US2203463A

US2203463A - Suction cleaner

Info

Publication number: US2203463A
Application number: US203758A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dale C Gerber
Original assignee: Hoover Co
Current assignee: Hoover Co
Priority date: 1938-04-23
Filing date: 1938-04-23
Publication date: 1940-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1957-06-04

Description

June 4, 1940. D. c. GERBER: 2,203,463

. SUCTION CLEANER 5 Filed April 25, 1938 INVENTOR Dale Gerber ATTORNEY Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oi-Flo 2,203,463 SUCTION CLEANER corporation of Ohio Application April 23, 1938. Serial No. 203,758

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to belt pulleys for suction cleaners.

Heretolore, suction cleaners have been equipped with smooth laced belt pulleys which have proved unsatisfactory because they fail to prevent belt slippage when relatively heavy loads are placed upon the cleaners, and also fail to prevent belt slippage when the belt tension is reduced, due to wear oi the belt. I have found that by providing the driving pulley with slots, the traction between the belt and pulley is increased and the objectional features are eliminated. I have also found that the useful life of the belt is increased considerably.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. Another object is to providea new and improved belt pulley. A further object is to provide a slotted belt pulley for use in the dirt-laden air passageway of a suction cleaner. Another object is to provide a method of making a slotted belt pulley. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and annexed drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sideelevation, partly in section, of a suction cleaner with a belt pulley constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the belt pulley, and

Figure 3 is an elevation, partly in section, of the belt pulley.

In Figure 1 of the drawing a modern suction cleaner is shown as comprising a nozzle H), a fan chamber It provided with a fan eye 12 which communicates with an air passageway i3 connected to the nozzle). The air passageway is formed by the cleaner casing M and a removable bottom plate l5 detachably connected to the easing M by a latch mechanism IS. A motor casing I1 is positioned above the fan chamber ll and houses an unshown driving motor, the extended shalt l8 of which passes downwardly through the [an chamber II into the air passageway l3. Within the fan chamber H the motorshaft it carries a suction creating fan 2!] and therebelow within the air passageway I3 is provided with a pulley 2| constructed in accordance with the present invention. Rotatively supported within the nozzle It) is a cylindrical agitator 30 proyided substantially midway of its length with an annuilar reduced portion 3! which seats a driving belt 32 that extends rearwardly from the nozzle through the airpassageway I3 forconnection with the driving pulley 2|.

Operation of the fan 2!) creates a reduced pressure which is effective to draw cleaning air between the

nozzle lips

23 and 24 through the nozzle ill, the air passageway l3, the fan chamber II, and exhaust it through the outlet 25 into the removable dust bag 26. The cleaner is movably supported upon front and

rear wheels

21 and 28 only one of each pair being shown, and there is provided a pivoted handle 29 by which a cleaner may be propelled over the surface to be cleaned.

The driving pulley 2| shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3 is formed of steel or other suitable material and is provided with spaced integral

circular rims

35 and 36 connected by'a reduced concave belt engaging portion or groove 31 about which the belt 32 is disposed, The outer rim 35 is of less diameter than the inner rim 3B, and the

inclined surfaces

39 and 40 therebetween are disposed at substantially the same angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pulley. The ,pulleyfZi is also provided with an elongated cylindrical portion 32 reduced with respect to the inner rim 36. Extending axially through the pulley is a bore l3, having an enlarged threaded portion Ml whereby the pulley may be threaded onto the motor shaft 88.

In order to increase the traction between the belt 32 and the motor pulley 2i, the latter is provided with four slots l5 spaced 90 apart, each slot extending radially from the bore 43 to the periphery of the pulley, and longitudinally from the line t"! to the outer end d6 of the pulley. The

slots 45 are disposed substantially at right angles to the direction of travel of the belt 32, are of elongated rectangular configuration .te present sharp defining edges l8 which engage the belt to increase the traction therebetween, and the belt enters the slots to provide a slight gear tooth engagement therebetween, to additionally increase the traction.

