Suction nozzle

Abstract

A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner includes a suction chamber; an outlet duct; an underside for engaging a surface to be cleaned; a main suction opening in the underside, which opens into the suction chamber; an auxiliary suction path which opens into the suction chamber; and a bleed path in fluid communication with the outlet duct. The suction nozzle further includes a valve mechanism arranged to open and close the auxiliary suction path and the bleed path, the valve mechanism being movable between a first configuration in which the auxiliary suction path is closed and the bleed path is open, a second configuration in which the auxiliary suction path is open and the bleed path is closed, and a third configuration in which both the auxiliary suction path and the bleed path are closed.

Claims

1. A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, the suction nozzle comprising: a suction chamber; an outlet duct extending from the suction chamber for connection to a vacuum source on the vacuum cleaner; an underside for engaging a surface to be cleaned; a main suction opening in the underside, which opens into the suction chamber; an auxiliary suction path which opens into the suction chamber; a bleed path in fluid communication with the outlet duct; and a valve mechanism arranged to open and close the auxiliary suction path and the bleed path, the valve mechanism being movable between a first configuration in which the auxiliary suction path is closed and the bleed path is open, a second configuration in which the auxiliary suction path is open and the bleed path is closed, and a third configuration in which both the auxiliary suction path and the bleed path are closed.

2. The suction nozzle of claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism has an actuator that is movable so as to move the valve mechanism between configurations, the valve mechanism being in the first configuration when the actuating member is in a first position, the valve mechanism being in the second configuration when the actuator is in a second position, and the valve mechanism being in the third configuration when the actuator is in a third position.

3. The suction nozzle of claim 2, wherein the actuator is movable by hand.

4. The suction nozzle of claim 2, wherein the actuator exhibits an over-centre bias between at least two of the first, second, and third positions.

5. The suction nozzle of claim 2, wherein the actuator is slidably movable between the first, second, and third positions.

6. The suction nozzle of claim 1, wherein the suction nozzle comprises at least two auxiliary suction paths, each of the at least two auxiliary suction paths opens into the suction chamber, and each of each of the at least two auxiliary suction paths is closed when the valve mechanism is in the first or third configuration and is open when the valve mechanism is in the second configuration.

7. The suction nozzle of claim 1, wherein the suction nozzle comprises at least two bleed paths, each of the at least two bleed paths is in fluid communication with the outlet duct, and each of at least two bleed paths is open when the valve mechanism is in the first configuration and is closed when the valve mechanism is in the second or third configuration.

8. The suction nozzle of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary suction path leads to the suction chamber from an entrance at a front of the suction nozzle for admitting debris as the suction nozzle is pushed in a forward direction.

9. The suction nozzle of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary suction path defines a narrowest point, the narrowest point being at least 5 mm in diameter.

10. The suction nozzle of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary suction path leads to the suction chamber from an entrance which tapers from a wider upstream portion to a narrower downstream portion.

11. The suction nozzle of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary suction path is defined by an open-bottomed channel formed in the underside of the suction nozzle.

12. The suction nozzle of claim 1, wherein the bleed path leads towards the outlet duct from an entrance on an upper surface of the suction nozzle.

13. The suction nozzle of claim 1, wherein the bleed path is in fluid communication with the outlet duct via the suction chamber.

14. The suction nozzle of claim 1, further comprising an agitator inside the suction chamber for agitating the surface to be cleaned through the main suction opening.

15. The suction nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a further fluid path, the further fluid path being in fluid communication with the outlet duct.

16. The suction nozzle of claim 15, wherein the further fluid path is permanently open.

17. A vacuum cleaner comprising the suction nozzle of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of the suction nozzle of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view from underneath of the suction nozzle of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view from underneath of the suction nozzle of FIGS. 2 and 3, with auxiliary suction paths closed;

(6) FIG. 5 is a cross section of the suction nozzle of FIGS. 2-4, with a brush bar, motor and drive train having been removed, angled forwards;

(7) FIG. 6 is a cross section of the suction nozzle of FIGS. 2-4, with a brush bar, motor and drive train having been removed, angled backwards;

(8) FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a valve mechanism of the suction nozzle of FIGS. 2-4; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of a valve mechanism of the suction nozzle of FIGS. 2-4.

