Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02523454 2005-10-13
VACUUM CLEANING SUCTION APPARATUS AND METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vacuum cleaning systems, and more
particularly to a vacuum cleaning suction apparatus which properly performs
its vacuum cleaning functions, but substantially alleviates unwanted noise
that
is generated in prior art designs.
b) Background Art
There is in the prior art a variety of vacuum cleaners and vacuum
cleaning systems. One prior art vacuum cleaning system comprises vacuum
conduits located within the structural components of the building or
residential
home, such as being positioned in the walls, floors, etc. Vacuum outlets are
provided at various locations, such as wall locations, and the person who is
performing the vacuum cleaning operation has a hose which can be
detachably connected to one of the vacuum inlets in a wall, for example, and
leading to a manually operated vacuum cleaning device.
There is provided a vacuum cleaning suction apparatus which would
commonly have a fan/motor section that generates a lower pressure level in a
vacuum chamber. The conduits of the system connect to a housing of the
vacuum cleaning suction apparatus to lead into a containing bag which is
located in the vacuum chamber.
In many prior art designs, the apparatus is such that it generates noise
at a level which is considered by some to be undesirable. Accordingly, the
CA 02523454 2005-10-13
2
apparatus would commonly be placed in a garage or in another location which
would not be in the immediate living area.
Also, there are individual vacuum cleaner units, such as a canister type
vacuum cleaner where the vacuum cleaning canister is at a location
approximate to the area being cleaned, and there is a hose and vacuum
instrument to perform the vacuum cleaning functions. Also, there are portable
vacuum cleaners. In these vacuum cleaners, there is the undesirable aspect
that a fair amount of noise is generated, and it would be advantageous to
alleviate this problem.
The embodiments of the present invention are designed so that the
vacuum cleaning apparatus is able to function efFectively in its usual
functions,
but also is able to operate so that it generates noise at a substantially
lower
level.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a semi-schematic view showing a vacuum cleaning system
which is incorporated in a building structure;
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a vacuum cleaning suction
apparatus of a first embodiment of the present invention, with a sectional
view
taken along a center axis of the apparatus;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, except that the
fan/motor section is also shown in section;
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a second embodiment of
the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to both Figs. 3 and 4, showing yet a
third embodiment of the present invention;
Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are views similar to Fig. 2, with these showing,
respectively, fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiments of the present invention.
CA 02523454 2005-10-13
3
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
a) Discussion of the Prior Art System
It is believed that a better understanding of the present invention will be
obtained by first describing generally one prior art system which is commonly
called a central vacuum system, and then describing the embodiments of the
invention.
In Fig. 1 is shown a typical central vacuum cleaning system 10 installed
in a building 12, such as a personal residence. This vacuum cleaning system
10 comprises a conduit section 14, a vacuum cleaning suction apparatus 16,
and vacuum inlets 18, two of which are shown each mounted to a wall 20 in
the building. Two conduit portions 22 and 24 are shown in Fig. 1, with the
conduit section 22 being positioned partially in one of the walls 20, and
extending below the upper surface of the floor, and the other conduit 24
extending from a wall section 20, with the two conduits 22 and 24 then
connecting to extend to the vacuum cleaning suction apparatus 16.
To use this system 10, the person is supplied with a portable vacuum
hose 27 which can be removable connected to one of the vacuum inlets 26,
with the other end of the hose 27 connecting to a manually operated vacuum
cleaning instrument (not shown). In operation, the vacuum cleaning suction
apparatus 16 is turned on so that a fan/motor section in the apparatus 16
creates a lower pressure in a vacuum chamber of the apparatus 16, and as it
draws in the air from the conduit section 14, the reduced pressure in the
conduits 22 and 24 creates a vacuum to cause the vacuum cleaner to clean
rugs, possibly furniture surfaces, etc.
The vacuum cleaning suction apparatus 16 draws in the air from the
conduit section 14 and filters out the dust particles and other particles by
means of a porous collecting bag and exhausts the relatively clean air into
the
open atmosphere. The operation of many prior art designs of the apparatus
16 creates a certain level of noise which is sufficiently objectionable so
that it
CA 02523454 2005-10-13
4
is often placed in a more remote location such as in a garage, or some other
location outside of the normal living area of the household or other building
12.
