US2304309A - Vertical-axis canister-type vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Dec.' 8, 1942. w. LEATHERs 2,304,309I

VERTICAL-Ams CANIsTER-TYPE VACUUM CLEANER Filed oct. 17, 1959 Tal.

Patented Dec. 1942 VERTICAL-AXIS CANIBTEB-TYPE VACUUM CLEANER Ward Leathers, Brooklyn, N. Y., signor to Quadrex Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 17, 1939, Serial No. 299,819 v 4Claims.

.several types. of `filter-shaking devices. In the present invention, however, I prefer to use the handle on the side of the cleaner (as in application Serial No. 209,909, Figure which is joined to 'a bow on the inside of the cleaner whichln turn is held to a filter-ring by means of trun'nions The bottom side ofthe filter, that exposed to the dirt-laden-air, is free from all obstructions or means of support (excepting only the outside rim).v

An object of my, invention is to reduce weight and bulk of the'machine by disposing the motor:

' l,suction-unit within the inner portion of the filter and a large diameter single stage fan immediately above the filter.

I have hereinafter set forth my invention so those familiar with these arts may understand it, and have appended a drawing, of which:

Figure 1 is a partial cross-section and partially broken-away elevational view of my cleaner.

Figure 2 is a partially broken-away and par- `.iallyv cross-sectioned horizontal view of my cleaner taken at the dotted line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure `3 is a cross-sectional detail taken at the dotted line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a detail showing the yieldable means for holding the filter upward in position taken at the dotted line 4--4 of Figure 2.`

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic,cross-section of my vcleaner illustrating its looseness when moved -to one of its cleaning positions.

A main shell I is disposed immediately above a dirt-receptacle 2 which has a connection 3 for the cleaning hose. Within the main shell I is my filtering mechanism l'and motor-suctionunit 5. Above the shell I is a housing 6 which supports a bail-handle l. A filter shaker handle l disposed on the side of the main shell I is held by a horizontal hinge 9 to an internal bow Il. The bow is trunnioned to a ring II,

bothof which are preferably made of clockspring-strip. 'I'he filter, which is generally characterized by the numeral I, consists of four sections, as follows: a truncated conical section I2 which is joined between the base of the shell I and the ring II; an inverted truncated cone I3 joined between the ring II and a similar but smaller ring Il, valso preferably made of clockspring-strip, at the bottom of the filter; a truncated conical section IB joined between the latter ring .and a similar but still smaller ring I6 at the top of the iilter; and finally an inverted conical center section II the apex of which is coaxial with the machine and held downward by a support I8 projecting downward from the motor-suction-unit 5. filter structure differs essentially from that of my co'pending patent application, Serial No. 209,909, is that the middle sections of the filter I2 and I5, which substantially double the filtering capacityof the filter without materially increasing it over-al1 diameter or height, .are held in a highly flexible and easily shakable mannerA by novel means consisting .ofstrips of clockspring joined between the rings II and Il, held to -them in suitable manner. Strips of.clock spring I0 extending downward between ring Il.,i

and ring I6 and rigidly joinedto the ring Il hold the ring Il in place. Highly yieldable means,

such as springs 25, hold the entire filter structure,

including the bow, upward innormal position, the springs being joined to the fan case 25. The

filter is heldv in-place by the outer rim attachnient of the filter to the shell I, the ring Il and the center apex .of the inner cone I1 held downward by the center support I8. Preferably the filter fabric is sewn around the rings II, Il, and I6, in order to make reliable and dust-tight attachment thereto. When the hinged handle l is brought 4"to a horizontal: position rotationstops on the hinge 9 enable the operator to depress the inner tips of the bow Il against the resistance of the springs 29 by means of the flex--l ible joint I0 in the wall of the cleaner. This flexible joint may very conveniently consist of comparatively thick, soft-rubber washers, normally under compression, one inside and one outside of the shell I. When the handle is so raised. and the bow so depressed, and the handle is moved sidewise for shaking purposes, the spring strips 40 and I2 joining the rings together or to the case should be disposed in positions to exercise their highest degree of spring vitality in the interest of shaking every portion of the nlter. In the practical carrying out'of this process it is desirable to provide rubber bumpers 3l, covering the trunnion joints li', Wfor contact with the v The point wherein this inside of the shell i. When the filter-shakerhandie 8 is raised, the bow depressed, and the handle violently agitated sidewise, the filter violently expels anyy dirt that clings thereto, causing it to fall into the dirt-receptacle 2. Heretofore, complex filters for use with portable vacuum-cleaners have provide to be' holders" of the sticky, clinging, wood-dirt-grease mixture characteristic of household dirt as collected by vacuum-cleaners. The present invention provides a large area filter of small bulk with a free and open under side for gravity dirt release and means of loosening the fabric and 4violently shaking all the filter verticallly and sidewise. A wire ring I9 sewn into the center section of the lter i1 near the apex helps to hold that portion of the filter from collapsing on the suction side.

