GB2462124A

GB2462124A - Changeover valve cable actuating mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2462124A
Application number: GB0813658A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Anthony Denn Bassett
Original assignee: Hoover Ltd
Current assignee: Hoover Ltd
Priority date: 2008-07-25
Filing date: 2008-07-25
Publication date: 2010-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-25
Also published as: GB2462124B; GB0813658D0

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner comprises a body 10 including a dust separator 14, a floor engaging head 11 with a first dirty air inlet 13, a handle 12 detachably mounted on a socket 18 on the body 10, coupled by a flexible hose 20 extending between the body 10 and the handle which extends into a second dirty air inlet 19 at its lower end. A changeover two-way valve 30 is positioned somewhere on the body 10 and a valve actuator 22 is disposed in the socket 18 and actuated in turn when the handle is inserted or detached from the socket. A cable 25 connects the valve actuator 22 to the valve (30, Figs.3-4) and configures the latter to connect the dust separator 14 to the first or second inlets 13, 19 respectively, when the handle 12 is engaged with, and disengaged, from the body 10. The end of the cable 25 is attached to a rack and pinion mechanism (31, 32, Figs.3-4) which turns a rotatable valve member (40, Fig.4) within the body (35, Figs.3-4) of the valve, in order to divert the flow one way or the other. The use of a cable 25 provides greater design liberty for positioning of the valve 30 within the body 10 and also for the shape of upright body 10 itself.

Description

VACUUM CLEANER

This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

Known vacuum cleaners are either of the so-called upright type or the so-called cylinder type. An upright vacuum cleaner comprises an upright portion pivotally connected at its lower end to a wheeled floor-engaging portion for partial rotation forwardly and rearwardly about a transverse axis. The upright portion encloses a motor/fan unit which draws air into a dust separation device through an inlet in the floor-engaging portion of the cleaner. A handle is provided at the upper end of the upright portion for pushing the cleaner to and fro. A motor-driven rotating agitator brush is mounted across the inlet in the floor-engaging portion to beat and sweep the floor in the region of the airflow into the cleaner.

A cylinder vacuum cleaner comprises a body which encloses a motor/fan unit which draws air into a dust separation device through an elongate flexible hose. A plurality of tools are provided for fitting to the end of the hose.

Upright vacuum cleaners are better at cleaning carpets than cylinder vacuum cleaners because of the action of the rotating agitator brush. However, cylinder vacuum cleaners are better suited for above-floor cleaning and for cleaning in places where an upright cleaner cannot be used.

In order to provide a cleaner having the advantages of both upright and cylinder cleaners, it is known to provide an upright cleaner having an elongate flexible hose which can either be connected to the floor-engaging portion of the cleaner for conventional floor cleaning, or connected to an extension tube and/or cleaning tools for above-floor cleaning.

A disadvantage of this arrangement is that during conventional floor cleaning, the airflow thorough the cleaner is partially restricted by the elongate flexible hose, which is coiled for storage on the back of the cleaner. The coiled length of hose is also susceptible to blockage. Vacuum cleaners of this type can also be difficult to use.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, vacuum cleaners of the upright type are known which comprise a hose and a valve which can be actuated such that the suction is either applied to the hose for above-floor cleaning or to the floor-engaging portion of the cleaner for conventional floor cleaning.

EP1464267 discloses an upright vacuum cleaner of the above-mentioned type comprising a detachable hollow handle upstanding from the upper end of the upright portion. A suction duct extends along the handle from its lower end to a point intermediate its opposite ends. An elongate flexible hose is connected at one end to the side wall of the handle at the upper end of the duct. The other end of the hose is connected to a valve inside the body of the cleaner which selectively diverts suction either to the hose or to the floor-engaging portion of the cleaner. The valve is operated by an actuator disposed in a socket which receives the lower end of the detachable handle. The actuator is connected to the valve by an elongate arm which is arranged configure the valve to apply suction to the handle via the hose when the handle is removed from said socket and to apply suction to the floor-engaging portion of the cleaner when the handle is fully inserted into the socket.

The valve is positioned inside the cleaner towards the lower end of the upright portion of the body, at a point which is conveniently located near the suction source and the floor-engaging portion of the cleaner. We have found that this configuration places constraints on the shape and size of the cleaner body, since the elongate arm of the actuator needs to extend in a straight and unobstructed space.

We have now devised a vacuum cleaner which can be used for both floor and above-floor cleaning and which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising: a floor-engaging portion having a first dirty air inlet on the underside thereof; an upright body portion pivotally connected at its lower end to said floor-engaging portion; a detachable handle upstanding from the upper end of said upright body portion and having an upper end and a lower end; a rigid tubular duct extending along the handle from a second dirty air inlet at said lower end thereof; an elongate flexible hose connected to said rigid tubular duct at a point remote from said second dirty air inlet; a valve having a first port fluidly connected to said first dirty air inlet, a second port fluidly connected to said second dirty air inlet via said elongate flexible hose, a third port connected to a dust separation device and a moveable valve member for selectively connecting said third port to said first port or said second port; and a valve actuator arranged to engage the handle when the latter is fitted to the upper end of said upright body portion, wherein the position of the valve member is controlled by an elongate flexible cable extending between the actuator and the valve.

