US2244077A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1.94.1. .1. .NE'IDIG VACUUM CLEANER Ffi'led March 2, .1958 V Inventor:

Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention is directed at improving the efficiency of vacuum cleaners, whether of the portable type in common domestic use, or the built-in stationary type employing heavier vacuum producing agencies, in common use in ofiice buildings and hotels. Certain aspects of the invention are described and more broadly claimed in my application for United States patent, Serial Number 139,399, filed April 28, 1937, now pending.

One of the purposes of the general invention is to augment the suction intensity available to a vacuum cleaner without reducing the area of its suction aperture, through the employment of distributor devices that concentrate the vacuum locally upon portions of the aperture at a time, instead of applying it over the entire aperture at all times, thus covering the same aperture in a manner making smaller demands upon the motor, and increasing its ability to maintain a higher vacuum, or in the case of stationary motors, decreasing the vacuum consumption and therefore its cost, even when the pressure is already high.

Another of my purposes is to provide a suction nozzle that can be used upon the loose ends of small rugs or the like more freely, or upon any diflicult work-fabrics.

Another of my purposes is to show constructions embodying the combination of my suction augmenting devices with brush devices for use in suction cleaning.

Another of my purposes is to provide a means for distributing an augmented local suction over the work-fabric in a to-and-fro action.

Another of my purposes is to provide a vacuum distributor supplied with channels enabling advantage to be taken of the friction of the inrushing air in augmenting the vacuum suction.

The mechanism through which I accomplish theseseveral purposes is illustrated in the drawing. In the drawingr a i r Fig. l is anend view, partly broken away and partly in section, of the nozzle portion of a portable vacuum cleaner incorporating one of the embodiments of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the revoluble vacuum distributor and brush carrier used therein, removed from the nozzle, and slightly reduced in scale.

Fig. 3 is a front view of a modification of the distributor and carrier shown in Fig. 2.

Similar symbols of reference refer to similar parts-in the drawing.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and2 is described as follows:

A usual motor of a portable cleaner is indicated at I, and the fan driven thereby to supply the vacuum at la. The motor shaft is indicated at 2, a pulley fixed thereon at 3, and the nozzle shell or casing at 4. This casing houses a revoluble distributor member, to be described later, and also serves as a vacuum conduit between the fan chamber and the suction aperture 6 through which the cleaning is accomplished. Suction aperture 6 extends longitudinally of the nozzle, as in usual practice. The work fabric to be cleaned is indicated at l.

The distributor member referred to as housed by casing 4 is indicated at 8.. It is both a vacuum distributor and a carrier and has other functions, as will appear. It is or may be journaled within the end walls of casing 4 at axle 9 of usual ball bearings in substantially the same position as a usual revoluble brush or beater, and like such brush or beater co-operates at suction aperture-6 with the vacuum in cleaning the work fabric, but in ways quite unlike the action of such devices. In the drawing. it is shown as having a contour that is substantially cylindrical, with a peripheral surface that is interrupted by circumferentially extending vacuum channels iii. In the present embodiment these. are defined by lips that lie in a plane oblique to the axis of the distributor member 8, and when member 8 is in operative position, lie bridgingly across suction aperture 6, so that if the lips of the suction aperture were incontact with the peripheral surface of member 8, a vacuum connection between the suction aperture 6 and the source of vacuum would be afforded only through such channels H3. The lips of aperture t however do not lie in contact with the surface of member 8, but are Withdrawn slightly from it, to afford clearance for the brush devices carried by such member, and also to aiford passage for certain types of trash, where such provision is found desirable. The construction of member 8 is shown clearly in Fig. 2, and the relationship between its operative position and suction aperture 6, in Fig. 1.

As will be seen, the rotation of member 8, so constructed and mounted, will result in bringing inclined channels ill into changing positions longitudinally of aperture 5, thereby distributing the vacuum to and fro along such aperture much as a hose might distribute a jet of water to and fro over a sidewalk. Since channels If] in the drawing have an area that is less than one-fourth the area of the peripheral surf-ace of member 8, thevacuum consumption will be that of a suction aperture having one-fourth the area of aperture 6, disregarding the clearance on either side of member 8, thereby enabling the motor to maintain a higher vacuum, or to maintain a given vacuum with a smaller expenditure of power, and at a consequent smaller expense.

