US2397536A - Suction cleaner - Google Patents

Description

April 2, 1946. cogs 2,397,536

SUCTION CLEANER Filed June 14, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN'VENTOR. 6:567:76 K 60:55. I

April 2, 1946.

G. R. coss 2, 7,

SUCTION CLEANER Filed June 14, 1944 5 Sheets-Shet 3 r,- fi

I N V EN TOR. 6:901:56 )Z 6'0 55,

Patented Apr. 2, 1946 George R.

Cass, Detroit, Mich., auignor to Eureka Williams Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Application June 14, 1944, Serial No. 540,299 9 Claims. (01. z'aa-n'z) This invention relates to suction cleaners and has particular reference to certain new and useful improvements in cleaners of the tank type.

.Principal objects of the invention are to provide:

A new and improved construction for cleaners, particularly of the tank type; and

A new and improved mounting for motor fan units of cleaners of the tank type.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which there are three sheets and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a tank cleaner embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the cleaner;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the connections between the motor and the switch for the circuit thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a part of the motor mounting;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of another part of the motor mounting at the other end of the motor;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, certain parts being omitted;

Fig, 7 is a cross sectional view taken in a plane along the line 1-1 of Fig. 5; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views taken along the lines 8-8 and 9-4 respectively of Fig. 2, certain of the parts being omitted.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a cleaner embodying the invention comprises a shell or casing 20 mounted on suitable skids 22 and having a handle 24, a switch and electric socket assembly 28, and a cap or cover 30. The cover 30 is provided with a socket 32 forming an air inlet, and the other end of the cleaner is provided with a socket 34 forming an air outlet from the cleaner.

The sockets 32 and 34 are adapted to detachably receive a coupling member carried on one end of a hose, the other end of which is provided with means by which various suction cleaning tools, etc., may be attached thereto. Removal or opening of the cover 30 will expose the interior of the shell or casing 20 which is adapted to receive a dirt collecting bag 36, the open end of which is presented toward the air inlet opening provided by the socket 32. i

The bag 86 is removably arranged in the casing and so that all of the air which enters the cleaner through the air inlet provided by the socket 32 will flow into the bag and thence through the walls thereof, thus depositing the dirt entrained in such air in the bag. Between the bag and the air outlet provided by the socket 34 there are arranged in the order named a filter 38 and a motor fan unit 40.

The shell or casing may be formed of sheet metal of any desired shape or cross section and is made air pressure tight so that all the air must enter through the air inlet provided by the socket 32, and be discharged through the air outlet provided by the socket 34.

The filter 38, which may be of circular form, may be removably seated in an annular seat formed on a bafile or partition 42, the outer periphery of which conforms to the interior cross section of the casing 20 and is suitably secured thereto. A circular disk-shaped member 44 of resilient and flexible material, such as rubber, is provided on its outer periphery with a head 46 which is fitted within a channel-shaped annular member 48 of metal or the like. The outer periphery of the head 46 and member 48 is seated against an annular shoulder 50 formed on the inner periphery of the member 42. The head 46 and member 48 have the same configuration as the shoulder 50. The disk-shaped member 44 at its center is provided with a circular opening defined by a head 52 and a U-shaped member 64.

The bead 52 and U-shaped member 54 secured thereto are received within a channel or groove 58 formed by the end wall 58 of the fan and a ring 80. suitably secured thereto. The center of the end wall 58 of the fan and the ring 60 define an inlet opening 82 for the fan and this opening may be provided with a screen suitably secured to or between the inner edges of the wall 58 and ring 60 defining the opening 62, The disk-shaped member 44 may be made initially flat or in the shape of a cone frustum but of less height-than that indicated in Figs. 2 and 4.

The motor blower unit 40 includes an electric motor and a centrifugal fan of one or more stages, the fan wheels or rotors thereof being mounted on the motor shaft, the fan being designated by the reference character 66. The axis of the motor and fan extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the casing and lies approximately in the center of the circular air inlet opening 62.

The air which passes through the fan may be made to pass through the motor in order to cool the same, and thence be discharged through the openings 88 at the rear thereof.

The rear of the motor case is provided. with a rearwardly extending axial boss 18 which is provided with a threaded hole 12 for receiving the threaded end 14 of a screw 18 which'is carried in a collar I8 mounted in the central opening of a disk-shaped member 88. The outer periphery of the disk-shaped member is secured in an annular seat 82 formed on a sleeve 84. The disk-shaped member 88 is provided with a plurality of openings 88 therein for passing air. The disk-shaped member 88 is made of rubber or like material and may be made initially flat or in the shape of a conefrustum but of a lesser height than that indicate'd'so that when the motor blower unit 48 is mounted as illustrated in Fig. 2, the material of the members 88 and 44 will be under tension. That is, the members 44 and 88 should be made so that the distance between the centers thereof, when said members 44 and 88 are not under tension, is greater than the length of the motor fan unit so that when the latter is mounted as illustrated in Fig. 2, parts 44 and 88 will be under tension and the motor tan unit will be floatingly asomse The sleeve 88 forms the socket 84 which provides the air discharge from the cleaner and is suitably secured to that part of the casing 28 which defines the opening for the socket .84. In this case a trim band I I8- provided with an opening has the marginal edges which define the opening flanged inwardly and bent to cooperate with the end of the sleeve 88 for positioning the same mounted thereon. This mounting will permit a limited oscillation of the motor fan unit along its axis due for example to the operation of the motor and fan and variations in load thereon due to restrictions in the air intake or air discharge from the fan.

