Vacuum Motor Scroll Assembly and Vacuums Including Such an Assembly

Abstract

A scroll assembly for use with a fluid machine, such as a wet/dry vacuum appliance, is described. Such scroll assembly may include a base portion, a cover portion configured to couple to the base portion, and a cavity between the base portion and the cover portion, wherein the cover portion and the base portion collectively form a labyrinth seal when coupled together, and wherein the labyrinth seal at least partially circumscribes the cavity. A vacuum appliance may include a scroll assembly coupled at least partially therein. A method of exhausting air from a vacuum appliance may include energizing a vacuum motor, thereby drawing air into the scroll assembly, allowing the air to contact a flow splitter, and allowing the air to exit the vacuum appliance.

1 . A scroll assembly for a vacuum appliance, comprising:
 a base portion having an opening there through;   a cover portion having an air inlet and configured to couple to the base portion, thereby defining a cavity between the base portion and the cover portion; and,   a sound-deadening barrier coupled within the cavity and disposed radially interior of the labyrinth seal, the barrier at least partially circumscribing the opening in the base portion;   wherein the cover portion and the base portion collectively form a labyrinth seal when the cover portion and the base portion are coupled together; and   wherein the labyrinth seal at least partially circumscribes the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The scroll assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one of the scroll and cover portions includes a channel having two walls, and wherein the other of the scroll and cover portions includes a rib configured to sealingly engage the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The scroll assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of ribs configured to sealingly engage the channel. 
     
     
         4 . The scroll assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is configured to couple with a vacuum motor. 
     
     
         5 . A vacuum appliance, comprising:
 a lid adapted to couple to a collection drum, the lid having an interior side, an exterior side, and an exhaust port there through;   a scroll assembly as claimed in  claim 1  coupled to the lid so that the air inlet is in fluid communication with the exhaust port; and   a vacuum motor coupled to the lid, the vacuum motor having an impeller assembly disposed at least partially within the cavity of the scroll assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The vacuum appliance of  claim 5 , further comprising a collection drum coupled to the interior side of the lid and wherein the scroll assembly is at least partially disposed inside the collection drum. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the vacuum appliance is a wet/dry vacuum appliance. 
     
     
         8 . A method of exhausting air from a vacuum appliance as claimed in  claim 5  and having a flow splitter coupled within the cavity and fluidicly disposed between the air inlet of the cover portion and the exhaust port of the lid, the method comprising:
 energizing the vacuum motor, thereby drawing air through the air inlet of the cover portion and into the cavity of the scroll assembly; 
 allowing the air to contact the flow splitter, thereby distributing the air into a plurality of flow paths; and 
 allowing the air to exit the vacuum appliance through the exhaust port. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising distributing the air into a plurality of substantially equal flow paths across the exhaust port. 
     
     
         10 . A vacuum appliance, comprising:
 a lid adapted to couple to a collection drum, the lid having an interior side, an exterior side, and an exhaust port there through;   a scroll assembly coupled to the lid so that the air inlet is in fluid communication with the exhaust port, the scroll assembly comprising—
 a base portion having an opening there through, 
 a cover portion having an air inlet and configured to couple to the base portion, thereby defining a cavity between the base portion and the cover portion, 
 wherein the cover portion and the base portion collectively form a labyrinth seal when the cover portion and the base portion are coupled together, and 
 wherein the labyrinth seal at least partially circumscribes the cavity; and 
   a vacuum motor coupled to the lid, the vacuum motor having an impeller assembly disposed at least partially within the cavity of the scroll assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The scroll assembly of  claim 10 , wherein one of the scroll and cover portions includes a channel having two walls, and wherein the other of the scroll and cover portions includes a rib configured to sealingly engage the channel. 
     
     
         12 . The scroll assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of ribs configured to sealingly engage the channel. 
     
     
         13 . The scroll assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the opening is configured to couple with a vacuum motor. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising a collection drum coupled to the interior side of the lid and wherein the scroll assembly is at least partially disposed inside the collection drum. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the vacuum appliance is a wet/dry vacuum appliance. 
     
     
         16 . A method of exhausting air from a vacuum appliance as claimed in  claim 10  and having a flow splitter coupled within the cavity and fluidicly disposed between the air inlet of the cover portion and the exhaust port of the lid, the method comprising:
 energizing the vacuum motor, thereby drawing air through the air inlet of the cover portion and into the cavity of the scroll assembly; 
 allowing the air to contact the flow splitter, thereby distributing the air into a plurality of flow paths; and 
 allowing the air to exit the vacuum appliance through the exhaust port. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising distributing the air into a plurality of substantially equal flow paths across the exhaust port.