US2500832A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

J. B. KIRBYI VACUUM --CLEANER March 14, 1950 Filed Jan. 29, 1945 '2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 INVENTOR.

James B.

Kirby .1. B. KIRBY VACUUM CLEANER March 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1945 INVENTOR.

J 5 B. K'rb BY Q ame L y ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM CLEANER James B. Kirby, West Richfield, Ohio Application January 29, 1945, Serial No. 575,015

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners of the type in which the air is drawn by suction through a dust collecting chamber and filter that are interposed between the suction nozzle and fan.

The invention has for'an object to provide a vacuum cleaner with a suction creating and dust collecting unit including a filter and a dust collecting chamber and having means under the control of the operator for momentarily reversing the flow of air through the filter from time to time during operation of the cleaner to keep the filter clean and maintain efficient operation.

It is common practice in the art to provide vacuum cleaners with pressure attachments adapted to be connected to the fan casing outlet to receive air under pressure from the fan. In vacuum cleaners of the type above referred to, such air pressure attachments are inefficient because of the fact that the filter chokes the flow of air to the fan and decreases the volume of air delivered to the attachment.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a pressure attachment for vacuum cleaners of the character referred to, so associated with means controlling the fan inlet and outlet that air may be drawn directly from the atmosphere into the fan and discharged through the fan casing outlet to the pressure attachment.

An additional object is to provide a simple and compact air flow creating and dust collecting unit having an easily removable dirt receptacle so associated with the filter and air flow creating means as to provide a convenient and sanitary means for disposal of the dirt.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention may be said to comprise the vacuum cleaner as illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims, together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification; in

which Fig. l is a top plan view of a vacuum cleaner embodying the invention; 1 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section through.

the cleaner, taken on the line indicated at 2--2 1 Claim. (Cl. 18357) Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line indicated at 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line indicated at 6-6 in Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a section taken on the line indicated at 'i! in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line indicated at 8-8 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section on an enlarged scale through the valve casing and pressure hose connection;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line indicated at Ill-40 in Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line indicated at H-ll in Fig. 9.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the cleaner housing is composed of a hollow bottom section l of oval form the bottom of which is rounded at the sides and ends to provide a narrow elongated flat center portion which is adapted to slide on a floor surface and a cover section 2 that is also hollow, being arched in both longitudinal and'transverse section. The cover section 2 has a marginal edge portion 3 that conforms to and is adapted to receive a top edge of the oval bottom section I. The bottom edge of the cover section 2 rests upon an external shoulder 5 on the bottom section I and is provided with an internal shoulder 6 that is spaced far enough above the top edge 4 of the bottom section to provide a channel to receive the margin of a suitable filter.

As herein shown, the margin of the filter is covered by an elastic rubber band 1 of channel section that is stretched around the ed e of the filter. The filter comprises a relatively stiff wire screen B that may have a sheet metal binder 9 around its margin and a cloth filter 10 that underlies the screen 8 and has its marginal edge portions folded over the edge of the screen 8. The cloth filter has a looped edge I! which receives a draw string l2 by means of which the cloth filter may be drawn tightly against the bottom of the screen 8. The filter has a close fit within the bottom portion of the cover section 2 and is normally lifted off the bottom section with the cover section.- To facilitate the removal of the filter from the cover section,- a ring [3 may be attached to one end of the filter by means of a bolt i l. The filter may be readily detached from the cover section bysimply grasping the ring 53 and pulling the filter from the cover section.

Suitable fasteners are provided for detachably securing the cover section to the bottom section l. As herein shown the fastener comprises a lever l5 that is mounted on a horizontal pivot l6 suitably secured to the cover section 2 adjacent the shoulder 5 and a hoo: l1 that is pivoted to the lever l5 outwardly of the pivot IS, the hook I! being adapted to engage a recessed shoulder IS on the bottom section i. When the lever I5 is swung inwardly against the exterior of the cover 2 as shown in Fig. 2, the hook I! is drawn tightly.- against... the shoulder is and the cover is clampedtightly against the. top edge 4.- of the bottom section. The rubber channel 1 is clamped between the shoulder 6 and the top edge 4 of the bottom section forming an air seal.