As will be seen also, when the surface to be cleaned consists of a fabric having a nap, and member 8 is brought into contact with it and rotated (or member 8 of Fig. 3), the obliquely disposed leading edges of the blocking structure on said member will act to depress the nap and member 8 will then be supported by such peripheral blocking surface upon the bent-over nap and will block that portion of the nap from the vacuum. The bending-over action is not accompanied by a vacuum action. Not until the passing of a blocking portion of member 8 from contact with the nap at a given point does this action at that point take place. Upon the passing of such peripheral blocking surface, however, the nap at that point springs upright into the adjoining obliquely disposed channel lil, now presented thereto, assisted by the intensified vacuum action, and instantly becomes subjected to a concentrated vacuum scouring. It may be pointed out that the bending over of the nap is accomplished at all times through an action directed at a point near the tips of the nap, and not at its roots, the support of the bentover nap making a too deep action impossible. The entire cleaning action therefore, while very effective, is gentle and easy upon the fabric. A similar gentle cleaning action occurs in connection with the use of member 8 shown in Fig. 3.

By giving channels H] (or I9 in Fig. 3) a depth as shown and a low angular inclination I not only secure a gentle action against a nap however deep, but provide a construction permitting loose ends as of rugs to be drawn into such channels without fouling. Such loose ends merely pull out again as the cleaner passes on.

The construction described has the further advantage of making use of the friction attending the movement of the vacuum stream within the confinement of channels. The rotation of member 8 as shown in'Fig. 1 is in clock direction. Since the vacuum stream in passing through channels In is acted upon frictionally by the walls of the channels, and these revolve with member 8 at considerable speed, the vacuum stream on the Work side of member 8 has its speed increased by such friction, while on the other side of member 8 the friction acts against the vacuum stream to retard it. In both cases this action tends to conserve the vacuum.

Such frictional assistance is increased as the width of channels l (and I B in Fig. 3) is narrowed and their depth increased. If such assistance is desired the channels may be constructed as shown in the drawing, and they will preferably be given a depth of at least twice their width, since a relative depth less than that does not assure much friction.

It will be noted further that I prefer to arrange channels Hl on member 8 as shown in the drawing, with the inclination of their planes half in one direction and half in the other. The advantage is that the opposed action that results tends to stabilize the work-fabric.

In the drawing I show a brush that extends crosswise of channels lilin axial direction along the periphery of member 8, the brush being indicated at hits back or holder at l5, and the T-shaped recessin member 8 in which it is seated at Hi. The brush is useful in removing trash such as dogs hairs and cobwebs from the work-fabric, as in present practice, but its cleaning action is enhanced through association with member 8 and its vacuum channels.

Member 8 is preferably constructed as a hollow metal shell, but such construction is not essential. It is preferably given a power actuation by motor I through pulley 3, belt I! and pulley I8, but its actuation is not limited to such agencies. Since the speed at which it revolves is considerable, it is preferably constructed so as to rotate in balance, as will be understood. Pulley i8 may be described either as a part of member 8, or member 8 may be considered as composed of two cylinders axled end to end against pulley l8 and rotating as a unit with it.

The modification of the vacuum distributor and brush carrier that is illustrated in Fig. 3 is described as follows: The channeled distributor member is indicated in this figure at 8 It differs from member 8 in having its peripheral channels ['0 arranged helically instead of circumferentially. In the drawing, channel I6 is shown as an interrupted helix on either side of the central pulley is, but whether it is a continuous channel or not is immaterial. In the drawing, channels I0 at either end of member 8 are shown as of opposed pitch, one being lefthand and one right-hand. Thisarrangement of the channeling serves to prevent the displacement of the work-fabric during the cleaning operation. The brush l4 shown as used with channels H3 is the same in construction as that described in connection with channels Ill of Fig. 2, and cooperates in the cleaning action in much the same way.

It will be understood that the surfaces of members 8 and 8 will preferably be polished and the corners of the channeling slightly rounded, so that their light contact with the work-fabric will cause no wear. It will be further understood that although the invention has been illustrated herein as applied to'a portable cleaner, its use is not confined to such, whether to decrease the vacuum consumption or to increase their cleaning efficiency. The width and depth of the channeling, and its pitch, are somewhat immaterial;-they may be as is preferred for the use in View.

