US1912386A - Electrically operated suction cleaner - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1933. D, B, REPL GLE 1,912,386

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 7, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

June 6, 1933. D. B. REPLOGLE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SUCTION CLEANER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 7, 1928 I N V EN TOR.

WW/ inf A TTORNE Y.

June 6 1933. D. B. REPLOGLE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 7, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Emma 5 339 D 5 REPLOGLE, 1,912,386

ELECTRIGALLY OPERATED SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. '7, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 attozwzg June 6, 1933. D. B. REPLOGLE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SUCTION CLEANER s Shets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 7, 1928 Patented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DANIEL B. REILOGLE, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE COMMERCE GUARDIAN TRUST & SAVINGS BANK, OF TOLEDO,

OHIO, AS TRUSTEE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SUCTION CLEANER Application filed August 7, 1928. Serial No. 29?,969.

This invention relates to electrically operated suction cleaners or sweepers, and more particularly to door tools for use wlth such cleaners.

The present application contains subject matter in colmnon with my application Serial No. 15,529, relating to Air-way cleanvices. the brush is driven from the same mo tor as that which operates the revolving fan or other suction producing means. This is generally done by connecting the shaft of the fan with the shaft of the brush by means of a belt. This arrangement, however, necessarily reduces the speed of the fan below that required for most favorable operation, as no satisfactory reduction means has been devised which will permit the fan to rotate at the very high speed required, and at the same time drive the brush efficiently at a substantially less speed. Reduction means, are of course known, but none are satisfactory for use in the limited space available in a small apparatus of the suction cleaner type.

According to the persent invention the defects of the prior art are avoided by operating the. revolving brush by a motor which is entirely independent of the fan operating motor, each being permitted to perform its own function satisfactorily and independently.

The principal object of the invention is therefore to provide power means carried by the sweeper or suction tube for operating a revolving brush independent of any other driven parts of the machine. A further object is to provide a simple form of driving connection between the motor and the brush, which is applicable to suction cleaners. A. further object of the invention is to provide for suitable lubrication of the shaft, upon which the brush revolves. A further object is to provide means by which both the fan motor and the brush revolving motor may be operated from a single source of electric current.

For cleaners of the portable type, it is sometimes desirable to have the brush rotate in such direction that it will assist in the movement of the'cleaner as a whole. In such case practically no effort is required to cause the machine to move to and fro across the carpet. On the other hand, there are some, instances in which it may be desirable to have the rotation of the brush in a direction op osed to the movement of the machine, as for example where a very dirty carpet is to be cleaned as rapidly as possible, and the cleaner is in the hands of a strong man. In such instances the resistance of the brush will assist in beating the dirt from the carpet. In still other cases, as for example with rugs having a nap running in a one direction, it is desirable to have the brush rotate always in a single direction without reversing.

In View of these varied conditions met with in actual service, it is important to have great versatility of operation of the brush. Accordingly further objects of the invention are to provide means for automatically reversing the direction of rotation of the brush in accordance with the direction of movement of the cleaner; to provide means for selectively determining whether the rotation of the brush shall be such as to assist or oppose the movement of the cleaner; to provide means for temporarily rendering the automatic reversing means inoperative; and to provide means for setting the brush to rotate constantly in either the forward direction only or the rearward direction only without any reversal.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a floor sweeper embodyin the invention, having a reversible rotata le brush, operated by an independent source of power, parts of the mechanism being shown in horizontal section so as to show the brush housing, brush operating means and reversing cams.

Fig. 2 is a. view partly in end elevation and partly in vertical section throu the brush housing and showing the rlving means interposed between the brush motor and the brush.

Fig. 3 is a perspective'view on a reduced scale showing a complete portable suction cleaner equip ed with the independently driven reversi le brush.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the floor tool, showing the motor, the spring supported rollers for the tool, the spring supports forv the rollers and the yokes at opposite ends of the tool connecting the roller supports, and furnishing a resilient support for'the axis of the rotating brush.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the suction cleaner.