To limit the amplitude of such oscillations, a device comprising a metal plate 88 may be clamped to the inner bead of the member '88 by the collar I8. This plate has openings corresponding with those in the member 88, and is provided with a plurality of curved fingers 88 projecting laterally from the outer periphery of the plate 88 and disposed on both sides of the rim 82 forming the seat for the outer bead of the member 88 so as to limit the axial shifting of the motor fan .unit. The rim 82 is cut away opposite the fingers 88 so as to accommodate pro- J'ections or bumpers 84 on the outer bead of the member 88 (Fig. 6). ject radially and laterally beyond the rim 82 so as to prevent contact between the fingers 88 and the rim 82.

The collar 84 has its other end shaped to fit within a sleeve 88. The end of the collar 84 fitted within the sleeve 88 may be formed in the shape of a relatively large annular bead,-the outer mar- These bumpers 84 pro as illustrated in Fig. 2. The gasket I I2 may be arranged around the sleeve 88 so as to prevent the escape of air from the casing through the Joint betweenthe sleeve 88 and the casing wall.

' The motor has suitably afilxed thereto an insulating panel I28 to which spring contacts I22 and I24 are secured. The contacts are suitably connected by leads to the motor windings.

In the manufacturing process the collar 84 with the disk 88 and the plate 88 thereon may be assembled to the sleeve 88 after the latter has been assembled to the casing. The screw I8 is rotatably held in the collar I8. The motor fan unit 48 has the member 44 assembled thereto.

After the baffle or partition 42 is arranged and' secured in the casing, the motor fan unit 48 and the mounting member 44 are inserted into the casing through the opening exposed when the cover 38, filter 38 and bag 38 are removed. The outer periphery oi the member 44 is seated on the shoulder 88.

To obtain proper alignment of the contacts I22 and I24 with the switch contacts I32 and I84, the bafiie 42 is provided with a notch or joggle I28 (Fi 9) which is shaped to receive a correginal edge of which is formed to have a sliding lit in said sleeve 88. Such marginal edge of the head 88 is provided with a plurality of notches 'I88 which are arranged so as to accommodate loops or projections I82 extending radially inwardly from a spring I84 which encircles the end of the sleeve 88. The loops or projections I82, of which four may be provided, extend through correspondingly spaced slots in the sleeve 88 and into the notches I88 so as to prevent axial separation of the collar 84 from the sleeve 88 when the parts -are positioned as illustrated in Figs. 5 and v 7. However, when the collar 84 is rotated relative to the sleeve 88, the tabs I88 formed on the sleeve 84 between the notches I88 will act on the loops or projections I 82 and expand'the spring I84, thereby permitting axial separation of the.

collar 84 from the sleeve 88.

When the collar 84 is initially assembled to the sleeve 88, the bead 88 will cam the projections I82 outwardly until the notches I88 are aligned with the projections I 82, whereupon the same will snap into their position as illustrated in Fig. 7 and secure the collar 84 in the sleeve 88.

spondlng guide and locating surface on the outer periphery ofthe member 48. After the outer rim of the member 44 is properly seated against the shoulder 58', and the members 44 and 88 are stretched, the threaded hole I2 in the boss 18 of the motor may be aligned with the threaded part 14 of the screw 18 and then by inserting a screw driver through the socket 34, the screw I8 may be threaded into the hole 12 and tightened therein.

The socket and switch assembly 28 which is suitably mounted on the casing. 28 is partially exposed to the interior of the casing and provided with contacts I32 and I34 with'which the spring contacts I 22 and I24 engage when the motor is positioned as illustrated in Fig. 2. The socket and switch assembly further includes a push type of switch I38 arranged in a recess in one end oi the handle 24 and a socket I38 having electrical terminals adaptedto receive a plug I48 on the end of a current conducting cord. The switch I38 is housed within a recess in the handle 24 which'has a limited movement so that by stepping on the end of the handle 24 over the switch I38, the same may be actuated to open or close the circuit of the motor.

A muiiier I48 comprising a ring of sponge rubber or other acoustic material may be arranged between the outer margin ofthe plate 88 and the annular shoulder I42 onthe end of the motor, this ringbeing suitably supported on the motor. A part of the ring may be notched out to accommodate the motor leads. In lieu of using sponge rubber, an air pervious material might be employedrofsuitable perforations in the sponge While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purpose of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement attached claims.

