US2759208A - Power brushes for washing automobiles and the like - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 21, 1956 w. o. wlLLlAMs Filed April 5, 1954 POWER BRUSHES FOR WASHING AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE r.. In

nited States Patent POWER BRUSHES FOR WASHING AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Walter O. Williams, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 5, 1954, Serial No. 420,957

Claims. (Cl. 15--29) This invention relates to improvements in power brushes in the prior art but none has been completely successful in washing `automobiles and the like in that they do not have suicient power to provide adequate scrubbing :action, they stall easily, they provide too much water at the rotating scrubbing element to permit it to scrub eifectively, `and are so constructed that the item being washed can be damaged by the application of excess brush pressure.

With the foregoing in view, it is the primary object of the invention to provide a power brush for washing automobiles and the like which overcomes the foregoing defects and which is completely eifective in its cleansing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power brush including ya fixed brush element and a rotary brush element, the latter being turbine driven by an inexpensive high eiciency turbine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power brush including a fixed brush element and a rotary brush element which scrubs with more or less pressure applied to the item being Washed by the rotary element thereof responsive to manipulation of the brush against the item being washed, the said power brush including means for limiting the manual pressure that may be applied by the rotary brush element to the item being washed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power brush having an outer fixed brush element and a turbine driven rotary brush element with a resilient annular pressure ring therebetween which serves as a squeegee as well as to prevent the application of excess pressure between the rotary brush element and the item being washed, the

turbine wheel being arranged to ing Water therefrom outside the resilient squeegee-pressure ring which is located between the outer iixed brush element |and the rotary brush element.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power brush having a concentric fixed brush element and a rotary brush element with la concentric squeegee element therebetween, the said elements being usable selectively by the operator responsive to variation in manual pressure exerted in applying the power brush to the work being washed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a power brush embodying the invention taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2. p

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view with the brushes removed taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view with the brushes removed taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 Showing the mounting of the pressure ringP Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the power brush disclosed for the purpose of illustrating the invention comprises a dome shaped housing 10 having a central depending shaft 11 formed integral therewith onto which a turbine rotor 12 carrying a rotary brush element 13 is rotatably mounted. The said housing 10 has a stem 14 extending laterally therefrom to accommodate a hollow handle 15 through which water under pressure is supplied to turbine jet nozzles 16 as hereinafter described in detail. The periphery of the dome shaped housing 10 is provided with a plurality of notched lugs 17 spaced around the lower portion thereof to receive a fixed brush element 18 thereon. `The said fixed brush element 18 is removably secured to the periphery of the housing 10 by any suitable means such as the bands 180.

The fixed brush element 18 is preferably a hair type brush with sufficient fullness to accomplish an ordinary manual scrubbing operation and, at the same time, the fixed brush element 1S must have such resilience as to `collapse sufficiently responsive to manual pressure applying it against the item being washed to permit the rotary brush element 13 carried by the rotor 12 to exercise its power scrubbing action on the said item being washed. The rotary brush element 13 is secured to the rotor 12 by such means as studs yand the bottom of the brush thereof is disposed somewhat above the bottom of the fixed brush element 18 as best shown in Fig. l. Although the rotary brush element 13 is shown in the drawing to be a. hair type brush, it can be replaced by a lambs wool or other type of cleaning element.

Radially disposed between the rotary brush element 13 and the xed brush element 18 is a rigid annular pressure ring 19 onto which is mounted a resilient rubber squeegeepressure ring 20. The rigid annular pressure ring 19 is preferably secured by integral circumferentially spaced horizontally llanged arcuate brackets 21 in depending relationship from the ldome shaped housing 10 at such a height with respect to the rotary brush element 13 that the said resilient squeegee-pressure ring 20 carried thereby will contact and compress against the item being washed prior to the rotary brush element 13 becoming stalled as a result of pressure application of the power brush to an item being washed or cleaned thereby. The resilient squeegee-pressure ring 20 is preferably formed of a soft resilient rubber and the slot 200 thereof is deeper than the depending leg of the `annular pressure ring 19 to provide added resiliency to the resilient squeegee-pressure ring 20 whereby various degrees of pressure may be applied by the operator onto the item being washed before the resilient squeegee-pressure ring 20 is brought to bear solidly thereagainst. Obviously, other types of resilient squeegeepressure rings 20 may be employed, and, if desired, they may be ribbed in any manner known in the art-it being essential that the resilient squeegee-pressure ring 20 be capable of withstanding gradually increased resistance t0 compression as the power brush is applied with increasing pressure to the item being washed.

Within the dome shaped housing 10 at the inner periphery thereof is pressed a combined duct and nozzle ring 22 which is circumferentially grooved to provide in cooperation with the inner periphery of the housing 10 an annular duct 23 which is rectangular in cross section and which communicates by means of a passage 24 with the hollow stern 14 and handle 15. Water under pressure is supplied from the handle 15 through the hollow stem 14 and passage 24 to the annular duct 23. The duct and nozzle ring 22 is formed wider at two or more spaced intervals forming arcuate nozzle blocks 220 into which a plurality of more or less conical jet nozzle apertures 16 are cut. The passage 24 is so disposed as to direct water from the hollow stem 14 counterclockwise around the duct 23 as viewed in Fig. 2, and the nozzle apertures 16 are disposed to receive water passing counterclockwise through the duct 23 substantially without turbulence, thus contributing to the efciency of the turbine operation.

