US3040362A - Suction cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 1962 D. c. KRAMMES 3,040,362

SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 8, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 26, 1962 D. c. KRAMMES SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1958 June 1962 D. c. KRAMMES SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 8, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,040,362 SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Don C. Krarnmes, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 754,093 Claims. (Cl. -320) 7 The present invention relates to a floor cleaning appliance and more particularly to a self-contained appliance, complete in and of itself for dispensing a clean detergent solution onto. the floor, for scrubbing the floor with the detergent solution and for removing the dirty detergent solution from the floor.

The appliance of the, present invention is particularly adapted for use in scrubbing and cleaning hard surface floors such as bare floors, linoleum and tiled covered floors, etc.

The present invention relates to the general arrangement of such an appliance to provide for the best utilization of the parts of the device, to provide for the most compact arrangement of the parts of such an appiiance and to provide an arrangement of the parts for ease of operation of the appliance.

The present invention also provides a cleaning appliance of the type described in which all of the parts are mounted on top of a framework which consists of the manipulating handle, the suction tube of the appliance, a casting which forms a part of the suction duct work and a molding which also forms the Water separator and non-return valve vessel.

Specifically, according to the present invention the parts of the appliance are arranged in a line or in end to end relationship. Starting at the bottom, first is the scrubbing and water pick-up nozzle which rests on the floor and supports the major portion of the weight of the appliance when the latter is in use. Next is the lower section of the suction tube which connects the nozzle to a casting which forms a part of the duct work and also the support for the motor-fan unit. The lower section of the suction tube is cunved to form a space for receiving the motor-fan unit which is supported from the underside of the casting.

The motor-fan unit is thus positioned immediately behind the suction nozzle so that practically its entire weight is carried by the nozzle, it being noted that the motorfan unit is one of the heaviest parts of the appliance.

Next in line with the motor-fan unit and clamped between the upper side of the casting and the underside of a molding which forms a part of the duct system and also the water separator and non-return water valve vessel, is the water tank (also a heavy part), the clamp being rotatably mounted on the lower casting and operable to press the top of the water tank against the lower face of the molding, the latter being provided with an opening for dripping dirty water into the tank.

At its lower end the tank is provided with a valved dispensing opening which discharges into an open recess in the casting provided with a dispensing tube leading to the floor and thus requires no seal.

To release the tank for removal from the appliance it is only necessary to release the clamp and lift it from its position between the casting and separator vessel.

The removable tank forms an important part of the present invention, in that it is thus easily removable from the appliance for emptying or refilling without disconnecting any air or liquid conduits.

The water tank per se is in the form of a combined clean detergent solution dispenser and dirty water collector or storage vessel and is disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 652,565, filed April 12, 1957.

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vBack of the water tank and forming a part of the supporting framework, the casting and the molding are connected centrally by the lower end of the manipulating handle and at the sides by a wet suction tube section which interiorly connects the lower suction tube section with the water separator and a dry suction tube section which interio-rly connects the water separator to the lower casting and thence to the suction side of the motor-fan unit. The Wet and dry suction tube sections may be made of flexible material in which case the handle and the lower suction tube section would form the sole supporting framework for the various parts of the appliance.

The handle extends entirely through the upper molding and extends above it to form a hand grip portion. I

The handle houses the electric cord and a control rod for the water valve, the latter being actuated by a pivoted lever near the upper end of the handle. Behind the water separator, the control rod extends through a slot in the side of the handle and then downwardly into a position to actuate a dispensing valve in the bottom of the water tank. The specific water control arrangement forms no part of the present invention but is disclosed and claimed in my oo-pending application, Serial No. 753,900 filed concurrently herewith, now Patent No. 2,986,764, dated June 6, 1961.

Thus starting from the bottom and extending upwardly, the operating parts of the appliance are arranged in alignment as follows: the scrubbing and water pick-up nozzle, the lower suction tube section and motor-fan unit in side by side relationship, the lower casting which forms a part of the suction duct work, the water tank and wet and dry suction tube sections in front and rear relationship, the combined Water separator and a non-return water valve vessel and the upper handle section which carries the Water valve control.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the appliance of the present invention showing the water tank removed from its normal position on the appliance,

FIG. 2 is a view, partly in section, of the lower part of the appliance of FIG. 1 showing how the detergent solution is dispensed,

FIG. 3 is a front view of the appliance of FIG. '1 partly in section, showing the air flow path through the device and,

FIG. 4 is a segmental sectional view of the water tank showing the dispensing valve arrangement. 7

Referring to the drawings the appliance of the present invention comprises a combined scrubbing and water pick-up nozzle 10 detachably connected to a lower section 11 of a suction tube, a casting 12, a motor-fan unit generally indicated by the reference numeral 13, a Water tank 14, a wet suction tube section 15, a dry suction tube section 16, a lower handle section 17, a molding 18 which forms the water separator and non-return water valve vessel as well as part of the suction duct work and an upper handle section 19 having a water flow control lever 20 pivotally mounted adjacent its upper end. As noted from FIG. 1, the parts just described are arranged in alignment or end to end relationship from the bottom to the top of the appliance.