The use of a cable to operate the valve in accordance with the detachment and reattachment of the handle allows the valve to be positioned in any desired location and also allows the upright body portion to have any shape or dimension. The cable can simply be routed through any confined or tortuous spaces inside the upright body portion.

Preferably the cable is disposed inside a sleeve which is fixed in a position relative to the cable. Preferably the sleeve is biased into said position in order to buffer any intolerance in manufacture of the cleaner.

Preferably the valve actuator is biased against the handle when the latter is fitted to the upper end of said upright body portion, the bias serving to move the actuator and thereby operate the valve member when the handle is detached from the upper end of said upright body portion.

Preferably the cable is connected at one end to the actuator and at its other end to a toothed rack which extends axially of the cable, the rack engaging a rotatable pinion which extends from the valve member.

Preferably the valve member is arranged to pivot, preferably about the axis of rotation of the pinion.

Preferably the valve member is pivotably mounted for rotation inside a valve body, the first and second ports of the valve preferably extending radially from respective positions disposed around the axis of rotation.

The valve member defines a flow duct having an inlet which is directed radially of the axis of rotation and an outlet which is directed axially of the axis of rotation, said third port of the valve being aligned with said outlet.

Preferably the flow duct comprises an arcuate outer side wall.

Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided a changeover valve for selectively coupling a main flow duct to first or second flow ducts, the valve comprising a valve body, a valve member rotatably mounted inside the valve body, a first valve ports for connecting to said first duct, a second valve port for connecting to said second duct, the first and second ports being disposed on the valve body at respective positions around the axis of rotation of the valve member, the valve member defining a flow duct having one end directed radially of the axis of rotation for selectively registering with the first or second port, and its other end directed axially of the axis of rotation for coupling with said main flow duct, wherein the flow duct is curved between its opposite ends and comprises an arcuate outer side wall.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of an example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an upright vacuum cleaner in accordance with this invention, when configured for above-floor cleaning; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the upper end of the cleaner of Figure 1 showing the valve actuating mechanism; Figure 3 is a schematic end view of a valve of the cleaner of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the valve of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown an upright vacuum cleaner comprising a upright portion 10 pivotally connected at its lower end to a floor-engaging portion 11 for partial rotation forwardly and rearwardly about a transverse axis. The upright portion 10 comprises a detachable handle 12 at its upper end for propelling and guiding the cleaner over the surface being cleaned. The floor-engaging portion 11 incorporates a suction inlet 13 and a conventional motor-driven rotating brush mounted across the inlet. A unit 14 for separating dirt and dust from the airflow is mounted to the front of the upright portion 10 of the cleaner.

The handle 12 for guiding and propelling the cleaner during floor cleaning comprises a tubular lower portion 16 and an upper portion 17 in the form of a hand grip. The lower portion 16 is detachably received in a socket 18 at the upper end of the upright portion 10 of the cleaner. An elongate flexible hose 20 extends from the upright portion 10 of the cleaner and is connected at its outer end to a port provided in the side wall of the tubular lower portion 16 of the handle 12, at a point intermediate opposite ends of the handle 12. The diameter of the handle 12 is reduced at its lower end to provide an inlet 19 which is adapted for engaging cleaning tools.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, a valve actuator 22 is pivotally mounted to the body of the cleaner at the upper end of the upright portion 10. The actuator 22 comprises an arm 21, which projects into the socket 18 and which is biassed upwardly by a spring 23. The actuator 22 comprises an enlarged second arm 24 having an arcuate outer circumferential surface. A Bowden cable 25 is fixed to the enlarged arm 24 and extends across the arcuate surface into a sleeve 26. The sleeve 26 is fixed in position relative to the body of the cleaner by a pair of springs 27a, 27b which act in opposite directions against a collar 28 fitted to the upper end of the sleeve 26.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, the cable 25 is connected at its lower end to a valve 30 mounted in the body of the cleaner at the lower end of the upright portion 10. The sleeve 26 is fixed to the body 35 of the valve 30 and the cable 25 connects to an elongate rack member 31, which extends axially of the cable 25 and which has teeth along a longitudinal side thereof. The teeth on the rack 31 engage with the teeth of a pinion 31 which is rotatably mounted on an end wall of the body 35 of the valve 30. The pinion 31 is connected via a shaft 39 to a rotary valve member disposed inside the valve body 35. The valve member 40 is arranged to rotate inside the valve body 35 about the axis of rotation of the pinion 32.

The valve member 40 defines a flow duct having an inlet 41 which is directed radially of the axis of rotation and an outlet 42 which is directed axially of the axis of rotation.

