U.S. patent number 3,813,725 [Application Number 05/281,293] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-04 for vacuum cleaner construction.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Atwater Strong Co., Inc.. Invention is credited to Carl G. Rinker.
United States Patent |
3,813,725 |
Rinker |
June 4, 1974 |
VACUUM CLEANER CONSTRUCTION
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner having a longitudinally extending nozzle
pivotally mounted on a movable carriage. An annular fan housing is
mounted on the carriage containing a fan driven by an engine for
developing an air flow through the nozzle and fan housing. A
tangentially-disposed fan housing discharge or exhaust port
communicates with a bag which is suspended from a handle mounted on
the rear of the carriage to receive and store debris collected by
the nozzle. The engine is mounted on the carriage at one side of
the fan housing and the engine shaft extends laterally of the
carriage into the fan housing, and the fan is mounted on the shaft
within the housing. The exhaust end of the nozzle is pivotally
mounted on a vertical carriage bracket and on the other side of the
fan housing for limited pivotal movement vertically about a
laterally extending axis. The front or inlet end of the nozzle is
roller supported by a pair of wheels. A roller is pivotally mounted
on the front end of the carriage beneath the nozzle and is actuated
by a lever mounted on the handle for controlling the vertical
position of the nozzle inlet end and opening with respect to a
surface being cleaned. A self-propelling driving mechanism
engageable with the rear carriage wheels may be incorporated in the
cleaner construction.
Inventors: |
Rinker; Carl G. (Atwater,
OH) |
Assignee: |
Atwater Strong Co., Inc.
(Atwater, Portage, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
23076692 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/281,293 |
Filed: |
August 17, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/347; 15/359;
15/337 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L
9/009 (20130101); A47L 5/28 (20130101); E01H
1/0836 (20130101); A47L 9/0072 (20130101); A47L
9/1418 (20130101); A01G 20/47 (20180201) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
5/28 (20060101); A47L 9/10 (20060101); A47L
5/22 (20060101); E01H 1/00 (20060101); A01G
1/12 (20060101); E01H 1/08 (20060101); A47l
009/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/328,334,337,347,354,359 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hornsby; Harvey C.
Assistant Examiner: Moore; C. K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Frease & Bishop
Claims
I claim:
1. Vacuum cleaner construction including a carriage; handle means
mounted on the carriage; wheels rotatably mounted on the carriage
for movement of the carriage across a surface to be cleaned; a
nozzle extending longitudinally with respect to the carriage and
having a laterally extending inlet mouth at one end and an exhaust
port at the other end; means mounting the nozzle exhaust port on
the carriage for pivotal movement of the nozzle vertically about a
laterally extending axis; a fan housing communicating with the
nozzle exhaust port; inlet and exhaust openings formed in the fan
housing; the fan housing having a generally cylindrical shape with
inner and outer laterally spaced side walls and a
tangentially-disposed air exhaust port, said exhaust port extending
longitudinally rearwardly from the fan housing and terminating in
and forming the fan housing exhaust opening, and said fan housing
inlet opening being formed in the inner fan housing side wall
concentrically with respect to the laterally extending pivotal
axis; means communicating with the fan housing exhaust opening for
receiving and storing debris discharged from the fan housing
exhaust opening; fan means mounted within the fan housing for
developing an air flow through the nozzle and fan housing and into
the debris collection means; engine means drivingly connected to
the fan means; and wheel means mounted on the nozzle supporting
said nozzle mouth above a surface being cleaned.
2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the debris
collection means includes a porous cloth bag formed with an inlet
opening in the upper portion thereof, in which clamp means
releasably connects the bag to the air exhaust port, and in which
the fan housing exhaust opening communicates directly with the bag
inlet opening, whereby the debris discharged from the fan housing
enters directly into the bag in a general straight-line path from
the fan housing air exhaust port.
3. The construction defined in claim 2 in which downwardly
extending arcuate deflector means is mounted on the fan housing air
exhaust port, and in which said deflector extends through the bag
inlet opening and deflects debris discharged through the fan
housing air exhaust port downwardly toward the bottom of the
bag.
4. The construction defined in claim 2 in which a disposable
plastic liner is located within the cloth bag, in which the liner
is formed with a plurality of perforations to permit air flow
through the bag, and in which the fan housing air exhaust port
communicates with the liner for discharging debris from the fan
housing into the liner.
5. The construction defined in claim 2 in which an air exhaust
opening is formed in the upper portion of the bag, in which means
are mounted on the bag and communicate with the bag air exhaust
opening to regulate the amount of air escaping from the bag through
said opening, and in which a screen covers the bag air exhaust
opening permitting the passage of air through said opening and
preventing the passage of debris through said opening.
