DE2325232A1 - COUPLING, IN PARTICULAR FOR A DEVICE FOR CLEANING FLOOR COVERINGS, ETC. - Google Patents

Description

Coupling, in particular for a device for cleaning floor coverings, etc.

The invention relates to devices 2um cleaning of floor coverings \ x.ä. and in particular to a drive coupling for such devices, the device preferably being operated with an air stream, for example from a household vacuum cleaner.

When cleaning carpets, it is important that they are only straight The required amount of cleaning fluid is used so that the carpet is not excessively dampened. Devices for Application of the liquid are known and essentially contain a container and a liquid-receiving container Pillow through which the soap solution can be "applied to the Carpet passes through. The user moves the device at a substantially constant speed over the carpet

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and fro, gradually creating solution to the entire carpet is applied. Although such devices allow certain successes, They do not allow the carpet to be scrubbed and are therefore of limited applicability when cleaning the carpet is spotty or has limited dirty areas.

Attempts have already been made to use household appliances designed to clean carpets by scrubbing and powered by a household vacuum cleaner. The previous Devices essentially had a turbine that is driven by the air sucked in by the vacuum cleaner - and the Turbine drove a brush on a vertical axis. Between the brush and the turbine, there was a drive clutch, which allowed the brush to move axially.

The brush was held by an apron that was open at the bottom. surrounded by an edge, so that when a high resistance occurs against the rotating movement of the brush, it was moved vertically in the apron, causing the apron to come into contact came with the carpet and decreased the drag to avoid blocking the turbine.

In previously known devices, the vertical brush movement was achieved by various mechanical parts, which are one on top of the other slid against each other and thus enabled vertical movement. This mechanical shift leads to

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Friction pr ob lines, and in use there is a risk that Soap solution and dirt loosened from the cleaned carpet or other floor coverings between the sliding ones Parts continued. Thus, the vertical movement could be significantly impaired, and there could be a blockage or a Turbine standstill occur.

In contrast, a drive coupling for floor cleaning devices is created by the invention, which has a drive and one driven by this and arranged within an apron Brush included so that soap solution can be brought onto the brush from a container above the apron, to clean the floor covering, such as a carpet. The drive coupling contains an inner element that connects to the drive is connectable, and an outer, about the same vertical axis and spaced apart outer element that with the Brush is connectable, and essentially in the axial direction arranged band elements, which have their first ends on the inner element and with their other ends on the outer element are attached, and springs that push the outer element in the axial direction away from the inner element to the brush bristles to lead beyond the skirt, so that the band elements with a relatively high resistance to rotation move the brush to a horizontal position during use and the spring is tensioned, causing an upward movement of the

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Brush, through which the apron comes into contact with the floor covering and the brush resistance is reduced and a standstill of the brush is avoided.

The invention also relates to a "" device for washing: or cleaning of floor coverings, such as carpets, etc. The device contains a housing which has a downwardly open Edge or an apron forms, and above the apron a container for receiving the cleaning liquid, such as one Soapy solution. A brush that can be rotated about a vertical axis is attached below the container inside the skirt is coupled to a turbine via a drive coupling, so that the turbine, when the device is connected to a vacuum source, for example a household vacuum cleaner, rotated and thus the brush is driven. The drive coupling contains the essential upwardly directed band elements, which with their first ends with the turbine and with their other 'ends.mit the brush so that the brush moves upward within the skirt when on it during operation increased resistance to rotation is exerted.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1 shows a device in a perspective view according to the invention.

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Pig. 2 shows a section along the line 2-2 from $ ig. 1.

FIG. 3 shows, in a top view, partially broken away, the device according to FIGS.

FIG. H shows, in an exploded view, the coupling from the device according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

Fig. 5 shows in a perspective partial representation Clutch in the drive position for the brush, which is in a lowered position.

FIG. 6 shows the brush in FIG. 5 in a representation elevated position.

