US1878856A - Suction cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Se t. 20, 1932. A. T. JONES SUCTION CLEANER Filed Jan. 14. 1931 Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALFRED T. JONES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIG-NOR TO THE HOOVER COMPANY, OF

NORTH CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SUCTION CLEANER Application led January 14, 1931. Serial No. 508,581.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to new and novel improvements in rotary agitators for suction cleaners. More specifically the invention comprises a new and improved small diameter rotary agitator for a suction cleaner.

The scientifically constructed rotary agitator of the present day usually comprises a hollow cylindrical shell or body on which are mounted rigid protrusions adapted to contact the surface covering in the operation of the cleaner, to function as positive beating elements. To assist the positive beaters in the cleaning function brush elements are provided which comprise a rigid metallic back to which the bristle tufts are attached. This brush is preferably seated within the periphery of the hollow cylindrical shell in a brush seat, the sides of which are spaced fr0-m the radially extending bristle tufts in order t0 provide for the bristle flexure requisite for efiicient cleaning and long brush life. It is also necessary that the bristle tufts be ofsuiicient length to permit considerable flexing and this necessitates extending the brush seat to a considerable distance radially within the agitator body. In the usual cleaner agitator this requirement presents no particular problem inasmuch as the distance required by the brush seat is considerably less than the radius of the agitator and the bottom of the brush seat in no way interferes with the stationary through supporting shaft upon which the agitator is rotatably mounted.

In certain types of suction cleaners it is desirable that an agitator having a relatively small diameter be incorporated. A new problem is presented in this type of agitator construction, however, as the bristle lengths must be approximately the same as in the large diameter agitator, thereby requiring that the brush seat extend substantially as far below the agitator surface as in the large diameter agitator type. It becomes apparent, therefore, that the minimum diameter agitator is that in which the bottom of the brush seat contacts the supporting shaft in the longitudinal axis. This interference necessitates, if the agitator diameter is to be further decreased, either that the through supporting shaft be done away with and in its place stub-shafts used, one at each end of the agitator, or that the length of the brush bristles be decreased. The first expedient has heretofore been considered undesirable inasmuch as it was thought that no means could be provided by which the stub-shafts at the opposite ends of the agitator could be properly and accurately alined as is required if satisfactory bearing life is to be had. To decrease the length of the bristles results in a decrease in cleaning efficiency and in brush life. In the agitator constructed in accordance with the present invention, it is possible, for the first time, to make a small diameter agitator which is rotatably supported by accurately alined stub-shafts and in which therefore, no sacrifice is necessary in the length of the .brush bristles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner agitator. It is a further object to provide, in a suction cleaner, a new and improved small diameter rotary agitator. A still further object is the provision of a small diameter suction cleaner agitator in which the bearing supports at the agitator ends are accurately alined yet in which no sacrifice has been made of brush bristle lengths. These and other objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and considering in connection therewith the attached drawing.

In the drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed:

Fig. 1 is a partial front view of` a suction cleaner with the nozzle shown in section, which embodies a rotary agitator constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section upon the line 2-2 of Fig. l; i

Fig. 3 is a section upon the line 3-3 of Fiel;

Fig. 4 is a section upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectionthruthe cylindrical body of the present agltator;

'effect the displacement of Fig. 6 is a section upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side view, partly 1n section, of the through shaft embodied in the present agitator;

Fig. 8 is a section upon the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

l* ig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal cross section thru the end of the present agitator;

