US2329563A

US2329563A - Suction cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2329563A
Application number: US433141A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles H Taylor
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1942-03-03
Filing date: 1942-03-03
Publication date: 1943-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 1960-09-14

Description

p 1943. c. H. TAYLOR SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR CHARLES H.TAYLOR.

WITNESSES:

Sept. 14, 1943. i c. H. TAYLOR 2,329,563

SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed March 3, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Y... i \N p INVENTOR BY" ATTORNEY CHARLES H.7'3YLOR;

Patented Sept. 14, 1943 2,329,553 SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Charles H. Taylor, Springfield, Massi, assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 3, 1942, Serial No. 433,141

15 Claims. (Cl. 15-8) This invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to a cleaner of the type having a vertically-movable nozzle with a rotatable brush therein.

An object is to provide improved apparatus of the type described.

The brush rolls in suction cleaners of the type described sometimes rotate at speeds as high as 3000 R. P. M. In normal operation of such cleaners the brush roll is in engagement with the covering being cleaned. This does not damage the covering as long as the cleaner is not allowed to remain in one place for too long a time. However, when a cleaner is left standing with the brush roll running on one spot for some time, the engagement of the brush roll with the covering in one spot for a long time causes carpet burn or unnecessary wear to the covering.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved arrangement, whereby, when the handle of the cleaner is released in certain positions of the same, the brush roll is elevated out of contact with the surface on which the cleaner rests.

A further object is to provide an imp oved arrangement, whereby, when the handle is released in its normal operating range, the weight of the handle will raise the nozzle and the brush roll out of contact with the surface on which the cleaner rests.

A still further object is to provide an improved arrangement, whereby, when the handle is moved to storage position, the nozzle and the brush roll are raised out of contact with the surface on which the cleaner rests.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the cleaner, with parts broken away, showing the position of the nozzle when the handle is in its normal operating range;

Fig. 2 is a view thereof showing the position of the nozzle after the handle has been released in its normal operating range;

Fig. 3 is a view thereof, showing the position of the nozzle when the handle is lowered for cleaning under low objects;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cleaner with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a view thereof, showing the position of the nozzle when the handle is in storage position;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the cleaner, with the handle in storage position;

Fig. 7 is a detail View of the link; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the bracket that limits the vertical movement of the crankpins on which the front wheels are mounted.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a suction cleaner of the conventional fioor type including a casing I 0 is shown for the purpose of illustrating this invention. The casing I0 comprises a motor body portion I I which houses a motor I2, a fan chamber p rtion I3 having a fan I4 therein for creating a suction, and a downwardly-extending nozzle portion I5 connected to the fan chamber. The motor I2 rotates a shaft I6 which extends forwardly into the fan chamber and the nozzle. The fan I I is mounted on this shaft and rotates therewith. The nozzle portion I 5 has an inlet I9 thereto which is defined by a front wall 20, a rear wall 2I and a pair of end walls 22. A brush roll 24 is rotatably mounted in the nozzle sufficiently close to the inlet I9 so that when the nozzle is in proper relation to the surface on which the cleaner rests for proper cleaning the brush roll 24 contacts the surface being cleaned. Rotary motion is applied to the brush roll 24 by a rubber belt '25 which runs on a pulley 26 on the brush roll 24 and on an extension of the motor shaft IS.

A wheel pocket, defined by the wall 2|, a rear wall 28, a top wall 29, and a pair of end walls 30, is provided just behind the nozzle inlet IS. The cleaner is supported by a pair of front wheels 35, located in the wheel pocket, and a pair of rear wheels 36. The rear wheels are rotatably carried on an axle 52 which is attached to a pair of spaced ribs 3|, which depend from the motor body portion II.

