US2229083A

US2229083A - Suction cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2229083A
Application number: US247349A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred E Hansen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-12-23
Filing date: 1938-12-23
Publication date: 1941-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1958-01-21

Description

Jan. 21, 1941. F HANSEN 2,229,083

SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, 19158 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VENT OR. $50 [I Hausa/v jam j/mwjfw/ I ATTORNEY Jan. 21, 1941. F, E HAN -EN 2,229,083

SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. flee-0 f. f/mvaan m 7M f w f ATTORNEYfl Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Fred E. Hansen, Lakewood, Ohio Application December 23, 1938, Serial No. 247,349 6 Claims. (c1. 183-36) This invention relates to cleaning apparatus. and more particularly to improved suction cleaning apparatus which is especially useful for the cleaning of automobiles": furniture and various I other cleaning operations. An object of my invention is to provide improved suction cleaning apparatus capable of producing a powerful suction and having a novel dust-collecting means. i

Another object of my invention is to provide improved suction cleaning apparatus having its dust-collecting means arranged so that aselfcleaning of the filtering element is obtained.

Still another object of my invention. is to provide improved suction cleaning apparatus capable of producing a powerful suction and in which the degree of suction and the load on the suction creating device are substantially unaffected by the accumulation of waste material in the dustcollecting chamber. I

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets: of drawings, in which i i through suction cleaning apparatus embodying j my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on a larger scale taken through the suction creating device;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through my suction cleaning apparatus as indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is another transverse sectional view taken through the apparatus as indicated by line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views taken through the suction creating device at points indicated. respectively. by the section lines 5--5 and 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on a larger scale taken through a portion of the filtering element and inner container of the dustcollecting means; and

Fig. 8 is another fragmentary sectional View. 5. illustrating a cover latch of the outer container i and taken as indicated by line 8- 8 of Fig. l.

For the purpose of describing the construction and use of my improved suction cleaning apparatus, more detailed reference will presently he made to the drawings. Before proceeding with the detailed description, however, it should be understood that my invention is not necessarily limited to the embodiment of the invention. which is here shown .by way of example, but may be embodied in various other suction cleaning devices and apparatus.

My improved suction cleaning apparatus com prises in general an outer container or housing l0. having dust-collecting means 2|] therein, and a suction creating device or air impelling means x prevent the passage of dust.

log element is preferably of tapering form. that H having'ap intake pipe or connection l2 with which a suction nozzle or pick-up tool I! may be connected by a flexible conduit l4 and a discharge pipe l5 leading to the dust-collecting means for delivering dust-laden air to the latter. 5 The housing l0 may be in the form of an upright metal container, preferably, though not )means is supported, as will presently be explained. To permit the apparatus to be readily moved from one position to another, the outer container may be mounted on a plurality of casters zl. l

The dust-collecting means 20 may comprise an upright inner container 23 having side and .bottom walls. and a filtering element 24 extend- 1 j ing across the top thereof. Fig. 1 is a partial vertical sectional view taken .5

This inner container is also preferably, though not necessarily. of cylindrical shape and is of a smaller diameter than the outer container in so that it can be readily lowered into or removed from the latter and so that an intervening space 25 will be provided between the walls of the containers forming a downwardly extending air passage leading to atmosphere through the bottom opening of the outer container. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 4 the inner container is supported upon the transverse frame work |9 when lowered into the outer container and may be held against lateral shifting by the upright spacing clips 21 which are connected to the inner surface of the wall of the outer container at circumferentially spaced points. For convenience in lifting the inner container into or out of the outer container it may be provided with diametrically disposed handles 28 of ap ropriate size and shape.

The filter element 24 maycomprise a tubular or bag-like member formed of air pervious sheet material such as a suitable fabric which will readily permit the passage of air but which will This tubular filterat 3| to provide a flange or shoulder for preventing the lower end of the filter from becoming disconnected from the container. The relatively small opening at the upper and of the filter may have a grommet 32 therein of a size to slidably receive the discharge pipe I5 of the suction device II.

The inner container 23 forms a collecting chamber for dust or other refuse and for this purpose may be provided adjacent its upper end with a bafile or deflector member 34. This member may be in the form of an inwardly dished or tapered cover having a rim portion adapted to fit the upper end of the container and a central opening 36 through which the discharge pipe I5 extends into the dust-collecting chamber. The opening 36 is considerably larger than the outer diameter of the discharge pipe I5 so as to provide an escape opening for the passage of air out of the dust-collecting chamber.