The embodiments of the present invention related specifically to the
vacuum cleaning suction apparatus 16, and of the following text, the term
"vacuum cleaning suction apparatus 16" or simply the "vacuum apparatus 16"
will refer to the text that follows to the first embodiment 16 of the present
invention. In the following text, for ease of description, the vacuum cleaning
suction apparatus 16 of this first embodiment will simply be called the
"vacuum apparatus 16".
It is to be understood that while the vacuum apparatus 16 is being
described in this particular environment of a central vacuum system, the same
basic principals of the present invention could be utilized in other vacuum
cleaning apparatus (as indicated earlier), such as a canister type of vacuum
cleaner, a portable vacuum cleaner, etc.
b) First Embodiment of the Invention
This vacuum apparatus 16 comprises a housing 28 which defines a
vacuum chamber 30 with a dust/debris separating device 32. In this
embodiment it is in the form of a collecting bag 32 located in the chamber 30
and having an inlet tube 34 at a side opening 35, and a fan/motor section 36.
To describe some of the functions of these components briefly, the fan/motor
section 36 has an inlet opening which connects to the vacuum chamber so
that operation of the fan/motor section draws air from the vacuum chamber to
discharge it to ambient atmosphere, thus creating a lower pressure (partial
vacuum) in the vacuum chamber 30. The fan/motor section 36 is (or may be)
in and of itself in large part of a conventional configuration.
The collecting bag 32 is, or may be, of conventional design, and it
would commonly have structural elements which would spread the bag itself
toward a more expanded position. The collecting bag 32 is made of a fabric
with small pores which permit the air to pass therethrough, but collect the
dust
and other debris that is collected during the vacuum cleaning operation. With
CA 02523454 2005-10-13
the fan/motor section 36 creating the low pressure in the vacuum chamber 30,
there is a pressure reduction in the interior of the collecting bag 32, with
this
low pressure resulting in drawing in air from the conduit section 14.
The term "bag" is to be interpreted in a broader sense and is not
5 necessarily limited to what could be considered a conventional "bag". It is
essentially a component that has a interior chamber and which is able to
remain expanded, and a porous surface region to filter out the dust and other
material. !n other embodiments there are other dust/debris separating
devices.
For purposes of description, the housing 28 shall be considered as
having a vertically aligned center axis 38, and upper end portion 40, and a
lower end portion 42. The center axis 38 is referred to as a "vertical axis
38"
simply because in this first embodiment that is the orientation of the housing
28 and the entire vacuum cleaning apparatus 16. However, it is not
necessary that the vacuum apparatus 10 have that orientation, and this axis
38 could be positioned more laterally, or in other orientations. The term
"outward" or "radially outward" shall denote a direction away from the center
axis 28 or a location spaced away from the vertical axis 38, while the term
"radially inward", or "inward" shall denote the opposite (i.e. a direction
toward
the center axis 38 or a location closer to the vertical center axis 38).
The housing 28 comprises a cylindrical side wall 44, a bottom wall 46,
and an upper cover section 48. This cover section 48 comprises a top wall 50
and a perimeter sidewall 52, with the top wall 50 having a centrally located
outlet region 54 where the air passing through the apparatus 16 is discharged
into ambient atmosphere. The top wall has or may have, a circular
configuration, with the side wall 52 having a cylindrical configuration.
The cylindrical side wall 44 of the housing 28 is (or may be) shaped
along its entire length in a cylindrical configuration, and it is physically
divided
into an upper section 56 and a lower section 58 with these two cylindrical
sections meeting at a juncture location 60. A pair of fasteners 62 are located
in opposite sides of the cylindrical wall 44 and these hold the two
cylindrical
CA 02523454 2005-10-13
6
wall sections 56 and 58 against each other so as to make a substantially
airtight seal and thus preserve the integrity of the partial vacuum created in
the chamber 30. Thus, with the two housing sections 56 and 58 being able to
be separated, the collecting bag 38 can be removed and replaced, or emptied
and with the same bag being replaced, etc.
At the upper edge portion of the cylindrical side wall 44, there is a
radially inwardly extending circular horizontal support flange 64 the
functions
of which will be described later herein.
The fan/motor section 36 will now be described with reference to Fig. 3.
