US2495686A

US2495686A - Surface cleaning and shampooing machine

Info

Publication number: US2495686A
Application number: US787737A
Authority: US
Inventors: Berberian Edward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-11-24
Filing date: 1947-11-24
Publication date: 1950-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 1967-01-31

Description

JEAN. M, Wfi E. BERBERIAN fi fi SURFACE CLEANING AND SHAMPOOING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. v EDWARD BERBERIAN ATTORNEY Hana M, 9

53% E. BERBERIAN SURFACE CLEANING AND SHAMPOOING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 301 INVENTOR. i; EDWARDBERBERIAN 1137 M i315 1212 1% M ATTORNEY Patented .lan. Bl, 1950 .nnneo sures PATENT orries SURFACE @LEANING AND SHAMPOOING *MACHINE 2 .Claims.

"This invention relates to improvements .in suriface cleaning and shampooing machinesrsuch as shown. and described "zinzmy earlierz'application ltserial 'Number.633,162,;fi1ed December "6, 1945.

In accordance zwithithe invention of anyzsaid 1 searlienapplication, a zpair rofsqueegee elements, each composed .of a substantially .arcuate perirmetric (portion and a radial portion, are .so mounted upon the bottom surface of a rotatable head that thearcuate perimetriczportions of the two :members extend continuously around the perimeterof the head toprevent -the escapeoutwardly of cleaning liquid fed to a surface to be cleaned below and within the :perimeter of the head,andeach of said pair:of squeegee elements hasa radial portion continuous with and extending inwardly-from its perimetric portion and ter minating adjacent to the axis of the head so as "to engage'and lead spent cleaning fluid,v fedas above stated, towardthe center of the head where asuction pipe is located for the purposeof sucking the same :by vacuum upwardly through the head into a tank. All said squeegee portions have a rubbing contact with the surface to bo-cleaned and each radial portion is provided with a'concave section facing in the'directionof rotation for the purpose of guiding such spent liquid-to the center, as aforesaid. Said radial squeegee portions are positioned to provide boundaries of areas a of vthecircular head 'inwhich scrubbing brushes are mounted, so that upon rotation'of the head, the brushes will scrub-the surface beneath said head with said cleaning liquid fed as aforesaid, the perimetric squeegee portions will prevent the .cleaningliquid from moving centrifugally during rotation ofthehead and escapingoutwardly from beneath saidhead and the radial portions will guide the liquid toward the center as aforesaid. My said application also discloses a vacuum hose or pipe, which extends from a suitable vacuum tank to the forward end of the machine, with an axially-located portion passing through the head and'havin an entrance-opening centrally located belowthe under surface of the head to suck up spent liquid which is then conducted to said vacuum tank.

Claims are being'made in said copending application for the above subject-matter, particularly covering arotatable head having a squeegee provided with a perimetric portion and a radial portion with concave sections facing in the direction of rotation and extending outwardly from the axis of the head in the direction of rotation to a head-encircling 'perimetric portion to guide and deflect cleaning material used on the surface of a rug to a collection place beneath the bottom surface of the head, together with means for removing the material at'the axis, and-being claimed 7 in my said-"copending applicatiomare not broadly claimed herein. Oneofthe objectsof 'my present sinventionlisto:provideziniarmachine of thezcharit ,acter xspecifiedsia lnovelziand improved -:sq11eegee iguidingeelementrihaving an'gui'ding :portion :for spentmr used rcleaning :liquid :that :will :greatly facilitate the guided movement of such spent elinnidtoward andwto'thecenter nf the head, will reduce the resistance thereof againstsuchzmove- :ment to a removal :point-zat the .center or .aXis of the head, and willsena'ble :aamore uniform. and eificien't distribution 'of ithe.1brushes by '.and :through which :partxof .the cleaning material-1MB be carried in thescruhbingroperationthereof, and will 1causesuch brushes more fully .:to cooperate :with the squeegeein :the guiding and carrying *toward :the axis. of the :apparatus .of' thex'spent liquidscleaning' material.

Another object :of myxzpresent inventionl is to lE-TGCIHCE the .cost of ihehead by -;a Ysimplifying arrangement of Ltheiliquid guidingsqueegee portion and-the.scrubbingebrushesin relationathereto. stilliianother :object of my :invention "is ito :pronvideta head-constructi'on'in' which'headamounting and motion transmission mechanism is greatly .simplifiedtzand zlightened anditthe platform and isprocket-andechainxarrangement ofumy I aformer machineare eliminated.

eStill another- :object :o'fi my iin-vention i is in a "device of the character specified toprovide an improved .gear arrangement and mechanism for itransmittingi m'otion' from the motor. to :the: revolving head.