6. Vacuum cleaner construction including a carriage having a
vertically extending bracket formed with a circular top opening;
handle means mounted on the carriage; wheels rotatably mounted on
the carriage for movement of the carriage across a surface to be
cleaned; a nozzle extending longitudinally with respect to the
carriage and having a laterally extending inlet mouth at one end
and an exhaust port at the other end; said nozzle exhaust port
having laterally spaced inner and outer side walls; means mounting
the nozzle exhaust port on the carriage for pivotal movement of the
nozzle vertically about a laterally extending axis; a fan housing
communicating with the nozzle exhaust port; the fan housing
including a pair of laterally spaced inner and outer side walls;
inlet and exhaust openings formed in the fan housing; said fan
housing inlet opening being circular and formed in the fan housing
inner side wall laterally horizontally aligned with the carriage
bracket opening; the nozzle exhaust port pivotal mounting means
including a pair of outwardly extending annular flanges formed on
the nozzle exhaust port inner and outer side walls, said outer side
wall flange extending through the carriage bracket opening and said
inner side wall flange extending through the fan housing inlet
opening; means communicating with the fan housing exhaust opening
for receiving and storing debris discharged from the fan housing
exhaust opening; fan means mounted within the fan housing for
developing an air flow through the nozzle and fan housing and into
the debris collection means; engine means drivingly connected to
the fan means; and wheel means mounted on the nozzle supporting
said nozzle mouth above a surface being cleaned.
7. The construction defined in claim 6 in which the inner nozzle
flange surrounds a nozzle exhaust opening formed in the nozzle
inner wall.
8. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the outer nozzle
flange surrounds an auxiliary opening formed in the nozzle outer
wall, and in which cover means seals said auxiliary opening to the
atmosphere when the air flow enters through the nozzle mouth.
9. The construction defined in claim 6 in which the engine means
include a shaft, said shaft extending horizontally laterally with
respect to the carriage, in which the engine shaft extends through
an opening formed in the fan housing outer wall and connects to the
fan means, and in which the axis of the engine shaft is laterally
aligned with the fan housing inlet opening and with the nozzle
exhaust opening.
10. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the nozzle
includes a box-like section extending longitudinally between the
nozzle mouth and the nozzle exhaust port, in which the nozzle mouth
includes flared top and bottom walls and laterally spaced end
walls, said walls forming a laterally extending nozzle mouth
opening, and in which the nozzle mouth support wheel means includes
wheels mounted on the laterally spaced end walls.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to vacuum cleaners and in particular to
large, wheeled-type vacuum cleaners for gathering debris from
lawns, and for use at commercial and industrial sites. More
particularly, the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner
construction having a pivotally mounted nozzle for vertically
adjusting the location of the nozzle mouth with respect to the
surface being cleaned.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Large vacuum cleaners of the wheeled-type have had various
constructions, nozzle configurations and mounting arrangements, and
attachments for picking up debris such as grass clippings, leaves,
twigs, etc. from lawns, and for picking up paper, cans bottles,
dirt, etc. from commercial and industrial sites. Examples of prior
cleaner constructions intended for such cleaning operations are
shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,824,335, 2,918,694, 3,089,178, 3,112,511,
3,126,571, 3,358,316, 3,491,399 and 3,618,157.
Most known vacuum cleaners of this type do not provide means for
readily adjusting the location of the nozzle mouth from the ground
being cleaned except by pivoting the entire cleaner on its rear
wheels to raise the nozzle mouth. Such adjustment is difficult due
to the weight of the cleaners. Some cleaners, such as shown in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 3,089,178 and 3,491,399 have pivotally mounted flaps or
doors on the front of the nozzle to enable large sized debris and
objects to be readily drawn into the nozzle. Such doors, however,
do not permit the cleaner nozzle to pass over large objects, such
as rocks, which are not intended to be picked up.
The debric picked up by most prior cleaners must pass through
numerous bends and flexible hose before being discharged into a
debris collector. Such bends and hose are susceptible to plugging
when collected debris becomes lodged in the bend areas.
Prior cleaner nozzles usually are rigidly mounted on a cleaner
frame or carriage, and wheels support the carriage for movement
across an area to be cleaned. Such arrangements are suitable for
level surface use, but when used out of doors on uneven ground, the
nozzle must follow the path of the cleaner carriage. Thus, the
nozzle rises or falls as the carriage wheels move over bumps on and
depressions in the ground. This results in changing location of the
nozzle mouth with respect to the ground, which affects the suction
efficiency.
Even in those cleaner constructions having a nozzle mounted on a
separate pair of wheels, varying suction is experienced since the
movement of the cleaner carriage still changes the location of the
nozzle mouth with respect to the ground due to the nozzle being
rigidly mounted on the carriage.
Another known means of adjusting the nozzle location with respect
to the ground is by manual movement of nozzle mounting bolts, such
as shown in Pat. Nos. 2,824,335 and 3,358,316. Such adjustment is
time consuming, and once adjusted, the nozzle remains in the
adjusted position, until the operator stops the machine and
manually readjusts the mounting bolts.
Known cleaners have no means for conveniently connecting a flexible
hose to the cleaner for reaching areas inaccessible to the nozzle,
such as behind shrubbery, under work benches, etc. Known connection
means require removal of bolted plates, baffles, etc. on the
cleaner, and the subsequent installation of other plates, baffles,
etc. to connect the hose to the cleaner and to divert the suction
air through the connected hose.
Another problem existing with known cleaners is that the cleaner
engine which drives the fan blade to provide suction, usually is
mounted centrally of the cleaner and has either a horizontally
longitudinally extending fan shaft or a vertically extending fan
shaft. The engine in such arrangements is mounted adjacent the
collection bag, which usually is formed of a porous material,
thereby permitting dust laden air around the bag to be drawn into
the engine cooling means. This results in a hotter running, less
efficient, and shorter lived engine, than if clean cooling air is
drawn into the engine.