The fan/motor section 36 comprises a fan/ motor housing 70 which comprises
a cylindrical side wall 71 and defines fan/motor housing chamber 72, with a
lower positioned inlet 74 and an upper positioned outlet 76. This fan/motor
section 36 can be considered as having a vertical center axis 77 which is
coincident with the vertical center axis 38 of the housing 28. The fan/motor
section 36 further comprises a fan/motor unit 36 comprises a fan/motor unit
78 which in turn comprises a fan section 80 that in turn comprises a rotatable
tan portion 82 that has a center air inlet region 84 and a perimeter air
outlet
region 86. There is a fan housing 88 which comprises a lower frusto conical
lower wall 90 and a cylindrical side wall 92 which has a lower edge connecting
to the outer edge of the frusto conical wall 90 and extends upwardly
therefrom. This cylindrical side wall 92 is functionally also a part of the
fan/motor housing 70.
At the upper edge of the cylindrical side wall 92 of the fan housing 88,
there is an annular mounting structure 94. A cup shaped protective cage or
screen member 96 encloses the fan section 80. This cage or screen member
96 has a circular bottom wall 98 and an upstanding cylindrical side wall 100
that extends upwardly and around the middle portion of the aforementioned
cylindrical housing wall 71.
The motor section 104 comprises a motor 106 which connects to a
drive shaft 108 that in turn connects to a top center portion of the
aforementioned rotatable fan portion 82. There is a through passageway or
CA 02523454 2005-10-13
7
passageways 110 leading from an upstream air inlet region 112 at the lower
side of the motor 106 and upwardly to pass out from a downstream air outlet
region 114. There are also provided openings 115 leading from an area
below the mounting structure 94 and upwardly into the portion of the chamber
72 surrounding the motor 106.
There is a cylindrical upper side wall section 116 that comprises an
upper part of the aforementioned cylindrical wall section 71, and this side
wall
portion 116 is positioned at the same level as the motor 116. This side wall
portion 116 has a lower radially inwardly extending flange 118 that is
positioned at a upper surface of the circular mounting structure 94, with a
seal
120 being positioned between that flange 118 and the surface of the mounting
structure 94.
The fan/motor section 36 is centered along the vertical fan/motor axis
77 that (as indicated earlier) coincides with the aforementioned vertical
center
axis 38 of the housing 28. The circumferential lower side wall portion 92 and
the circumferential upper side wall portion 116 collectively function as a
fan/motor containing wall section 130 that encloses circumferentially both the
fan section 80 and the motor section 104 of the fan/motor unit 78.
There is an upper fan/motor housing portion 132 which is positioned
above the closed wall section 71 and extends in an upwardly and generally
radially converging configuration to terminate at an upper end outlet 134 at
the outlet region 54 of the upper lid section 48. This housing portion 132 has
at its lower edge a lower radially outwardly extending mounting flange 136
that is positioned immediately above, and connects to, the aforementioned
support flange 64 of the housing 28. There is a circumferential seal 138
positioned between the flange 136 and the flange 64, and the connection
between these two is made by fasteners 140. Also, the upper edge portion of
the cylindrical side wall 44 of the housing 28 has a upstanding positioning
lip
142 to position the upper lid section 48 of the housing 28.
There is located above the motor 106 a noise suppressing component
144. In this particular embodiment, this is shown as a circular disk 144 which
CA 02523454 2005-10-13
8
has a generally circular perimeter portion 146 which is spaced inwardly a
short distance from the surrounding side wall 71 to leave an annular air
passageway 148 around the perimeter portion 146. This noise suppressing
component could be a flat nonporous noise reflecting plate, a porous noise
suppressing plate, a plate made of other noise suppressing material, or other
noise suppressing device.
It is to be understood that the various components which are being
described in this text are not limited to the particular configuration,
features,
material, or other characteristics. Thus for example, if there is a particular
connecting interface, and other interface arrangements are possible, it is to
be
understood that that particular interFace connection would not necessarily be
a
necessary component of the invention. Rather, this description of the physical
components of this first embodiment are to define this first embodiment in
sufficient detail to better enable one skilled in the art to reconstruct this
first
embodiment, and it does not necessarily indicate that the claims in the
invention should be limited to this particular configuration where those
skilled
in the art would recognize that various other arrangements could be made,
with the embodiment still providing the basic functions of the invention.
c) Description of the Operation of the First Embodiment
To describe now the operation of this first embodiment of the present
invention, as indicated earlier, the intended function of this first
embodiment is
to function properly perform the functions necessary for proper operation of
the vacuum cleaning section, while at the same time reducing objectionable
noise that is generated in other prior art designs.
