US2517915A - Rotary brush - Google Patents

Description

Aug. s, 195o N, N. @KUN 2,517,915

ROTARY BRUSH Filed May 1, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mul nlimuwmm f INVENTOR NATHANIEI. N. OKUN BY graaf 9L 824 z- ATTORNEY A Aug- 8 1950 N. N. oKUN 2,517,915

ROTARY BRUSH Filed May l, 1947 2 Sheets-Shee 2 FIG.7 FIGB INVENTOR NATHANIEL N. OKUN ATTORNEY Patented ug. 8, 1.950

Nathaniel N. okun, Far Rockaway, N. Y., assigner to Atlas Floor Surfacing Machinery Corp., New York, N. Y., ahcorporation of New York Application May 1, y1947, serial No. 745,124 l l v 17 claims.

This invention relates-to a rotary brush such as is. used in floor --surfacing apparatus and the like and relates particularly to a brush construction particularly adaptedto permit the usc-of cleaning solutions therewith. y

`Rotary brushes which/When employed with. suitable driving, apparatus, serve efficiently to brush and cleantvarious .surfaces such as floors, walls, carpetsand the like are well known. In any of these brushes, in order to improve the cleaning action, various cleaning solutions such Aas soap solutions are employed. However, many drawbacks in the employment of such solutions have, in the past materially limited their scope: of use. `'Among these drawbacks may be mentioned the diiiiculty offregulating the proper degree of flow of the solution. If. that flow betoo great, the surface being cleaned .,is. flooded, which situation.. is particularly undesirable yvvhen it'isa rug which is being cleaned, since anexcess of cleaning solution would causetherrug-to` stain ina manner which is either difcult or impossible to remove..`v

As a corollary ,to the above, brushes in the past have been so constructed that, even though the ow be properly regulated-,during rotation jofthe brush, vonce rotationy of the brush is stopped the liquid which has already passed the flow vcontrol valvewill flood the surface being cleaned no matter what the operator may do. With such brushes it has ,been necessary tocompletely `shut oi the flow of cleaning uid some time before rotation of thebrush is stopped. This mode of operation isnot only troublesome but is also dependent upon the memory of lthe operator, and should the operator momentarily forget, a ilood results almost 35,.

immediately. Despite intensive indoctrination it has in practice proved to bealmostimpossibleto eliminate this diiiiculty with existing type brushes since unexpected interruptions, such as the ring-y ing Iof a telephone or the necessity of stopping 4Q,

tering the surface to be cleaned and other adja- 50;

cent surfaces in Yindiscriminate manner` or being guided only to the peripheral brushing elements.v Since `the inner 4brushing.elements thus receive little orno Ycleaning fluid directly, their cleaning effectiveness is materially retluce91,.l lrlostljotthegli ,nermostbrushing elements and then, by centrf-.

cleaning being accomplished by (c1. 15-1so) brushing elements alone.

It is recognized that, particularly when. soapy cleaning fluids are employed, it is desirable that these solutions be churned to a foam prior to reaching the brushing elements.- In the'prior art this churning has been accomplished only with the attendant' disadvantages ofconsiderable splashing of the liquid being churned. This has resulted largely from the fact that the churning takes place on a revolving brush While the feeding must necessarily take place from a stationary feed duct.

It is the prime object of the present invention :to devise a brush construction which will ensure that all of the brushing elements from kthe innermost to the outermost receive a proper amount of cleaning fluid.

It is another'object of the present invention to devise a rotary brush so constructed `that splashing is eliminated and flooding of the surface being cleaned when rotation of` the lbrush is stopped is prevented.

It is yet another object of the `present invention to devise a brush construction which will churn the cleaning fluid into foam Without any danger of splashing, that churning'being accomplished in a closed chamber.

