US3683953A

US3683953A - Cleaning device

Info

Publication number: US3683953A
Authority: US
Inventors: William Joel Reginald Edlin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-07-04
Filing date: 1970-02-09
Publication date: 1972-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-15
Also published as: BE781495A; JPS4822434B1; GB1286447A

Abstract

A cleaning device for fitting into a pressurized fluid supply line, the device comprising an adaptor pipe for incorporation into the fluid supply line, a cleaning medium supply chamber adjustably mounted on the adaptor pipe and connected into the pipe so that some of the supply fluid will feed into the chamber to force cleaning medium from the chamber into the pipe, a valve positioned to control fluid flow, a further valve positioned to control flow of the cleaning medium and filters located in the adaptor pipe to ensure mixing of the cleaning medium and supply fluid within the adaptor pipe and prevent any backflow of the cleaning medium.

Description

United States Patent Edlin [451 Aug. 15, 1972 [54} CLEANING DEVICE [22] Filed: Feb. 9, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 9,780

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 4, 1969 New Zealand 157,010

[52] US. Cl. ..l37/205.5, 239/366, 239/367 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47l 11/00 [58] Field of Search ...l37/205.5, 268, 604; 251/145; 15/322, 321, 320; 239/318, 366, 367, 376

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,514,107 7/1950, Trostler ..15/322 UX 2,675,147 4/1954 Odom ..239/367 X 2,51 1,420 6/1950 Thompson ..l5/322 UX 1,882,271 10/1932 Berggren ..239/366 3,236,459 2/ 1966 McRitchie ..239/376 X 3,195,558 7/1965 Klueber ..137/268 2,176,139 10/1939 Lofgren ..251/l45 Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan Attorney-Young & Thompson 57 ABSTRACT A cleaning device for fitting into a pressurized fluid supply line, the device comprising an adaptor pipe for incorporation into' the fluid supply line, a cleaning medium supply chamber adjustably mounted on the adaptor pipe and connected into the pipe so that some of the supply fluid will feed into the chamber to force cleaning medium from the chamber into the pipe, a valve positioned to control fluid flow, a further valve positioned to control flow of the cleaning medium and filters located in the adaptor pipe to ensure mixing of the cleaning medium and supply fluid within the adaptor pipe and prevent any backflow of the cleaning medium.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 15, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 4 INVENTOR W/L 1. MM (/OEA Pia/4M4 0 Em. uv

BY JZW WA/ ATTORNEYS CLEANING DEVICE This invention relates to cleaning devices especially one adapted to be used in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner or any other air pressure supplying apparatus.

It is known to provide cleaning or shampooing devices which when run over carpet, or fabrics on furniture, produce a foam which with the action of brushes or the like in the device shampoo and clean the operating surface. These devices are specially manufactured for this purpose and cannot in general be used for any other purposes.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device which can be easily fitted to an apparatus such as a vacuum cleaner thus converting the said apparatus into a shampooing and cleaning device but such a device which can be readily removed to allow the apparatus to be used to perform its usual purpose.

Broadly the invention consists of a cleaning device for fitting into a pressurized fluid supply line, the device comprising an adaptor pipe for incorporation into the fluid supply line, a cleaning medium supply chamber adjustably mounted on the adaptor pipe and connected into the pipe so that some of the supply fluid will feed into the chamber to force cleaning medium from the chamber into the pipe, a valve positioned to control fluid flow, a further valve positioned to control flow of the cleaning medium and filters located in the adaptor pipe to ensure mixing of the cleaning medium and supply fluid within the adaptor pipe and prevent any backflow of the cleaning medium.

ln further describing the invention as a preferred embodiment reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

F 16. 1 is an elevational view of the device,

F IG. 2 is a plan view,

F l0. 3 is a side view,

FlG. 4 is a sectional view of the adaptor pipe taken on the line A-A in FIG. 3.

H6. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the adaptor pipe taken on the line B-B in FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of part of the supply chamber taken on line CC in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of part of the other side of the supply chamber taken on line D-D in FIG. 1.

