Cleaning heads of a suction cleaning apparatus and suction apparatuses comprising same

Abstract

A cleaning head ( 100 ) of a suction cleaning apparatus ( 10 ) comprising a brush head ( 140 ) configured for agitation cleaning during suction cleaning and the suction cleaning apparatus ( 10 ) comprising the cleaning head ( 100 ) are disclosed. The cleaning head ( 100 ) comprises a tubular housing comprising an inlet portion ( 122 ) including an inlet nozzle ( 132 ) which extends along a centre axis defining an axial direction, an outlet portion ( 124 ) having an outlet end, and an intermediate portion ( 126 ) interconnecting the inlet portion ( 122 ) and the outlet portion ( 124 ); the brush head ( 140 ) comprising a plurality of bristles ( 142 ) arranged to form a bristle skirt having a forward end; and a motor ( 152 ) configured to drive the brush head ( 140 ) to rotate or oscillate about a rotation axis.

1 . A cleaning head for a powered suction source, comprising:
 a main body comprising an inlet portion ( 122 ), an outlet portion ( 124 ) and an intermediate portion ( 126 ) which is an intermediate tubular portion interconnecting the inlet portion and the outlet portion;   wherein the inlet portion comprises an inlet tubular portion ( 132 ) which defines an inlet nozzle at its forward end and an inlet aperture at forward end of the inlet nozzle;   wherein the outlet portion comprises an outlet tubular portion which defines an outlet nozzle at its rearward end and an outlet aperture at rearward end of the outlet nozzle, the outlet nozzle being configured for coupling to a powered suction source whereby suction and electrical power are to be received from the powered suction source;   a brush head ( 140 ) comprising a plurality of bristles mounted on a bristle base ( 144 ), the plurality of bristles being arranged to form a bristle skirt to surround the inlet nozzle; and   a drive mechanism configured to drive the bristle base whereby the bristle skirt is to rotate or oscillate about a rotation axis and about the inlet nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet tubular portion is a first tubular portion which extends along a first axis (A-A′) which is a longitudinal center axis of the inlet tubular portion, the center axis defining a forward direction (A-A′), and wherein the bristle skirt extends forwardly to protrude beyond the forward end of the inlet tubular portion and define the forward end of the cleaning head. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet portion ( 122 ) comprises an outer tubular portion ( 134 ) which defines an outer periphery of the inlet portion, the outer tubular portion ( 134 ) having a forward end which is distal to the intermediate portion ( 126 ) and a rearward end which is in abutment with the intermediate portion ( 126 ), wherein the outer tubular portion ( 134 ) is coaxial with and surrounds the inlet tubular portion, and has an axial extent which is smaller than the axial extent of the inlet tubular portion so that the forward end of the outer tubular portion is intermediate the forward end of the inlet tubular portion, and wherein the outer tubular portion ( 134 ) and the inlet tubular portion cooperate to define a bristle receptacle inside which the bristle base is rotatably received. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning head of  claim 3 , wherein the bristles of the bristle skirt are arranged to form a screen of bristles which defines a third tubular portion, the third tubular portion being intermediate the inlet tubular portion and the outer tubular portion ( 134 ). 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning head of  claim 3 , wherein the bristle receptacle has a forward-facing receptacle base which is in abutment with the bristle base and the bristle skirt projects forwardly from the bristle base, and wherein the outer tubular portion has a forward end which surrounds the bristle base. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the bristle skirt has an axial extent which is larger than the axial extent of the inlet tubular portion so that the bristle skirt extends to protrude beyond the forward end of the inlet tubular portion, which is an inner tubular portion. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a motor having a motor shaft and a power coupling arrangement which is configured to couple driving power generated by the motor to the bristle base whereby the bristle skirt is rocked or rotated about a rotation axis which is a longitudinal center axis of the inlet tubular portion, and wherein the motor is outside of and in abutment with the inlet portion, and the motor shaft is parallel to and offset from the center axis. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning head of  claim 7 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a power coupler which extends through the inlet portion orthogonally in a direction orthogonal to the center axis to interconnect the bristle base and the motor. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning head of  claim 8 , wherein the bristle base is configured as a wheel having an inner periphery which surrounds the inlet nozzle and an outer periphery which surrounds the inner periphery, and wherein the drive mechanism is configured to couple driving power to the bristle base at the outer periphery of the bristle base. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning head of  claim 9 , wherein the power coupler comprises a rocking arm which extends orthogonally from the outer periphery of the wheel to connect with an eccentric driving pin which is connected to the motor shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning head of  claim 9 , wherein the bristle base is a teethed wheel and the drive mechanism comprise a teethed wheel which is in engagement with the bristle base to transmit driving power thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises an outer peripheral wall which defines an outer periphery of the inlet portion and the intermediate portion, and wherein the drive mechanism is mounted inside a drive housing which is in abutment with the outer periphery. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning head of  claim 12 , wherein the drive housing is elongate and extends along the inlet portion and the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning head of  claim 12 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a power connector which is configured to connect with the powered suction source to obtain electrical power to operate the drive mechanism, and wherein the power connector is disposed at a longitudinal end of the drive housing which is proximal to the outlet aperture of the outlet portion. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning head of  claim 12 , wherein the inlet portion extends along a first axial direction, and the intermediate portion extends along a second axial direction which is at a non-zero angle to the first axial direction; and wherein the drive housing comprises a first portion which is in abutment with the inlet portion and extends along the first axial direction, and a second portion which is in abutment with the intermediate portion and extends along the second axial direction. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet portion and the intermediate portion cooperate to define a junction having a junction angle of between 115 and 165 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . A suction cleaning apparatus comprising a powered suction source and a cleaning head, wherein the cleaning head comprises:
 a main body comprising an inlet portion ( 122 ), an outlet portion ( 124 ) and an intermediate portion ( 126 ) which is an intermediate tubular portion interconnecting the inlet portion and the outlet portion;   wherein the inlet portion comprises an inlet tubular portion ( 132 ) which defines an inlet nozzle at its forward end and an inlet aperture at forward end of the inlet nozzle;   wherein the outlet portion comprises an outlet tubular portion which defines an outlet nozzle at its rearward end and an outlet aperture at rearward end of the outlet nozzle, the outlet nozzle being configured for coupling to a powered suction source whereby suction and electrical power are to be received from the powered suction source;   a brush head ( 140 ) comprising a plurality of bristles mounted on a bristle base ( 144 ), the plurality of bristles being arranged to form a bristle skirt to surround the inlet nozzle; and   a drive mechanism configured to drive the bristle base whereby the bristle skirt is to rotate or oscillate about a rotation axis and about the inlet nozzle.   
     
     
         18 . The cleaning head of  claim 17 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a motor having a motor shaft and a power coupling arrangement which is configured to couple driving power generated by the motor to the bristle base whereby the bristle skirt is rocked or rotated about a rotation axis which is a longitudinal center axis of the inlet tubular portion, and wherein the motor is outside of and in abutment with the inlet portion, and the motor shaft is parallel to and offset from the center axis. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaning head of  claim 18 , wherein the bristle base is configured as a wheel having an inner periphery which surrounds the inlet nozzle and an outer periphery which surrounds the inner periphery, and wherein the drive mechanism is configured to couple driving power to the bristle base at the outer periphery of the bristle base. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaning head of  claim 19 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a power coupler which extends through the inlet portion orthogonally in a direction orthogonal to the center axis to interconnect the bristle base and the motor, and wherein the power coupler comprises a rocking arm which extends orthogonally from the outer periphery of the wheel to connect with an eccentric driving pin which is connected to the motor shaft.