US2532264A - Tank type vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1950 A. E. SMITH 2,532,264

TANK TYPE VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 22, 1947 4 Sheet-Sheet 1 Inventor Archie E. Smith,

H15 Attorneg Nov. 28, 1950 SMITH 2,532,264

TANK TYPE VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 22, 1947 4'Shets-Sheet 2 Archie E1.

H15 Attorney Nov. 28, 1950 A, E, SMITH 2,532,264

TANK TYPE VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 22, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 2 Inventor Archie E. Smith,

Nov. 28, 1950 A. E. SMITH TANK TYPE VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 22, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4:

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| l l I O O #9 42 O 0O 00 00 f o Inventor Archie E. Smith bgwm His AUb orneg Patented Nov. 28, 1 950 TANK TYPE VACUUM CLEANER Archie E. Smith, Stratford, Conn, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 22,1947, Serial No. 781,455

Claims. 1

My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to vacuum cleaners of the tank type.

It is an object of my invention to provide a vacuum cleaner of the tank type including an improved arrangement of the various elements of the cleaner in a compact unit.

It is another object of my invention to provide a vacuum cleaner of the tank type including a cord reel.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a vacuum cleaner of the tank type incorporating a cord reel and including an improved arrangement for maintaining the cord in any desired position.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a vacuum cleaner of the tank type including an improved arrangement for removably latching a cover in position.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner incorporating my invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view partly broken away showing details of the vacuum cleaner illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a detail of a latching arrangement for maintaining the cover in engagement with the housing, illustrating the elements in the unlatched position; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the elements in a latched position; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation view of the vacuum cleaner; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional plan view partly broken away taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation view taken along the line 1-4 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view showing a detail of the latching arrangement; Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 5; Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing details of the construction illustrated in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a sectional plan view taken along the line I lll of Fig. 5; and Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation view partly broken away taken along the line |2l2 of Fig. 5.

Referring now to Fig. 1; the vacuum cleaner includes a. housing or casing I for enclosing the various operating elements. A portion of the top of the housing I is provided with a cover 2 for providing access to the space within the housing. The cover is provided with a handle 3 for operating a latching mechanism to maintain the cover remcvably in sealing engagement with the housing. The non-removable portion of the top of the housing is provided with a handle 4 for carrying the cleaner. The cover is provided with an opening 5 at one end through which air is drawn into the housing, and a similar opening 6, shown more clearly in Fig. 5, is provided at the opposite end of the housing for the discharge of the air. Each of these openings is arranged to receive a suitable hose so that air may be either drawn inwardly through the hose or discharged therefrom. A button 1 projects from the top of the housing and is connected within the housing to a suitable switch for controlling the operation of the cleaner.

Referring now to Fig. 2 it can be seen that the housing of the vacuum cleaner is divided into two compartments 8 and 9, the former being arranged for enclosing a suitable motor and fan for impelling the air and the latter enclosing a cord reel and a dust-collecting filter or bag Ill. The bag it) is assembled within the compartment 9 in reentrant form. The mouth of the bag is provided with a. sealing gasket ll, formed of rubher or other similar material, with which the cover is designed to engage to provide a dusttight seal. A frame I2 is provided within the compartment for supporting the lower or reentrant portion of the bag. This frame includes a plurality of generally vertically disposed wires l3 which are connected at their upper ends of a flat ring I 1.

