US3772727A

US3772727A - Sweeping machine

Info

Publication number: US3772727A
Application number: US00134381A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Worwag
Original assignee: Progress Elektrogeraete Mauz and Pfeiffer GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Progress Elektrogeraete Mauz and Pfeiffer GmbH and Co
Priority date: 1970-04-18
Filing date: 1971-03-15
Publication date: 1973-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-20

Abstract

A sweeping machine with dust withdrawal for floors and carpets with at least one motor-driven rotatable cleaning tool partially protruding downwardly from the machine housing, in which the cleaning tool is driven by the motor through the intervention of a transmission, the axes of rotation of said motor and of said transmission being substantially parallel to each other and to the plane to be swept by said tool said tool being supported by arm means pivotable either about the axis of rotation of said motor or about the axis of rotation of said transmission means. That end of the arm means remote from the tool is provided with or forms a spiral spring for continuously urging the arm means and thereby the tool against the floor.

Description

0 1 1; United States atent 1 [111 3,772,727

Wiirwag 1 Nov. 2%, 1973 SWEEPING MACHINE 3,448,485 6/1969 Worwag 15 372 x Inventor: Eberhard Wfirwag, Stuttgart, FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS Germany 995,550 6/1965 Great Britain 15/366 [73] Assignee: Progress-Elektrogerate Mauz &

StuttgarFBomany, Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Germany Assistant Examiner-C. K. Moore Filed: p 5, 1971 Attorney-Walter Becker 21 A 1. No.: 134 81 1 PP 3 57 ABSTCT [30] Foreign Appumtion Priority Data A sweeping machine with dust withdrawal for floors A l 8 1970 G p 20 18 667 8 and carpets with at least one motor-dnven rotatable emany cleaning tool partially protruding downwardly from the machine housing, in which the cleaning tool is [52] US. Cl. 15/49 C, 15/333, 1154737922, driven by the motor through the intervention of a Int m 11/32 transmission, the axes of rotation of said motor and of Said transmission being Substantially parallel to each [58] Field of Search 15/41 R, 49 C, 50 C,

other and to the plane to be swept by said tool said 15/79, 98, 355, 356, 368, 371, 372, 389, 383

tool being supported by arm means plvotable either R i Used about the axis of rotation of said motor or about the l e emmes n axis of rotation of said transmission means. That end UNITED STATES PATENTS of the arm means remote from the tool is provided 2,079,293 5/1937 Kirby 15/389 X with or forms a spiral spring for continuously urging 2,179,963 11/1939 SPadOIIB-H 15/49 CX the arm means and thereby the tool against the floor. 3,012,267 12/1961 Kemnitz 15/372 2,197,641 4/1940 Holm-Hansen 15/389 X 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENIEDnuv 20 I975 SHEET 1 CF 2 In ventor. ,4 CQv- 443.

PAIENIEUnuveo 197s SHEET 2 OF 2 //7 ventor: fzayazw 4 3.

, SWEEPING MACHINE The present invention'relates to a sweeping machine with dust withdrawal for carpets and the like with at least one motor-driven cleaning tool, such as a brush roller or the like, which is rotatable about an axis parallel to the sweeping plane, the cleaning tool partially protruding from the housing of the machine and being journalled so as to be pivotable about a shaft arranged in the housing and parallel to the tool while being under a load so as to be urged toward the sweeping plane.

It has been suggested to provide the motor housing with at least one supporting arm at the end of which there is journalled a brush roller. The motor together with the supporting arms for the brush roller and with the brush roller itself forms a structural unit which as a unit can be pivoted about an axle in the housing. The brush roller which has an axis parallel to the sweeping plane partially protrudes from the housing of the sweeping machine or sweeper and is under a load so as to be urged toward the sweeping plane.

It has furthermore been suggested to provide the height adjustment of the brush roller with an arrestable lifting device in order to be able to use the sweeper also as a pure vacuum cleaner. In such an instance the brush roller is by means of a lifting device pivoted upwardly away from the sweeping plane so that the brush roller can no longer act upon the carpet or the like, and only the blower system can be effective with regard to dust withdrawal.

Sweeping machines of the just mentioned type have I the drawback that they can be employed either only as pure sweeping machines or only as pure vacuum cleaners. The working height of the brush roller is not adjustable in conformity with the respective type of floor, i. e., whether a carpet, rug or wood floor is involved.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention so to design-a sweeping machine of the above mentioned general type that the cleaning tool, for instance a brush roller, can be adjusted to the best possible effective height with regard to the respective floor cover or floor material to be worked, and that such adjustment is effected automatically.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section through the sweeping machine according to the invention in which the supporting arms supporting the cleaning tool are pivotable about the central axis of the driving mo- FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through a modified sweeping machine according to the invention in which the armssupporting the cleaning tool are pivotable about the central axis of the intermediate drive.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective and exploded view of parts of the present invention usable in sweep- I ing machines of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The problem outlined above has been solved by a sweeping machine according to the present invention which is characterized primarily in that the pivot axis of the supporting arms for holding and journalling the cleaning tool is coaxial with regard to the shaft of the motor and/or the output shaft of the intermediate gear or transmission. This mounting of the two supporting arms about the central axis of the motor shaft or the output shaft of thetransmission permits the adjustment of the load of the cleaning tool with regard to the sweeping plane whereby the most favorable cleaning effect will be realized with the least stress exerted upon the floor surface to be cleaned.