Another object .of the present invention is to devise a rotary brush construction so related to a stationary feed nozzle as to receive cleaning iiuid therefrom in a smooth and convenient manner Without any splashing.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a rotary brush of the type above described which is exceedingly simple of construction and easy of manufacture, which may be cast in a minimum of sections and easily assembled, and which achieves the above results without any moving parts.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a brush construction which, by a combination of guiding fins, vanes and apertures and the utilization of centrifugal force developed by the rotation of the brush, so controls the motion of the cleaning iiuid from feeding nozzle to brushing elements as to ensure the attainment of the above-mentioned objects.

It is yet another object of the present invention to devise a brush of the type described having an enclosed cleaning fluid receiving and churning chamber in communication via a devi-Y ous path With the innermost brushing elements, the churned cleaning fluid passing iirst to the inthe peripheral lugal action, being impelled to the outer brushing elements so that all of said brushing elements are evenly and efficiently supplied with cleaning uid in foamy form. Because of this uniform supply of cleaning fluid, all of the brushing elements cooperate equally to perform their desired functions, the maximum cleaning effect from the brush 1being obtained thereby.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a rotary brush construction as set forth in the appended claims and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a floor surfacing apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a View oi the brush and drivingapparatus therefor with a part broken away to sho-w the rotary driving means kand the cleaning fiuid feeding means;

Fig. 3 is a top View of the rotary brush with the top wall thereof removed;

Fig. 4 is a view taken along the line li-fi of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top View of the fixed section of said top wall;

Fig. 6 is a view taken along Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the cover removably attachable to the xed section of Fig. .5;

Fig. 8 is a side View thereof; and

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view thereof along the line @-8 of Fig. .7..

The brush of the present invention comprises a `base plate generally designated A adapted be mounted on and rotated by a brushing machine hereinafter to be described, said base plate having on its upper surface a liquid receiving and feeding 'chamber generally designated B,v said chamber being in communication with the top surface of the base plate A, said top surface :in turn being provided with drainage openings .generally designated C which, in cooperation with suitably oriented fins generally designated D, `centrol and direct the cleaning fluid which reaches the top surface of the base plate A so that it .is permitted to pass to the bottom surfaceof the base plate A land into contact with the brushing elements, here illustrated fas bristles E, at a point spaced inwardly from the periphery of the brush, thus initially wetting the innermost brushing elements E, the cleaning fluid thereafter `by centrifugal action being impelled outwardly so as to meisten the peripheral brushing elements E. After a few moments of operation, all of the brushing elements `are equally moistened'a-nd consequently all equally contribute to the lcleaning effect. i

While equal moistening of the brushing elements E is extremely desirable, and is achieved broadly by the construction above described, it is also important that flooding of the surface being cleaned when rotation of the brush ceases be avoided. This desirable result is obtained by including in the .liquid receiving and feeding chamber B some means, here shown as a pl rality of vanes F, for .agit-ating the liquid therein .n order to churn it into foam. In addition, the drainage openings C are of such a size in relation to the .foam characteristics of the cleaning i'iuid to be used as, because of surface tension effects, to permit foam to pass therethrough only when a head of foam is 'built up thereabove. In other words, the cleaning fluid does not pass freely kthe une e-o of.

4 through the drainage openings C to the brushing elements E but is instead retained on the top surface of the base plate A until considerable foam has accumulated thereupon so as to build up a head of foam above the drainage openings C. Consequently, if the flow of cleaning fluid to the brush is shut on, no fluid will be available to'lbuild up `itheiiead necessary to cause the foam to .pass tothe ibrushing elements and therefore almost simultaneously with the shutting oif Voif the flow of cleaning fluid, the passage of the cleani-ng uid to the brushing elements E will cease. VThat cleaning fluid which is contained within Ythe liquid 'receiving and feeding chamber B will, when the rotation of the brush is stopped, remain therein, since the communication bei tween` the liquid .receiving and feeding chamber a Asize as to prevent its free egress except when K to.

:the speed with which the cleaning fluid flows through the brush but nevertheless provides a definite Safety factor.

