US2829734A - Filter assemblies - Google Patents

Description

April s, 1958 G. A. BRACE 2,829,734

FILTER ASSEMBLIES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 10, .1954

G. A. BRACE FILTER ASSEMBLIES April s, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1954 April 8, 1958 G. A. BRACE FILTER ASSEMBLIES- 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 10, 1954 United States Patent FILTER ASSEMBLIES George A. Brace, San Carlos, Calif., assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 10, 1954, Serial No. 415,254

7 Claims. (U. 18351) to certain disadvantages such as being diflicult to operate" at times and subject to jamming if the filter bag or some other object becomes caught in the fastenermechanism.

Moreover, and of particular importance, this conventional fastener is costly and must be installed with considerable care for proper functioning.

The present invention provides a greatly simplified appearance bag featuring a closure which avoids the above mentioned and other disadvantages of prior closure arrangernents for filter assemblies andparticularly the hookless fastener type of closure while exhibiting new features and advantages. Thus, the present invention contemplates an arrangement wherein prior types of fasteners are eliminated and in which the access opening is closed or opened merely by tensioning or relaxing the edges of the access opening lengthwise thereof. This opening extends longitudinally of the envelope with one end anchored to the cleaner body or its exhaust outlet and the upper end resiliently connected to an upper portion of the propelling handle through a readily disconnectable tension spring. So long as the spring is connected to the handle, it holds the edges of the access opening taut and closed against one another. By relaxing the spring tension, the edges are instantly and automatically rendered free for unrestrained opening. In otherwords, my closure device is closed and opened merely by tensioning or relaxing the opposite edges of the opening.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a new filter assembly for a suction cleaner which is simpler in construction, less expensive, more convenient to open and close and of greater utility than prior. constructions.

Another object is the provision of an appearance envelope for a filter assembly having an access opening which can be closed and opened merely by tensioning or relaxing the opposite side edges of the opening.

Still another object is the provision of a suction cleaner having a filter assembly resiliently suspended from the propelling handle and normally making use of the resilient suspending means to open or close the filter access opening. 1 7

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed specification of two illustrative embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevationaljview of a floor type suction cleaner incorporating the invention;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of thefilterassembly taken from the propelling handle side thereof and showing certain constructional details; 7

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the filter assembly taken along line 3-3 on Figure 1 with portions of the filter adapter in section and other portions in full lines;

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the filter assembly taken along line 44.on Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the top of the appearance bag taken from the side thereof facing the propelling handle;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment with portions of the appearance envelope broken away to show the disposable filter before inflation; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the filter assembly taken along line 7-7 on Figure 6.

A preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 comprises a main body 10 having a downwardly opening suction nozzle 11 across its forward end and supported by a pair of front carrier wheels 12 and a pair of rear wheels 13. A propelling handle 14 having a bail 15 at its lower end is pivotally connected to the opposite sides of the main body by pivot pins 16. A snap action switch 17 carried by the handle adjacent its hand grip controls the usual electric driving motor not shownbut concealed within the main body.

It will, of course, be understood that the electric service cord 18 is connected to the motor and switch 17 in the usual manner.

The filter assembly generally designated 19 is shown in Figure l as extending along and to one side'of the propelling handle with its upper end resiliently supported therefrom by a tension spring 20 while its outer end is swivelly connected to the exhaust air conduit in a manner which will be described more fully presently. As will be best understood by reference to Figure 3, the filter assembly comprises an outer cloth appearance bag 22, a paper filter bag 23 and a filteradapter tube assembly generally designated 24. The filter adapter assembly fits telescopicallyover the outer end of the exhaust air conduit 21 which, as herein illustrated, opens laterally through the side of the cleaner body and from the periphery of the suction fan casing housed therewithin. The fan chamber extends transversely of the cleaner body and has an inlet eye in its forward wall opening into the suction air passageway which extends downwardly into the suction nozzle 11 in accordance with customary practice. A radial type fan of well known construction is housed within the fan chamber and is mounted directly on the shaft of the driving motor housed within the rear end of the cleaner body.

