US3189930A

US3189930A - Surface cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3189930A
Application number: US391349A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Henry G Tuthill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-06-16
Filing date: 1964-06-16
Publication date: 1965-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-22

Description

June 22; 1965 H. 'ru-rHlLl., JR 3,189,930

I SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed June 1e, 1964 4 sheets-sheet 1 MAGOS .b 25mm .fm1/53180 BY l] Emme 22, 1965 H. G. ruTHlLl-JR 3,189,930

SURFACE CLEANING AgrARATUs Filed June le, 1964 i 4 sheets-sheet 2 I i f 3 84 y 7777? 777 20 50 4a A3 224050 504D @08" Ewa? am 716m? 6.' ZZ'JI: BY www June 22, 965

H. G. TUTHILL., JR 3,189,930

SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed June 16, 1964 4` Sheets-Sheet 3 June 22, 1965 H. G. TUTHILI., JR

SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed June le, 1964 4 sheemneet 4 42 w il i i (IH l2 ENVENT R ATV'DRN EY United States Patent O 3,l3,93 SURFACE CLEANENG APPARATUS Henry G. Tuthiil, lr., Los Angeles, Calif. (H409 Cherrylee Drive, El Monte, falif.) Filed June ld, 19d-d, Ser. No. 39l,3i9 Z4 Claims. (Cl. lfd- 329) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application, Serial No. 174,004, filed February 19, 1962, now abandoned, and entitled Surface Cleaning Apparatus.

This invention relates to improvements in or with respect to surfacing apparatus, and finds particular utility when embodied in a licor, or iloor covering cleaning machine.

In cleaning floors, and/ or floor coverings, and particularly rugs, carpets and the like, it is common practice to apply some form of cleaning solution to the surface to be cleaned, to then scrub such surface with such cleaning solution, and to thereafter remove the cleaning solution by means of absorbents, Sponges, or vacuums. While these steps can be carried out individually, and by means of simple pieces of apparatus, it has been found desirable to provide a `single machine adapted to simultaneously apply the cleaning solution, scrub the surface to be cleaned with the same, and remove the cleaning solution.

Moreover, equipment has heretofore been suggested for performing a surface cleaning operation in the above prescribed manner with movement of the equipment over a given surface. Such equipment normally incorporates a fluid reservoir for storing the cleaning solution, a source of vacuum, a drive means usually in the form of a motor, and a brush member adapted to be driven by the motor to perform the scrubbing operation. An overall frame is provided for supporting the various components whereby the brush, usually circular in form, is rotated in operation, fluid is supplied to the bristles thereof, and the vacuum is used for purposes of removing the cleaning solution.

The instant invention is directly applicable to a machine of the type described in the preceding paragraph, and has as its principal object, the provision of improvements in such a machine, which improvements yield a more eiiicient cleaning operation, and simplify apparatus fabrication and repair, as well as part replacement.

More speciiically, primary objects of the present invention are: (a) to provide in a surfacing apparatus of the aforesaid type, an improved form of brush assembly and vacuum means cooperating therewith; (b) to provide in such an apparatus a novel and improved form of brush member which itself carries peripherally disposed vacuum conduits, as well as a uid distribution channel adapted to supply cleaning uid to the bristle groups of the brush disposed in spaced relation to the vacuum conduits; (c) to provide such an improved brush member wherein the vacuum conduits are interspersed with the bristle groups so that efficient scrubbing is achieved over the entire area covered by the brush; (d) to provide an apparatus as described above wherein the brush member comprises a driven support having bristles depen-ding therefrom, which support has a peripheral vacuum chamber; (e) to provide such an apparatus having such a support wherein the vacuum chamber is defined by the support itself and a belt extending therearound, and wherein an auxiliary chamber is disposed adjacent one portion of the periphery of the support and cooperates with the belt moving therethrough so as to maintain a vacuum within the confines of the belt; and (f) to provide improvements in surfacing apparatus as set forth in the preceding portions of this i paragraph, which improvements can be utilized with existing rug cleaning machines or the like, as well as embodied in newly constructed machines of such types.