,Somewhat more important from a practical point of view is the 'fact that by this construction, Vonce the flow of cleaning uid has been out oi, rotation of the fbrush may be immediately stopped without any danger whatsoever to the surface being cleaned, since once the rotation cases, no further cleaning fluid tends to pass out of the liquid receiving and feeding chamber B toward the drainage openings C. Therefore, no head 'is built .up or A.accumulated above those drainage openings and passage of the cleaning uid through those openings ceases.

Viewing now the construction of the brush more in detail, we .see that the embodiment here illustrated is particularly adapted for use in a rotary :floor surfacing apparatus such as is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. This machine comprises a brush housing -2 and a motor housing 4 disposed 't-hereabova the motor shaft 6 being connested by means yof the gear train generally designated `8 to the brush ldrive shaft I0 to which the brush is attached in driven relationship as Will become apparent hereinafter. An operating handle l2 is attached to the housing 2 and the reservoir I4 which contains a supply of cleaning uid such as ysoapy water may be fastened there- The reservoir is connected in conventional manner to a cleaning uid feeding nozzle I8 the tip v:of which iis disposed vdirectly above the vbrush at-a point quite close to its center (see Fig. 2). A valve control A2U is appropriately positioned on the handle I2 so that the operator can control fhielements thuseferedescribed @steil are relatively conventionaland form nopart; of vthe present `Ainvention,jthe invention residingin the brush construction Aper se as 4Will 110W ab@ Set OIlh.

y The base4 .plate Amay be an integral l:Casting of f anysuitable metal such' as =aluminum,ftheim g portantv structural,v elements l of which. l are j the bottom 2,2, theupstanding peripheralrim v24and the centrally positioned 'hub-like :upward .Drolecfl tion whichdenesithe sidewalls of theliquid receiving and feeding chamber B. I Thisprojection ishere showniny the form ofla circular Wall 26 projectingzfupwardly from the Vbase plate A. 1

. :The brushngelements orbristles E are secured to the base plate A in.any,conventionalamannen As heredisclosedg-thebaseplate is provided with a; plurality of apertures 28 in which-the ends ofthe rbristlesE-*are secured, 'ai wire network 30 serving to fastenthe lbristles infplace against the' possibility lof: accidental r dislodgement. i The apertures 28 are relatively small land the upper ends of the bristles E fill the apertures relatively' completelyso that only avery minute 'amount of liquid can pass through theapertures 28andthen. onlyataveryslowratem1 .1.1.13 ,1 4

VThe brushing elements 'or-bristles E are positionedon the bottom ofthe baseplate Ain .annular arrangeme'nt, aninner circular free space 32 being deiinedrthereby,l the radius of the free space '32 being'p'referably approximately the 'same as that of 'the liquid receiving and feeding 'cham, ber B. Hence', as will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 3Vand 4,.thatf portion-'ofI the bottom 22 of the base :plate A'deflning the bottorn wall of the liquid receiving and vfeeding chamber B is imperforate so that no v:liquid can pass therethrough. The side wall 26 ofthe chamber Bais,- however, `provided-with apluralityl oforiflces v34, .here shown'as level withth'e'top'surface of the base plate'A but` which might be raised somewhat thereabove A(seeoriiice 34).,f.through` which liquid in the chamber B lmayipass: toth'at portion of the top surface ofthe base .plate A to whichv the brushing elementsE are fastened.' It will be apparent that when the brush is rotating, centrifugal vforce willtend to expel whatever liquid is in the chamber B through these orifices 34. Inorderto assist in thislaction, the interior of the chamber B is provided with a plurality of varies AF' so oriented with respect to the direction of rotation -of the brush and so positioned with relation to the orifices 34 as to force the liquid inV the, chamber B through the orifices 34 when the brushis rotating. Thus, in the' brush illus-4 trated in Figs. 3 and 4,'which is designed to be rotated in the direction of the arrow v36, the vanes F project inwardly from the wall 26 in thetdirection of-rotation of. the.. brush and each is positioned closelyadjacentthetrailing edgey of an orifice 34. The vanas-F therefore act as scoops to assist centrifugal force in ejecting fluid'from the chamber B through the orifices 34.v At .the same time they perform; the very usefulyfunc. tion of agitatirlgv elements effective to churn the liquid in the chamber B into afoamy state.