Another object'cofnmy invention is .in .adevice of the character Y, specified: to" provide a vacuum pipe which is necessarily located at the axis of theihead for sucking iup spent cleaning materials, to provide in' fixedposition on the head adriven Bing-gear 1 coaxial with and surroundin said pipe, and to utilize :9, supporting :casing having. a :motor .:mounted therein with its shaft arranged coaxially of :said pipe :to provide a centrally-located drive gear :on 'the motor-shaft and transmission gears mounted-upon shafts positioned-in said frame radially of said axis and adapted to rotate said ring geancand 'l preferablyutilize a plurality of radially-positionedshafts-and transmission gears to drive said driven 'ring gearand head, thus eliminating :the platform 1 and the sprocket-andchain arrangements of my form'er construction and providing asymmetrical construc'tion and arrangement :or partsin which weight is uni- -=form'ly' distributed.

Still another object of :my invention is to provide-a construction 'in which the vacuum hose will-be ex'tended from the same end of the machine :asthe operating-handle SOJaS to avoid obstructions-eon the outer edge of the machine and to permit the-' head'to be =moved-closer to walls, partitionsand-=other similar movementlimiting obstructions.

"With these and other'objects in viewythe invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to co-act and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in plan of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view partly in elevation and partly in section of the top portion of the vacuum tank shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view, partly broken away, showing in vertical section substantially through the center of my revolving head with squeegee and brushes and also the mounting frame and adjacent parts.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of an edge portion of the revolving head with a modified form of squeegee.

In accordance with my present invention, I utilize a circular head and provide on the bottom surface thereof a squeegee element composed of a circular perimetric portion extending completely and continuously around the perimeter of the head and an inwardly-directed liquid guiding portion of general spiral conformation and connected at its outer end to the perimetric por- I tion, having its concave face extending in the direction of rotation and being disposed to extend in a spiral path completely around the axis of the head, and to terminate at said axis in adjacency toa suction tube arranged coaxially wtih said head. Said inwardly-directed portion of the squeegee provides an area between the outer surface thereof and the perimetric portion and also between inwardly disposed surfaces of itself an area of substantially spiral conformation within which said brush is located.

Referring now to these drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of my invention, Iil indicates a circular head which is mounted in a partly cylindrical and partly frusto-conical gearenclosing casing II to revolve beneath said casing, which is preferably composed of cast metal, and supports at its axis a vertical section l2 of a vacuum pipe 2 for sucking up spent cleaning material which is guided to the axis of the head ii: by a squeegee member [3 in cooperation with brushes l4 mounted on the under surface of the head IE].

In my instant invention, the head has a driven ring-gear i5 fixedly mounted on an integral upwardly-extending hub lil which rotates on the vacuum pipe section 2 as a fixed shaft. Said driven gear i 5 is rotated from a drive gear 16 mounted on motor shaft I! of motor H8. The motor and shaft are mounted endwise with the shaft in vertical position in an axially-disposed mounting aperture 19 in the gear-enclosing casing member il. As illustrated, transmission shafts 2G and 2i are supported and mounted in said gear casing l l in positions radially of and parallel to said axis; these shafts are provided with transmission gears 2222 and 23-43 arranged in pairs, and the members of each pair of gears mesh, respectively, with said driven and drive

gears

15 and 16, the casing I I being provided with suitable bearings 24-24 and 25-25 for the shafts 20-2I.

Said gear-casing is open at its bottom to permit the extension thereinto of the hub Ill and driven gear I5, and the circular base portion 26 of said casing abuts the top surface of the head iii which is preferably provided with a metal bearing ring 21. The said casing is provided with suitable openings 28 to permit lubrication of the shafts 23 and gears 22 and is also provided with a cylindrical radial extension 29 adapted to support a horizontally-disposed section I2 of said suction pipe l2, said extension 29 also being adapted to support v an inwardly extending handle-tube 39 to which is connected and mounted by straps 3l3i*- a cleaning-liquidreservoir 32. The handle-pipe 30, as shown, is provided with a cross-bar handle 30* and has for a part of its length mounted therein an upwardly-extending section I2 of the suction pipe i2. Said upwardly-extending section 12* is provided intermediate the ends of the tube 30 with a suitable connection member 33 to which is connected a vacuum hose which extends to a portable vacuum tank 35 provided with a suitable cover 36. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the vacuum tank 35 is composed of metal and has mounted at its upper end and a cover 36 on which is mounted a conventional vacuum-producing elemeat 31' comprising a motor 38 and fan 39 adapted to cause a suction inside the tank and through the hose 3t and suction pipe, connection 33 and suction pipe sections I2 and Mi respectively, said section i2 being extended as aforesaid through the head and the inlet 12 of said pipe l2 being positioned closely adjacent to the surface to be cleaned and within the area bounded by the perimetric portions of the squeegee member l3.

Parts of said squeegee member I3 are suitably positioned, flrst, to surround and enclose cleaning material fed to the surface beneath the head, and thereafter to guide the spent cleaning material to the axis of the head and to an area adjacent to the entrance i2 of the suction pipe or conduit i2, whereupon the suction means hereinabove described causes the material to be sucked up and passed to the tank 35 which is preferably provided with a suitably controlled air outlet The cover is suitably fastened by swingable bolts 38 mounted on the outer surface of the tank and having Wing nuts at their upper ends adapted to engage th cover 36.