The turbinero'tor `12 has a central hub 2S Vwhich is telesco'ped onto the turbine shaft 11 dependingfrom the dome shaped'housing 10. If desired,'the turbine rotor 12 may be built in two parts secured together by studs 26 as indicated in the drawings. Suitable bearing means such as sleeve bearings 27 and 28, a thrust washer 29, and a stud 30 threaded into the bottoniof the turbine shaft 11 are employed to mount the turbine rotor 12 in freely rotatable relationship on the turbine shaft 11. A grease bore 31 from the top of the housing 10 communicates with a diagonal bore 32 in the turbine shaft lland supplies lubricant between the sleevebearings 27 and l28 through bores 33 provided inthe sleeve bearing 27. A screw 34 is threaded into the'top of the lgrease bore 31 to retain the grease therein. The periphery of the turbine rotor 12 has a pluralityofbuckets 3'5 formed therein which are disposed on a "suitable angle to receive water under pressure from theturbine nozzles 1'6 and obtain maximum power therefrom.

lt will be noted that water under'pressuie from the turbine nozzles 1'6 is retained in the 'rotor buckets 35 whenopposite the nozzles 1'6 and the arcuate nozzle blocks 220, and, after the buckets 35 leave the arcuate nozzle blocks 220 `during rotation of the turbine rotor 12, water in the rotor buckets 35 is flung into the areas 36 from whence it is discharged mainly outside the resilient squeegee-pressure'ring 20. `When the power brush isr applied to the surface being washed or cleaned with relatively light manual pressure, more of the water from the areas 36 spills -to the space withinlthe squeegeepressure ring 20. However, when suliicient pressure is employed Ain applying the power brush manually tothe surface being washed or cleaned to cause 'the squeegee-.pressure ring 20 to contact or substantially contact the surface being cleaned, then substantially all of the water from the turbine passes through the space outside the squeegeepressure ring 20 between the said squeegee-pressure ring 20 and the periphery of theh'ousiiig 10. Thus, by applying the power brush to an item to bev washed or cleaned with considerable `manual pressure,l aV scrubbing with relatively `less water lat't'he rotary brush element 13 can be accomplished, and after 'such scrubbing, a substantial rinsing action can 'be obtained at' the rotary brushv element by relieving 'some of 'the'mariual pressure' employed to apply `the power 'brush to 'the item beingwashed.

The horizontal anges of 'the'ilanged arcuate brackets 21 supporting the annular pressure ring 19 are disposed below the arcuate nozzle blocks l220 of the duct and nozzle ring 22, and are secured to the said duct and nozzle ring K22 by suitable studs 37. This construction leaves an open space 38'b`etw'ecn'the annular pressure ring 19 and resilient squeegee-pressure ring 20 thereon and the depending peripheral lip 100 of the dome shaped housing 10, see the iight side of Fig. l and the left side of Fig. 5.

In using powerbrushes embodying vthe invention, the hollow handlelS 'is connected to a hose through which water 'under pressure Ais supplied to 'the' power brush. Obviously, a detergentmay be mixed with 'the water by any suitable means generally employed for such purpose. The power brush is applied to theautomobile' or other object to be cleaned, at first lightly with only the fixed brush element 1'8 in contactwith'the object to be 'cleaned to wet the surface thereof and soften' the dirt orthe like thereon. After'the majority of the dirt, grit or grime has been washed off the 'surface to Vbe cleaned, additional manual pressure is employed to 'bring the rotary brush element 13 into heavier contact therewith. Then, if the rotary brush element '13 and the fixed brush element 18 does not clean any particular spot or spots, additional manual pressure is applied untilthe resilient squecgee- .pressure ring rubs over the surface'to be cleaned. After all dirt has been removed, washing or rinsing with clear 75,

water is accomplished by applying just enough manual pressure to bring therotary brush element 13 lightly in contact with the surface being washed, which latter phase of the operation tends to polish the surface being washed leaving the finish, if an automobile body, lustrously bright.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, arrangement and detail ofthe various elements thereof as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a power brush of the class described, a dome shaped housing including a fixed brush element therearound having a portion thereof ydepending tlierebelow, a turbine wheel having buckets formed in the periphery thereof rotatably mounted in said housing, a rotary brush element on said turbine wheel having the bottom thereof disposed above bottoni of said fixed brush element, said housing having therein an annular duct and circumferentially spaced groups of jet nozzles communicating with said duct formed to discharge into said turbine buckets, means'throughV which water under pressure is supplied to said duct, said 'housing having arcuate discharge areas therein disposed between said nozzle groups through 'which water passes from said turbine wheel, and a resilient pressure ring including means for mounting the same in depending relationship between said fixed and rotary brush elements with the bottom thereof disposed at an elevation below the lower ,periphery of said dome shaped housing and'abovethe bottom of the rotary brush element, lsaid pressure ring mounting means being located only at said nozzle groups whereby to permit water vdischarged from said turbine wheel through said arcuate discharge areas to flow within said pressure ring to said rotary brush element when the iixed brush elenicnt is applied to a surface to be cleaned.