(10) Throughout the description and drawings, corresponding reference numerals denote corresponding features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) FIG. 1 shows a vacuum cleaner 2 according to an embodiment of the invention. The vacuum cleaner 2 of this embodiment is an upright vacuum cleaner. It has a rolling assembly 4 which carries a suction nozzle 6, and an upright body 8. The upright body 8 can be reclined relative to the head assembly 4, and includes a handle 10 for maneuvering the vacuum cleaner 2 across the floor. In use, a user grasps the handle 10 and reclines the upright body 8 until the handle 10 is disposed at a convenient height. The user can then roll the vacuum cleaner 2 across the floor using the handle 10 in order to pass the suction nozzle 6 over the floor and pick up dust and debris therefrom. The dust and debris is drawn into the suction nozzle by a suction generator in the form of a motor-driven fan (not visible) housed on board the vacuum cleaner 2, and is ducted in conventional manner under the fan-generated suction pressure from an outlet duct 12 of the suction nozzle to a cyclonic separating apparatus 14 where dirt is separated from the air. The relatively clean air is then exhausted back to the atmosphere.

(12) The suction nozzle 6 is shown in isolation in FIGS. 2 and 3. It has a housing 16 which includes an upper housing 18, a lower housing 20, a rear housing 22, a front housing 24 and two side plates 25. The housing 16 defines a suction chamber 26 from which the outlet 12 extends. The housing 16 also defines an underside 28 for engaging a surface to be cleaned, which in this embodiment takes the form of a sole plate. A main suction opening 30, which opens into the suction chamber 26, is provided in the sole plate 28. The main suction opening 30 provides an entrance for dirt-laden air to enter the suction nozzle 6 (more particularly the suction chamber 26 of the suction nozzle) before being drawn out of the suction nozzle through the outlet 12 as described above.

(13) In this embodiment, when the sole plate 28 engages a hard surface such as a laminate floor, the suction nozzle 6 is supported by wheels 32 projecting through the sole plate 28, and the sole plate is spaced slightly above the floor surface. However, when the suction nozzle 6 is resting on a carpet, the wheels 32 sink into the pile of the carpet and the sole plate 28 contacts the carpet. This allows carpet fibres to protrude into the main suction opening 30, whereupon they are disturbed by an agitator 34 positioned within the suction chamber 26 so as to loosen dirt and dust therefrom.

(14) The agitator 34 of this embodiment is hollow and generally cylindrical, with helical grooves 36 configured to support arrays of agitating bristles (not shown). The agitator 34 is able to rotate within the suction chamber 26, under action of an electric motor (not visible) housed inside it.

(15) The suction nozzle 6 has two auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b which are generally the same as one another in structure and function. The auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b are spaced along with width of the suction chamber 26. More particularly, one auxiliary suction path 38a is positioned around of the way along the width of the suction chamber 26 and the other auxiliary suction path 38b is positioned around of the way along the width of the suction chamber.

(16) Each auxiliary suction path 38a, 38b extends from an entrance 40 at the front of the suction nozzle 6 (i.e. the part of the suction nozzle that faces forwards from the perspective of the user during normal use), and opens into the suction chamber 26. Each auxiliary suction path 38a, 38b is defined by an open-bottomed channel formed in the underside 28 in that each path has a top wall and side walls, but no bottom wall. In use, the bottom wall of each auxiliary suction path 38a, 38b is formed by the surface being cleaned.

(17) The entrance 40 of each auxiliary suction path 38a, 38b tapers from a wider upstream portion (at the front of the entrance) to a narrower downstream portion (at the rear of the entrance). Extending between the entrance 40 of each auxiliary suction path 38a, 38b and the suction chamber 26 is a passage 46 of generally rectangular cross section.

(18) The auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b of this embodiment are configured to form large debris paths. They are therefore relatively large in cross section, to allow large debris to pass through them and into the suction chamber 26. The narrowest point of each auxiliary suction path 38a, 38b in this particular case is the height of its passage 46 (i.e. the distance between the top wall of the passage and a surface being cleaned), which is around 6 mm.