The. supply chamber 10 consists of a container molded from a plastics or like light-weight material and is substantially semi-circular in cross-sectional shape so as to curve around the adaptor pipe 11 and thus be unobtrusive as well as compact. At one end of the said container 10 are two

legs

12 and 13 which are vertically upstanding from the end (or base) of the container l0 and are positioned a distance apart so that they are able to be engaged over projections 14 formed radially opposite each other on the adaptor pipe. Provided in each

leg

12 or 13 are

circular openings

15 and 16 through which a spindle 17 passes, the said spindle 17 passing through the adaptor pipe 11 to effectively hold the supply chamber 10 in place and the said adaptor pipe 11 as well as providing a hinge for the said chamber 10 to pivot around. Formed in conjunction with the opening 15 in leg 12 is a key way 18 and extending upwardly from the keyway inside the leg 12 and into the supply chamber 10 is a passageway 19. At the point of entry into the supply chamber 10 an upstanding lug 20 is formed, the lug 20 being of an externally tapered nature whereby a flexible or rigid transparent pipe 21 is fitted, said pipe 21 itself extending to near the top of the supply chamber 10.

The second leg 13 of the supply chamber also has a passageway 22 extending through it from inside the chamber 10 and this joins with an opening 23 formed in the outer face of the said leg 13 just above the spindle opening 16. At the point of entry into the supply chamber 10 of the passageway 23 is a filter 24, the filter consisting of a small gauze disc 25 held in an extension of the base 26 of the said supply chamber.

As already mentioned the supply chamber 10 is held on the adaptor pipe 11 by a spindle 17 extending through the said pipe 11 and

legs

12 and 13 of the supply chamber 10. The spindle 17 consists of a rod of metal or like material having an end of enlarged diameter 27 while the other has a screw thread 28 formed thereon. The end with the enlarged diameter has a V- shaped groove 29 formed peripherally around said enlargement 27 and is screw threaded internally from its outer surface whereby a small screw 30 can enter said end and clamp onto the enlarged diameter 27 a regulator valve 31, a neck 32 being formed on the outer end of the enlargement 27 so that said valve 31 and enlarged diameter 27 are correctly located when assembled. Adjacent the enlarged area on the body of the spindle 17 is a section of knurling 33, the area of knurling corresponding to the width of the leg 13 so that when positioned in such leg the spindle 17 will not move around in the opening 16 when the supply chamber 10 is pivoted about the adaptor pipe 11. A small passageway 34 is formed internally in the spindle l7 and extends from the V-shaped groove 29 along the length of the spindle and terminates at a point 35 midway in the adaptor pipe 11 when the spindle 17 is assembled in the said pipe. When the spindle 17 is in place the opening of the passageway 35 in the said spindle points towards the end of the adaptor pipe 11 on which the applicance nozzle or discharge pipe is located.

The regulator valve 31 consists of a body which the enlarged end 27 of the spindle 17 is located and as previously'mentioned is attached to the spindle 17 by the screw 30, two washers 36 with a sealing ring 37 interposed being provided to prevent any leakage from the V-shaped groove 29 around the enlarged area 27 and out the recess in the outer face of the valve 31 in which the screw is situated. The face of the valve 31 which abuts against the leg 13 of the supply chamber 10 is of greater diameter than the body of the valve and is flat so that a seal is effected between the leg 13 and said inner face. A portion of the bottom section of the leg 13 is removed so leaving a channel 38 and a pin 39 mounted on the inner face of the valve 31 is engaged therein so limiting the angle of rotation of the said valve to substantially by virtue of the pin hitting either face of the channel 38. A groove 40 is formed in the inner face of the valve and is so positioned that when the valve 31 is in place over the leg 13 the said groove 40 coincides with the opening 23 of the passageway 22 in the leg. This groove 40 is of a tapering depth and has a segmented angle with respect to the center of the body of the valve of substantially 90 so that when the pin 39 on the valve abuts against one face of the channel 38 the deepest end of the groove 40 is over the passageway opening 23 and when the pin abuts against the other face the shallowest end of the groove 40 is positioned over the opening 23. The groove 40 at the deepest end is extended inwardly toward the center of the face so that a channel is formed which coincides with the V-shaped groove 29 in the enlarged area 27 of the spindle 17.

