Agitator drive system with bare floor shifter

• US 6,915,544 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2002
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Davis, Ron E., Roney, Jeffrey T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/467,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 153/84, 153/89, 153/90, 153/91, 15/411, 15/521, 15/503, 15/82
• US Class Current: 15/384
• 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 9/0444 for conveying motion by endless flexible members, e.g. belts

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a nozzle opening in the housing and a dust collector carried on the housing. A suction fan is also carried on the housing. The suction fan draws air, dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned through the nozzle opening to the dust collector. The upright vacuum cleaner also includes a first rotary agitator and a second rotary agitator, both carried on the housing. A drive motor carried on the housing drives the first rotary agitator through the belt and pulley assembly. A gear drive assembly drivingly connects the first rotary agitator to the second rotary agitator.

Claims

1. An agitator drive system, comprising:

a housing;

a first rotary agitator earned on said housing;

a second rotary agitator carried on said housing;

a drive motor curried on said housing;

a belt and pulley assembly connecting said drive motor directly to said first rotary agitator wherein said belt and pulley assembly includes a drive shaft, a drive pulley, a first belt connecting said drive shaft to said drive pulley and a second belt connecting said drive pulley to said first rotary agitator; and

a gear drive assembly connecting said first rotary agitator to said second rotary agitator.

2. The agitator drive system of claim 1, including a pivotally mounted idler pulley selectively displaceable between a first position wherein said idler pulley engages and tensions said second belt and a second position wherein said idler pulley releases tension from said second bolt.

3. An agitator drive system, comprising:

a housing;

a first rotary agitator carried on said housing;

a second rotary agitator carried on said housing;

a drive motor carried on said housing;

a belt and pulley assembly directly connecting said drive motor to said first rotary agitator; and

a gear drive assembly connecting said first rotary agitator to said second rotary agitator, wherein said gear drive assembly includes a gear box and cooperating cover, a first drive gear connected to said first rotary agitator and a second drive gear connected to said second rotary agitator.

4. The agitator drive system of claim 3, wherein said gear drive assembly includes a single intermediate gear between said first and second drive gears whereby said first and second drive gears are made co-rotating.

5. The agitator drive system of claim 3, wherein said gear drive assembly includes two intermediate gears between said first and second drive gears whereby said first and second drive gears are made counter-rotating.

6. The agitator drive system of claim 3, wherein said gear drive assembly gear box and cooperating cover includes three pairs of socket for receiving three intermediate drive gears;

in a first selected arrangement said first and second sockets receiving two intermediate gears meshing with said first and second drive gears whereby said first and second drive gears are made counter-rotating; and

in a second selected arrangement said third socket receiving a single intermediate gear meshing with said first and second drive gears whereby said first and second drive gears are made co-rotating.

7. The agitator drive system of claim 3, wherein said gear box and said cover include cooperating cavities for receiving bearings on each side of said first and second drive gear.

8. An upright vacuum cleaner/extractor, comprising;

a housing;

a nozzle opening in said housing;

a dust collector carried on said housing;

a suction fan carried on said housing, said suction fan drawing air, dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned through the nozzle opening to sand dust collector;

a first rotary agitator carried on said housing;

a second rotary agitator carried on said housing;

a drive motor carried on said housing driving said suction fan;

a belt and pulley assembly connecting said drive motor directly to said first rotary agitator; and

a gear drive assembly connecting said first rotary agitator to said second rotary agitator.

9. The upright vacuum cleaner/extractor of claim 8, wherein said gear drive assembly includes a gear box and cooperating cover, a first drive gear connected to said first rotary agitator and a second drive gear connects to said second rotary agitator.

10. The upright vacuum cleaner/extractor of claim 9, wherein said gear drive assembly includes a single intermediate gear between said first and second drive gears whereby said first and second drive gears are made co-rotating.

11. The upright vacuum cleaner/extractor of claim 9, wherein said gear drive assembly includes two intermediate gears between said first and second drive gears whereby said first and second drive gears are made counter-rotating.

12. The upright vacuum cleaner/extractor of claim 9, wherein said gear drive assembly gear box and cooperating cover includes three pairs of sockets for receiving three intermediate drive gears;

in a first elected arrangement said first and second sockets receiving two intermediate gears meshing with said first and second drive gears whereby said first and second drive gears are made counter-rotating; and

in a second selected arrangement said third socket receiving a single intermediate gear meshing with said first and second drive gears whereby said first and second drive gears are made co-rotating.

13. The upright vacuum cleaner/extractor of claim 9, wherein said gear box and said cover include cooperating cavities for receiving bearings on each side of said first and second drive gears.

14. An upright vacuum cleaner/extractor, comprising:

a housing;

a nozzle opening in said housing;

a dust collector carried on said housing;

a suction fan carried on said housing, said suction fan drawing air, dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned through the nozzle opening to said dust collector;

a first rotary agitator carried on said housing;

a second rotary agitator carried on said housing;

a drive motor carried on said housing;

a belt and pulley assembly connecting said drive motor to said first rotary agitator wherein said belt and pulley assembly includes a drive shaft, a drive pulley, a first belt connecting said drive shaft to said drive pulley and a second belt connecting said drive pulley to said first rotary agitator; and

a gear drive assembly connecting first rotary agitator to said second rotary agitator.

15. The upright vacuum cleaner/extractor of claim 14, including a pivotally mounted idler pulley selectively displaceable between a first position wherein said idler pulley engages and tensions said second belt and a second position wherein said idler pulley releases tension from said second belt.

16. A gear box assembly housing for a vacuum cleaner/extractor, comprising:

gear box and a cooperating cover having a projecting hag adjacent a first end thereof for engaging a cooperating slot in a vacuum cleaner housing and a projecting mounting flange adjacent a second end thereof including an opening for receiving a fastener for securing said gear box assembly to said vacuum cleaner housing.

17. A power head, comprising:

a housing;

a nozzle opening in said housing;

a first rotary agitator carried on said housing;

a second rotary agitator carried on said housing;

a drive motor carried on said housing;

a belt and pulley assembly connecting said drive motor directly to said first rotary agitator wherein said belt and pulley assembly includes a drive shaft a drive pulley a first belt connecting said drive shaft to said drive pulley and a second belt connecting said drive pulley to said first rotary agitator; and

a gear drive assembly connecting said first rotary agitator to said second rotary agitator.

18. The power head of claim 17, including a pivotally mounted idler pulley selectively displaceable between a first position wherein said idler pulley engages and tenuous said second belt and a second position wherein said idler pulley releases tension from said second belt.

19. The power head of claim 17, wherein said gear drive assembly includes a gear box and cooperating cover, a first drive gear connected to said first rotary agitator and a second drive gear connected to said second rotary agitator.

20. The power head of claim 19, wherein said gear drive assembly includes a single intermediate gear between said first and second drive gears whereby said first and second drive gears are made co-rotating.

21. The power head of claim 19, wherein said gear drive assembly includes two intermediate gears between said first and second drive gears whereby said first and second drive gears are made counter-rotating.

22. The power head of claim 19, wherein said gear drive assembly gear box and cooperating cover includes three pair of sockets for receiving three intermediate drive gears;

in a first selected arrangement said first and second sockets receiving two intermediate gears meshing with said first and second drive gears whereby said first and second drive gears are made counter-rotating; and

in a second selected arrangement said third socket receiving a single intermediate gear meshing with said first and second drive gears whereby said that said second drive gears are made co-rotating.

23. The power head of claim 19, wherein said gear box and said cover include cooperating cavities for receiving bearings on each side of said first and second drive gears.