Such engine shaft arrangements in prior vacuum cleaners, require
additional mechanism for connecting the power train mechanisms
between the engine shaft and the cleaner carriage axle for
self-propelling means, then that required where the engine shaft
extends horizontally laterally and parallel with the cleaner
carriage axles.
Thus, there exists a need for a vacuum cleaner construction which
solves the problems and eliminates the difficulties encountered
with the described prior cleaner constructions, in an efficient,
simple and relatively inexpensive manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Objectives of the invention include providing a vacuum cleaner
construction for picking up large quantities of debris from outside
areas such as lawns, parking lots, parks, etc. and from inside
areas such as industrial and commercial work areas, warehouses,
shops, etc.; providing a vacuum cleaner construction having a
nozzle pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis on a movable
carriage, whereby the nozzle may follow closely the contour of the
ground being cleaned appreciably unaffected by the up and down
movement of the carriage, and in which the front of the nozzle is
supported by a pair of adjustable wheels; providing a vacuum
cleaner construction having lever means mounted on the cleaner
handle for easy and rapid manipulation by an operator for readily
adjusting the height of the nozzle mouth with respect to the ground
to enable the nozzle to pass over obstacles and to pick up large
pieces of debris, and in which the lever has a lower operating
position and an intermediate raised operating position in which the
nozzle and lever will remain until released by the operator;
providing a vacuum cleaner construction in which the pivotally
mounted nozzle can be raised to an upper vertical position whereby
debris can be fed at the top into the nozzle mouth from a conveyor
belt, table or the like for shredding and collection in the
attached refuse bag; providing a vacuum cleaner construction which
has its engine mounted on one side of the cleaner carriage whereby
the engine shaft extends horizontally laterally with respect to the
cleaner to facilitate connection of a self-propelled drive unit on
the cleaner, and to remove the engine from immediate proximity to
the collection bag to thereby eliminate large quantities of dust
and dirt being drawn into the engine cooling system; providing a
vacuum cleaner construction in which large debris drawn into the
nozzle first strikes the rear of the nozzle prior to moving through
the fan for compacting or shredding and discharge into a collection
bag, thereby reducing possible damage to the fan blades, and in
which shredding chains or blades may be mounted in the nozzle for
initial compacting and shredding of the debris before movement of
the debris past the fan blades; providing a vacuum cleaner
construction having an auxiliary side nozzle opening for insertion
of a hose for cleaning areas inaccessible to the nozzle, which hose
can be attached by the simple removal of a snap-on cover plate and
without installing and removing extra baffles; providing a vacuum
cleaner construction in which the debris is discharged directly
from the fan housing into the top portion of the collection bag,
eliminating the passage of the discharged debris through flexible
hose and around tube bends, and eliminating the pushing and lifting
of the previously collected debris by the newly discharged debris
as it enters the bag from the housing; providing a vacuum cleaner
construction which can be adapted easily for drawbar connection to
the front or rear of a tractor; and providing a vacuum cleaner
construction which requires a minimum number of movable parts,
thereby reducing construction and maintenance costs, which is
simple in operation, and which solves problems, satisfies needs,
and obtains new results in the art.
These objectives and advantages are obtained by the vacuum cleaner
construction, the general nature of which may be stated as
including a carriage; wheels rotatably mounted on the carriage; an
annular fan housing having a tangentially-disposed rear exhaust or
discharge opening and a concentric side inlet opening mounted on
the carriage; a longitudinally extending nozzle having a lateral
inlet mouth and an exhaust end, means pivotally mounting the nozzle
exhaust end on the fan housing for movement of the nozzle
vertically about a laterally extending axis, the nozzle exhaust end
being formed with an exhaust opening coinciding with the fan
housing side inlet port; fan means mounted within the fan housing
for inducing air flow through the nozzle and fan housing; engine
means having a laterally extending drive shaft mounted on the
carriage, the drive shaft extending into the fan housing and
rotatably mounting the fan means, with the axis of the drive shaft
generally coinciding with the nozzle pivot axis, wheel means
mounted on the nozzle inlet mouth for roller supporting the mouth
above a surface being cleaned; handle means mounted on the rear of
the carriage; means mounted on the carriage and handle means for
generally vertically adjusting the position of the nozzle mouth
with respect to the surface being cleaned; the nozzle adjustment
means including roller means pivotally mounted on the carriage
beneath the nozzle, and lever means mounted on the handle means and
connected to the roller means for pivoting the roller means into
engagement with the nozzle to pivotally raise and lower the nozzle
mouth; and bag means mounted on the handle means and communicating
with the fan housing exhaust port for receiving and storing debris
collected through the nozzle and discharged from the fan
housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention - illustrative of the best
modes in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles -
are set forth in the following description and shown in the
drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set
forth in the appended claims.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved vacuum cleaner
construction with the debris collection bag inflated and with the
nozzle in the lower operating position;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the improved vacuum cleaner, with
portions broken away and in section, and with the intermediate
nozzle position shown in solid lines and the lower nozzle position
shown in dot-dash lines;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3--3, FIG.