The above mounting of the two supporting arms has the further advantage that the belt required for driving the cleaning tool will during the lifting and lowering movement of the cleaning tool always remain under tension because the axial distance will with this movement of the cleaning tool not be subjected to any change. As a result thereof, always auniform transmission of the speed and torque from the motor to the cleaning tool will be assured so that the heretofore necessary accessories, for instance, tensioning rollers for the belt, for adapting the length of the belt to a varying axial distance, are no longer necessary. Consequently, the present invention brings about a considerable technical simplification and a considerable extension of the life of the driving belt.

According to a further feature of the invention, one end each of the two supporting arms may be journalled in a supporting member which may be arranged in axial alignment with regard to the shaft of the driving motor and/or in axial alignment with regard to the output shaft of the transmission. In view of these features, with a lifting or lowering movement of the cleaning tool, the spacing between the axis of the cleaning tool and the pivot axis will always remain the same so that a better stability will be assured.

According to a further development of the invention, it is suggested that at least one end of each supporting arm is designed as a spiral spring. In this connection in particular the ends of the supporting arms within the region of their axis of rotation are to be considered, whereas the other free legs of the spiral springs are designed as supporting and locating means for one bearing area of the cleaning tool. The employment of spiral springs of this type also results in a better automatic adaptation of the working height of the cleaning tool to the respective floor material to be cleaned.

The spiral end of a supporting arm is expediently journalled in a supporting part. The journalling may be provided within the supporting part about the central axis of the motor shaft. According to another possibility, the spiral end may be journalled within the supporting part about the output shaft of the transmission.

According to a still further development of the last mentioned design, the tension of the spring of the spiral end of the supporting arm may be varied by turning the element which receives the spiral-shaped end in the supporting part. The coiled inner end of the spiralshaped supporting arm is with this construction held in an element the axis of rotation of which is in axial alignment with regard to the central axis of the driving motor or the output shaft of the transmission. By turning the said element which receives the spiral-shaped end of the supporting arms, the supporting arms acting as spiral spring are loaded more or less depending on the turning of the spring mounting in clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

In this way the pressure exerted by the cleaning tool upon the surface areas to be worked can be varied. The spring tension or load of the spiral-shaped end of the supporting arms may, however, also in similar manner be varied by turning the spring mounting. In this connection it is expedient to make the mounting arrestable in its respective position by a corresponding locking element. In a similar manner this also applies to the arrestability of the respective adjustment of the spiral spring mounting.

. According to a further feature of the invention it is advantageous to make the supporting part or spring mounting adjustable in a stepless manner or in steps.

Finally, it is suggested to provide the supporting member or spring mounting with a scale to indicate the respective adjustment.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the arrangement shown therein comprises a housing 1 which is composed of the upper housing section la and the lower housing section 1b. The dust collecting container 2 is connected to the rear end of the upper housing section la. The dust containing air which is drawn into the dust collecting container 2 by the blower of motor 3 is filtered when it arrives from the cleaning tool chamber 4. The dirt is separated by the cleaning tool 5 from the floor surface to be cleaned. The cleaning tool 5 partially protrudes from the lower housing section lb within the region of the skids 6.

The front portion of the housing rests upon the skids 6 whereas the rear portion of the housing rests upon the supporting rollers 7. The blower of motor 3 is mounted between the bearing elements 8 one of which is shown in the drawings. The drive of the cleaning tool 5 is effected through a belt drive 9, 11 through the intervention of a transmission 12 for reducing the speed of the motor.

The cleaning tool 5 is mounted between the supporting arms of which oneonly is shown in the drawings. The supporting arms 10 have their free legs 10a connected to the bearing element 13. The other ends 10b of the supporting arms 10 are spiral-shaped and are mounted in a receiving part 14. These spiral-shaped ends 10b are wound around the receiving part 14 in the form of a loose spiral so that the oscillating movement of the supporting arms 10 is resiliently supported by this winding spiral while by turning the receiving part 14 about the motor axis, the tension of the spiral springs may be increased or reduced. As a result thereof, the free ends 10a of the supporting arms 10 are together with the cleaning tool 5 mounted thereon pressed to a more or less extent against the floor surface to be cleanedl According to FIG. I, the spiral-shaped ends 1012 of the supporting arms 10 are journalled about the central axis of the shaft of the motor 3 within the receiving part 14, whereas according to FIG. 2 the spiral-shaped ends 10b of the supporting arms 10 are mounted about the output shaft of the transmission 12 within the receiving part 14.