Fig. 6 is a side View of the cleaner, showing, among other features, the-floor engaging means, a tripper for automatically reversing the rotation'of the brush, and one of the brush supports and spring stirrups for holding the automatic reversing means out of operation.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view showing a pair of rollers, spring supports therefor, the brush supporting yoke connecting the spring supports, and the stirrups carried by the yoke.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing one of the floor-engaging strokers or lips of the suction cleaner.

Fig. 9 is an end view showing a metal cap mounted on the end of the brush housing having a slot to permit removal of the brush, and having slides on the outer face of the cap adapted to receive a reaction plate which eoacts with a reversing cam on the end of the shaft of the brush.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of said end cap, said section passing through the slot of the cap.

Fi 11 is a view partly in elevation and part y in section showing the brush, the driving connections therefor, the floor-engaging trippers and the reversing cam.

ig. 12 is an elevation showing the tripper removed from the shaft of the brush.

Fig. 13 is an end view of one of the fixed reaction members which coact With the tripper cams to produce reversal of the brush.

Figs. 14 and 15 are central vertical sections of the reaction plate shown in Fig. 13 but looking in opposite directions.

Figs. 16 and 17 are central horizontal sections of the reaction plate shown in Fig. 13, but looking in opposite directions.

Fig. 18 is a detail elevation showing one of the shields, ferrules or dust caps mounted on the shaft of the brush at the end of the brush housing.

Fig. 19 is an end View showing the rollers, spring supports, brush supporting yoke and stirrups, and showing in dotted lines the reversing tripper held in inoperative position by one of the stirrups.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary plan view showing a portion of the brush housing with the motor removed to show the means for adjustably mounting the motor.

Fig. 21 is a section on the line 2121 of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a top plan view of the mechanism for transmitting power from the motor to the brush, such mechanism being capable of producing rotation of the brush in either direction without reversal of the motor.

Fig. 23 is a section on the line 2323 of Fig. 22.

Figs. 24 and 25 are details of a spring washer mounted on the shaft.

Fig. 26 is a side elevation showing the cleaning apparatus as a whole, portions being broken away to show the interior and the general relation between the working parts.

Fig. 27 is a perspective View of the assembled apparatus, a portion of the suction handle and dust collector being broken away, and the size of the floor tool with reference to the other portions of the apparatus being exaggerated for the purpose of more clearly showing the relative arrangement of the parts of the floor tool.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 3, an illustrative embodiment of the invention in which a motor for independently operating an automatically reversible brush is applied to a portable suction cleaner of a type similar to that set forth in my pending applications, Serial No. 15,529, filed March 14, 1925, and Serial No. 251,641,

filed February 3, 1928, and in my reissue patent, No. 16,224, in which patent, in common with the present embodiment of the invention, the fan and motor for operating the same are mounted externally of the suction nozzle, and the common axes of the fan and its motor are downwardly and rearwardly inclined.

In this figure the reference numeral 30 denotes the ordinary fan motor for producing suction in a suction pipe 31, which pipe may be vdetachably connected to stub handle 32 of a suitable floor tool 33, as by means of the spring connection 34, shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The general arrangement of parts, with the exception of the details of the floor tool, may be similar to that set forth in my application Serial No. 251,641, filed February 3, 1928, referred to above, such arrangement being illustrated in Fig. 3 of the present drawings.

The floor tool may be mounted upon a plurality of rollers 35, preferably spring supported as shown in Fig. 7.

One of the important featuresof the present invention consists in providing a motor 36 separate from and independent of they suction producing motor 30. The motor 30 is connected to operate a revolving brush 37 shown in Fig. 11, by suitable drivmgconneetions, such as that shown in detail in Figs. 22 and 23. As shown the motor 36 18 mounted substantially over the center of the cleaner, so that the machine is balanced. A short connection between the motor and the tool is desirable in order that the motor will not interfere with the operation of the device when it is used to clean underneath some low object as for example, a bureau.

The motor 36 may be operated from any convenient source of electrical power which may be either the same or different from that operating the fan motor 30. As shown in Fig. 3, the same source of current is employed for both motors, this being supplied by means of a. cord 55 which runs down the suction handle 31 and attaches to the fan motor 30. An outlet. socket 536 is provided on the fan motor 30 and a socket 57 on the motor 36, permitting a detachable connect on between the two motors by means of a cord 58.

