Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Back~round of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high pelrolLu~ce v~;uun3/blower device and more
particularly to a high ~ . rO. ~ re vacuum/blower device which ope~ s at variable low to high
speeds.
ULU~ motors are co~vr~ n~lly used to operate V~UULU rl~n~-~ and/or blowers.
Because uLu~ al motors can rotate at speeds of a~ x...~i~ly 20-25,000 rpm, they are v-ery
effective because they can direct drive impellers fæt enough to provide the necess~y suction or
blower air flow for most cleAnin~ jobs. However, for high ~ r~....~AI-re applirAti<)n~, for
eY~mrle V~UULU cleaners with blower cAr~bility or where high V~;UULU iS r~a.uiled to remove
water from rugs, dual stage impellers are needed to create the desired-vacuum or blower air flow -
Switched reluctance motors operate reliably at variable low to high speeds, includingspeeds much higher than 25,000 rpm. If the speed of an impeller is increased, the vacuum or
pl~,s~ule created increases roughly as the square of the speed. Thus, when a vacuum or blower is
operated at a~pl~x;..~tely 35,000 rprn, it is possible to utilize only a single stage impeller in
order to achieve the ~r,lmance desired for high prrfonn~nce applications. ~!t~rn~tively, the
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high speed capability of switched reluctance motors may be used to provide a performance `
equivalent to that of u~iversal motors and single stage impellers while using a smaller motor and
impeller.
It will be further appreciated that switched reluctance motors do not use brushes as
universal motors do. Brush wear is a primary failure in universal motors. Switched reluctance
motors, on the other hand, use semi-conductor switches to drive the motors, and thus, the life of
switched reluctance motors is much longer than that of universal motors.
As will be seen from the discussion that follows, the use of switched reluctance motor
technology in vacuum/blower devices provides a smaller, less complicated vacuum or blower
source with very high reliabilit,v for high performance applications.
Summary of the Invention
Among the several object and advantages of the present invention include:
the provision of a new and improved high performance vacuum and/or blower device;
the provision of the aforementioned high performance vacuum and/or blower device for
use as a high performance vacuum, a vacuum blower device or as an extractor vacuum for use in
rug cleaning and the like;
the provision of the aforementioned high performance vacuum and/or blower device
which utilizes switched reluctance motor technology to provide a smaller, less complicated
vacuum or blower source with very high reliability;
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the provision of the aforementioned high performance vacuum and/or blower device with
a switched reluctance motor which, when operated at speeds of approximately 35,000 rpm,
requires only a single stage impeller for high performance àpplica~ions;
the provision of the aforementioned high performance vacuum and/or blower device with
a switched reluctance motor that can be provided with a performance equivalent to that of
universal motors using a smaller impeller and motor;
the provision of the aforementioned high performance vacuum and/or blower device
which is readily adaptable to conventional vacuum and/or blower applications; is readily
adaptable to variable speed; minimi7~s wear; is long lasting and durable; and is otherwise well
adapted for the purposes intended.
Briefly stated, the high performance vacuum and/or blower device of the present
invention includes a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet. An electric motor is provided
having an impeller for creating air flow into the air inlet and for exh~ ting air flow through the
air outlet. The electric motor consists of a switched reluctance motor which is directly connected
to the impeller for operation in variable low to high speeds in order to provide a high
performance vacuum/blower device. The switched reluctance motor can operate at speeds in
excess of 25,000 rpm as well as speeds in excess of 35,000 rpm, in order to provide a high
performance vacuum/blower device.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more
apparent from the description that follows.
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Brief l)escr~tion of the Drawin~
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front prospective view of a wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner
with detachable blower that utilizes a switched reluctance motor to provide a high performance
vacuum and blower device in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded side elevational view of the wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner
illu~lL~ling the detachable blower removed therefrom;
Figure 3 is a fr~gment~ry side elevational view, partially in section, of the operating
components of the wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner and let~ch~ble blower which includes a
switched reluctance motor to provide a high performance vacuum and blower in accordance with
the teachings of the present invention; and
Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the aforementioned operating components of the
wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner and detachable blower.
Corresponding numerals will be used throughout the several figures of the drawings.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by
way of limitation. The description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the
invention and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the
invention, including what we presently believe is the best mode of carrying out the invention.
As indicated above, there are several high perforrnance applications for vacuum cleaners
and/or blower devices. For exarnple, vacuum cleaners which also have blower capability or
extractor vacuum cleaners to remove water from rugs-are two typical high performance
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applications. As shown in the drawings and æ discussed below, the high performance
vacuum/blower device of the present invention is illu~ d æ being used in connection with a
wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner having a det~l~h~hle blower device of the type and kind
sper.ifi~lly ~ close~l in the aforementioned copending patent applications
Figures 1-2 of the drawings generally illustrate the wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner with
det~h~hle blower 1. Specifically, the wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner with det~t~.h~hle blower 1
is shown æ including a tool caddy 3, a va~;uulll cleaner drum 5 positioned within the tool caddy
3, a lid 7 that covers the open upper end of the vacuum cleaner drum 5, and a let~-h~ble blower
9 that is received within complem~nt~ly shape cavities or openings of the lid 7, as illustrated in
Figures 1 and 3-4. The ~et~h~hle blower 9 is also capable of being separated from the lid 7 for
independent use, æ shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. In order to remove the det~-h~hle blower
9 from the lid 7, a det~h~hle blower latch 11, pivotally mounted to the lid 7, must be moved
to a tli.~ng~ged position by the user. This then enables the user to readily grasp and lift the
det~h~hle blower 9 through the U-shaped handle 13 for opelalmg the blower 9 indepentlt.ntly
of the assembled vacuum Fleaner and blower 1, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.