Two keepers I5 are secured to the housing at diametrically opposed positions adjacent the sealing gasket ll. These keepers are arranged for engagement by a latching mechanism associated with the cover for maintaining the cover in dust-sealing engagement with the gasket H. The interior of the cover 2 includes a central dome-like portion l6 and a surrounding fiat portion H. The portion H is provided with two openings 18, only one of which is shown in this figure, through which the keepers [5 project when the cover is in its assembled position on the housing. In order to provide for latching engagement with the keepers the cover includes oppositely extending latching arms I9, only one of which is shown in this figure. A roller 20 is provided on the end of the arm IQ for facilitating engagement and disengagement with the keeper l5. To facilitate the guiding of the arm between the latched and unlatched positions two addi- 3 tional rollers 2i and 22 are provided on the arm l9. If desired, the roller 2i may be made integral with the roller 26. A guide 23 is secured to the portion I? of the cover and includes an up standing rib 2G which provides a track for the movement of the roller 2!. This roller includes a groove for facilitating cooperation between the track and the roller. In order to provide a further guide for the movement of the arm between the latched and the unlatched position and to limit the freedom of movement of the end of the arm l9 a channel 25 is secured to the domelike portion l6 of the cover. The roller 22 is located within the channel 25 and moves along this channel during movement of the mechanism between the latched and the unlatched positions. It will be understood that similar rollers and guards are provided on the oppositely extending arm 19, not shown in this figure. The handle is connected, in a manner to be described in detail later, to the arms is so that movement of the handle between the position shown in Fig. 1 and the position shown in Fig. 2 results in shifting t e a ms fro t e ed pos tion to h unla c ed po itio r in n w to F gs- 3 an 4, he ee er t clud a cam u ace '4 for en a e n b th roller 23. The end of the rib 2!; adjacent the eep stape d as nd c te a 2 t fa ilitate entry of the roller 2%} beneath the cam surface 2? of the keeper. The cam surface 2? in- Q l dfis. n a ua e PQZ L J o en m n W t the correspondingly curved surface of the roller 25 In movement to the latched position therolls er 2a isforced ben ath the low point 363 of the am sur a e and u tima c mes to g rient w t e curved po t on is in its l h position. The arm 59 is pressed downwardly as t e. relle ras ss beneat h l w p in it n he esie sv Qf he arm tats return o its ori inal shape brings the roller upwardly into eneas m w h th sur se 2.9 as o n n h last positio l us ate m F g o t a dental return movement of the arm is prevented.

Referring now toFig. 5, itv can be seen that h fa empa tmea 8 h dust-c le tin compartment 9 are separated by a perforated a ion 3%, h e as a b a ir sv me be th all of he casing t A motor 2 a fan or impeller 33 are mounted within the compartment li for rotation about a vertical axis, To minimize the transmission of vibration from ihsm an t n o h c sin and h nc to m miz 1 1 s l ing f m he i at n of the walls of the casing, the motor and fan assembly is resiliently supported within the compartment ii on a ring 54 of rubber or other vibrationabsorbing material. Under the influence of the rotating fan air is drawn into the housing through the opening 5 in the cover, passes through the housing in the direction of the arrows, and is ultimately discharged through an enlarged passage on muiiier 34c and the opening atthe opposite end of the housing. All of the air is directed through the dust-collecting bag or filter it so as to remove any dust particles therefrom prior to passage of the air into the fan compartment and its discharge through the cpening6, The cover is illustrated in this figure in its latched position wherein the portion ll. of the cover is forced into sealing engagement with the sealing gasket H of the dust-collecting bag it, In its assembled position the dust-collecting bag is; extends downwardly from its mouth, which is associated with the, gasket H, to the opening 45 to the exterior of the housing.

bottom of the casing and then upwardly about the frame i2. During the passage of the air through the casing dust collects in the space between a downwardly extending portion 35 of the bag and an upwardly extending or reentrant portion 36. A circular frame 3? including an upper ring 38, a lower ring 39 and a plurality of connecting rods ift is provided for the bag in order to assist in positioning the portions 35 and 36.

A reel ll, upon which the electric cord 42 for supplying power to the vacuum cleaner is wound, is located within the dust-collecting compartment 9. The reel iii is arranged for rotating about a horizontal axis and is substantially enclosed within a dust-tight cover 43, which is secured to the housing I. The cover 43 extends about the top andv sides of the reel so as to prevent the bag Ii] coming into contact with the reel. The frame ii for supporting the portion 36 of the bag is secured to the cover 43, the lower end of the wires 53 being welded or otherwise suitably secured to the cover 43.

The cord 42 extends from the reel through a passage ('24 within the housing and through an The end of the cord is provided with a suitable plug it for connection to a power supplying outlet. The exterior of the housing is shaped, as indicated at 4?, to provide a recess for the reception of the plug 48.

