Suction nozzle

Abstract

A suction nozzle includes a casing which defines a suction chamber, and an agitator rotatably mounted within the suction chamber. The agitator is supported in the suction chamber by a support member. A drive assembly arranged to rotate the agitator about an axis is mounted to the casing via the support member, and is mounted to the support member via a first soft mounting member. The support member is mounted to the casing via a second soft mounting member.

1 . A suction nozzle comprising a casing which defines a suction chamber, and an agitator rotatably mounted within the suction chamber, wherein:
 the agitator is supported in the suction chamber by a support member;   a drive assembly arranged to rotate the agitator about an axis is mounted to the casing via the support member, and is mounted to the support member via a first soft mounting member; and   the support member is mounted to the casing via a second soft mounting member.   
     
     
         2 . The suction nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the first or second soft mounting member comprises an elastomeric component. 
     
     
         3 . The suction nozzle of  claim 2 , wherein said elastomeric component is positioned to act as an air seal. 
     
     
         4 . The suction nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly comprises an electric motor. 
     
     
         5 . The suction nozzle of  claim 3 , wherein the drive assembly comprises an electric motor and the electric motor is at least partially received inside the agitator. 
     
     
         6 . The suction nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly is at least partially received inside the agitator. 
     
     
         7 . The suction nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly comprises a gearbox. 
     
     
         8 . The suction nozzle of  claim 7 , wherein the gearbox is an epicyclic gearbox. 
     
     
         9 . The suction nozzle of  claim 8 , wherein a sun gear and a carrier of at least one planet gear of the epicyclic gearbox supportably engage one another. 
     
     
         10 . The suction nozzle of  claim 7 , wherein a carrier of the gearbox is supported by a further soft mounting member. 
     
     
         11 . The suction nozzle of  claim 7 , wherein the gearbox is mounted to the support member via a motor, and is mounted to the motor via a third soft mounting member. 
     
     
         12 . The suction nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the agitator is removable from the suction nozzle. 
     
     
         13 . The suction nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly projects in cantilevered fashion from a portion of the casing to which the support member is mounted. 
     
     
         14 . The suction nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the support member engages the agitator such that substantially no relative translation therebetween can occur. 
     
     
         15 . A vacuum cleaner comprising the suction nozzle of  claim 1 , a dirt separator, and a vacuum motor configured to draw air into the suction chamber of the suction nozzle and then into the dirt separator.