As shown in FIG. 3, the molding 18 is molded into two parts 21 and 22 which are cemented together. The upper part 21 constitutes the Water separator and the lower part 22 constitutes the non-return water valve vessel.

Per se, the water separator and non-return water valve vessel forms no part of the present invention and is dis- 3 v V closedand claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 754,035 filed concurrently herewith now Patent No. 2,955,674, dated October 11, 1960.

As shown in dotted lines at 23 and 24 of FIG. 3, the molding 22'is bored to receive the upper end of suction tube sections and 16. The bores 23 and 24 are extended at 25 and 26 to form part of the suction duct systom, the bore 25 serving to conduct wet air to the water separator section 21 and the bore 26 serving to conduct dry air from the separator to the tube 16. As shown in-FIG. 1 the non-return water valve vessel 22 is provided with an outlet opening 27 through which dirty water drips into the water tank 14.

The water tank 14 is shown in FIG. 4 and includes an outer casing 28 and an inner dirty water bag 29 which is supported on the interior of the casing 28 by means of a combined seal and support 30 having a flange 31 which rests on a shoulder 32 formed on the interior upper end of casing 28. The flange 31 serves to form a seal between the shoulder 32 and the bottom rim of molding 22 when the upper end of the casing 28 is positioned about the recess 33 (FIG. 3) formed in the lower end of molding 22.

In normal use as shown at FIG. 1, the water tank 14 is at an angle and accordingly the bottom of casing 28 is formed at an angle as shovm at 34. An outlet opening 35-is formed in the wall 34 adapted to be closed by a needle valve 36 which abuts against a gasket 37 when in its closed position. The valve 36 is attached to a leaf spring 38 which normally holds the valve in closed position. The spring 38 is secured to the bottom of the tank 14 and is provided with an extension 39 which is contacted'by the lower end 40 of a valve actuating rod 41 as will be explained hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 3, the casting 12 is provided with a through bore 42 for receiving the upper end of the lower section 11 of the suction tube and the lower end of wet suction tube 15 so as to also form a part of the suction duct system. The casting 12 is also provided with a bore 43 for receiving the lower end of dry suction tube 16. This bore is enlarged at 44 for receiving a molding 45 leading from the end of the dry suction tube section 16 to the eye 46 of the fan 47. The fan 47 is of the multi-stage type and is housed within separable housing sections as shown, the upper section also forming the bottom wall for the molding 45 to complete the duct from thetube 16 to the fan eye 46. The motor-fan unit 13 is secured to the underside of casting 12 in any suitable manner.

The casting 12 is also providedwith a bore 57 for receiving the lower end of handle section 17. Thus in addition to forming part of the suction duct work of the system, the casting 12 also forms part of the supporting frame work of the appliance.

The lever20'is adapted to be pulled upwardly toward the handle to push the valve rod 41 downwardly against the bias of spring 48 (FIGS. 2 and 4) so that the lower end 40 of rod 41 contacts the extension 39 ofspr'ing 38 to open the valve 36 as shown in FIG. 2.

The casting 12 (FIG. 2) beneath the 'valve 36, when the water tank 14 is assembled, is provided with a pocket 49. 1 An outlet opening 50 is formed in the bottom wall of pocket 49. The outlet 50 communicates with a detergent dispensing tube' 51 which discharges immediately behind the nozzle 10.

The casting 12'also forms a base for the water tank clamp 55 which is mounted for rotation on the upper surface of thecasting 12. The clamp 55 includes a plate 56 having cam surfaces on its bottom which coact with cam surfaces on the top face of the casting 12 so that rotation of the plate will push clamp 55 upwardly against the bottom of tank 14 and in turn force it upwardly into sealing-engagement with the rim of the recess 33 of molding 22.

The motor-fan unit 13, the lower suction tube section 11 and the dispensingtube 51 are housed within a separ- I 4 able housing 52 which extends downwardly from the casting 12 and surrounds the tube 11 immediately to the rear of the nozzle 11). Thelmotor-fan unit preferably exhausts into housing 52 and openings in its bottom wall may provide for the air exit. Vent opening 53 is also provided in housing 52 for the exit of motor cooling air. A switch 54 is provided'on'the handle for controlling the operation of the motor-fanunit.

