US2221746A

US2221746A - Vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: US2221746A
Application number: US20377A
Authority: US
Inventors: James B Kirby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-05-08
Filing date: 1935-05-08
Publication date: 1940-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1957-11-12

Description

Nov. 12, 1940. J, B. KIRBY 2,221,745

VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR James B. Krb

unmmm BY faQ/M M ATTORN Nov. 12, 1940. J,v B. KIRBY 2,221,746

VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR James B. Kir??- W ATToR Nov. 12, 1940. J. B. KIRBY 2,221,746

VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 8, 1935 i 3 Sheets-Shea?I 3 INVENTOR James B Kir-b M ATTORNEY Patented Nov.`12, 1940v UNITED s'rlvrss PATENT OFFICE VACUUM CLEANER James B. Kirby, West Richfield, Ohio Application May 8, 1935, Serial No. 20,377

' 7 Claims.

pliances of all sorts to improve the artistic ap pearance of their products. Vacuum cleaners of the type commonly referred to as the harizontal type cleaner, in which the operating motor and fan of the cleaner are arranged with their axis located horizontally, have presented certain practical difficulties to the designing of a handsome and artistic Cleaner casing, by reason of the arrangement and disposition of the various elements of the machine, and for this reason,

not much has been done in the way of improvlng the design and appearance of this particular type of cleaner.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a generally simplified form of casing construction for a vacuum cleaner of the type employing a horizontally disposed motor;--

the casing being made up of a plurality of sections' which may be readily die-cast or cast by the permanent mold process, without the use of expensive or complicated cores.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of' a sectional form of cleaner casing construction in which the casing parts are coniigurated so as to laccommodate the operating elements of a horizontal type cleaner, While at Ytlcsame time being of handsome and graceful appearance.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of a suction cleaner having a sectional c-asing including a shell which forms the major exposed part of the casing, the other elements oi such casing being concealed by the shell and adapted to be readily and easily attached thereto.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision in a vacuum cleaner, oi an improved arrangement for facilitating the removal of dust and litter collected during the operation of the device.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of an improved form of vacuum cleaner handle adjustment control.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of improved means for concealing the electriccord in the cleaner handle and introducing the same to the vacuum cleaner casing..

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of certain improvements whereby the handle shaft of a vacuum cleaner may be readily detached from its bail, and connection and disconnection of an electrical cord carried within the handle may be readily effected.

A further object of the invention relates to the provision of a vacuum cleaner of relatively simple and inexpensive construction which 1s adapted for carrying out the aforesaid objects.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter illustrated and described in'some of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a vacuum cleaner, illustrating one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the rear of the cleaner shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of one of the sections of the cleaner casing.

Figure 5 is a side elevational viewof the casing section shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail view, partly in section, of the nozzle adjustment mechanism.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line 1-4, Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail View, partly in section, of the wiring arrangement and stop mechanism provided for holding the cleaner handle in its various adjusted positions.

Figure 9 is a detail view of the handle stop mechanism shown in section in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail view of the work illuminating lamp and the structure associated with it for permitting visual inspection of the interior of the cleaner casing during the operation of the cleaner.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of reduced size, showing the cleaner in position for the discharge of accumulated dust and litter.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the lter bag of the cleaner shown in Figure 1 1.

Figure 13 is an end view of the lter bag shown in Figures 11 and 12.`

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-I4, Figure 12, showing the relative position of the cleaner casing and its handle with respect to the bagA when the handle is adjusted to its lower operating position; and

Figure 15 is a detail view, partly in section, of the handle hand-grip and associated operating switch.

The cleaner illustrated in the drawings, comprises a shell or casing section referred to ge'nerally by the numeral I, defining a hollow chamber open at its underside and provided at its rear end with an opening 2 which forms the discharge outlet of the cleaner. At its forward end the' casing shell widens out to formt in part, a suction nozzle 3, in which there is located a rotatable brush 4 mounted in suitable bearings 5, 6 provided at the opposite ends of the nozzle. A bumper strip 6 is fitted around the outer edges of the lower portion of the nozzle and is secured in position thereon by any suitable means, such as, screws or rivets 1, 1.

At the underside of the nozzle there is provided a removable guard member 3 having spaced bars for preventing the carpet or other article being cleaned from being drawn up into the mouth of the suction nozzle. A filter bag I is Vattached at its lower end in communicating relation with the discharge outlet 2 of the casing shell I.