The reel til is provided with a spiral spring 43 which normally biases the reel for rotation in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 so as to Wind the cord 42 on the reel. Any der sired length of the cord 42 may be withdrawn from the housing by grasping the exposed portion of the cord or plug and manually withdrawing the cord against the spring bias of the reel. To guide the cord during its withdrawal from the housing or its return to the housing a guide ts is provided in the compartment 9 within the confines of the reel cover i3. This guide includes a shaft stand a roller 55 mounted thereon for facilitating the movement of the cord past the guide. In order to retain the cord in any desired withdrawing position the guide 49 includes an inclined face 52, and a stop 53 is provided for movement between a generally vertical position, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 5, and an inclined position adjacent the face 52, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. The stop 53 includes an opening 54 whose diameter is just slightly greater than the diameter of the cord 42. When the cord is being withdrawn from the housing the stop 53 occupies the solid line position shown in Fig. 5. the stop is located in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cord and the cord, therefore, passes freely through the opening 54. However, when the cord is moved in the opposite direction, that is, to the right as shown in Fig. 5, under the spring-biasing influence of thereel 4!, the stop is moved to the right against theinclined face 52 and is forced to assume the inclined position shown by the dotted lines. In this position the plane of the stop is inclined to the axis of the cord and, since the diameter of the opening 54 is only slightly larger than the diameter of the cord, the cord binds against the edges of the opening 54, and further retraction under the influence of the spring-biased reel is prevented. Thus the user is enabledto withdraw the cord to any desired length depending on the distance the cleaner is located from the power outlet and, when the cord isv released by the user it. is auto,--.

In this position the arms l9 and the clamping screws 63.

matic'ally locked in position, preventing any tendency of the reel to pull the plug from the power outlet.

In order to permit the winding of the cord on the reel when desired, a release cord or rope 55, which extends through the passage 44 to the exterior of the housing, is provided. One end ofthe rope is connected to the stop 53, as shown more clearly in Fig. 10, and the other end is connected to a suitable ring or eye 5511 which is fastened to the exterior of the housing. When it is desired to allow the cord to be rewound on the reel, the stop 53 is held in the solid line position by a pull exerted from the exterior of the housing on the accessible end of the rope, so that the cord may freely pass through the opening 54 to its wound position on the reel 4|.

Details of the latching arrangement assoc1- ated with the cover 2 are illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The latch-operating handle 3 is mounted on a shaft 55 which extends vertically through an opening in the top of the cover 2. Two disks 5'5 and 58 are arranged in spaced re lationship on the shaft 55. The arms l9 include a connecting central portion 59 which is clamped between the spaced disks 5? and 58. The clamping force is exerted by a plurality of screws 6% or other suitable fastening devices. In order to prevent any lateral shifting of the arms 19 a memberfil, which is curved to fit the shape of the connecting portion 59 is located between The diameter of the member (ii is chosen so as to completely fill the space between the arms is and the clamping screws 58. In order to maintain the assembly in position during movement of the handle between latched and unlatched positions two plates 62 and 63 are provided on diametrically opposed sides of the disk 58. Each of the plates 62 and 63 includes an arouate surface 64 adjacent the circumference of the disk 58, so as to provide an engaging surface for the disk during its turning movement. The plates 62 and 63 are held in place by screws 65 or other suitable fastening devices. The screws 65 extend through a reinforcing plate 65 and into threaded engagement with the plates 62 and 53. In order to transmit the motion of the latch-operating handle to the plate assernbly 51, 58 and to the arms I9, the handle includes a depending portion 6! having a flange 68 of square cross-section at its lower end. The flange 6E3 fits within a recess E59 formed within the top of the disk 57. Thus movement of the handle is transmitted through the flange 68 to the disk 57 and thence to the arms IE to effect operation of the latch. The handle 3 is secured to the shaft 56 by a pin it, and the lower end of the shaft assembly is completed by a screw H which extends upwardly from the bottom of the plate 66 into engagement with the shaft 56. The lower end of the shaft 58 has a reduced diameter providing a shoulder Ha. This shoulder fits against the plate 66 to assist in providing an air seal.

The cover 2 includes a vertical section it? which provides a stop for limiting the movement of the mechanism in the latched position, as best shown in Fig. 8. The roller 21 comes in contact with the stop i2 and further movement of the arms Iii in a clockwise direction is prevented. Thus when the handle is moved to the latching position movement of the arms I9 beyond the position shown in Fig. 4 is prevented by engagement of the roller 2] with the stop 12, and accidental return movement to the un latched position is prevented by reason of the cam surface 21 of the keeper 15, as previously described.

