Built-in vacuum cleaning system with improved acoustic damping design

• US 4,938,309 A
• Filed: 06/08/1989
• Issued: 07/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: M D Manufacturing Inc.
• Original Assignee: M D Manufacturing Inc.
• Inventors: Emdy, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Application Number:
  US07/363,090
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 181/202, 181/231, 181/238, 181/239, 181/258, 181/282, 181/262, 181/264, 181/272, 15/326, 55/276, 417/312
• US Class Current: 181/231
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0081 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/002 Apparatus adapted for particular uses, e.g. for portable devices driven by machines or engines

Abstract

An improved design for the central power and suction unit of built-in vacuum cleaning systems, which improved design provides significant acoustic damping to substantially reduce the noise level generated from the central power and suction unit. The design further permits the canister of the central power and suction unit to rest on the floor. The motors of the central power unit are enclosed within an interior chamber which includes at its lower end a baffle supporting an acoustic damper such as acoustic foam and the interior chamber is vented through exhaust ports the tips of the armatures are separated from the remainder of the armatures and motors by the baffle and the tips of the armatures extend into another chamber which further includes a second acoustic damper within the chamber and further includes openings for permitting cooling air to enter the chamber. Through this design, the noise level generated from the motors is very substantially reduced while the motors are sufficiently cooled.

Claims

1. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system including a canister having a sidewall, a top and a bottom, an upper interior hollow compartment housing a removable dirt and dust collection receptacle and including a partition base which separates the upper and interior hollow compartment from a second interior compartment which houses at least one motor and armature interiorly extending therefrom, with the at least one motor emitting noise when the at least one motor is turned on, the improvement comprising:

a. a baffle within said canister positioned to define one end of said second interior compartment;

b. a first acoustic damping means supported on said baffle;

c. a second acoustic damping means supported on said bottom of said canister;

d. said sidewall, said baffle and said second acoustic camping means defining an acoustic damping chamber;

e. said baffle and said first acoustic damping means comprising at least one opening to permit a portion of the armature of said at least one motor to extend through the baffle and first acoustic damping means into said acoustic damping chamber;

f. exhaust means in said sidewall to permit hot air exhaust from said at least one motor to exit said second interior compartment; and

g. air intake means in said sidewall to permit cooling air to enter said acoustic damping chamber;

h. whereby said first acoustic damping means and said second acoustic damping means reduce the noise emitted from said at least one motor.

2. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first acoustic damping means is acoustic foam and said second acoustic damping means is acoustic foam.

3. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said acoustic foam of said first acoustic damping means is approximately one-half inch thick and said acoustic foam of said second acoustic damping means is approximately one-half inch thick.

4. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said exhaust means is at least one exhaust port located in said sidewall and extending into said second interior compartment at a location remote from where said at least one motor and armature is located.

5. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said exhaust means is a pair of vertically aligned exhaust ports, each of which is located in said sidewall and extending into said second interior compartment at a location remote from where said at least one motor and armature is located.

6. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said air intake means are louvres in the sidewall at the location of said acoustic damping chamber.

7. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system including a canister having a sidewall, a top and a bottom, an upper interior hollow compartment housing a removable dirt and dust collection receptacle and including a partition base which separates the upper interior hollow compartment from a second interior compartment which houses at least one motor and armature interiorly extending therefrom, with the at least one motor emitting noise when the at least one motor is turned on, the improvement comprising:

a. first damping means defining one end of said second interior compartment to thereby house said at least one motor between said partition base and the first damping means;

b. second damping means spaced apart from said first damping means whereby said sidewall, said first damping means and said second damping means define an acoustic damping chamber;

c. said first damping means comprising at least one opening to permit a portion of the armature of said at least one motor to extend through said first damping means into said acoustic damping chamber;

d. exhaust means in said sidewall to permit hot air exhaust from said at least one motor to exit said second interior compartment; and

e. air intake means in said sidewall to permit cooling air to enter said acoustic damping chamber;

f. whereby said first damping means and said second damping means reduce the noise emitted from said at least one motor.

8. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said first damping means further comprises a baffle supporting acoustic foam.

9. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said acoustic foam is approximately one-half inch thick.

10. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said second damping means further comprises acoustic foam supported on said base.

11. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said acoustic foam is approximately one-half inch thick.

12. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said exhaust means is at least one exhaust port located in said sidewall and extending into said second interior compartment at a location remote from where said at least one motor and armature is located.

13. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said exhaust means is a pair of vertically aligned exhaust ports, each of which is located in said sidewall and extending into said second interior compartment at a location remote from where said at least one motor and armature is located.

14. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said air intake means are louvres in the sidewall at the location of said acoustic damping chamber.

15. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system including a canister having a sidewall, a top and a bottom hollow section, a first interior hollow compartment housing removable dirt and dust collection receptacle which causes dirt and dust to fall into the bottom hollow section and including a partition base which separates the first interior hollow compartment from a second interior compartment located near the top of said canister and which houses at least one motor and armature interiorly extending therefrom, with the at least one motor emitting noise when the at least one motor is turned on, the improvement comprising:

a. a baffle within said canister positioned to define one end of said second interior compartment;

b. a first acoustic damping means supported on said baffle;

c. a second acoustic damping means supported on and below said top of said canister;

d. said sidewall, said baffle and said second acoustic damping means defining an acoustic damping chamber;

e. said baffle and said first acoustic damping means comprising at least one opening to permit a portion of the armature of said at least one motor to extend through the baffle and first acoustic damping means into said acoustic damping chamber;

f. exhaust means in said sidewall to permit hot air exhaust from said at least one motor to exit said second interior compartment; and

g. air intake means in said sidewall to permit cooling air to enter said acoustic damping chamber;

h. whereby said first acoustic damping means and said second acoustic damping means reduce the noise emitted from said at least one motor.

16. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said first acoustic damping means is acoustic foam and said second acoustic damping means is acoustic foam.

17. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said acoustic foam of said first acoustic damping means is approximately one-half inch thick and said acoustic foam of said second acoustic damping means is approximately one-half inch thick.

18. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said exhaust means is at least one exhaust port located in said sidewall and extending into said second interior compartment at a location remote from where said at least one motor and armature is located.

19. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said exhaust means is a pair of vertically aligned exhaust ports, each of which is located in said sidewall and extending into said second interior compartment at a location remote from where said at least one motor and armature is located.

20. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said air intake means are louvres in the sidewall at the location of said acoustic damping chamber.

21. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system including a canister having a sidewall, a top and a bottom hollow section, a first interior hollow compartment housing a removable dirt and dust collection receptacle which causes dirt and dust to fall into the bottom hollow section and including a partition base which separates the first interior hollow compartment from a second interior compartment located near the top of said canister and which houses at least one motor and armature interiorly extending therefrom, with the at least one motor emitting noise when the at least one motor is turned on, the improvement comprising:

a. first damping means defining one end of said second interior compartment to thereby house said at least one motor between said partition base and the first damping means;

b. second damping means spaced apart from said first damping means whereby said sidewall, said first damping means and said second damping means define an acoustic damping chamber;

c. said first damping means comprising at least one opening to permit a portion of the armature of said at least one motor to extend through said first damping means into said acoustic damping chamber;

d. exhaust means in said sidewall to permit hot air exhaust from said at least one motor to exit said second interior compartment; and

e. air intake means in said sidewall to permit cooling air to enter said acoustic damping chamber;

f. whereby said first damping means and said second damping means reduce the noise emitted from said at least one motor.

22. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said first damping means further comprises a baffle supporting acoustic foam.

23. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 22 wherein said acoustic foam is approximately one-half inch thick.

24. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said second damping means further comprises acoustic foam supported on and below said top.

25. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 24 wherein said acoustic foam is approximately one-half inch thick.

26. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said exhaust means is at least one exhaust port located in said sidewall and extending into said second interior compartment at a location remote from where said at least one motor and armature is located.

27. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said exhaust means is a pair of vertically aligned exhaust ports, each of which is located in said sidewall and extending into said second interior compartment at a location remote from where said at least one motor and armature is located.

28. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in according with claim 21 wherein said air intake means are louvres in the sidewall at the location of said acoustic damping chamber.

29. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system including a canister having a sidewall, a top and a bottom which enclose an interior chamber, an inlet port to receive air from a separate dirt and dust collection means, the interior chamber housing at least one motor and armature extending therefrom, with the at least one motor emitting noise when the at least one motor is turned on, the improvement comprising:

a. a baffle within said canister positioned to divide the interior chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment;

b. first acoustic damping means supported on said baffle;

c. a second acoustic damping means supported on and below said top of said canister;

d. said sidewall, said baffle and said second acoustic damping means defining the bounds of said second compartment to create an acoustic damping chamber;

e. said at least one motor and a portion of said armature located in said first compartment and said baffle and said first acoustic damping means comprising at least one opening to permit a portion of the armature of said at least one motor to extend through the baffle and first acoustic damping means into said acoustic damping chamber;

f. exhaust means in said sidewall to permit hot air exhaust from said at least one motor to exit said first compartment of said interior chamber; and

g. air intake means in said sidewall to permit cooling air to enter said acoustic damping chamber;

h. whereby said first acoustic damping means and said second acoustic damping means reduce the noise emitted from said at least one motor.

30. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 29 wherein said first acoustic damping means is acoustic foam and said second acoustic damping means is acoustic foam.

31. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 30 wherein said acoustic foam of said first acoustic damping means is approximately one-half inch thick and said acoustic foam of said second acoustic damping means is approximately one-half inch thick.

32. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 29 wherein said exhaust means is at least one exhaust port located in said sidewall and extending into said first compartment at a location remote from where said at least one motor and portion of the armature is located.

33. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 29 wherein said exhaust means is a pair of vertically aligned exhaust ports, each of which is located in said sidewall and extending into said first compartment at a location remote from where said at least one motor and portion of the armature is located.

34. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 29 wherein said air intake means are louvres in the sidewall at the location of said acoustic damping chamber.

35. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system including a canister having a sidewall, a top and a bottom to define an interior chamber, an inlet port to receive air from a separate dirt and dust collection means, a partition base within the interior chamber, the interior chamber housing at least one motor and armature extending therefrom, with the at least one motor emitting noise when the at least one motor is turned on, the improvement comprising:

a. first damping means located within said interior chamber and dividing the interior chamber into a first compartment and second compartment;

b. said at least one motor and a portion of said armature located within said set compartment and set between said partition base and said the first damping means;

c. second damping means spaced apart from said first damping means whereby said sidewall, said first damping means and said second damping means define said second compartment to form an acoustic damping chamber;

d. said first damping means comprising at least one opening to permit a portion of the armature of said at least one motor to extend through said first damping means into said acoustic damping chamber;

e. exhaust means in said sidewall to permit hot air exhaust from said at least one motor to exit said interior chamber; and

f. air intake means in said sidewall to permit cooling air to enter said acoustic damping chamber;

g. whereby said first damping means and said second damping means reduce the noise emitted from said at least one motor.

36. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 35 wherein said first damping means further comprises a baffle supporting acoustic foam.

37. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 36 wherein said acoustic foam is approximately one-half inch thick.

38. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 35 wherein said second damping means further comprises acoustic foam supported on and below said top.

39. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 38 wherein said acoustic foam is approximately one-half inch thick.

40. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 35 wherein said exhaust means is at least one exhaust port located in said sidewall and extending into said first compartment at a location remote from where said at least one motor and portion of the armature is located.

41. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 35 wherein said exhaust means is a pair of vertically aligned exhaust ports, each of which is located in said sidewall and extending into said first at a location remote from where said at least one motor and portion of the armature is located.

42. An improved power unit for a vacuum cleaning system in accordance with claim 35 wherein said air intake means are louvres in the sidewall at the location of said acoustic damping chamber.