CA2107832A1

CA2107832A1 - Vacuum cleaners

Info

Publication number: CA2107832A1
Application number: CA 2107832
Authority: CA
Inventors: Mitchell John Heeney; Andrew Francis Mccaffrey
Original assignee: Mitchell John Heeney; Andrew Francis Mccaffrey; Vax Limited
Current assignee: Vax Ltd
Priority date: 1992-10-08
Filing date: 1993-10-06
Publication date: 1994-04-09
Also published as: AU4890993A; GB9320527D0; GB2271275A; GB9221179D0

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Title: Vacuum Cleaners A vacuum cleaner of the upright type, having a base assembly (10) and a handle assembly (20) pivotable relative to the base assembly, the base assembly including a rotatable beater member (11) associated with a suction inlet, and means for driving the beater member, wherein means are provided to disable the means for driving the beater member when the base and handle members are disposed in a predetermined relationship.

Description

` ~ L

Title: Vacuum Cleaners Descripti(~n of the Invention This ;nvention relates to vacuum cleallers, i.e. suction operated appliances for use pr;marily on floors and floor coverings and having attachments available for other cleaning operations. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with vacuum cleaners of the so-called "upright" type which comprisea lower, or base, assembly and an upper, or handle, assembly; wherein the base assembly includes floor-engaging supporting means (such as rollers or other elements) whereby it may be moved over a floor to be cleaned, a suction inlet arranged to pick Up material from the s~lrface to be cleaned, a rotatable beatermember (which may be or incl~lde a brush) associated with said inlet and engageable with said surface; the handle assembly includes a handle member to enable an operator to move the cleaner across said surface and a receptacle for collection of material picked ~Ip at said suction inlet, and there is driving means for rotating said beater member, and an air-flow passageway systern within said assemblies from said suction inlet to said collection receptacle; the base and handle assemblies being pivotally connected so as to be relatively movable through a range of positions.
In most cases, the base assembly or the handle assembly includes a source of suction, normally comprising an impeller to draw air through said passageway system, but in some cases provision may be made for connection of the appliance to an external so-lrce of suction Usually the upper and lower assemblies are provided with releasable locking means whereby the two assemblies may be locked together in a predetermined angular relationship (herein called the lockecl condition) or released for relative pivotal movement (herein callecl the norrnal use condition) ~ "", ' ' ' ~ "' '' "' '' ,, ~ , ",; ~

~ ~ 83~ -~

In the normal use condition, the cleaner may be ~reely moved over the floor to be cleaned, whereas the cleaner mcly l~e storecl conveniently in the locked condition.
In normal use, the rotatahle heater member is driven continuollsly and - .
air-flow ;ndllced by said so-lrce o~ suction is drawn from the inlet of the baseassembly. ~lowever, when an attachment is in use the air-~low is cliverted to anau~iliary inlet to which the re(luire(l attachment is connected. Typically, suchattachments comprise one or more cleaning heads adapte(l to perform different types cf cleaning operation and a length of flexible hose for connection to the --~
auxiliary inlet. Usually, the cleaner is place(l in the lockecl condition when an attachment is in llse. ~ -Desirably, when such an attachment is in use, the drive to the beater ~ -member is disabled in order to prevent wear or damage to the beater member and/or any surface it may engage during use of the attachment. ~ - :
. .
The present invention is concerned with an improved arrangement for disabling the drive to the beater member.
According to the invention, in a vacu~lm cleaner of the upright type, means are provided to disable the driving means for the beater member when the base and handle assemblies are disposed in a predetermined angular relationship.The predetermined angular relationship in which the driving means are disabled may correspond to a locked condition in which the two assemblies are locked together in said predetermined angular relationship by releasable locking means.Alternatively the predetermined angular relationship may correspond to a storagecondition in which the two assemblies are ahle to be maintained without the needfor locking means.
In a preferred arrangement, the driving means includes a clutch mechanism with an associated operating mechanism whereby the clutch mechanism can be brought from a normally engaged driving condition to a disengaged condition, the operating mechanism being responsive to relative ~\