Still further, and in addition to the aforesaid objects, important auxiliary objects of the instant invention are: (l) to provide an improved brush member for use with 3,189,939 Patented lune 22, i955 a surfacing apparatus which brush member is readily adapted for use in apparatus embodying the overall aspects o f the instant invention; (2) to provide simple and emcient means for movably maintaining a belt in contact with a support of the type provided. hereby on opposite sides of a given fractional portion of the circumference lthereof in spaced relation to the circumference adjacent such fractional portion, and means cooperating therewith for defining a vacuum chamber adjacent said portion; and (3) to provide certain structural arrangements particularly gfantageous in the means referred to in sub-paragraph 'Broadly, and in its simpler aspects, the invention provides in a surfacing apparatus having a fluid reservoir, a source of vacuum, and drive means, the improvement comprising the combination of a brush member including al support driven by the drive means and having a circular circumferential area with a peripheral passageway there- 1n communicating with the exterior of the support about the area, a plurality of bristle groups depending from the support to dene a brush surface, conduit means carried by the support and extending between the passageway and the surface, means intermediate the passageway and the center of the brush member for communicating the reservoir with the bristle groups, a belt passing about the circumferential area of the support, means for movably mamtaining the belt in contact with the support over the circumferential area on opposite sides of a given fractional portion thereof, and in spaced relation to such area adjacent such portion, and means communicating with the source of vacuum and cooperating with the means for movably maintaining the belt so as to define a vacuum chamber adjacent the aforesaid portion of the circumference of the support whereby a continuous vacuum can be created in the passageway and the irst conduit means when the apparatus is operated, and simultaneously iiuid can be supplied through the bristles to the surface being operated upon.

The invention lies in such improvement as well as the combination, construction and arrangement of the various components thereof, as will be more fully apparent after consideration is given to the following detailed description. Such description refers to the annexed drawings presenting the preferred and illustrative embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a machine embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmental view, partially in section, of the brush portion and lower hood of the machine shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View, partially broken-away, taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmental detailed View of the forward end of the brush section and lower hood portion presented in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view, partially brokenaway, of the machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a semi-schematic view showing the disposition of the uid outlet and vacuum intake channels incorporated in the apparatus provided hereby, and the relative location of such channels with respect to the rotational path of the brush member;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmental bottom plan View, partially broken-away, of the machine shown in FIGURE 1 and having some additional features incorporated therein; and

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of FIGURE 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in

FIGURE 1, the overall machine embodying the invention there presented is designated by the numeral 2. Such machine comprises a hood section 4, a motor 6 mounted above the hood section, a handle 8 extending upwardly from the hood section, a vacuum apparatus generally des ignated by the numeral 1@ carried above the hood and cooperating with the motor 6, and a fluid reservoir 12 supported on the handle 8. The vacuum apparatus 1t) includes a drive 14 cooperating with the motor o, a vacuum fan section 16, an inlet section 18, and an exhaust bag 19.

Attached to the motor, and depending below the hood section 4 is a brush member Ztl defining a substantially fiat lower brush surface 22 contacting the floor covering 23 to be cleaned. In operation, a valve 11 in a line 13 extending from the reservoir 12 is opened to pass fluid to the brush member 20, and the switch 9 is activated to start the motor 6. Thereupon, the motor 6 drives the brush 22 and fluid is fed from the reservoir 12 to the brush.

In accordance with the present invention, the fluid which is passed to the brush is scrubbed by the brush member on the covering 23, and then evacuated from the area of the brush by means of a novel vacuum takeup. The vacuum takeup is explained more fully below, but it should be understood at the outset that the basic machine described hereinabove is merely one type with which the present invention may be used. The particular form of motor drive, hood section, vacuum apparatus, fluid reservoir, and handle form no substantial part of the instant invention and the construction thereof may be varied as desired. At the same time, it is important to understand that the invention lies in the combination of certain improved features provided hereby with an apparatus of the general type described above, and also in the construction of the improved brush member or assembly described below.

lf reference isvnow made to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the brush member includes a support 24 coupled by a conventional hub connection d3 to the motor 6 whereby the support is driven by such motor. The support 24 is formed of a main section 2o and a skirted ring section 28. The main section 26 is preferably cast, and provided with a peripheral channeled recess 3@ which is closed on its top, and partially closed about its periphery by the depending skirt portion 29 of the ring section 28. FIGURE 4 presents this construction most clearly, and by reference thereto, it will be noted that the brush member as so formed by the main section and the ring section, has a peripheral passageway which is designated in FIG- URE 4 by the numeral 32. The skirt portion 29 of the ring section 28 terminates in spaced relation above the bottom wall 34 of the recess 30 and thus, there is an opening 35 extending peripherally about the support 24.