This arrangement permits the two motors to be operated from a single source of electrical current, and when the floor tool 15 to be removed from the suction handle the electrical connection between the two motors 30 and 36 is broken by merely removing one of the plugs attached to the cord 58 from" 1ts socket, so that there is no interference with the complete separation of floor'tool from the suction handle.

The shaft 38 of the motor extends through the housing 33 of the floor tool and carries at its lower end a member 39, the inner concave surface of which carries a concave friction lining 40 preferably of leather, which is tightly secured to the member 39 as by gluing. The shape of the inner surface of the member 39 is preferably a segment of a sphere which in plan appears as a circle (see Figs. 22 and 23).

The friction surface 40 of the rotating member 39 is adapted to coact with a ring shaped member 41, the outer surface 42 of which is preferably in the form of a segment of a sphere, so as to smoothly engage the concave spherical surface 40. The ring member 41 is secured to the outside of the hollow brush 37, so that rotation of the ring 41 will also rotate the brush.

It will be obvious from an inspection of Figs. 22 and 23 that when the ring member 41 is directly under the center of the friction member 40 there will be no contact and consequently no rotation of the ring memher 41 and the brush carried thereby, even when the motor is in operation. When, however, the ring is at one side of the center, the ring 41 will contact with the surface 40, and will be rotated thereby, and its direction will depend on which side of the center the contact is made. It will be seen that by shifting the brush 37 back and forth arallel to its axis, the ring 41 may be mover to one side or the other ofthe central position and reversal of the direction of rotation of the brush may be secured, while when the ring member is directly beneath the center of the drive member there will be no rotation of the brush. Automatic means for producing such variable operation of the brush are provided and will be described hereinafter.

In Vl(W of the above described operation, it will be obvious that it is important to accurately position the motor shaft 38 lengthwise with reference to the brush, and also to accurately determine the height of the friction surface 40. The accurate positioning of the shaft 38 is made possible by providing adjustable means for securing the motor to the housing 33. This is accomplished by providing slots 43 (Fig. 20) elongated in a direction parallel to the brush housing, and by roviding extension slots 44, on each side 0 the aperture 45, through which the motor shaft 38 extends. The motor is secured to the housing by means of screws one of which is shown at 46 in Fig. 2. Under some circumstances it may be desirable to shift the motor shaft slightly out of the central position, and this is made possible by the elongated slots.

In. order to adjust the height of the motor to compensate for wear of the friction surface 40 over a period of years, and to insure proper contact with the ring member 41, a plurality of thin Washers 47 are provided, which may be removed, one at a time as it becomes necessary. a

While leather is preferred for the surface 40, other friction material may be employed. The ring 41, however, which is mounted on the brush 37 is preferably of metal, and the combination of leather and metal will be found durable, and requires no lubrication.

The brush 37 may be of any suitable material, as wood, with suitable tufts or bristles 48 spirally arranged thereon, as shown in Fig. 11. I The rotatable brush 37 is provided with a non-rotatable shaft 50 between which and the inner surface of the hollow brush bearings as 51 of impregnated wood, or other suitable material are provided. For proper lubrication of the bearings and central shaft,

the annular space 52 between the shaft 50 and interior surface of the brush is filled with graphite particles 53, which provide an eflicient dry lubrication. Caps 53 are fixed to the shaft 50, near the ends thereof by means. of pins 54, and prevent access of dust,

and loss of graphite, as well as providing for the proper assembling of the parts of the brush.

The brush is detachably mounted within the housing 33, the ends of the shaft 50 of the brush being supported by removable plates 60, clearly shown in.Figs. 1, 2 and 13, which fit in guides 61 carried by caps 62 on the ends of the housing 33, these caps being slotted as at 63 so as to permit removal of the brush. The plates are reversible and are provided with slots 65 one above and one below a central aperture 64, through which aperture the shaft 50 passes (see Figs. 13-16). The plates are resiliently supported by spring yokes 66 carried by supporting arms 67 upon which are mounted the rollers 35. Each yoke 66 is engaged within the upper groove (55 of the plate 60, and in this manner the cleaner tool is supported in such manner that the brush 37 and the lips or stokers (38 carried by the housing are slightly above the surface of the floor when the tool is not in operation, but when pressure is exerted on the tool handle the roller supports and spring yokes 56 yield sufficiently to permit the strokers 68 and brush 37 to lightly engage the floor.

