Drive system for a floor cleaner

Abstract

Provided is a drive system for a floor cleaner including a motor, a cooling fan, a diffuser comprising a plurality of vanes arranged around a circumference of the diffuser, wherein the length of the vanes is non-uniform, and a longitudinally extending drive housing. The motor and the cooling fan are longitudinally disposed with respect to one another within the drive housing, and a drive output of the motor is configured to drive the cooling fan.

1 . A drive system for a floor cleaner, comprising:
 a motor;   a cooling fan;   a diffuser comprising a plurality of vanes arranged around a circumference of the diffuser, wherein a length of the vanes is non-uniform; and   a longitudinally extending drive housing, wherein the motor and the cooling fan are longitudinally disposed with respect to one another within the drive housing, and wherein a drive output of the motor is configured to drive the cooling fan.   
     
     
         2 . A drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the lengths of at least three of the plurality of vanes are different. 
     
     
         3 . A drive system according to  claim 2 , wherein the lengths of at least four of the plurality of vanes are different. 
     
     
         4 . A drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of each vane differs from the length of the vanes located adjacent to said each vane around the circumference of the diffuser. 
     
     
         5 . A drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the vanes extend in a generally radial direction from centre of the diffuser. 
     
     
         6 . A drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the vanes is arranged at an angle with respect to a radial direction of the diffuser. 
     
     
         7 . A drive system according to  claim 6 , wherein each vane is angled by the same amount with respect to the radial direction of the diffuser. 
     
     
         8 . A drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein a centre of rotation of the cooling fan is offset from a central axis of the diffuser. 
     
     
         9 . A drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive housing comprises a longitudinal axis of radial symmetry, and wherein the cooling fan is arranged to rotate about an axis offset from the longitudinal axis of radial symmetry of the drive housing. 
     
     
         10 . A drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fan comprises a radial flow impeller. 
     
     
         11 . A drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser is located between the cooling fan and the motor. 
     
     
         12 . An agitator head assembly for a floor cleaner comprising a drive system according to  claim 1 , and an agitation member mounted for rotation about the drive system. 
     
     
         13 . An agitator head assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the motor is operably coupled to the agitation member to cause the agitation member to rotate about the drive system. 
     
     
         14 . An agitator head assembly according to  claim 12 , further comprising a rotatable roller mounted substantially parallel to the agitation member, preferably wherein the motor is operably coupled to the rotatable roller to cause the rotatable roller to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the agitation member. 
     
     
         15 . An agitator head assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the rotatable roller is a debris remover element arranged to contact the agitation member in use. 
     
     
         16 . A cleaner head for a floor cleaner comprising one or more agitator head assemblies according to  claim 12  mounted within a cleaner head housing. 
     
     
         17 . A floor cleaner comprising the cleaner head according to  claim 16 .