Inwardly of the circumference of the support 24, a plurality of bristle groups itl are provided. Such bristle groups have end portions disposed in recesses 42 in the bottom wall 44 of the support member 2d.

The support 24, in the embodiment of the invention presented in the drawings, is circular and formed with a peripheral channel ring portion dened by the peripheral portion of the main section 26 of the support and the skirted ring section 28, and has a central hub coupling portion adapted to cooperate with the conventional hub connection generally designated by the numeral 43. The bottom wall 44 of the main section extends between the peripheral ring portion and the hub coupling portion, and aside from carrying the bristle groups, is provided with a plurality of apertures Si?. A fluid distribution channel generally designated by the numeral 52 exists above well 44 by virtue of such construction.

The hose 13 leading from the fluid reservoir 12 (FIG- URE 1) extends into the fluid distribution channel 52 so that cleaning fluid may be deposited therein, and since this channel, or the bottom wall thereof, is provided with apertures, the same forms means for communicating the reservoir with the bristle groups.

As explained more fully below, the fluid which is introduced through the hose 13 and the distribution channel 52 onto the bristle groups, and which in turn is scrubbed into the rug or the like being cleaned, is ultimately removed from such rug or other floor covering via vacuum conduit means disposed about the periphery of the brush.

If reference is again made to FIGURE 2,A it will be noted that a plurality of tubular conduits dll, fixed to the main section 2d of the support 24 extend downwardly from the support and terminate adjacent the brush surface 2li. The conduits oil are preferably flexible plastic tube pieces open at opposite ends, the lower ends contacting the rug or the like being cleaned, and the upper ends communicating with the passageway 32 extending about the periphery of the support.

ln order to maintain a vacuum within the peripheral passageway 32, a belt 7i? (best shown in FIGURE 5) passes about the periphery of the support member 24. This belt extends over the opening 3o therein substantially over the entire periphery of the support member. However, on the right side of the support, as shown in FlG-

URES

2 and 5, the belt is maintained in spaced relation to a fractional portion of the periphery of the support member.

As shown in FIGUllE 2, a frame generally designated by the numeral is disposed adjacent the circumference of the support 2d. rlEhis frame comprises a pair of

plate members

81 and 82 which are maintained in spaced apart relation by a plurality of sleeves e5 having bolts 84 passing therethrough and extending between the top surface of plate and the bottom surface of plate $131. The bottom plate Sil of the frame is best shown in FGURE 7, whereas the top plate S2 of the frame is best shown in EGURE 3. The collars 553 maintain the plates in spaced relation so that the same extend parallel to one another and on opposite sides of the adjacent opening 36 in the periphery of the support member 24.

Fixed between the

plates

81 and 82, as best shown in FIGURE 5, are a pair of walls and 92. The wall itl comprises a plate member extending from adjacent the periphery of the support member 2dto the right, and terminating in a curved tip 91. The wall member 92 preferably comprises a rearwardly facing C-shaped bracket 93 having a retained member 9d cooperating therewith. The

, retaining member 9d comprises a strip recessed centrally as at and extending between opposite ends of the C- shaped member 93 so as to maintain the same in position when the recess 95 of the retaining member receives the stud 96. Disposed between the retaining member 94 and the C-shaped member 93 is a leaf spring 97 which continually urges the outer face of the C-shaped member away from the retaining member. The C-shapcd member, as shown, extends from a point adjacent the periphery of the support 24 rearwardly so that the opposite end thereof overlaps the tip of the curved end portion 91 of the wall The wall 9th is'preferably frictionally maintained in position, but in order to prevent inward movement of the curved end portion 91 thereof, a stop 98 is preferably fixed to the plate member `so as to extend in abutting relation to the curved portion 91 as shown.

With` the construction described above, the belt 7d passes forward of the front face of the C-shaped member 92 and behind the wall 9i). The frame is supported on the apparatus in normally slightly spaced relation from the periphery of the support 24 whereby the support is rotatable but the frame is fixed. The belt '7o is thus caused to move with rotation of the support 24 through the frame 80. During its movement through the frame 8i), the belt is maintained in spaced relation to the periphery of the support 24, thus communicating within such frame, the peripheral opening 36 with the area between the plates S1 and 82 forming the frame Si).

The top plate 82 of the frame Si? has an opening 169 therein, which, as shown in FIGURE 3, is disposed in overlying relation to the area within the belt 70, or between the belt '7G and the periphery of the support 24.