The roller supports are shown in Fig. 7 and may be of a type such as is set forth in my Patent No. 1,541,280. As shown, spring members 69 are secured to the lower bars of the supports by rivets 70, these spring members being provided with thumb pieces 71 for depressing the springs when inserting them into their sockets 72 (Figs. 4 and 5) or removing them therefrom. For latching the roller supports in place, lugs 73 are provided which extend within the sockets and engage notches 74 in the spring members 69 and preventaccidental removal of the roller supports. As shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the sockets for the roller supports are supplied by attaching to the floor tool a hollow sheet metal member 7 4 extending along the front of the tool and by attaching two short hollow members 75 at the rear of the floor tool on each side of the stub handle 32. These sheet metal members may be made at low cost from stock material, which is bent to the required form and the proper lengths out off. They are then secured to the floor tool by welding or in any other suitable manner. As shown in Fig. 2, extensions 77 of the sheet hollow metal socket members form, with the tool housing 33, pockets 78 in which are carried the floor engaging strokers or lips 68.

It will be obvious from the above description that the brush 37 may be readily detached from the housing 33 by first withdrawing the rollers and yoke units shown in Fig. 7, which permits the end plates 60 to.

be slid out of the guides 61, carrying with them the shaft 50 carrying brush 37, which shaft is readily withdrawn through slots 63 in end caps 62.

The means for varying the rotation of the brush.37 and for automatically reversing the direction of rotation thereof in accordance with the direction of movement of the cleaner as a whole over the floor, will now be described. For producing this result tripper members79 are fixedly secured on each end of the shaft 50. These members are adapted to engage the floor at the beginning of each stroke of the cleaner and are provided with arcuate floor-engaging surfaces 80, which are of friction material such as rubber. \Vhen the cleaner is not in operation the tripper members are held slightly above the floor, but when pressure is applied to the handle the trippers are brought into contact with the floor and are swung either backward or forward depending in the direction of movement of the tool. Each of these tripper members is provided with a cam 81, which when the tripper is rotated in one direction engages with a complen'ientary cam surface 82, formed on the adjacent reversible reaction plate 60. The effect of this reaction is to move the shaft 50, and with it the brush 37 and ring 11 lengthwise of the axis of the shaft and thus bring the ring 41 into engagement with one side of the friction surface of the rotating clutch member 39, producing rotation of the brush in one direction or the other depending on the direction in which the tripper is moved by its contact with the surface of the floor. The extent of the axial movement of the brush is dependent on the downward pressure which is applied to the handle of the cleaner as the brush is moved to and fro over the floor or floor covering, and this factor in turn affects the speed of rotation of the brush. Thus when a relatively light downward pressure is applied to handle the tripper members 79 are rotated through a relatively small angle, with a consequent slight axial mox ement of the brush, whereas when a greater pressure is applied to the handle, the tripper members are rotated through a greater angle, and the axial movement of the brush is correspondingly greater. By referring to Figures 22 and 23, it will be apparent the speed of rotation of the brush which carries the ring member 41 is dependent on the position of the driven ring member 41 with reference to the driving member 39. The farther the ring member 41 is shifted from the central position, the greater the speed with which it and the brush to which it is securedwill be rotated, while the nearer the ring member is to the central position, the slower will be the speed of rotation imparted to the brush, zero limit being reached when the driven member 41 is directly beneath the center of the driving member 39. Thus by varying the pressure applied to the nozzle through the handle, the axial position of the brush Wlll be varied and the speed of rotation varied, and by changing the direction of movement of the cleaner as a whole the axial position of the brush will be changed to such' an extent that the ring member i1 is moved from one side of the central or zero position to the other, and the direction of rotation of the brush is accordingly reversed. l

As previously noted the reaction plates 60 are reversible. As one part of the cam surface 82 on this plate is high and the other low, it is obvious that by reversing the reaction plates, the direction of lengthwise movement of the shaft in response to rotation of the tripper members 82 may be reversed. Thus, it will be possible to have the brush rotate in such direction as to assist the movement of the cleaner as a whole,