(19) The suction nozzle also has two bleed passages 48a, 48b which are generally the same as one another in form and function. The two bleed passages 48a, 48b, like the auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b, are spaced along the width of the suction chamber 26. Each bleed passage 48a, 48b is in fluid communication with the outlet duct 12 of the suction nozzle. In this case the bleed passages 48a, 48b each open into the suction chamber 26. The bleed passages 48a, 48b are therefore in fluid communication with the outlet duct 12 via the suction chamber 26.

(20) Each bleed passage 48a, 48b extends from an entrance in the form of a section of finely-perforated mesh 50. Each entrance 50 is positioned on an upper surface of the suction nozzle, more particularly on an upper surface of the front housing 24. Each entrance 50 faces generally upwards, in this case at an angle of around 25 degrees to the vertical.

(21) The suction nozzle 6 has a valve mechanism 52 which is arranged to selectively open and close the auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b and the bleed paths 48a, 48b. In this embodiment the valve mechanism 52 is housed in the front housing 24. The valve mechanism 52 is movable between three different configurations, with the auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b and the bleed paths 48a, 48b being open or closed in different combinations depending on the configuration of the valve mechanism. When the valve mechanism 52 is in a first configuration the auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b are closed and the bleed paths 48a, 48b are open. When the valve mechanism 52 is in a second configuration the auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b are open and the bleed paths 48a, 48b are closed. When the valve mechanism 52 is in a third configuration, both the auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b are and the bleed paths 48a, 48b are closed. FIGS. 1-3 show the valve mechanism 52 in its second configurationthe auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b are open (and the bleed paths 48a, 48b are closed, although this is not visible in these figures). FIG. 4 shows the suction nozzle 6 with the auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b closed, meaning that the valve mechanism 52 is in the first or third configuration.

(22) FIGS. 5 and 6 show cross-sections through the suction nozzle with the perforated mesh, agitator, motor and associated drive train removed for clarity. FIGS. 7 and 8 show the contents of the front housing, from the front and rear respectively. The structure and function of the valve mechanism will now be described with reference to these figures in combination with FIGS. 2-4.

(23) The valve mechanism 52 has an actuating member 54 by which is movable between positions so as to move the valve mechanism between its three configurations. The actuating member 54 is movable to a first position to move the valve mechanism 52 to the first configuration, to a second position to move the valve mechanism to the second configuration, and to a third position to move the valve mechanism to the third configuration.

(24) The actuating member 54 has a handle portion 56 which projects through an aperture 58 in the front housing 24, allowing the actuating member to be moved by hand between its three positions. FIGS. 1-3 and 5-8 show the actuating member 54 in a the second position (meaning that the valve mechanism 52 is in the second configurationthe auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b are open and the bleed paths 48a, 48b are closed). In this embodiment, the actuating member 54 is slidable movable in a straight line between the first, second and third positions. From the second position as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-8, the actuating member 54 can be slid to the right on the suction nozzle 6 (i.e. to the left from the perspective of FIG. 2) to move the actuating member to the first position and therefore move the valve mechanism 52 to the first configuration. This would close the auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b and open and the bleed paths 48a, 48b. Similarly, from the second position the actuating member 54 can be slid to the left on the suction nozzle 6 (i.e. to the right from the perspective of FIG. 2) to move the actuating member to the third position and therefore move the valve mechanism 52 to the third configuration. This would close the auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b and leave the bleed paths 48a, 48b closed.

(25) As well as the handle portion 56, the actuating member 54 has a chassis 60 positioned inside the front housing 24. The chassis 60 is integrally formed with the handle portion 56, and is slidable laterally within the front housing 24 in the same manner as the handle portion 56 is slidable laterally within the aperture 58. It is the movement of the chassis 60 which causes the auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b and bleed paths 48a, 48b to be opened and closed as the valve mechanism 52 is moved between configurations, as described in more detail later.