Operation When it is desired to use the appliance, the water tank 14 is removed as shown in FIG. 1 and the bag 29 removed. Detergent solution is then poured into the casing 28 until it is substantially filled. The bag 29 is then replaced and it is to be noted that since it is empty it will float on top of the detergent solution. The tank 14 is then placed in position as in FIG. 2 and the clamp 55 actuated to press it upwardly against the bottom of the molding 22 and thus form-aseal between the upper end of the tank 14 and molding 22.

The appliance is then moved to the scene of operation and the manipulating handle used to move the appliance about over the surface to be cleaned.

The first operation is to dispense detergent solution onto the floor. This is done without the motor-fan unit being in operation.

In dispensing detergent the lever 20 is moved upwardly which pushes valve rod 41 downwardly so that its lower end 40 engages the end39 of spring 38 and pulls the valve 36 from its seat. The water will then flow downwardly into pocket 49 and through the dispensing tube 51 and onto the floor behind the nozzle 10 as shown in FIG. 2. When the lever 20 is released the spring 48 moves the lever back 'to its neutral position permitting the valve 36 to close under the bias of spring 38.

Clean detergent solution is thus intermittently dis-' pensed as needed as the nozzle 10 is moved back and forth along the floor. The weight of the motor-fan unit will apply pressure to the nozzle 10 in addition to that applied by the operator in manipulating the device so that the nozzle brushes will be pressed firmly against the floor and scrub the dirt loose therefrom.

It is to be noted that as the soap solution is dispensed from the tank 14 the level therein falls that the bottom of bag 29 will fall with it to provide space within the tank for the later collection of dirty water therein.

After an area has been properly scrubbed with soapy water, the dirty water may be picked up by actuating switch 54 to energize the motor-fan unit, at which time the valve 36 should remain closed. The nozzle 10 is then moved about over the floor by manipulation of handle 19.

Operation of the motor-fan unit produces a suction at the nozzle 10 and sucks up the dirty soapy water from the floor. This dirty waterwill pass through the lower suction tube suction 11, through the wet suction tube section 15, through the bore 25 and into the water separator 21 where the dirty. water is separated from the The dried air then passes through bore 26, dry suction tube 16, the passage of molding. 45, fan eye 46 and into the fan 47 from which it is exhausted to atmosphere through thebottom of the housing 52 and against the 'floor where it will produce some drying eifect.

The dirty water separated from the air in the water separator 21 will flow downwardly'through the non-return water valve molding 22 and out of the opening 27 and drop into the interior of the dirty water :bag 29 and thus occupy a space in the tank 14 formerly occupied by the clean detergent solution.

It is to be noted that the water tank 14 is usually substantially full of either clean detergent solution, dirty water or a combination of the'rtwo so that its weight will be added to that of'the motor in applying pressure to the nozzle 10. If additional pressure is sometimes necessary to remove hardened and caked dirt from certain spots, the operator need only press downwardly on the handle to provide for the additional necessary pressure.

From the foregoing itcan be seen that the present invention provides an eflicient, compact, self-contained cleaning appliance complete in and of itself in which the parts are arranged in line from the bottom to the top with the heavier parts adjacent the bottom so that the Weight thereof is applied to the nozzle rather than to the handle and in which the supporting framework is formed by essential operating parts of the device.

The appliance includes all of the necessary parts for applying the cleaning solution to the floor, for scrubbing the floor with the cleaning solution and for drying the floor by removing the dirty water therefrom.

Where the words detergent solution. or soapy water are used herein, the term is meant to include any cleaning fluid, even water. Where the term dirty water has been used herein, the term is meant to include the dirty cleaning fluid whatever it may be.

While I have shown and described but a single embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that that embodiment is to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the specific structure shown and described but wish to include all equivalent variations thereof except aslimited by the scope of the claims.

-I claim:

1. A self contained floor cleaning appliance of the type having a nozzle for movement over the surface to be cleaned in which the weight of the appliance is mainly carried by the nozzle and the parts of the apparatus are arranged in alignment along a manipulating handle which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the nozzle; said appliance including in the order named, a scrubbing and water pick-up portion, a suction creating portion, a detergent dispensing and dirty water storage portion, a water separation portion and a manipulating and control portion; a combined scrubbing and water pick-up nozzle at said scrubbing and water pick-up portion; a motor-fan unit at said suction creating portion; a single double compartment combined detergent dispensing and dirty water collecting tank at said detergent dispensing and dirty water collecting portion; a combined water separator and non-return water valve vessel at said water separation portion in gravity fiow communication with said tank; said tank being separable from said vessel and a handle hand grip and detergent dispensing control at said manipulating and control portion; suction tubes con necting said nozzle to said water separator and said water separator to the suction side of said motor-fan unit; said motor-fan unit, tank and water separator being supported in end-to-end relationship, said handle and said suction tubes serving to hold the aforementioned parts in assembled aligned relationship.