In order to fix the once selected pressure of the cleaning tool 5 against the surface to be cleaned, the receiving part 14 is provided with a locking device and with a scale to indicate the adjustment.

The structure shown in FIG. 3 can be adapted to be used ineither of the specific embodiments respectively illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates more specifically means for grippingthe end portions of the springs, how receiving parts, indicated ,by numeral 14 in FIGS. 1 and 2 are mounted to support the spiral ends, and such features as the scale means, locking device, and arresting means.

FIG. 3 shows in exploded view how receiving part 14 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft of the bracket or bearing element 8. The spiral end portion 10b of supporting arm 10 is, at 10c, inserted into and secured in groove 15 of receiving part 14 by tightening set screw 16 arranged in the bore 14a. A retaining ring 17 is placed in the groove 17a on the end of the shaft 8a to secure thereon receiving part 14. Tensioning or lever means 18 are fastened to receiving part 14, in the bore 14b thereof. With this tensioning or lever means 18, the receiving part 14, and thereby the spiral end 10b secured therein, may be turned clockwise or counterclockwise to thereby respectively load more or less the spiral end 10b.

To change the load or spring tension of the spiral end 10b, a locking device consisting of lever means 18 and notched groove 19 is used. Tensioning or lever means 18 is moved out of its respective notch 19a and into the groove 19 in the upper housing section 1a. The tensioning or lever means 18 is then moved in groove 19 in either direction into the desired notch 19a to obtain the required spring load. The movement from groove 19 into the pertaining notch 19a occurs and the position obtained is indicated by the markings A, B, C, D on the scale 20 adjacent the notches 19a.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular showing in the drawings but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A cleaning machine for cleaning floors and carpets, which includes: housing means having an opening in the front portion of the bottom of the housing means, a cleaning tool rotatably supported within said housing means and adapted partially to protrude through said opening motor means within said housing means for driving said cleaning tool, transmission means interposed between said motor means and said cleaning tool, the axis of rotation of said motor means and the axis of rotation of said transmission means being substantially parallel to each other and to the plane adapted to be swept by said cleaning tool, and arm means having one portion thereof supporting said cleaning tool and having the other end portion thereof spirally shaped and arranged around one of said axes of rotation with the free end of said spirally shaped end portion stationarily anchored; said spirally shaped end portion being tensioned so that said cleaning tool is urged against the surface to be cleaned below said opening.

2. A cleaning machine which includes: housing means having an opening in the front portion of the bottom of the housing means, a cleaning tool rotatably supported within said housing means and adapted partially to protrude through said opening, motor means within said housing means for driving said cleaning tool, transmission means interposed between said motor means and said cleaning tool, the axis of rotation of said motor means and the axis of rotation of said transmission means being substantially parallel to each other and to the plane adapted to be swept by said cleaning tool, and arm means having one portion thereof supporting said cleaning tool and having the other end portion thereof spirally shaped and arranged around one of said axes of rotation with the free end of said spirally shaped end portion stationarily anchored, said spirally shaped end portion of said arm means continuously urging said cleaning tool in the direction of the surface to be swept.

3. A cleaning machine according to claim 5 which includes normally stationary supporting means substantially coaxial with said axis of rotation around which one end portion of said arm means is arranged, for anchoring the free end of said apirally shaped end portion of said arm means.

4. A cleaning machine according to claim 3, in which said normally stationary supporting means are rotatable for adjusting the spring tension of said spirally shaped end portion of said arm means.

5. A cleaning machine according to claim 4, which sion of said spiral shaped end portion.

Claims

1. A cleaning machine for cleaning floors and carpets, which includes: housing means having an opening in the front portion of the bottom of the housing means, a cleaning tool rotatably supported within said housing means and adapted partially to protrude through said opening motor means within said housing means for driving said cleaning tool, transmission means interposed between said motor means and said cleaning tool, the axis of rotation of said motor means and the axis of rotation of said transmission means being substantially parallel to each other and to the plane adapted to be swept by said cleaning tool, and arm means having one portion thereof supporting said cleaning tool and having the other end portion thereof spirally shaped and arranged around one of said axes of rotation with the free end of said spirally shaped end portion stationarily anchored; said spirally shaped end portion being tensioned so that said cleaning tool is urged against the surface to be cleaned below said opening.

5. A cleaning machine according to claim 4, which includes a locking device associated with said spirally shaped end portion of said arm means for maintaining the respective adjusted spring tension.

6. A cleaning machine according to claim 3, in which said suPporting means are adjustable for adjusting the spring tension of said spiral-shaped end portion of said arm means.

7. A cleaning machine according to claim 1 which includes scale means associated with said spiral shaped end portion of said arm means to indicate spring tension of said spiral shaped end portion.