US2099378A - Suction cleaner - Google Patents

Description

D. G. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER Nov. 16, 1937.

NOV. 28, 2 s s 1 R O T N E V m 2 Dana/d 61 6722011119.

@ QTZEZMM Nov. 16, 1937. D. G. SMELLIE 2,099,378

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Nov. 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fionala' 62 Smellz'e as %MM Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANER Donald G. Smellie, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 28, 1934, Serial No. 755,095

28 Claims.

,brush which forms a part of the suction cleaner.

More specifically the invention comprises the provision of automatic means to effect brush adjustment in a suction cleaner for the purpose of extending the effective life of the brush element.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner provided with means to extend the effective life of the agitator brush element. A further object is the provision in a suction cleaner of means to adjust automatically the position of a rotary agitating brush relative to the plane of the nozzle lips so that the decrease in the length of the brush bristles occasioned by wear will not render thebrush inoperative. A still further object is the provision of electrically actuated means to adjust automatically the height of an agitator element relative to the surface covering undergoing cleaning. Another object is the provision, in a suction cleaner nozzle, of a rotary agitating brush in combination with automatic means to adjust the position of that brush relative to the plane of the nozzle mouth. A still further object is the provision in a suction cleaner, of means which function automatically, upon decrease in brush bristle length, to adjust the agitator element to compensate for decrease in bristle length. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed:

Figure 1 is a side view of a cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention, certain parts being broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view with the top wall of the nozzle broken away;

Figure 3 is a section through the nozzle, being taken upon the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and shows the agitator-adjusting mechanism at one end of the nozzle in the new brush position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the position of the parts before adjustment (in dotted line), and after adjustment (in full lines), the agitator brush being somewhat worn;

Figure 5 shows a view similar to Figure 4, but illustrates the final adjustment of the agitator height relative to the nozzle with a worn brush;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section through the ratchet cam, being taken upon the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

A preferred form of agitating element for a suction cleaner comprises an elongated brush 5 mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis.

i'he brush may be provided with continuous rows of bristles-or may comprise spaced tufts of bristles. In the ordinary cleaner the agitator is mounted fixedly within the cleaner nozzle. After 10 use for a period of time suflicient to cause wear in the bristles so that they no longer effectively brush the surface,covering the agitator must be removed and replaced by another. According to the present invention means are provided which I automatically lower the agitator to compensate for the decrease in bristle length thereby increasing brush life.

Referring again to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. In its general form the cleaner is of a common and well known type, including a nozzle I interiorly being positioned within the casing 9 immediately above the fan chamber. The cleaner body is I supported for movement over a surface-covering undergoing cleaning at its front end by a spaced pair of floor wheels l0, III, which are positioned within wheel pockets II, II formed by the side walls of air passageway 2 at the rear corners of the nozzle l. The rear of the machine is supported by wheels I2, I 2 of which one is shown in Figure 1, which are equipped with adjusting means l3 by which they may be raised and lowered relative to the cleaner body for the purpose of pivoting the machine about the front wheels as an axis to raise and lower the nozzle I,

and more particularly its surface-contacting front and rear lips I and I5, respectively, relative to the surface covering undergoing cleaning. A pivoted handle l6, which is bifurcated at its lower end and extends upon both sides of the motor casing 9, provides means by which the operator can propel the cleaner, and also serves as a means of 5 conveyance for the incoming current-carrying leads I1, I! to the motor.

A rotary agitator l8 comprising a body in which P Jed tufts of bristles l9, l9 are positioned, is

mounted within the nozzle I, being adapted to contact the surface covering undergoing cleaning between the nozzle lips I4 and I5. Agitator I8 is provided at its ends with bearings 20, 2|] each of which is enclosed and clamped in a spring seat 2| positioned at the forward end of a pivoted supporting arm 22 which extends adjacent the side wall of the nozzle. The arm 22 at each end of the nozzle extends rearwardly into a wheel pocket H where it is pivotally mounted by a pin 23 on the nozzle side wall. Each spring seat 2| opens downwardly and the agitator may be inserted and removed therefrom through the nozzle mouth between the lips l4 and I5.

Agitator I8 is formed centrally with a pulley 24 which seats a power-transmitting belt 25 which extends rearwardly through air passageway 2 and seats upon a driving pulley 26 positioned at the lower end of motor shaft 3. In the operation of the cleaner the rotation of the motor shaft causes the rotation of the agitator.

In the ordinary suction cleaner the agitatorsupporting arms 22, 22 and the seats 2|, 2| would be rigidly mounted. According to the present invention, however, means are included which automatically lower these arms relative to the nozzle and its mouth, so that the agitator is lowered as the length of the bristle tufts l3, l3 decreases.