The belt itself, by cooperation with the walls 91) and 92 delines a chamber between the

plate members

81 and 82, which chamber communicates with the passageway or opening in the periphery of the support member 24. In accordance with the invention, as shown in FIGURE 2, a coupling 104 is fixed above the opening 16d in the plate member 82, and this coupling communicates with the interior of the inlet chamber 1S of the vacuum apparatus. Thus, a vacuum is created in the chamber between the

plates

81 and 82, which vacuum is transmitted to the peripheral passageway 32 in the support 24, and in turn transmitted to the conduits to the surface of the rug being cleaned.

From FIGURES 3 and 5, is should be readily apparent that the plate members are formed with arcuate ends adjacent the periphery of the support member and that accordingly the frame has an arcuately-shaped opening in the end thereof adjacent the periphery of the support member. It should also be apparent from FIGURE 2 that the frame is preferably supported by the coupling 11M which in turn is fixed to and supported by the vacuum apparatus in any suitable manner.

For purposes of maintaining a proper sealing relationship between the vacuum chamber within the frame and the passageway 3i) within the support 24 preferably a pair of O-rings 11) and 112 are stretched over and carried about the periphery of the support 24 on opposite sides of, and in spaced relation to, the belt 711. These O-rings cooperate with the sloped forward ends 81 and 82

ofthe plate members

81 and 82, respectively, and during rotation are maintained in position by the vacuum within the chamber between the plates which tends to pull the O-rngs into proper position.

FIGURE 3 presents the detailed construction of the preferred form of hub connection 43 utilized in and with the improved brush and apparatus provided hereby. Such connection includes a hub plate having recesses 116 therein adapted to pass over cooperating interlocking projections on a coupling extending from a motor shaft in conventional manner. Since the coupling is conventional and may be varied as desired, further description thereof appears unnecessary.

Although reference has been brietiy made to the tubular conduits 60 supported continuously in spaced apart relation about the periphery of the brush member, it is important to understand that these conduits, for most eficient operation, are disposed, as shown in FIGURE 7, with their longitudinal axes sloped rearwardly with respect to the path of movement of the brush member. In FIGURE 7, the path of movement is shown to be counterclockwise, and the top and bottom ends of the conduits, shown respectively in solid line and phantom, indicate the direction of slope of the conduits. Also from FIG- URE 7, it will be noted that arrows are presented therein to show the direction of travel of fluid from the apertures 5t? toward the intake ends of vacuum conduits 60. Similarly, the arrows surrounding the periphery of the brush i ember 22 there shown indicate the direction of travel of incoming air. In other words, FIGURE 7 presents the method of operation 4of the present apparatus wherein cleaning iluid is discharged to the bristle through the apertures 50, scrubbed into the covering being cleaned, and then taken up through the vacuum conduits 6h. In this manner, as the machine is moved over a surface, such surface is continuously cleaned, and there is no need for using separate pieces of apparatus. Moreover, and most important, a vacuum is maintained within the brush member itself, by virtue of the provision of the peripheral passageway and cooperating means including the frame 80 which serves as means for defining a vacuum chamber, and the respective walls S1 and 82 therein which cooperate with the frame to maintain the belt 7d in spaced relation to the periphery of the support 24 within the frame,

1:3 but in contact with the periphery of the frame, and in closing relationship to the passageway 3&2, about the remainder of the circumference of the support 24.

Although attention has not been speciiically directed to the exact configuration of the hood section 4, it will be noted from FIGURE 3, as well as FIGURE 2 that the same preferably comprises a conventional covertype member having a depending skirt portion. Of course, the cover member is shaped so as to extend about the frame 3i) and provide for an attractive appearance, but the particular form of hood section, vacuum apparatus, motor, handle, and/ or uid reservoir, as explained above, may be varied without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

