US2165678A

US2165678A - Vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: US2165678A
Application number: US41058A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Frederick Riebel; Dewey M Dow
Original assignee: Air Way Electric Appliance Corp
Current assignee: Air Way Electric Appliance Corp
Priority date: 1935-09-18
Filing date: 1935-09-18
Publication date: 1939-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 1956-07-11
Also published as: BE417515A; GB461121A

Description

A'Patented July 11, `1.939

VACUUM CLEANER Frederick Riebel, Jr., ana Dewey M. new, miedo,l

hio, assignors to Air-WayElectric Appliance Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application September 1,8, -1935, Serial No. 41,058y

6 Claims.

This invention relates to 'vacuum cleaners of the type havingV a swinging handle and has for its object to provide in such a cleaner, an arrange-- ment wherein the fan and rotary agitator are both driven from a motor of minimum height above the supporting surface on which the cleaner operates, and wherein the'handle is positioned a substantial distance rearwardly of the suction nozzle so as to allow maximum projection of the 1u nozzle under furniture, etc.

The invention further aims to combine these features in an arrangement wherein the fan case swings with the handle so that a paper bag may lbe supported below the handle and attached to 1.3- the fan case outlet so as to be free of strains imposed by swinging of 'the handle.

The foregoing objects are realized by arranging the motor forwardly of the fan case, rearwardly of the suction chamber, and just above the throat connecting the fan case and suction chamber, which throat is carried rearwardly at a minimum height, and arranging the fan case lto swing around the axis of the fan shaft, which is parallel to the axes ofthe motor and agitator, whereby untwisted driving belts maya be employed. The dust collecting bag, of porous paper, is attached to the handle and to the fan case outlet, and the fan case is rigidly attached to thehandle sothat all three swing as a unit, and relative movement between fan case and bag is entirely eliminated.

Another object is to provide for ready accessibility to the motor and driving connections.

One embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

The invention provides, a floor tool assembly .A and a handl'e,fan case and bag assembly B. The 'former comprises a suction chamber I0, a throat II extending rearwardly therefrom, a pair of inlet ductsy I2 communicating with the respective sides of the fan case I3, and with the rear extresmity of thek throat Il, and a motor I4 mountedontop'of the throat II. 5d The unit B comprises a handle I6, the fan case I3 rigidly secured thereto, the dust collectingA p orous paper bag I6 communicating with the fancase outlet I1, and the supporting Venvelope I8,

enclosing the bag I6 and suspended below the '55 handle` on rods I9 dening a bag insertingmouth;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of

(ci. 15-16) i The unit A vis supported on

o'or wheels

20 and 2|, the former journalled in sockets 22 formed on the suction chamber I0, and the latter journalled on an adjustable bracket 23 pivoted to lugs on the ducts I2.

A fan case I3 has opposed inlets 26, which are in swivelling connection with the circular outlets 26 of the ducts I2. A double fan 21 operating in the fan case I3, is mounted on a shaft 26 which isV journalled in bearings 29 inthe ducts I2.

In the suction chamber I0 is a rotary agitator comprising a spindle 30 journalled in the end s of the chamber I0, and beating Iand brushing elements 3| and 32 respectively, mounted thereon. The spindle, the'motor shaft 33, and the fan shaft 28 are parallel to each other, each lying horizon- ,tally transverse to the direction of movement of the cleaner. A pulley 34 on the spindle 30 is con-l nected by a straight untwisted belt to a pulley 36 on the motor shaft 33, and pulleys 31, on theV fan shaft 28, are connected by means of belts 38, to thepulleys 38 on the motor shaft 33.

The motor I4fis enclosed between the`throat I I, and a cover40 .which is extended rearwardly and cut away, embracing the fan case I3, to form a housing for the belts 38. The cover 40 is hinged at 4I to brackets 4B secured to the ducts I2 bevneaththe belts 38 so as to form guards therefor. A separate compartment for the belt 35 is formed by a partition 42 secured in the cover 40, its` -lower edg'e fitting the contour of the upper surface of the throat Il and adapted to seat thereagainst when the cover is in closed position.

` 'Ihe partition 42 has a slot 43 to accommodate the shaft 33 when the cover is.raised, and a ap 44, its upper end sealed around the shaft 33, closes the slot 43. The. lower end of the flap 44is secured to the top wall of the throat II.

' The lower edges of the cover 40 are' straight, and the throat II is built up around the depression in which the motor I4 is seated forming a shoulder 45 to meet these edges. A flange 46 formed around the shoulder 46, receives the cover. l

The motor is arranged to occupy the corner of space between the fan case andfthe suction chamber, land is depressedbelow the upper extremities of both. Thisreduces, the clearance height of the motor substantially below that of K any cleanerof the motory driven agitator type and gives a balanced drive to both fan and agitator.

