US2450828A - Converter for suction cleaners - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 5, 1948. D. c. GERBER CONVERTER FOR SUCTION CLEANERS 3 sheet s 1 Filed "by 12 943 I, v M a I I H 1948- o. c GERBER 'convzm'an ion sucuou cnmsas and m 12. 194:

I 3 Shoots-Shoot 2 INVENTOR. .Dale C. Gerber 4 194$ D. c. GERBER 2,450,828

CONVERTER FOR SUCTION CLEANERS i'neam 12, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. I Dale G. Gerber 33 "1" I BY Patented a. s, 1948 f coNvEn'rEa Fort snc'rron CLEANERS Dale G. Gerber, North Canton. Ohio, assignor to I corporation of Ohio The present invention relates to suction cleane'rs generally and more particularly to a new and 8 Claims.

The Hoover Company her it. An agitator 2:

improved dusting tool converter and its connection to the suction cleaners for converting the cleaner from an on-the-iloor unit to an oil-thefloor unit.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved suction cleaner, Another object is to provide a new and improved converter element for ofl-the-floor cleaning. A further object is to provide a converter element having valve means to enclose the motor shaft. Another ob-' ject is to provide a converter element having valve means actuated by the motor shaft to close the valve about the motor shaft to seal the cleaner nozzle f-rom the suction creating means. Further objects andadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation. partly in section, taken along the. line l'l of Figure 2. showing the suction cleaner in position for oif-the-iioor cleaning; t

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of Figure 1 show. ing the converter element in position;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the converter element disconnected from the suction cleaner;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view with parts broken away disclosing another embodiment of the inven ion wi h the converter element in position for oiT-the-fioor cleaning;

F gure 6 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 5, and 1 Figure 7 is a perspective view of the converter element disconnected from the suction cleaner.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figu es 1 to 4 comprises'a suction cleaner having a body It provided with a nozzle i I interiorly connecfed through asuction air passageway l2 with an eve l3 of a fan chamber H from which rearward y extends an exhaust pa sageway i5 for conveying dirt-laden air into a dirt filtering bag l3 removably attached at its lower end to the cleaner body i0 and at its upper end supported by a handle I! pivotally mounted on the cleaner body. A housing I8 encloses an unshown motor positioned on the cleaner body Ill above the fan chamber and its shaft extends downwardly through the chamber M where it carries a fan It, and attached to the lower end of the motor shaft is a pulley 20 in the suction air passageway i2, the pulley 20 having a belt engaging groove 2| spaced below the bottom wall 22 of he fan cham.

- unless the nozzle H is ra sed off North Canton, Ohio, at

Application May 12, 1943, Serial No. 486,632

2 isrotatably mounted in the nozzle Ii and is driven by a power transmitting belt 24 connected to the pulley groove 2|. The suction air passageway l2 extends from the nozzle ii to thefaneye i3 and is formed by a wall 25 depending from the cleaner body l3 and a removable bottom plate 28. An opening 21 is provided in the wal1 25 of the suction air Dassageway adjacent the fan eye l3 and is normally closed by a spring actuated valve 28 pivotaily mounted along its lower edge on a pin 29 supported on a converter receiving casing 30. The converter receiving casing 30 is of rectangular cross-section and extends from the suction air passageway wall 25 transversely of the cleaner body to 9. depending skirt 3| for reception of a dusting tool converter element 32 when the cleanor is converted to ofl-the-fioor cleaning.

