US973446A - Pneumatic cleaning apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

. MoiIKos.

PNBUMATIG CLEANING APPARATUS.

P. J. MATGHETTB, C. GORDON L G APPLICATION FILED HAB.. 6, 1905.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

3 SHBBTS-BHET l.

111s :vowels meres co., WASHINGTON. n. c4

F. J. MATGHBTTE, G. GORDON d.: C. MOUKUS. PNBUMATIG CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IAR. 6, 1905.

973,446, Patented oen. 1s, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nu: Nom-els PETERS co., wnsmxvcfcw, D. c

I'. JQMATCHBTTE, G. GORDON n C. MOUKOS.

PNBUMATIG CLEANING APPARATUs.

APPLICATION FILED MAILS, 1905. 973,446, Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l/ will ullllllllllll'f UNITED sTATEs PATENT OEEIOE.

FRANK J. MATCHETTE, CHARLES GORDON, AND CHARIJES MOUKOS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN AIR CLEANING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

PNEUMATIC CLEANING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that we, FRANK J. Mar OHETTE and CHARLES GORDON, citizens of y the United States, and CHARLES MoUKOs, a

. Pneumatic Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates more part-icularly to portable apparatus for removing dirt and dust from rugs, carpets and the like, by

means of a blast or jet of compressed air,

separating the dirt and dust from the dust laden air and confining the dirt and dust separated from the air within the portable apparatus, while the air freed from the dirt and dust is discharged into the room.

The main objects of the invention are to produce a self-contained compact machine of this class which can be easily carried from place to place; to facilitate the removal of dirt and dust from the machine; to provide for the easy detachment and removal of and for ready access to different parts of the machine, for inspection, cleaning and renewal; to secure an effective and perfect separation of the dust from the air by which it is removed and conducted olf from a carpet or other article; to prevent the escape of dust into the room from the machine at the ends of the blast nozzle; to provide for the detachment and removal of dust adhering to the strainer cloth or tubes; and generally to improve the construction and operation of apparatus of this class.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the peculiar arrangement and combinations of parts hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical section on the line 1 l, Fig. 3, of a pneumatic carpet cleaner embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2, Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3, Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of the base, nozzle and hood; Fig. 5 is an inverted plan Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 6, 1905.

Patented'Oct. 18, 1910. Serial No. 248,536.

view of the dust separator and collector, the discharge valve in the bottom of the dust receptacle being partially opened; and Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section on the line 6 6, Fig. 4:, showing the spring latch for securing the dust separator and collector to the base.

In the present case a machine of substantially cylindrical form is shown and will be described, to illustrate and explain the invention, which however', may be embodied in different forms without departure from its scope and principle.

Referring to the drawing, a designates the base of the machine having a transverse opening Z) in the bottom and an upturned marginal rim or iiange forming a recess or chamber on the upper side thereof.

o is an air blast nozzle preferably constructed of two parts which are screwed together to form a long narrow discharge orice in the under side. One of the parts or sections of the nozzle is formed or provided with hollow trunnions which are fitted to turn in bearings provided therefor in the base at the ends of the opening Z). The noz zle is secured in these bearings by a hood (Z, which is detachably fastened to the base over the opening Y), which has upturned flanges at the sides forming joints with the lower edges of the hood, as shown in Figs. l and 4t. To prevent the escape of dust into the room from the machine at the ends of the nozzle the base is formed adjacent to the ends of and crosswise with respect to the opening Y), with dust intercepting channelsl o, which communicate preferably at their ends through openings with the chamber or space in the upper part of the base, in which there is little or no back pressure. To the protruding ends of the trunnions on the nozzle, a. tubular bail or forked handle y", is rigidly and permanently attached, for operating the machine and supplying com-' pressed air thereto.

AUpon the base a, is detachably mounted a dust separator and collector', comprising a dust receptacle and a strainer. The dust receptacle g is loosely fitted at the bottom into the upturned rim or iange on the base, and is detachably secured thereto as shown in Figs. l, l and G, by a beveled spring latch lz., which is pivotally mounted in the base in position to engage with a loop or keeper z' on the bottom of the dust receptacle, and has on its pivot stem outside of the base, .a foot piece or releasing arm j. This latch 1s so constructed and arranged that when the dust receptacle g is placed in its proper position on the base the beveled hooked end of the latch will be automatically engaged with the loop i, thereby looking the part-s together. The latch is disengaged from the loop and the dust receptacle released by depressing the foot piece or releasing arm y'.

A s shown in Figs. l, 3 and 5, the dust receptacle is formed with a central shed j across the bottom over the hood (Z, and at the center with an upwardly flanged opening into which the neck of the hood norn mally projects when the parts of the machine are assembled. On each side of this shed, which slopes from the center in opposite directions, the bottom of the dust receptacle is formed with a large discharge opening, which is normally closed by a slide or valve 7u, as shown in Fig. l. This slide or valve, which controls both discharge openings, is supported at the ends by guides l, attached to the bottom of the dust receptacle, and its movement in both directions is limited at the proper points by pins or lugs 'mf on the slide, and shouldersn on the guides, as shown in Fig. 5. It is formed with a central opening through which the hood Z passes when the parts of the machine are assembled, as shown in Figs. l and 3, and it may be operated by the loop z', which cooperates with the spring' latch L to lock the dust receptacle to the base.

