US2586876A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26, 1952 c. H. SPARKLIN 2,586,875

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 27, 1948 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 26, 1952 c. H. SPARKLIN VACUUM CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 27, 1948 kfij igga 7%Zi Feb. 26, 1952 c. H. SPARKLIN 2,586,876

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 27, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 abedded dirt will be jarred loose. means may be operated at any time, but it is pre- Patented Feb. 26, 1952 VACUUM CLEANER Charles H. Sparklin, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Birtman Electric Company, a corporation of Illinois Application October 27, 1948, Serial No. 56,803

9 Claims. (01. 183-55) This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having a dirt separating member therein together with means for agitating the separating member for loosening embedded dirt.

This invention is related to that described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 750,188, filed May 24, 1947, now Patent Number 2,541,122.

Vacuum cleaners ordinarily employ an air pervious filter or screen to separate dirt from an air stream that is drawn through the separating member. A substantial portion of the dirt has been found to remain on and in the screen so that this dirt at least partially closes the openings in the screen. Back pressure is thus developed which reduces the efficiency of the cleaner. The invention of the above copending application and the present invention are both concerned with means for agitating the screen so that the em- The agitatin ferred that it be operated when the vacuum cleaner is not operating so that there will be no flow of air through the screen resisting the loosening of the dirt.

' The present invention is concerned with an improved construction wherein the vacuum cleaner casing is provided with a baiile spaced from one wall of the casing and in sealing engagement therewith and with the means for operating the agitating means being located in the space between the baiile and the adjacent side of the casing. An operating portion of the agitating means extends through a longitudinal slot in said side of the casing so that the operating means can be operated. A portion of the operating means extends through the bafile into the interior of the casing with this portion of the operating means being connected to a resilient agitating means normally located adjacent the dirt separating member or filter. That portion of the operating means which extends through the baiile is also sealed so as to prevent substantial amounts of dirt entering the space between the bafile and the adjacent side of the casing.

The present invention is also concerned with improved means for operating a switch that is arranged in the electric circuit to the motor which operates the suction fan of the vacuum cleaner. In the new construction, a switch operating arm is rotatably connected to a portion of the operating means. This arm is arranged to contact the switch and close it after the operating means has caused the separating member to be agitated. In a preferred construction, the switch is located in a portion of the cleaner outside the baille and the switch operating arm extends through an opening in the baffle for contact with the switch. The new cleaner provides a more efficient construction in that substantial amounts of dirt are kept from the operating means and the operating means is located almost entirely within the casing of the Vacuum cleaner. The switch operating portion of the new apparatus is also more positive in its operation and is also located within the casing of the vacuum cleaner.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiment shown in the acccompanying drawings. Of the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a vacuum cleaner embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of said embodiment taken at substantially right angles to the elevation of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section through the vacuum cleaner of Figs. 1 and 2 taken substantially along line 3--3 of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3 with portions broken away for clarity of illustration; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of one side of the embodiment showing the operating mechanism and with portions broken away for clarity of illustration; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken along line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Although the invention as shown is applied to a vertical tank type vacuum cleaner, it is believed apparent thatit can be employed with any cleaning apparatus or the like wherein dirt is separated from a flow of air by passing the air through a screen or other separating member.

In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the vacuum cleaner comprises a casing to divided into an upper portion Ilia and a lower portion Iflb. These portions are adapted to be arranged in edge-to-edge relationship and are separated by a relatively thick resilient gasket H. The upper portion of the cleaner is removable from the lower portion and the portions are held together by conventional clamping means (not shown). The upper portion Illa of the casing is provided with a housing [2 which encloses a motor i3 held in a resilient mounting l4 held in the housing l2. On the bottom end of the motor shaft there is positioned a suction fan l5 that communicates with the interior of the easing ID. A filter screen l6 of cloth, or the like, is positioned across the bottom open end of the upper portion Illa of the cleaner casing. This filter screen may be held in place by the gasket I I, as shown, or may be held by any other means desired.

The lower portion lflb of the cleaner casing is provided with resilient means in the form of coil springs I! normally located adjacent the bottom surface of the filter screen i6, as shown in Fig. 3. In the embodiment shown, there are provided four of these coil springs H with each spring extending from a corner of the lower casing portion lb and attached to a plate 18 adjacent the center of the filter screen l6. Each coil spring i! has its outer end attached to a bracket is located adjacent a corner of the lower casing portion [3b.

The lower casing portion IDb is provided with a conventional opening and an inwardly directed collar 20 therearound with this collar being provided with an annular groove 201) on the inner surface thereof serving as a means for attaching a flexible air intake hose. This hose may carry the conventional wand used in cleaning operations. Opposite the inner end of the collar20 and spaced therefrom, there is located a baffle member 2| having an opening in the top for directing the dirt laden air stream toward the filter screen l6 and thus minimizing agitation of the dirt in the bottom of the lower casing portion lob.

