US2616117A - Suction cleaner belt detacher - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 4, 1952 c. FRERE ETAL 2,616,117

SUCTION CLEANER BELT DETACHER Filed July '7, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Fig.3 I

Fig.4 C a I Inventors: g 15 Clarence T-r-eT-e,

l Frank T. Grothouse,

J4 b g/M 9 I0 I I Their- Attorne g.

Nov. 4, 1952 c. FRERE ETAL 2,616,117

' SUCTION CLEANER BELT DETACHER Filed July '7, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Inventors:

Clarence Frere," Frank T,- Gr-othouse,

v Their Attorney.

Patented Nov. 4, 19 52 SUCTION CLEANER BELT DETACHER.

Clarence Frere, Bridgeport, Conn., and Frank'T. Grothouse, South Euclid, Ohio, assignors to General Electric Company, :a corporation of New York Application July '7, 1949, Ser'ialNo. 103,396

3Claims. 1

This invention relates to suction cleaners of the floor type, and more particularly to a device for disconnecting a flexible driving belt extending between the motor shaft and the rotary floor brush.

Suction floor cleaners conventionally employ a rotary brush mounted adjacent the mouth of the cleaner nozzle. This rotating brush serves to loosen dirt so that the inrushing air through the nozzle mouth will carry dirt particles into an air filter bag. It is also common practice to contruct a floor cleaner so that various attachments for auxiliary cleaning operations may be used. When the attachments are thus being employed, it is customary to disconnect the rotary brush, since with the suction cleaner remaining in a given position, if the brush were rotating, the surface on which the cleaner was restin would soon be badly worn.

It is, therefore, a primary object of our invention to provide a mechanical device to disconnect the belt so that the rotary brush will not operate when the machine is being used with attachments.

A further object of our invention is to arrange a belt detacher co-operable with the attachment suction hose so that the belt detacher may be placed in position, the belt removed, and the suction hose installed; and upon completing use of the attachments, the belt is readily replaced and its proper position is insured.

A further object of our invention is to greatly simplify removal of the flexible driving belt from the motor or driving shaft by a device operable externally of the nozzle and having no dustcatching parts in the suction passages.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a compact belt detacher which is economical to manufacture.

In accomplishment of the foregoing objectives, a feature of our invention consists of an improved device which may be attached to a wall forming the cleaner nozzle. This device includes a pivoted arm carrying a belt remover tool arranged to swing into or out of axial engagement with the motor shaft. The belt remover tool is rotatable to roll the belt onto the tool from the motor shaft, after which the arm pivots to clear the opening for attachment of the suction hose. By reversing this procedure, the belt may again be placed in operative position on the motor shaft.

Our invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out with particularity in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation in section of an exemplary device according to our invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of a suction cleaner nozzle with the belt detacher in place; Fig. 3 is a portion of our improved device in one of its operative'pos'itions; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the parts in another operative position; Fig. 5 is a front elevation similar to Fig. 2 with the belt detacher in a different position; Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partially in section, with the belt removed and a suction hose installed; Fig. '7 is a side elevation in section of a modified form of our invention; and Fig. 8 is a front elevation of this modified form.

Fig. 1 illustrates a nozzle portion of a floor-type suction cleaner. The nozzle is formed by an outer wall 1, an inner wall 2, and a top wall 3. The nozzle suction chamber is separated from a motor fan chamber 5 by a wall 4. Wall 4 is centrally apertured at 6 with a portion of slightly larger diameter, as at I, to provide a seat against which an attachment suction hose may be received. A motor (not shown) has a shaft 8 extending outwardly through aperture 6 and into. the interior of the nozzle. Located adjacent a mouth 9 of the nozzle is a rotary brush comprising a spindle ill with bristles, such as H and 12, mounted on the spindle and extending radially outward. As is clearly shown by Fig. 1, when spindle 10 is rotated the brush bristles contact the surface on which the nozzle rests. To rotate spindle IE3, a flexible belt 13, such as for example a rubber belt, extends over motor shaft 8 and around spindle 10. Thus, as the motor is operated to drive a fan within the fan chamber 5, motor shaft 8 rotates driving spindle 10 through flexible belt IS. A suitable bumper pad 14 extends around the lower part of wall I.

