second wall extending generally perpendicular to the first wall, a third wall extending generally perpendicular to the second wall, and a fourth wall extending generally perpendicular to the third wall to define the interior of the shroud, and wherein a reservoir into which the hair and similar matter is collected is defined between the circular flange, the first wall of the shroud, the second wall of the shroud, and the sleeve.

4. The rotating cleaning element of claim 3, further comprising a labyrinth passage between the recess and the reservoir, the labyrinth passage being a path between the recess and the reservoir at an outer diameter of the circular flange.

5. The rotating cleaning element of claim 2, further comprising a guard extending outwardly from the sleeve to an interior wall of the shroud.

6. The rotating cleaning element of claim 5, wherein the circular flange, the guard and the shroud define a first reservoir into which the hair and similar matter is collected.

7. The rotating cleaning element of claim 6, wherein the shroud includes a first wall generally parallel to a central axis of the central member, a second wall extending generally perpendicular to the first wall, a third wall extending generally perpendicular to the second wall, and a fourth wall extending generally perpendicular to the third wall to define the interior of the shroud.

8. The rotating cleaning element of claim 7, wherein the at least one guard extends from the sleeve radially outwardly to the third wall of the shroud, the first reservoir being defined between the circular flange, the first wall of the shroud, the second wall of the shroud, a portion of the third wall of the shroud, the guard, and the sleeve.

9. The rotating cleaning element of claim 7, wherein the guard extends from the sleeve radially outwardly toward the third wall of the shroud, the first reservoir being defined between the circular flange, the first wall of the shroud, the second wall of the shroud, the guard, and the sleeve.

10. The rotating cleaning element of claim 6, further comprising a first labyrinth passage between the recess and the first reservoir, the first labyrinth passage being a path between the recess and the first reservoir at an outer diameter of the circular flange.

11. The rotating cleaning element of claim 10, wherein the guard, the sleeve and the shroud define a second reservoir into which the hair and similar matter is collected.

12. The rotating cleaning element of claim 11, further comprising a second labyrinth passage between the first reservoir and the second reservoir, the second labyrinth passage being a path between the first reservoir and the second reservoir at an outer diameter of the guard.

13. The rotating cleaning element of claim 1, wherein the rotating cleaning element is one of a main brush and a flapper brush.

18. The cleaning head subsystem of claim 17, further comprising a second shroud configured to surround the other of the main brush drive gear and the flapper brush drive gear.

19. The cleaning head subsystem of claim 18, wherein the first shroud is disposed over a drive end of the main brush in an installed position of the main brush, and the second shroud is disposed over a drive end of the flapper brush in an installed position of the flapper brush.

20. The cleaning head subsystem of claim 19, wherein the third shroud cooperates with the gearbox housing to create a recessed collection area for hair and similar matter.

19-1. The cleaning head subsystem of claim 17, further comprising a motor to drive the gearbox, and a third shroud extending between the motor and the gearbox.