As will be readily seen from Fig. 1 the filtering element 24 is disposed across the top of the container 23 outwardly of the deflecting member 34 so that air escaping from the dust-collecting chamber through the opening 36 will be filtered before escaping to atmosphere through the passage or space 25 and the bottom opening of the outer container. By constructing the deflector member 34 with an inwardly extending bulge or taper it will be seen that the dust or other refuse contacting the same will readily slide down its sloping surfaces toward the opening 36 and will drop downwardly therefrom into the dust-collecting chamber.

For supporting the filtering element 24 in a more or less distended condition and to prevent this element from collapsing and dropping down onto the deflector 34 or into the inner container 23, I may provide a frame-like structure 38 extending upwardly from the inner container and over which the filtering element extends, as shown in Fig. 1. This structure may be formed of connected metal bars, hardware cloth or poultry Wire or any other suitable material and, if desired, may be mounted on the rim portion 35 of the deflector member 34. The structure 38 is preferably of ring-like form so that the relatively smaller upper end of the filtering element can extend in a reverse or downward direction into this supporting structure. If desired this end of the filtering element may be retained in such inwardly extending relation by providing a collar or flange 40 at an appropriate point on the discharge pipe I5. Leakage of air through the grommet 32 and past the flange 46 may be prevented or retarded by a felt sealing washer M lo.- cated on the pipe I5 between the washer and the grommet.

With the arrangement just described for the filtering element it will be seen that when dustladen air is discharged or delivered downwardly through the pipe I5 into the inner container 23 a flow of air with more or less dust therein will pass upwardly through the opening 36 of the deflector 34 and as this air passes through the filtering element the dust will be screened or extracted therefrom. Since the filtering element is supported in a. more or less distended condition by the structure 38 and can be readily puffed out by the air, its entire surface area will at all times be effective for filtering purposes. Moreover, in locating the filter to extend across the top of the container 23 and supporting the same by the structure 38, it will be seen that dust or other material screened from the outward flow of air by the filter will readily drop therefrom onto the tapering deflector 34 and thence pass down. into the dust-collecting chamber. The alternate pufling out and partial collapsing of the filter will cause more or less movement thereof tending to loosen the dust therefrom. It will thus be seen that an efiicient filtering action and a selfcleaning of the filtering element is obtained.

The suction creating device II is preferably, though not necessarily, mounted on the cover I6 so that the discharge pipe I5 may depend from the underside of the cover and extend downwardly through the filtering element and into the dust-collecting chamber. While various kinds of suction creating devices can be employed, I have devised a device which will produce a high vacuum and accordingly a strong suction at the nozzle I3. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, this suction creating device may comprise a hollow body 43 having a cover or intake fitting 44 rotatably and detachably connected thereto. The cover may telescope over a grooved annular extension 45 of the body 43 for swivelling or rotative movement thereon and may be detachably connected with the body by a thumb screw 46 engaging in the groove of the projection 45. The intake connection I 2 with which the flexible conduit I4 is connected may be formed integral with the cover 44 so that the intake passage will communicate with the chamber 41 of the body 0 through the recess or chamber 48 of the cover.

A screen or basket 49 formed of hardware cloth, or other suitable foraminous material, may be removably suspended in the chamber of the body 43 .so that the air stream flowing through the latter must pass through the screen. The screen preferably has mesh or openings of a relatively large size so that dust and lint can readily pass therethrough but of a size to retain foreign bodies or articles of a larger size which might otherwise cause damage or clogging of the suc tion creating device. To afford a view of the screen 49 I may provide the cover 44 with a window 50 in the wall thereof. This window may be of any desired size or shape, and as shown in this instance, may be semi-spherical and located at the top of the cover 44. By looking through this window the operator can see whether the strainer 49 has become clogged or partially clogged with material which should be removed. He can also observe, by merely glancing at the window. whether dust or the like is passing through the intake passage and will thus be informed whether or not the apparatus is functioning properly. When the screen 49 becomes clogged or partially clogged the cover 44 can be disconnected and the screen removed for cleaning, or for recovery of jewelry or the like which may have been picked up by the suction nozzle I3.

As the suction producing or air impelling means I may employ a jet .or nozzle 52 and a restricting means or Venturi element 53 with which such jet cooperates. The element 53 may be mounted in the body 43 just above the discharge pipe I5 and the jet 52 may be supported in the body immediately above such element. The element 53 has a restricted passage 54 therethrough with oppositely disposed converging and diverging

sections

55 and 56 at opposite ends of the restriction. The jet 52 is arranged in axial alignment with the element 53 so as to discharge a high velocity stream of air through the restricted passage thereof toward the discharge pipe I5 to thereby create a vacuum or suction in I the intake passage and nozzle I3 and to cause a flow of the dust-laden air into the dust-collecting chamber of the inner container 23.