2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the improved vacuum cleaner
construction, similar to FIG. 1, with the trash collection bag
deflated and with the nozzle shown in maximum raised vertical
position;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the vacuum cleaner as
shown in FIG. 1, with portions broken away and in section, showing
the air-flow path between the nozzle inlet mouth and the debris
collection bag;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line
6--6, FIG. 5, showing the fan housing exhaust port;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the fan housing and
nozzle discharge end, showing an auxiliary hose connected to the
fan housing;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a modified construction of the fan
housing and nozzle discharge end, showing an auxiliary shredding
mill mounted within the nozzle discharge end;
FIG. 9 is an end elevation of a modified form of the improved
vacuum cleaner construction with the collection bag removed,
showing a self-propelled operating mechanism mounted on the
improved vacuum cleaner;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of the self-propelled
vacuum cleaner construction shown in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 11--11, FIG.
9, showing the drive sprocket arrangement with the drive chains
removed;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 12--12, FIG.
11; and
FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the vacuum cleaner
construction shown in FIGS. 1-5 having a draw bar mounted thereon
and being pulled by a tractor.
Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the
drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
The improved vacuum cleaner construction is indicated generally at
1 (FIGS. 1-5) and includes as main components a carriage assembly
2, a nozzle 3, a fan housing 4, an engine 5, a handle assembly 6
and a debris collection bag 7.
Carriage assembly 2 has a pair of spaced parallel, longitudinally
extending channels 8, with wheels 9 rotatably mounted on the ends
of channels 8 for moving cleaner 1 across the ground or a surface
to be cleaned. A laterally extending channel plate 10 is connected
to channels 8 by bolts 11, and supports a vertically extending
nozzle mounting bracket 12 at one end thereof.
Bracket 12 preferably is a U-shaped channel having a web 13 and
sides 14, with the upper portion of sides 14 being tapered at 15.
The top of web 13 is formed in an outwardly extending flange 16 to
provide strength and rigidity to bracket 12. Bracket 12 is attached
to plate 10 by suitable fastening means, such as bolts 16a (FIG.
3).
A pair of spaced engine mounting brackets 17 and 18 (FIGS. 3 and 5)
is connected to the end of plate 10 opposite bracket 12, by bolts
19. Brackets 17 and 18 extend vertically upwardly from plate 10 and
terminate in top flanges 20. Engine 5 is mounted on flanges 20 by
bolts 21 which connect engine mounting blocks 22 to flanges 20. A
longitudinally extending reinforcing channel 23 extends between and
is bolted at 24 to the bottom portion of engine brackets 17 and
18.
Nozzle 3 includes a flared inlet front mouth 25 formed by top and
bottom walls 26 and 27, end walls 28 and 29, and inwardly tapered
side walls 30. Nozzle mouth 25 extends forwardly from and is formed
integrally with a generally box-like nozzle discharge housing
section indicated at 31. Housing 31 forms the nozzle discharge end
and includes top and bottom walls 32 and 33, and side walls 34 and
35, all of which terminate in a rounded rear exhaust port 36.
Nozzle mouth 25 forms a rectangular mouth opening 37 (FIG. 4)
through which the debris and trash is picked up prior to passing
through nozzle 3.
A pair of wheels 38 is mounted on nozzle end walls 28 and 29 by
usual adjusting mechanisms 39. Mechanisms 39 include fixed
vertically extending notched channels 40 fixed to end walls 28 and
29. Wheels 38 are mounted on slide frames 41 which move along
channels 40 and selectively engage notches 40a formed in channels
40. Mechanisms 39 permit wheels 38 to be adjusted with respect to
nozzle 3 to provide adjustment of the vertical location of nozzle
37 above a surface being cleaned, with front end 25 of nozzle 3
supported by wheels 38.
A pair of laterally aligned openings 43 and 44 is formed in nozzle
housing side walls 34 and 35 adjacent rear exhaust port 36 (FIG.
3). A pair of outwardly extending annular flanges 45 and 46 are
formed integrally with side walls 34 and 35 around openings 43 and
44. Flange 45 extends through an opening 47 formed in web 13 of
bracket 12, and flange 46 extends through a pair of openings 48 and
49 in fan housing 4. The telescopic engagement of flanges 45 and 46
in openings 47, and openings 48 and 49, respectively, forms the
pivotal mounting for nozzle 3 between bracket 12 and fan housing
4.
Fan housing 4 has a generally cylindrical shape and is formed by an
annular outer casing 50 and side walls 50a and 50b. Housing 4
includes a tangentially-disposed air discharge or exhaust port 51
formed with an end opening 52 (FIGS. 1 and 6). Disc-shaped
reinforcing plates 53 and 54 are bolted at 55 to sides 50a and 50b
of housing 4 for mounting housing 4 on carriage 2.
Housing plate 53 and sidewall 50a are formed with the aligned
openings 48 and 49, respectively, through which nozzle flange 46
extends (FIG. 3) for pivotally mounted nozzle 3 to fan housing 4.
Housing plate 54 is connected to carriage channel 23, and is bolted
at 57 to engine 5 to rigidly mount fan housing 4 on carriage 2 and
to space housing 4 above carriage channel plate 10.
Engine 5 is a usual gasoline engine and is located on one side of
cleaner 1. Engine 5 is mounted on brackets 17 and 18 by bolts 21
and is connected to fan housing side wall 50b and reinforcing plate
54 by bolts 57. The side mounting of engine 5 enables engine shaft
59 to extend horizontally laterally through wall 50b and plate 54
into the interior of fan housing 4.