Located adjacent one wall of the lower casing portion 16b is a baflie 22. This baflle is arranged substantially parallel to the wall I00 and is spaced therefrom, as shown in Fig. 6. The bailie 22 has its top portion curved outwardly and joined to the wall I00. The sides of the baflle are joined to the adjacent walls of the lower casing section lb and the bottom of the battle is joined to the bottom of the lower casing portion. Thus, a sealed space is provided between the baffie and the wall I00.

In order to operate the agitating means which includes the coil springs 11, there is provided a rod member 23, preferably of hexagonal shape, extending between the bafile 22 across the lower casing portion lOb to the opposite wall thereof. This rod member is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and is provided with an arm 24 attached thereto for rotation therewith, with the outer end of this arm being attached by means of a short spring 25 to the plate I8 to which the springs I! are joined. When the rod member 23 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, the plate 18 and springs I! are drawn away from the filter screen 16, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

In order to rotate the rod member 23 and arm 24 and draw the springs I! away from the filter screen, there is provided, in the space between the baffle 22 and the adjacent side of the casing, a lever arm 26 rigidly fastened to the end of the rod member 23 that extends through. the bafile. This lever arm is located against a mounting plate 21 that is mounted on the bafiie 2! with this baffle plate being divided into two portions 21a and 21b so that when the two portions are assembled, as shown in Fig. 5, they surround the rod member 23.

Mounted on the portion 21a of the plate 21 there is located a lever 28 that is rotatable about a fulcrum 28a. This lever is normally positioned adjacent the lever arm 26 when the lever is in its topmost position. The lever is urged toward this topmost position by a coil spring 29extending between the outer end of the lever 28 and a bracket 210 at the top of the mounting plate portion 21b. Rotatably mounted on the lever 28 1s a dog 30 having a hook portion 38a adapted to engage the lever arm 26. The lower end of the dog beyond its fulcrum is provided with a 0011 pring 3| extending between said end .ofthe dog and the upper portion of the lever 28. This Sprmg ur es the dog in a clockwise direction. as

shown in Fig. 5.

The end of the lever 28 on the side of the fulcrum 28a opposite the dog 30 is provided with a vertically movable lever 32 rotatably attached thereto. This lever 32 extends upwardly through a slot 2la in the top of the bafiie 2i and is arranged to engage a switch 33 mounted in the upper casing portion "la. The slot 2 la is located substantially immediately above the point of attachment of the vertically movable lever 32 and the slot serves as a guide for the vertically movable lever 32.

In order that the lever 28 may be operated, the end 28b thereof opposite the fulcrum 28a is turned outwardly to extend through an arcuate opening [0d inthe lower casing portion [61). This outwardly turned end 28b is preferably provided with a treadle member 34, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The end of the lever 28 adjacent the treadle portion 34 is provided with a guide member 35 attached thereto. This guide member has top and bottom flange portions that extend slightly less than the distance between the baflle 22 and the adjacent wall N0 of the casing, as shown in Fig. 6. This guide member insures movement of the lever 28 in a substantially vertical plane.

When the cleaner is not operating, the lever 28 is located in its topmost position adjacent the lever arm 26 with the dog 30 engaging this lever arm- (Fig. 5). The only way that the switch 33 can be closed to operate the cleaner is by pressin down on the treadle member34 on the outside of the casing. Movement of the lever 28 in this direction causes a similar movement of the lever arm 25 and thus rotation of the rod member 23 and the attached arm 24 to draw the springs I! away from the filter screen l6. When the parts have reached the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the hook portion 30a of the dog 36 have just about become disengaged from the arm. Further downward movement of the lever 28 causes this disengagement and the springs I! immediately snap back against the filter screen It and agitate it to jar loose embedded dirt. During this downward movement of the lever 28 the switch opcrating lever 32 has been moving upwardly. The parts are so proportioned, however, that the lever 32 does not close the switch until after the lever 28 has been moved to a position where the lever arm 26 is released. With this arrangement, the filter screen I6 is always agitated before the switch 33 starts the operation of the motor.

As soon as pressure on the lever 28 has been released, the spring 29 returns the lever to its initial position. As the outer end of the lever arm 26 is provided with a sloping cam surface 26a and the outer end of the hook portion 30a of the dog 36 is also provided with a slopin cam surface 3011, the engagement of these cam surfaces causes rotation of the dog 36 against the action of the spring 3| so that the dog may again engage the lever arm 26.

When it is desired to stop the operation of the cleaner, the treadle 3!- is again pushed down so as to rotate the lever 28 and cause the switch contacting lever 22 to again operate the switch. With this arrangement the filter screen I6 is again agitated just before the motor is turned off.

The switch 33 is preferably mounted on a bracket 36 that is located in the upper casing portion Illa. The filter screen I6 is provided with an opening therein immediately beneath 5, this bracket 36 so that the top end of the lever 32 may extend therethrough. The area around this opening, however, is sealed by providing a gasket 31 and a nut 38 with the filter screen being arranged therebetween.

