US1831099A - Pipe cleaner - Google Patents

Description

PIPE CLEANER Filed Jan. 8. 1930 2 Sheets-Skeet l Nov. 10, 1931. L. F. DENSMORE PIPE CLEANER Filed Jan. 8. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 10, 1931 outrun y LEROY. E. DENSMORE,- on KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, Assmnon or "one-HAL To w mn H. QUINLAN, or KENOSHA, WISCONSIN PIPE CLEANER Application filed January 8, 1930. SeriaLNo'. 419,387. a

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of brush which is particularly adapted for cleaning the hot-air pipes of furnaces; to provide a pipe cleaner which is expansible and contractible so as to be adapted for use in pipes of different diameters; to provide a brush of this kind having improved means for expanding the brush; to provide improved manually operable means for contracting the brush to facilitate its insertion into and removal from the pipe; and to provide an improved brush of this kind which is adapted for use as the nozzle of a vacuum cleaning apparatus.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 is an end elevation of the brush in its expanded position; the hose andsleeve being shown in section and the dotted outline representing the movable section in contracted position.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the'line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of one part of the brush, the view being taken on the line 33 of Fig.- 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, taken from the right of Fig. 1, part of the bristles being omitted.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, the dotted lines representing the movable part in contracted position.

In the specific construction herein shown, the improved pipe cleaner to which this invention is applied comprises a substantially circular articulate brush mounted on one end of the suction hose 1 of a vacuum cleaning apparatus, not shown. In addition to Y being the conduit through which the dirt from the brush is withdrawn, the hose 1 also serves as the handle by which the improved brush is manipulated within the pipe. The articulate brush is expansible and contractible, so. as to be adapted 'for use in connection I H with pipes ofvarious diameters.

I In the: formv shown, the. improved 7 brush comprises flexible bristles 2 mounted on the outer peripheries of'a pair of arcuate back segments 3 and 4, which are supported on a tubular. coup1ing.5, to whichthe conduit 1v is securedbyaclampfi. r

The segments 3 and 4. are preferably metal castings of substantially. similar construc tion. To facilitate the casting of the brush backs, eachnsegment:islpreferably made in two-.separateiparts :whichgare rigidly secured together. by rivets .7 for;- otherrsuitable1fastening. means;

F ormed ontheinner. ends of thesegments 3. and 4, arehubsSwhich embrace the tubu, lar couphngr5... Therhub. of the segment. 3"

is rigidly securedto the coupling 5 bya screwvv 9. flor. other. suitable fastening means and. the hub: of the segment 4- is rotatable on the couplingto .permitexpansionand contractionoffthebrush I. w

The vsegment4 is. secured against outward: axiaLmovementby a. cap 10. which is rigidly secured to the outer endofthe coupling 5.

Formed-in the innersurfaceof the cap 10 is a recess 11., inrwhichis seated a helical spring 12 .havingits two ends 'connected respectively toth esegment4 and-caplO so as tonormally urge the. segment4 to .the positionshown in fulloutliueinFig. 1iforeXpanding-thebrush.

. The-*brushis adapted to' be manually. con.

tractedl against the action: of the springLZ. by means of azflexible cable .13. The cable l3,

slidably engages a-pulley 14secured to the segment. 3.and.its enduissecuredto a lug 15 mountedonthesegment4. Inorder toadaptthe improved brush for use as a. vacuum cleaner nozzle,-.the outer peripheries of thesegments 3and4 are re cessed. to. provide air-passages 1.6, which (m:

municatewith openings 17formed in the hubs. 8. The opening 17 ofthesegment 3-registers' with aport18 in the coupling. 5 and the open ing 17 of the segment at is adapted to register with a pair of ports 19 in the coupling so as to permit the passage 16 of the segment 1 to communicate with the hose 1 in the expanded and contracted positions of the brush.

In operation, the hose 1 and cable 13 are held by the operator and, by pulling the cable 13, the brush is contracted suiiiciently to permit insertion in the pipe which is to be cleaned. After the brush has been inserted, the cable 13 is released soas to permit the brush to conform to thepipe; 'By'reason of the flexibilitv of the bristles. the brush will readily conform to the pipe when the segments 3 and 1 are urged outwardlv under-the action of the spring 12. Ihe dirt which is removed from the pipe bv the bristles of the brush'is drawn throu h the passages 16 to the hose 1.

Although but o e specific embodiment of this invent on has been herein shown and described. it will be understood that numero s details of the construction shown mav be altered or om ted without de artin fr m e spirit ot this invention as defined by the fo lowing claims.

1. A pipe clea er compr sing an elongated handle. a air of a cuate b ush se me ts arrange to orm a suhstantiallv ci cular brush. one of said segments being fixed on said handle. the ot er of said segm n s heing hi ged on said hand e. the axis of the hinge and the axis of said hrnsh extending lo gitudinallv of said handle. means for normallv sw nging said hinged segment outwardl o expand the brush, and manua lv o erab e means extending lon tudinally of said handle for swinginersaid hinged segment in: wardlv to contract the brush. v

2. A pipe cleaner com rising a suction conduit. and a pluralitv of arcuate brush segments arra ged'to form a substantially circular brush having .air passages commun cating with said conduit. saidbrush segments being relatively movable. to permit expansion and contraction of the brush. 7

3. A pipe clean er comprising a. suction conduit, a pair of arcuate brush segments mounted on said condu t and forming a brush having air passages communicating with said conduit, said brush segments being movablv connected together to permit expansion and contraction of the bruslnmeans normally expanding said brush,iand manually operable means for contracting said brush. n

' 4:. A pipe cleaner compris ng a tubular coupling, and a pair of brush segments movably connected together to form an articulate circular brush havingair passages communicating with ports formed in said coupling, one of said segments being fixed on said coupling, the other of said segments be ng rotatable on said coupling to permit expansion and contraction of the brush. g g

' 5; A pipe cleaner comprising an elongated ary,1930 I V LEROY F. DENSMORE.

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