2 ~ 2 movement of the body and handle assemblies into sai(l predetermined angular rekltionsh ip, ~ or this purpose, a Calll mellll)er may be t`orme(l Or provi(led on the handle assembly and arrange(l to engage a cam follower member ~ormed or provided as part of sa;cl operating mechanism.
In a particularly simple arrangemellt, the operating mechanism may comprise a rod which is mounted in the ~ ase assembly t`or rotation about its longitu(linal axis with said cam follower member projecting transversely at one end thereof into contact with said cam member and a clutch disengaging member projecting transversely at its other end into engagement with the clutch mechanism.
Preferably, the cam member is arranged so that the clutch becomes disengaged by a final portion of the range of relative angular movement permitted to the base and handle assemblies as they are brought into said predetermined angular relationship. Typically, the cam member may operate over less than 10 of angular movement, preferably not more than about 5.
It will be appreciated that in the locked or storage condition the handle assembly is normally arranged so as to extend substantially vertically when the base assembly is resting on a horizontal surface, this being the most convenient position for storage. When the cleaner is in normal use, involving movement of the base assembly to and fro over the surface being cleaned, the handle assembly with generally extend between a lowest position in which it is close to the surface being cleaned, and an upper position wh;ch is rarely at an angle of greater than about 70 relative to the surface being cleaned.
Accordingly, a cleaner in accordance with the invention may be operated in an entirely conventional manner when in its normal use condition, without the clutch mechanism being affected. However, when the handle assembly is brought up to the locked or storage con(lition, the cllltch mechanism is automatically broughtto its disengaged condition, ~ "''~ "~ "

Whilst it is particularly convenient to employ a cam-operated mechanism for disengagin~ the clutch mechanism, othel arrangements are possible. For e.Yample, the operating mechanism may inclllcle a toothed rack which is engageable with a pinion or a geal sector rotatal~ly associate(l with the handle assembly, the rack being arrange(l to disengage the clutch mechanism overthe appropriate part of the range of angular movement of the two assemblies. In a furttler alternative, the operating mechanism may take the form of a cable having one end operatively connected to the clutch mechanism and the other end arranged to be drivingly engaged by a coupling member movable with the upper .
assembly~
Further, whilst it is particularly convenient for the operating mechanism to be arranged to respond to relative angular movement of the base and handle assemblies, it would alternatively be possible for the operating mechanism to be associated with a mechanism which is provided for locking the -two assemblies in the predetermined ang~llar relationship. Thus, the operating .-mechanism may be in the form of a linkage system which interconnects the clutch mechanism and a catch member, which serves to hokl the two assemblies in the - -locked condition. -In a further variation, the releasable locking means could be omitted, the base and handle assemblies being so designed as to be stable when in the predetermined angular relationship.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illllstration of a vacuum cleaner inaccordance with the invention;
Figures 2A and 2B illwstrate a clwtch mechanism incorporated in such cleaner respectively in engaged and disengaged conditions; and Figure 3 illwstrates in diagrammatic perspective view an operating mechanism associated with such clutch mechanism.

" ", , ,,, ", ", . .

2~8~ ~

Referring firstly to Fig~lre l of the drawings, there is shown in outline a vacll~lm cleaner of the ~Ipright type, the general arrangement of which and many of whose parts are generally conventional~ The vacllllm cleaner comprises a baseassembly lO which is adapted ~or movemellt over a ~lool an(l which ho~lses a first cleaning head Hl which has a rotary br~lsh II an(l ~rom which a suction passageway 12 extends through which air can be drawn from the ~irst cleaning head.
The cleaner further comprises a handle assembly 20 in which there is a dust collection receptacle 21 which may contain a removable dust collector bag22. An air flow passageway 23 communicates with the interior oE the dust collection receptacle 21 and has a neck 13 extending into the receptacle 21 to cooperate with an aperture leading into the interior of the collector bag 22. The passageway 23 extends to a flexible hose 30 which is disposed on the exterior ofthe handle assembly 20.
At the lower end of the handle assembly 20 there is an electric motor and impeller unit 25 which communicates with the collection receptacle 21 through a suction passageway 24, the arrangement being such that operation of the impeller 25 draws air out of the collection receptacle 21 and expels it, through an opening not shown, to the exterior of the handle--assembly 20. Tn practice, the passageway 24 may merely comprise an opening in a casing of the impeller 25, theimpeller unit being located at the bottom of the collection receptacle 21.
The handle assembly 20 incorporates a grip portion 26 at its upper end, for being held by a user of the vacwm cleaner. The handle assembly 20 is pivotally secured to the base assembly 10 to facilitate backwards and forwards movement of the cleaner by the user, and such pivoting is provided by means not shown coaxial with the axis of rotation 27 of the motor and impeller unit 25.
The hose 30 which is connected at its one end to the opening of the passageway 23 outside the handle assembly 20, has at its other end a spigot fitting 31 engagable with a socket 29 which is provided, at the exterior of the handle assembly 20, at the end of the suction passageway 12 extending from the first ," .