The filter I divides the housing into=upperand lower chambers, the lower chamber. beingradust collecting chamber and the upper chamber being a vacuum chamber. Thebottomsection I is provided with a suction inlet l9 that. is normally closed by a flap valve 20 which is pivoted to swing inwardly to open the inlet upon. a flow of a r into the bo tom sect on.

Suction is created by means of a fan 2 I that is mounted upon the shaft of a motor 22. and en.- closed within a. casing 23, which has a rearwardly extending portion 24 of reduced diameter which encloses the motor 22. The fan casing 23 has a central inlet at its forward end; and is provided with a forwardly. projecting cylindrical flange 25 surrounding the inlet. The. flange. 25 extends into a rubber ring.v 2.6. that is mounted in a valve casing 21 that is formed integrally with the'forward portion of the cover 2.

At the rear end of the i extension 24, an: attaching flange 28 is provided in=whichis mounted a rubber cush oning. collar 29 which receives a supporting bolt 30,. that is fastened; tothe. cover 2-. The fan. casing 23ismounted centrally of-the cover 2, which is provided with a longitudinal channel 3!- thatoverlies thescasing. 23. centrally thereof. Attherear end of the channel: 31. the cover is providedwith an internal arcuaterib 32 that conforms to. the. casing 23 and; a: rubber sealing strip. 33,- is. provided. between the; rib- 32 and the casin 23.

Along. opposite sides of the. channel; 3-] the cover 2-. is provided: with longitudinal internal ribs 34 which closely overlie: the casing: 23. and engage rubber sealing strips; 35; which; are clamped between. the ribs 34'. and-the. casing" 23 to seal the opposite sides of: the channel. 31!. The forward end portion of thecover'isrece-ssedon opposite sides. of? the'channel' 3| the recesses havingfiat bottoms 36., a vertical rear wall" 31 and vertical side walls 38 which form continuations of' the sides of the. channel 3! and opposite sides of: the valve: casing 21.

The fan casing: 23' has an outlet 23a to the space between th'efianges 34 adjacent the rear end of the channel; 31., and a sealing strip 39" of rubber is mounted. between the valve casing 27 and the upper portion of the fan casing 23 to prevent leakage of ai'r'between the front end ofthe fan casing and the valve. casing 21, so that a passage 40: is formed' between' the cover 2 and the casing 23 from the outlet"'2.3a. forwardly to a passage. 41 in the valve casing 2.1. Thepassage 4| leads. to a valve chamber 42 and the inlet to the fan casing is also connected. to the valve chamber :32 bya passage 4'5.

The valve chamber.- 42 has four equiarrgularly spaced bearingportions 44, 45; 45 and 41 which are adapted tohavesealing engagement with a valve" vane 48 that is mountedupon a central shaft 49. The" vane 48- carries packing strips-"U 4 in its edges which have sealing engagement with the bearing members 44, 45, 46 and 41. The passage 4! opens into the top of the valve chamber 42 between the bearing members 44 and 55. The passage 43 to the fan inlet opens to the valve chamber 42 at the bottom thereof between the bearing members 46 and 41. A transverse passage 5| opening through the walls 38 of the valve casing to the atmosphere, opens to the valve chamber. between-the bearing members 44 and 41. A fourth passage 52 extends along the forward portion of the cover 2 and opens at its upper end into the valve chamber 42 between the bearing members 45 and 46 and at its lower end intothe vacuum chamber.

As best shown in Fig. '1, the valve chamber is .closed-at. one end-by a plate 53 which is of circular .form to fit a circular opening in the wall 38, the plate 53 being detachably secured to the wall 33 and having a peripheral flange 54 which bears" against the'outer face ofthe-wall- 33. The shaft 49 extends centrally through the vane48 and has a bearing at one end in the plate 53-. The shaft 49 is journaled at its opposite-end in a bearing member 55 that is mounted in a cylindrical pocket that is formed integrally with and projects outwardly from one ofthe walls 38. The inner face of the wall 3% in which the pocket 56 is formed is provided with recesses 51 to receive the vane 48-.