It will, of course, be apparent that various additional modifications may be utilized to enhance the operational characteristics of the basic surface cleaning apparatus. As an example, FIGURES 8 and 9 show a brush crush stabilizer means ygenerally designated 12d and mounted within a central recess 122 in the underside of the bottom wall de. The recess 122 ordinarily permits access to the hub assembly 43, as shown in the bottoni view of FIG- URE 6, to allow the brush assembly to be detached from the motor 6, if desired. The stabilizer means 121) includes a cup-shaped plastic member 124 preferably fabricated of -a semi-soft plastic such as polyethylene, and having a bottom wall 126 and an integral upstanding side skirt 128 which projects into the recess 122 to frictionally contact the sides thereof. The bottom wall 126 contacts floor cove-ring 23 and acts as a squeegee to squeeze out spots and heavily soiled patches. It also serves to prevent the tubes et) from bearing heavily upon the covering 23 and causing excessive wear and tear on either the tubes, the covering, or both. Since the plastic material of the bottom wall 12d slides easily across the floor covering 23, there is no appreciable drag involved and hence there is a reduction in the amount of energy which must be exerted to accomplish relative movement between the apparatus 2 and the floor covering 23. The side skirt 123 tapers slightly between the open end and the bottom end 126 and, as such, provides a support to prevent the inner band of brush bristles d@ from folding or crushing inward beneath the recess 122. Finally, and perhaps most important, the stabilizer means 12d prevents all of the bristles dll from bearing down so heavily upon the lioor covering 23 that they become crushed or folded. Without the presence of the stabilizer means 129, the brushes tended to wear upon their sides and hence to produce a less effective brushing action.

The cup-shaped member i124 is adjustably mounted within the recess 122 to permit a selective up and down adjustment which varies the position of the bottom wall 126 with respect to the `bottom of the bristles dit. The mounting means includes a brace 13b which is attached to the bott-tom Wall of the recess .122 by suitable means such as bolts 132. A central boss 134i depends. from the brace and is provided with a threaded internal bore 136. Beneath the boss 134, the bottom wall 126 is provided with an aligned countersunk hole to accommodate a sleeve 138 which projects through the hole toward the boss and a head portion which rests within the countersink. The walls of the sleeve 1138 surround the boss 134 to thus serve as a guide for the up-and-d-olwn movement of the cupshaped member 124. The sleeve 13d is provided with a threaded internal bore, similar to and `aligned with the bore 136, so that a threaded screw 142 can be threaded through both bores. The head of the screw is recessed into the sleeve 138 so it cannot contact the door covering 23 and is provided with a conventional transverse slot for accommodating the usual scewdriver blade. A compression .spring 144 surrounds Iboth the sleeve and the boss and extends between the bnace 130 and the bottom Wall 126. As the screw 142 is turned in one direction, the spring 144 is compressed and the member `124 is moved into the recess 122, thus elevating it-s bottom wall 12e.

When the screw 142 is turned in the opposite direction, the `sleeve 38 moves away from the boss 134 and the spring expands, thus moving the mem-ber '124 out of the recess i212 and hence lowering its bottom wall 126. A lug M6 may extend `from one edge of the sleeve head portion M into an aligned slot in the bottom wall E26, to assure that Ithe member 124 rotates concurrently with the lbrush member 2i?.

As 'vas previously described, the tubular conduits d@ are formed of iiexible plastic .and have iiexible end portions which contact the surface of the iioor covering 23. In order to increase the wearing characteristics of the tubular `conduits 6i? While still retaining their desired iiexibility, it may prove desirable to employ tubular inserts 15@ formed of .a relatively rigid material such as metal or nylon. The conduits ed are generally formed of an elastomeric plastic, such as a vinyl, and thus can be stretched to receive an insert i@ of approximately the same diameter and wall thickness as the conduit itself.

It was .also mentioned previously that to maintain a proper sealing relationship between the vacuum chamber in the `frame Si? and the passageway Sti within the support 24, a pair of O-rings il@ and i12 are mounted peripherally of the support ,24 `and are engageable respectively with the .sloped edges 82 and El of the frame. During rotation, the vacuum within the vacuum chamber tends to pull the O-rings into engagement with their associated sloped edges. However, it is generally desirable to assure that the bottom O-ring lllZ be positively engaged with the sloped edge el just as the two come into contact, and this cannot always be `accomplished through mere vacuum pull on the O-ring. instead, a means gene-rally designated is provided on the hood 4 to exert a slight upward pressure `on the O-ring :i12 just before it meets the sloped edge The means i5?. is mounted within a slot 15d in the bottom of the skirt portion of the hood 4 and includes a L-shaped bracket having an opstanding leg 156 which is generally parallel to the hood skirt and a generally horizontal leg 15S which extends through the slot 15dand terminates just short of contact with the periphery of the support 24. The leg 156 has an enlarged hole Mii formed therein to permit a threaded bolt stem 162 to pass therethrough. The bolt stem may be removably or permanently aiiixed to the hood `shirt d and projects outward beyond it a suiiicient distance to receive wing nut M4 which can be digitally tightened to hold the leg 1% in tight contact with the hood skirt d. Thus, the means 152 can be .adjusted in position until the inner end of the leg i521; exerts just the proper amount of upward bias on the O-ring i112. When this proper position has been attained, the wing nut 16d is tightened to retain the position and hence the means exerts a slight upward pressure which assures positive contact between the O-ring M2 and the sloped edge 8l onV the lower plate of the trame Sti.