(26) The actuating member 54 also comprises a cog 62 rotatably mounted to the chassis 60, and a biasing member in the form of a spring 64. The spring 64 is mounted at one end to a stub 66 on the chassis 60, and at its other end to a stub 68 on the cog 62. The spring 64 acts to urge the stubs 66, 68 away from each other.

(27) The front housing 22 has two racks of teeth 70a, 70b positioned to mesh with the cog. The cog 62, spring 64 and teeth 70a, 70b co-operate to allow the actuating member 54 to exhibit an over-centre bias between the first, second and third positions. More particularly, in this case the actuating member 54 exhibits an over-centre bias between the first and second positions, and between the second and third positions, as outlined below.

(28) With the actuating member 54 in the second position, as shown in FIG. 7, the spring 64 urging the stubs 66, 68 apart urges the cog 62 to rotate in a first direction (anticlockwise from the perspective of FIG. 7). However, stop members 72a, 72b on the cog 62 contact the teeth 70a, 70b and prevent this movement. The actuating member 54 is therefore held in the second position.

(29) When a user starts to slide the actuating member 54 from the second position to the first position, the cog 62 begins to run across teeth 70a. The teeth 70a cause the cog 62 to rotate in a second direction which is the opposite direction to the first direction (i.e. clockwise from the perspective of FIG. 7). This pushes the stubs 66, 68 together, against the bias of the spring 64. The user therefore feels more resistance to the motion of the actuating member 54. As the user continues to move the actuating member 54 and the cog 62 continues to rotate, the stub 68 on the cog reaches a position as close as it can get to the stub 66. This is the centre of the over-centre bias of the actuating member 54 between the first and second positions. As the actuating member 54 continues to move towards the first position past this point, the restorative force of the spring 64 urging the stubs 66, 68 apart urges the cog 62 to continue to rotate in the second direction. The cog therefore bears on the teeth 70a and urges the actuating member away from the second position and towards the first position. In some embodiments the force from the spring may be sufficient to move the actuating member 54 to the first position. In this case, however, the force from the spring assists in this movement but the user must continue to apply a force in order to overcome the frictional resistance to movement of the actuating member 54. Nonetheless, the user received tactile feedback as they can feel the movement of the actuating member 54 becoming easier.

(30) When the actuating member reaches the first position, the stop member 72b contacts the teeth 70a. This prevents the cog 62 from rotating any further in the second direction. The actuating member 54 therefore settles in the first position. If the user were then to move the actuating member 54 from the first position and towards the second position, the teeth 70a would urge the cog to rotate in the first direction. This would move the stubs 66, 68 towards one another, against the bias of the spring 64, therefore the spring would resist movement of the actuating member towards the second position. Once the actuating member 54 passed the centre point discussed above, the spring 64 urging the stubs 66, 68 apart would urge the cog 62 to rotate in the first direction, which would urge the actuating member 54 towards the second position.

(31) The over-centre bias of the actuating member 54 between the second and third positions is produced in generally in the same way as the over-centre bias between the first and second positions. However, between the second and third positions the cog 62 interacts with teeth 70b rather than teeth 70a. The cog 62 rotates in the second direction when the actuating member 54 moves from the second position to third position, as it does when the actuating member moves from the second position to the third position. Likewise, the cog 62 rotates in the first direction when the actuating member 54 moves from the third position to the second position, as it does when the actuating member moves from the first position to the second position.

(32) The valve mechanism 52 opens and closes each auxiliary suction path 38a, 38b using a corresponding vertically-movable gate 74. When the valve mechanism 52 is in the first or the third configuration the gates 74 are in a lowered position, in which they block the passage 46 of the associated auxiliary suction path 38a, 38b and substantially prevent airflow therethrough. When the valve mechanism 52 is in the in the second configuration, the gates 74 are in a raised position in which the passages 46 of the auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b is substantially unobstructed.