A casing section or element, referred to generally by the numeral I I, is tted at the forward end of the casing and there cooperates with certain portions of the casing shell I to complete the, suction nozzle and fan chamber of the cleaner. The element II forms the bottom half I2 of the fan casing, and a communicating discharge outlet I3 at the rear thereof. At its forward side the element I I is provided with a downwardly extending wall section I4 which forms the rear wall of the throat of the suction nozzle and terminates in a lower edge I5 forming in part the rear lip of the suction nozzle.

Attachment of the casing element Il to the casing shell I is effected by screws or other suitable means which are received in the openings provided in ears I6 carried by the fan case section I2 of this element and also by screws or other means received in apertured extensions I1, I1 carried by the nozzle lip forming portion of the element II.

The interior of the casing shellis formed with a hollowed-out portion I6 complementary to the fan chamber section I2 of the element II, and a continuous snail-shaped fan chamber of customary shape is effected upon the assembly of these elements. The element II is provided with a wall part 20 which forms the rear wall of the fan case and also a supporting plate for the operating motor of the cleaner, comprising a stator 2I and associated frame or

casing parts

22 and 23; all of which are secured to the plate 20 by any suitable means, such as, a pair of bolts 24, A24. 'Ihe motor frame part 22 is secured to the casing shell section I by any suitable means, such as, a screw 25. vThe armature 26 of the motor is provided with a shaft 21 at the opposite ends of which there are provided bearings 2B and 23. At the edge of the plate 20 there is fitted a gasket I9 to provide an air-tight joint at this point and similar sealing means may be provided along the vertical edges of the member along its line of contact with the casing shell I.

The forward end of the armature shaft carries an impeller fan 30 located within the fan chamber defined by the casing parts I2 and I8. The armature shaft 21 is threaded at 3| for detachably receiving a belt pulley 32, provided for driving a belt 33 operatively engaging the brush 4 of the cleaner. The discharge outlet I3 of the fan case is at the lower level of the casing shell section I, and beneath the outlet there is located a detachable or displaceable closure plate 34 pivoted to a tubular member 45B at its forward end and securely locked to the casing section I by any suitable means, such as, a latch 36 which is pivoted at 36 at the rear end of the cleaner casing.

The latch 35 engages with the knob 3 1 carried by the rearmost part of the closure plate 34. The closure plate is provided with a pair of recesses or pockets 36 of semi-circular contour, within which a part of the rear wheels 40 of the cleaner are received. Each of these wheels is carried on an axle pin 4|, one of which is provided for each of the wheels.

The forward end-of the cleaner is supported on

wheels

42, 42 which -are rotatably mounted upon the crank arms 42 of

corresponding cranks

43 and 44. These cranks are fixed with respect to a supporting shaft 45 extending transversely of the cleaner. Angular adjustment of the

cranks

43 and 44 and the shaft 45 is effected by means of a foot-operated device which comprises a foot pedal 46 integrally formed with the crank arm 44.

The crank 44 is of triangular shape and adjacent to its wider edge it is provided with a channel or groove in which are formed oppositely disposed series of

ratchet teeth

41 and 43 which cooperate with a toothed member 50 fixed to a foot-operated plunger 5I which is guided for movement in a suitable bearing groove or channel 52 formed in the casing shell I. A spring 53 is provided to urge the plunger 5I to its uppermost position, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Movement of the

cranks

43 and 44 and likewise the adjustment of the working mouth of the cleaner may be effected by depressing the pedal 46, in which case, the nozzle of the cleaner is raised with respect to the working surface. During the aforesaid operation, the bearing pins 42a of the

wheels

42, 42 provide fulcrum points for the raising operation of the cleaner casing.

As shown best in Figure 6, the axis of the wheels and the axis of the shaft 45 are located with respect to the pedal 46 so 4that it is not necessary to exert a great deal of pressure on the pedal to effect the desired adjustment of the height of the cleaner nozzle. Downward adjustment of the cleaner nozzle is effected in a stepby-step manner by gravity upon the actuation of the plunger 5I.

The toothed member 50 of the plunger 5I engages alternatively with the ratchet teeth 41 and 48 in much the same manner as in the escapement mechanism of a clock, and under influence of gravity working through the

cranks

43 and 44 the nozzle drops a distance corresponding to one of the ratchet teeth 41 each time the plunger 5I is depressed until the toothed member 50 engages with the end of the groove defined by the ratchet teeth 41 and 48. The plunger 5I is provided with an indicating arrow 54 which cooperates with the numbered portion 55 of the foot pad 46 to indicate the adjustment of the nozzle.