A multibladed fan 60 is journaled on the end of shaft 59 (FIG. 3)
within housing 4 to induce vacuum air movement through the fan
housing for picking up debris through nozzle 3 and for discharging
the debris through housing exhaust port 51. Fan 60 is spaced
sufficiently from the perimeter of outer casing 50 to prevent
blockage of fan housing 4 by debris becoming wedged between the
ends of the fan blades and casing 50.
A collar 61 is formed at the rear of exhaust port 51 and surrounds
exhaust opening 52 (FIG. 6), for attaching collection bag 7 by a
strap 62. Bag 7 preferably is made of porous canvas material having
a plurality of strap tabs 63 to suspend bag 7 from handle assembly
6 (FIGS. 1 and 4).
Bag 7 is formed with a large side opening 64, a horizontal exhaust
opening 56 and an inlet opening 58. Openings 56 and 58 are formed
in the front wall 7a of bag 7 with exhaust opening 56 being spaced
above inlet opening 58. Collar 61 extends into inlet opening 58 for
connecting fan housing 4 with bag 7.
A disposable plastic liner bag 65 (FIG. 2) formed with a plurality
of perforations 66 may be placed within bag 7 through side opening
64 for easy storage and removal of the collected debris.
A section of flexible screening material 56a is secured to the
inner surface of bag wall 7a surrounding opening 56 to prevent
collected debris from being discharged through exhaust opening 56
(FIGS. 1 and 2). Opening 56 has a closure zipper 42 which enables
the size of opening 56 to be regulated.
It has been found that as bag 7 fills with debris, the dust and
dirt particles collected with the debris fill the porous openings
in bag 7 reducing the air flow through bag 7. This reduced volume
of air passing from bag 7 reduces the effective suction at nozzle
mouth opening 37, thereby decreasing the efficiency of cleaner 1.
Movement of zipper 42 regulates the size of opening 56 and provides
the volume of exhausted air necessary to compensate for the filled
bag, and to maintain the cleaner's efficiency as bag 7 becomes
filled.
Zipper 42 will be closed or nearly closed when bag 7 is nearly
empty and is moved to increase the size of opening 56 as the bag
fills. The size of opening 56 and the necessity of manipulating
zipper 42 depends largely upon the type of debris collected in bag
7 and the cleanliness of the air discharged into bag 7 with the
collected debris.
Handle assembly 6 includes a U-shaped tubular frame portion 67
extending vertically upwardly from carriage 2, and a similar
tubular frame portion 68 connected to the top of vertical frame 67
and extending horizontally rearwardly therefrom. The bottom ends of
tubular portion 67 are bent forwardly and extend through slots 69
formed in carriage channels 8, and are secured to channels 8 by
bolts 11 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 5). Horizontal frame 68 is bolted at 70 to
vertical frame 67 and includes a horizontal brace 71 and diagonal
side braces 72.
Vertical studs 73 project upwardly from the corners of horizontal
frame 68 and extend through grommets 74 in bag tabs 63 to suspend
bag 7 from frame 68.
A usual throttle control lever 75 is mounted on one leg of frame 68
and is connected to engine 5 by a flexible cable 76 for controlling
the speed of engine 5.
In accordance with the invention a roller 77 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5) is
pivotally mounted on the front of carriage 2 for remotely,
vertically adjusting nozzle mouth 37 with respect to a surface
being cleaned. Roller 77 is rotatably mounted on a pin 78 which
extends between the swinging ends of a pair of links 79. The
opposite ends of links 79 are rigidly connected to a pivot rod 80
which is journaled in a pair of tabs 81 welded to the front end of
channel plate 10.
A control link 82 is welded at 83 to the outer end of rod 80 for
rotating rod 80 and links 79. A control rod 84 is pivotally
connected at its lower end to the swinging end 85 of link 82 and
extends diagonally upwardly along the side of cleaner 1 for
pivoting lever 82 and rod 80. The top end of control rod 84 is
pivotally connected at 86 to a lever 87 which is pivotally mounted
on a bracket 88. Bracket 88 is bolted at 89 to one member of handle
frame 68.
Nozzle 3 usually will be in the lower operating position (FIG. 1
and dot-dash lines, FIG. 2) when cleaner 1 is used for picking up
small particles of dirt and debris, and when collecting grass
clippings, leaves and twigs. In this position, nozzle mouth opening
37 will be close to the surface being cleaned, thereby providing
strong suction air currents, and nozzle mouth 25 will be supported
by wheels 38. Roller 77 extends generally forwardly downwardly from
carriage 2 and disengaged from supporting mouth 25 of nozzle 3.
Control lever 87 normally is pulled rearwardly maintaining roller
77 in its forward downward position through rod 84.
Debris adjacent nozzle mouth opening 37 will be drawn upwardly into
nozzle 3 by the fan suction through mouth opening 37 (arrows A,
FIG. 5). The debris passes through nozzle discharge section 31 with
the heavier debris continuing rearwardly and contacting rounded
nozzle rear exhaust port 36 (arrows B, FIG. 5), prior to being
drawn laterally through openings 48 and 49 into fan housing 4
(arrows C, FIG. 5).