Referring particularly to Figure 3, it will be seen that the filter adapter 24 comprises an elbow 25 having its inlet end telescope over the end of discharge conduit 21 and secured thereto by a set screw 26. The discharge end 27 of the elbow preferably projects upwardly and rearwardly of the cleaner in general alignemnt with the usual inclined operating position of handle 14. A flexible rubber bellows 28 has its lower end locked in place on the upper end of the elbow as by a clamp 29. Secured within the outlet end of the bellows by a clamp 30 is a thin walled filter seating tube 31 having an elongated channel or depression 32 extending along its Wall at a point opposite the propelling handle. Depression 32 terminates short of the ends of the tube and preferably has.

a low height locator and retaining boss 33 projecting upwardly from its bottom and positioned to register and seat within an opening formed in the Wall of the filter inlet neck when the filter is properly positioned on tube 31.

The filter clamp comprises a. leaf spring 34 having its H lower end 35 riveted or otherwise anchored to the wall of a tube 31 at a point adjacent its inlet end. A pair of tabs 36 bent upwardly from the opposite lower sides of this spring form supports for pivot 37 of locking or control member 38. The upper end of the control member has a short leg 39 bent inwardly at right angles to the main leg. Pivot pin 37 is extended crosswise of the member very close to the right angle bend and serves to. support the member between tabs 36. The free end of leg 39 is so positioned with the underlying portion of spring leaf 34 as to hold. the same depressed firmly against the bottom of channel 32 when the control member is in its closed position as illustrated in Figure 3. The finger piece 40 provided at the lower end of the longer leg permits the operator to pivot the same counter-clockwise through an arc of approximately 90 to its open position to allow the free end of spring 34 to: flex outwardly away from tube 31 and depression 32 to the dotted position shown in Figure 3 thereby releasing the filter for replacement. When this has been accomplished, control member 38 is pivoted clockwise so that leg 39 depressed spring 34. into depression 32 and gathers the underlying portion of the filter inlet neck circumferentially of the tube 31 and into depression 32 thereby clamping the filter to the adapter tube in an airtight manner. Spring 34 is provided with an opening 41 of the same shape but somewhat larger than boss 33 and positioned to telescope thereover as it is depressed. And, of course, the side wall ofthe filter inlet neck is provided with a similar opening 47 to receive boss 33 as it is seated thereover by the depression of spring 34.

A more complete and detailed description of the filter adapter as well as of the filter bag designed for use therewith will be found in my co-pending application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 333,110 filed on or about January 26, 1953 for improvements in Suction Cleaners now Patent No. 2,710,072 dated June 7, 1955.

Referring to Figure 4 it will be observed that paper filter bag 23 comprises a tubular paper envelope having a pair of inwardly projecting pleats 42 extending lengthwise along its opposite sides so that the bag can be folded flat and compactly for shipment. Both the upper and lower ends of the pleated tube are folded over at 43 and sealed closed so that the dirt cannot be removed from the bag but is disposed of along with the bag. As clearly shown in Figure 4, the opposite longitudinal edges of the stock used to form the main body overlap one another and are glued or otherwise sealed to the adjacent portions of the body of the bag as indicated at 44, 44 in a manner to form a relatively small inlet tube 45. The upper end of tube 45 is, of course, sealed by the upper overturned end 43 of the body of the bag. The outer side wall 46 of tube 45 terminates above the lower end of the bag as best appears in Figure 3. 46 forms the entrance end of inlet tube 45 which has a diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the seating tube 31. Accordingly, the inlet tube telescopes readily over the end of seating tube 31 as the filter is assembled to the adapter. Opening 47 which was referred to above is located in outer wall 46 of inlet tube 45 and is shaped and positioned as to seat about boss 33 when the filter has been properly assembled onto the adapter.