'I'he means of holding the lower filter ring i4 has as its essential feature the supporting of the ring Il on strips of clock-spring which hold the ring firmly in piace. It is joined at the top in a removable manner to the case I. I prefer to use four of these strips 40 for support of the ring i4. In construction, they are rigidly joined to the ring i4 before the ring is sewn into the filter. The upper rings il and i6 may be` joined together in flexible and desired manner by means of four fiat spring bows 42, each of which are joined to spring 25. When the rings i i and I8 are depressed by the bow lll and are shaken sidewise by the handle 8 they are interrupted in their lateral movement by the strips 40. I'he agitation from the handle 8 is thereby transmitted to the ring Hand thence to substantially the entire filter. It should be noted that when rings Il and I6 are depressed by the bow I0 and the ring I4 is held from the top by the strips 40, all four sections of the filter i2, I3, l and il are loosened, which adds greatly to the effectiveness of their shaking.

I have herein set forth my invention in understandable terms, but I wish to make note that the embodiment illustrated and described, although now of preferred form, may be varied within. the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a portable, vertical-axis, hose-type vacuum-cleaner, a substantially round, pan-like dirtreceptacle at the bottom, a co-axial housing manually removably joined thereabove and thereto, the said housing surrounding a co-axial, verticalaxis, filter comprising a truncated cone peripherally joined at its point of greatest diameter to the lower portion of said housing and at its top to a ring, a second but inverted truncated cone joined between said ring at the top and a second ring at the bottom, a third truncated cone joined to the said second ring at the bottom and to a third ring at the top. the said third ring being smaller than the first ring. a fourth cone joined to the said third ring and with its apex downward and means of manually shaking the first mentioned ring sidewise actuatable exteriorly of the cleaner, and resilient means of transmitting the agitation of the first mentioned means from the first ring to the said third ring.

2. In a portable, vertical-axis, hose-type vacuum-cleaner, a substantially round, pan-like dirtreceptacle at the bottom, a co-axialfhousing manually removably joined thereabove and thereto, the said housing surrounding a co-axial, verticalaxis, filter comprising a truncated cone peripherally Joined at its point of greatest diameter to the lower portion of said housing and at its top to a ring, a second but inverted truncated cone joined between said ring at the top and a second ring at the bottom, a third truncated cone joined to the said second ring at the bottom and to a third ring at the top, the said third ring being smaller than the first ring,`a fourth cone joined to the said third ring and with its apex downward and means of manually shaking the first mentioned ring sidewise actuatable exteriorly of the cleaner, and resilient means of transmitting the agitation of the first mentioned means from the firs't ring to the said second and third rings.

3. Same as claim 2, but further characterized by the second mentioned means being composed of fiat springs disposed with their flat faces parallel.

4. In a portable, vertical-axis, hose-type vacuum-cleaner, a substantially round, pan-like dirtreceptacle at the bottom, a co-axial housing manually removably joined thereabovev and thereto, the said housing surrounding a co-axial, verticalaxis, filter comprising a truncated cone peripherally joined at its point of greatest diameter to the lower portion of said housing and at its top to a ring, a second but inverted truncated cone joined between said ring at the top and a second ring at the bottom, a third truncated cone joined to the said second ring at the bottom and to a third ring at the top, the said third ring being smaller than the first ring, a fourth cone joined to the said third ring and with its apex downward and the first mentioned ring being trunnioned to a bow agitatable sidewise from a handle exteriorly of the cleaner, the second said ring held nonyieldable-vertically by members extending downward from 4a non-yielding support at the top, and

the third ring yieldably joined to the first ring for purposes of releasing tension in filter and of shaking it.v

' WARD LEATHERS.

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