Device for mounting a motor assembly of an electric appliance

Abstract

A device ( 10 ) for mounting a motor assembly of an electric appliance such as a vacuum cleaner in a housing ( 2 ) of the appliance comprises a resilient mounting body ( 11 ) which is intended for arrangement between the motor assembly and the housing ( 2 ). An inner peripheral portion ( 12 ) of the mounting body ( 11 ) comprises a first motor contacting portion ( 13 ), a second motor contacting portion ( 14 ) being provided with axial motor support components ( 19 ), and a connection portion ( 15 ) interconnecting the motor contacting portions ( 13, 14 ). A radial stiffness of the first motor contacting portion ( 13 ) is lower than a radial stiffness of the connection portion ( 15 ), so that the extent to which vibrations of the motor assembly are coupled into the mounting body ( 11 ) at the position of contact to the first motor contacting portion ( 13 ) can be at a minimum.

1 . Device for mounting a motor assembly of an electric appliance in a housing of the appliance, the device comprising a resilient mounting body for arrangement between the motor assembly and the housing, wherein an outer portion of the mounting body comprises a housing contacting portion for contacting the housing, and wherein an inner peripheral portion of the mounting body comprises:
 a first motor contacting portion and a second motor contacting portion for contacting the motor assembly at different contacting positions, the first motor contacting portion to contact the motor assembly in at least a radial direction, and the second motor contacting portion to contact the motor assembly in at least an axial direction and being provided with axial motor support components for abutment against the motor assembly in the axial direction, and   a connection portion interconnecting the first motor contacting portion and the second motor contacting portion,   wherein a radial stiffness of the first motor contacting portion is lower than a radial stiffness of the connection portion.   
     
     
         2 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the radial stiffness of the first motor contacting portion is at least four times lower than the radial stiffness of the connection portion. 
     
     
         3 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the radial stiffness of the first motor contacting portion is at least ten times lower than the radial stiffness of the connection portion. 
     
     
         4 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second motor contacting portion has a larger diameter than the first motor contacting portion. 
     
     
         5 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second motor contacting portion is a combined motor/housing contacting portion for contacting the housing in a first axial direction and contacting the motor assembly in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction. 
     
     
         6 . Device according to  claim 5 , wherein a radial position on the mounting body of the axial motor support components corresponds to a position on the mounting body of a radial centerline of an area of the combined motor/housing contacting portion for contacting the housing in the first axial direction. 
     
     
         7 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second motor contacting portion of the mounting body comprises first and second types of areas, a first type of area being of higher radial stiffness than a second type of area, and the areas being arranged according to a pattern along the periphery of the second motor contacting portion in which areas of the first type alternate with areas of the second type, the axial motor support components being arranged in the areas of the second type. 
     
     
         8 . Device according to  claim 7 , wherein the second motor contacting portion of the mounting body is provided with ribs extending on the mounting body in a substantially radial direction. 
     
     
         9 . Device according to  claim 8 , wherein the ribs and the axial motor support components are present at the same side of the mounting body, the axial motor support components being arranged at positions which are positions between the ribs as seen along the periphery of the second motor contacting portion of the mounting body, without contacting the ribs. 
     
     
         10 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein an axial stiffness of the first motor contacting portion is lower than an axial stiffness of the connection portion and the axial motor support components. 
     
     
         11 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first motor contacting portion of the mounting body is shaped like a lip seal, comprising a lip for abutment against the motor assembly, and wherein optionally an outer edge of the lip is thickened with respect to the remainder of the lip. 
     
     
         12 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection portion of the mounting body has a gradually increasing wall thickness in a direction from the first motor contacting portion of the mounting body to the second motor contacting portion of the mounting body. 
     
     
         13 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein the axial motor support components comprise pillar-shaped projection extending from the second motor contacting portion of the mounting body in the axial direction, and wherein optionally the pillar-shaped projections have a tapered shape. 
     
     
         14 . Electric appliance comprising a motor assembly, a housing, and a device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting body of the device is arranged between the motor assembly and the housing, wherein the housing contacting portion of the mounting body contacts the housing, and wherein both the first motor contacting portion and the second motor contacting portion of the mounting body of the device contact the motor assembly. 
     
     
         15 . Electric appliance according to  claim 14 , being a vacuum cleaner for removing dust and dirt from surfaces, wherein the housing of the appliance comprises a chamber for accommodating the motor assembly and a chamber for collecting and containing the dust and dirt, the chambers, being positioned adjacent to each other, and wherein the device is arranged at the interface of the chambers, the mounting body of the device, extending from inside the chamber for accommodating the motor assembly towards the chamber for collecting and containing the dust and dirt, and the mounting body of the device contacting a wall delimiting the chamber for collecting and containing the dust and dirt, at least during operation of the appliance.