Fig. 10 is a section, similar to Fig. 9, thru a modified embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing, and in Figure 1 in particular, an agitator constructed in accordance with the present invention, is disclosed embodied in a suction cleaner which includes a nozzle 1, a fan chamber 2, which is interiorly connected to the nozzle 1 and is provided with an exhaust outlet 3' to which is con- -nected' a suitable dust bag, which is not shown. An unshown fan is positioned in the fan chamber 2 which functions, as in the usual cleaner to draw air thru nozzle 1 into the fan chamber and exhaust it into the dust bag, in the usualwell known manner. The present invention comprises the agitator 4 which is shown positioned in the nozzle in Figure 1, both the nozzle and the agitator being relatively small as compared to the usual cleaner nozzle and agitator. The agitator 4 includes a hollow cylindrical shell or body 5 which may be made of a single or of a plurality of pieces and which is shown clearly in Figure 5. Shell or body 5 includes a por-- tion of decreased diameter, indicated by reference character 6, at substantially its longitudinal center which functions as a pulley and is connected, thru the driving belt 7, to the unshown rotating shaft of the driving motor forward of the suction-creating fan as in the usual suction cleaner. Radial brush seats 8, 8 are provided in the body 5 which extend longitudinally upon opposite sides of the pulley 6 and are spaced circumferentially, preferably 180 degrees. These seats may be formed integrally with the body 5, as shown in the drawing, or may be formed separately and secured therein in any suitable manner. On the surface of the body and extending helically therearoundare beater elements 9, 9 of a common and well known type which are adapted to contact the surface covering, upon the rotation of the agitator in the operation ofthe cleaner, to impart thereto a violent agitation or vibration to the foreign matter embedded in the covering.

Agitator body 5 is provided at its opposite extremities with rigidly attached thickened ends 10, 10 which are commonly known as end plates or cups. EndslO, 10 are provided with circular cupped seats 11, 11 which are connected by bores 12,12 to the interior of the agitator body 5. j

Extending between the ends 10, 10 is a rigid deformed shaft or bar 13, clearly shown in Figure 7, which is semi-circular in cross section, the sections bein transposed 180 degrees at substantially tige longitudinal center of the shaft. The contour and construction of shaft 13 is such that, when in the agitator body and extending therethru, it extends under and adjacent the bottom of each brush seat 8 on the opposite sides of the pulley 6 and in no way interferes therewith. Member 13 is characterized by its strength and rigidity which is comparable to that of a circular shaft which, if extended thru the agitator along the longitudinal center line, would interfere with the bottoms of bothl brush seats. At its ends, shaft 13 is circular to provide journals 14, 14 which extend thru the bores 12, 12 of the ends 10, 10 ofthe agitator and are seated therein by the enclosing inner races 15, 15 of the end bearings. These inner races are carried by and secured on the ends 14, 14 by nuts 16, 16 which force a shoulder near the inner ends of said races against the end plates. A resilient gasket, made of material such as felt or rubber and indicated by the reference character 17, is positioned between the aforementioned shoulder on each inner race of each bearing and the bottom of the seat in the agitator end plate'for the purpose of permitting the bearing to be firmly secured on the journal 14 by the nut 16 Without danger of bending the shaft 13 as would be the case if the plane of the shoulder surface on the race and the plane of the bottom of the seat inl the end plate did not extend exactly parallel. the useful function of sealing one side of the bearing to prevent the passage of dirt-laden air as would occur in the event of the existence of a pressure difference between the sides thereof.

The outer race 19 of each bearing which is rotatably mounted on the inner race 15 by balls 18, 18 etc., is frictionally seated in a cylindrical cup 20 on the stationary end member or thread guard 21 which is itself secured to the nozzle end walls for the purpose of supporting the agitator. The stationary end members 21, 21 overlie and closely surround the ends 10, 10 of the agitator body and function as protective members for the ball bearings in a well known manner. Between each cup 20 and the enclosing wall of the recess 11 of end 10 is provided a suitable seal 22 which cooperates with the gasket 17 in preventing the entrance of dirt and foreign matter into the bearing.

Seated within each of the brush seats 8, 8 is an elongated brush comprising a rigid back 23 and iiexible bristle tufts 24, 24 etc., which are carried thereby. One end of the brush back23 extends thru the end wall of the brush seat 8 adjacent the pulley 6 at an opening indicated by the reference character 25, thereby permitting the insertion of the brush into the The gasket also performs LST-8,8 5 6 brush seat. Coil springs 26, 26 seated in suitable recesses-27, 27 in the bottom of each brush seat maintain the brush back 23 against the top of opening 25 while the opposite end of the brush back 23 is firmly secured to a projecting portion of the end 10 of the agitator by means of a screw 28.