Forwardly on the cleaner casing there is provided a device for illuminating the space in front of the cleaner and also for lighting up the interior of the cleaner nozzle which may be viewed through a window which is provided in the nozzle for this purpose. The arrangement, as shown best in Figure 10, comprises a supporting plate 66 carried by a pivot pin 51 which is journaled in the casing section I. A cover plateV 56 is detachably secured to the supporting plate 66 by the screws 61. The cover plate is provided with an opening for receiving a lens or transparent piece of glass 58, held in place by means of a circular spring 60 (see Figure 2) and guarded by means of a bar 6I integral with the plate 56. At its lower end the plate 56 is provided with a downwardly opening recess 62. This recess constitutes a combined lamp guard, shade and reflector for a lamp 63 which is received in a lamp socket 64 detachably secured or held in place on the plate 66, by any suitable means, such as, the

screws

65, 65. The lamp socket 64 is 10 connected to a cord 64a which is carried into the litter compartment by way of holes 64b. and 64 in the casing section I I, as best shown in Figure 1, where it is spliced to a motor current supply cord 80. The plate 66 is provided with a Window 68 having a transparent covering so that light from the lamp 63 is admitted through the window 68 to the interior of the suction nozzle, and during the 'operation of the cleaner, the dust and dirt moving through the nozzle may be observed through the window dened by the lens or glass 58 of the cover plate 56. In addition to lighting up the interior of the suction nozzle, the lamp 63 also illuminates the space in front of the cleaner.

The pivotal mounting of the cover plate allows it to be swung fromthe full line to the dotted position shown in Figure 2, permitting access to the belt 33 and also to the interior of the suction nozzle for cleaning and other purposes.

With the cover plate in its open position, removal and replacement of the lamp may be effected upon removal of the

screws

61, 61 whereupon the cover plate 56 may be detached from the supporting plate 66, thus exposing the lamp to view.

35 and as thesocket of this lamp is provided with a customary bayonet joint, the lamp may be removed and replaced without difficulty.

The cleaner is provided with a handle in the form of a section of tubing 10 which is detachably received in a socket 1I provided at the upper end of a bail 12. The bail socket is slotted at 13, and alongside this slot a pair of ears 14 are formed. A screw 15 engages with the ears to clamp the socket 'Il tightly about the handle tube 10. Within the socket and tube a pair of complementary detachable electrical connector plugs 16 and 11 are loosely carried.

The attachment of the handle to the cleaner is effected by first connecting the plug elements 16 50 and 11 to each other. The cord 18 for the plug element 11 is long enough to permit this plug part to extend beyond the end of the tube a slight distance, so that the connection of the plug elements may be readily effected whereupon the tube 'I0of the handle may be fitted irto the socket 1I, and upon tightening of the screw 15, the handle parts are securely fastened together. The excess length of the cord 18 is received within the handle tube 18 when the handle parts are assembled.

The handle may be taken apart in a reverse manner by simply loosening the screw 15 and separating the tubular part of the handle from 5 the bail, whereupon the plug parts 'I6 and 11 are exposed to view and their disconnection may be readily effected. Neither one of the plug parts i 16` or 'I1 are xedly or permanently attached to the tube or bail and these elements are loosely carried within the handle.

The plug part 16 is connected to a cord 80 which is xed and concealed in the channel of the bail 12 so that the cord' normally is not exposed to view. The handle bail .12 is pivoted at its lower ends t0 the casing shell I by means of screws 8|, one of which is provided for each end of the bail.Y

Circular plates

82 and 88 are xedly attached to the ends or the bail by any suitable means, such as, rivets 84. These plates are received 5 within milled slots or notches 85 whiclrare cut in the casing at the places where the bail is attached to the casing. At the bottom'of the milled slots 85, there is provided an opening for reception of a square or rectangular plunger 86 10 having a roller 81 at its upper end and having a stem portion 88 at the Alower end thereof. The plunger is urged to its upper position by means of a spring 90 which is held in place by means of a threaded plug member 9| which is provided l5 with a suitable recess for receiving and guiding the stem portion 88 of the plunger.

The rollers 81 of the plungers are adapted for engagement with suitable notches 82 spaced about the edge or periphery of the

plates

82 and 83, so 20 that engagement of the roller in one or the other of these notches serves to hold the cleaner handle in one or the other of a plurality of adjustedl positions, and the position of the handle may be readily changed by simply overcoming the effect 25 of the rollers 81 on the

plates

82 and 83. A`pair of bosses 93 are formed inside the shell for reception of the plunger and its associated elements.

The disk 82 diers from the disk,83,in that 30 it is provided at its upper end with a hole 94 for receiving the cord 80. Adjacent the opening 94 the casing shell I is formed with an arcuate slot 95 so that the cord may be carried into the interior of the cleaner casing; the slot 85 permitting movement of the handle and the cord i which projects from the handle into the cleaner casing where it is connected to the motor ZI.