~ ,, " " ~, .. .. . - . .

2~ ~832 cleaning head Hl of the vacullm cleaner. The suction passageway 12 incorporates means which enables a satisfactorily airtight commllnication to be maintained de~spite the above describe(l piV()tillg movemelIt of the halI(lle assembly ~0 relative to the base assembly I0; by way o~ ei~ample sllclI conllectioll may be provided by way of a pivotable connector Or glall(l assembly also arran;,ed concentrically with the pivot axis of the handle assembly 20 relative to the base, and with the axis of -;
rotation of the motor and impeller unit.
The vacuum cleaner is further provided with at least one attachment affording an accessory cleaning head H2 which is connectable to the hose 30 as shown in broken lines at 30tl in F;gure 1, the spigot 31 being withdrawn from the socket 29 in order to make such connection with the cleaning head H2. Such connection may be by way of a E~lrtller extension tube or tubes, or a further - -flexible hose, not shown.
The arrangement is thus that when the hose 30 is connected to the ~-socket 29, suction generated by the impeller 25 is communicated by way of the passage 24, receptacle 21, passage 23, hose 30, and passage 12, to the cleaning head Hl. This provides for normal floor cleaning by the vacuum cleaner.
"~Iternatively the hose may be connectecl to the accessory cleaning head H2 for other cleaning tasks.
A drive belt 15 extends from the shaft of the motor impeller unit 25 to a countershaft clutch assembly indicated generally at 60 in Figure 1 and described in greater detail hereafter. A further drive belt 16 extends from the clutch assembly 60 to the rotary brwsh 11 for driving the latter when the clutchassembly 60 is in the engaged, drive-transmitting, condition~ - -Figure 1 illustrates the vacllum cleaner in a storage position wherein the handle assembly 20 is arranged in an upright position. It may be arranged tobe held in such position by any suitable means, for example by frictional engagement or, as illustrated, by a catch shown diagrammatically at 18, releasable by a foot-operable bwtton 17 The catch is spring biased into an operative : ' , ~'~' ,''', "s,' " '''',,~ ,,'', ' ,~ , ":

position to engage with a suitable formation provicled on a part oE the handle assembly 20 when the handle assembly reaches the substantially vertical position.
In accordance with the invention, when the cleaner is in this condition a linkage indicated diagrammatically at 40 in Figure I hokis the clutch mechanism 60 in a disengage~l condition. This enables the hose to be used for the accessory cleaning head H2 withollt the rotary brwsh l l being driven~
As shown in F;gwres 2A ancl 2B, one suitable form of clutch mechanism comprises a drive wheel 61 which has a crowned drive surface for engagement by the drive belt 15~ The wheel 61 is mounted, by a roller bearing indicated generally at 59, on a sleeve 65 which is slidable lengthwise of an axle 62 which is arranged to be held stationary hl the base assembly 10 of the vacuumcleaner. As illustrated, the axle 62 has apertllres SX for receiving screws by which it may be mounted in the base assembly lO. A spring 63 acts between a circlip 64 carried by the axle 62 and the sleeve 65, so as to bias the sleeve and the drive wheel 61 carried thereby to the left, with reference to Figwres 2A and 2B. A
take-up wheel 66, with a peripheral surface for engagement with the drive belt 16, is carried by a bearing assembly 57 at the end of the axle 62, for free rotation.
The mutually facing sides of the drive wheel 61 and take-up wheel 66 carry respective clutch elements 67, 68 so that when they are in contact with one another, under the inflwence of spring 63, clrive is transmitted from the drive wheel 61 to the take-~lp wheel 66.
The clutch elements may comprise friction clutch plates, or may be in the form of circumferentially spaced teeth or drive dogs made for example of a resilient material such as rwbber so as to provide a pos;tive, but cwshioned, driving engagement.
The drive wheel 61 is movable away from the take-wp wheel 66, against the force of the spring 63, by the operating mechanism which is indicated generally at 40 in Figwre 1 and shown in greater detail in Figure 3. The operating mechanism comprises a rod 41 which is mounted relative to the base assembly 10 of the vacwum cleaner, by means not shown, for angwlar movement about its r~ $ ~