It will therefore be clear that opening 47 cooperates with boss 33 to lock the filter against withdrawal from tube 31 when the filter clamp is closed but also as a locator means for assuring that the filter is properly positioned on the adapter both lengthwise and circumferentially thereof, since spring 34 cannot be closed down about the boss unless opening 47 is in proper registry therewith.

The adapter assembly also preferably includes a link 43 having its lower end pivoted to elbow 25 by a pin 49 and its upper end is pivotally connected to tube 31 by a Hence, the lower edge of outer'wallpivot pin 40. This link 43 permits the adapter tube to ly thereof. The pivoted linkage also serves to prevent collapse of the bellows due to lateral shifting of the adapter assembly.

The filter adapter and disposable filter bag are enclosed by outer appearance envelope 22 made from porous cloth or the like of a kind presenting a dressy appearance and serving to conceal and protect the filter bag the adapter therefor. Envelope 22 may be tailored to present a trim and pleasing appearance such as that illustrated in Figure 2. As this figure makes clear, the bag is entirely closed except for an elongated opening extending lengthwise along the inner side wall of the bag. This bag is so tailored that the wall having this elongated access opening is shorter than the other walls in order that the edges of the opening may be pulled taut without tensioning the other walls. As shown, the filter access opening 53 is formed by hems 51 and 52 extending parallel to one another for the full length of the shorter inner wall of the envelope 22. Enclosed by these hems is an endless flexible tension member or cord 54 having a length equal to or slightly less. than the length of hems 51 and 52. Note from Figure 2 that the lower ends of hems 51 and 52 encircle adapter elbow 25, while the upper ends are firmly anchored. to a cupped metal reinforcing member 55 extending along the top inner edge of the appearance bag. The means shown for anchoring the cord to member 55 comprisesa cotter pin 56 extending through on opening 57 in member 55 and having its inner ends looped about and bent backwardly against the inner walls of the reinforming member. The outer looped end of pin 56 serves as an anchorage for the lower hooked end of spring 20 the upper end of which is detachably supported on a hook 57 carried on the side of the propelling handle.

As made clear'by the drawings, hem52 is spaced inwardly from the longitudinal edge 58 of a flap 59 which normally overlies and conceals access opening 53 as well as hem 51.

Referring. to Figure 3, it will be observed that the lower end of cord 54' surroundselbow 25 closely adjacent flange 60. An'annular g'roove surrounding the elbow in spaced relation tofiange 60 serves, to seat a split ring keeper 62 which cooperatesrwith flange 60 in holding cord 54 seated against displacement along the elbow. Note that flange 6t) projects-sufficiently from the elbow to form an anchorage for a pair of shouldered rivets or keepers 63, 63. These keepers are closely spaced from one another and have large heads which extend through slits or appropriately positioned button hole openings 63' in the wall of. the appearance bag. As Figure 2 makes clear, when keepers 63 are positioned in these button holes, the lower ends-ofhems 51' and 52 are firmly anchored closely beside one another with the appearance bag pulled snugly about the adapter elbow in the channel provided therefore byflange 60Land ring 62.

Operation Let it be assumed that the cleaner is assembled in the condition shown in Figure 1 with the exception of the paper filterbag. To install the filter, the operator unhookstension spring 20 from hook 57 thereby allowing filter accessopening 53 extending the full length of the inner face of appearance-bag 22 to open freely completely exposing thefilter adapter 24. Making certain that control lever 38. of the filter clamp is open, the operator grasps the adapter in the area surrounding bellows 28 in one hand and pulls the filter inlet tube 45 downwardly over the end of seating tube 31 until opening 47 in the side wall of the inlet neck registers with boss 33 on the adapter tube. Control lever 38 is then pivoted clockwise downwardly against theadapter tube to depress spring strip 34 against the outer,web,46 of the filter inlet. This action gathers the inlet tubeAS into depression 32 so as to form an airtight seal with seating tube 31. Since leg 39 of control'member 38 is then directly beneath or slightly to one side of pivot 37, spring 34 is locked in closed position. 7

The assembly is completed merely by inserting the upper end of the filter bag within appearance bag 22 and re-engaging spring 20 over hook 57 on the propelling handle. This last operation places the inner wall of the appearance bag and both runs of cord 54 under tension thereby closing access opening 53 and holding it closed. Of course, flap 59 drapes downwardly over the access opening and completely conceals it from view.