Details of the cord reel and its related elements are shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The cord reel 4! includes two disks 13 and i l between which the cord is wound. The disk 14 includes a central cup-shaped portion 75 which provided a receptacle for a block 16 of insulating material. The reel structure further includes a cupshaped member 11 which is welded or otherwise secured to the portion 75 of the disk i l. The member 7'! includes a plurality of ears l8 which extend through slots provided in the disk 14 and are bent over to hold the disk 13 and the members H in engagement.

A shait structure is mounted between the two sides of the cover 43 for supporting the reel. This shaft structure includes a plate is on the exterior of the cover 43 and a cooperating plate on the interior of the cover, the two. plates being clamped together against the cover by screws 8| or other suitable clamping devices. The plate Bil is provided with two inwardly extending lugs 8:2 and 83 which engage corresponding slots 84 in a sleeve 85, only one of the slots being shown in these figures. The sleeve 85 is supported at one end on a shouldered cylinder *86 which extends within the sleeve and into screw-threaded engagement with a second cylinder 8i within the sleeve 85. The shaft assembly is completed by a screw 88 extending from the exterior of the cover 43 into screwthreaded engagement with the shouldered cylinder 85. The plates i9 and 89 are clamped against a side wall of the cover 43 to provide an air seal for excluding air passing through the cleaner from the space occupied by the reel M. A similar air seal is provided by the screw 88 in engagement with the other side wall of the cover 43.

In order to provide a bias for the reel tending to move the cord toward its second position a spiral spring 43 is arranged between the disk 13 and a wall of the cup-shaped member Tl. One end of the spiral spring fits within a longitudinal slot 89 in the sleeve 85. The other end of the spring is secured to a transverse wall of the cup-shaped member ill by a rivet or other suitable fastening device. In order to provide for the rotation of the reel about the fixed sleeve 85 a collar 91 is arranged on a reduced section 92 of the sleeve. The collar 9| includes a slot 93 which in the assembled position is aligned with the slot 89 of the sleeve, and the end of the spring 48 extends into both the slot 523 and the slot 89. The collar 5! includes a bearing surface 94 upon which the disk 13 of the reel. ll revolves. The portion of the cup-shapedv member Ti adjacent the shaft structure is; clamped between two cooperating screw-- threaded collars 95 and 96. The inner collar 95 is arranged to rotate on a reduced section 9? of the sleeve 35.

The insulating block 76 is provided with two: concentric current-conductin rings 98 and 99-? embedded therein. One of the current con-- ducting wires ll!!! of the cord 42 is connected to the ring 98 and the other wire is connected to the ring 99. A stationary block llll of electrical insulating material is arranged within the cover 43 adjacent the concentric rings 98 and 99. A

pair of contacts I02 and I03 are mountedon the block Ifll', the former forengagement with:

the. ring 98 and. the latter for engagement'with the ring 99. Each of the contacts I02 and IDS is mounted on astrip I04 of resilient material,

shown more clearly in Fig. 5. The resilient material'presses each of. the contacts firmly into engagement with its corresponding current-conducting ring. As shown more clearly in Fig. 5, a wire I05 is secured to the contact I92 and a second wire. I as is secured to the contact I03. Thewires I05 and lilfi extend through the casing to the motor 32 for supplying-power. to the motor. The provision of the concentric current-conducting rings 98 and 99 permits the supplying of power from the cord 42 to the motor regardless of the position of the cord reel GI.

The guide 49 for the cord--42 is illustrated in the bottom of the area enclosed by the cover 43 below the cord reel. Also illustrated is the stop 53 and the arrangement for securing the rope 55 to the stop; In order to provide for access to the cord reel when necessary the cover 43 is open at the bottom, and a closure member or plate IIlI is provided to close this opening.