The upper sloping portion of front wall 'I of the nozzle includes an opening into the suction chamber. This opening normally is sealed off by a front cover plate (not shown) for usual floor cleaning. This cover plate may be removed when it is desired to employ the attachments to provide "access for the --attachment suction Ihose 15 shown by Fig. 6. In accordance with our invention, a supporting member such as the beltremover plate It may be attached to the cleaner suction nozzle in place of the usual face plate. Cover It includes pins .11 and 18 receivable in slots l9 and 20. in the nozzle wall. I, to maintain plate 1.6. in position.

3 Centrally located along the lower edge of plate I6 is a bearing post 2|. A pivoted arm 22 is rotatably connected to bearing post 2| by a screw-threaded member 23. A washer 24 may be included under the head of screw 23 to facilitate rotation of arm 22 with respect to plate I6. The outer end of arm 22 includes a bearing member 25 for rotatably carrying the belt detacher shaft 26. Shaft 26 is both rotatable with respect to arm 22 and also slidable axially. Knob 21 is secured to the outer end of shaft 23 for manual manipulation. The inner end of shaft 26 has secured thereto a ferrule 23. The inside diameter of ferrule 28 is slightly larger than the diameter of the end portion of shaft 8, so that when shaft 26 is moved axially inward, ferrule 28 fits over the end of motor shaft 8 and the ferrule end frictionally engages the flexible belt.

The operation of this belt remover is apparent by a reference to Figs. 3 aid 4. By grasping knob 2'I,-.shaft 26 may be moved axially inward until ferrule 28 fits over the end of motor shaft 3. Then, by rotating knob 21 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed from the outer end of knob 27, belt I3 and motor shaft 8 are also rotated by frictional engagement of the ferrule with the belt, causing belt I 3 to climb and roll onto ferrule 28, as shown by Fig. 3. With belt I3 riding on ferrule 28, knob 21 may be pulled outwardly, thus removing belt I3 from the motor shaft, as shown byFig. 4. Since shaft 26 is carried by the pivoted arm 22, when ferrule 23 is clear of motor shaft 8, arm 22 may be pivoted to the position shown by Fig. This operation clears the aperture into the nozzle to permit suction hose I5 to be mounted in position.

As shown by Fig. 5, the aperture through plate I6 has a generally circular configuration to clear the aperture into the nozzle. Hose !5 extends through this aperture and is supported by the nozzle wall. Asshown by Fig. 6, a locking tongue 29 on hose I5 is engaged inside of nozzle wall I of the suction chamber. One end of spring tongue 29 is held in position by a rivet 30, and a button 3| provides an external means for forcing tongue 29 inwardly so that the hose may be inserted in position or removed. At its innermost end, hose I5 seats in the annular groove 7 and it is this connection that provides the air seal between suction hose I5 and the fan chamber 5. As shown by Figs. 2 and 5, the generally circular aperture through plate I6 and the opening in the front wall of the nozzle are both interrupted to create a recess into which pivoted arm 22 carrying shaft 28 may move. This construction serves to clear completely the opening for suction hose I5 without removal of the belt detacher. This feature is important, since belt I3 makes a. right angle turn in extending from spindle I8 to motor shaft 8, and upon belt replacement there is a likelihood of this turn being made in the reverse direction, resulting in reverse rotation of the spindle and throwing of the belt. However, with the present construction, because the belt remains on the belt detacher and the belt detacher isafiixed to the nozzle, when use of attachments is. completed and hose I5 is removed, the belt is readily remounted on motor shaft 8 in its proper operative position without a possibility of reverse connection.

In Figs. '7 and 8, we have shown a modified form of our invention. The details of the suction cleaner nozzle construction are identical with the nozzle construction-described above in connection with Figs. 1 through 6. Therefore, for'con-1 venience, we have employed the same numbers for referring to the component parts of the suction cleaner nozzle. Likewise, belt removing shaft 26, manually controlled knob 21, and ferrule 28 are identical with the above-described construction. However, in this modified form, in lieu of employing a large plate for supporting the belt detacher on the suction nozzle, we employ a smaller plate in the form of a bracket engageable with wall I of the nozzle. This bracket 32 includes a pair of hooked portions 33 and 34 which clamp to wall I of the suction cleaner nozzle. The outer end of bracket 32 carries a depending flange 34 upon which is attached a pivoted arm 35 by means of a rivet or other suitable fastening device 38. As shown by Fig. 8, flange 34 has an arcuate groove 31 and the lower end of pivoted arm 33 has a tongue 33 projecting through this arcuate slot. Movement of pivoted arm 35 is thus limited. The upper end of pivoted arm 35 carries a bearing support 38 and this serves as a bearing for the rotatable and axially movable shaft 26. Operation of this modified form is exactly the same as for the previously described embodiment. The aperture through Wall I of the suction nozzle is appropriately shaped to receive a suction hose for use with attachments to the cleaner. Likewise, the edge id on bracket flange 34 is provided with an arcuate shape to clear this hose-receiving aperture.