As discussed earlier in this text, the overall mode of operation is that
when the fan/motor section 36 begins operating, the air is drawn from the
vacuum chamber 30 to cause the flow of vacuum cleaner air exhaust through
the conduit section, into the collecting bag 32, and into the chamber 30. Then
the flow is through the fan section and upwardly in the fan/motor section
through and/or around the noise reducing component 144, and upwardly to
pass out the upper outlet 134.
CA 02523454 2005-10-13
9
The noise created by the vacuum apparatus 16 is primarily from the
fan/motor section 36. With the fan/motor section 36 being positioned
substantially entirely in the vacuum chamber 30, and more particularly with
the fan/motor containing wall portion 130 being positioned entirely in the
vacuum chamber 30 (or at least partially in the vacuum chamber 30), a major
portion of the sound generated by the fan/motor section 36 passes through
the fan/motor containing wall portion 130 and into the chamber 30. The
sound waves in striking the walls of the housing 28 reverberate back and forth
between the wall portions to dissipate the energy in the sound waves. With
the collecting bag 32 being positioned in the vacuum chamber 30, and with
the collecting bag 32 being made of a porous fabric, it functions to absorb
and
thus attenuate sound energy vibrations.
It would be possible that the fan/motor section 36 would be positioned
only partially in the vacuum chamber 30 (possibly half way into the vacuum
chamber 30). However, this would diminish the noise alleviating function of
this embodiment.
d) A Second Embodiment of the Invention
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 4.
Components of this second embodiment which are similar, or the same as,
components of the first component will be given like numerical designations,
with an "a" suffix distinguishing those of the second embodiment. The overall
configuration of the housing 28a and of the fan/motor section 36a is or may be
exactly the same as, or similar to the first embodiment. The difference is
that
there is placed in the interior surface portions of the upper lid section 48a
a
noise dissipating inner layer which is indicated at 150a. Thus, the acoustic
noise waves that are passing upwardly out of the fan/motor section 36a that
travel through the surrounding upper sidewall portion are dissipated by this
insulating material.
It is believed that the operation of this second embodiment is evident
from the description of the operation of the first embodiment, so it will not
be
discussed at this point in the text.
CA 02523454 2005-10-13
e) A Third Embodiment of the Invention
A third embodiment is shown in Fig. 5. Components of this third
embodiment which are similar to the first two embodiments will be given like
numerical designations, with a "b" distinguishing those of this third
5 embodiment.
The configuration of the housing 28b and the fan/motor section 36b is,
or may be, substantially the same as, or similar to, the first embodiment.
However, this third embodiment differs in that the fan/motor section 36b is
positioned at a lower location in the vacuum chamber 30b.
10 Also, the specific configuration of the housing 28b has been modified
so that the side wall 71 b joins directly to (or is made integrally with) the
lower
edge of the upper fan/motor housing portion 132b.
The upper perimeter edge 133b of the upper fan/motor housing portion
132b is positioned at the location of the upper edge of the cylindrical side
wall
44b of the housing 28b.
Thus, in the operation of this third embodiment, the fan/motor section
36b is more centrally located in the vacuum chamber 30b, and also it is
positioned closer to the collecting bag 32b. Present analysis would indicate
this would improve the noise dissipating function of these embodiments.
Also, it is to be recognized that if for some reason there is a
configuration where the surrounding wall portion 71 b is positioned further up
so that it is only partially within the chamber 30b, while there would be a
noise
dissipating function, present analysis indicates that while this would have
some noise alleviating effect, it would be less than in the these three
embodiments.
f) A Fourth Embodiment of the Invention
Reference is first made to Fig. 6, which shows a fourth embodiment.
Components of this fourth embodiment which are similar to components of
earlier embodiments will be given like numerical designations, with a "c"
suffix
distinguishing those of the fourth embodiment. The overall configuration and
components of the housing 28c and of the fan/motor section 36c is or may be
CA 02523454 2005-10-13
11
the same as, or similar to, those of the first embodiment. The difference is
that another type of dust/debris separating device 32c is used in this fourth
embodiment, instead of the collecting bag 32 of the first embodiment.