According to the present invention each arm 22 is urged by a coil spring 21 to the uppermost position permitted by a ratchet cam 28 which is pivotally mounted on the side wall of the nozzle by a pin 29, a spring washer 3|) functioning to retain frictionally the ratchet in a set position against unintentional movement. The arm-contacting surface of cam 28 is so shaped that with the cam rotated counter-clockwise, as viewed in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the supporting arm 22 is forced downwardly against the force exerted by the spring 21. The ratchet cam 28 is provided with spaced teeth along its upper surface.

To lower each arm 22 there is provided a pawl 3| the lower end of which is adapted to contact the ratchet 28. Pawl 3| is pivotally mounted at its upper end upon a centrally pivoted arm 32, the arms 32, 32 at the opposite sides of the nozzle being connected at their forward ends by a shoe 33 which is smooth and curved upon its lower inner surface to conform substantially to the curvature of the agitator I8, the tufts H of which are preferably helically arranged, as shown in Figures 1 and '2. A spring 34 at the pivot point of each arm 32 exerts a pivoting force urging the arm in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 3, 4 and 5, and so tends to force shoe 33 into contact with the bristles of the agitator. A second spring 35 carried by each arm contacts the pawl 3| and urges it about its pivot point in the direction'of ratchet 28. At the rear end of each shoe-and-pawl carrying arm 32 is positioned an electrical solenoid 36, the movable armature 31 of which is pivotally connected to the arm. Solenoid 36 is suitably connected to the incoming power leads l1, II, the precise electrical connection of the solenoid in the motor circuit not being of the essence of this invention. When the solenoid is unenergized the pivoting force exerted by arm-pivoting spring 34 is suflicient to lower shoe 33 against the brush and to raise armature 31 within the body of solenoid 36. With the solenoid energized, however, its magnetic fields pulls the armature 31 downwardly and pivots arm 32 to move shoe 33 from contact with the brush, at the same time lowering pawl 3|.

In order that the ratchet 28 may be returned to the new brush position when a new brush is inserted in the machine, a manually slidable pin 38, see Figure 6, is provided upon each ratchet which extends through an arcuate slot 33 in the adjacent side wall of the nozzle, a suitable plate 40 being carried by the pin so that the slot is closed and no unnecessary leakage of air takes place. To permit of the arh'ustment of the ratchet, without hindrance from its pawl, to the new brush position, a stud 4| isprovided. Stud 4| extends adjacent the pawl and is adapted to support that member, which is itself provided with an ear which extends adjacent the stud, when the arm 32 is pivoted to the lowest position possible, as when no agitator is positioned within the nozzle or the length of the-agitator bristles is less than a desirable minimum, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5 in dotted lines. In such position the end of the pawl is supported free from the ratchet and that member may be moved by means of the manually operable pin 38 without interference from the pawl.

The agitator adjustment mechanism is positioned largely within the wheel pockets II, the arms 22 and 32 extending through suitable vertical slots formed in the walls of the air passageway 2 immediately adjacent the nozzle side walls. To prevent unintended and unnecessary leakage of air through these slots from the wheel pockets into the nozzle there is provided in each wheel pocket a removable metal casing member 42 which encloses the operating mechanism within that pocket and forms a sealed closure which is open to the interior to the nozzle through the aforementioned vertical slots.

The operation of the invention is best explained by reference to Figures 3 to 6, inclusive. Upon the placing of a new large diameter long bristle agitator brush in the cleaner nozzle, and with the cleaner inoperative, the parts at each end of the nozzle will be related 'as indicated in full lines in Figure 3. The diameter of the new brush is indicated by dotted lines and the shoe 33 is shown contacting the brush periphery, being held in that contact by the spring 34 which urges the arm 32 downwardly. The ratchet 28 is positioned in the new brush position and its cam surface, which contacts the agitator-supporting arm 22 is so shapedthat the arm 22 is in its uppermost position,- being held there by the coil spring 21. The pawl 3| lies at the side of the first tooth of ratchet 28. The parts are so related that the agitator brush will project the proper distance below or above the plane of the nozzle mouth as defined by the surface-contacting lips I4 and Upon the beginning of cleaner operation the closing of the cleaner switch causes current to pass through the cleaner motor and through each solenoid 36. Solenoid armature 31 is pulled downwardlyby the magnetic field and the arm 32 pivots from the full line to the dotted line position of Figure 3. Pawl 3| slides downwardly at the side of the first tooth of ratchet 28 but does not rotate that member and the arm 22 remains in fixed position. So long as the cleaner operates and current continues to pass through solenoid to hold the arm 32 so positioned the relationship remains constant.