The action of the mechanism has been described. 7

Having thus clearly described my invention and explained its uses, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a Vacuum cleaner, in combination: a source of vacuum; a hollow nozzle connected therewith, said nozzle having a suction aperture therein; a revoluble cylinder journaled to rotate within the nozzle in a position adjacent to the aperture and partly blocking it, said cylinder having its blocking surface interrupted by helically arranged channeling defined by lips adapted to part the nap of the work-fabric when rotated in contact therewith, the channeling righthanded on one portion of the cylinderand lefthanded on another; brush devices disposed on the cylinder across the channeling and cooperating with the vacuum brought to the work thereby in the cleaning action; and power means connected to rotate the cylinder, thereby presenting the vacuum to the aperture by moving zones and rendering the cooperating devices effective.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, in combination: a source of vacuum; a hollow nozzle connected thereto, said nozzle defining a suction aperture affording access therefrom to the work-surface; a revoluble distributor-member mounted at said aperture, said member of substantially cylindrical figure, and constructed having obliquely disposed channels therein defined by impervious material of full diameter, said channels being adapted to serve as pneumatic conduits between the vacuum and th work-surface, and to carry away dirt removed therefrom, and the full-diameter structure being adapted to be interposed between the vacuum and the work-surface, said structure having a full-diameter area greater than the mouth-area of the channels defined by it; brush devices mounted on said member, adapted to cooperate with said several devices in the cleaning; and means adapted to rotate said member through all of its angular positions thereby directing the vacuum upon changing local portions of the work-surface.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, in combination: a source of vacuum; a hollow nozzle connected thereto, said nozzle defining a suction aperture affording access therefrom to the work-surface; a revoluble distributor-member mounted at said aperture, said member of substantially cylindrical figure, and constructed having obliquely disposed channels therein defined by impervious material of full diameter, said channels being adapted to serve as pneumatic conduits between the vacuum and the work-surface, and having walls separated by a distance less than half that of their depth from floor to lips, and the fulldiameter structure being adapted to be interposed between the vacuum and the work-surface, said structure having a full-diameter area greater than the mouth-area of the channels defined by it; and means adapted to rotate said member through all of its angular positions, thereby directing the vacuum upon changing local portions of the work-surface.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, in combination: a source of vacuum; a hollow nozzle connected thereto, said nozzle defining a suction aperture afiording access therefrom to the work-surface; a revoluble distributor-member mounted at said aperture, said member of substantially cylindrical figure, and constructed having obliquely disposed annular channels therein defined by impervious material of full diameter, said channels being adapted to serve as pneumatic conduits between the vacuum and the work-surface, and to carry away dirt removed therefrom, and the full diameter structure being adapted to be interposed between the vacuum and the work-surface, said structure having a full-diameter area greater than the mouth-area of the channels defined by it; and means adapted to rotate said member through every angular position thereof, thereby directing the vacuum in a to-and-fro action upon changing local portions of the work-surface.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, in combination: a source of vacuum; a hollow nozzle connected thereto, its shell defining a suction aperture afforing access therefrom to the work-surface; a revoluble distributor-member mounted at said aperture, said member of substantially cylindrical figure, and constructed having obliquely disposed annular channels therein defined by impervious material of full diameter, said channels being adapted to serve as pneumatic conduits between the vacuum and the work-surface, and to carry away dirt removed therefrom, and

the full-diameter structure being adapted to be interposed between the vacuum and the worksurface, said structure having a full-diameter area greater than the mouth-area of the channels defined by it; brush devices mounted on said member adapted to cooperate with the said several devices in the cleaning operation; and power means adapted to rotate said member, thereby directing the vacuum upon changing local portions of the work-surface.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, in combination: a source of vacuum; a hollow nozzle connected thereto, said nozzle defining a suction aperture afiording access therefrom to the work-surface; a revoluble distributor-member mounted at said aperture, said member of substantially cylindrical figure, and constructed having obliquely disposed annular channels therein defined by impervious material of full diameter, said channels being adapted to serve as pneumatic conduits between the vacuum and the work-surface, and having walls separted by a distance less than half that of their depth from fioor to lips, and the full-diameter structure being adapted to be interposed between the vacuum and the worksurface, said structure having a full-diameter area greater than the mouth-area of the channels defined by it; and power means adapted to rotate said member, thereby directing the vacuum in a to-and-fro action upon changing local portions of the work-surface.

7. In a vacuum cleaner, in combination: a source of vacuum; a hollow nozzle connected therewith, said nozzle defining a suction apenture affording access therefrom to the work-surface; a revoluble distributor-member mounted at said aperture, said member of substantially cylindrical figure, and constructed having obliquely disposed annular channels therein defined by impervious material of full diameter, said channels being adapted to serve as pneumatic conduits between the vacuum and the work-surface, and having walls separated by a distance less than half that of their depth from floor to lips, the full-diameter structure being adapted to be interposed between the vacuum and the work-sunface, said structure having a full-diameter area greater than the mouth-area of the channels defined by it; brush devices mounted on said member adapted to cooperate with said devices in cleaning; and power means adapted to rotate said member.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, in combination: a source of vacuum; a hollow nozzle connected thereto, said nozzle defining a suction aperture affording access therefrom to the work-surface; a revoluble distributor-member mounted at said aperture, said member of substantially cylindri cal figure and constructed having helically disposed channels therein defined by impervious material of full diameter, said channels being adapted to serve as pneumatic conduits between the vacuum and the work-surface, and having walls separated by a distance less than half of their depth from floor to lips, the full-diameter structure being adapted to be interposed between the vacuum and the work-surface, said structure having a full-diameter area greater than the mouth-area of the channels defined by it, brush devices mounted on said member adapt ed to cooperate with said devices in cleaning, and power means adapted to rotate said member.

WILLIAM J. NEIDIG.

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