In Fig. 1, a device 10 is shown with a main housing 12 which contains a brush 1 * 1, which is driven by a turbine. This turbine takes in air drawn in from a vacuum source via inlets 16. The negative pressure source is connected to the housing 12 via a hose 18. A hand control 20 is connected to the housing by a cable 22 and attached to the hose to regulate the flow of soap solution to the brush 1 * 1, as will be explained. One end of the hose 18 is attached to a flexible connection 2k , which the hose preferably pneumatically

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connects to a standard vacuum cleaner. To order soap solution or similar To pour into the device, an opening 26 is provided, which is closed with a cover 28 under spring pressure.

Fig. 2 shows the internal structure of the device 10 in detail. The main housing 12 consists essentially of a first molded part 30 and a second molded part 32 made of suitable plastic. The molded part 30 has an essentially cylindrical edge or skirt 34 at the lower end, merges from there into an annular shoulder 36 and extends upwards to form a shoulder 38. The cover of the housing part 30 forms a gear cavity 40 and ends in a downwardly extending, cylindrical region 42- which runs coaxially with respect to the skirt 34. The region 42 forms at the lower end an annular recess, which is open downwards, for receiving an upwardly directed rib 44 provided on the second molded part 32.

The second molded part 32 includes a substantially cylindrical lower part 46 which is engageable with the skirt 34 in close engagement and terminates at a shoulder 48 which is attached to the Inside of the shoulder 36 of the molded part 30 rests. The molding 32 forms a valve housing 50 for receiving a to

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descriptive valve assembly 52 and has a central opening 53, which is aligned with the bore in the cylindrical area 42.

The first molded part 30 and the second molded part 32 are with each other connected or welded, so that above the second molded part 32 a waterproof container 54 for a soap solution 56 or similar. ■ - ■

The upper wall of the first molded part 30 carries a turbine mount 58, which covers the transmission cavity 40, and, as FIG. 3 shows, those mentioned above in connection with FIG Forms air inlets l6. The inlets 16 are separated by upright vanes 60, which act as guides serve for the air on a turbine 62, which has complementary ■ blades 64, to the momentum of the through the inlets 16 to convert incoming air into a rotational force for the turbine shaft.

As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, is located above of the turbine 62, a vacuum chamber 68, which cooperates with the blades of the turbine holder 58, to the air leaving the turbine blades 64 to the hose 18 (FIG. 1). A jacket 70 contains the vacuum chamber 68 and directs the air from this to a one-piece coupling element 72 which receives the hose 18.

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The turbine holder 58 is preferably made of one material to dissipate heat. The vacuum chamber 68 and the casing 70 are expediently made of plastic. Shroud 70 and turbine mount 58 have four screws 74 (Fig. 3) attached to the corresponding, integral with the bottom of the top. Surface of the first molded part 30 formed approaches 76 (Fig. 2) engage.

As already mentioned above in connection with FIG the soap solution can be introduced through an opening 26, and a lid 28 under spring pressure closes the opening 26 in operation of the device. As shown in Fig. 2, the lid is 28 connected to a pivot pin 78 which is attached to a spring 80 is applied so that the cover is held either in the closed position according to FIG. 2 or in the open position according to FIG will. The spring 80 is expediently fixed by means of the adjacent screws 74.

The cover 28 has a downwardly extending rim 82 which engages in a sprue 84 forming the opening 26. Of the The sprue is preferably made of plastic and seals into a corresponding opening in the top surface of the first Molding 30 used. The sprue has two functions. First it causes minimal liquid spillage if the device is accidentally turned over because of the soapy solution

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enters the top of the container and the lower end of the sprue extends out of the solution. aside from that the sprue prevents soap solution from splashing upwardly out of the container during operation of the device.

The valve arrangement 52 is sealed in the valve housing 50 housed to release soap solution from container 54. It consists essentially of a cylindrical main part 86, which is sealed in corresponding openings in the first and second mold part 30, 32 sits so that an inner end of the 'main part 86 in the. Container 5 ^ extends. The inner End of part 86. Is by means of a frustoconical valve head 88 sealed, the inner end of the soul 90 of the Cable 22 is attached. At the soul 90 is also at a distance from the valve head 88 a collar 92 attached, between the and an inwardly directed annular flange 96 on the main body 86 a spiral spring $ 4 is arranged. The spring is below Pressure so that the valve head 88 is in sealing engagement with the the inner end of the body 86 is printed.