During the use of the cleaner the shoe 33 remains out of contact with the agitator, being held in the raised position by the solenoid. When the machine is turned off the magnetic field breaks down releasing solenoid 31 and the shoe 33 moves into contact with the brush, the spring 34 pivoting the arm 32 downwardly. If the diameter of the brush has been sufliciently decreased by wear, as from its size in Figure 3 to its size in Figure 4, the shoe 33 will move to a lower position than in the first instance and the pawl 3| will be raised higher. In this new position the pawl moves above the top of the first tooth of the ratchet cam and under the urging of its pivoting spring 35 moves into contact therewith, as shown in dotted line in Figure 4. When the cleaning operation is again resumed, and solenoid 36 again energized, the downward movement of armature 31 results in the pivotal movement of 32 and the lowering of pawl 3|. The pawl this time, however, through seating on the first tooth of the ratchet, pivots the ratchet from the dotted line to the full line position of Figure 4. The ratchet now contacts arm 22 at a new point on its cam surface which is further from its point of rotation and arm-22 is pivoted downwardly against the force of its spring 21. This sequence of operation repeats every time the cleaner is turned on and off but adjustment of ratchet 28 occurs only when the pawl 3! has been raised sufliciently by the lowering of shoe 33 to permit of its engagement with a new ratchet tooth. The cam surface of cam 28 is so shaped that the rotation of the cam effected by pawl 3i seating on a new tooth lowers the arm 22 sufficiently to cause the brush bristles to extend to their lowest position possible before the wear occurred.

The aforedescribed adjustment of the agitator height within the nozzle to compensate for bristle wear continues until the agitator has been reduced in diameter to a point at which replacement is advisable. Such a diameter is illustrated in Figure 5. The pawl 3| is shown in full lines,-

contacting the last tooth of the ratchet and that member has been rotated to force the arm 22 into its lowest position. With the solenoid unenergized, as when the machine is not in operation, the arm 32 pivots in a counter-clockwise direction to its lowest position. In this position the pawl 3| is supported by the stud 4i and its lower end will not interfere with the manual rotation of ratchet 28, by use of pin 38, to the original new brush position, shown in Figure 3. This adjustment is made in each ratchet at each end of the nozzle before the new brush is positioned in its seats. A new brush being inserted, the functional relationship is again as illustrated in Figure 3.

In the drawings the solenoids, with the accompanying mechanism, have been used at each end of the nozzle. It is obviously within the range of the invention to use only a single solenoid. The embodiment illustrated is but a preferred form and the invention is not limited thereto but is limited only as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A brush including bristles, means supporting said brush for movement toward and from a surface, means to move said brush toward said surface, and means responsive to the change in length of said bristles to operate said last men-' tioned means. a

2. A rotary brush, means supporting said brush for movement toward and from a surface, means adapted to lower said brush, and means including brush-diameter-change-responsive means to operate said last mentioned means upon a predetermined decrease in brush diameter.

3. A supporting body, a rotary brush having bristles subject to wear, means responsive to change in the eflective diameter of said brush, and means affected by variation in said means to adjust said brush relative to said body.

4. A supporting body, a rotary brush having bristles subject to wear, a brush diameter follower, and automatic means to adjust said brush to a measured extent connected to and controlled by said follower. I

5. A supporting body, a rotary agitator including brush bristles, means mounting said agitator for vertical adjustment relative to said body,

means to lower said agitator a predetermined extent, and means responsive to the change in length of said brush bristles to cause said last mentioned means to function.

6. In a suction cleaner, a body, a rotary brush, means mounting said brush on said body for movement toward and from a surface covering undergoing cleaning, means responsive to change in the diameter of said brush, and means to move said brush toward said surface covering when said responsive means has moved a predetermined distance.

7. In a suction cleaner, a body, a rotary brush,

means varying position, in response to variations in the diameter of said brush and movable toward said brush when said brush is inoperative, means to move said means from said brush during rotation, and means controlled by said first means to adjust said brush relative to said body.

8. In a suction cleaner, a body, a rotary brush, means mounting said brush on said body for movement toward and from a surface covering undergoing cleaning, and automatically operated means to effect a lowering of said brush including an electric solenoid, adjustable means to lower said brush in certain adjustments by a force exerted by said solenoid, and means responsive to change in diameter of said brush controlling the adjustment of said adjustable means.

9. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, a rotary brush in said nozzle, a pivoted arm supporting said brush in said nozzle, means to force said arm downwardly to lower said brush including a ratchet cam and a pawl cooperating therewith, a second pivotally mounted arm carrying said pawl, a brush-contacting shoe carried by said arm and means to pivot said second arm to move said pawl which is adaptedto actuate said ratchet cam at the beginning of a cleaning operation.

10. The construction recited by claim 9 characterized in that said shoe moves into contact with said brush at the end of a cleaning operation to limit the pivotal movement of its carrying arm and the movement of said pawl relative to said ratchet cam.

11. The construction recited by claim 9 characterized in that resilient means normally urge said shoe into contact with the surface of said brush and electrical means operative in the operation of the cleaner force it therefrom.

12. In a suction cleaner, a. rotary brush, means movably mounting said brush, resilient means urging said brush upwardly, adjustable means limiting the upward movement of said brush, and means controlled by variations in diameter of said brush to adjust said adjustable means to lower said brush.

13. In a suction cleaner, a rotary brush, means movably mounting said brush, spring means urgin'g said brush upwardly, a cam contacting said mounting means and movable to force said means downwardly against the force exerted by said spring means, means responsive to variations in the diameter of said brush, cam-actuating means positioned by said responsive means and adapted to move said cam to an extent determined by the position given it by said responsive means, and means to actuate said cam-actuating means to move said cam.

14. The construction set forth in claim 13 characterized in that said last mentioned means are operative at the beginning of each cleaning period.

15. In a suction cleaner, a body, a rotary agitator brush, a pivoted arm mounting said agitator on said body, a spring urging said arm in one direction, a ratchet-cam contacting said arm, said ratchet cam being movable to move said arm against the force exerted by said spring, a pawl movable in one direction to move said ratchet through cooperating with the teeth thereof and movable in another direction relative to said teeth, means to advance said pawl relative to said ratchet teeth upon predetermined wear in said brush, and means to move said pawl to move said ratchet-cam after said pawl has advanced relative to said teeth.

16. In a suction cleaner, a body, a rotary agitator brush, a. pivoted arm mounting said agitator on said body, a spring urging said arm in one direction, a ratchet-cam contacting said arm, said ratchet cam being movable to move said arm against the force exerted by said spring, a pawl movable in one direction to move said ratchet through cooperating with the teeth thereof and movable in another direction relative to said teeth, means including means responsive to variations in brush diameter controlling the advance of said pawl relative to said teeth, and electrically actuated means to move said pawl to move said ratchet cam after said pawl has advanced relative to said teeth.

17. The construction recited by claim 15 characterized in that means are provided to re-position said ratchet-cam upon the replacement of a brush.

18. An agitator for suction cleaners including an element subjected to wear in use resulting in decrease in size, means to alter the position of said element to compensate for such decrease in size, and means responsive to such decrease in size to operate said last mentioned means.

19. An agitator for suction cleaners including a rotating agitating element subjected to wear in use resulting in decrease in size, means to alter the position of said eiement to compensate for such decrease in size, and means responsive to such decrease in size to operate said last mentioned means.

20. An agitator for suction cleaners including an agitating element rotatably mounted and adapted to contact a surface covering undergoing cleaning at one position in its path of rotation, said element being subjected to wear decreasing its effective radial extension from its center of rotation, means to adjust said element to compensate for wear, and means responsive to wear in said element to actuate said last mentioned means.

21. The construction recited by claim in which said element is a brush comprising bristles.

22. The construction recited in claim 20 in which the means responsive to wear are actuated by an electric solenoid.

23. A brush including bristles, means supporting said brush for movement relative to a surface, means to move said brush relative to said surface, and means responsive to change in length of said bristles to operate said last mentioned means.

24. In a suction cleaner, an agitator including an element subjected to wear in the operation of the cleaner, means responsive to change in said element, and means to adjust. said element to compensate for wear controlled by said responsive means. 7

25. The structure recited by claim 24 characterized in that means are provided to move said responsive means into contact with said element with the cleaner inoperative and from contact with said element with said cleaner operative.

26. In a suction cleaner, an agitator including an element subjected to wear in the operation of the cleaner, means responsive to change in said element, and means to effect a step-by-step adjustment of said element to compensate for wear controlled by said responsive means.

27. In a suction cleaner, a body, a rotatable brush, means adjustably supporting said brush on said body, means adapted to transmit a force to move said brush relatively to said body and in- 28. In a suctioncleaner, a body, a rotatable brush, means movably mounting said brush on said body, means to adjust said brush relative to said body and to a surface covering undergoing cleaning including means to move said mounting means, a brush-diameter-change-responsive means controlling said last mentioned means, and means to cause said responsive means to determine the change in diameter of said brush with said brush standing.

DONALD G. SMELLIE.

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