The vacuum cleaner described herein provides a substantially dust free space between the baffle 22 and the adjacent wall lflc above the case with the principal operating portions of the agitating means being located within this space. The only openings to the space from the interior of the claims are those through which the rod member 23' and the lever 32 extend. The rod member 23 is sealed in its opening, however, while the opening Zia through which the lever 32 extends is very small.

Having described my invention as set out in the accompanying drawings it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of'description unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a dirt separating member therein and a motordriven fan for drawing air through said separating member, means for agitating said separating member comprising resilient means normally arranged adjacent the separating member, a manually-operable lever pivotally mounted on a fulcrum, means operatively connecting said lever and said resilient means so that rotation of the lever causes the resilient means to be drawn away from the separating member, means for disengaging said lever from said resilient means after the resilient means has been drawn away from the separating member to permit the resilient means to snap against the separating member, a switch in the electric circuit to the motor, and an arm rotatably mounted on the lever for operating the switch after said disengagement of the lever and resilient means.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein said switch-operating arm is pivotally mounted on said lever on the end thereof opposite the point of connection of the lever to the resilient means.

3. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a dirt separating member therein and a motordriven fan for drawing air through said separating member, a baffle located adjacent to and spaced from one side of the casing and sealing the space between the bafiie and said casing side from said air stream, said baffle being in sealing relationship with the adjacent side of the casing, a resilient means normally arranged adjadent the separating member, a manually-operable lever pivotally mounted in the space between the ballle and the adjacent side of the casing and including a portion extending through an elongated opening in said side of the casing for operation of said lever, means extending through said baflie and operatively connecting said lever and resilient means so that rotation of the lever causes the resilient means to be drawn away from the separating member, and means for disengaging the lever from the resilient means after said drawing away to permit the resilient means to snap against the separating member.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3 wherein means are provided normally urging said lever to a position for operative engagement with the resilient means.

5. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a dirt separating member therein and a motordriven fan for drawing air through said separating member, a baflle located adjacent to and spaced from one side of the casing and in sealing relationship therewith and sealing the space between the baflle and said casing side from said air stream, a resilient means normally arranged adjacent the separating member, a manuallyoperable lever pivotally mounted about a fulcrum in the space between the bafiie and the adjacent side of the casing and including a portion extending through an elongated opening in said side of the casing for operation of said lever, an arm pivotally mounted about a fulcrum in said space and arranged adjacent the lever, means extending through said baflle and operatively connecting the arm. and resilient means so that rotation of the arm about its fulcrum causes the resilient means to be drawn away from the separating member, means operatively connecting said lever and arm so that rotation of the lever causes said rotation of said arm, means for disengagin said lever and said arm when the resilient means has been drawn away from the separating member, means for automatically engaging said arm and lever when the lever is moved to a position adjacent said arm, means normally urging said lever to said position, a switch in the electric circuit to the motor and located outside the baffle but Within the casing, and an arm rotatably mounted on the lever and extending through the baiiie for operating the switch after said disengagement of the lever and arm.

6. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a dirt separating member therein and a motordriven fan for drawing air through said separating member, means for agitating said separating member comprising resilient means normally arranged adjacent the separating member, a manually-operable lever pivotally mount ed on a fulcrum, means operatively connecting said lever and said resilient means so that rotation of the lever causes the resilient means to be drawn away from the separating member, means for disengaging said lever from said resilient means after the resilient means has been drawn away from the separatin member to permit the resilient means to snap against the separating member, a switch in the electric circuit to the motor, an arm rotatably mounted on the lever for operating the switch after said disengagement of the lever and resilient means, said casing being divided "into two separable parts arranged one above the other with the dirt-separating member, fan, motor and switch being located on the upper part and the resilient means, lever and rotatable arm being located on the lower part.

7. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a dirt separating member therein and a motordriven fan for drawing air through said separating member, a baflie located inwardly of and adjacent one wall of the casing in sealing relationship therewith, means within the casing for agitating said dirt separating member including a rotatable member extending through the baflie and journalled thereon, and an actuating member journalled on said bafiie and operatively engageable with the inner end of said rotatable member for operating the agitating means, said actuating member being 10- (rated between the baflle and adjacent casing wall to protect said member from the dirt within with said actuating member being rotatably' mounted on said plate and said plate alsocarrying spring means operably connected to the actuating member and urging it intooperative engagement with the rotatable member.

9. Ina vacuum cleaner comprising a dirt separating member and a, motor-driven fan,

means normally arranged adjacent the sepa- 1.

rating member for agitating said member, a switch in the electrical circuit to the motor, apparatus movable through a path from one position to a second position, means including a part of said movable apparatus for operating said-agitating; means at a point in saidpath, and

an arm mounted on said movable apparatus and movable generally longitudinally for engagement with and operation of said switch atafurther point in said path and subsequent to the operationof the agitating means.

CHARLES H. SPARKLIN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date Re. 21,978 Leathers Dec. 16, 1941 1,621,824 Boesger Mar. 22, 1927 1,715,273 Billings May 28, 1929 2,211,934 McAllister Aug. 20 1940 2,266,976 Leathers Dec. 23,1941

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