The agitator-retaining construction within the nozzle comprises means by which the agitator may be firmly secured in place yet which will exert no twisting or turmn force tending to disaline the bearings. uch a construction is embodied in the present invention as disclosed in Figure 1, 2 and3, where the agitator-retaining means are shown to comprise a U-shaped spring member 29 curved on a radius equal to that of the thread guards and of sufficient flexibility'to expand at its downwardly directed mouth to permit the entrance of the guard. These retaining seats, while flexible and resilient, are of suiiicient strength and rigidity to prevent looseness or unintended'movement of the agitator. Each member 29 is suitably secured to the adjacent end walls of the nozzle as by means of rivets 30, 30, the nozzle end walls preferably being recessed to accommodate said rivets. A second spring 31 is also carried by each end wall of the nozzle within an extension of the recess provided for the securing means of the seat spring 29 and is secured by a rivet 32. These springs 31, 31 Contact the adjacent thread guard members 21, 21 when the agitator is seated in seats 29, 29, functioning `to center the agitator longitudinally of the nozzle and permit limited movement in that direction. he agitator supporting construction is extremely simple and provides means by which the agitator is supported by its stationary end members, or thread guards, in a manner lsuch that no bending torque is imposed upon the ends of the agitator though the agitator is held with sufficient rigidity to insure satisfactory operation.

Referring now to Figure 10, a modified embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in which the stationary end member 21 of the agitator is itself provided with a central stepped bore 33 opening exteriorly into the cup 20. In the agitator constructedv in accordance with this embodiment, it is possible to remove the clamping nut 16 threaded on the ends 14 of the shaft 13 upon first removing a spring cup 34, which is seated within the bore 33 and which carries a felt washer 35 to prevent leakage of foreign matter into v the bearing thru the bore 33. This construction has the advantage that upon the removal of the nut 16, the end member 21 and the entire bearing, including the inner race' mounted upon the journal 14, may be removed as a unit. The construction is identical to the previously described embodiment in all other particulars.

I claim 1. In a suction cleaner agitator, a hollow cylindrical body, brush-retaining means within said body extending substantially into the longitudinal axis, a brush positioned in said means, a supporting shaft extending thru said body shaped to avoid said brush-retaining means, and bearings -in the longitudinal axis of said body supporting said shaft.

2. In a suction cleaner rotary. agitator, a hollow elongated body, a plurality of brushretaining means axially and angular-ly spaced within said body and extending substantially into the axis of rotation, brushes positioned in said, brush-retaining means, a shaft extending thru said body and occupying a plurality of angularly-spaced positions about said axis'to avoid said brush-retaining m'eans, and bearings in the rotational axis of said body supporting said shaft. 3. lIn a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, a hollow elongated body, brush-retaining means within said body extending substantially into the axis of rotation, a brush seatedv in said-brush-retaining means, a'sha-ft connected to and extending thru said body comprising a 'prtion offset from the axis of rotation adjacent said brush-retaining means and having journals'at its ends in said axis of r0- tation, andbearings supporting said journals.

4. In a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, a hollow elongated body, a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinallyspaced brush seats in said body extending substantially into the axis of rotation,

brushes seated in said brush seats, a shaft connected to and extending thru said body comprising offset portions adjacent each of said brush seats and having journals at its ends in said axis of rotation, and supporting bearings in which said journals are mounted.

5. In a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, a hollow elongated body, a plurality of longitudinally-spaced brush seats in said body in different circumferential positions extending substantially into the axis of rotation, brushes seated in said brush seats, a shaft connected to and extending thru said body comprising portions spaced from the axis of rotation adjacent said brush seats, journals at the ends of said shaft in the axis of rotation, and supporting bearings in which said journals are mounted.

6. In .a suction cleaner rotary agitator, ahollow elongated body, a brush positioned in said body extending substantially into the axis of rotation, a shaft extended thru said body offset from the axis or rotation adjacent I said brush and, at its ends, centered on the axis of rotation and supported by bearings.

Signed at Detroit, in the county of Wayne,

and State of Michigan, this 2 day of January,

ALFRED T. JONES.

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