GB2156239A

GB2156239A - An attachment for a vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2156239A
Application number: GB08507377A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Joseph O'sullivan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-03-22
Filing date: 1985-03-21
Publication date: 1985-10-09
Also published as: GB8507377D0; IE840411L

Abstract

An attachment 1 for a vacuum cleaner comprises a container 2 including an upper discharge chamber 5 and a lower suction chamber 4 separated by a filter membrane 3 of the container. A discharge outlet 17 from the chamber 5 is connected to the suction inlet of a conventional vacuum heat resistant material extending across cleaner. A main suction conduit 16 is connected to a suction inlet 15 of the chamber 4 at one end and to a secondary suction conduit (30, Fig. 7 or 35, Fig. 6) at the other end. The attachment 1 is used particularly for cleaning solid fuel heating appliances, ash, small cinders and soot being sucked up through the conduits 16, (30, 35) and into the chamber 4 where they are deposited on the filter membrane 3 from which some of the material falls into the lower portion of the chamber 4. The membrane 3 is kept clear by a plunger shaft 20 connected to it at one end 21 and at the other end to a handle 25 for sliding the shaft 20 and hence the membrane 3 up and down to release material therefrom. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An attachment for a vacuum cleaner The invention relates to an attachment for a vacuum cleaner.

To maintain heating efficiency and avoid the risk of fire resulting in an accumulation of soot it is important to clean fireplaces and solid fuel appliances such as solid fuel cookers and backboilers regularly. When such appliances are in use they generally have to be cleaned at least once a day. The cleaning operation is not only time consuming but inconvenient for a householder as ash and soot not only dirties the householders' hands and clothing but also because it tends to deposit on any surrounding articles such as mantlepieces and ornaments.

There is therefore a need for a device which will make the cleaning of such appliances a cleaner and less time consuming task.

One object of the invention therefore is to provide a device which will allow a fireplace or solid fuel heating appliance to be efficiently and quickly cleaned.

According to one aspect the invention provides an attachment for a vacuum cleaner comprising a container and a filter means, the filter means dividing the container into a suction chamber and an air discharge chamber, the air discharge chamber having an air outlet means for connection to a suction source and the suction chamber having a suction inlet through which material is sucked into the suction chamber.

In one embodiment of the invention the filter means extends across the container, material falling from the filter being collected in the suction chamber.

Typically the filter means comprises a flexible membrane extending across the container.

Preferably the filter membrane is of a heat resistant material.

In another embodiment of the invention the suction inlet lies, in use, below the air outlet.

In a further embodiment of the invention cleaning means are provided for cleaning the filter means.

Typically the cleaning means comprises a plunger shaft attached to the filter means. Usually the shaft extends through the air discharge chamber and is provided with a handle, external of the container for moving the shaft up and down to clean the filter.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the air discharge chamber defines a lid and release means are provided for attaching the lid to the suction chamber. Typically the release means comprises snap-on clips. Usually the filter means is attached to the rim of the lid.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention deflector means are provided at the suction inlet for distributing air flow through the inlet over the filter means.

In a further embodiment of the invention the attachment includes a main suction inlet conduit for connection to the suction inlet at one end. Typically the main suction inlet conduit is adapted for mounting to a secondary suction conduit at the other end. Usually the secondary suction conduit includes a coarse filter means. The secondary suction conduit may for example be curvilinear in longitudinal cross section.

In a further embodiment of the invention the attachment includes an air discharge conduit for connection to a suction inlet of a vacuum cleaner.

The invention also provides a vacuum cleaner incorporating an attachment according to the invention.

In another aspect the invention provides a vacuum cleaner comprising a container and a filter means, the filter means dividing the container into a suction chamber and an air discharge chamber, the air discharge chamber having an air outlet means and the suction chamber having a suction inlet wherein the filter means extends across the container, material falling from the filter means being collected in the suction chamber. Preferably the suction inlet lies, in use, below the outlet.

In a still further aspect the invention provides a vacuum cleaner comprising a container and a filter means, the filter means dividing the container into a suction chamber and an air discharge chamber, the air discharge chamber having air outlet means and the suction chamber having a suction inlet wherein the filter means extends across the container.

