US2012640A - Suction cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1935. B. c. SHlPMAN SUCTION CLEANER Filed Nov. 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l SUCTION CLEANER Filed Nov. 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/fn ass as /m em"or Patented Aug. 27, 1935.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANER Bennet Carroll Shipman, San Mateo, Calif.

Application November 25, 1931, Serial No. 577,293 Claims. (oi. 15-14) This invention relates to the suction, or socalled vacuum type of sweeper cleaners, and has for its object. improvement in the effectiveness of dirt removal. The plain suction type isin- 5 efiective in removing any materials that are not light and loose. Also, if the suction is made greater, i. e. the vacuum increased by seating the nozzle more tightly against the carpet or surface to be cleaned, the density of air within the noz- 'zle is reduced and therefore made lesscapable of dislodging and moving particles of dirt, especially of the heavier varieties. Resort has been had to beating brushes and similar devices to dislodge the dirt initially from the pile of rugs or weave of carpets. Such heaters are only partially successful even though an improvement over suction only. In order to more completely dislodge undesired materials, this invention uses a jet or a plurality of jets of air at relatively high velocity projected into the weave or pile of carpets, rugs, etc., thus dislodging dirt, sand, etc., with no wear or injury to such goods. By placing the discharge nozzle of such jets within the suction nozzle the dislodged dirt is immediately 2 caught by the suction draft and removed to the point of disposal. Also, even though the suction nozzle may be and should be tightly seated against the surface cleaned, the density of air within the suction nozzle is sustained by the supply of air delivered from the pressure nozzle, thus maintaining an atmosphere of high density for moving all loosened materials.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the middle of one embodiment of this invention; Fig.

2 is a cross section on line AA of Fig. 1; Fig. 3

is a crosssection on line B,B of Fig. 1; Fig. l

is an inverted plan on line C -C of Fig. 1 of the nozzles; Fig. 5 is an inverted plan of an alternative type of nozzle to that shownin Fig. 4, being a slot instead of a ,row of orifices; and Fig. 6 is a form of extension hose suitable to replace the combination suction and discharge nozzles, 4 and 5, illustrated in Fig. 1, for Work otherwise not accessible.

In the arrangement illustrated, the suction sweeper proper is a centrifugal fan, II, mounted in a casing, 3, on a hollow shaft or tuyre, I6, which in turn is secured by means of bolts, II, to the eccentric rotor, I3, carrying an oscillating,

reciprocating blade, I4, mounted within the casing, 2. The said rotor is bolted to the flange, I0, attached to the shaft of the motor, I. Thus the whole unit is direct connected. The size of the eccentric, positive displacement pump, should be proportioned to the number and size of openings in the discharge nozzle, 5, secs to maintain sufficient pressure to .cause the required velocity through the orifices, 23,, to dislodge all dirt or other undesirable materials in or on the fabric v or other objects to be cleaned.

In the particular construction illustrated, the suction of the pump or compressor is obtained through port 24, in the outer casing, 2, guarded by a screen. As the rotor revolves clockwise the blade, I4, pressed outwardly against thecas- 10 ing, 2, by centrifugal action, the increasing crescent shaped space behind the blade draws in a supply of air, and the decreasing crescent shaped space in front ofit compresses and drives out the air through the recess in the blade, I4, into 5 the central space of the rotor and thence into the hollow shaft or tuyre, I6. -As the blade, I4, has a slight oscillating as well as reciprocating motion, the semi circularbearings, I 5, are provided for both movements. Connected to the 20 tuyere, I6, is the discharge nozzle, 5, so that the air pumped by the eccentric compressor is forced out the plurality of orifices, 23 of Fig. 4, or the continuous slot, 23a of Fig. 5, at high velocity. The tuyre, I6, is supported at its free 5 end in the bearing, I9, which also carries the tapered socket, 22, into which the end ofthe pressure nozzle, 5, seats. This tapered socket, 22, shown threaded into bearing, I9, acts also as a retainer for spring, 2|, which presses the annu- 30 lar sealing disc, 20, simultaneously against the end of the tuyre, I6, and against a recessed portion of the bearing, I9, so as to cover the joint between bearing and shaft in order to prevent leakage of air from the pressure duct to the suction of fan, IT. The greater the pressure developed the tighter the disc, 20, will seat.