The milled slot which is cut in the casing shell I for reception of the plate 82 is slightly wider 4o than the slot which is provided for the plate 83. The extra width of this slot provides room for the reception of a washer 86 which may be formed from felt or other suitable material for providing an effective dust seal about the arcu- 45 ate slot 95 which is ,exposed to the dust and dirt inside the cleaner casing at the disch-arge side of the suction fan. The hole 94 is of such size as to snugly yet slidably receive the cord 80.

The lter bag Ill is designed so that it may 50 be constructed with a minimum amount of waste of material. This result is accomplished by having the top and bottom sides of the bag formed from substantially rectangular pieces of

cloth

91 and 98 which are double seamed to a relatively 55 narrow side strip I DII which forms substantially parallel wall sections at the opposite sides of the bag. At its lower end the bag is provided with an enlarged opening IUI. About this opening, a spring |82 is sewed to the bag so that the bag may be readily connected or disconnected with respect to the outlet 2 of the cleaner casing.

Up to the present time, it has been conceded generally that a cloth lter bag is the most satisfactory and effective device for the separation of 65 the dust and dirt from the air of `a. vacuum cleaner. Filter bags for this purpose, must of necessity, reduce the efficiency of the cleaner by reason of the back pressure they create at the discharge side of the fan case. This back pres- 70 sure, of course, may be reduced by using a bag of coarse mesh in which case, however, the ehiciency of the bag as a dust lter is greatly reduced as a great deal of dust and small particles of dirt are able to pass through a bagof coarse f5 mesh. For this reason, it is essential, for effective separation of the dust and dirt from the air handled by the cleaner, that the bag be made of material having relatively small pores.

The effectiveness of the cleaner, however, will not be greatly lessened if the bag has suiiicient area to provide a large number of pores for the escape of the air. A bag of this sort, when under pressure, ordinarily tends to assume a cylindrical or spherical shape and for this reason, bags of the prior art cleaners have been kept within certain limits of size, for when the cleaner is operated with the handle substantially parallel with the floor, as is often necessary, the cleaner bag if of any size, would interfere with the handle and rub against the floor and would hamper the manipulation of the cleaner to a large extent.

In the present case, the filter bag disclosed is of relatively large size and means are provided for preventing the bag from assuming a cylindrical shape when it is inflated so that when the cleaner is in use, the bag is of much greater width than thickness, thereby permitting operation of the cleaner with the handle close to the floor without interference by the bag as shown best in Figure 12.

This highly desirable result is effected by sewing strips |03 and |04 lengthwise along the medial line of the bag in the interior thereof. A number of snap fasteners |05 are provided along the length of the strips |03 and |04 and these may be unfastened for emptying the bag and turning it inside out although the bag may be emptied without resorting to such procedure, which is usually followed when a thorough emptying and cleaning of the bag is desired.

Figure 11 shows the cleanerv in position for emptying the dust and dirt which has collected in the bag and in the dust and litter compartment formed interiorly of the casing shell below the open end of the lter bag I0.

The plate 34 at its forward end is provided with a pair of extending arms |06, one at each side of the plate, having curved-over end portions I01 which partially embrace the tube 45 and provide a pivotal and detachable connection between the plate 34 and the tube 45a, so that the plate 34 may be swung downwardly away from the cleaner casing and entirely removed therefrom if desired.

Figure 14 shows the relative positions of the cleaner casing, bag and operating handle when the handle is in its lower position for cleaning under low articles of furniture, such as, beds and the like. It is clear-from this illustration that by reason of the peculiar construction of the bag, it does not rub against the fioor nor does it interfere with the handle of the cleaner.

All of the operating parts of the motor are sealed within the casing defined by the

frame parts

22 and 23 and the stator 2|. Air circulation inside the motor-is provided by means of a small fan I9 carried by the armature shaft of the motor. Heat generated in the motor is dissipated by reason of its being located in the discharge passageway of the cleaner where it is exposed to a fiow of relatively cool air which effectively accomplishes the cooling of the motor.

The handle grip and operating switch of the cleaner are shown in detail in Figure 15. The hand grip l0 is horn-shaped and extends downwardly of the handle tube 10 and it has an end which is curved forwardly of the grip. The peculiar shape of the hand grip facilitates the use of the cleaner in that it is not necessary for the operatoi` to tightly grip the handle in the use of the cleaner as the convex top side and the concave underside of the handle are designed for comfortable reception in the hand for both pushing and pulling operations on the handle.

