Vacuum Cleaner

Abstract

The vacuum cleaner includes a vibration generator for removing the dust attached to the filter cloth, said vibration generator producing vibration through the utilization of the suction force of the vacuum cleaner itself.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and improved vacuum cleaner and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner having an improved vibration generator for removing dust remaining attached to the filter cloth.

Conventionally, the dust sticking to the filter cloth has been removed therefrom by brushing the cloth surface, or by lightly beating the cloth with a rod, or by swinging the filter cloth to hit something. This manner of dust removal from the filter cloth is not only troublesome requiring the application of external force against the filter cloth, but is also unsanitary resulting in soiling of the operator's hands.

An attempt has been made to provide an electromagnetically operable vibrator to engage the surface of the filter cloth. This device for removing the dust from the filter cloth is disadvantageous in that vibration sound is unpleasantly high. Accordingly, this electromagnetically operable vibrator has not been able to find its usefulness for household vacuum cleaners which are generally of smaller types.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a new and improved means for removing the dust attached to the filter cloth of a vacuum cleaner, in which vibration applied to the filter cloth for removing the dust is generated by a power drive and through the utilization of the suction force of the vacuum cleaner itself.

A another object of the invention is to provide an improved vacuum cleaner which includes two suction air flow systems before the motor fan unit: one for filtering the dust and the other for generating vibration which is to be transmitted to the filter cloth for removing the dust therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new device in which when the suction flow system is connected to the vibration generator side, the motor fan unit can automatically initiate to produce a violent suction force for generating vibration which is in turn transmitted to the filter cloth.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved vacuum cleaner in which a dust collecting case having filter means and vibration generator is detachable from the body including a motor fan unit therein and in turn the combined unit of filter means and vibration generator is detachable from the dust collecting case in such a manner that the dust collected in the case can be prevented from dropping through any suction inlet formed in the dust collecting case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The vacuum cleaner according to the invention includes, in a housing, a motor fan unit, a dust collecting chamber having filter means and an improved vibration generator for imparting vibration to said filter means. The improved vibration generator comprises a ball, a circular passage whose periphery forms a raceway for the ball, an air inlet passage connected to said circular passage and extending towards a suction inlet of the housing, and an air outlet passage connected to said circular passage and extending towards the suction side of the motor fan unit. Each of the inlet and outlet passages of the vibration generator includes an extensible bellows as a part thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, manually operable change-over means is provided for communicating the suction side of the motor fan unit selectively to filter means of the dust collecting chamber and to the outlet passage of the vibration generator change-over means may preferably be interconnected with an electrical switch which is inserted in a short circuit for energizing said motor fan unit.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the vacuum cleaner comprises a body including a motor fan unit and a dust collecting case detachably connected to the body. The dust collecting case includes filter means, vibration generator for imparting vibration to said filter means and a support frame for supporting said filter means and vibration generator. The support frame is detachably mounted within said dust collecting case. The vibration generator comprises a ball, a circular passage whose periphery forms a raceway for said ball, an air inlet passage connected to said circular passage and an outlet passage connected to said circular passage. The inlet and outlet passages are capable to communicate with a suction inlet of said dust collecting case and the suction side of said motor fan unit of said body, respectively. The dust collecting case may further include a valve opening engageable with the end of the inlet passage of the vibration generator. The valve opening is communicated with the suction inlet of the dust collecting case and has a normally closed valve which can only be opened during engagement of the inlet passage of the vibration generator with the valve opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly cut off and partly in section, of a vacuum cleaner embodying the present invention, showing the state in which the dust collecting case is connected to the body;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the dust collecting case illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the state in which the combined unit of filter means and vibration generator is being detached from the dust collecting case;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the vibration generator illustrator in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on broken line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken on broken line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical circuit for energizing the motor fan illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is another embodiment of the electrical circuit for energizing the motor fan illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the front end of the air inlet passage of the vibration generator illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a vacuum cleaner embodying the improved filter cleaning means in accordance with the present invention. The vacuum cleaner illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a cleaner body 11 and a dust collecting case 12 detachably connected to the cleaner body 11. The body 11 and the dust collecting case 12 cooperate with each other to form a complete housing generally indicated by the reference numeral 23.

The body 11 may be preferably be of a hollow cylindrical configuration or square prism and includes therein a motor fan unit 24 which is located immediately behind an inlet opening 25 formed in the front end wall 26 of the body 11. The body 11 has also a discharge outlet (not shown) in the down stream of the motor fan unit 24, preferably, at the rear end of the body 11.