The front wheels are carried on a crankshaft or bowed axle 31 which is located in the wheel pocket. The axle 31 includes a central portion 38 and portions 39 substantially normal thereto and spindles or crankpins 40 and 40:: substantially normal to the portions 39. The wheels 35 are rotatably carried on the crankpins 40 and 40a of the axle 31. The axle 31 is fixed in the wheel pocket by straps II which attach the portion 38 to the rear wall 28 of the wheel pocket. The axle 31 is rotatable, in the straps 4| as bearings. A torsion spring" surrounds the portion 38 of the axle 31 and one end of the same is attached to the axle 31 by means of a pin 43 and the other end abuts against the under side of the motor body portion. This spring biases the axle 31 in the direction to raise the crankpins 40 and 48a and consequently the front wheels 35 upward into the wheel pocket. This relative upward movement of the wheels 35 results in a corresponding relative downward movement of the front end of the housing and the nozzle will assume a position close to the surface being cleaned, as shown in Fig. 1. As

the crankpin 48 is pulled rearwardly (or to the right in Fig. 1) by the link 51 and handle 54, the crankpin is also pulled downwardly and since its distance from the surface being cleaned is constant, the nozzle 29 is elevated as shown in Fig. 2. A bracket 44 is attached to the top wall 29 of the wheel pocket, by means of a flange 45 and screws 46 (Fig. or some other suitable means, and depends downwardly therefrom. This bracket 44 has a notch 41 therein near its lower end in which the crankpin 40 of the axle 31 moves vertically when the axle 31 is rotated to move the nozzle vertically with respect to the wheels 35. This notch has top side portion v48 which abuts against the crankpin 40 to limit the upward movement of the same and a bottom side portion 49 which abuts against the crank pin 48 to limit the downward movement of the same when the axle'31 is rotated to move the nozzle vertically upward or downward, respectively, relative to the wheels 35.

A handle 53 is provided for propelling the cleaner over the surface to be cleaned. The handle has a fork 54 at its lower end, the lower ends of which are pivotally attached to the ribs 3| by a shaft 55. One side of the fork 54 has an ear 56 thereon to which one end of a link 51 is pivoted at 58. The other-end of the link 51 has an oblong slot 59 therein. The crankpin 48a of the axle 31 is positioned in the oblong slot 59. A latch member 60 havinga projecting portion 5| which has a first cam surface 6Ia and a second cam surface Gib is pivoted to a side of the link 51 at 63. The projection 6| on the latch member 50 lies across the slot 59 in the link 51 and divides it into a front portion 59a and a rear portion 59b. A tension spring 65 of greater strength than the coil spring 42 is attached to the latch member B0 at 55 and to the link 51 at 51 and biases the latch member 50 downwardly toward the crankpin 40. A pin 68 located on the link 51 serves as a stop for the latch member 60 and prevents the spring 55 from pulling it down too far toward the crankpin 40.

Operation When the cleaner is used for normal cleaning, that is, with the handle in its normal operating range, the handle 53 extends rearwardly at an inclination of less than 45 to the right of a vertical line passing through the handle pivot 55. as seen in Fig. 1. With the handle 53 within this range, the front wheels 35 and the nozzle are positioned as shown in Fig. 1. That is, the coil spring 42 biases the axle 31 so that the crankpin 40 abuts against the top side 48" of the notch 41 in the bracket 44 and the nozzle is in its lowermost position relative to the wheels 35. In this position, the nozzle of the cleaner is in proper relation to the surface being cleaned so that the brush roll 24 properly contacts the surface being cleaned. If the operator should release the handle 53 in its normal operating range, such as might happen if the operator is called to the door, or the phone, or has to release the handle to move furniture, it will fall downwardly by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 2, which is between the normal operating range of the handle and its position for'cleaning under low objects, such as beds. It will be noted that, during the downward movement of the handle 53, the link 51 and consequently the latch member 50 move rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1, and the crankpin 40 is pulled down against the bottom side 49 of the notch 41 by the projection 5| on the latch 50. The weight of the handle-53 holds the crankpin 40 against the bottom side 40 of the notch 41, and the nozzle is raised to its uppermost position relative to the wheels 35. In this position the nozzle and the brush roll therein are raised from the surface on which the cleaner rests a suflicient distance so that the brush roll 24 cannot contact the surface on which the cleaner rests.