In. the position of the valve shown in Fig. 2 the inlet of the fan is connected through the passages 43 and 52 with the. vacuum chamber, and the fan outlet is connected through they passages 4.0., 4! and 5!. to. the atmosphere. In. the other position of. the, valve shown in Fig. 9. the fan inlet. is. connected through the passages. 51 and 43. with theatmosphere and thefan outlet is connected throughthe. passages. it, 4.1 and 52 to. the vacuumchamber... By momentarily shif-.t ing the valve 48, pressure may: be. reversed on the filter to dislodge. lint anddusttherefrom. During the reversal. of. pressure, the inlet I9. is closed by means.- ofthe. valve 25 which is held against itsv seat. by the; internal pressure. Since the reverse; flowof air through the filter occurs only while pressure is being increased withinthe bottom compartment, it is desirable that means be, provided bywhich the vane 48) may be quickly shifted manually .and by'which the vane is; instantaneously and automatically returned to its normal positionwhen released.

As shown in Figs. 1' and 9, the shaft 49 has a pinion 59 attached thereto within the pocket 56', and this pinion isv engaged by'circular rack teeth 60 formed on. avertical' rod 3| that is slidably and rotatablymounted ina guide 82 formed integrally with the cover 2. The rod El has a reduced lower endiifi which is slidable in an aperture in a horizontal plate fi l attached to'the cover and.- is normally held in its uppermost position by means of a coil spring that .ismounted between the plate BIG and. washer 65 at the upper end' of the.- reduced portion 63;. When the rod BI is depressed to its full extent, the. shafti s is turned to shift the-vane 4B tothe-position shown in Fig. 9, and upon release o'f the rod 5'! the vane 48 is instantly returned to its-normal position by the spring 65;. During operation of the cleaner the rod 5! may be depressed to reverse the pressure on the filter, and immediately released to reestablish normal operating conditions. In this way the filter -may= becleaned at intervals to increase its efficiency.

For a purpose which will be hereinafter explained, it is sometimes desirable to hold the valve in the position shown in Fig. 9. As shown in Fig. 8, the lower portion of the guide 52 may be provided with diametrically opposite keyways 68 to receive a key 69 that passes diametrically through the rod 61. When the rod Si is in its lowermost position the key 68 is below the lower end of the keyway 6'! and by turning the rod 6| the key 88 may be engaged with a seat 620. at the lower end of the guide 62 to hold the rod in its depressed position and retain the valve in the position shown in Fig. 9. The circular ribs 60 permit the rod to be turned while in engagement with the pinion 59 so that the valve may be quickly and easily locked in its flow reversing position when desired. The rod M is provided with a flat head 69 at its upper end which can be readily engaged by hand or foot to push the rod downwardly or which may be easily grasped to turn the rod to locking position. Upward movement of the rod BI is limited by the engagement of the washer 66 against the seat 62a and the downward movement by engagement of the head 69 with the upper end of the guide 62, the extreme positions being shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

The cover 2 has an opening 78 into the passage 52 and this opening is adapted to be closed by means of a plug ii that has a flange 72 that engages with a fiat bearing surface 73 around the opening. The opening 18 has an internal groove 74 and the plug ll has an external groove 15 that registers with the groove 14 when the plug is in place in the opening. An arcuate slot 16 opens into the groove i5 as shown in Fig. 11 and a wire locking ring ll is mounted in the groove 15, the wire Iii having one end 18 anchored to the cover 2 and its opposite end extending through the slot 16 and provided with a bent finger piece 78. The ring 19 is formed of spring wire and is biased toward a contracted position in which it lies partially within the groove 15 of the plug, to lock the same in place.

By pushing on the end 19 of the ring, the ring in the inlet l9 as shown in Fig. 2, or in the opening it! as shown in Fig. 9. The coupling member 80 has an inner cylindrical portion 82 that fits either in the opening i9 or the opening 18 and is also provided with an external flange 83 that engages with a flat bearing surface 84 around the opening l9 or with the bearing surface 13 around the opening 78.