The dust collecting case 12 which defines a dust collecting chamber is detachably secured to the body 11 at the front end thereof. The dust collecting case 12 is formed as an independent unit and comprises a laterally extending cylinder having an opening 27 (FIG. 2) at its rear end. The end opening 27 communicates with the inlet opening of the body 11. The rear end peripheral edge 29 of the dust collecting case 12 is provided at its bottom with a projection 28 which cooperates and engages with a hook 29 fixed to the body 11. Another means for connecting the dust collecting case 12 to the body 11 is clamp means 30 at the top of the rear end of the dust collecting case 12. Clamp means 30 engages with a complemental member 31 which is formed at the top of the front end of the body.

The body 12 is integrally provided toward its front end with a horizontally extending inlet fitting 32 adapted to be connected to a suction tubular hose 33 of the well-known construction. The reference numeral 34 indicates normally closed door or valve means which can only be opened when the hose 33 engages with the inlet fitting 32.

Within the dust collecting case 12 a filter unit 35 is located between the inlet fitting 32 and the rear end opening 27. The filter unit 35 comprises a main filter 36, a prefilter 37 and a support frame 38. The main filter is preferably a corrugated filter cloth while the prefilter 37 may be made of a nylon net or screen having relatively large meshes. The support frame 38 supports both the main filter and the prefilter, and is detachably mounted within the dust collecting case 12. Preferably, the prefilter 37 is detachably connected to the support frame 38. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the filter unit 35 substantially extends in a direction from the front top to the rear bottom within the dust collecting case 12, when it is placed therein.

According to the invention, the dust collecting case 12 further includes at least one vibration generator generally indicated by the reference numeral 40. The vibration generator 40 is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 3 in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. The vibration generator 40 may preferably comprise a steel ball 41, a circular passage 42, an inlet 43 and an outlet 44 both connected to the circular passage 42. The inlet 43 extends in a tangent direction with respect to the circular passage 42, while the outlet 44 is connected through a central cavity 15 to the circular passage 42. The vibration generator 40 is engageable with the filter cloth 36 by the medium of a vibration plate 46. The vibration plate 46 is formed in a shallow bowl shape adapted to deposit the vibration generator 40 thereon and is provided at its bottom surface with a plurality of longitudinally extending legs 47 which are in turn engageable with the corrugated filter cloth 36.

The inlet 43 and the outlet 44 of the vibration generator 40 are connected by flexible tubes or elastic bellows 51 and 52 to conduits 53 and 54, which are integrally formed with the support frame 38 for supporting the filter assembly 35. In this manner, the vibration generator 40 is supported by the support frame 38 so as to be allowed to vibrate in lateral directions. The elastic bellows 51 and 52 also function as vibration isolator. The series connection of the conduit 53, an elastic bellow 51 and the inlet 43 constitutes an inlet flow passage for the vibration generator and the series connection of the outlet 44, the elastic bellow 52 and the conduit 54 constitutes an outlet flow passage of the vibration generator 40.

The combined unit 60 comprising filter means 35, vibration generator 40 and the support frame 38 is detachable from the dust collecting case 12 as shown in FIG. 2. When the combined unit 60 is fitted into the dust collecting case 12, the end opening of the conduit 53 becomes in alignment and sealing contact with a nipple 61 which is formed in the front head portion of the case 12. The reference numeral 62 indicates a packing material at the top of nipple 61. The nipple 61 has an opening 150 which is normally closed by a valve 151 by means of a spring 152. On the other hand, the conduit 53 is provided with a projection 153 (more clearly shown in FIG. 8) at its front end. When the unit 60 is secured within the dust collecting case 12 with the end opening of the conduit 53 being in sealing contact with the nipple 61, the projection 153 engages the valve 151 to push it back against the force of the spring 152 so that the opening 150 may be maintained in an open position. The nipple 61 is communicated with the outside of the case through an opening 64 which is formed in the inlet fitting 32. When the hose 33 is inserted to the inlet fitting 32, the opening 64 may communicate with the inside of the hose 32 through an opening (not shown) which is formed in the hose so as to become in alignment with the opening 64 of the inlet fitting 32. Alternatively, the dust collecting case 12 may have another independent inlet opening 164 which always communicates the nipple 61 with the outside of the case 12.

When the combined unit 60 is placed in its predetermined position within the dust collecting case, the rear end peripheral edge 71 of the combined unit 60 sealingly closes the end opening 27 of the dust collecting case 12, as shown in FIG. 1. The peripheral edge 71 is made of a packing material. An end flange 72 supported by the peripheral edge packing 71 defines an end opening 73 which communicates the down-stream of the filter cloth 36 with the inlet opening 25 of the body 11.