I claim: a

1. In a suction cleaner having a casing with a motor blower unit therein, a pair of spaced disc-shaped mounting members formed of resilient material, said casing being provided at one end with a relatively large opening through which said motor blower unit and said mounting members are inserted in and may be removed from said casing, the interior of said casing being provided with a seat facing said opening and against which the outer periphery of one of said members is removably seated, a collar secured to the outer periphery of the other of said members, a sleeve forming an air exhaust from said cleaner, said casing having at its other end a relatively small opening within which said sleeve contacts exposed to the interior of said casing, a

motor blower unit removably and resiliently mounted in said casing independently of said.

switch, and contacts carried by said motor unit engageable with said switch contacts upon arranging said unit in said casing.

5. In a suction cleaner having a casing with a motor blower unit therein, a mounting member for supporting each end of said unit, said casing being provided at one end with a relatively large opening through which said motor blower unit and said mounting members are inserted in and may be removed from said casing, the interior of said casing being provided with a seat facing said opening and against which the outer periphery of one of said mounting members is removably seated, said seat defining an opening through which at least part of said motor blower unit and the :other of said mounting members may pass, said casing having at its other end a relatively small opening forming an air outletfor said casing, means providing a connection beis secured, means providing a detachable connection between said collar and said' sleeve, central portions of said members being connected to the ends of said unit, at least one of said members of resilient material being under tension, one of said members being connected to one end of said unit by a threaded means, the head of which is accessible through said sleeve and collar.

'2. In a suction cleaner having a casing with a motor blower unit therein, a pair of spaced disc-shaped mounting members formed of resilient material, said casing being provided at one end with a relatively large opening through which said motor blower unit and said mounting members are inserted in and may be removed from said casing, the interior of said casing being provided with a seat facing said opening and against which the outer periphery of one of-said members is removably seated, a collar secured to the outer periphery of the other of said members, said casing having at its other end an exhaust port to which said collar is connected, central portions of said members being connectedv motor blower unit therein, inlet and outlet parts for said casing, means for floatingly supporting said unit in said casing comprising spring means arranged under tension between one end of said unit and said casing, said motor blower unit having an opening at one end thereof for, the intake of air and anopening at the other end thereof for the discharge of air, and sound attenuating means comprising a tubular member of sound absorbing material carried by said unit and sur-,

rounding the discharge opening thereof and forming a path within said casing for the flow of air between the discharge opening of said unit and said casing outlet port.

4. In a suction cleaner a casing, a switch mounted thereon and having an actuating element accessible from the exterior thereof and itween said other mounting member and said casing, at least one of said mounting members being I ing said opening and against which the outer periphery of one of said members is removably seated, said seat defining an opening through which said motor blower unit and the other of said mounting members may pass, a collar se-. cured to the outer periphery of the other of said mounting members, a sleeve forming an air exhaust from said cleaner, said casing having at its other end a relatively small opening forming an air outlet and within which said sleeve is secured, means providing a detachable connection between said collar and said sleeve, said members being connected to the ends of said unit, at least one of said mounting members being of resilient material, said other of said members being connected to one endof said unit by a threaded means which is accessible through said ing through which said motor'blower unit and said mounting members are inserted in and may be removed from said casing. said casing being provided with an internal shoulder forming a seat facing said opening and against which the outer periphery of one of said members is removably seated, said seat defining an opening through which said motor blower unit and the other of said mounting members may pass, means providing a detachable connection between the other end of said casing and said other mounting which functions to hold said one of said mountings on its seat and to thereby suspend said unit in said casing and secure it relative thereto, said other of said members being connected to one end of said unit by a threaded means which is accessible through a relatively small opening -inv/resilient member and said resilient member tosaid other end oi said casins.

8. In a suction cleaner having a-casing with a. motor blower unit therein, a mounting member formed of resilient material arranged to support one end oi said unit, said casing being provided at one end with a relatively large opening through which said motor blower unit and said mounting member are inserted in and may be removed from said casing, the interior of said casing being provided with an internal seat facing said opening and on which seat the outer periphery of said mounting member is. seated for locating said mounting member, said casing having at its other end a relatively small opening forming an air outlet from said cleaner, and threaded means which is accessible through said small opening for securing the other end of said unit relative to said casing thereby to bias said unit against said ward said seat and to suspend said unit in said casing.

9. In a suction cleaner having a casing with a motor blower unit therein, a mounting member formed at least in part oi resilient material and supported within said casing and engageable with said unit so as to form at least a part of a support for said unit within said casing, said casing being provided at one end with a relatively large opening through which said unit and mounting member are inserted inand may be removed from said casing, a single threaded means within said casing and between said casing and unit for securing said unit in and relative to said casing and said casing being provided at its other end with another opening through which access may be had to said threaded means.

GEORGE R. COSS.

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