The liquid` or foam ejected throughl the orifices 34 will, because of the centrifugal force engen.- dered by the rotation o f the brush, be urged outwardly to the periphery thereof. The flanged. rim 24 prevents suchliquid .fromsplashing over'the sides of the brushonto the surface being cleaned. In addition, the fins Dl and the drainage openings Care soarranged andA positioned Aon the upper surface-.of the base plate A l*as to ensure that ftheliquid. passes `.only or yprimarily to those bristles E positioned atthe interior ofthebrusll, To this end, the ns D areso orientedfandalnf clined as tovforce or'scoop whatever liquid there ison the top surface oi the base'plate A inwardly against the action of centrifugal force; to ;the drainage openings C which are in -turn positioned onthe base plate A inwardly of the periphery thereof so that the cleaning fluid whichdrains therethrough to-the undersurface ofthe base plate A will be brought into contact withand ywet thee` innermost bristles E. The rotationof the bristles will then, via centrifugal force,- limp el this fluid outwardly so that it passes frombristle to bristle to the periphery of the brush, thusiensuring that all of the bristles are wetted bythe cleaning fluid so that all may equally perform the :desired cleaning operation.r As herelillusg trated, there Vare the same number ofy fins D as there are orifices 34 and the fins D project upwardly from the base plate A and aredirected outwardly from the wall 26 into-the direction of rotation ofthe brush. In order to Vprovil:le1;.for. a smooth and uninterrupted iiow of liquid over the top of the base plate A, the fins D are,` pref-- erably smoothly curved in the manner illustrated.- Since the fins D act as scoops, the fluide-will tend to build up along the leadingsurface of those fins and therefore it is preferable to position the drainage openings C adjacent'gtosaid leading surfaces. As illustrated in Figs 3 and 4, these drainage openingsC are relatively longand conform to the curvature of the fins D,thiscon. struction `being preferred for smooth passage, of the fluid-from the top of the base plate A to the bristles E, but a series of small openings 'instead of an' elongated opening would serve the-same result. i .z Itis also noteworthy that the drainage openings C, although long, are relatively `narrow,the degree ofnarrowness being chosen in Vrelation to the surface tension characteristics of the;.clean ing fluid to be used and the foam thereof -so-as to prevent free passage of the liquid and its'froamv therethrough. Consequently, if a lm of foam is present on the top surface of the base plate A* thatfoam will normally not fall or pass throughy the drainage openings C and whatever liquid may` be` presentv on the top surface of the ,base .plate A will pass through the openings C slowly and with difficulty. Insofar as the foam is concerned, the width of the drainage openings C is so chosen that the foam will not pass therethrough unless a considerable head of foam builds up abovethe openings C. Clearly, this will take place only when the brush is rotating and the ns D scoop foam and force it inwardly, thus causing -a head of foam to build up or accumulate along the leading surfaces of the fins D toward the center of rotation of the brush. It will be apparent that when rotation of the brush ceases, the ac.- cumulation of this head will terminate and foam will therefore not pass through the drainage openings C. The obvious result of this state of affairs is to prevent foam from passing to the bristles E and thence to the surface to be cleaned whenever rotation of the brush is stopped. Flood--v ing of the surface to be cleaned is thereby pre'- vented. Whatever liquid may be presentcnthe top surface of the base plate A will pass slowly to the brushing elements E, thus giving the oper-l ator an opportunity to remove the machine from the area being cleaned before the liquid will lioody or stain that area, but it will be understood that if the brush has been operating for any period of time. all of the cleaning fluid outsideof the.

chamber iB wmbe 'in the form lof roam'.- 'The foam Within the chamber B will, -once the brush has stopped rotating, remain within the chamber, `since the Aorifices 134 are so small as 4to prevent egress of said foamu'nless centrifugal force plus the scooping action of the iins 'D -impel the foam through the oriiices 34. 'Whatever liquid may bein the chamber B will drain slowly to the drainage openingslC and, if the oriices are raised somewhat above the level of the base plate A lin the manner illustrated vfor orice 34",- this drainagemay to a considerable extent lbe completely eliminated.