The flow duct comprises an arcuate outer side wall 43.

The valve 30 comprises a first inlet port 36 which extends radially from a side wall of the valve body 35 and is connected to the suction inlet 13 in the floor-engaging portion 11 of the cleaner. The valve 30 further comprises a second inlet port 37 which extends radially from a point on the side wall of valve body 35 which is rotationally offset from the first inlet port 36 by an angle of approximately 180 degrees. The second inlet port 37 is connected to the air inlet 19 on the handle 12 via the elongate flexible hose 20. An outlet port 38 extends from the opposite end wall of valve body 35 to the pinion 32, the outlet port 38 registering with the outlet 42 of the valve member 40. The outlet port 38 is connected to a motor/fan unit via the separation unit 14, which separates dirt and dust from the airflow.

When the cleaner is being used for conventional floor cleaning, the handle 12 is fitted in the socket 18, whereupon the lower end of the handle 12 abuts the arm 21 of the actuator 22 to push the cable 25 downwardly: this causes the rotary valve member to rotate into a position where its inlet 41 registers with the first inlet port 36, which is connected to the suction inlet 13 in the floor-engaging portion 11 of the cleaner.

The handle 12 is retained in the socket 18 against the resilient bias of the arm 21 by a catch (not shown).

In order to use the cleaner for above-floor cleaning, the user merely has to release the catch, which allows the handle 12 to move a small distance upwardly out of the socket 15 under the applied bias to the arm 21. This upward movement of the arm 21 pulls the cable 25, which causes the rotary valve member 40 to rotate into a position where its inlet 41 registers with the second inlet port 37, which is connected to the air inlet 19 on the handle 12 via the elongate flexible hose 20.

Once released, the handle 12 is immediately ready for use in above-floor cleaning without the user having to manually divert the suction or fit cleaning tools. The hose is of the long-stretch type, which is able to extend to in excess of six times its retracted length. The arrangement of the cleaner is ideally suited to stair cleaning, since the body of the cleaner can be left at the top or bottom of the stairs whilst the tool is used to clean the stairs.

The cleaner is easily reverted to floor cleaning by replacing the handle 12 in the socket 18, whereupon the suction is diverted from the hose 20 to the to the suction inlet 13 in the floor-engaging portion 11 of the cleaner.

A vacuum cleaner in accordance with this invention is uncomplicated in construction yet can be simply and conveniently converted between floor and above-floor cleaning use.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a floor-engaging portion having a first dirty air inlet on the underside thereof; an upright body portion pivotally connected at its lower end to said floor-engaging portion; a detachable handle upstanding from the upper end of said upright body portion and having an upper end and a lower end; a rigid tubular duct extending along the handle from a second dirty air inlet at said lower end thereof; an elongate flexible hose connected to said rigid tubular duct at a point remote from said second dirty air inlet; a valve having a first port fluidly connected to said first dirty air inlet, a second port fluidly connected to said second dirty air inlet via said elongate flexible hose, a third port connected to a dust separation device and a moveable valve member for selectively connecting said third port to said first port or said second port; and a valve actuator arranged to engage the handle when the latter is fitted to the upper end of said upright body portion, wherein the position of the valve member is controlled by an elongate flexible cable extending between the actuator and the valve.
2. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, in which the cable extends through a sleeve which is fixed in a position relative to movement the cable.
3. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, in which the sleeve is biased into said position.
4. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the valve actuator is biased against the handle when the latter is fitted to the upper end of said upright body portion, the bias serving to move the actuator and thereby operate the valve member when the handle is detached from the upper end of said upright body portion.
5. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cable is connected at one end to the actuator and at its other end to a toothed rack which extends axially of the cable, the rack engaging a rotatable pinion which extends from the valve member.
6. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, in which the valve member is arranged to pivot about the axis of rotation of the pinion.
7. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claims 5 or 6, in which the valve member is pivotably mounted for rotation inside a valve body, the first and second ports of the valve extending radially from respective positions disposed around the axis of rotation.
8. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 7, in which the valve member defines a flow duct having an inlet which is directed radially of the axis of rotation and an outlet which is directed axially of the axis of rotation, said third port of the valve being aligned with said outlet.
9. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 5, in which the flow duct comprises an arcuate outer side wall.
10. A vacuum cleaner substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. A changeover valve for selectively coupling a main flow duct to first or second flow ducts, the valve comprising a valve body, a valve member rotatably mounted inside the valve body, a first valve ports for connecting to said first duct, a second valve port for connecting to said second duct, the first and second ports being disposed on the valve body at respective positions around the axis of rotation of the valve member, the valve member defining a flow duct having one end directed radially of the axis of rotation for selectively registering with the first or second port, and its other end directed axially of the axis of rotation for coupling with said main flow duct, wherein the flow duct is curved between its opposite ends and comprises an arcuate outer side wall.
12. A changeover valve substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.