(33) The position of the gates 74 of the valve mechanism 52 is determined by the position of the actuating member 54. Each gate 74 has a pair of pins 76 which project through vertical guide slots 77 into a generally M-shaped slot 78 in the chassis 60 of the valve mechanism. The pins 76 being received in the guide slots 77 means that the pins (and thus the gates 74) can only move vertically. With the actuating member 54 in the second position, the pins 76 are held in upper peaks 80 in the slot 78. If the actuating member 54 is then moved to the first position on the third position, as the chassis 60 moves laterally, angled portions 82 of the slot urge the pins 76, and thus the gates 74, downwards. The pins 76 are then received in lower troughs 84 of the slots 78. Similarly, if the actuating member 54 is moved from the first or third position to the second position, as the chassis moves laterally the angled portions 82 urge the pins (and thus the gates 74) upwards. The pins are then received in the upper peaks 80 of the slots 78.

(34) The valve mechanism 52 opens and closes each bleed path 48a, 48b using a corresponding sealing pad 86 which seals against a grille 88 through which that bleed path opens into the suction chamber 26. When the valve mechanism 52 is in the second or third configuration the sealing pads 86 are held against their respective grilles 88. When the valve mechanism 52 is in the first configuration, the sealing pads 86 are spaced apart from the grilles 88 so that air can flow through the bleed paths 48a, 48b, in through their respective entrances 50 and out into the suction chamber 26 through their respective grilles 88.

(35) The position of the sealing pads 86 of the valve mechanism 52 is determined by the position of the actuating member 54. Both sealing pads 86 are provided on a rocker member 90 which can pivot about an axle 92 held in the front housing 24. The rocker member 90 has a pair of slots 94, each of which has a horizontal portion 96 and an angled portion 98 that meet at an intersection 99. Each slot receives a pin 100 which extends rearwardly from the chassis 60 of the actuating member 54. As the actuating member 54 slides laterally between the first, second and third positions, the pins 100 move laterally as well.

(36) With the actuating member in the second position, the pins 100 are received in the intersections 99 of their respective slots 94 and the sealing pads 86 are held against the grilles 88 by the rocker member 90. If the actuating member 54 is moved from the second position to the third position, the pins 100 move to the right from the perspective of FIG. 8. As the pins 100 move, they bear on the angled portions 98 of their respective slots and cam the slots downwards. This camming action is accommodated by the rocker member 90 pivoting forwards about the axle 92, which moves the slots 94 down and also moves the sealing pads 86 forwards away from the grilles 88 (which, in turn, allows air to flow through the bleed paths 48a, 48b).

(37) When the valve mechanism 52 is in the first configuration, the pins 100 are received in the ends of the angled portions 98 of their respective slots. If the valve mechanism 52 is then moved to the second configuration, the pins 100 move to the left from the perspective of FIG. 8. The pins therefore bear on the angled portions 98 of the slots 94 and cam them upwards. This camming action is accommodated by the rocker member pivoting backwards about the axle, which moves the slots 94 up and presses the sealing pads 86 against the grilles.

(38) If the valve mechanism 52 is moved from the second configuration to the third configuration, the pins 100 move to the left from the perspective of FIG. 8. The pins 100 therefore travel along the horizontal portions 96 of their respective slots 94, and do not move the rocker member 90. The sealing pads 86 therefore remain pressed against the grilles 88 and the bleed paths 48a, 48b remain closed.

(39) Returning briefly to FIGS. 2-4, it is noteworthy that the suction nozzle 6 of this embodiment also comprises two further fluid paths 102. A further fluid path 102 is provided at a lower edge of each side plate 25. The further fluid paths 102 are in fluid communication with the outlet duct 12, in this case via the suction chamber 26. In this embodiment the further fluid paths 12 are positioned to suck dust from the corner between a floor surface and a wall by running the suction nozzle 6 along the floor surface next to the wall.

(40) The further suction paths 102 are not affected by the configuration of the valve mechanism 25 (nor can they be closed by any other mechanism). They are permanently open, so air can flow through them into the suction chamber 26 regardless of whether the auxiliary suction paths 38a, 38b or bleed paths 48a, 48b are open or closed.

(41) It will be appreciated that numerous modifications to the above described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of invention as defined in the appended claims. For instance, in other embodiments the vacuum cleaner may utilise a bag or a filter instead of (or as well as) a cyclonic separating apparatus.