The inertia of the heavier debris prevents such debris from being
drawn directly into fan housing 4 before striking nozzle exhaust
port 36. Thus, the momentum and impact force of the heavier debris
is reduced considerably before it contacts fan 60, thereby enabling
a high suction to be maintained at nozzle opening 37 with a minimum
of debris impacting on fan 60. The possibility of damage to fan 60
and the forces encountered by fan 60 are reduced by this change of
direction of movement of the collected debris and by the collision
of the heavier debris with the nozzle rear end prior to contacting
fan 60.
The lighter pieces of debris may pass from nozzle 3 directly into
fan housing 4 without first striking nozzle exhaust port end 36.
Such debris, however, does not have sufficient momentum or impact
to damage fan 60.
The debris contacts revolving fan 60 upon entering housing 4, where
it will be shredded into smaller pieces before being swirled about
housing 4 by the circulating air currents and discharged through
discharge opening 52 directly into bag 7. Large pieces of debris
may be deflected laterally, back into nozzle 3 by fan 60 several
times until reduced to a smaller size, sufficient to pass between
fan 60 and fan housing casing 50.
When it is desired to pick up larger pieces of debris, such as
paper cups, cans, wood, etc., nozzle 3 is raised easily to an
intermediate fixed position (as shown in FIG. 1 and in solid lines,
FIG. 2) by manipulation of control lever 87. Lever 87 is pivoted
forwardly in a clockwise direction (arrow D, FIG. 2) pulling
control rod 84 upwardly rearwardly and pivoting links 79 and roller
77 in a counterclockwise direction about pivot rod 80. As roller 77
pivots upwardly it rolls along bottom wall 33 of nozzle discharge
section 31, pivoting nozzle 3 upwardly in a counterclockwise
direction (arrow E, FIG. 2) on bracket 12 and fan housing 4.
Roller links 79 will assume a generally vertical position with
roller 77 supporting nozzle 3 upon lever 87 reaching its forward
position, with lever 87 and roller 77 remaining fixed in such
position without an operator holding the lever.
In this intermediate position, the weight of nozzle 3 will be
supported largely by roller 77 and links 79, with the position of
nozzle mouth 25 being affected more directly by the movement of
carriage 2 over the ground than when nozzle 3 is in the lower
position and supported by nozzle wheels 38.
Nozzle 3 is returned to its lower operating position rapidly and
conveniently by pulling lever 87 rearwardly to release it from its
forward fixed position. Roller 77 then is forced downwardly by
control rod 84 and control link 82, lowering nozzle 3 until wheels
38 again support nozzle mouth 25.
Manual movement of lever 87 between the front and rear fixed
positions for raising and lowering nozzle 3, enables nozzle 3 to be
quickly and conveniently adjusted according to ground condition.
For example, should an obstacle be encountered when nozzle 3 is in
the lower position, lever 87 is pushed forwardly only that distance
needed to temporarily raise nozzle 3, to enable the nozzle to pass
over the obstacle. After passing over the obstacle pressure can be
released from lever 87 and the weight of nozzle 3 is sufficient to
return nozzle 3 and lever 87 to their former positions with nozzle
mouth 25 being supported by wheels 38.
Thus, cleaner 1 need not be moved around small obstacles during
use, nor does the nozzle have to be set to a fixed vertically
adjusted position to enable the nozzle to pass over such objects,
thereby reducing the effective suction as heretofore occurred with
prior cleaner constructions.
Another important feature of cleaner 1, in accordance with the
invention, is the ability to manually pivot nozzle 3 to a vertical
or upper position (FIG. 4) with nozzle mouth 25 opening upwardly
for receiving debris deposited therein from the top. Cleaner 1 can
be moved on wheels 9 to a debris collection location, such as at
the end of a conveyor or adjacent a work site, for shredding and
storing debris deposited manually or automatically in nozzle 3
through mouth opening 37.
Nozzle 3 preferably is moved just past true vertical position so
that the center of gravity of nozzle 3 will tend to pivot nozzle 3
in a counterclockwise position, retaining nozzle 3 in a generally
vertical position resting against handle frame 68, eliminating the
need for additional positioning and retaining members. Cleaner 1,
thus has the advantage of a usual mobile vacuum cleaner, plus the
features of a stationary shredder and refuse collector.
Nozzle 3, due to its pivotal mounting on fan housing 4 and carriage
bracket 12, is movable manually vertically between a lower
operating position (FIG. 1) and a generally vertical upper position
(FIG. 4), about an imaginary laterally extending axis 90 (FIGS. 1
and 4). Likewise, nozzle 3 is movable between the lower position
and an intermediate position (FIG. 2) by lever means mounted on the
cleaner handle assembly 6.
A downwardly curved, arcuate deflector 91 (FIG. 6) is bolted at 92
to collar 61 and deflects the debris discharged through exhaust
opening 52 downwardly into bag 7 and against the previously
collected debris. Deflector 91 prevents the possibility of a piece
of debris traveling at a high velocity from piercing bag 7 and
injuring an operator walking behind cleaner 1.
The particular arrangement of nozzle 3 and fan housing 4 enables
cleaner 1 to be adapted easily for cleaning places inaccessible to
nozzle 3 by insertion of a flexible hose 94 in nozzle auxiliary
opening 43 (FIG. 7).