If it is desired to use the cleaner for cleaning under low objects, such as beds or the like, the handle is moved downwardly to a position approximately as indicated in Fig. 3. This is done by moving the handle first to the position indicated in Fig. 2, then applying an additional downward force to the handle 53. This force moves the link 51 and the latch member 60 still further rearwardly, from the position shown in Fig. 2, and causes the cam surface 61a. to ride over the crankpin 40 and raise the latch member 60, against the force of the spring 65, and permit the crankpin 40 to be biased by the coil spring 42 into the front portion 59a of the slot 59,, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position of the handle 53, the coil spring 42 holds the crankpin 40 against the top side 48 of the notch 41. In this position, the nozzle is in substantially the same relation to the surface being cleaned as when the handle is in its normal operating range, as shown in Fig. 1, and the brush roll 24 properly contacts the surface being cleaned. To raise the handle 53 from this position to its normal operating or storage position, an upward force is applied to the end of the handle 53. This causes the cam surface Bib to ride over the crankpin 40a and raise the latch member 60 to permit the crankpin 40 to pass back to the rear portion 59b of the slot 59, as seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 5.

When the handle 53 is it is inclined to the left of a vertical line passing through the pivot 55, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which position it is held against a stop member in its storage position,

64 by the force of gravity acting on the handle,

which stop is attached to the motor body. It will be noted that in moving the handle 53 from its normal operating range to this position the pivot point 58 is moved to a position below a line passing through the handle pivot 55 and the center of the crankpin 40a and rearwardly of the position shown in Fig. l, and, as a consequence, the link 51 and the latch 60 are also moved rearwardly, from the position shown in Fig. 1, far enough so that the crankpin 40a is pulled downward by the projection 6| on the latch 60 to a position so that the crankpin 40 is approximately midway between the

sides

48 and 49 of the notch 41. In this position of the crankpins, the nozzle is in an intermediate position relative to the wheels 35 but far enough upward from the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3 so that the brush roll 24 will not contact the surface on which the cleaner rests.

It is important to raise the brush roll 24 out of contact with the surface on which the cleaner rests when the handle is in its storage position,

because sometimes the operator may place the cleaner on the surface to be cleaned and connect it to a source of power with the switch turned onand leave it standing for some time before starting to move it back and forth over the surface. If this should happen, the brush roll 24 if allowed to run in contact with one spot on the surface for a long time might injure the surface.

surface rides over said crankarm and permits From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it is seen that this invention provides an improved arrangement, whereby the brush roll is elevated out of contact with the surface on which the cleaner rests when the handle is released in its normal operating position, and, also when the handle is moved to its storage position.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereclaims.

What I claim is: v

1. In a suction cleaner, a casirig having a downwardly-extending nozzle at the forward end thereof, a rotatable cleaning member mounted in said nozzle to contact the surface being cleaned, rear supporting wheels, a crankshaft pivoted rearwardly of said nozzle, front supporting wheels rotatably carried on said crankshaft, a handle pivoted rearwardly of said front wheels for propelling the cleaner over the surface to be cleaned, and a link pivoted to the lower end of said handle and slidably engaging said crankshaft, said link coacting between said handle and said crankshaft in such manner that when said handle is moved to a position beyond its range of normal operation such movement will rotate said crankshaft and lower said front wheels relative to said nozzle, which movement will elevate said nozzle and lift said rotatable cleaning member from contact with the surface being cleaned.

2. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a downwardly-extending nozzle at the forward end thereof, a rotatable cleaning member mounted in said nozzle to contact the surface being cleaned, rear supporting wheels, a bowed axle or crankshaft pivoted rearwardly of said nozzle, said axle including a portion by means of which it is pivoted to said casing and oppositely-disposed crankarms, front supporting wheels rotatably carried on said crankarms, spring means biasing said bowed axle or crankshaft in a direction to move said front wheels vertically, a handle pivoted rearwardly of said front wheels for propelling the cleaner over the surface to be cleaned, a link pivoted at one end to said handle, the opposite end of said link having an oblong slot therein in which one of said crankarms is positioned, a latch member pivoted to one side of said link and having a projection thereon which extends across said oblong slot in said link so that when said handle is released within its normal operating range the weight of the same will move said link rearwardly and pull the crankarm carried in said slot downwardly by said projection and move said front wheels downward relative to said nozzle and elevate said nozzle and the rotatable cleaning member positioned therein, a stop limiting the downward movement of said front wheels, said projection having a cam surface thereon whereby when said handle is moved further downwardly from the position in which it comes to rest when released in its normal operating range, said cam upon as are specifically set forth' in the appended said spring to rotate said bowed axle or crankshaft and raise said front wheels relative to said nozzle and permit said nozzle and the rotatable cleaning member therein to move downwardly to a position such that said nozzle is in proper relation to the surface being cleaned for proper cleaning thereof.

3. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a downwardly-extending nozzle at the forward end thereof, a rotatable cleaning member mounted in said nozzle to contact the surfacebeing cleaned, rear supporting wheels, a bowed axle or crankshaft pivoted rearwardly of said nozzle, said axle including a portion by means of which it is pivoted to said casing and oppositely-disposed crankarms, front supporting means rotatably carried on said crankarms, a coiled spring arranged to apply a turning moment to said axle in a direction to move said front wheels vertically relative to said nozzle, a handle pivoted rearwardly of said front wheels for propelling the cleaner over the surface being cleaned, a link pivoted at one end to said handle, the other end of said link having an oblong slot therein, a latch member pivoted at one side of said link and having a projection thereon extending across said oblong slot in said link and dividing said slot into first and second portions, one of said crankarms of said bowed axle or crankshaft being positioned in said first portion of said oblong slot when said handle is in its normal operating range or in its storage position, the weight of said handle being such that when released in its normal operating range it will drop by gravity and move said link rearwardly and pull the crankarm positioned in said oblong slot rearwardly by said projection and bias said front wheels downwardly relative to said nozzle and elevate said nozzle and consequently the rotatable cleaning member mounted therein to such a position that the rotatable cleaning member does not contact the surface on which the cleaner rests, said projection on said latch having first and second cam surfaces thereon whereby when said handle is moved further downwardly from the position in which it comes to rest when released in its normal operating range into a position for cleaning under low objects, said first cam surface rides over the crankarm positioned in said oblong slot and permits said coil spring to rotate said bowed axle or crankshaft and move the crankarm positioned in said oblong slots forwardly into the second portion of said slot, and raise said front wheels relative to said nozzle to a position such that said nozzle and the rotatable cleaning member is lowered into proper relation to the surface being cleaned for proper cleaning thereof.

4. The structure recited in claim 3, and a second cam surface on said projection whereby when said handleis raised upwardly from its position for cleaning under low objects said second cam surface rides over the crankarm carried in said oblong slot and raises said latch to permit said handle to be moved to its normal operating range or storage position.

5. The structure recited in claim 3, wherein upon moving said handle to storage position said bowed axle or crankshaft is rotated in a direction to move said front wheels downwardly relative to said nozzle and raise said nozzle and the rotatable cleaning member positioned therein from contact with the surface on which the cleaner rests.

6. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a downwardly-extending. nozzle at the forward end thereof, a rotatable cleaning member mounted in said nozzle to contact the surface being cleaned, rear supporting wheels attached to said casing, a bowed axle or crankshaft pivoted rearwardly of said nozzle, said axle including a portion by means of which it is pivoted to said casing and oppositely-disposed crankpins, front supporting wheels rotatably carried on said crankpins, a coiled spring surrounding that portion of said bowed axle or crankshaft which is pivoted to said casing and arranged to bias said axle or crankshaft in a direction to move said front wheels vertically relative to said nozzle, a handle pivoted rearwardly of said front wheels for propelling the cleaner over the surface being cleaned, a link pivoted at one end to said handle, the other end of said link having an oblong slot therein, a latch member pivoted to one side of said link and having a projection thereon which extends across said oblong slot and divides it into first and second portions, said projection having first and second cam surfaces thereon, one of said crankpins being positioned in said first portion of said oblong slot when said handle is in its normal operating range or in its storage position, the weight of said handle being such that when it is released in its normal operating range it will fall by gravity downwardly and pull the crankpin located in said oblong slot downwardly by said projection and move said front wheels downward relative to saidnozzle and elevate said nozzle and said rotatable cleaning member out of contact with the surface being cleaned, said first cam surface of said projection being so formed that as said handle is moved further downwardly from the position in which it comes to rest when released in its normal operating range for cleaning under low objects, said first cam surface will ride over the erankpin positioned in said oblong slot and raise said latch and permit said coiled spring to rotate said bowed axle or crankshaft and move the crankpin positioned in the oblong slot into said second portion of said oblong slot, which movement moves said front wheels vertically relative to said nozzle and lowers said nozzle and consequently said rotatable cleaning member into proper cleaning relation to the surface being cleaned, said second cam surface on said projection being so fashioned that when said handle is raised from its position for cleaning under low objects, said cam surface will ride over the crankpin carried in said oblong slot and raise said projection and permit the crankpin to pass back to the first portion of said oblong slot.

7. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a downwardly-extending nozzle at the forward end thereof, a rotatable cleaning member mounted in said nozzle to contact the surface being cleaned, rear supporting wheels for said casing, a bowed axle pivoted to said casing rearwardly of said nozzle, front supporting wheels rotatably carried on said bowed axle, a handle pivoted to said casing rearwardly of said front supporting wheels, link mechanism coacting between said handle and said bowed axle, said handle and said link mechanism and said bowed axle being so correlated that when said handle is released in its normal operating range it will fall by gravity and move said link rearwardly from its normal position when the handle is within its normal operating range and rotate said bowed axle which moves said front wheels vertically relative to said nozzle and elevates said nozzle and the rotatable cleaning member carried therein out of contact with the surface being cleaned, and when said handle i moved to its storage position said link mechanism is likewise moved rearwardly from its position when the handle is within its normal operating range and rotates said bowed axle which moves said front wheels vertically relative to said nozzle and elevates said nozzle and the rotatable cleaning member carried therein out of contact with the surface being cleaned.

8. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a downwardly-extending nozzle at the forward end thereof, a rotatable cleaning member mounted in said nozzle to contact the surface being cleaned,

rear supporting wheels, at bowed axle or crankshaft pivoted rearwardly of said nozzle, aid axle including a portion by means of which it is pivoted to said casing and oppositely-disposed crankarms, front supporting wheels rotatably carried on said crankarms, spring means biasing said bowed axle or crankshaft in a direction to move said front wheels upwardly, a handle pivoted rearwardly of said front wheels for propelling the cleaner over the surface to be cleaned, and a link pivoted at one end to said handle, the opp site end of said link having a slot therein in which one of said crankarms is positioned, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when said handle is released within it normal operating range the weight of the same will move said link rearwardly and pull the crankarm carried in said slot downwardly and move said front wheels downward relative to said nozzle and elevate said nozzle and the rotatable cleaning member positioned therein.

9. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a nozzle at the forward end thereof, a rotatable cleaning member mounted in said nozzle to contact the surface being cleaned, rear supporting means for said casing, a bracket having a notch therein carried by the front portion of said casing, front supporting means for said casing engaging and vertically movable in said notch, a handle pivoted rearwardly of said front supporting means for propelling the cleaner over the surface to be cleaned, a link engaging said front supporting means and being pivoted at its rear end to said handle, and stops for limiting th movement of said front supporting means, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when said handle is moved in either direction beyond its normal range of operation said front supporting means are actuated to raise said nozzle out of contact with the surface being cleaned.