2. 1n a power brush of the class described, a donie shapedv housing anda fixed brush element secured around and encompassing the periphery `thereof with a portion of said iixedbrush element depending therebelow, a turbine wheel having buckets .in the `periphery thereof rotatably mounted l'in said housing, a rotary brush element mounted on said turbine wheel in depending relationship therefrom -with lthe bottom thereof ldisposed above bottom of ksaid fixed brush element, a nozzle ring in said housing'forming an annular `duct therewitliin, vmeans through which water under pressure is supplied to said annular duct, said nozzie ring having circumerentially spaced :groups .of jet nozzles formed therein discharging into Vsaid turbine buckets, said nozzle ring 'being formed to provide arcuatedischarge areas between said nozzle groups through which water passes from said turbine, and a resilient pressure ring including means for mounting the saine between said `fixed and'rotary brush elements at an elevation below ythe lower periphery of said dome shaped housing and above the bottom lof the rotary brush element, said pressure vring `mounting means being located only at `said `nozzle groups whereby to permitwater discharged from said turbine kbuckets to flow within said pressure ring to sai-d rotary brush element when said fixed brush element Vis applied :to a surface being cleaned.

3. In `a power brush of the -class described, a dome shaped housing andra ti-xed brush element secured around and encompassing the periphery thereof with a portion of said -iixed brush element depending tlierebelow, a turbine wheel having-buckets foi'med iii-the periphery thereof rotatably-mounted in said housing, a rotary brush element mounted in depending relationship :from said turbine wheel -with the -bottom'thereof disposed above bottom of said xed brush element, the said rotary brush element being relatively stiffer than said `fixedv brush element, a nozzle ring in said'housing forming an annular duct'th'erewithin, said inozzle ring having circumferentially spaced lgroups *ofjet nozzles formed therein discharging into said turbine buckets, said nozzle ring 'being formed to provide arcuate discharge areas between said nozzle groups through which water passes from said turbine, and a resilient pressure ring including means for mounting the same between said xed and rotary brush elements at an elevation below the lower periphery of said dome shaped housing and above the bottom of the rotary brush element, said pressure ring mounting means being located only at said nozzle groups whereby to permit water discharged from said turbine buckets to llow within said pressure ring to said rotary brush element.

4. In a power brush of the class described, a dome shaped housing including a compressible fixed brush element therearound having a portion thereof depending therebelow, a combined nozzle and discharge duct ring Xed in sai-d housing, turbine jets arranged in spaced groups within said nozzle and duct ring, a turbine wheel having radially disposed buckets in the periphery thereof rotatably mounted in said housing with the buckets therein in alignment with said turbine jets, means through which water under pressure is supplied to said turbine jets, the said nozzle and duct ring having arcuate discharge ducts therein disposed between said nozzle groups and through which water from said turbine buckets discharges within sai-d dome shaped housing, a rotary brush element relatively less compressible than said fixed brush element secured on said turbine Wheel for rotation therewith, the bottom of the rotary brush element being disposed above the bottom of the fixed brush element, and a resilient squeegce and pressure ring disposed radially between said fixed and rotary brush elements including means for mounting the same within said dome shaped housing permitting water discharging from said arcuate discharge ducts to ilow on both sides thereof.

5. In a power brush of the class described, a dome shaped housing including a compressible fixed brush element therearound having a portion thereof depending therebelow, a combined nozzle and discharge duct ring xed in said housing, turbine jets arranged in spaced groups Within Sai-d nozzle and duct ring, a turbine wheel having radially disposed buckets in the periphery thereof rotatably mounted in said housing with the buckets therein in alignment with said turbine jets, means through which water under pressure is supplied to said turbine jets, the said nozzle and duct ring having arcuate discharge ducts therein disposed between said nozzle groups through which water from said turbine buckets discharges within said dome shaped housing, a rotary brush element relatively less compressible than said Xed brush element secured on said turbine Wheel for rotation therewith, the bottom of the rotary brush element being disposed above the bottom of the fixed brush element, and a resilient squeegee and pressure ring disposed radially between said xed and rotary brush elements including means for mounting the same within said dome shaped housing permitting water discharging from said arcuate discharge ducts to flow on both sides thereof, the bottom of said Squeegee and pressure ring being disposed above the bottom of said rotary brush element.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,375,102 Masser Apr. 19, 1921 1,821,394 Moschetto Sept. 1, 1931 1,872,602 Olsen Aug. 16, 1932 2,000,930 DeNagy May 14, 1935 2,609,555 Anderson Sept. 9, 1952

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