,or by reversing the plates the brush may be caused to automatically rotate in such direction as to oppose the movement of the tool, whether the tool be moved forward or backward over the surface of the floor. In order to make certain that the plates on opposite sides of the brush shaft have their cams set to cooperate with, rather than to oppose each other, the plates are preferably marked with'contrasting colors above and below the center of the plate, as for example, red and blue, as shown at 83 and 84 in Fig. 13. Thus, if the same color is above .the center on both plates, the operator will know that the cam surfaces are so positioned as to cooperate in moving the shaft axially. He will also know that when one predetermined color is up on both plates the rotation of the brush will always be such as to assist the movement of the cleaner as a whole, and

that when the other color is up the rotation of the brush will oppose the movement of the cleaner. Obviously any other convenient means of marking the plates other than by contrasting colors may be employed if desired.

It is sometimes necessary to have the brush rotate always in the same direction, regardless of the direction of movement of the cleaner, as for example when cleaningrugs having the nap running in a single direction. For this reason, means are provided for holding the tripper 79 out of contact with the floor. To this end, a pair of spring stirrups 85 are provided on each of the yokes 66, being positioned at approximately equal distances on each side of the pivot of the trippers 79, as shown most clearly in Fig. 19. By manually raising the tripper on one side or the other of its pivot it may be frictionally engaged with one of the stirrups, and thereby prevented from engaging the floor and from automatically reversing the direction of movement of the brush with each change of direction of movement of the cleaner as a whole.

Obviously by having two stirrups, one on each side of the pivot of the tripper, the brush may be set to rotate constantly either forward or backward, whichever may be desired.

A particular structure has been described with great particularity for the purpose of illustration, but it is obvious that many of the details may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new is 1. In an electrically operated suction cleaner, a suction nozzle provided with a rotary brush, and freely movable manually to and fro across the floor, means carried by the cleaner for producing suction, driving means, including a motor'mechanically independent of the movement of the cleaner and of the suction producing means, for rotating said brush, and. means for varying the rotation of said brush without varying the motor.

2. In an electrically operated suction cleaner. a suction nozzle provided with a rotary brush, and freely movable manually to and fro across the floor without varying the rate of rotation of the brush, means carried by the cleaner for producing suction, driving means, including a motor mechanically independent of the movement of the cleaner and of the suction producing means, for rotating said brush, and means for reversing the direction of rotation of the brush without reversing the motor.

3. An electrically operated suction cleaner adapted to be moved'to and fro over the floor, provided with a rotary brush in the suction nozzle, means for producing suction, a motor separate and independent of the suction producing means for rotating the brush, means for I automatically reversing the direction of rotation of the brush as the direction of movement of the cleaner as a whole is reversed.

4. An electrically operated suction cleaner adapted to be moved to and fro over the floor, provided with a rotary brush in the suction nozzle, means for producing suction, a motor separate and independent of the suction producing means for rotating the brush, means for automatically reversing the direction of rotation of the brush as the direction of movement of the cleaner as a whole is reversed, and means for rendering said automatic reversing means inoperative whereby the brush will rotate constantly in one direction.

5. An electrically operated suction cleaner adapted to be moved to and fro over the floor, provided with a rotary brush in the suction nozzle, means for producing suction, a motor separate and independent of the suction producing means for rotating the brush, means for automatically reversing the direction of rotation of the brush as the direction of movement of the cleaner as a whole is reversed, and selective means for controlling said automatic reversing means so that the brush will rotate to assist or oppose the movement of the cleaner as a whole as predetermined.

6. In a. suction cleaner, a brush, a motor for operating said brush, and friction driving mechanism interposed between the brush and motor, comprising a ring surrounding and fixed to said brush, said ring having a surface in the form of .a segment of a sphere, a shaft extending from said motor having a concave member on the end thereof, said concave member having a fr1ction surface for engaging said rin 7. A suction cleaner adapted to be moved freely to and fro over the floor, having supporting rollers, all of which are freely rotatable, a revolving brush. an electric motor, driving means actuated by the motor for operating the brush, and means for automatically reversing the direction of rotation of the brush as the direction of movement of the cleaner as a whole is reversed.