The end opening of the conduit 54 can be communicated through an elbow 81 pivotally carried by a pivot 82 on the front end wall 83 of the body 11. The elbow 81 comprises an axially extending portion 81a and a radially extending portion 81b. The end opening of axially extending portion 81a is always in sealing contact via a packing material 84 with the end opening of the conduit 54. its end a vertical opening 84 with The radially extending portion 81b of the elbow 81 has at its end a vertical opening 84 which has the same diameter as that of the opening 25 of the body 11. The elbow 81 is manually operable by a knob 85 from the outside. The construction of means for manipulating the elbow 81 is more clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 1. A vertically extending drive shaft 86 fixed to the knob 85 has a segment bevel gear 87 which engages with a complemental segment bevel gear 88 which is formed on the outside surface of the axially extending portion 81a of the elbow 81. By turning the knob 85, the elbow 81 is turned about the pivot 82 so that the end opening 84 of the radially extending portion 81b may engage and disengage with the opening 25 of the body 11. FIGS. 1 and 4 show the state in which the elbow 81 connects the conduit 54 with the inlet opening 25 of the body 11. In this state the end opening 84 of the radially extending portion 81b is engaged with the opening 25 of the body 11 in a hermetically sealed manner by means of a packing material 89 inserted therebetween. In FIG. 4, the reference numeral 90 indicates a spring stretched between a fixed position on the front wall 83 of the body and the radial portion 81b of the elbow 81 for imparting a return moment to the elbow 81. Stop means(not shown) may be provided for maintaining the state of engagement of the radial portion of elbow 81 with the opening 25. If the stop means is released, the elbow 81 is turned in a clockwise direction (in FIG. 4) by the force of the spring so that the opening 25 of the body 11 is freed from the engagement with the elbow 81 and becomes to communicate with the end opening 72 of the unit 60.

From the description in the above it will be understood that the manually operable elbow 81 constitutes change-over means for communicating the suction side of the motor fan unit selectively to filter means and the outlet passage of the vibration generator 40.

In FIG. 1 the reference numeral 101 indicates a handle formed at the top of the body 11 and the reference numerals 102 and 103 indicate wheels for carrying the dust collecting case 12 and the body 11.

According to the invention, the above mentioned change-over means may preferably be interconnected with an electrical switch which is inserted in a short circuit for energizing the motor fan unit 11.

The electrical circuit for energizing the motor fan unit 24 is illustrated in FIG. 6. The motor 111 for the fan unit is connected in series with a relay switch 112. The reference numeral 113 indicates AC power supply source. The relay switch 112 is normally opened and is closed only when the second winding of the transformer 115 is energized. The first winding 114 of the transformer 115 is connected in parallel with the series circuit including the motor 111 and the relay switch 112. The second winding 116 of the transformer assembly 115 is connected to terminals 121, 122 which are fixed to the body 11 at its front top portion as shown in FIG. 5. The terminals 121 and 122 are in contact with electrical contacts 123 and 124 which are projected from the dust collecting case 12 at its top rear portion when the dust collecting case 12 is secured to the body 11 as shown in FIG. 1. The contacts 123 and 124 are electrically connected through lead wires 125 and electrical contacts 126 to a remote control switch 127 (FIG. 6) which is mounted on the handle portion of the hose 33. The electrical contacts 126 are provided between the inlet fitting 32 and the connecting end of the hose 33 so that those contacts 126 are only electrically connected when the hose 33 is secured to the inlet fitting 32.

A short circuit switch 131 is connected to the opposite terminals of the second winding 116 in parallel to the remote control switch 127. This short circuit switch 131 is interconnected with the movement of the change-over elbow 81 so that only when the elbow 81 is connected with the inlet opening 25 of the body the switch 131 is closed. In FIG. 5, the reference numeral 132 indicates an actuator for the switch 131. The actuator 132 is formed as a projection fixed to the axially extending portion 81a of the elbow 81.

In FIG. 6 the reference numeral 140 indicates a main switch which is provided in the body 11 for directly energizing the motor 111 without operation of the remote control switch 127.

In case where no remote control switch is utilized, the short circuit switch 131 may be connected in parallel with the main switch 140, as shown in FIG. 7. The mechanical construction for the switch 131 may be the same as illustrated in FIG. 5. The operation of the vacuum cleaner constructed as above in accordance with the present invention is next explained in detail. With the dust collecting case 12 being connected and locked to the body 11, a suction tubular hose 33 being connected to the inlet fitting 32 and the radial portion 81b of the elbow 81 being kept apart from the inlet opening 25 of the body, the motor fan unit 24 is energized to initiate violent suction of air into the cleaner for effecting vacuum cleaning. This energization can be carried out by closing the remote control switch 127 (FIG. 6) on the handle portion of the hose. If the remote control switch 127 is closed, the second winding 116 of the transformer is energized to close the relay switch 112, thereby energizing the motor 111. The switches 140 and 131 are kept open which could not be trapped by the prefilter 37 of large meshes are filtered by this filter cloth from the air before it moves through the openings 73 and 25 toward the motor fan unit 24. During the above cleaning operation, no suction is applied to the flow system including the vibration generator 40 because the change-over elbow 81 is kept apart from the opening 25 of the body 11.