Figures 3-4 of the drawings show the operation of the wet/dry utility vacuurn cleaner I
with det~t~h~ble blower 9 in æsembled position. Within the vacuum cleaner drum 5, a filter
æsembly 15 depends from the undersurface of the lid 7 in surrounding relationship to a tapered
wall opening 17 of the lid 7. The filter æsembly includes a hollow cylindrical filter 19 which
surrounds the tapered wall opening 17 at an upper end.and leceives a float 21 within the hollow
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inner cylindrical wall of the filter 19 at its lower end. An end cap 23 is attached to the boKom of
the filter assembly 15 and assists in holding the filter 19 and float 21 in the relative positions
illustrated. The filter 19 filters debris from air vacuumed into the vacuum cleaner drum 5
through the inlet port 25 of the hood 27, the laKer being an integral part of the lid 7 to assist in
receiving the detachable blower 9 in assembled position, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3-4 of the
drawings. The air inlet port 25 receives a vacuum hose (not shown) for depositing air and debris
into the wall cavity 29 of the lid 7 for containment within the vacuum cleaner drum 5. Solid
particle debris will be collected within the interior of the vacuum cleaner drum 5 at its boKom
while debris suspended in the air will be filtered by the air filter 19 for exhaust of the cleaned air
upwardly through the tapered wall opening 17 and into the blower 9.
When the wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner 1 is operated to collect spilled liquids, the
spilled liquid as well as air and debris will be deposited through the air inlet port 25 into the
upper wall cavity 29 and into the vacuum cleaner drum 5. As the spilled liquid rises to the level
of the float 21, the float 21 will begin to rise within the air filter 19 and will continue to rise as
the water rises to the point where the float 21 will close off the tapered wall opening 17 such that
no liquid can enter into and affect the operation of the blower 9.
Within thc blower 9, there is mounted an electric motor 31 which creates the air flow
within and through the blower 9. The electric motor 31 is a switched reluctance motor which
operates to draw air through the filter 19 up through the tapered wall opening 17 and through the
air inlet slots 35. The motor 31 includes a fan blade 33 for drawing cooling air over the motor 31
separate from the airstream used for cleaning. Thus, the fan blade 33 exhausts air through the
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motor ~h~ t vent slots 37, the air drawn through the filter 19 will pass through the air inlet vent
slots 35through an air intake or filter 39 mounted adjacent to air inlet vent slots -35 to further
~lter the incoming air.
The switched reluctance motor 31 that is used to operate the clet~l.h~ble blower 9 as well
as the wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner 1 is particularly useful in the high- pelrullll~ce
vacuurn/blower application (1i~cllssed above. While UlliVt;l:jal motors of the prior art can rotate at
speeds of a~rux....~tPly 20-25,000 rpm, the switched reluctance motor 31 used in the present
invention can operate reliably at variable low to high speeds. Thus, in ~ iti()n to rotating at a
low speeds of 20-25,000 rpm like ~ al motors, the switched reluctance motor 31 can operate
at speeds higher than 25,000 rpm including speeds of a~x~ ely 35,000 rpm.
Uni~e~sal motors require dual stage impellers to create the desired vacuum or blower air
flow for high ~. rO. ..,A.~c~-e aprlil?~tion~ If the speed of an impeller is increased, the vacuum or
cs~ule increases roughly as the square of the speed. Thus, when a vacuum or blower is
operated at a~ro~ tely 35,000 rprn, it is possible to utilize only a single stage impeller in
order to achieve the p~, rO. Il~ e desired for high pc~r~,llllallce applications. AlLell~Lively, ~e
high speed c~r~bility of switched reluctance motors may be used to provide a pclr~llllance
equivalent to ~at of universal motors and single stage impellers while using a smaller motor and
impeller.
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Another advantage of switchéd reluctance motors is that they do not require brushes as
universal motors do. Brush wear is a primary failure in universal motors. On the other hand,
switched reluctance motors use semi-conductor switches to drive the motors. Thus, the life of
switched reluctance motors is much greater than that of universal motors. For additional
inforrnation on switched reluctance motors, reference is made to copending patent application
Serial No. filed entitled SWITCHED RELUCTANCE MOTOR,
INVERTER, AND CONTROL WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND NOISE, also
~igne~l to the same assignee as the present invention, now U.S. Patent No.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the high performance vacuum/blower
device of the present invention effectively uses switched reluctance motors to provide a small,
less complicated vacuum or blower source with very high reliability for high perforrnance
applications.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects and features of this invention
are achieved and other advantageous results obtained.
As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the
scope of the invention, it is intent1ed that all matter contained in the above description or shown
in the acco~ allyillg drawings shall be hltel~lcted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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