US1738065A - Vacuum cleaner for automobiles - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3 1929; w. L. GRATHWOL 1,738,065

VACUUM CLEANER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Feb. 12 1926 INVEN TOR. William 'raZ/zwal A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 3, 1929 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM L. .GRATHWOL, F STRATFQRD, CONNECTICUT VACUUM: CLEANER FOR AUTOMOBILES Application filed February This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner for automobiles adapted to be Operated by utilization of the engine exhaust, and the broad object of the invention is to produce a vacuum cleaner which willbe an improvement generally over the disclosure of patent to Leathers, No. 1,499,937, granted July '1, 1924.

A more specific object is to provide a vaclo uum cleaner of the present character which is adapted to be directly connected with the main exhaust line of an engine, and which is provided with mechanism whereby a vacuum may be easily and readily produced in a pipe 16 connection or conduit, or may be just as easily and readily destroye A further specific object is to provide novel, simple,'and improved vacuum producing mechanism adapted to be automatically 2 manipulated to destroy vacuum in said pipe connection or conduit when the cleaner is out of use. 7

With the above objects in view, as well as others which will appear as the specification proceeds, the invention comprises the construction, arrangement andcombination of parts as now to be'fully described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being I understood that the disclosure herein is meretu ly illustrative and meant in no way in a limiting sense, changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts being permissible so long as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an automotive vehicle chassis, disclosing one of the runnin boards and the exhaust line with muffler, and showing the improved cleaner associated with said running board and exhaust line;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view, the line I 2-2 in Fig. 1 suggesting the location. of the section, disclosing a vacuum cleaner hose associated with the conduit of the cleaner;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view, partially in section, disclosing an exhaust line, the fitting and conduit or pipe connection of the cleaner, the automotive vehicle running W hoard, and parts associated with the parts 12, 1926. Serial No. 87,938.

mentioned, the exhaust shown in full and in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the running board plate and the vacuum controlling flap, disclosing the flap in the inoperative position of the cleaner;'and

Fig. is a sectional view on line 5-5 in Fig. 3, showing the exhaust gas accelerator in the operative position of the cleaner.

With respect to the drawing and the characters and numerals of reference thereon, A denotes an automotive vehicle chassis, B the exhaust line of the engine of said vehicle, G a mufiler in said exhaust line, D a running board on said chassis and 10 represents, generally, the vacuum cleaner of the invention, which is, as disclosed, associated with the exhaust line and running board.

Of the vacuum cleaner, 11' is, a fitting secured in the exhaust line. Clearly, the fitting could be secured at the end of the exhaust line. As shown, the fitting consists of two tightly fitted pieces surrounding the exhaust line and clamped thereon as at 12. One of the pieces 13 of the fitting is a longitudinal part of a tube, while the other piece 14 consists of a longitudinal part of a tube having a pocket, cavity, or depression 15 which is in communication with a hollow pipe 16 adapted to receive a conduit or pipe connection 17 the conduit or pipe connection being secured to the hollow pipe in any convenient or suitable manner, as indicated at 18.

The end 19 of the conduit or pipe connection 17 spaced from the fitting 11 is, for conyenience, preferably secured, as at 20, to the gas accelerator being Inner face of a vertical part E of the running board D, although said end 19 could be otherwise situated.

Numeral 21 indicates a plate secured as at 22 upon the outer face of said vertical part E of the running board, said plate 21 having I an opening 23 coinciding with an opening 24 through said vertical partQwhich opening 24- aligns with theopen end 25 of the conduit 17. 26 is a vacuum cleaner hose adapted to be passedthrough the openings 23 and 24: and 4 fitted in any preferred manner into said open end 25. I a The hollow pipe 16 is adapted to be 'nor 'mally covered (when the vacuum cleaner is out of use), to shut ofi communication between the exhaust line and the conduit 17 as by an exhaust gas accelerator 27 fixed upon a shaft 28 rotatably supported in the fitting 11, said accelerator being disclosed in Fig. 3 as cutting ofi communication between the pipe 16 and the exhaust line.

The exhaust gas accelerator is adapted to be normally situated (as in full lines in Fig. 3) so that the normal passage 29 through the fitting is at least as large in diameter as is the assage 30 through the exhaust line next ad- ]acent the fitting (to the right in Fig. 3), and said accelerator is adapted to be swung to its dotted line position of Fig. 3 (its full line position of Fig. 5) in order that the cleaner may operate. For so swinging said accelerator I provide a lever 31 fixed upon said shaft 28, anda link 32 having one of its ends pivoted, as at 33, to said lever 31 and its other end'pivoted, as at 34 to an arm 35 of a lever 36 itself pivoted as at 37 upon the outer end of conduit 17, the lever 36 including a flap 38 adapted to normally cover (when the cleaner is out of use) the openings 23 and 24, and hence cover the open end 25 of the conduit 17. See Figs. 1 to 4.