When after use of the cleaner it is desired to remove dust remaining attached to the filter cloth 36, the elbow 81 is turned by manually operating the knob 85 until the end opening 84 of the radially extending portion 81b of the elbow 81 engages with the inlet opening 25 of the body 11. As soon as the end opening 84 of the elbow 81 becomes in alignment with the inlet opening 25 of the body 11, the switch 131 (FIG. 6 or FIG. 7) is automatically closed by the operation of the actuator 132 (FIG. 5) to energize the motor fan unit through the short circuit including the switch 131. During the operation of the motor fan unit 24, suction is introduced through the opening 64 and/or 164 into the dust collecting case 12. The suction air passes through the nipple 61, the conduit 53, the bellows 25 and enters tangentially into the circular passage 42 to drive the ball 41 so as to spin around its raceway. The suction air then leaves the vibration generator 40 through the outlet 44, the bellows 52 and the conduit 54 and introduced through the elbow 81 and the inlet opening into the motor fan unit 24. The spinning movement of the ball 41 in the raceway causes continuous vibration which is transmitted to the filter cloth 36 via the vibration plate 46, whereby the dust remaining attached to the filter cloth 36 is removed therefrom.

For disposing of the dust collected in the dust collecting case 12, the motor fan unit is deenergized and the dust collecting case 12 is detached from the body 11 by releasing clamp means 30. The hose 33 is also removed from the inlet fitting 32 to close the valve 34. Then, the combined unit 60 is detached from the case 12. As soon as the combined unit is detached from the case 12, the opening 150 is automatically closed by the valve 151. In this manner, the dust is prevented from dropping through the opening 150 and the inlet filling 32. Fine particles collected between the prefilter 37 and the filter cloth 36 may be disposed of by removing the prefilter 37 from the support frame.

Claims

What we claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner including, in a housing, a motor fan unit, a dust collecting chamber having filter means and vibration generator for imparting vibration to said filter means, an improvement characterized in that said vibration generator comprises a ball, a circular passage whose periphery forms a raceway for said ball, an air inlet passage connected to said circular passage and extending towards a suction inlet of said housing, and an air outlet passage connected to said circular passage and extending towards the suction side of said motor fan unit.

2. A vacuum cleaner as defined in claim 1, in which each of said inlet and outlet passages of said vibration generator includes an extensible bellows as a part thereof.

3. A vacuum cleaner as defined in claim 1, in which manually operable change-over means is provided for communicating the suction side of said motor fan unit selectively to said filter means of said dust collecting chamber and to said outlet passage of said vibration generator.

4. A vacuum cleaner as defined in claim 3, in which said change-over means is interconnected with an electrical switch which is inserted in a short circuit for energizing said motor fan unit.

5. A vacuum cleaner comprising a body including a motor fan unit and a dust collecting case detachably connected to said body; said dust collecting case including, filter means, vibration generator for imparting vibration to said filter means and a support frame for supporting said filter means and vibration generator, said support frame being detachably mounted within said dust collecting case; and vibration generator comprising a ball, a circular passage whose periphery forms a raceway for said ball, an air inlet passage connected to said circular passage and an outlet passage connected to said circular passage, said inlet and outlet passages being capable to communicate with a suction inlet of said dust collecting case and the suction side of said motor fan unit of said body, respectively.

6. A vacuum cleaner comprising a body including a motor fan unit and a dust collecting case detachably connected to said body; said dust collecting case including, filter means, vibration generator for imparting vibration to said filter means and a support frame for supporting said filter means and vibration generator, said support frame being detachably mounted within said dust collecting case; said vibration generator comprising a ball, a circular passage whose periphery forms a raceway for said ball, an air inlet passage connected to said circular passage and an outlet passage connected to said circular passage, said inlet and outlet passages being capable to communicate with a suction inlet of said dust collecting case and the suction side of said fan unit of said body, respectively; said dust collecting case further including a valve opening engageable with the end of said inlet passage of said vibration generator, said valve opening being communicated with said suction inlet of said dust collecting case and having a normally closed valve which can only be opened during engagement of said inlet passage of said vibration generator with said valve opening.