The inlet opening 19 has an internal groove 85 corresponding to the groove 14 in the opening 18, and the coupling member 8! has an external groove 86 that is adapted to register with the groove 85 in the opening 19, or with the groove 14 in the opening 18.

When the coupling member 8! is mounted in the opening and the vane 48 positioned as shown in Fig. 9 air is drawn into the fan through the passages 5i and 43, and is discharged from the fan through passages 48, i2 and 52 to the hose 88. Since the air is drawn directly from the atmosphere instead of through the filter, the full force of the fan is exerted in driving the air under pressure through the hose 88.

While the extension 87 is desirable, it is not essential that the passages 52 be cut ofi from the suction chamber since the hose 8!] when connected to the opening -10 forms the sole outlet for the air under pressure discharged through the passage 52. In order to avoid using the housing as a pressure chamber, the coupling member 8! may be provided with a semi-cylindrical section 81 at its inner end that engages with arcuate bearings 88 on opposite sides of the passage 52 as best shown in Fig. 10, and with a circular recess 89 in the inner wall of the passage 52, the inner wall of the passage having an arcuate flange 90 which engages with the under side of the extension 8?, as shown in Fig. 9.

The inlet 1 9 as shown in Fig. 2, is of elongated, tubular form so that the extension 81 of the coupling member 8| is housed between the retaining ring and the valve 28. When it is desired to use the hose as a pressure attachment, the plug II is detached from the opening 10 and the hose 80 is connected to the opening 10 as shown in Fig. 9. The valve 48 is then set in the position shown in Fig. 9 and the fan operated to deliver air under pressure to the hose 88. The plug H may be fastened in the inlet opening l9 while the hose to is being used as a pressure attachment since both the plug H and the coupling 8! are adapted to be secured in either opening.

To properly position the coupling member 8| in the opening iii a pin 9| mounted in the cover 2 engages in a slot 92 formed in the periphery of the bearing shoulder 83 to insure proper alinement of the extension 81 with the bearing members 88.

The recesses on opposite sides of the valve casing at the forward portion of the cover member may be closed by means of suitable grill plates 93 that allow free entry of air to the air inlet 5!, the grill plates being secured in place by any suitable means.

A suitable strap handle 94 may be provided for carrying the vacuum cleaner. The strap 94 may be secured to the cover in any suitable way. As herein shown, the ends of the strap are attached to the cover by means of bolts 95, which are slidable in slots 86 in the strap, as shown in Fig. 4. The strap 94 may be formed of a metal strip 91 covered with rubber, in which case the slot 96 extends through the strip 91 and the rubber on the under side thereof, the bolt having a head 98 engagin the outer side of the strip 91.

During operation of the cleaner the filter may be kept open by momentarily depressing the rod 6| at intervals to reverse the flow of air through the filter, and the cover section can be quickly and easily removed to permit emptying of the dirt receptacle.

The filter may be cleaned by reversing the air flow through it, before the dirt receptacle is detached for emptying so that dropping of dirt from the filter after its separation from the dirt receptacle is avoided.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the specific device herein shown and described for purposes of illustration, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

In a vacuum cleaner a fluid tight receptacle having a top wall, an upper suction compartment and a lower dust collecting compartment, said dust collecting compartment having an inlet for dust laden air, a fan and valve unit carried by the top wall and positioned in said suction compartment, said unit comprising a fan casing having an inlet and an outlet and a valve chamber and. having passages connecting said inlet and outlet tathe; valve? chambemand-connecting the REFERENCESFGITEH,

The. following, references are; of record; in. the file of this. patent;

UNITED STATES.- PATENTS Number Name Date 7 1,153,751 Beth, Sept. 14, 1915 1320224 Garman Oct. 28,1919 1,784,278 Dollinger 'Dec. 9,193.0 2,031,454 Bi'lde etrial. v Feb.'18;.1936 2,049,603 Dietenberger n Augu4, 1936 2242277 Yonkers May'20; 19]; 2,372,944; Forsberg Apr. 3', 1945 2,413,587 Smellie- Dec.31, 1946

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