:sov

The fan case, handle, and bag assembly swing as a unit around the axis of the fan' shaft, so that strain on the neck of the .bagis avoided.

The 4douhle fan receives air from both ducts I2, which communicate with the throatl Il at points disposed intermediate the longitudinal center of the suction chamber and its respective ends, so that a relatively high degree of equalization of suction in all regions of the suction chamber is obtained.

The ducts I2 are detachably secured at 50 to. the throat Il, so as to allow detachment of the fan case.

The fan case has a peripheral lug 49 adapted to engage the underside of the throat Il so as to support the suction nozzle in normal position when the cleaner is picked up bodily.

The motor I4 is an open frame motor, and the casing therefor is formed between the throat Il and cover 40. The latter may be lifted to an upstanding position, giving access to the motor, both `A drive belts, and the connections between the ducts I2 and the fan case.

The throat has a removable plate l la forming its lower wall and its side walls and upper wall are formed integrally with the suction chamber l0.

The agitator belt extends through a slot 41 l inthe top wall of the suction chamber I0.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact construction illustrated and described, but is intended to be construed as covering all modifications thereof which come within the scope'of, or are equivalent to, what is defined in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:l

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, a throat extending rearwardly therefrom, a rotary agitator in said chamber, a fan casing having a chamber therein, means whereby the chamber communicates with the said` throat, a fan in said casing, its axis horizontal and transverse to the direction of movement of the cleaner, said fan casing being hinged to the suction chamber on the axis of said fan, a handle rigidly attached to the fan casing, a bag suspended below the handle and xedly connected to the fan casing -outlet, a motor disposed between said suction chamber and fan casing above the throat, and driving connections between said motor and the fan and agitator respectively.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, a

throat extending rearwardly therefrom, a fan casing having a chamber, means whereby the chamber communicates with the said throat, a fan in said casing, its axis horizontal and transverse to the direction of cleaner movement, said fan casing being hinged to the suction chamber on the axis of said fan, a handle rigidly attached to the fan casing, a bag suspended handle and flxedly connected to the fan casing outlet, a motor disposed between the suction chamber and the fan casing and above the throat, and driving connections between said motor and the fan, said motor and fan chamber both being centered in the vertical central longitudinal plane of the cleaner.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, and

a rotary agitator therein, a throat extending delow ,the

rearwardly from said chamber whose upper surface is so constructed and arranged as to provide an available space therein, a fan casing, a fan therein, said fan and fan-casing beingcentered in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the cleaner with their axes horizontal and transverse to the direction of cleaner travel, said fan casing being hinged to the chamber on the axis of said fan, a motor snugly occupying the available space between the fan casing and the suction chamber and above the throat and-po-r throat extending rearwardly from said chamber Whose upper surface is so constructed and arranged as to provide an available space therein, a fan casing, a fan therein, said fan and fan casing being centered in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the cleaner -with their axes horizontal and transverse to the direction of cleaner travel, said fan casing being hinged to the chamber on the axis of said fan, a motor snugly occupying the available space between the fan casing and the suction chamber and above the throat and positioned below the level of the top of the fan casing, said fan casing being interiorly connected to said throat and driving connections 'between the motor and the fan.

5. Inl a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, a throat extending rearwardly from said chamber whose upper surface is so constructed and arranged as to provide an available space therein, a fan casing', a fan therein, saidfan and fan casing being centered in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the cleaner with their axes horizontal and transverse to the direction of cleaner travel, said fan casing being hinged to snugiy occupying the available space between the fan casing and the suction chamber and above the throat and positioned below the level of the top of the fan casing, said fan casing being interiorly connected to said throat and driving connections between the motor and the fan, said throat 4being depressed below the levels of the upper extremities of the suction chamber and the fan casing, and said motor being seated in said depression.

6. In a vacuumV cleaner, a suction chamber, a throat extending rearwardly from said chamber, a fan casing, a fan therein, said casing and fan being centered in the central longitudinal verti- 'cal plane of the cleaner with their axes horizontal and transverse to the direction of cleaner travel, said fan casing being hinged to the chamber on the axis of said fan, a motor disposed between the suction chamber and fan casing and above the throat and centered in said plane, said fan casing having a`n inlet on each side, each connected to the throat, and driving connections between said motor and the fan.

VFREDERICK RIEBEL, Jn. DEWEY M. DOW.