8. In a suction cleaner adapted to be moved manually to and fro over the floor, and provided with a rotary brush. an electric motor for rotating the brush, means for automatically reversing the direction of rotation of the brush as the direction of movement of the cleaner as a whole is reversed, means for rendering said automatic reversing means inoperative, whereby the brush will rotate constantly in one direction, and freely rotatable supporting rollers for said cleaner unconnected with the brushrotating means.

9. A suction cleaner adapted to be moved manually to and fro over the floor, and provided with a rotary brush, an electric motor for rotating the brush, means for automatically reversing the direction of rotation of the brush as the direction of movement of the cleaner as a whole is reversed, and selective means for controlling said automatic reversing means so that the brush will rotate to assist or oppose the movement of the cleaner as a whole.

10. In a device of the character described, in combination, a brush housing, a motor mounted on said housing, a brush mounted on a horizontal axis within the housing directly beneath the motor, driving means interposed between the motor and brush for driving the brush variably according to the axial position of the brush and means for shifting said brush axially to vary the operation of the driving means.

11. In a device of the character described, a suction cleaner tool having a suction nozzle, a brush mounted on a horizontal axis within said suction nozzle, a motor mounted directly above the center of the brush, driving means interposed between the motor and brush for driving the brush variably according to the axial position of the brush and means for shifting the brush axially to vary the operation of the driving means.

12. In a device of the character described, a brush mounted on a horizontal axis, a motor constantly rotating in one direction, driving means interposed between the motor and brush for rotating the brush variably according to the axial position of the brush and means for shifting the brush axially to vary the operation of the driving means.

13. In a suction cleaner, a brush, a motor for operating said brush, friction driving mechanism interposed between the brush and motor, comprising a ring surrounding and fixed to said brush, said ring having a surface in the form of a segment of a sphere, a shaft extending from said motor having a concave member on the end thereof, said concave member having a friction surface for engaging the convex surface of said ring, and means for shifting the brush and ring axially.

14. In a suction cleaner, a brush, a motor for operating said brush, friction driving mechanism interposed between the brush and motor, comprising a ring surrounding and fixed to said brush, said ring having a surface in the form of a segment of a sphere, a shaft extending from said motor having a concave member on the end thereof, said concave member having a friction surface for engaging the convex surface of said ring, and means for producinga reversal of direction of said brush without affecting the motor.

15. In a device of the character described, a rotary brush, a ring surrounding said brush and rotatable therewith, said ring having an outer convex surface, and means for rotating said ring comprising a powerdriven, rotating, concave friction member with which the convex surface of the ring is adapted to engage.

16. In a device of the character described, a rotary brush, a ring surroundin said brush and rotatable therewith, said ring having an outer convex surface, means for rotating said ring comprising a p'owerdriven, rotating, concave friction member with which the convex surface of the ring is adapted to engage, .and means for reversing the direction of rotation of said brush without varying the direction of rotation of said concave member.

17. In combination with a suction cleaner, having a dust collecting nozzle, electrically actuated means for producing suction within said nozzle, a movable carpet engaging member mounted in operative relation to said nozzle-for mechanically dislodging embedded particles of dust to permit the same to be more readily engaged-by the moving column of air resulting from said suction, electrically actuated means, independentof the suction producing means, for operating said movable carpet engaging member variably in accordance with the axial positionof said member and means for shifting saidcarpet engaging member axially.

18. In combination with a suction cleaning device having a suction nozzle, a mov-, able member mounted in operative relation to said nozzle for mechanically dislodging dust from an object to be cleaned, electrically actuated means for operating said movable member variably in accordance with the axial position of said member, means, independent of said movable member operating means, for producing suction in said nozzle, whereby the dust dislodged by the movable member is removed, and means 'for shifting said movable member axially.

19. In combination with a suction cleaner, having a dust collecting nozzle, electrically actuated means for producing suction within said nozzle, a rotatable carpet engaging member mounted in operative relation to said nozzle for mechanically dislodging embedded particles of dust to permit the same to be more readily engaged by the moving column of air resulting from said suction, electrically actuated means, independent of the suction producing means, for operating said rotatable carpet engaging member variably in accordance with the axial position of said member, and means for shifting said rotatable member axially.

