Vacuum cleaner equipped with motor exhaust system

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. A suction inlet is carried on the housing. A dirt collection vessel is carried on the housing. A suction generator is carried on the housing. In addition, the vacuum cleaner includes a motor exhaust assembly. The motor exhaust assembly includes a motor enclosure having a first cavity receiving at least a portion of the suction generator and a filter element received over the motor enclosure.

1 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a housing including a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly;   a suction inlet carried on said housing;   a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing;   a suction generator carried on said housing; and   a motor exhaust assembly including (a) a motor enclosure having a first cavity receiving at least a portion of said suction generator and (b) a filter element received over said motor enclosure.   
   
   
       2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said motor enclosure comprises a body including an open end, a closed end and at least one sidewall. 
   
   
       3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein a series of airflow apertures are provided in said at least one sidewall. 
   
   
       4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein said closed end includes a first mount engaging said suction generator. 
   
   
       5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one sidewall includes a second mount engaging said suction generator. 
   
   
       6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein said body is cylindrical. 
   
   
       7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein said suction generator includes an outer cylindrical housing having an outer diameter D 1  and said second mount has an inner diameter D 2  where D 1  substantially equals D 2  to provide a friction fit. 
   
   
       8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein said filter element includes a frame holding a filter media. 
   
   
       9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein said filter element includes a second cavity receiving said motor enclosure. 
   
   
       10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein said filter element is cylindrical and has a first open end and a second closed end. 
   
   
       11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein said motor enclosure is concentrically received in said second cavity of said filter element. 
   
   
       12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , further including a third mount and a fourth mount securing said filter element to said motor enclosure. 
   
   
       13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein said third mount comprises a mounting lug provided on said second closed end of said filter element wherein said mounting lug is sized and shaped to engage said motor enclosure and said fourth mount is an elastomeric mounting ring extending between said filter element and said motor enclosure. 
   
   
       14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein said third and fourth mounts comprise two elastomeric mounting rings extending between said filter element and said motor enclosure to hold said filter element concentrically around said motor enclosure. 
   
   
       15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , further including a fastener to secure said filter element over said motor enclosure. 
   
   
       16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein said body includes a series of lugs radially arranged around said at least one sidewall. 
   
   
       17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein said filter element includes a series of locking tabs radially arrayed around said frame wherein said series of locking tabs engages said series of lugs to secure said filter element to said motor enclosure. 
   
   
       18 . A method of improving noise suppression and vibration damping of a vacuum cleaner motor, comprising:
 placing a motor enclosure over at least a portion of said suction generator; and   placing a filter element over said motor enclosure.