A-fter reading the foregoing description, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the objects set forth at the introduction thereof have been successfully achieved :by the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is `claimed is:

d. in a surfacing `apparatus having a fluid reservoir, `a

v source of vacuum, and drive means for rotating a brush member, the improvement comprising the combination of a ybrush member including a support driven by said drive means and having a circular circumferential yarea with an annular passageway therein adjacent the periphery of said support and communicating radially with the exterior of said .support :about said area, a plurality of bristle groups depending from said support to dene a brush surface, conduit means carried .by said suppe-rt and extending between said passageway and said surface, means intermediate said passageway and the center of said brush member for communicating said reservoir with said bristle groups, a belt passing about said circumferential area, means for movably maintaining said belt in contact with es said .support over said circumferential area and said annular passageway on opposite sides of a given fractional portion thereof and in `spaced relation to said area adjacent said portion, and means defining a vacuum chamber adjacent said portion whereby a continuous vacuum can be created in said passageway and said conduit means when the apparatus is operated.

2. The improvement deiined in claim 1 wherein said passageway comprises a circumferential channel opening continuously around said circular `circumferential area.

3. The improvement deiined in claim ll wherein said conduit means comprises a plurality of tubular conduits 'fixed to said support, and having iat least tiexible end portions and adjacent `said surface.

4. The improvement dened in claim 3 wherein said tubular conduits comprise plastic tubes.

5. The improvement deiined in claim d wherein said plastic tubes have rigid inserts mounted within said flexible end portions.

o. The improvement defined in claim 3 wherein said tubular conduits are disposed continuously and in spacedapart relation about the periphery of said surface.

7. The improvement deiined in claim 3 wherein said tubular conduits are disposed with the longitudinal axis thereof sloped rearwardly with respect to the path of movement -of said brush member in operation.

The improvement detined in claim 7 wherein the terminal ends of said tubular conduits are flu-sh with said surface.

9. The improvement defined in claim 1i wherein said means for communicating said reservoir with said bristle groups comprises a recessed area in said support having an apertured wall adjacent said bristle groups.

iti. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said support is circular and includes an upstanding peripheral channel ring portion having said annular passageway therein, a central hub portion, and an apertured wall extending between the base of said ring portion and the base ot said hub portion to dene a iiuid distribution channel between said portions, said channel forming said means for communicating said reservoir with said bristle groups.

1i. The improvement defined in ciaim 19 wherein said support includes a bottom recess beneath said central hub portion and stabilizer means mounted within said bottom recess and extending downward substantially to said surface.

i2. The improvement dened in claim i1 wherein adjustment means are provided for moving said stabilizer means relative to said surface.

i3. The improvement defined in claim it) wherein said conduit means comprise a plurality of tubuiar conduits tixed to and depending from said peripheral channel ring portion, said tubular conduits having at least iiexible end portions adjacent said surface.

i4. The improvement defined in claim 1; wherein said means for defining a vacuum chamber comprises a frame having one end thereof arcuately shaped and disposed adjacent said circular circumferential area, and wherein said means for movably maintaining said belt is carried by said frame.

l5. The improvement defined in claim ftd wherein said frame comprises a pair of plate members, and means for supporting said plate members in vertically spacedapart relation, said plate members defining an opening in said one arcuately shaped end of said frame, one of said plate members having an opening therein, and wherein said means for movablyrmaintaining said belt comprises a pair of wall members extending between said plate members and detining a chamber between said plate members, said wall members havin.U overlapping end portions in spaced relation to said arcuate end of said frame, said overlapping end portions being laterally spaced to permit passage ot said belt therebetween, said belt extending over the front of one of said walls facing said arcuate end and behind the other of said walls.

16. The improvement defined in claim 15 wherein said plate members have sloped edge surfaces adjacent said circumferential area and wherein said circumferential area is further characterized by a pair of surrounding O-rings disposed on opposite sides of said belt and engageable with said sloped frame member surfaces for sealing said vacuum chamber when said apparatus is operated.