10. In a suction cleaner, a casing including a nozzle, rear wheels for supporting the rear end of said casing, levers pivoted to the cleaner on a horizontal axis adjacent the nozzle, front wheels mounted on said levers for supporting the front end of said casing, said levers being movable to raise and lower the front wheels relative to the casing, a pivotally-mounted handle for propelling said casing over the surface to be cleaned, and a link pivoted to the lower end of said handle and to at least one of said levers in such manner that when said handle is moved in either direction beyond its normal range of operation said link is moved lengthwise and moves said lever to lower the front wheel relative to the casing and thereby to raise the nozzle with reference to the surface being cleaned.

11. In a suction cleaner, a casing including a nozzle, rear wheels for supporting the rear end of said casing, a transversely-extending shaft rotatably secured to said casing, to the rear, and near the top of said nozzle, crankpins extending from, and normal to said shaft, wheels mounted on said crankpins for supporting the front end of said casing, means for normally urging said crankpins forwardly and upwardly with reference to the horizontal axis of said shaft, a pivotally-mounted handle for propelling said casing over the surface to be cleaned, and a link pivoted to the lower end of said handle, and at least to one of said crankpins, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when said handle is moved in either direction beyond its normal range of operation said link is actuated to move said front wheels downwardly and rearwardly relative to the horizontal axis of said shaft thereby raising said nozzle with reference to the surface being cleaned.

12. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a nozzle at the forward end thereof to contact the surface being cleaned, rear supporting means, vertically movable front supporting means, a handle pivoted rearwardly of said front supporting means for propelling said cleaner over the surface to be cleaned, and means, operable by movement of the handle, to elevate said nozzle relative to said front supporting means, comprising a lever angularly movable with said handle, a link pivotally connected to said lever and operatively connected to said front supporting means, the parts being so constructed and arranged that, when said handle is moved in either direction beyond its normal range of operation, said link is moved substantially longitudinally to depress said front supporting means relative to said nozzle to elevate the latter, said means being inoperative to raise said nozzle during the movement of said handle in its normal range of operation.

13. The structure recited in claim 12 in which the front supporting means comprise an axle pivoted to said casing, crankarms at the opposite ends of said axle, wheels carried by said crankarms, and means for normally rotating said crankarms in one direction to elevate said wheels relative to said casing to depress said nozzle, and in which the longitudinal movement of said link rotates said crankarms in the opposite direction to depress said wheels relative to said casing and elevate said nozzle. v

14. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a nozzle at the forward end thereof normally to contact the surface being cleaned, rear supporting means, vertically movable crankarms, front supporting wheels carried by said crankarms, means for normally urging said crankarms and said front wheels upwardly relative to said nozzle to depress the latter, a handle pivoted rearwardly of said front supporting wheels for propelling said cleaner over the surface to be cleaned, and means operable by the movement of the handle to elevate said nozzle relative to said front supporting wheels, comprising a lever angularly movable with said handle, and a link pivotally connected to said lever and to one of said crankarms, the parts being so constructed and arranged that, when said handle is moved in either direction beyond its normal range of operation,

said link is moved substantially longitudinally to flepress said crankarm and said front wheels relative to said nozzle to elevate the latter, said last-mentioned means being inoperative to raise said nozzle during the movement of said handle in its normal range of operation.

15. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a nozzle. normally contacting the surface being cleaned, vertically fixed supporting means for said casing, vertically movable supporting means for said casing, a handle pivoted to said casing for propelling said cleaner, and means operable by movement of said handle for raising said nozzle out of contact with the surface being cleaned, comprising a lever operatively connected to said movable supporting means, a lever movable with said handle, and a link pivotally connected to said levers, said levers and said link being so constructed and arrangedthat, when said handle is moved in either direction beyond its normal range of operation, said link is moved longitudinally to depress said movable supporting means relative to said casing to raise said nozzle, said link and said levers being inoperative during the movement of said handle in its normal range of operation.

CHARLES H. TAYLOR.