The dust/debris separating device 32c has an overall configuration of a
containing device with a bottom, a surrounding side wall, and an upper end
opening. It is made of a porous fabric or other material similar to the bag 32
of the first embodiment. However, it is positioned so that it surrounds and
encloses the lower part of the fan/motor section 36c, and has an upper
perimeter edge portion 160c that fits around and is secured to a surrounding
wall portion 71 c of the fan/motor section 36c.
Thus, in operation when the fan/motor section 36c operates to draw in
air. The device 32c is sucked up against the outer surface of the fan/motor
unit 36c, and the dust and/or debris is filtered out by the device 36c to
collect
in the vacuum chamber 30c.
In other respects, the operation of this fourth embodiment with regard
to noise alleviation is substantially the same as in the earlier embodiments.
g) A Fifth Embodiment of the Invention
Reference is now made to Fig. 7, which shows a fifth embodiment.
Components of this fifth embodiment which are similar to components of
earlier embodiments will be given like numerical designations, with a "d"
suffix
distinguishing those of the fifth embodiment. The overall configuration and
components of the housing 28d and of the fan/motor section 36d is or may be
the same as, or similar to, those of the first embodiment. The difference is
that another type of dust/debris separating device 32d is used in this fifth
embodiment, instead of the collecting bag 32 of the first embodiment.
The dust/debris separating device 32d has an overall configuration of a
sheet of fabric which is a porous fabric such as utilized in the bag 32 of the
first embodiment. It has a circular perimeter portion 164d which fits against,
and is secured to, the interior surface of the housing 28d at a location above
the inlet opening 35d of the housing 28d. The separating device 32d is
CA 02523454 2005-10-13
12
arranged so that in its "relaxed" non-operating condition, it sags in its
middle
portion 166d downwardly.
Thus, in operation when the fan/motor section 36d operates draw in air.
The device 32d is sucked up toward the fan/motor unit 36d, and the dust
and/or debris is filtered out by the device 36d to collect in the vacuum
chamber 32d.
In other respects, the operation of this fifth embodiment with regard to
noise alleviation is substantially the same as in the earlier embodiments.
h) A Sixth Embodiment of the Invention
Reference is now made to Fig. 8, which shows a sixth embodiment.
Components of this sixth embodiment which are similar to components of
earlier embodiments will be given like numerical designations, with a "e"
suffix
distinguishing those of the sixth embodiment. The overall configuration and
components of the housing 28e and of the fan/motor section 36e is or may be
the same as, or similar to, those of the first embodiment. The difference is
that another type of dust/debris separating device 32e is used in this sixth
embodiment, instead of the collecting bag 32 of the first embodiment.
The dust/debris separating device 32e of this sixth embodiment does
not operate as a filter as in the earlier embodiments. Rather, in this sixth
embodiment, there is positioned within the vacuum chamber 30e, and it
cooperates with the airflow into the vacuum chamber 30e to cause a swirling
motion of the incoming air around the inside surface of the lower part of the
vacuum chamber 30e to separate out the dust and debris by centrifugal force
so that it drops to the floor in the chamber 30e.
This separating device 32e is a single piece unit 32e that has the
overall configuration of an inverted frusto-conical member. More specifically,
it has an upper perimeter portion 168e which joins to the housing 28e at a
location 170e a short distance above the air inlet 35e. The inlet 35e is
directed so that the air flow would enter the chamber 30e in a generally
tangential direction so that the air would travel in a circular path around
the
inside surface of the chamber 30e and with the dust and debris being directed
CA 02523454 2005-10-13
13
to the inner wall surface to drop down to the bottom of the chamber 30e.
Then the air flow would travel upwardly through a center opening 172e that is
defined by a lower edge portion 174e of the sloping frusto-conical side wall
176e.
Thus, in operation when the fan/motor section 36e operates to draw in
air the air flow separated from the dust and debris flows through the
fan/motor
unit 36e, and the dust and/or debris collects in the vacuum chamber 32e.
In other respects, the operation of this sixth embodiment with regard to
noise alleviation is substantially the same as in the earlier embodiments.
It is to be understood the various modifications could be made to the
present invention without departing from the basic teachings thereof.
