US3398422A

US3398422A - Rotary brush for carpet scrubbing machine

Info

Publication number: US3398422A
Application number: US700491A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert M Barry; Anton J Reiling
Original assignee: MULTI CLEAN PRODUCTS Inc
Current assignee: MULTI-CLEAN Inc; MULTI CLEAN PRODUCTS Inc
Priority date: 1968-01-25
Filing date: 1968-01-25
Publication date: 1968-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1985-08-27

Description

7, 1968 R. M. BARRY ETAL 3,393,422

ROTARY BRUSH FOR CARPET SCRUBBING MACHlNE Filed Jan. 25, 1968 PIES f W; \"J'ORS ROBERT IV. EAR/P7 44/70 .Z KEILIAIG United States Patent 3,398,422 ROTARY BRUSH FOR CARPET SCRUBBING MACHINE Robert M. Barry and Anton J. Reiling, St. Paul, Minn., assignors t0 Multi-Clean Products, Inc., St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Jan. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 700,491 3 Claims. (Cl. 180) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carpet scrubbing brush adapted to be mounted on a scrubbing machine for rotation on a vertical axis and having a horizontally disposed backboard with downwardly projecting bristles and a plurality of wiper blades mounted on the underside of the backboard and extending in generally radial directions through the bristles, the blades being hinged to the backboard for limited movement about horizontal axes.

Rotary brushes used in rug and carpet scrubbing machines generally consist of a horizontally disposed backboard with downwardly projecting bristles with the board adapted to be driven about an upright axis with the bristles in engagement with the carpet. It is found that if the brush is also provided with downwardly projecting blades interposed between the bristles, such blades will improve the cleaning activity of the brush by performing a wiping function on the carpet nap as well as moving the cleaning solution and lather evenly along the carpet surface. It is also found that the power requirements to drive a brush provided with such blades, the bristle characteristics being otherwise equal, is some fifteen percent less than in a brush where the blades are not used.

An object of the present invention is to provide a motor driven carpet scrubbing brush with carpet engaging blades interposed between the brush bristles and which are so mounted on the backboard of the brush as to have a flexing action on the carpet pile portions which the blades engage.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a brush with blades mounted to be resiliently supported by the surrounding brush bristles and to conform to the length thereof as the bristles become shorter by reason of wear or taking a permanent set.

With these objects in view the invention broadly comprises a rotary brush for use on a carpet scrubbing machine for rotation about an upright axis, the brush having a circular backboard substantially covered on its underside with downwardly extending bristles, and a plurality of blades mounted on the underside of the backboard to extend in generally radial directions through the bristles, the blades being pivoted to the backboard for swinging to a trailing position relative to the direction of movement of the brush.

The above mentioned and additional objects of the invention will be brought to light during the course of the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the lower portion of a carpet scrubbing machine with the brush in operative position upon a section of carpeting.

FIG. 2 is an inverted plan View of the brush taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and looking upwardly. In this view the brush bristles are partially broken away to show the wiper blade mountings.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the brush showing the bristles and a blade in sweeping engagement with a section of carpet pile.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing refer- 3,398,422 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 See ence numerals will be used to denote like parts or structural features in the different views. The numeral 10 denotes generally the base of a carpet scrubbing machine. Base 10 has a motor 11 mounted on a downwardly opening housing or shield 12. The motor 11 is in driving connection with a circular brush mounted within the shield 12 and designated generally by the number 14. A handle 15 is connected to the motor 11 for moving the base over the surface S of a section of carpeting.

The brush 14 has a circular backboard or carrying disk 16 substantially covered on its underside with downwardly extending bristle tufts 17. Openings 18 are provided in the backboard and at its center the board is provided with a coupling sleeve 19 for securing the brush 14 to the drive spindle of the motor 11.

Two sets of wiper blades are provided on the underside of the brush. The one set of blades denoted at 20 have a length only slightly less than the radius of the brush and extend from the center area of the brush toward the periphery thereof, as seen in FIG. 2. There are four blades 20 in the embodiment shown and these are equally spaced circumferentially on the backboard at ninety degree spacing with the blades slightly offset from the true radius of the backboard. Each blade is connected to the backboard 16 by means of a hinge 21 allowing the blade to swing rearwardly in a trailing direction relative to the direction of brush rotation, as seen in FIG. 3.

A second set of wiper blades are denoted by the numeral 22. These are shorter than blades 20 and are disposed intermediate next adjacent blades 20 substantially bisecting the angle therebetween as shown. The outer ends of blades 22 are approximately the same distance from the center of the brush as are the ends of blades 20. Blades 22 are also connected to backboard 16 by hinges here denoted at 23, allowing the blades to swing to a trailing position during brush rotation.

It will be observed that the brush bristles 17 and

blades

20 and 22 extend substantially the same distance from blackboard 16 so that the free ends of the bristles and free edges of the blades lie on substantially the same plane. Also it will be understood that Weight of base 10 rests upon the bristles 17 causing them to deflect slightly. This deflection will be in a trailing direction, as shown in FIG. 3, during rotation of the brush.

Blades

20 and 22 are held in extended positions by the bristles.

During the cleaning operation the surface S is covered with a liquid or foam cleaning agent. As the bristles deflect rearwardly as in FIG. 3, the blades will swing rearwardly about the axes of their hinge mountings. The blades being resiliently backed by the bristles 17 scrape over the carpet pile as shown and flip the threads T thereof rearwardly causing dirt particles resting between the threads to be tossed upwardly into the bristle area.

It is accordingly found that the pivotally mounted blades have a more effective cleaning action on the carpeting than do fixed blades. An added advantage lies in the fact that the blades will automatically adjust to the bottom surface plane of the bristles as they wear down.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described our invention, what we claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a floor scrubbing brush adapted for rotation about a vertical axis and having a backboard substantially covered with downwardly extending bristles, a plurality of blades mounted on the underside of the backboard in circumferentially spaced positions and extending in generally radial directions with respect to said axis, said blades extending downwardly from the backboard approximately the same distance as said bristles and being flexibly connected to the backboard, wherein said flexible connection-is provided by a-hinge having portions interpivoted on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the blade.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein the bristles extend along both sides of the blade in close proximity thereto to resiliently support the blade in extended position. I

3. In a floor scrubbing brush adapted for rotation about a vertical axis and having a backboard substantially covered with downwardlyv extending bristles, a plurality of blades mounted on the underside of the backboard in circumferentially spaced positions and extending in generally radial directions with respect to said axis, said blades extending downwardly from the backboardapproximately the same distance as said bristles and being flexibly connected to the backboard, wherein there are two sets of said blades with the blades in each set being of a different length and being alternately mounted on the backboard but all extending radiallyfromthe center of the brush the same distance, and with the lower ends of the blades lying on a common plane with the lower ends of the bristles.

I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS PETER FEL DMANQPril'n ary Examiner.