20. In combination with a suction cleaning device having a suction nozzle, a rotatable member mounted in operative relation to said nozzle for mechanically dislodging dust from an object to be cleaned, electrically actuated means for operating said rotatable member variably in accordance with the axial position of said member, means, independent of said rotatable member operating means, for producing suction in said nozzle, whereby the dust dislodged by the rotatable member is removed, and means for shifting said rotatable member axially.

21. A suction cleaner comprising a'nozzle, a brush rotatably and slidably mounted within the nozzle, means for shifting the brush axially in either direction, and means for rotating said brush selectively in opposite directions in accordance with the axial position of the brush.

22. A suction cleaner comprising a nozzle, a brush rotatably mounted within the nozzle, a motor mounted on the exterior of the nozzle directly above the center of the brusi, driving gearin interposed between the brush and motor, and a motor-driven fan for producing suction in said nozzle, mounted externally of said nozzle, and operated independently of said brush.

23. A suction cleaner comprising a suction nozzle, supporting'rollers at the ends of said nozzle, a suction producing fan mounted externally and in rear of said nozzle and communicating with the nozzle, a fan operating motor mounted below the fan, a brush rotatably mounted within the Vnpzzle,

and a motor for operating said brush, ex

ternally mounted on said nozzle directly above said brush and intermediate the ends of the 'nozzle.

2-1. A floor tool comprising a nozzle, having a tubular extension adapted to be connected to a source of suction, a brush rotatably mounted within the nozzle, a motor mounted externally of said nozzle and directly above said brush, driving means interposed between the motor and brush, and external means independent of the brushdriving means and detachably connectible to said tubular extension for producing suction within the nozzle.

25. In a suction cleaner having a suction handle, suction-producing means rigidly carried by said suction handle, a suction nozzle in operative relation to the suction producing means and detachably connected to the suction handle; a brush rotatably mounted within the nozzle, a motor separate and independent of the suction-producing means, externally mounted upon said'nozzle, and driving gearing interposed between the motor and brush.

26. A suction cleaner having a suction handle, suction-producing means rigidly carried by the handle, a floor tool detachably connected to the suction handle and operatively connected to the suction producing means, dust-agitating means carried by the floor tool, and motor means carried by said floor tool separate and independent of the suction-producing means, for operating said dust-agitating means.

27. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, a brush rotatably mounted within the nozzle, motor means for drivingethe brush, including drive members carried by the motor shaft and brush shaft respectively, and means for axially shifting the drive member carried by the brush shaft. is

28. A suction cleaner comprising a nozzle, a brush rotatably mounted within the nozzle, motor means for driving the brush, means for reversing the rotation of the brush without reversing the motor, said means including mechanism for shifting the brush axially within the nozzle.

29. A suction cleaner, comprising a nozzle, a brush rotatably mounted within the nozzle, motor means for drivin the brush, including drive members carriecI by the motor shaft and brush respectively and adapted for driving engagement with each other, and

til

means, including mechanism for shifting the brush axially, for bringing said drive members into and out of engagement.

30. A suction cleaner comprising a yieldingly mounted nozzle, a brush rotatably mounted within the nozzle, means for rotating said brush, and means actuated by downward pressure applied to the nozzle for varying the speed of rotationof the brush.

31. A suction cleaner including a nozzle, means carried by the cleaner for producing suction within the nozzle, 2. motor separate and independent of the suction producing means, a rotary brush within the nozzle, :1 fluid-tight wall separating the motor from the brush, and driving means interposed between the motor and brush having a portion thereof extending through the wall.

32. An electrically operated suction cleaner, including a suction nozzle, having an open mouth, an exhaust outlet and fluidtight walls, means carried by the cleaner for producing suction within the nozzle, a motor se arate and independent of the suction pro ucing means, mounted outside the nozzle, a brush mounted within the nozzle, and driving means interposed between the motor and brush including a shaft extending through a wall of the nozzle.

33. A suction cleaner, including a nozzle, means carried by the cleaner for producing suction within the nozzle, a rotary brush mounted within the nozzle, a motor separate and independent of the suction producing means, mounted externally of the nozzle, driving means interposed between the motor and brush including a shaft extending through the wall of the nozzle, and fluid-tight packing means for said shaft.