The cleaner may now be placed in operation by closing switch 17 to start the motor for the suction fan unit. Air is drawn upwardly through nozzle 11, through the fan chamber and is discharged into the filter bag through adapter assembly 24. The dirty air passes upwardly through the tubular inlet 45 and into the main body of the filter bag through an opening in the inner web forming inlet tube 45. The dirt settles to the lower end of the bag while the air escapes through the pores of the filter bag. The super-atmospheric air pressure within the filter bag produced by the suction fan causes pleats 42 to open outwardly as the bag inflates. Preferably, the maximum girth of the filter bag is slightly less than that of the appearance bag 22. In consequence, there is no tendency for the inflated bag to spread apart the opposite edges of access opening 53 and the same remains as snugly closed under the tension of spring 20 as though it were secured by a positive fastening device.

The pivoting of the propelling handle as the cleaner 1S moved over the floor swings the entire filter assembly therewith substantially about the axis of exhaust air conduit 21. Of course, elbow 25 is preferably locked to this conduit and does not pivot. However, the appearance bag does swing about the axis of the discharge conduit. At the same time, filter seating conduit 31, bellows 28 and link 48 and the entire filter bag swing freely with the appearance bag about an axis above but closely adjacent the center of conduit 21.

When the filter bag becomes filled with dirt, it is a simple matter to remove it and install a clean one. The operator merely detaches spring 20 from the propelling handle and allows the filter assembly to fall. As soon as the tension on cord 54 is removed, access opening 53 opens freely for its full length so that the filter bag can be freely removed therefrom. Clamping lever 33 is opened allowing spring 34 to flex away from the adapter and release the filter bag so that it can :be readily withdrawn from tube 31. A new one is inserted over the end of the filter adapter and clamped in place as described above. After making certain that all parts of the filter are inside the appearance bag, the operator re-engages spring 20 onto hook 57. This retensions the opposite edges of access opening 53 to hold the same closed without the operator having to operate any fastening means of any description.

Second embodiment It will, of course, be readily apparent that the invention may be carried out in various other ways and in particular that the filter access opening in the appearance bag may be arranged in other locations than the one illustrated and described above. An example of an alternate arrangement is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 wherein the same or similar parts are designated by the same reference character distinguished by a prime.

The principal variant is that the access opening to the filter bag is arranged along the top edge of the appearance bag22, and in the elimination of the reinforcing strip 55 employed in the first described form to maintain a trim and tailored appearance for the appearance bag. As will be observed from Figure 7, hem 52 is located along the uppermost longitudinal edge of the appearance bag and hem 51' lies directly therebeneath. This arrangement is facilitated by extending cord 54' slightly beyond the top edge of the bag and looping it around the lower hook or tension spring 20'. As a consequence, flap 59 overlies and The details of the filter adapter structure are not illus-,

trated but may be identical with those disclosed above or ofany other suitable type. Note that flange 60 surrounding the base of the adapter elbow is provided with but a single anchor pin 63 since hem 52' lies tangent to the upper side of the adapter elbow. This single anchor pin is positioned to hold hem 51' in closely spaced underlying relation to the upper run, as clearly illustrated in Figure 6.