In order to retain the closure member in position two recesses ms and I09 are provided in opposite sides of the cover 43 and a U-shaped clamp H0, which is secured to the inner side of the closure plate lot, is arranged to engage the recesses I08 and I99. I I includestwo resilient arms I II and H2, each of the arms being provided with a portion H3, which is resiliently pressed into its respective recess when the closure plate is in position. Two supporting blocks H4 are welded or otherwise secured to the closure plate IEi'I. The clamp I It is secured to the supporting blocks by screws H or other suitable fastening devices. In order to assist in positioning the closure plate IIl'I within the bottom opening in the cover 4 3 an upwardly projecting lug H6 is provided near each corner'of the closure plate. These lugs are of generally L-shape, one leg of the L being secured to the closure plate Hi7 and the other leg extending upwardly into the housing to accurately position the closure plate within the opening.

The tension on the spring A8 may be set or adjusted by inserting an open end wrench into engagement with the flat sides of the plate 88 after first removing the closure plate 587. The

screws'8I are then removed and the plate 88 is turned to secure the proper tension on the spring 48. If it is necessary to shift the wrench for: additional turning of the plate 39a pin may be inserted temporarily through aligned holes in the members'lS and auto prevent unwinding of the spring. When the tension has been properly set the screws SI are inserted and the closure plate It? is again placed in position.

Another view of the cord 42 and its associated guide and stop elements isshown in Fig. ll. It can be seen that the cord. extends through the passage 44 provided in the bottom of the housing, and the rope 55 for moving the stop 53 to its cord-releasing position also extends through the passage 4'4. In the vertical or cord-releasing position illustrated in Fig. ll the stop 53- is'hel'd against two of the lugs IE6. As shown in this figure, the guide 5-9 is secured to the supporting blocks M4 by screws ill or other suitable fastening devices.

Referring now to Fig. 12 it can. be seen that? the wall stiffening partition 3i between the fan compartment and the dust-collecting compart- Ihe U-shaped clamp ment isprovided' with a plurality of perforations of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications in the;

spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by;

Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A vacuum cleaner of the tank type comprising a housing including two compartments, a perforated partition between said compartments, a cord reel in one of saidcompartments, a frame positioned adjacent said cord reel and spaced therefrom, a dust-collecting bag in said one of said compartments, saidbag including one portion adjacent said partition and a reentrant portion disposed about said frame,- a fan and an electric driving motor therefor in the other of said compartments and electrical connections from said cord reel to said motor.

2. Avacuum cleaner of the tank type comprising a housing having an opening at. each end, an electric motor mounted within one end of said. housing for rotation about a vertical axis, an.

impeller driven by said motor and mounted within said housing coaxially'with the motor. for rotation about a verticalaxis, a filter of inverted reentrant bag form arranged within the other end of said housing, means for directing air moved through said housing by said impeller between the openingsthrough said filter to remove dust therefrom, an electric cord for supplyingpower to said motor, electrical connections from said'cord to said motor, and a-reel for said cord arranged within said housing under the inverted bag filter for rotation about a horizontalaxis.

3. A vacuum cleaner of the tank type comprising a housing having an opening at each end, said housing including two transversely arranged compartments, an impeller for moving air between the openings and an electric driving motor therefor mounted in one of said compartments,

a cord reel mounted in the other of said com- Ipartments, electricalconnections to said motor from said cord reel, and a dust collectingbagin said other compartment positioned about said reel.

4. A vacuum cleaner of the tank type comprising-ahousing, said housing including a first and a second compartment, an impeller and an electric driving motor therefor mounted in said first compartment, a cord reel mounted in said second compartment, electrical connectionsto said motor from said reel, a dust collecting bag in said second compartment positioned about said reel, a removable cover for said second compartment for providing access to said bag; and a electrical connections to said motor from said reel, a frame in said dust col i lectingcompartment positioned around said cord" reel, and a dust collecting bag in said dust c01- lecting compartment having a portion supported by said frame.

ARCHIE E. SMITH.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 985,933 Pletsch Mar. 7, 1911 1,108,765 Lawless Aug. 25, 1914 Number 10 Name Date Spencer Dec. 6, 1921 Sulton Sept. 22, 1924 Brown et a1. Aug. 1, 1927 Baxter Feb. 11, 1936 Schellens Sept. 5, 1939 Smellie June 24, 1941 Lofgren June 15, 1943 Swann Nov. 21, 1944 Nuffer et a1 Nov. 6, 1945 Lindberg May 21, 1946 French et a1 July 16, 1946 Sparklin Mar. 23, 1948

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