Our improved belt detacher results in a convenient tool for disconnecting the driving belt from the motor shaft when it is desired to employ the suction cleaner attachments. It is apparent that this detacher may be readily affixed to the suction nozzle, and it not only serves to detach the belt by a simple mechanical movement, but it also provides a convenient means for remount ing the belt on the motor shaft. A standard at tachment suction hose may be employed, without any special belt lifting device Within the hose to impede air flow. This device is readily removable from the nozzle for normal floor cleaning,

- and hence there are no dust-catching parts exposed to dirt-laden incoming air. Because of the simplicity of this device, it may be readily manufactured at a low cost. Therefore, this belt detacher may be conveniently included as one of the items comprising the cleaner attachments. A further advantage in the use of this device is in its facility for replacing the belt on the motor shaft upon conclusion of the use of the attachments. While the attachments are in use, the belt detacher remains attached to the cleaner in instant readiness for replacement of the belt.

While the present invention has been described by reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without actually departing from the invention. We, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such equivalent variations as come within the true spirit and scope of the foregoing disclosure.

What we claim as new and desire Letters Patent of the United States i s Secure by 1. In a suction cleaner floor nozzle having a front opening therein for insertion of a suction hose, 2. motor shaft within the nozzle extending toward said opening, a rotary brush in the nozzle on an axis at right angles to said motor shaft axis, and a belt connecting and driving said brush from said motor shaft, a belt remover comprising a supporting plate having means detachably engaged with said nozzle to support said plate adjacent said opening, an arm pivotally carried by said plate for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said shaft toward and away from a, position opposite the end of said shaft, a member carried by said arm, slidable and rotatable with respect to said arm, one end of said member being slidably engageable over the end of said motor shaft when said arm is opposite said shaft, rotation of said member and said shaft together in one direction when engaged resulting in said belt riding onto said member, whereby said member may be slid away from the shaft and said arm may be pivoted to carry the belt away from said shaft and opening and permit a suction hose to be inserted in said opening.

2. In a suction cleaner floor nozzle having an attachment hose aperture therein, a motor shaft within the nozzle extending toward said aperture, a rotary brush positioned adjacent the mouth of said nozzle on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the motor shaft, and a flexible belt driving the rotary brush from said motor shaft, a belt detacher comprising a supporting plate detachably engaged on the nozzle adjacent said aperture, an arm pivotally mounted on said plate for movement toward and away from a position opposite the end of said shaft, and a belt remover shaft carried by said arm and rotatable and axially movable with respect to said arm, said belt remover shaft including an operating knob on its outer end and a ferrule on its inner end slidable axially over the end of the motor shaft when said arm is opposite said motor shaft to frictionally engage the belt, whereby rotation of said shafts in one direction causes the belt to roll onto said ferrule whereupon said ferrule may be withdrawn from said motor shaft and said pivoted arm may be rotated to clear the aperture for reception of the attachment hose.

3. In a suction cleaner floor nozzle having an attachment hose aperture therein, a rotary brush positioned within the mouth of the nozzle, a motor shaft within the nozzle extending axially toward the aperture with its axis in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the brush, and a flexible belt driving the brush from the motor shaft, a belt detacher comprising supporting means detachably engaged with the nozzle, an arm pivotally carried by said supporting means and movable in a plane perpendicular to the motor shaft axis toward and away from a position opposite the end of said motor shaft, and a belt removing shaft having an axis parallel to the motor shaft axis rotatably carried by said arm and movable along its axis with respect to said arm, said belt removing shaft including an operating knob on its outer end and means on the opposite end of said belt removing shaft engageable with the belt when said arm is in its position opposite the motor shaft and said belt removing shaft is moved axially toward said motor shaft, whereby said belt may be rolled onto said-belt removing shaft upon rotation of said belt moving shaft in a direction reverse from normal driving direction and said pivoted arm may then be moved in a plane normal to the motor shaft axis to carry said belt clear of said aperture after said belt removing shaft has been moved axially away from said motor shaft.

CLARENCE FRERE. FRANK T. GROTHOUSE.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,182,595 Stecker May 9, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 620,771 Great Britain Mar. 30, 1949

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