As FIGS. 1 and 2 show, the hand control 20 contains an actuating lever 98 with which the spring Sk can be compressed further into the container 5 ¹ J by moving the core 90, whereby the valve head 88 is released from the main part 86 so that Soap solution 56 can get into him.

A recess 100 in the main part 86, which is open downwards, allows the soap solution to flow downwards to the brush 14, which makes it possible to wash the carpet or the like. - ^; ->"'■ :

Me valve assembly 52 is in position in the first ^and: solid melted 'second mold part 30 and 32, or welded, while a collar * and 104 at the outer end of the main portion 86 in engagement with the outer surface of the first mold part 30, the inner end of the part .86 is located in a hole in valve housing 50 and extends into container 54.

The valve assembly 52 is completed by a ring 102 which rests against a collar IO6 which is attached to the cable sheath 22. The ring 102 has a spring action, so that it has the federal government 106 and holds the attached cable in place and allows the cable assembly to be removed.

As shown in FIG. 2, there is between the turbine 62 and the brush 14 arranged a drive. The turbine shaft 66 extends through bearings 108 in the turbine mount 58, these bearings are aligned with respect to the vertical axis of the brush 14 The driving force "is from the turbine shaft 66 via pairs of Transferred reduction gears IiO ,, 112 and 114, II6. the Gears 1.12 and 114 are attached to a shaft IIS, the rotatably in bearings 120 inserted in turbine mount 58

is attached. The shaft 118 has a compression collar at the upper end 122 to set the gears 112, 114 with respect to their position in the vertical. The bearings 108, 120 are preferably made made of oil-absorbing sintered metal. Such bearings are generally referred to as self-lubricating.

The gear 116 has a projection 124 which engages with a tubular output shaft 126 and is by means of a Pin 128 set. The output shaft 126 rotates in bearings 130 in the cylindrical region 142 of the first molded part 30 and in the aligned opening 53 in the second molded part 32. The shaft 126 is prevented from moving downwards by the gear 116 and secured against upward movement by a pressure collar 132, which is attached to the output shaft 126 by means of a pin 13 ^ is. s

The parts described so far in connection with the drive of the brush are normally not removed from the device unless substantial repair is required. It is recognized, however, that the brush should preferably be removable in order to be able to replace different types of brush inserts or a used brush with a new brush. - _y

The arrangement of the brush and the drive between the drive shaft 126 and the brush is described with reference to FIGS.

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A collar 132 has four radial ribs Ϊ36, which engage in radial seat ends in an inner element or central attachment ζ l40 of a drive coupling 142-. This clutch transmits rotational forces from the drive shaft 12.6 to the brush I ¹ I, the arrangement of the ribs I36 on the collar 132 and the slots I38 in the central shoulder 14-0 is chosen so that the drive from the shaft 126 via the collar 132 is transmitted to the drive coupling 142.

As FIG. 4 shows, the drive coupling 142 consists of one Central approach or hub 140 and an outer member or ring 144 having four pairs of radially inner and outer fingers 146-, 148 and four integral band members 150 * each of which has a pair of inner and outer fingers outer finger connects. The drive coupling 1 * 12 is preferred Cast or injected from a suitable plastic material that is both flexible and sufficiently strong is to the required torque or the required To transmit torque to the brush.

A coil spring 152 is disposed below the radial fingers 146 and above the radial fingers 146. So that they the fingers pushes away from each other and the band elements 15Ο in a substantially upright position stretches. The fingers extend 1 ^ 8 extend inwardly beyond the band elements 150 and end in

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upwardly directed lips 154 defining a lower one End of spring 152.

The outer ring 144 of the drive coupling 142 simulates one outwardly directed, radial flange 156, under which one im substantial cylindrical wall 158 runs. As Fig. 2 shows, put wall 158 and flange 156 together a corresponding one Part of the brush 14 firmly. Bolts 159 are passed through flange 156 and screwed into the brush around it in place on the outer ring 144. Thus the brush moves with the ring.