17. The improvement defined in claim 16 but further characterized by means for biasing at least one of said O-rings to assure a positive Contact with its associated frame member sloped surface.

18. The improvement defined in claim 17 wherein said means is adjustable whereby said bias can be varied.

19. The improvement defined in claim l wherein one of said side walls has a curved overlapping end portion, and further including means for yieldably supporting the other of said walls.

20. The improvement defined in claim 19 wherein said means for yieldably supporting one of said walls comprises leaf spring means, and said other wall comprises a plate cooperating therewith.

21. The improvement defined in claim 20 wherein said support is circular and includes an upstanding peripheral channel ring portion having said passageway therein, a central hub portion, and an apertured wall extending between the base of said ring portion and the base of said hub portion to define a tiuid distribution channel between said portions, said channel forming said means for communicating said reservoir with said bristle groups, and whereon said conduit means comprise a plurality of tubular conduits fixed to and depending from said peripheral channel ring portion, said tubular conduits having at least flexible end portions adjacent said surface.

22. A brush member for use with a surfacing apparatus, said brush member comprising a support having a circular circumferential area with a peripheral annular passageway opening radially outwardly of said support about said area, a plurality of bristle groups depending from said support to define a brush surface, conduit means extending between said passageway and said surface, said support having a fluid-receiving recess intermediate said passageway and the center of said brush member and apertures communicating said recess with said bristle groups thereunder'.

23. A brush member as defined in claim 22 wherein said support is circular and includes an upstanding peripheral channel ring portion having said passageway therein, a central hub portion, and an apertured wall extending the base of said ring portion and the base of said hub portion to define said duid-receiving recess between saidportions.

24. A brush member for use with a surfacing apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said conduit means comprises a plurality of tubular conduits fixed to and depending from said peripheral channel ring portion, said tubular conduits having at least flexible end portions adjacent said surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,168,692 8/39 Vidal 15--320 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A SURFACING APPARATUS HAVING FLUID RESERVOIR, A SOURCE OF VACUUM, AND DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING A BRUSH MEMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A BRUSH MEMBER INCLUDING A SUPPORT DRIVEN BY SAID DRIVE MEANS AND HAVING A CIRCULAR CIRCUMFERENTIAL AREA WITH AN ANNULAR PASSAGEWAY THEREIN ADJACENT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SUPPORT AND COMMUNICATING RADIALLY WITH THE EXTERIOR OF SAID SUPPORT ABOUT SAID AREA, A PLURALITY OF BRISTLE GROUPS DEPENDING FROM SAID SUPPORT TO DEFINE A BRUSH SURFACE, CONDUIT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID PASSAGEWAY AND SAID SURFACE, MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID PASSAGEWAY AND THE CENTER OF SAID BRUSH MEMBER FOR COMMUNICATING SAID RESERVOIR WITH SAID BRISTLE GROUPS, A BELT PASSING ABOUT SAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL AREA, MEANS FOR MOVABLY MAINTAINING SAID BELT IN CONTACT WITH SAID SUPPORT OVER SAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL AREA AND SAID ANNULAR PASSAGEWAY ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID GIVEN FRACTIONAL PORTION THEREOF AND IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID AREA ADJACENT SAID PORTION, AND MEANS DEFINING A VACUUM CHAMBER ADJACENT SAID PORTION WHEREBY A CONTINUOUS VACUUM CHAMBER ADCREATED IN SAID PASSAGEWAY AND SAID CONDUIT MEANS WHEN THE APPARATUS IS OPERATED.

22. A BRUSH MEMBER FOR USE WITH A SURFACING APPARATUS, SAID BRUSH MEMBER COMPRISING A SUPPORT HAVING A CIRCULAR CIRCUMFERENTIAL AREA WITH A PERIPHERAL ANNULAR PASSAGEWAY OPENING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID SUPPORT ABOUT SAID AREA, A PLURALITY OF BRISTLE GROUPS DEPENDING FROM SAID SUPPORT TO DEFINE A BRUSH SURFACE, CONDUIT MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID PASSAGEWAY AND SAID SURFACE, SAID SUPPORT HAVING A FLUID-RECEIVING RECESS INTERMEDIATE SAID PASSAGEWAY AND THE CENTER OF SAID BRUSH MEMBER AND APERTURES COMMUNICATING SAID RECESS WITH SAID BRISTLE GROUPS THEREUNDER.