The exposed ends 58 of the pulley slots are closed by means of a cap or cover 5! having a circular portion 52 and a flange 53, the latter extending around the rim 35 and spun over and disposed in thecut-out portion, 55 of the pulley so that the flange 53 will lie flush with the sur face of the belt groove it'll The cap 58 functions not only to cover the open ends of the slots but also as a guard to prevent the accumulation of foreign matter about the pulley.

In operation, the motor rotates the belt pulley 2! which rotates the agitator 39 through the belt 32. As the belt travels in the belt groove at it enters the slots 65 and engages the sharp defin zlii tilt ing edges 48 to provide a slight gear tooth action, to thereby efficiently transmit power to the agitator. When the belt becomes elongated, due to wear or permanent set, the belt tension is reduced, but the slots 45 prevent the belt from slipping with respect to the pulley. It will be noted that the motor pulley is arranged in the dirt-laden air passageway l3, the slots 45, however, do not become filled with foreign matter since they communicate with the axial bore 43', and the foreign matter if any is expelled therethrough and then through the opening 55 in the pulley cap 5|.

One method of making the pulley is to form the belt groove 31, saw a pair of diametrically disposed slots in one operation from one end of the pulley, and then the remaining two diametrically disposed slots. The cap 5| is then arranged about the lower rim 35 and secured thereto to close the exposed ends of the slots, and to dispose the cap opening in alignment with the bore 45.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that I have provided a pulley which operates efficiently although the belt tension is considerably reduced, and consequently the useful belt life is increased; that the traction between the pulley and belt is greatly increased, permitting greater belt loads without slippage; and that a simple and inexpensive method of forming the slots in a belt pulley has been provided.

1. A belt pulley, comprising an integral body having an axial bore open at one end thereof, a bolt engaging surface on said integral body, slots extending from said one end of said integral body and transversely of said belt engaging surface, said slots communicating with said axial bore, an undercut extending from said one end of said integral body along a portion of said belt engaging surface, and a cap covering said open ends of said slots at said one end of said integral body and said undercut portion to lie flush with said belt engaging surface.

2. A self-cleaning belt pulley, comprising an integral body having an axial bore extending therethrough, one end of said bore being threaded for connection to a rotatable shaft to completely close said one end of said bore, a belt engagin surface on said integral body, slots open only at one end of said pulley and extending transversely of said belt engaging surface and closed adjacent to said threaded portion of said bore, said slots communicating with said bore, means covering said open end of said slots to define paths for flow of air therethrough and through said bore, rotation of said pulley byv said shaft causing air'to flow through said paths to thereby remove foreign material from said slots.

3.'A self-c1eaning belt pulley, comprising an integral. body having an axial bore extending therethrough, a belt engaging surface on said integral body, slots extending transversely of said belt engaging surface and communicating with said bore, one end of said bore being adapt ed for connection to a shaft to completely close said oneend of said bore, said shaft cooperating with said slots and bore to define angular paths for flow of air therethrough, rotation of said pulley causing air to flow through said paths to thereby remove foreign material-from said slots.

4. A belt pulley comprising a body having an open ended axial bore, a belt engaging surface on said body, means defining completely closed ended slots transversely of said belt engaging surface, said slots, extending from said belt engaging surface to said open ended bore to define paths for dischargeof dirt from said slots, said bore having means adapted for connection to a shaft to completely close one end of said bore.

5. A self-cleaning belt pulley adapted for use in a dirt-laden air passageway of a suction cleaner, said pulley having a bore open at both ends, a belt engaging surface on said pulley, and means defining closed ended slots in said pulley transversely of said belt engaging surface, said slots opening directly to said bore and belt engaging surface, said bore having means adapted for connection to the suction cleanermotor shaft to completely close one end of said bore.

DALE o. GERBER.