Compressed air may be supplied to the jet 52 through a passage 51 with which an air supply hose 58 connects. A manually operable valve 59 controls the passage 51 and is located so as to be conveniently accessible to the operator.

My suction cleaning apparatus can be operated with a quantity of water 60, or other suitable liquid, in the bottom of the inner container 23. This water will be agitated by the air being discharged through the pipe l5 and will wet and,

settle the dust in the dust-collecting chamber thereby preventing an excessive amount of dust from collecting on the filter. The deflector 34 will also prevent the water from contacting the filter 24. The weight of the water in the container also acts as ballast which assists in keeping the apparatus upright on the casters 2|.

From the arrangement and construction above described it will be seen that the suction'creating device I I and the cover l6 are removable as a unit from the container or housing to. Likewise it will be seen that the dust-collecting means 20 comprising the inner container 23, the deflector member 34, the supporting structure 38 and the filtering element 26 can also be removed as a unit by lifting the same from the outer container ill whenever the dust-collecting chamber is to be emptied. It will likewise be seen that my suction cleaning apparatus can be easily rolled from one position to another by reason of the provision of the casters 2i and such shifting of the apparatus can frequently be accomplished by the operator merely pulling on the flexible conduit I 4. Fur-- modifications as do not constitute a departure from the spirit or the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In suction cleaning apparatus, an outer container having a cover, air impelling means mounted on said cover and having a pipe depending from the underside of the cover for delivering dust-laden air, an inner container supported in the outer container and into which said pipe extends, said inner container having side and bottom walls defining a chamber for collecting refuse, and a filter extending across the top of the inner container and having an opening to accommodate said pipe, said cover and impelling means being detachable as a unit from the outer container and said inner container and filter being removable from the outer container as a unit.

2. In suction cleaning apparatus, an outer container having a cover, air impelling means mounted on said cover and having a pipe depending from the underside of the cover for delivering dust-laden air, an inner container supported in the outer container and providing adust-collecting chamber into which said pipe extends, an inwardly dished cover for the inner container forming a battle having an opening of a size to accommodate said pipe and to permit the escape of air from the dust-collecting chamber around said pipe, a ring-like structure on said cover and extending above the inner container, and a flexible filter element connected with the inner container so as to extend across the top thereof and to be chamber, means for delivering dust-laden airinto said container, a flexible filter bagconnected with said container adjacent said open top'and extending thereacross, and a ring-like structure mounted on the container and extending above the open top thereof for supporting said filter bag in, an upwardly distended condition relative to said open top 01' the container. 7

4. In suction cleaning apparatus, a housing, a container in said housing, said container having impervious side and bottom walls and forming a dust-collecting chamber, an inwardly dished cover for the container forming a baffle having an air escape opening therein, means for delivering dust-laden air into said container, a ring-like structure supported by the container and extending above said cover, and a flexible filter bag connected with the container adjacent the top thereof and extending thereacross above said cover, said filter bag being at least partially supported by said ring-like structure in an upwardly distended condition relative to said cover.

5. In suction cleaning apparatus, an outer container having a removable cover and an opening for the escape of air to atmosphere, an inner container open at the top thereof and having impervious side and bottom walls forming a dustcollecting chamber, a filter bag connected with the inner container adjacent the top thereof and extending thereacross, and means for delivering dust-laden air into said inner container including a pipe depending from the cover of the outer container and extending through said filter bag and into said inner container, said inner container and filter bag being removable as a unit from said outer container. 7

6. In suction cleaning apparatus, an outer container having a removable cover and a bottom opening to atmosphere, an inner container having'impervious side and bottom walls forming a dust-collectin 'chamber and being disposed in the outer container with the side wall of the inner container spaced from the side wall of the outer container to form an air passage leading to atmosphere through said bottom opening of the outer container, an inwardly dished cover on said inner container and forming a baffle having an air escape opening at the lowest point thereof, a fiexible filter bag connected with the inner container adjacent the top thereof and extending thereacross above said inwardly dished cover, a ringlike structure supported by the innercontainer and extending thereabove for supporting the fliter bag in an upwardly distended condition relative to saidinwardly dished cover, and means for delivering dust-laden air into said inner container including a pipe depending from the cover of said outer container and extending through said filter bag and the air escape opening of said inwardly dished cover, said inner container with said filter bag thereon being removable as a'unit from said outer container.

FRED E. HANSEN.