The cleaner body is supported on front and rear wheels 33 and 34, respectivelyjthe front wheels having agreater tread area than the rear wheels to maintain the nozzle ii in proper adjustment with the surface being cleaned, The rear wheels 34 are rotatably supported on a bracket 35 pivotally attached to the cleaner body In and is provided with forwardly extending arms 38 and 31, which are normally urged by a spring 33 to abut the'fan chamber bottom wall 22 for maintaining the c eaner nozzle in its proper range oi adiustment for on-the-floor cleaning. The arm 38 of the wheel supporting bracket 35 has an ex ension 39 which projects through an opening 40 in the converter receiving casing 33 to act as a barri r to prevent insertion of the converter element 32 into the suction air passageway I2 the surfaceinto pos tion for oif-the-floor cleaning. f The converter element 32 which converts the cleaner for off-the-floor cleaning'comprisesa ho low body 42 having at one end a tubular por-' tion 43 to which is removably connected munshown flexibe hose provided at its opposite .end with a sultabe unshown cleaning tool for engage ment with the surface to be cleaned. Adjacent the tubular portion 43 is a rectangular portion 44 formed with a side wall 45, a top wall 43 and a 'bottom wall 41. At the forward end of the converter body in the top wall is an opening 43 of substantially the size of the fan eye i3, and a slot 48 is formed in the side wall 45 and bottom wall '41 for the reception of a part of the belt pulley 20 which extends between the fan chamber bottom wall 22 and the belt 24.

The slot 49 is closed by a valve 50 of substane.

tialiy hook-shapepivotally mounted on a pin 5| 3 supported on a depressed area 82 of the bottom wall 41. The valve 58 is provided with an arcuate section 53 and a slot closing section 84 and between these two sections is a curved marginal edge 88. A spring 88 has one end attached to a pin I! mounted on the converter top wall 48 and the opposite end of the spring is attached to a pin 88 on the valve 58, and the spring functions normally to maintain the arcuate portion 880! the valve across the slot 49 so that it abuts a shoulder II on the converter element 32. while the slot closing portion 84 of the valve is clear 01' the slot and is protected by an abutment 88 provided at the forward end 01 the converter element. A depression Si is provided in the converter bottom wall 41 for receiving the barrier 39 to lock the converter element in proper position in the cleaner body for oiI-the-iloor cleaning.

In normal on-the-fioor cleaning, the cleaner body I8 is moved over the surface to-be cleaned by the handle l1 and the rotating agitator 23 dislodges the dirt from the surface covering. The suction creating fan |9 draws the air and dirt through the nozzle ii and suction air passageway l2 and discharges the dirt-laden air into the dirt bag l8.

To convert the cleaner for ofl-the-fioor cleaning. pressure is exerted on the rear end of the motor housing l8 to raise the nozzle II from the surface covering and cause the barrier 39 on the wheel bracket 35 to move downwardly away from the cleaner body l and out of the converter receiving casing 30 whereby the converter element 32 may be inserted therein. When the converter element 32 is in proper position, the pressure is removed from the motor housing I8 and the barrier 39 moves into the recess 6| in the converter element and holds the latter in position and also maintains the agitator 23 out of the engagement with the surface covering.

As the converter element 32 passes through the converter receiving casing 38, the forward end abuts the valve 28 and pivots it downwardly into the suction air passageway i2. Upon further forward movement of the converter element into the converter receiving casing, the slot 49 passes about the motor pulley 20, and the defining edge 55 of the arcuate portion 53 of the valve 50 contacts the motor pulley 20 which pivots the valve to cause the slot closing portion 54 of the valve to pass about the opposite side of the motor pulley 28 and close the forward end of the slot 49 to cut off communication between the nozzle II and the fan chamber i4. When the converter is in proper position, the forward marginal edge 63 of the slot-closing portion 54 of the. valve 58 seats beneath the lower defining edge of the depending wall 25, and the forward nd 64 of the converter abuts the vertical surface of the depending wall 25 to thereby form a seal against the passage of air therebetween. In this position of the converter element, dirt-laden air is drawn through the unshown dusting tool and flexible hose, the converter element 32, Ian ey.e l3, into the fan chamber l4 and is discharged by the fan l9 into the dirt bag I6. I

The foregoing conversion for off-the-floor cleaning can be made, if desired, while the belt 24 is rotating the agitator 23 and these parts remain in operation while the converter element 32 is in use. In order to re-convert for on-the-floor cleaning, pressure is exerted on the rear end of the motor housing |8 to remove the barrier 39 out of the depression 6| in the converter element 32, to thereby unlock the latter and permit its removal from the converter receiving casing 38. Upon removing the converter element 32, the motor pulley 28 contacts the defining edge 38 of the slot-closing valve portion 34 to move the valve 88 toits open position, and such movement is assisted by the spring 38 which causes the valve to shift to position as shown in Figure 4.