Near the inlet end 4| of the adaptor pipe 11 is a sleeve valve provided, this being a slidable sleeve 42 mounted on the outer periphery of the pipe 11 and having a cut-out portion running for its length in which a guide rail 43 is located. An elongated hole 44 is formed in the adaptor pipe 11 and the slidable sleeve 42 slides over this hole to cover or uncover it corresponding to whether the valve is to be closed or opened.

Inside the adaptor pipe 11 and just beyond the elongated opening 44 of the valve is a constriction which has a central opening 45 appreciably smaller in diameter than that of the inlet portion of the said adaptor pipe. A passageway 46 is cut in this constriction and passes through the constriction to the opening in which the spindle 17 lies and continues parallel to the spindle 17 to coincide with the keyway 18 cut in the opening 15 in the leg 12.

On the inlet side of the constriction is placed a gauze disc 47 which acts as a filter to material passing through the opening and passageway in the said constriction.

in assembling the device the

legs

12 and 13 of the supply chamber are placed over the projections on the sides of the adaptor pipe 11. The spindle 17 is pushed through the openings and 16 in the legs and through the adaptor pipe 11 until the enlarged end 27 of the spindle engages against the leg 13 of the supply chamber 10. The regulator valve 31 is then affixed to the spindle 17 and the other end of the spindle has a nut 48 threaded on to hold the spindle in place. Under this nut is a washer 49 which effectively seals off the keyway 18 in the leg 12 and prevents leakage when the device is in use. An O-ring 52 is also placed under the washer 49 to assist in sealing.

In use the adaptor pipe 11 is attached to the fluid supply line 50 of a machine such as a vacuum cleaner and is clamped thereto by a conventional clamp 51 at the rear of the inlet end 41 of the said adaptor pipe. When the air supply is started the air flows through the central opening45 in the constriction as well as the passageway. The air passing through the passageway 46 proceeds to the keyway 18 in the leg 12 and then along the passageway 19 in the said leg and into the supply chamber 10 through the pipe 21. This air pressurizes the chamber and forces the shampoo liquid contained in the chamber out through the gauze covered opening 24 in the base of the said chamber. The concentrated shampoo then proceeds down the leg 13 of the chamber, through this regulator valve 31, along the spindle 17 and finally issues out the opening 35 in the center of the spindle and into the air stream flowing through the opening 45 in the constriction. The shampoo on issuing is agitated by the air stream and this causes the shampoo to foam, the foam then passes through a gauze cone 53 in the adaptor pipe, to prevent foreign matter from being forced out with the foam, and finally through the nozzle or discharge pipe located on the end 54 of the adaptor pipe. Both the pressure and volume of shampoo issuing from the nozzle or discharge pipe can be regulated. The pressure is regulated by the slidable sleeve 42 on the adaptor pipe, the greatest pressure being when the sleeve covers the elongated opening 44 and least when the opening is un covered. To regulate the volume of shampoo the regulator valve 31 on the spindle is employed. When the deepest end of the groove 40 in the inner face of the valve coincides with the passageway opening 23 in the supply chamber leg 13 the greatest volume of concentrated shampoo flows through the spindle. For less volume the regulator valve is rotated until the shallow end of the groove 40 coincides with the passageway opening 23 at this point the pin 39 on the regulator valve 31 abuts against the face of the channel 38. The device can be used on any angle, i.e. floors, walls, backs of furniture by simply moving the supply chamber about the spindle, thus preventing the shampoo from flowing back down the chamber and away from the outlet in the base. The device can be positioned anywhere on a vacuum cleaner pipe, i.e. near the hose end or the nozzle end and still function efficiently. The device as a whole is light weight and does not present any problems of bulkiness and if positioned near the hose end of the cleaner pipes does not inhibit in any way the nozzle from getting in to awkward corners such as when cleaning a carpet or article of furniture.

What is claimed is:

l. A cleaning device for fitting into a pressurized fluid supply line, comprising an adaptor pipe for incorporation into the fluid supply line, a cleaning medium supply chamber, means mounting the chamber on the adaptor pipe for bodily swinging movement of the chamber relative to die adaptor pipe about an axis transverse'to the axis of the adaptor pipe, and means connecting the chamber to the pipe so that some of said supply fluid will feed into the chamber to force cleaning medium from the chamber into the pipe, said mounting means comprising a spindle passing through said adaptor pipe, said chamber having two legs that receive said spindle and straddle said adaptor pipe.