longitwdinal axis, the rod e.~tending generally along one side of the base assembly 10 from a position adjacent the pivotal molmting point o~ the handle assembly 20to a position a(Uacent the Cl~ltCIl meChallislll 6n. ~L\t its forwar(l end the rod inclu(les a laterally extendillg ot`t`set arlll 4~ WlliCIl engages an abutment element 69 ~ormed or provkle(l on the sleeve 6~ herehy the sleeve together with the bear;ng 59 and dr;ve wheel 61 carried thereby can be displace(l against the force of the spring 63, in response to angulal movement of the rod 41 about ;ts longitudinal axis as illwstrated in Figure 2B.
~ t ;ts other end, the rod 41 inclndes a fllrther laterally projecting arm 43 which at its owter end has a sleeve engagable by a cam face 44 formed or provided on the handle assembly 20 at the lower end thereof, adjacent its pivotal mounting to the base assembly lO.
The arrangement is such that over most of the permitted range of angular movement of the handle assembly relative to the base assembly, the rod 41 is in the position illustrated in Figure 2A so that the cllltch 60 is engaged and drive is transmitted to the rotary brllsh 11 whell the cleaner is in llse in its normal mode. However, when the handle assembly 20 is brought to the upright position illustrated in Figure 1, over the final few degrees of such movement the cam 44 acts on the arm 43 to turn the rod about its longitudinal axis to the position illustrated in Figure 2B, thereby disengaging the clutch mechanism 60. The accessory cleaning head attachment H2 may then be wsed whilst the drive to the rotary brush 11 is disengaged.
Preferably the cam operates to disengage the cl~ltch mechanism over less than the last 10 of angular movement of the handle assembly to the uprightposition, and preferably sucl1 operation takes place over not more than about 5of movement of the handle As ~lescribed above, the clutch mechanism 60 is, in effect, a countershaft clutch, the drive to the rotary brllsh being by way of two drive belts respectively to and from the cllltch It will be appreciated that in a simpler arrangement a clutch cowld be provided on the rotary brush itself, in which case, ~': ,; ' ~, ~' i:- ,, - , , ~;;; " ~ ~"-, -",, ,,,, ",, "~ ,,,, """,,~ " ,,~,,,,~ ,,,~, ~,;,,,~,, ,"~ ,, 7 ~ ~ ~

only one drive belt would be required to transmit drive from the motor of the vacuum cleaner to the rotary brush Such chltch mechanism may be of s;milar or analogous construction to that describe(l ahove, or of different construction, and may be arranged to be operate(l in ally appropriate mallner Possible further arrangements of operatill~ mech<lllislll for a clutcll are refelre(l to above.

~ ",f;f ~", "~ :~",",,~ ~

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising a base assembly and a handle assembly;
the base assembly including floor-engagng supporting means whereby it may be moved over a floor to be cleaned, a suction inlet arranged to pick up material from the surface to be cleaned, and a rotatable beater member associated with said inlet and engagable with said surface; the handle assembly including a handle member to enable an operator to move the cleaner across said surface and a receptacle for collection of material picked up at said suction inlet; there being driving means for rotating said beater member, an air flow passageway system providing for delivery of material picked up at said suction inlet to said receptacle, and means pivotally connecting said base and handle assemblies together so as to be movable relative to one another through a range of positions;

wherein means are provided to disable the driving means for the beater member when the base and handle assemblies are disposed in a predetermined angular relationship.

2. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 1 comprising releasable locking means for locking the base and handle assemblies together in said predetermined angular relationship wherein the driving means are disabled.

3. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 1 wherein said predetermined angular relationship corresponds to a storage condition.

4. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said driving means includes a clutch mechanism operable between an engaged driving condition and a disengaged condition, and an operating mechanism for said clutch mechanism, the operating mechanism being responsive to relative movement of the body and handle assemblies into said predetermined angular relationship.

5. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 4 comprising a cam member formed or provided on the handle assembly, and engagable with a cam follower member formed or provided as part of said operating mechanism.

6. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 5 wherein said operating mechanism comprises a rod mounted in the base assembly for angular movement about its longitudinal axis, said cam follower member projecting transversely atone end thereof to engage said cam member, and a clutch disengaging member projecting transversely at its other end into engagement with the clutch mechanism.

7. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the cam member is arranged so that the clutch becomes disengaged by a final portion of the range of relative angular movement permitted to the base and handle assemblies as they are brought into said predetermined angular relationship.

8. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 7 wherein said cam member operates over less than 10° of said angular movement.

9. A vacuum cleaner according to Claim 8 wherein said cam member operates over not more than about 5° of said angular movement.

10. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of Claims 4 to 9 wherein said clutch mechanism is operatively disposed between first and second belt drives extending to said beater member.

11. A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims including means for diverting air flow from said suction inlet to an auxiliary inlet for connection of a cleaning attachment.

12. A vacuum cleaner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.