GB2251178A

GB2251178A - Vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2251178A
Application number: GB9122175A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shusuke Yamashita
Original assignee: Azuma Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Azuma Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 1990-10-30
Filing date: 1991-10-18
Publication date: 1992-07-01
Also published as: JPH04164422A; DE4135406A1; GB9122175D0

Description

1 VACUUM CLEANER This invention relates to vacuum cleaners.

2 2 311 8 Conventional vacuum cleaners comprise an enclosure containing a suction fan motor, a suction head connected to the suction port in the enclosure through a connecting hose or pipe, and a dust bag to collect the dust sucked through the suction head.

Depending as they do on suction alone, conventional cleaners have not been as efficient as is desired in the removal of dust from the deeper parts of carpets, tatami (straw-mat floor coverings used in Japanese houses) or other surfaces; or of collecting heavier dusts e.g. sand or other similar substances. of course, such a deficiency in operation has been particularly pronounced with smaller, less powerful hand-pushed vacuum cleaners such as are commonly used in domestic circumstances.

The suction and hence cleaning efficiency of vacuum cleaners can be increased by use of more powerful fan motors, but only at the expense of increased machine size, noise and cost.

The object of this invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner that can more effectively remove dust from the deeper parts of carpets, tatami or like surfaces, as well as heavier dust containing sand or other similar substances.

In order to achieve the above object, a vacuum cleaner according to this invention, which essentially comprises an enclosure containing a suction fan motor, having a suction port to which a suction head is connected, a dust bag to collect the dust sucked in through the suction 2 head, and an exhaust port to discharge the air separated from the collected dust, has, in addition, an auxiliary suction enhancer to enhance the collection of dust by the cleaner and comprising air ejection means connected to receive air discharged from said exhaust port and adapted to blow said air onto a surface being vacuumed so that dust is swept to a place where collection by the suction head can be accomplished with greater ease.

With this vacuum cleaner, the suction head draws in the dust that has been blown up by the exhaust air ejected from the air ejection means of the auxiliary suction enhancer. By thus making use of the exhaust air leaving the cleaner, even the dust in deeper parts of carpets, tatami or like surfaces and heavier dusts containing e.g. sand or other similar substances can be sucked in with greater certainty without having to increase the suction power of the fan motor.

In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the air ejection means of the auxiliary suction enhancer comprise one or more air ejection ports which open into the suction head so that the suction port in the suction head directly draws in the dust blown up by the air from the ej ection port.

The ejection port(s) thus opening into the suction head may be provided either in a central region of the suction port, or so as to surround the suction port.

If desired, a fixed dustraking brush may be provided on the suction head. A fixed brush surrounding the air ejection ports is particularly effective.

In a particular embodiment of the invention a mobile auxiliary suction enhancer that can move independently of 3 the suction head may be connected to the exhaust port in the enclosure through a flexible hose. In this case it is advantageous to provide also a dust receiving member in the suction head, to collect the dust blown by the air 5 from the ejection ports.

In an alternative form of the invention, the auxiliary suction enhancer may consist of a mobile brush provided on the suction head and arranged to be rotated or vibrated by air from the exhaust port.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of one preferred embodiment of a vacuum cleaner embodying 15 this invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a suction head which incorporates an auxiliary suction enhancer of this invention; Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the suction head shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another suction head in accordance with this invention; Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the suction head shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of another preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a suction head in yet another embodiment of this invention; and 4 Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the suction head shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 1 shows a domestic vacuum cleaner according to this invention which comprises an enclosure 1 with a detachable front case la, a detachable pipe 2 connected to a suction port 4 of the front case la, and a suction head 3 attached to the forward end of the pipe 2. The enclosure 1 contains a fan motor 5 having a suction fan -he and a dust bag 6 made of a filtering material. When t suction fan motor 5 is operated, the suction head 3 draws in dust, which is then filtered and collected by the dust bag 6. Reference numeral 7 designates a handle, 8 an operation switch, and 10 an exhaust port.

To the exhaust port 10 of the enclosure 1 is connected an auxiliary suction enhancer 11 that helps the suction of dust by the suction head 3 by making use of the air discharged from the exhaust port 10. The auxiliary suction enhancer 11 has air ejection means in the form of ports 12 opening into the central region of the suction port 9 of the suction head 3 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The ejection ports 12 are connected to the exhaust port 10 by means of an air duct 13. The air blown from the ejection ports 12 helps to dislodge dust present in the deeper parts of carpets, tatami or the like, and thereby facilitate its removal by the suction head 3.

The size, number and position of the ejection ports 12 opening into the suction head 3 are not especially criticalf and the optimum size, number and position of these ports can be selected according to the shape and size of the suction head 3. In an alternative arrangement, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the ejection ports 12 may be provided outside the suction port 9 in such a manner as to surround it; in the illustrated arrangement there is a single, annular ejection port 12. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide several different replaceable suction heads 3 having ejection ports 12 of different numbers and/or arrangement 5 selected for different uses of the vacuum cleaner.

The air duct 13 which leads the exhaust air to the ejection port(s) 12 may be either extended outside the enclosure to the suction head 3 or contained in the enclosure 1 and pipe 2. In the latter case, it is preferable to divide the air duct 13 into two parts that are separately contained in the enclosure 1 and pipe 2, respectively, with provision made so that the bisected parts of the air duct 13 are automatically connected when the enclosure 1 and pipe 2 are connected together.

Also, either all or part of the exhaust air from the exhaust port 10 may be led to the ejection port(s) 12 at a fixed rate, or some means may be incorporated to control the amount of the air ejected from the ejection port(s) 12, e.g. by adjusting the opening of the ejection port(s) 12 and/or the cross-sectional area of the air duct 13. Provision may also be made to adjust the direction of the ejection ports 12.