2. A cleaning device for fitting into a pressurized fluid supply line, comprising an adaptor pipe for incorporation into the fluid supply line, a cleaning medium supply chamber, means mounting the chamber on the adaptor pipe for bodily swinging movement of the chamber relative to the adaptor pipe about an axis transverse to the axis of the adaptor pipe, means connecting the chamber to the pipe so that some of said supply fluid will feed into the chamber to force clean ing medium from the chamber into the pipe, said mounting means comprising a pair of legs on said chamber that straddle said adaptor pipe, means for conveying supply fluid from said adaptor pipe through one of said legs into said chamber, and means for conveying cleaning medium from said chamber through the other of said legs into said adaptor pipe.

3. A cleaning device for fitting into a pressurized fluid supply line, comprising an adaptor pipe for incorporation into the fluid supply line, a cleaning medium supply chamber, means mounting the chamber on the adaptor pipe for bodily swinging movement of the chamber relative to the adaptor pipe about an axis transverse to the axis of the adaptor pipe, means connecting the chamber to the pipe so that some of said supply fluid will feed into the chamber to force cleaning medium from the chamber into the pipe, said mounting means comprising a spindle passing through said adaptor pipe, and conduit means formed in and extending lengthwise of said spindle for conveying said cleaning medium from said chamber to the interior of said adaptor pipe.

4. A cleaning device for fitting into a pressurized fluid supply line, comprising an adaptor pipe for incorporation into the fluid supply line, a cleaning medium supply chamber, means mounting the chamber on the adaptor pipe for bodily swinging movement of the chamber relative to the adaptor pipe about an axis transverse to the axis of the adaptor pipe, and means connecting the chamber to the pipe so that some of said supply fluid will feed into the chamber to force cleaning medium from the chamber into the pipe, said chamber having a recessed configuration to receive said adaptor pipe in a concave portion thereof when swung into close proximity with said adaptor pipe.

5. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 4, said chamber having a substantially semicircular configuration in cross section.

6. A cleaning device for fitting into a pressurized fluid supply line, comprising an adaptor pipe for incorporation into the fluid supply line, a cleaning medium supply chamber, means mounting the chamber on the adaptor pipe for bodily swinging movement of the chamber relative to the adaptor pipe about an axis transverse to the axis of the adaptor pipe, means connecting the chamber to the pipe so that some of said supply fluid will feed into the chamber to force cleaning medium from the chamber into the pipe, said mounting means comprising a spindle that passes through said adaptor pipe, and valve means for controlling the flow of cleaning medium from said chamber into said adaptor pipe, said valve means comprising a body that fits onto an enlarged end of said spindle.

Claims

1. A cleaning device for fitting into a pressurized fluid supply line, comprising an adaptor pipe for incorporation into the fluid supply line, a cleaning medium supply chamber, means mounting the chamber on the adaptor pipe for bodily swinging movement of the chamber relative to the adaptor pipe about an axis transverse to the axis of the adaptor pipe, and means connecting the chamber to the pipe so that some of said supply fluid will feed into the chamber to force cleaning medium from the chamber into the pipe, said mounting means comprising a spindle passing through said adaptor pipe, said chamber having two legs that receive said spindle and straddle said adaptor pipe.

2. A cleaning device for fitting into a pressurized fluid supply line, comprising an adaptor pipe for incorporation into the fluid supply line, a cleaning medium supply chamber, means mounting the chamber on the adaptor pipe for bodily swinging movement of the chamber relative to the adaptor pipe about an axis transverse to the axis of the adaptor pipe, means connecting the chamber to the pipe so that some of said supply fluid will feed into the chamber to force cleaning medium from the chamber into the pipe, said mounting means comprising a pair of legs on said chamber that straddle said adaptor pipe, means for conveying supply fluid from said adaptor pipe through one of said legs into said chamber, and means for conveying cleaning medium from said chamber through the other of said legs into said adaptor pipe.