The air from the compressor is led down the pressure nozzle, 5, and escapes through orifices, 23, or slot 23a, according to the construction used, 40 at high velocity. These orifices 'or slots should be properly tapered to develop the maximum coem cient of discharge and therefore maximum veloc ity at point of escape, in order more thoroughly to agitate the surface, pile or weave against which 45 the air is directed and thereby more effectually to dislodge dirt or other undesirable materials. Such dislodged materialsnecessarily first appear in the space immediately surrounding thedischarge nozzle, 5, and within the suction nozzle, 50 4, the bottom edges of which rest on the surface to be swept. 'With a properly designed'fan, I1, of sufiicient capacity, the suction draft existing at the bottom of the nozzle, 4, will removev all y the air delivered from the nozzle, 5, together with 55 the dislodged materials, more readily than with the usual form of sweeper using suction alone, for the reason that the atmosphere within this suction nozzle isdenser and therefore more capable of transporting materials. The fan runner,

I1, as illustrated, is shrouded, one shroud forming part of the supporting hollow shaft, and has forwardly curving blades to develop higher velocity of discharge for a given speed. The exhaust fan discharges to a settling bag, 6, or other device for the retention or disposal of the refuse.

In order that the apparatus may be used with suction only, as for instance on a hard floor, the inlet opening, 24, of the pump, 2, may be closed by the cover, 25,-thus shutting off all supply 01 air to the pump. Rollers or casters, 9, are pro-" vided for ease of propulsion in the usual manner guided by handle, 1.. The motor is supplied with power through the flexible cord, 8.

The pressure nozzle, 5, contained within the suction nozzle, 4, is preferably made as an integral unit, as shown. The whole unit is then removable and seats simultaneously the pressure nozzle at seat, 22, and the suction nozzle at the intake of the fancasing. A latch, I8, serves to lock the nozzles in place. By removing these combination nozzles and substituting therefor a flexible double hose, 30, as shown-in Fig. 6, the action of the-sweeper can be readily extended to places otherwise inaccessible; This hose consists of an outer (suction) hose, 3|, and an inner (pressure) hose, 32. One end of this combination hose, 30, is equipped with terminals similar to the combination nozzles, 4 and 5, so as to seat similarly and simultaneously the pressure hose at socket, 22, and the suction hose at the suction intake of the fan casing, and adapted to be locked into position by the latch, 18. The other end of this hose, 30, is equipped with terminals adapted to connect with the combination nozzles, 4 and 5, or similar nozzles. Thus both the agitating air jets and .the surrounding suction draft may be extended to points otherwise inaccessible. It is not at all necessary that the inner hose, 32, remain concentric with the outer hose, 3|, through- .out its length.

I do not wish to be limited to the form of constructlon as shown herein. It is evident that my method could be applied by means of various forms of construction differing from that shown. Therefore I desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

1. In a pneumatic cleaner .of the pressure and suction type, comprising a cleaning head having a discharge nozzle for projecting air under pressure against a surface to be cleaned surrounded by a suction nozzle for removing material loosened by air so projected, a pumping unit for discharging air under pressure to the first named nozzle and for creating a'suction pressure withinthe last named nozzle, said unit comprising a positive displacement pump, a centrifugal fan, a motor for driving said pump and fan, a hollow shaft extending axially from said pump and hay ing communication with said discharge nozzle, through which shaft said pump discharges and on which shaft said fan is mounted, the intake of said fan having communication with said suc tion nozzle.

2. In a pneumatic cleaner of the type comprising a cleaner head having a central discharge nozzle for directing air under pressure against a surface to be cleaned surrounded by a suction nozzle for removing said air and the dirt en'- trained therewith, a pumping mechanism comprising a centrallydischarging pressure element, and a peripherally discharging suction element directly connected thereto, and a substantially concentric double duct connecting the discharge of said pressure element with said pressure no'zzle and the intake of said suction element with said suction nozzle.

3. In a pneumatic'cleaner of the type comprising a cleaner head having 'a central discharge nozzle for directing air under pressure against a surface to be cleaned surroundedby a suction nozzle for removing said air and the dirt entrained therewith, a pumping mechanism comprising a pressure element having an elongated shaft with a discharge passage therethrough, and a centrifugal pump having an impeller mounted on said shaft and anintake orifice surrounding said discharge passage, and a substantially concentric double duct connecting said pressure nozpeller mounted on said shaft and an intake ori-' vfice surrounding said discharge passage, and a substantially concentric double duct connecting said pressure nozzle with said discharge passage and said suction nozzle with said intake orifice.

5. In a pneumatic cleaner of the type comprising a cleaner head having a central discharge nozzle for directing air under pressure against a surface to be cleaned surrounded by a suction nozzle for removing said air and the dirt entrained therewith, a pumping mechanism comprising a central rotor, a hollow shaft therefor, an eccentric casing for said rotor and a pressure vane slidably mounted in said rotor to contact said casing and having a discharge duct therein communicating with said hollow shaft, and a suction device having an intake orifice surround-

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