2. An appliance according to clairn l in which said tank and said water separator and non-return water valve vessel are supported so as to be positioned above said handle and said suction tubes.

3. An appliance according to claim 1 in which said suction conduits include a lower suction tube section, a wet suction tube section and a dry suction tube section and a casting formed with bores connecting the upper end of said lower suction tube section to the lower end of said wet suction tube section, receiving the lower end of said handle and receiving the lower end of said dry suction tube section.

4. An appliance according to claim 3 in which said non-return water flow valve vessel is in the form of a molding provided with bores receiving the upper ends of said wet and dry suction tube sections and said handle.

5. An appliance according to claim 1 in which said control includes a valved opening in said tank through which detergent is dispensed and means actuated by said control for opening and closing said opening.

6. An appliance according to claim 5 including a de- V 6 V tergent dispensing tube leading from said valved opening to a point to the rear of said nozzle;

7. A floor cleaning appliance comprising, acombined floor scrubbing and water pick-up nozzle; a lower suction tube section extending upwardly and rearwardly from said nozzle; a motor-fan unit alongside of said lower suction tube section; a wet suction tube section, a dry suction tube section and a handle section above and in line with said nozzle, said motor-fan unit and said lower suction tube section; a casting between said lower suction tube section and said wet and dry suction tube sections and said handle section; said castinjg being formed with a left hand bore receiving the upper end of said lower suction tube section and the lower end of said wet suction tube section, a right hand bore receiving the lower end of said dry suction tube section and a central bore receiving the lower end of said handle section; said motor-fan unit being supported by and beneath said casting; means associated with said casting for forming a suction duct between said right hand bore and the suction side of said fan; a molding above and in line with said wet and dry suction tube sections and said handle section and forming a combined water separator and non-return water valve arrangement; said molding being formed with a left handbore receiving the upper end of said wet suction tube section and communicating with the inlet of said water separator, a right hand bore receiving the upper end of'said dry suction tube section and communicating with the outlet of said water separator and a central through bore receiving said handle section; said handle section extending above said molding to form a hand grip portion; said casting and said molding forming opposed facing surfaces at the opposite ends of said wet and dry suction tube sections; a combined detergent dispensing and dirty water collecting tank clamped between said surfaces and overlying said wet and dry suction tube sections and said handle section; a passageway formed in said molding for leading dirty water from said water separator to said tank; a dispensing valve in the lower part of said tank for draining detergent solution from said tank; a detergent dispensing duct means for leading detergent solution from the outlet of said valve to the floor at the rear of said nozzle and means operable from the hand grip portion of said handle for opening and closing said valve.

8. A cleaning appliance according to claim 7 in which said lower suction tube section, said casting, said wet and dry suction tube sections, said handle and said molding forms the backbone or supporting framework for said appliance.

9. A cleaning appliance according to claim 7 in which a rotary cam clamp coacts with the upper surface of said casting to force the upper end of said tank into contact with the lower surface of said molding.

10. A suction cleaning apparatus comprising; a nozzle, a motor-fan unit, a combined detergent dispensing and dirty water storage tank and a combined water separator and non-return water valve vesselarranged in end to end relationship in that order; a manipulating handle extending from said water separator vessel to a point beyond said vessel to form a hand grip'portion; said handle lying beneath said tank and vessel; said motor-fan unit being supported from the end of said handle opposite said hand grip portion; said vessel being supported by said handle between said hand grip portion and said motor-fan unit; said tank being detachably clamped between said vessel and said motor-fan unit; suction conduits connecting said nozzle to said water separator and said water separator to the suction side of said motorfan unit; means for leading dirty water from said vessel to said tank; means for dispensing detergent from said tank onto the surface to be cleaned and means for connecting the lower end of said handle to that portion of said suction conduit leading from said nozzle whereby the entire apparatus may be supported on said nozzle 7 with the hand grip portion of said handle grasped in the 1,979,797 hand of the operator. 2,137,944 7 V 2,531,370 References Cited in the file 'ofithis pgpent 2, 07,0 8

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,057,347 Kenney Mar. .25, 19.13

1,687,283 Deutsoher 0m. 9,.1928 557,683

8 Finnell Nov. 6, 1934 MaicLeod Nov. 22, 1938 Thompson I 'Nov. 21, 1950 Minerley Aug. 19, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 30, 1943

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