Usually cleaning means are provided for the filter.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:~ Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an attachment for a vacuum cleaner according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a side view of the attachment of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through the attachment of Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 4 and 5 are detailed views on an enlarged scale of parts of the attachment of Figs. 1 to 3, and Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of two secondary suction conduits for use with the attachment of Figs. 1 to 3.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof there is illustrated an attachment for a vacuum cleaner according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The attachment 1 comprises a container 2 and a filter means 3 which in this case is provided by a flexible membrane of heat resistant material. The filter membrane 3 extends transversely across the container 2 to divide it into a suction chamber 4 below the membrane 3 and an air discharge chamber 5 above the membrane. The air discharge chamber 5 defines a substantially dome-shaped lid having a lower flange 6 and depending skirt 7 for sealing engagement with a corresponding flange 8 on the upper rim of a substantially cylindrical side wall of the suction chamber 4. Release means in this case provided by three snap-clips 10 secure the lid 5 to the suction chamber 4.

The filter membrane 3 is attached, for example, by adhesives to the flange 6 of the lid 4 and is oversized with respect to the diameter of the air discharge chamber 5 so that when suction is applied to the suction chamber 4 it takes up the raised configuration illustrated in dotted outline in Fig. 3 and particles such as soot and ash which are too large to pass through the fine mesh of the membrane collect on the membrane. When suction is removed material collected on the filter 3 is free to fall under gravity into the lower portion of the suction chamber 4. The filter 3 also tends to fall downwardly under its own weight and this falling action also assists in dislodging filtered material from the filter membrane 3.

A suction socket 15 is provided at the upper end of the suction chamber 4 for receiving a main suction conduit 16 which is this case is a push-in fit in the socket 15. Similarly the air discharge chamber 5 is provided with a discharge socket 17 for receiving a discharge conduit 18 which again is a push fit in its socket 17. Deflector means which in this case is provided by a half cylindrical and dome-shaped extension 19 of the suction socket 15 distributes air flow through the suction inlet evenly overthefilter 3.

Cleaning means for the filter 3 is in this case provided by a vertically disposed plunger shaft 20 which is connected at one end 21 to the centre of the filter3through sandwich mounting discs 22 attached to the shaft 20 and extends through and is slidably movable in a sealed bore 23 in an upper wall of the lid 5 to terminate at its upper end 24 externally of the lid 4. A handle 25 is attached to the upper end 24 of the shaft 20. The filter 3 may be effectively cleaned by gripping the handle 25 and pulling the shaft 20 and hence the filter 3 up and down as illustrated in Fig. 3. This cleaning operation may be performed either while suction is applied or when suction has been removed.

Referring to Fig. 6 there is illustrated one secondary suction conduit 30 which is particularly adapted for cleaning fireplaces and solid fuel cookers. The secondary conduit 30 is of a hard wearing and heat resistant material such as stainless steel. One end 31 of the conduit is adapted for push fitting in the free end of the suction conduit 16 and the other end 32 is shaped for substantially sealable engagement against a flat surface for efficient vacuuming. A coarse filter means which in this case is provided by a single bar 33 is provided across the inlet mouth of the secondary suction conduit 30 to prevent large pieces of materials such as large cinders being drawn up into the suction conduit 16.

Another secondary suction conduit 35 is illustrated in Fig. 7. In this case the conduit 35 is particularly adapted for cleaning flue passageways such as the flue passageways in a back boiler or the lower portion of a chimney and is generally curvilinear in longitudinal cross section.

In use, the attachment 1 is connected to a vacuum cleaner through a discharge conduit 18 extending from the discharge socket 17 to the suction inlet of a conventional vacuum cleaner. The suction conduit 16 is then connected to its socket 15 and, if desired, an appropriate secondary suction conduit such as the solid fuel cooker cleaning conduit 30 or the back boiler cleaning conduit 35 is attached to the suction conduit 16. Avacuum cleaner is then turned on and air is sucked up through secondary suction conduit 30 and the suction conduit 16 into the suction chamber 4 where dust, soot and other particles are filtered out by the filter membrane 3, substantially clean air being drawn back through the suction chamber 5 and into the vacuum cleaner suction inlet.While the vacuum cleaner is on and the attachment is being operated the filter 3 is cleaned periodically by moving the plunger shaft 20 up and down to dislodge any material deposited on the filter 3. The material filtered out by the filter 3 falls under gravity into the lower portion of the suction chamber 4. Any large pieces of material such as small cinders drawn up through the suction conduit 16, because of their weight may not be drawn directly onto the filter 3 but may fall directly from the suction socket 15 into the lower portion of the suction chamber 4. When the heating appliance has been cleaned the vacuum cleaner is turned off and the conduits 16, 18 disconnected if desired. To empty the suction chamber 4 the lid 5 is removed by releasing the clips 10.