As FIGS. 2 and 4 show, the drive coupling is 142

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Slidably arranged on the output shaft 126 and is located on a collar 132 for the transmission of the driving force from of shaft 126 in the manner previously described. During the procedure of the coupling via the shaft 1? 6, the hub l40 presses the rounded ends of a retaining spring l60 radially near the inside until the main part of the hub has passed over the spring, the then freely to the outside in a corresponding recess

161 can move to accommodate the spring ends in the hub. the Feder.wird is in its position on the shaft by a pin 134 126 and is held in the, shaft in two axial slots

162, which extend outward from the lower end of the shaft. The spring has sufficient strength to hold the clutch

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and to hold the brush in place when using the device is lifted from a support surface. However, it is sufficiently elastic to allow the coupling to be removed by pulling it off from the shaft 126 to enable. The mode of operation of the drive coupling will be described later after a description of FIG Brush explained in more detail.

Figures 2 and 5 'can be seen that the brush I ¹ J a radial top I63 and has an upwardly curved part ₁ I65 which terminates at an inner end of the part I63. The part I65 contains substantially radially extending ribs for dispensing the soap solution falling from the valve recess 100 (FIG. 2). This moves upwards under the influence of centrifugal force and is foamed to a certain extent by the movement over the ribs 166. Then, under the influence of centrifugal force, it moves outward over the upper part 163 before it reaches an inner surface of the second mold part 32 at the lower part H6. This inner surface has bevels and steps running around the circumference (Fig. 2). The. Steps 168 and the bevels therebetween cause a gradual compression of sponges 170 attached to the upper part 163 as they move over the beveled areas, while expansion occurs as they pass over a step. Thus, during one revolution, each of the sponges will overrun the beveled areas and

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of stages 168 alternately compressed and expanded again . . .

As the soap solution outward on the beveled areas is thrown ", the sponges touch this soap solution, while it falls under the action of gravity. As a result of the constant compression and expansion of the sponges alternately take up the soap solution and squeeze it out, creating soap foam. This is with the "devices of the type described have a desired appearance to both dispense soap solution and create soap suds allows the user to apply a soap solution to a floor covering like a carpet, is displayed.

When the soapy solution comes out of the sponges and down falls, it is picked up by bristles 172, which in usual Way inserted into the underside of the upper part 163 of the brush are. '■ · "■" ■

It is clear that the brush in use is in contact with the. surface to be cleaned should be. However, if the frictional resistance between the brush and the surface reaches a value at which the turbine would stand still, it is necessary ,, to move the brush up and out of contact with the surface, and- in order to free the brush _a: continuous rotation

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the brush. This is achieved by means of the drive coupling ΐΊ2 in combination with the lower part of the apron 3 ¹ J. The lower part of the skirt 3 * J is shaped in the manner shown in FIG. 2, so that with the vertical axis of the drive shaft 126 and with the device on a horizontal surface only two diagonally opposite one another, located in the center of FIG Point of the apron touching the surface. The lower edge of the apron slopes away from these points so that it forms a small angle, indicated at 174, on either side of the apron. Thus, the device can oscillate on the surface supporting it at an angle which is twice as large as the angle indicated at 17 ^. This pendulum action, together with the action of the drive coupling to be described, limits the possibility of the device sticking to projections on the floor covering, and it helps to prevent the turbine from coming to a standstill.