The top of the-chamber B must be substantially vclosed in order that `the churning action Atakingiplace `in that chamber should not splash liquid'out `of the brush. `Means must also be `provided for attaching the brush to the drive shaft Nl.v In my construction both of these objectives are achieved and the lbrush is at the same time made easily removable yfrom the machine by vemp'loying a two-piece top opening comprising axed section 38 A(see Figs. 5 and 6) and a removable cover section 4Q (see Figs. 7, 8 and 9.). The fixed section 238 is in the tor-m of a metal plate having a -rim 42 adapted to fit over the circular wall 26 to which it is attached by means of screws 44 receivable within screw holes i6 in the Wall 26. The central portion of the fixed section 38 is apertured as at 48 and a plurality of ear receiving openings k50 are peripherally arranged therearound. T-he underside of the iixed section 38 is provided with depending ledges 52 and stops 54 adapted, in conjunction with the openings 50, to

cooperate with the fastening ears 56 on the vre- 1 movable -cover llll). The central portion of .the cover 40 is provided with an aperture 58 having a key-Way 60 adapted to receive the drive shaft Hl and be fastened thereto `by any conventional means so that rotation of the shaft I Will effect rotation of the cover 4Q. The ears 56 are .adapted to pass freely through the ear receiving openings 50 'in the fixed section 42 and rotation of the cover 40 in the normal direction of rotation of the shaft H) will move those ears along the ledges 52 into positive contact with the stops r54 on the fixed section 42 so that rotation of the shaft l is transmitted via the cover 48 to the Xed section 42 so .as to rotate the entire brush. If it is desired to remove the brush from the machine, the brush may be manually rotated in a `direction opposite to that of its normal rotation so as to bring the openings i! into registration with the ears 55, after which the brush may ybe removed from the machine by pulling it in the direction of its axis of rotation.

The upper surface of the cover 4U is provided with an annular liquid receiving channel 6-2--positioned under the cleaning fluid nozzle i8 so that cleaning fluid may flow from the nozzle `lil into the channel 62 as the brush rotates. Liquid inlet orifices B4 are provided in the channel 62 so that rliquid may pass from the channel 62 to the interior of the liquid receiving and feeding chamber B. These orifices tt may be positioned at the bottom ci the channel 82, in which case gravity feed alone is relied upon. It may, however, be l'desired to position them in the manner illustrated with orifice te (see Figs. '7 and 9), in which at least a portion of the orifice is located on the side of the lchannel 62 so that as the brush rotates, carrying with it the channel 62, the centrifugal force active upon the liquid in the channel '62 will impel it into the chamber B, thus achieving vforce-feed without the employment of l trifugal rforce.

8 any -faddi'tional parts -and preventing accumulatien oi liquidlin the channel A62.

A renement of 'design particularly vadapted to facilitate the ychurning of the .liquid Ain the chamber into foam may be realized by so constructing the 'vanes iF thatthey extend upwardly .short oflthe -ftop .of fthe chamber B. 'Since the liquid inlet `-to the .chamber B, to wit, 'the orices lt4 or dareflpositioned close '5to the outer periphery yoffthesschamber B, liquid passing through those pri-ces'will be 'impelled by centrifugal force to the interior of the Wall 26 above the vanes F. This liquid kwill :therefore have imparted Ito `it Aa circular -lmotion corresponding "to that of the wall '2.6' in addition l'to la downward motion caused by gravity. The interior .of the vchamber B will be free Eof liquid :and v'full of air and'consequently the liquid will be preliminarily churned prior to its engagement with the Avanes `F which will vcomplete .the churning'raction. When orices of the type of 64" :are employed in the liquid .receiving channel v62, Vthis effect 4is intensified :because the liquid is `impelled by centrifugal force directly through :the side opening .of the aperture B4' to the interior surface of the Wa1126.