Another embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Figures 5 to '7 and comprises a converter element "which is inserted in the converter receiving casing 38 of the suction cleaner desribed in the foregoing embodiment. The converter element 18 comprises a hollow body having at one end a tubular portion 1| to which is removably connected un unshown flexible hose provided at its opposite end with a suitable unshown cleaning tool for engagement with the surface to the cleaned. Adjacent the tubular portion II is a rectangular portion 12 formed with a wall 13, a top wall I4 and a bottom wall 15.

At the forward end of the converter body in the 7 top wall 14 is an opening 18 of substantially the size of the fan eye i3 and a slot 11 is formed in the side wall 13 and the bottom wall 18 for the reception of that part of the pulley 20 which extends between the fan chamber bottom wall 22 and the belt 24.

The slot 11 in the converter bottom wall 15 is closed by a valve having two cooperating sections 8| movably supported on pins 82 mounted on the converter bottom wall in a depressed area 83 formed by an arcuate shoulder 84-. Each valve section 8| includes a slot-closing portion 85 and a valve-closing portion 88 and these portions cooperate when the valve sections 8| are in closed position to define an opening 81 which is adapted to receive the motor pulley 20. The forward defining edges of the valve sections 8| are curved as indicated at 88 to provide therebetween a substantially V-shaped section 89 when the valve is closed for the initial engagement with the motor pulley 20 to move the valve sections 8| to open position when the converter element 18 is inserted in the converter receiving casing 38, and the portions 88 of the valve sections 8| are ofiset so as to overlap each other when the valve sections are moved to open position. The valve sections 8| are disposed between the converter bottom wall 18 and a removable plate 98 mounted on the converter bottom wall. A depression 9| is provided in the converter bottom wall 18 for receiving the barrier 39 to lock the converter element 18 in proper position in the cleaner body for oiI-the-floor cleaning.

The cleaner is placed in position for off-thefioor cleaning in the manner previously described by depressing the rear end of the cleaner body so that the converter element 18 may be inserted into the converter receiving casing 38. As the converter element 10 passes through the converter receiving casing 38, the forward ends 88 of the valve sections 8| abut the valve 28 and pivot it downwardly into the suction air passageway l2. Upon continued insertion of the converter element 10, the forward ends 88 of the valve sections 8| contact the motor pulley 20 which forces the valve sections 8| to spread apart to permit the converter element to be completely inserted to proper position. As the valve sections 8| are moved to open position, the inner ends 88 of the valve sections are caused to move into the slot 'I'l in the converter bottom wall and thereafter come in contact with the motor pulley 28 to cause the valve sections 8| to pivot in the opposite direction so that the slot-closing portions use: the valve sections 8| close oil! the slot TI and enclose the motor-pulley 20 to out off communication between the noz'zle-H and the fan chamber I}. In this position of the converter element, dirt-laden air is drawn through the unshown dusting tool and flexible hose, the

converter element ill, faneye' l3, into the fan fan into the to their open position whereby the converter element 10 may be completely removed from the converter receiving casing '30.

'I claim:

' 1. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body having a nozzle, a fan chamber having a fan eye, a suction air passageway between said nozzle and fan eye, a fan in said fan chamber, a shaft extending through said fan eye into said air passageway, a motor for driving said fan and shaft, means defining a port in said air passageway adjacent said fan eye for receiving a converter element, a converter element insertable through said port into register with said fan eye, means defining a slot on said converter element passing transversely of said shaft, and a valve pivoted intermediate its ends on said converter element, said valve having one portion engageable with said shaft for moving said valve to uncover said slot,

' and another portion engageable with said, shaft for moving said valve to close said slot and seal said nozzle from said fan chamber.

2. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body having a, nozzle, a fan chamber having a fan eye, a suction air passageway between said nozzle and fan eye, a fan in said f-an chamber, a shaft extending through said fan eye into said air passageway, a motor for driving said fan and shaft, means defining a port in said air passageway adjacent said fan eye for receiving a converter element, a converter element insertable through said port into register with said fan eye, means defining a slot on said converter element passing transversely of said shaft, and a valve having two cooperating sections pivoted intermediate its ends, each section having portions engageablc with said shaft to move said valve sections to uncover said slot and to move said valve sections to close said slot and seal said fan chamber from said nozzle.

3. A dusting tool converter for suction cleaners having a nozzle, a fan chamber having a fan eye, a suction air passageway between said nozzle and fan eye and having a port adjacent said fan eye, a motor for driving a suction creating fan in said fan chamber and driving a shaft extending through said fan eye into said air passageway, and comprising a conduit adapted to be inserted through the port in the passageway into register 6 valve to open position when the converter is removed from the suction cleaner. i

4. A dusting tool converter; for suction cleaners having anozzle, a fan chamber havin'ga fan eye,

a suction airpassagewayjbetween said nozzle and'fani. eye and having a port adjacnt-sald "fan eye,'a motor for driving a. suction creating fan in said fan chamber anddrivi'ng ashaft extending through said fan eye into said air' pasageway, comprising a conduit adapted to be inserted through the port in' the passagewayinto register with the fan eye, said conduit having a slot to accommodate the shaft, and-a valve comprising'cooperating sections pivotally mounted on said conduit, each of said sections having a first and a second portion engageablewith the shaft. engagement of said first portion opening said valve to permit passage of said slot about the shaft, and engagement of said second portionwith said shaft moving said valve sections to close said slot to seal the nozzle from the fan chamber.

5. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body having a nozzle, a fan chamber having a fan eye, a suction air passageway between said nozzle and fan eye, a fan in said fan chamber, a shaft extending through said fan eye into said air passageway, a motorfor driving said fan and shaft, means defining a. port in said air passageway ad- Jacent said fan eye for receiving a converter element, a converter element insertable through said port into register with said fan eye, means defining a slot in said converter element passing transversely of said shaft, a: valve movably mounted on said converter element for enclosing said shaft to seal said nozzle from said fan chamber, means on said valve engageable with said shaft to open said valve for passage of said converter transversely of said shaft, and means operatively connected to said valve for thereafter 'closing said valve about said shaft to seal said nozzle from said fan chamber.

6. A dusting tool converter for suction cleaners having a nozzle, a fan chamber having a fan eye, a suction air passageway between said nozzle and fan eye and having a port adjacent said fan eye, a motor for driving a suction creating fan in said fan chamber and driving a shaft extending through said fan eye into said air passageway, comprising a conduit adapted to be inserted through the port into the air passageway in register with the fan eye, said conduit having a slot to accommodate the shaft,'a valve movably mounted on said conduit for enclosing the shaft and to close said slot to seal the nozzle from the fan chamber, means on said valve engageable with the shaft to open said valve for passage of said conduit transversely of the shaft,

with the fan eye, said conduit having a slot to accommodate the shaft, and a unitary valve pivotally mounted on said conduit and having, a first and asecond shaft engaging portion, said first portion engaging said shaft to close said valve upon insertion of the converter, and said second portion engaging said shaft to move said and means operatlvely connected with said valve for thereafter closing said valve about the shaft to seal the nozzle from the fan chamber,

7. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, a 'fan chamber, afan in said fan chamber, an air passage-v into the air passageway, said conduit having an 10 opening for receiving the drive means. a valve movably mounted on said converter for closing said opening around said drive means to seal the nozzle from the tan chambenand'means sition for engagement with said shaft during i'orming part of said valve extending into a po- 5 2,418,788

insertion of the converter into the air passaseway for moving said valve to its closed position.

mm; c. GERBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,080,480 Hoover May 18, 1937 2,340,347 Severance Feb. 1. 1944 White Mar. 4, 1947

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