To expose the filter bag and filter adapter for servicing, the operator merely detaches spring 20' from hook 57'. The appearance bag immediately falls away to either side of the filter bag completely exposing it as well as the adapter to which it is attached. The dirty filter is quickly,

detached by opening its holding clamp and withdrawing it from the adapter. Thereafter, a new filter is connected to the adapter and clamped in place. The opposite sides of the appearance bag are then pulled upwardly around the filter bag and spring 25 is replaced on hook 57'. It will, of course, :be appreciated that the tension cord 54 may be replaced with a rubber cord, taping, elastic strip material, or the like. Or for that matter, a narrow fold may be formed in the bag material itself and stitched in place as a substitute for the reinforced hem 52, and hem 51 need not be provided with auxiliary reinforcing since the double layer of cloth has been found quite adequate when tensioned lengthwise thereof.

While I have shown and described but two embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the particular structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variations except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner of the floor type having a wheel supported main body, a propelling handie pivoted thereto, an exhaust outlet, a resilient bag support attached to the handle adjacent its upper end and a filter assembly communicating at its lower end with the exhaust outlet and supported at its upper end from the resilient support and in which the filter assembly is in the form of a filter bag and an enclosing appearance envelope, said appearance envelope having an access opening extending lengthwise thereof, flexible tension means secured to said envelope along the opposite edges of said access opening, means for anchoring the lower end of said tension means to the cleaner body, means including the resilient support for connecting the upper end of said tension means to the propelling handle so as to normally hold said tension means taut and the opposite edges of said access opening taut and closed against one another.

2. An appearance envelope for use on a floor type suction cleaner having an exhaust air conduit, a pivoted propelling handle, a resilient support attached to the handl adjacent to its upper end and an adaptor tube having an inlet end attached to the exhaust air conduit and an outlet end for connection to the inlet of a paper filter bag comprising, a tubular air pervious envelope having an opening surrounding and being attached to said adaptor tube and an access opening extending lengthwise thereof through which the filter bag may be inserted and removed and flexible tension means secured to said envelope along the edges of said access opening, said tension means having detachable means for attachment to the resilient support on the handle whereby said tension means is normally held taut and the edges of said access openings are held closed against one another and said access opening is freely expansible to a wide open position when said tension means is detached from the resilient support.

3. An appearance envelope according to claim 2 in which said tension means comprises a flexible cord an- 7 chored to the wall of said envelope adjacent to the edges of said access opening. 7 e

4. An appearance envelope according to claim 3 in which said cord is of looped form and passes about the adaptor tube at one end of said access opening.

5. An appearance envelope according to claim 3 in which said cord is anchored to said envelope by being placed within hems formed in the wall of said envelope adjacent the edges of said access opening.

6. An appearance envelope according to claim 5 in which said cord and hems extend about and closely embrace the adaptor tube.

7. An appearance envelope according to claim 2 in which said access opening is extended so that the edges thereof surround the adaptor tube and said tension means is looped about the adaptor tube to hold the walls of said envelope surrounding the adaptor tube in sealing contact therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 1,216,015 Tichenor Feb. 13, 1917 1,755,969 Shigyo Apr. 22, 1922 2,003,720 Meek June 4, 1935 2,317,569 Weaver Apr. 27, 1943 2,467,503 Scriven Apr. 19, 1949 2,528,192 Urban Oct. 31, 1950 2,605,493 Vance Aug. 5, 1952 2,693,211 Ripple Nov. 2, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,124,964 France July 9, 1956 :"alignemnt" read alignment --3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION" Patent No. 2,82 ,734 April- 8, 1958 George A. Brace Column 2, line 32, for "outer" read lower line 56, for

column 3, line '73, for "pin 40" read pin 50 column 4, line 27, for "on opening" read an opening lines 29 and 30, for "reinforming" read reinforcing column 6,

after "conceals" insert opening Signed and sealed this 27th day of May 1958.

(SEAL) At'fiest-r KARL H; AXLINE ROBERT c. WATSON Attesting Officer Conmissioner of Patent!"

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