The effect of the drive turbine 1 ^ 2 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 refer to. In FIG. 5, the brush is in its lower position, in which the band elements 150 are borrowed more axially Direction are fully stretched. As mentioned above, the spring 152 causes this downward displacement and the Alignment of the band element. When the device is on a support surface, its weight is over the bristles 170

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and transferring the associated parts of the brush 1A to the spring 152. Thus, the spring is compressed to a certain extent and the bands learn nt.e move into one in Fig. 6 inclined position shown .. When the band elements come into the inclined position, there is a relative rotary movement between the Brush and the output shaft 126 »

When the device is in operation _S to move the bristles 172 is driven via the device © 150 is formed on the surface to be cleaned ".. when the bristles come into engagement with an obstacle, could lead to an interruption of the brush rotation _s increased tension in the band elements 15O _9, characterized in age horizontal l ^ _s are moved to the / brush sufficiently thereby to move above ,, to either self-by. To get free from the obstacle or to "bring you Sohürge 30 into supportive contact with the surface". The brush then no longer _{carries the device 3} so that the frictional force between it and the obstacle becomes Terringart and it can detach itself from this obstacle as well Continued rotation When the device has passed the obstacle, the spring 152 presses the brush downwards, so that the device is never substantially supported against the surface.

It has shown that for the production of the essential components the following materials are suitable. The turbine and

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the gears can be made of a polyoxymethylene such as "Delrin" and the parts forming the housing 12 can be made of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, although, as mentioned above, the turbine mount is suitably made of metal. The brush and the drive coupling can be made of polypropylene, and the bristles are made of nylon with a diameter of 0.23 mm. ^{

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Claims (9)

Expectations Device for cleaning floor coverings, among others, marked by a housing having a substantially cylindrical one extending about a vertical axis Edge and a container arranged above this edge for receiving soap solution or the like, through one in the housing arranged valve arrangement for dispensing soap solution from the container, through one in the edge around a vertical one The brush, which is attached to the axis, is in contact downwards with \ the floor covering extending bristles, by a drive connected to the housing for rotating the Brush and through a drive coupling to connect Drive and brush with an inner element coupled to the drive, with an outer element axially below the inner element arranged, coupled to the brush element, with substantially upright band elements, the with one end attached to the inner element and the other end to the outer element, with one end attached to the outer element axially downwardly pressing spring so that the bristles extend downward beyond the edge, wherein the spring is compressed against the bristles by the creation of a rotational resistance and the band elements in one more horizontal position. 30 9849/0489 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the brush has sponges on the circumference and that is in the circumferential direction extending bevels and 'steps are provided on the inside of the edge, the changing Squeezing and expanding the sponges are overrun by them. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, that the housing consists of a first molded part and a second molded part, that the first Pprmteil forms the edge and the second mold part is within the first mold part is located and that the molded parts together form the container and the second molded part, the bevels and steps. ¹ J. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3> characterized in that the drive contains a turbine and a reduction gear connecting the turbine to the drive clutch and that the turbine can be driven by an air stream from a vacuum source, such as a household dust saucer. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to ¹ I _3, characterized in that the valve arrangement is fixed in the housing and can be operated by hand. . 3098A9 / 0A89 ■ - 21 - ■ ■ 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5 » characterized in that the inner element and the outer element of the drive coupling have inner and outer pingers, of which the inner fingers radially outwardly and the outer fingers radially inwardly extending _s that each of the ribbon elements is integrally formed with an inner and an outer finger, and that the spring consists of a coil spring under compression between the inner and outer fingers is arranged. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that that the drive has a shaft for releasable fastening; the drive coupling and that a spring coupled to the shaft for holding the drive coupling on the shaft and for releasing the drive coupling by a force acting downwards in the axial direction having. 8. Coupling, especially for a device for cleaning • of floor coverings and the like, the one driven, within an edge or «an apron arranged brush contains, to which soap solution are applied from a container can, characterized by an inner with the drive Linkable element, through an outer, axially spaced and disposed around the inner member with the brush connectable element through with one end on the inside Element and attached to the other end on the outer element, extending substantially in the axial direction Band elements and by a 'spring pushing away the outer element in the axial direction from the inner element, which at a rotational resistance is pressed onto the brush, whereby the brush is moved upwards and the belt elements are brought into a more horizontal position. 9. Coupling according to claim 8, characterized in that there? inner and outer elements have inner and outer pingers, of which the inner fingers extend radially outwards and the outer pingers extend radially inward »that ■ each band element integral with an inner and a outer pinger is formed and that the .Pedeüf from a pressurized spiral spring exists, -the between arranged by the inner and outer fingers * see below: kö