A plastic disc 93 is slip-fitted within annular flange 45 to close
side nozzle opening 43 when nozzle 3 is used for usual cleaning
operation. Disc 93 can be removed easily enabling hose 94 to be
quickly inserted in opening 43 to provide a remote source of
suction at the movable end of hose 94.
The attachment end of hose 94 is formed with a cylindrical metal
sleeve 95 having a diameter equal to that of openings 43 and 44,
and a length greater than the lateral distance between nozzle side
walls 34 and 35 at openings 43 and 44. Sleeve 95 is inserted
through openings 43 and 44 and frictionally held therein,
terminating within annular flanges 45 and 46. Sleeve 95 forms an
air passage between fan housing 4 and hose 94 and effectively seals
the nozzle air passage through mouth 37 to the surrounding
atmosphere.
No baffles, sealing plates or other components need be disconnected
or connected to nozzle 3 by bolts, clips, etc. to divert the air
flow through hose 94, heretofore required with prior cleaners. The
simple removal of disc 93 frictionally held within flange 45 is all
that is required before insertion of hose sleeve 95. Likewise, the
position of nozzle 3 need not be changed since hose sleeve 95
engages within nozzle openings 43 and 44 regardless of the pivotal
position of nozzle 3.
Second Embodiment
It is desirable for certain cleaning applications where large
pieces of debris may be collected, to install additional shredding
means within nozzle 3 to reduce the size of the debris before the
debris strikes fan 60 (FIG. 8). A shaft extension 96 is connected
to engine shaft 59 by a coupling 97 and extends laterally through
fan housing openings 48 and 49 and nozzle openings 44 and 43.
Shaft extension 96 preferably has a squared portion and the outer
shaft end is journaled in a bearing 98 which is bolted at 99 to a
plate 100 which covers auxiliary nozzle side opening 43 and
includes an outer annular flange 101 which is bolted at 102 to the
nozzle annular flange 45.
A plurality of chains 103 are mounted at spaced intervals along
shaft extension 96. Chains 103 shred and break into smaller
particles all large debris entering nozzle 3. Shaft extension 96
passes through the center links of chains 103 to form the chain
mounting. Spacers 104 are located between adjacent chains 103.
thus, no bolts or other means project from shaft extension 96 to
which debris can cling and/or build up.
Chains 103 may be replaced with knife blades, metal rods and the
like for particular cleaning applications. For example, knife
blades may be used when only small branches, twigs, vegetation and
soft items may be encountered.
Third Embodiment
A modified form of the improved vacuum cleaner construction is
indicated at 105 (FIGS. 9-12) and is similar to cleaner 1 except a
self-propelled driving mechanism is incorporated therein. The
driving mechanism may be incorporated in cleaner 105 readily and
with few components because of the horizontal lateral position of
drive shaft 59.
The drive mechanism preferably is chain driven using a sprocket 106
(FIGS. 9 and 12) mounted on shaft 59 between engine 5 and fan
housing 4. A second sprocket 107 is mounted below sprocket 106 on
the inner end of a stub shaft 108 parallel with shaft 59. Shaft 108
is journalled in a pair of bearings 109 and 110 (FIG. 11) which are
bolted to a pair of channel brackets 111 and 112, respectively.
Channel bracket 112 is welded to carriage base plate 10, and
channel bracket 111 is welded to base plate 10 and reinforcing
channel 23.
A third sprocket 113 is mounted on the outer end of stub shaft 108
and is aligned with an intermediate idler sprocket 114 and a fourth
drive sprocket 115. A continuous drive chain 116 extends vertically
between and engages sprockets 106 and 107, and a similar continuous
drive chain 117 extends longitudinally with respect to carriage 2
between and in driving engagement with sprockets 113 and 115.
Idler sprocket 114 is journaled in a bearing 118 welded to bracket
119. Bracket 119 is adjustably mounted on engine mounting bracket
17 by bolts 120 which extend through slots 121 formed in bracket
17. Idler sprocket 114 is mounted below the level of sprockets 113
and 115 and is movable into engagement with chain 117 to tension
chain 117.
Sprocket 115 is mounted on a drive shaft 122 which extends
horizontally laterally across the rear of carriage 2 and is located
above rear carriage wheels 9. Shaft 122 is journaled in a pair of
spaced bearings 123 which are pivotally mounted on channels 124 by
pins 125 (FIG. 11). Channels 124 are welded to nozzle bracket side
wall 14 and to engine bracket 17.
Levers 126 are welded to pins 125 and extend vertically upwardly
therefrom (FIG. 10) on both sides of cleaner 105. Springs 127 are
connected between levers 126 and engine 5 and carriage bracket 12,
biasing levers 126 and drive shaft 122 in a counterclockwise
direction about pins 125.
Sleeves 128 are mounted on each end of drive shaft 122 for
frictionally engaging rear wheels 9 to transmit the driving torque
from engine shaft 59 to wheels 9. Bands 129 of frictional material,
such as rubber, cover shaft sleeves 128 to reduce slippage between
wheels 9 and shaft 122.
Control rods 130 extend from the upper ends of levers 126 to a
drive actuating bar 131 mounted on handle frame portion 68 by
brackets 132.
The self-propelling drive mechanism is actuated by the operator
pivoting bar 131 upwardly (arrow F, FIG. 10) to move control rods
130 upwardly rearwardly, as indicated by dot-dash lines, FIG. 10.