A fixed dust-raking brush 15 may be attached to the suction head 3 as shown by a dot-dash line in Figs. 2 and 3. The raking action of the fixed brush 15 and the air from the ejection ports 12 synergistically enhances the suction of dust through the suction port 9. In the illustrated embodiment the fixed brush 15 is attached to a base 14 in such a manner as to surround all air ejection ports 12 provided thereon, but the fixed brush 15 may be attached in many other ways, such as on either side of the row of the ejection ports 12, or between the individual ejection ports 12, or around the suction port 9.

6 If a fixed brush is attached to the suction head 3 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 it should preferably be provided in such a manner as to surround either a part or the whole of the ejection port 12. The fixed brush may also be attached to the middle of the suction port 9, or alternatively a rotatable brush of the type that rotates with the rotation of the wheels of the vacuum cleaner when the suction head 3 is moved back and forth, may be provided in the middle of the suction port 9.

When the fan motor 5 operates, the suction head 3 draws in dust through the suction port 9. The dust is then filtered and collected by the dust bag 6. The air discharged from the exhaust port 10 flows out through ithe ejection port(s) 12 opening into the suction head 3 to force dust out of the deeper parts of carpets, tatami or like materials to the surface of the carpet or the like where it can then be collected by the suction head 3.

The illustrated embodiments of the invention are domestic, hand-pushed vacuum cleaners, but of course this invention is applicable to other types of vacuum cleaners as well.

Fig. 6 shows another preferred embodiment of this invention, in which the auxiliary suction enhancer 31 is separated from the suction head 23. In this case the auxiliary,suction enhancer 31 is made up of an inflexible pipe 37 connected to the exhaust port 30 of an enclosure 21 through a flexible hose 36 and a member 32a having one or more ejection ports 32 and attached to the forward end of the pipe 37. To the suction port 24 of the enclosure 21 of the vacuum cleaner is connected an inflexible pipe 39 through a flexible hose 38, with a suction head 23 with a suction port 23a being attached to the forward end of the inflexible pipe 39. To the suction head 23 in 7 turn is attached a fan-shaped dustpan 40 that receives the dust blown by the air from the ejection ports 32 of the auxiliary suction enhancer 31. The dustpan 40 may be detachable.

When using the vacuum cleaner just described, the user holds the pipe 39 connected to the suction head 23 in one hand and the pipe 37 connected to the ejection ports 32 in the other hand, sweeping dust with the air from the ejection ports 32 and collecting the dust with the dustpan 40 connected to the suction head 23 for suction through the suction port 23a therein. This vacuum cleaner is particularly suited for the removal of heavier dusts containing sand or other similar substances from, for example, the inside of automobiles.

Various types of dust-raking brushes can, if desired, be attached to the air-ejecting member 32a of this embodiment of vacuum cleaner. Also, the shape of the suction head 23 is not limited to that illustrated, but may be varied as desired.

Figs. 7 and 8 show the construction of suction head 53 in yet another preferred embodiment of this invention. Inside the suction port 54 thereof, as an auxiliary suction enhancer 61, is provided a rotating brush 62 that sweeps dust when rotated by the force of the exhaust air. More specifically, the rotating brush 62 is rotated by an impeller or other similar drive unit 55 that converts the energy of the air from the exhaust port into a rotational motion.

A movable brush that vibrates up and down or back and forth when powered by the exhaust air may be used in place of the rotating brush 62.

8 Although Figs. 7 and 8 show only the suction head of the vacuum cleaner according to this form of the invention it will be appreciated that the construction of the vacuum cleaner as a whole can, for instance, be similar to that 5 of Fig. 1.

9

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. In a vacuum cleaner having an enclosure containing a suction fan motor, having a suction port to which a suction head is connected, a dust bag to collect the dust sucked in through the suction head, and an exhaust port to discharge the air separated from the collected dust, the improvement which comprises: an auxiliary suction enhancer to enhance the collection of dust by the cleaner and comprising air ejection means connected to receive air discharged from said exhaust port and adapted to blow said air onto a surface being vacuumed so that dust is swept to a place where collection by the suction head can be accomplished with greater ease.

2. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 1, in which said air ejection ports means comprises one or more air ejection ports which open into the suction head.

3. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 2, in which the air ejection port or ports in the auxiliary suction enhancer open into a control region of the suction port in the suction head.

A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 2, in which the air ejection port or ports in the auxiliary suction enhancer surround the suction port in the suction head.

5. A vacuum cleaner according to any preceding claim, in which a fixed dust-raking brush is attached to the suction head.

6. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 5 when appendant to Claim 3, in which the fixed dust-raking brush is provided in such a manner as to surround the ejection ports.

7. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 1, in which the auxiliary suction enhancer is connected to said exhaust ports through a flexible hose so as to be movable independently of the suction head.

8. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 7, wherein a dust receiving member to collect the dust blown by the air from the air ejection means of said auxiliary suction enhancer is provided adjacent the suction port in the suction head.

9. In a vacuum cleaner having an enclosure containing a suction fan motor, having a suction port to which a suction head is connected, a dust bag to collect the dust sucked in through the suction head, and an exhaust port to discharge the air separated from the collected dust, the improvement which comprises: an auxiliary suction enhancer attached to the suction head, the auxiliary suction enhancer comprising a movable dust-raking brush that is either rotated or vibrated by exhaust air from the exhaust port.

10. A vacuum cleaner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1-3, Figs. 1, 4 and 5, Fig. 6 or Figs. 1, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.