The above-described brush construction succeeds ina simple manner and without the euse of any moving parts in controlling the :action of the ycleaning fluid employed with rotary brushes nsuch a manner 'as to ensure efficient use ofthe cleaning :solution and :at the same time 4prevent any undesirable Aeffects of prior `art brushes such asfhave been set forth heretoore. This ycontrol is accomplished by employing the .centrifugal force which is inherently present in all rotary brushes in conjunction with various elements, such `as iins, vanes and orifices, all yconstructed in order to achieve particular results. Fluid from the vreservoir i4 passes, via the nozzle I8, `into the lrotating liquid receiving channel `62. From there it? passes via oriiices 64 into the liquid receivi'ng and feeding chamber B. This may take place either ybecause rof gravity :alone or, in the case of orice 64', bymeans of gravity plus cen- In the chamber B the liquid is agitated :and churned, either fby being carried around bythe inner surface of `the wall 26 or by the action of the vanes F ror by both, and after it has been churned suiii'cientlyl it is forced-fed from the chamber B to the V.upper surface of the base plate Aby the scooping action of the vanes F. Centrifugal `force tends to impel the thus eX- pelled foam to the periphery Iof the base plate A, but Athe iins D zon the top thereof., acting against this Ycentrifugal Sforce, force Vthe foam inwardly toward the drainage openings C. If .suicient foam` has built up in 'the vicinity of these openings,'tl're foam passes slowly 'therethrough to the interiorly disposed brushing Ielements E, after which centrifugal force permits the foam to pass to and meisten Athe other and exteriorly disposed brushing elements E so that all of the brushing elements are equally moistened, each thus assuming its share of the cleaning operation. .As the foam passes outwardly 'from bristle to bristle, it is, of course, churned still more, thus increasing its cleansing action. Should rotation of the brush cease before all of the fluid which has passed to the brush ffrom the reservoir I 4 has been used' up, no `ill e'iects will result. All of the foam and most vof the liquid will remain either in the chamber'B for the top surface of the base plate A so that -no flooding of thesurface being cleaned results. Whatever fdrainage may take place through the drainage openings C or through the some of the other openings vor apertures,'are dei' signed with specific relation to'thetyp'e of "cleaning fluid to be used, it may 4be desirable Ito'usev a different brush for different cleaning fluids'.-v Replacement of one brush-lby'another more ape' propriate to the cleaning fluid tombefused is a simple operation taking but-a few'secondsiy made in the specific design thereof/without'departing from the spirit of the inventionas dee fined in the following claims; t i i y I claim: f 1. A rotary brush the lower surface thereof, a-liquid receivingf'ancl feeding chamber centrally mountedthereon havLv ing `a liquid inlet and 4having vliquid 1 outlet orifices inthe side walls thereof through=which liquid' is centrifugally expelled to thet'op'sur'face of saidbase 4plate when the brush is rotatedvansiinsaid chamber associated with said'outlet"orificesj 'and'l so oriented asto'force'the liquid 'irisaidbh'a'mi ber through said orices `when the brush sro-'jjl tated, said base plate having. drainage'openings' inwardly disposed with`- respectVy 'to its periplier'y" c through which liquid may-fallito'inwardlyposiii tioned brushing elements','and lins on the top surface of said ibase plate so oriented as to force liquid on ,the top of said base plate inwardly against centrifugal force to said drainage openings. 1

2. 'I'he rotary brush of claim 1*, in'white-hr1'said-'- base plate isgprovided with'anupWardlyf projecting peripheral flange which,.in conjunction with.

said ns, prevents liquid from falling outsidesaid brush.y 1 i if, j|`

3. The rotary brush of' claim, in wlii a liquid outletlorice is positioned 4between"a"pair" of said iins.

4. The rotary brush of claim l, in which a drainage opening is adjacent to that side of one of said fins directed toward the direction of rotation of said brush.