The manner in which the vacuum cleaner functions is obvious. When the parts are as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the exhaust out let is of the same cross-sectional area as is the outlet through the fitting 11, and incidentally, the conduit 17 is out of communication with the exhaust line and the flap 38 is closed. When the parts are as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, or in full lines in Fig. 5, there is communication between the conduit 17 and the exhaust line, and the outer, open end 25 of the conduit is uncovered to receive the cleaner hose. See Fig. 2. At the same time, the exhaust gas outlet through the fitting and past the accelerator 27 is restricted, as indicated at 39. When the passage past the accelerator is'not restricte there is no suction created in the exhaust line, and incidentally, even if there were, this could not becommunicated to the conduit 17 for the reason that the accelerator closes said conduit. 'But when the passage through the fitting is restricted, there is a 'corresponding acceleration in the velocity of exhaust gases passing through said fittin' adapted to create a suction, and, the conduit 17 now being open to-- the exhaust line, said suction will tend to create a vacuum in said conduit which will be satisfied throu hthe cleaner hose. p

As will e seen, the exhaust gas accelerator when 'in the operative position of the cleaner functions after the fashion of a venturi to increasethe velocit'y'of, the (gases passing from the exhaust gas manifol 'Any equivalent mechanism can be substituted for the accelerator disclosed,the idea being to provide a luction in the conduit 17 when-this is desired,

or to destroy the suction when the vacuum cleaner is out of use. Clearly, when the accolerator is positioned as in full lines in Fig. 3, there is no vacuumin the exhaust line or fitting 11 adjacent the hollow pipe 16, but the moment the accelerator is swung to the operative position of the cleaner, the velocity of exhaust gases rushing through the restricted opening through the fitting is greatly increased, to produce vacuum in and about the pocket, cavity, or depression 15, which vacuum must be satisfied via the conduit 17 and the cleaner hose, as will be evident.

When the flap 38 is thrown to open position and the hose 26 is inserted, the flap cannot return to the inoperative position of the cleaner (to cover the conduit 17) but the moment the hose is removed, there will be a return of the flap to its normal location accomplished by the suction through the conduit 17 acting directly upon the flap and by pressure inthe exhaust line acting against the accelerator 27. I Or if preferred, a spring (not shown) may be applied to the flap 38 to return it to normal position when the cleaner hose is withdrawn, to preclude operation of the device when use is not intended.

What I claim is:

1. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, -a conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, manually movable means for restricting the area of said passage adjacent the mouth of said conduit, and means for closing communication between said conduit and passage.

2. In an automotive vehicle, a normally unobstructed passage for all of the exhaust gases from the cylinders of the engine of said vemovably associated with said passage to af ford communication between said conduit and passage, said means normally being situated without said passage.

3. In an automotive vehicle, a normally unobstructed passage for exhaust gases, a conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, andmeans capable of association with sald passage to afford communication between said conduit and passage, said means normally being situated outside of said assage.

4. In an automotive vehicle, in com ination with a normally unobstructed passage for all of theexhaust gases from the cylinders of the engine of said vehicle, a conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, and means adapted to be removably associated with said passage to afford communication between said conduit and passage, said means normally bein situated without said passage.

5. an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, and means for restricting the cross-sectional area of said pasnication between said conduit and passage,

whereby exhaust gases traveling througli'said passage will tend to create a vacuum in said till till

conduit.

6. In an automotive "vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, and means for re stricting the cross-sectional area of said passage and for simultaneously opening communication between said conduit and a-portion of said passage adapted to receive exhaust gases after they have passed the restricted area of said passage, whereby to increase the velocity of exhaust gases traveling through said passage at the mouth of said conduit to thus tend to create a vacuum in said conduit.

7. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, and means in said passage adjacent the mouth of said conduit for restricting the cross-sectional area of said passage and for simultaneously opening communication between said conduit and passage at a location adjacent said restricted area and to which said exhaust gases are adapted to travel when past said restricted area.

8. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, an exhaust gas accelerator in said passage adjacent the mouth of said conduit, and means for manipulating said acceleratorto restrict said passage and to simultaneously open communication between said conduit and passage.

9. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, an exhaust gas accelerator in said passage adjacent the mouth of said conduit, said accelerator being adapted to normally close said conduit from said passage, and means for manipulating said accelerator to restrict said passage and to open said conduit. to said passage.

10. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, an exhaust gas accelerator in said passage adjacent the mouth of said conduit, said accelerator being adapted to normally close said conduit, from said passage, and means for manipulating said accelerator to restrict said passage and to open said conduit to said passage at a locah tion adjacent said restricted area (if said passage and adapted to receive exhaust gases from said restricted area, whereby to accelcrate the velocity of exhaust gases moving through said passage adjacent the mouth of said conduit to thus tend to produce a vacuum in said conduit.

ll. In an automotive vehicle, anexhaust outlet including a passage for exhaust gases and a pocket in said passage, a conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, and means in said'poclget normally closing said conduit tromsaid passage, said means being adapted to be manipulated to aiford communication between said "conduit and passage and to simultaneously restrict said passage adjacent said pocketand the location of communication between said conduit and passa e.

r 12. 11 an automotive vehicle, an exhaust outlet including a passage for exhaust gases and a pocket in said passage, a conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, an exhaust gas accelerator in said pocket, and

means for manipulating said accelerator to afford free communication between the con-" between said conduitand exhaust outlet and to simultaneously restrict the area of said exhaust outlet at a location adjacent the location of communication between said conduit and outlet. I

14:. In an' automotive vehicle, an exhaust outlet, a conduit adapted to communicate therewith, an exhaust gas accelerator between said conduit and exhaust outlet adapted to normally restrict said conduit, and means for manipulating said accelerator to afford communication between said conduit and exhaust outlet and to simultaneously restrict the area of said exhaust outlet at a location adjacent the location of communication between said conduit and outlet.

15. A device of the character described, comprising a fitting adapted to be secured to the exhaust line of an automotive vehicle engine, a conduit adapted to communicate with said fitting, an exhaust gas accelerator adapted to normally restrict communication between said conduit and fitting, and means for causing said accelerator to restrict said'fitting and to simultaneously afi'ord communication between said conduit and fitting.

16. A device of the character described, comprising a fitting having a passage for exaust ases, -a conduit adapted to communicate wlth' said passage, an exhaust gas accelerator adapted to normally restrict communication between said conduit and passage, and means for adjusting said accelerator to afford communication between said conduit and passage and to simultaneously restrict the cross-sectional area of said passage.

17. A device of the character described, comprising a passage including an exhaust gas outlet, a conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, means whereby the travel of exhaust gases through said passage toward said outlet can create vacuum in said conduit, and other means for adjusting said means to position without said passage to remove said conduit from the effect of the travel of exhaust gases through: said passage.

18. A device of the character described, comprising a passage including an exhaust gas outlet, a conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, means whereby the travel 5 of'exhaust gases through said passage can create vacuum in said conduit, and other means for'adjusting said means to remove said conduit from the efli'ect of the travel of exhaust gases through said passage.

19. In an automotive vehicle, a passage including an exhaust gas outlet, 'a' conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, and means removably associated with said passage whereby the travel of exhaust gases through said passage can create vacuum in said conduit, said means normally being situated without said passage.

20,. A device of the character described, comprising a member having a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit adapted to communicate with said member, and means adapted to be inserted in said passage, to afl'ord communication between the conduit and passage tending to create a vacuum in said conduit by etween said conduit and passage adapted to be positioned to restrict communication between the conduit and: passage, or to open communication between the conduit and passage and restrict the passage, and means for manipulating said accelerator, said means comprising alever fixed to the axis of said accelerator, a link pivoted to said mentioned lever, and a second lever pivoted upon a fixed part of the vehicle and towhich the link is pivoted.

22. In an automotive vehicle, an exhaust gas outlet, a fitting associated with said outet and having a passage for exhaust gases a conduit adapted to communicate with sai passage, the conduit being secured upon a fixed part of the vehicle and having an opening adapted to receive a vacuum hose, a pivoted and adjustable accelerator between said conduit and passage adapted t6 be positioned to restrict communication between the conduit and passage, or'to open communication between the conduit and passage and restrict the passage, and means for manipulating said accelerator, said means comprising a lever fixed to the axis of said accelerator, a link pivoted tosaid mentioned lever and a sec- 0nd lever pivoted upon a fixed partofthe vehicle and to which the link is pivoted,

reason of the'travel of exhaust gases through said passage, said means normally being s1t-- accelerator is in position'to restrict communication between said conduit and passa e.

23. The combination as specified in c aim 22, wherein said accelerator is adapted to automaticall position itself to restrict communication etween said conduit and passage when said vacuum hose is removed from said conduit.

24.. In an automotive vehicle, an exhaust gas passage, a conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, the conduit having an opening adapted to receive a vacuum hose, an accelerator between said conduit and passage adapted to be positioned to restrict communication between the conduit and passage, or to open communication between the conduit and passage and restrict the passage, and means for manipulating the accelerator, said accelerator being adapted to allow communication between the conduit and passage and restrict the passage when said vacuum hose is in said conduit, and said accelerator manipulating means being adapted to automatically return said accelerator to its position restrict-ing communication between the conduit and passage when said hose is removed from said conduit.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, this -1st day of February, A. D. 1926.

WILLIAM L. GRATHWOL.

I said second lever including a flap adapted B5 tocover said conduit openingwhen said

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