34. A floor cleaning tool comprising a brush housing, a brush shaft mounted in 'said housing, a brush revolvably but nonslidably mounted upon the shaft, floor-engaging tripper members secured at the ends of the shaft, and coacting cams carried by the housing and shaft respectively for shifting the shaft and brush axially when the tripper members come in contact with the tween said trippers and said plates, and

adapted to shift said shaft axially when the tripper members come in contact with the floor.

A device as set forth in claim 36 in which the detachable plates are reversible.

38. A brush supporting unit for suction cleaners and the like, comprising a pair of rollers, parallel shanks extending from said rollers, adapted to be engaged in sockets in a suction cleaner, and a spring yoke connecting said shanks.

39. A supporting unit for vacuum cleaners and the like, comprising a pair of rollers having spaced parallel axes, parallel shanks extending from said rollers and adapted to be engaged in sockets in a vacuum cleaner, and a yoke connecting said shanks at right angles to the axes of the rollers.

40. A cleaning tool of the character described, comprismg a suction nozzle having a pair of laterally spaced pockets at each end of the nozzle, and a pair of detachable supporting units, one for each end of the nozzle, each unit comprising a pair of rollers, parallel shanks extending from the rollers and engaged in corresponding sockets at the ends of the nozzle, and a yoke connecting said shanks.

41. A supporting unit for a floor cleaning tool or the like, which tool is provided with tripper members adjacent its ends; said unit comprising a pair of rollers having spaced parallel axes, parallel shanks extending from said rollers and adapted to be engaged in sockets formed in one end of a cleaning tool, a yoke connecting said shanks at right angles to the axes of the rollers, and stirrups carried by said spring yoke and adapted to retain tripper members carried by the floor cleaning tool.

42. A device as defined in claim 36, in which each tripper member comprises a plate secured to the shaft, and having an arcuate floor engaging friction surface.

43. In adevice of the character described, a shaft, a brush revolvably but non-slidably mounted upon the shaft, tripper members fixed at the ends of said shaft, having curved surfaces adapted for engagement with the floor, whereby the shaft may be rotated, and cams carried by said tripper members adapted for engagement with fixed members for shifting the shaft axially when the shaft -is rotated by said tripper members.

44. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a brush revolvably but non-slidably mounted upon the shaft, and tripper members fixed at the ends of said shaft beyond the brush, having downwardly extending floor engaging surfaces and cam surfaces extending toward said brush.

45. In a device of the character described, a tripper member comprising a plate having an aperture to permit passage of a shaft, a

curved floor engaging friction surface, and a cam secured to one side of the plate and located adjacent said opening.

46. In a floor cleaning tool, in combination, a brush housing having slotted ends and end sockets adapted to receive supporting members, a brush shaft removably mounted within said housin a rotatable brush mounted on said she t, detachable plates slidably mounted at the ends of the housing, said brush shaft having its ends extending through said plates, supports for the ends of the cleaner, each support comprising a pair of rollers having parallel spring shanks engaged in the end sockets, and a yoke connecting said shanks and supporting one of said end plates; floor engaging tripper members carried at the ends of said shaft and cam'means reacting between the trippers and said plates adapted to shift the shaft axially when the tripper members come in contact with the floor.

47. A floor cleaning tool as set forth in claim 46, in which the end plates are provided with cam surfaces to react withcams carried by said tripper members, and are likewise provided with slots to receive the spring yokes connecting said spring supports,

48. A floor cleaning tool as set forth in claim 46, in which the yokes carry stirrups for detachably retaining the tripper members in inoperative position.

49. In a device of the character described, a cam plate having an opening to permit passage of the end of a brush shaft, a cam face raised from thesurface of the plate, and a slot in the raised portion of the plate adatped to receive a yoke for supporting the plate and brush shaft.

50. A floor tool having end openings, adjustable covers for said end openings, a brush supported between said covers, and yielding supports for said covers.

51. A suction cleaner comprising a nozzle, a brush shaft within the nozzle, a brush rotatably mounted upon the shaft, and means for shifting the brush and shaft axially.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DANIEL B. REPLOGLE.

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