5. The rotary brush of claim 1, in which the vanes in said chamber extend from the bottom of the chamber above the liquid outlet oriiices and terminate short of the top of said chamber, and in which the liquid inlet to said chamber is near the periphery thereof and above the upper surface of said vanes, whereby said liquid in said chamber is eiectively churned into foam.

6. A rotary brush comprising a base plate, brushing elements projecting downwardly from the lower surface thereof, a liquid receiving and feeding chamber centrally mounted thereon and having a liquid inlet at the top thereof and liquid outlet oriiices in the bottom of side walls thereof through which liquid is centrifugally eX- pelled to the top surface of said base plate when the brush is rotated, Vanes in said chamber assocomprising va 'i' Ibase Ifplatey. brushing elements projecting downwardly fromc 20' While but one embodiment ofl myv brush has been here illustrated and 'described-in -detailgit' will be apparent that many variations-may be thusfiorcirig liquid' on the top of said base plate"- inwardly v'against`centrifugal force to said drain-A age openings.'v`

Warne rotary llcmsli'cfi claim 6,'in 'which said base plate is provided lwith' 'an upwardly pro? jecting peripheral'flang'e which, in conjunction with said'iins, prevents liquid from falling outsi'd'esaid brushl* I 8.,"The rotary brush of 'claim' 6, in which a liquid"outlet orilicev is positioned between a pair ofsaidiins.

*9; Therotary brusliof claim 6, in which a drainageo'pening is' adjacent 'to that side of one o'i'said iins directed ,toward the direction of rotatonof Said brush.:`

l0. The rotarybrush'of claim 6, in which theV vanes in said-chamberextendfrom the bottom of` the chamber above the liquid outlet orifices and terininate'shortv ofthe-'top of said chamber, andy inwhichftheliquid inletftosaidchamber is near the: vperiphery ,thereof f' and 'abovethe upper surfacepfffsaidtvanes, whereby said liquid in` said chamber is electively' churned into foam.

, 11-1.' .IA liquid'receiving and feeding chamber centrallymounted-on thebase lplate of a rotary brush comprising an imperforate bottom wall, a

sidewall provided witha plurality of liquid outlet'oricesnearthe'bottom thereof, varies in said chamber asscciatcd withvsaid 'cuuct orifices and sooriented'withrespect 'to the vdirection of rotal' tion 'offsaidbrush asto force Athe liquid in said chamberthrough saidoricesy when the brush` is rotated', land aT top`vvall' having a circular liquid receiving' =channel 1in` its'top 'surface' adapted to receivefli'qui'd lfrom astation'ary source of supply while :said 'brushis frotated,v ysaid channel being A provided with liquidfinlet oriiices through which liquid'ma'y'pa'ss from saidchannel to the interioroffsai'djchamber.'

ffl-2- T-hefliquid receiving and feeding chamber off'c'l'a'iifnA 11,1"in which said top wallcomprises a centrally-'apertured iixed'section secured to said side wall and a cover removably attachable thereto, said liquid receiving channel being formed in said cover.

13. The liquid receiving and feeding chamber of claim 11, in which said liquid inlet orifices are at least partially on the side of said circular liquid receiving channel so that liquid passing therethrough to said chamber is centrifugally urged to the side walls of said chamber.

14. A rotary brush comprising a base plate, brushing elements projecting downwardly from the lower surface thereof, a liquid receiving and feeding chamber centrally mounted on the top surface thereof, said chamber having a liquid inlet at the top thereof and liquid outlet oriiices in the side walls thereof through which liquid is centrifugally expelled to the top surface of said base plate when the brush is rotated, said base plate having drainage openings inwardly disposed with respect to its periphery but outwardly disposed with respect to said chamber through which liquid may fall only to inwardly positioned brushing elements, and` fins on the top'surface of said base plate so oriented as to force liquid on; the top of said base, plateV inwardly against cen;- trifugal force to said drainage openings, said liquid after it has fallen to said inwardly posi-` tioned brushing elements being. centrifugally impelled to said outer brushing'elements.