The strainer consists of cloth tubes or flexible strainer conduits 0, attached at the ends to and supported by plates p and g. These tubes are fastened to said plates by severed spring wire rings 02 secured in the ends of the tubes and sprung with them into internal grooves o3 in the openings 0t in said plates. These plates are connected and the upper plate is yieldingly supported from the lower plate preferably by tie bolts or rods 1", which are provided with springs s, bearing at their lower ends against the lower plate and at their upper ends against shoulders or collars s on said bolts. The yielding connections between the two tube plates serve to keep the tubes normally extended and also permit the depression of the upper plate q and force it back to place when released, whereby dust adhering to and lodging in the strainer tubes may be jarred therefrom, and the meshes of the cloth kept clear. The alternate slackening and stretching of the strainer tubes incident to the compression and expansion of the springs s, operate also to dislodge and remove dust from said tubes and to maintain them in good working condition.

The lower plate p is formed around the central opening therein with a depending flange, which when the 'parts of the machine are assembled as shown in the drawing, ts into the annular space between the neck on the hood d and the upturned iiange around the central opening in the dust receptacle g. A cover plate t forming with the upper tube plate Q an air and dust distributing chamber or space u, is detachablv fastened to said tube plate by a severed and internally grooved coupling ring fu, engaging the beveled margins or rims of said plates, or by other suitable means. The lower tube plate 72 is also detachably fastened by like or similar means to the top of the dust receptacle g. The severed ends of the coupling rings o are provided with adjustable fastenings fw, by means of which they can be quickly contracted so as to draw and hold the beveled rims of the connected parts of the machine snugly together and thus form tight joints between them. This construction affords easy access to the tube plates for the purpose of inspecting and cleaning the strainer and dust receptacle and removing and replacing the strainer tubes when necessary or desirable.

The central tube o connects the hood (Z with the distributing chamber u in the upper part of the dust separator and the cover plate t is preferably depressed into or formed on the under side with a central conical deflector for directing the dust laden air issuing from the upper end of the tube 0 out-- wardly and distributingr it to the upper ends of the surrounding rows of tubes 0. The central tube o forms an ascending flue or conduit through which the dust laden airis carried upwardly from the opening in the top of the dust confining hood cl into the distributing chamber u, and the strainer tubes 0 form descending flues or conduits through which the dust is carried downwardly and discharged into the dust receptacle g, as indicated by arrows on Fig. 1. The dust is more effectively and perfectly separated from the air with which it is carried and is more readily brought to rest and collected when the dust laden air is directed downwardly through the strainer into the dust receptacle, than when it is directed upwardly, because in the latter case the ascending current of air tends to hold the fine light particles of dust in suspension and in contact with the strainer surface, while in the former case they are carried by the current away from the strainer surface and deposited in the dust receptacle below. The particles of dirt and dust carried with the descending air currents also act as a scouring agent and tend to keep the inner surfaces of the strainertnbes free from dust. The arrangement of the dust flues or conduits and the strainer tubes or surfaces with relation thereto and to the dust receptacle in the apparatus as herein shown and described, is,

for the reason above stated, very effective and advantageous, admitting as it does of the construction of a compact, self-contained, light, portable machine for cleaning carpets and the like. The cover plate t is provided with a handle x, by means of which the machine when all its parts are assembled and fastened together, may be taken up bodily and carried from place to place, and by means of which the dust separator and collector may be lifted from the base for the purpose of emptying dirt and dust from the dust receptacle g.

For the sake of appearance, although it is not essential to the operation of the machine, the strainer tubes 0 may be surrounded and concealed from view by a perforated case y.

The operation of the machine may be briefly explained as follows: Compressed air being supplied to the machine in the usual way through a flexible pipe or hose attached to the tubular handle, and being conducted into the nozzle c through its hollow trunnions and the bail or forked ends of the handle, is directed downwardly through the narrow slit or orifice of the nozzle in a strong blast or jet, which is projected into and through the carpet or other article, removing therefrom dirt and dust, which are taken up and conducted ott' with the deflected current or currents of air, as indicated by arrows on Fig. l. The dust laden air confined within the machine by the hood cl, is .conducted from the upper part thereof upwardly through the central tube 0 into the distributing chamber u in the upper' part of the machine, some of the air escaping through the meshes of said tube (when it is made of straining material), and to that extent reducing the force of the upward current of dust laden air, is deflected by the cover plate and spreads out radially in all directions in the distributing chamber u, from which it descends with greatly diminished force into the strainer tubes o. From these tubes, which have in the aggregate a large area, the air escapes into the room and the dirt and dust separated therefrom and confined within the tubes, is carried downward by gravity and by the diminishing air currents and gently discharged at the lower c ends of the tubes into the dust receptacle g,

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where they are undisturbed and readily come to rest.