A suitable quantity of cleaning fluid is supplied to the tank 32 and this cleaning fluid is charged to the head through a circular channel 40 which, as shown, is mounted on the head outside the casing II and, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 7, the said channel is provided with a series of vertical bores ii extending downwardl from such channels .3 through the head to the bottom surface thereof. These bores are located adjacent to the perimeter to permit the material fed to such channels to reach the surface to be cleaned below the body portion ll of the head and within the area bounded by the squeegee l3 within which the brushes hi operate.

An important feature of my invention comprises the provision on the bottom surface of the head of a special squeegee element l3 which is composed of a circular perimetric portion [3 extending completely and continuously around the perimeter of the head and an inwardly-directed liquid-guiding portion l3 connected at its outer end to the perimetric portion, having turns and the brush l4, which is of similar spiral shape, is located within this area.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the brush it closely conforms to the shape of said area and is formed in a substantially spiral curve, has portions reduced in width at opposaid axis of rotation means for feeding a liquid cleaning material within said arcuate perimetric portion, said arcuate squeegee portion being adapted to retain and prevent the escape outwardly of cleaning material fed to a surface to be cleaned below and within the area bounded by said arcuate portion, and said inwardly disposed spiral portion being adapted to guide and deflect cleaning material used on said surface to a collection place at the axis of said head beneath the bottom surface thereof, a removal conduit at said axially-located collection place, and

' vacuum means for applying suction through such site ends and increased in width at the middle section thereof. Said brush begins at a point adjacent to the outer perimeter of the head and terminates at a point adjacentto the axis thereof in substantially parallelism to the inwardlydirected squeegee portion, and preferably will leave at opposite ends relatively small bare sections free of the brush.

In the embodiment shown, the brushes M are mounted upon a brush back M and this brush back is releasably mounted on spring-projected and flanged connectingmembers 42 which pass through apertures 43 in the head and have spiral springs 44 arranged in a housing cavity in the head and adapted to resiliently press the brushback outward and causing the brush-bristles to contact with a rug or other surface to be scrubbed.

In the preferred form of my invention, connecting members have flanges at opposite ends and the brush back M of th brush is provided with keyin slots M into which the outer flange fits and which are closed in any suitable manner to retain the brushes firmly in position on the connecting members 42 to provide a resilient" mounting and a readily releasable connection of the brushes with the head.

In Figs. 1 to 6 of my invention, I have shown a squeegee of cylindrical cross-section which is preferably composed of a light metal, such as aluminum, and is particularly adapted for use in the shampooing of rugs.

In Fig. '7 I have illustrated in fragmentary section a squeegee [3* which is formed of flat leather or other similar tough material, and is more especially adapted for cleaning flat surfaces composed of tile, concrete, wood or the like.

Having described my invention, I claim: v

1. A portable surface cleaning or shampooing' machine embodying, in combination, a mounting member, a head mounted to rotate in said mounting member, a squeegee element mounted on the bottom surface of said head and having rubbing contact with the surface to be cleaned, said squeegee element comprising a perimetric portion substantially encircling said head and; a single inwardly-disposed portion of continuous, gradually winding spiral form extending outwardly in the direction of rotation from a point adjacent to the axis of rotation of the head to a point of merger with the perimetric portion, said gradually-winding portion of spiral form passing a plurality of times across a diametric line extending through said merger point and removal conduit to remove spent cleaning material at said axis.

2. A portable surface cleaning or shampooing machine embodying, in combination, a mounting member, a head mounted to rotate in said mounting member, a squeegee element mounted on the bottom surface of said head and having rubbing contact with the surface to be cleaned,

said squeegee element comprising a perimetric portion substantially encircling said head and a single inwardly-disposed portion of continuous, gradually winding spiral form extending outwardly in the direction of rotation from a point adjacent to the axis of rotation of the head to a point of merger with the perimetric portion, said gradually-winding portion of spiral form passing a plurality of times across a diametric line extending through said merger point and said axis of rotation, means for feeding a liquid cleaning material within said arcuate perimetric portion, said arcuate squeegee portion being adapted to retain and prevent the escape outwardly of cleaning material fed to a surface to be cleaned below and within the. area bounded by said arcuate portion, and said inwardly disposed spiral portion being adapted to guide and deflect cleaning material used on said surface to a collection place at the axis of said head beneath the bottom surface thereof, a brush of gradually-winding spiral conformation arranged on the head within the area bounded by said inwardly-disposed portion of said squeegee and also extending outwardly in the direction of rotation from a point adjacent to the axis of rotation of the head to the perimetric portion, a removal conduit at said axially-located collection place, and vacuum means for applyin suction through such removal conduit to remove spent cleaning material at said axis.

EDWARD BERBERIAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 928,456 Johnson July 20, 1909 935,559 Spangler Sept. 28, 1909 1,211,945 Koster Jan. 9, 1917 1,498,255 Winchester Nov. 6, 1928 1,808,656 Hartman June 2, 1931 2,039,903 Hild May 5, 1936 2,153,207 Petty Apr. 4, 1939 2,168,472 Vidal Aug. 8, 1939 2,217,617 Conway Oct. 8, 1940 2,239,183 Willard Apr, 22, 1941 2,250,177 Boccasile July 22, 1941