15. A rotary brush comprising a base. plate,v

brushing elements projecting downwardly from the lower surface thereof, a liquid receiving and feeding chamber centrally mounted onv the' top surface thereof, said chamber having a liquid in let at the top thereof. and liquid outlet orifices; in the side walls thereof through which liquid isr centrifugally expelled to thev top surface of said base plate when the brush is rotated, saidbasey plate having drainage openings inwardly dis-1 posed with respect to its periphery and outwardly disposed with respect to said chamber through which liquid may fall only to thoseV inwardly positoned brushing elements, and fins. on the topsurface of said base plate projecting outwardly from said chamber in the direction of rotation of'said brush so as to force liquid on the top of said baseplate inwardly against centrifugal force to said drainage openings, said liquid after it has fallen to said inwardly positioned brushing elements being centrifugally impelled to said outer brush:-n ing elements.

16. A rotary brush comprising a base plate, brushing elements projecting downwardly from the lower surface thereof and` arranged in annular coniiguration so as to define a free space atfthe center thereof, a liquid receiving and feeding chamber centrally mounted on. thev top surface thereof and having a diameter substantiallyA equal. to that of said' free space, said chamber having a liquid inlet orifice andA having a liquidA outlet orifice in the side wall. thereof through which liquid is centrifugally expelledjto the: topv surfaceY of said base plate when. the. brush isl rotated, agitating means in'. said*v chamber tuL churn the liquid therein into fcam,. said base platehaving drainage openings* inwardly` disposed With respect to its periphery'butoutwardlyV disposed with respect to said chamber through which liquid may fall to inwardly positioned brushing'elements, and ins on the top-surfacel 0f said base plate so oriented as to force liquid on. the top of said base plate inwardly against een trifngal. forcev to said drainage openings",- said drainage openings being of such a size inrelation; to the foam characteristics of the liquid' being used as. becausefofisurfaee tension eects, to permitfoam. to falltherethrough. only when a head of. foam is built up thereabove, so that when rota tion of thev brush is stopped, centrifugal expulsion of the liquid foam from said chamber ceasesv andconsequently drainage ofthe foam from the top of' said base plate to said brushing elements also ceases..

1.7..A rotary brush comprising' a base plata.

brushing elements projecting downwardly from4 the lower. surface thereof and arranged in annular coniiguration so as to define a free space at the center thereof,A a liquid receiving' and feeding chamber centrally mounted on. the top surface thereof and having a diameter substantially: equal to that of saidfree space, said chamber having a liquid inletoriceand' having a liquid outlet orifice in the side wall thereof through which. liquid is centrifugally expelled to the top surface of saidbase plate when the brush is rotated,y agitating means in said chamber to churnl the. 'liquid therein intok foam, said basev plate having drainage openings inwardly' dis-- posed with. respect to itsv periphery but outwardly disposedy with: respect to said. chamber through which liquid may fall tov inwardly positioned brushing elements, and fins on the top surface of said. base plate projecting outwardly from said chamber in the direction of rotation of said brush so as to: force liquid: on the topof said base platel inwardlyl against centrifugal force to said drainage openings, said drainage; openings being of. such a size in relation to thefoam characteristics of the liquid being used as, because of surfaceftension effects, to permit foam' to fall therethrough4 only when av head' of foam is built up thereabove, so that whenl rotationof the brush is stopped, centrifugal expulsion: of'the liquid foam from said. chamber ceases and consequently drainage of. the: foam. from the top of. said base plate to-saidfbrushing. elements also ceases;

NATHANIEL N. OKUN;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of. this patent UNIITEDV STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,694,733 Cummins Dec. 11, 1928 1,829,132 Finnell Oct. 27, 1931' 2,156,514 Sassano May 2, 1939

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