Levers 126 pivot in a clockwise direction moving drive shaft 122
downwardly until sleeves 128 contact wheels 9. The greater the
pressure applied to bar 131, the greater is the force applied to
rear wheels 9 by drive shaft 122 resulting in faster speeds for
moving cleaner 105 across the surface being cleaned.
Springs 127 bias levers 126 counterclockwise moving drive shaft 122
out of engagement with wheels 9, automatically upon release of
pressure from bar 131.
The parallel alignment of drive shaft 122 with engine shaft 59
permits the use of drive chains extending directly between engine
shaft 59 and drive shaft 122. Prior cleaner constructions having
fan shafts extending horizontally longitudinally or vertically with
respect to the cleaner carriage require additional parts, since a
change in direction is required between the chain sprockets. Drive
sprockets 106, 107, 113 and 115 are aligned and are parallel with
each other, as best seen in FIGS. 11 and 12 permitting such direct
chain connection between engine shaft 59 and drive shaft 122.
Flexible belts are used to achieve such direction change in prior
machines. Belts, however, do not provide the positive drive and
power transmission, as do continuous drive chain and sprocket
assemblies. Thus, the use of drive chains achieves maximum machine
power drive efficiency.
Fourth Embodiment
A further modification of the improved vacuum cleaner construction
is indicated generally at 135 (FIG. 13), in which the cleaner is
pulled by a tractor 136. Cleaner 1 can be adapted easily to a towed
cleaner 135 pulled behind a usual garden tractor 136 by a drawbar
assembly 137.
Drawbar assembly 137 includes two rearwardly extending tubular
members 138 which are bent inwardly at their rear ends where they
are joined together by bolts 139. An attachment bar 140 having a
clevis 141 is secured between the joined rear ends of members 138
by the bolts 139. Clevis 141 is connected to a usual rear hitch bar
142 of tractor 136 by pin 143.
The front ends of tubular members 138 are connected to carriage
channels 8 by clamps 144. Rear carriage wheels 9 preferably are
removed from carriage 2 and the cleaner 135 is supported by front
wheels 9 and tractor hitch bar 142. Nozzle mouth 25 is supported by
nozzle wheels 38 enabling mouth opening 37 to retain its location
with respect to the surface being cleaned without being appreciably
affected by the movement of tractor 136 and front carriage wheels 9
over uneven ground.
The tractor operator may adjust nozzle 3 between its lower and
intermediate operating positions by movement of lever 87 positioned
just behind the operator, in the same manner as when the operator
is walking behind the cleaner.
A drawbar attachment similar to tubular members 138 may be attached
to carriage 2 and extending forwardly therefrom for pulling cleaner
1 forwardly in its usual operating direction. The front carriage
wheels 9 preferably are removed to permit connection of members
138. Nozzle 3 may be secured in the upper vertical position, as
shown in FIG. 4, and hose 94 inserted in auxiliary nozzle opening
43.
Nose 94 extends forwardly and is attached to a usual discharge
chute mounted on the tractor. The cut grass, leaves, etc.
discharged from the tractor cutter or rake are pulled through hose
94 by the suction created by fan 60 and pass through fan housing 4
into bag 7.
Thus, cleaner 1 can be adapted easily for attachment to a tractor
for picking up debris through nozzle 3 or for receiving and
gathering debris discharged from the tractor discharge chute.
IN GENERAL
In each of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the
drawings and described above, the cleaner nozzle is pivotally
mounted at its exhaust end to the fan housing with the nozzle mouth
supported on wheels separate from the carriage so that the nozzle
mouth "floats" over rough terrain appreciably unaffected by the up
and down movement of the carriage. The nozzle mouth can be raised
and lowered to pass over obstacles and to pick up trash of various
sizes by a lever located remote from the nozzle at the operator's
station. The nozzle also can be raised to an upper vertical
position to receive trash deposited directly into the upturned
nozzle mouth.
Accordingly, the improved vacuum cleaner construction provides a
pivotally mounted nozzle, movable vertically about a laterally
extending axis enabling the location of the nozzle mouth from the
surface being cleaned to be readily adjusted; provides a cleaner
construction having a nozzle, the extended front inlet end of which
is supported on wheels separate from the main carriage wheels;
provides a cleaner construction in which the heavier collected
debris contacts the rear exhaust port of the nozzle lessening its
momentum and impact force before the debris passes into the fan
housing and contacts the revolving fan; provides a cleaner
construction in which the engine shaft extends horizontally
laterally with respect to the cleaner nozzle and carriage enabling
a self-propelling mechanism to be incorporated into the cleaner
with fewer parts than heretofore required; providing a cleaner
construction in which shredding and pulverizing chains or bars may
be mounted within the nozzle exhaust port, and in which an
auxiliary hose can be connected to the cleaner for cleaning areas
inaccessible to the nozzle mouth; and provides structures and
arrangements which are very simplified, which eliminate
difficulties existing in the art, and which achieve the stated
objectives and solve problems that have existed in the art.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for
brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary
limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of
the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes
and are intended to be braodly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by
way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to
the exact details shown or described.
Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of
the invention, the manner in which the vacuum cleaner construction
is constructed an used, the characteristics of the new
construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results
obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements,
arrangements, parts, and combinations, are set forth in the
appended claims.
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