It will be appreciated that the container and conduits may be of any suitable material of construction. For example the suction chamber 4 may be of suitable metal material and the air discharge chamber 5 of a suitable plastics material.

Similarly the conduits 16, 18 may be of conventional flexible material such as plastics material.

The principal advantage of the invention is in providing an attachment for a conventional vacuum cleaner which is both cheap, efficient and clean and which may be conveniently used for solid fuel appliances or indeed for clearing sand, wet particles or other materials which cannot normally be sucked up with a conventional vacuum cleaner without damaging the cleaner. The attachment has no moving mechanical or electrical parts which can fail and is easy to handle, empty and use.

It will be appreciatedthatthefeaturesofthe vacuum cleaner attachment may be incorporated in a novel construction of vacuum cleaner. Thus, the invention also provides a vacuum cleaner incorporating the features of the attachment according to the invention.

Claims

1. An attachment for a vacuum cleaner comprising a container and a filter means, the filter means dividing the container into a suction chamber and an air discharge chamber, the air discharge chamber having an air outlet means for connection to a suction source and the suction chamber having a suction inlet through which material is sucked into the suction chamber.

2. An attachment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the filter means extends across the container, material falling from the filter being collected in the suction chamber.

3. An attachment as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the filter means comprises a flexible membrane extending across the container.

4. An attachment means as claimed in claim 3 in which the filter membrane is of a heat resistant material.

5. An attachment as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which the suction inlet lies, in use, below the air outlet.

6. An attachment as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 in which cleaning means are provided for cleaning the filter means.

7. An attachment as claimed in claim 6 in which the cleaning means comprises a plunger shaft attached to the filter means.

8. An attachment as claimed in claim 7 in which the plunger shaft extends through the air discharge chamber and is provided with a handle, external of the container for moving the shaft up and down to clean the filter.

9. An attachment as claimed in any preceding claim in which the air discharge chamber defines a lid and release means are provided for attaching the lid to the suction chamber.

10. An attachment as claimed in claim 9 in which the release means comprises snap-on clips.

11. An attachment as claimed in claim 10 in which the filter means is attached to the rim of the lid.

12. An attachment as claimed in any preceding claim in which deflector means are provided at the suction inlet for distributing air flow through the inlet over the filter means.

13. An attachment as claimed in any preceding claim including a main suction inlet conduit for connection to the suction inlet at one end.

14. An attachment as claimed in claim 13 in which the main suction inlet conduit is adapted for mounting to a secondary suction conduit at the other end.

15. An attachment as claimed in claim 14 in which the secondary suction conduit includes a coarse filter means.

16. An attachment as claimed in claim 14 or 15 in which the secondary suction conduit is curvilinear in longitudinal cross section.

17. An attachment as claimed in any preceding claim including an air discharge conduit for connection tu a suction inlet of a vacuum cleaner.

18.Avacuum cleaner incorporating an attachment as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17.

19. A vacuum cleaner comprising a container and a filter means, the filter means dividing the container into a suction chamber and an air discharge chamber, the air discharge chamber having an air outlet means and the suction chamber having a suction inlet wherein the filter means extends across the container, material falling from the filter means being collected in the suction chamber.

20. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 19 in which the suction inlet lies, in use, below the air outlet.

21. A vacuum cleaner comprising a container and a filter means, the filter means dividing the container into a suction chamber and an air discharge chamber, the air discharge chamber having air outlet means and the suction chamber having a suction inlet wherein the filter means extends across the container.

22. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 21 in which cleaning means are provided for the filter means.

23. An attachment for a vacuum cleaner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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