A switch operating member ||2 is associated with a switch mechanism ||3 of conventional design which is-connected at one side to one of the strands ||4 of the extension cord |I5 of the cleaner. This cord is adapted for connection to an electrical source' of current supply and its other strand ||6 is connected to one of the strands of the cord I0 which is connected at its lower end to the plug part 11 and thus to the motor of the cleaner.

The second strand ||1 of the cord 10 is connected to the other side of the switch I3 so that when the switch is in its closed position, connection is effected between the strands |I4 and ||1 of the cords ||5 and 10 respectively, and conversely when the switch operating member ||2 is shifted to its open position, the aforesaid strands are disconnected from each other and in this manner the operation of the motor 2| is controlled by a simple and easily operated switch mechanism.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth are presented for purposes of illustration and explanation and that various modifications of said apparatus andprocedure may be made without departure from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claimis:

1. 1n a suction cleaner, a casing structure comprising, a hollow exteriorly finished shell open at its underside and defining top and side wall parts of a suction nozzle, a fan case and motor housing, a fan in the fan case with its axis arranged horizontally, a single wall member secured inside said shell for completing the suction nozzle and fan case, another wall member attached adjacent to the bottom edge of said shell for completing said motor housing, and means for supporting said cleaner with the lower edge of said shell close to the supporting surface.

2. A suction cleaner comprising, a hollow exteriorly finished shell open at its underside and defining exposed wall parts of a suction nozzle, a fan case and a litter storage compartment arranged one behind the other in the order named, an electric motor in the litter storage compartment having a substantially horizontally disposed armature shaft, a fan in said fan case operatively connected to the armature shaft of said motor, said litter storage compartment having a discharge outlet opening, and a filter bag communicating with the litter storage compartment by way of the discharge outlet opening thereof, said litter storage compartment having a di'splaceable bottom wall part by means of which accumulated dust and litter may be readily discharged from the litter storage compartment.

3. A suction cleaner comprising, ahollow exteriorly finished shell open at its underside and defining exposed wall parts of a suction nozzle, a fan case and la. litter storage compartment, an electric motor in the litter storage compartment having a substantially horizontally disposed armature shaft, a fan in the fan case operatively connected to the armature shaft of said motor,

Vsaid litter storage compartment having a displaceable bottom wall part -for permitting access assigne to the interior thereof, and supporting wheels for the cleaner rotatably carried by such wall part.

4. In a suction sweeper, a casing structure comprising a hollow exteriorly nished shell open at its underside and defining side and top wall parts of a suction nozzle, a fan case and a litter storage compartment, such litter storage compartment having a discharge outlet opening formed in a'wall thereof, a iilter bag communil eating with the discharge outlet opening ci' the litter storage compartment, an operating handle pivotally attached at one end to said casing structure and having said filter bag attached to its other end, a motor in the litter compartment having a horizontally disposed armature shaft projecting through the fan case and into the suetion nozzle, said motor having a dust-tight oasing enclosing the working parts of the motor, a fan in the fan case operatively connected to the armature shaft ol said motor, a 'brush rotatably mounted in the suction nozzle, and a power transmission belt connecting said brush to the armature shaft of said motora 5. An electrically-operated suction cleaner comprising, a casing structure defining a suction nozzle, fan case and litter compartment, a fan ln the fan case, a motor in the litter compartment operatively connected to said fan, a handle pi otally attached to the litter compartment of said casing structure, said handle comprising a 'bail and a shaft part extending upwardly therefrom, an electric cord carried by the shaft part and bail oi said handle, the litter7 compartment of said casing structure having an opening adjacent to the handle pivot and traversed by said cord, such opening being considerably larger than the diamn eter of said cord, and means movable with said cord and said handle bail forming an air seal for the opening ci said casing traversed. by said corel.,

6. An electrically operated suction cleanei; comprising, a casing structure, a motor therein9 an operating handle pivotally connected to sait?.

casing structure, said operating handle compris@ ing a bail and a shaft part attached thereto, and an electric cord. iixed to and carried by said bail, said casing structure having an arcuate opening,1 ici' receiving the cord, said cord beingJ movement with said hail and relative to the ing structure at the point where it enters casing structnie.,

7. An eleetricallgf1 operated suction clean-es comprising, a casing structure, a motor therein, an operating handle nivotally connected te sa casing structure, said operating handle compia ing a hail and a shan; part attached thereto, an electric cord fixed to and carried by said bail having a part with an aperture foi" ceiving the cord and introducing it into an aren ate cord receiving opening in said casing at ture, said part serving to conceal the cord within 'the leali at the point where it enters the casing structure.

JAMES B. KY..