The dirt and dust are removed from time to time from the dust receptacle g by detaching and removing said receptacle from the base t and opening the slide or valve 7c, as shown in Fig. 5. Any dust or dirt which may be caught in the intercepting grooves or channels e and discharged therefrom into the chamber or space between the bottom of the dust receptacle and the bottom of the base may be removed therefrom by inverting the base when the dust separator and collector are detached and removed.

The nozzle with the tubular bail or handle attached thereto may be easily removed from the machine for inspection, repairs or renewal, by detaching and removing the hood l from the base.

The nozzle c is made, as shown, of a shape in cross section, to offer as little obstruction as possible to the ascending currents of dust laden air.

The dust lines and strainer tubes of the dust separator and collector may be made of Various shapes, of any suitable material, and arranged in various ways, and more or less of these ilues and strainer tubes or conduits may be employed.

We have illustrated and described with particularity t-he preferred details of construction and arrangement of the several parts but it is obvious that such changes can be made therein as will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Ve claim:

l. In a pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the combination of a portable base having an opening in the bottom, walls extending upwardly from opposite sides of said opening, a blast nozzle adjacent to the walls on opposite sides of said opening, a hood with converging walls extending upward from said opening, and a dust separator and collector into which said hood discharges dust laden air, substantially as described.

2. In a pneumatic cleaning apparatus the combination of a portable base having a transverse opening in the bottom, walls extending upwardly from opposite sides of said opening, a nozzle having a downwardly directed blast orifice arranged lengthwise of said opening between said walls and positioned to permit air discharged therefrom to pass upward around opposite sides of the nozzle, a dust confining hood over said opening, and a dust separator and collector' to receive the air passingfrom said hood, substantially as described.

3. In a pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the combination of a portable base having au opening in the bottom, walls extending upwardly from opposite sides of said opening, a pivot-ally supported air-blast nozzle adjacent to said opening between said walls, and a dust separator and collector comprising a dust receptacle detachably mounted on the base and a strainer detachably mounted on the dust receptacle, substantially as described.

4. In a pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the combination of a portable base having a transverse opening in the bottom, from opposite sides of which walls extend upwardly an air-blast nozzle arranged lengthwise of said opening between and adjacent to said side walls, a dust confining hood over said opening, and a dust separator and collector to receive dust laden air from said hood, substantially as described.

5. In a pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the combination of a portable base having a transverse opening in the bottom, walls eX- tending upwardly from opposite sides of said opening, a pivotally mounted air-blast nozzle arranged lengthwise of said opening between the walls thereof, a dust confining hood over said opening, and a dust collector1 detachably mounted on said base and connected with the hood, substantially as described.

6. In a pneumatic cleaning apparatus the combination of a portable base having a transverse opening in the bottom, an air blast nozzle pivotally mounted in and ai'- ranged lengthwise of said opening to direct dust containing air into the apparatus, a dust conning hood over said opening, a dust collector detachably secured on said base, and a dust receptacle at the base of said collector and provided with a discharge valve in the bottom, substantiallj7 as described.

7. In a pneumatic cleaning apparatus the combination of a portable base having in the bottom a transverse opening and dust intercepting grooves or channels formed in the bottom adjacent to the ends and crosswise to said opening, and an air-blast nozzle arranged lengthwise of said opening to impel dust containing air into the apparatus, substantially as described.

8. In a pneumatic cleaningapparatus, a portable base therefor having in the bottom a transverse opening to receive an air blast nozzle and formed with dust intercepting grooves in the bottom arranged crosswise and adjacent to the ends of said opening, and a dust chamber with which said grooves or channels communicate, substantially as described.

9. In a pneumatic cleaning apparatus the combination of a portable chambered base having in the bottom a transverse opening and dust intercepting .Qrooves or channels arranged adjacent to the ends of and crosswise to said opening and communicating with the chamber in the base, an air-blast nozzle adjacent to said opening to direct dust concontaining air into the apparatus, a dustA confining hood over said opening, and a dust separator and collector connected with said hood, substantially as described.

l1. In a pneumatic cleaning apparatus the combination of a portable base having an opening in the bottom, a pivotally mounted air-blast nozzle adjacent to said opening to direct dust laden air into the apparatus, and a dust confining hood detachably fastened to the base over said opening and covering said nozzle, substantiallj7 as described.

l2. In a pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the combination of a portable base having a transverse opening in the bottom and nozzle bea-rings at the ends of said opening, an air-blast nozzle pivotally supported at the ends in said bearings to direct dust containing air into the apparatus, and a dust confining hood detachably secured to the base over the ends of the nozzle, substantially as described.

13. In a pneumatic cleaning apparatus the combination with a portable base, having a transverse opening in the bottom and dust intercepting grooves adjacent to the ends and crosswise of said opening, an air blast nozzle pivotally mounted in the opening of the base, and a dust confining hood disposed on the base over said openinff.

In wit-ness whereof we hereto affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. MATCHETTE. CHARLES GORDON. CHARLES MOUKOS.

lVitnesses CHAs. L. Goss, BERNARD C. RoLorr.

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