User manual | gym-v

April 17, 1951
L. DURHAM
2,549,181
CLEANING APPARATUS
Filed Dec. 31, 1948
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LUTHER ‘ DURHAM
gym-v
Patented Apr. 17, 1951
*
UNITED
STATES
‘
2,549,181
PATENT ‘ OFFICE
2,549,181
CLEANING APPARATUS
Luther Durham, Aurora, 111.
Application December 31, 1948, Serial No. 68,540
3 Claims.
1
(01. 183-739)
This invention, relates to improvements in
cleaning apparatus and more particularly to the
2
the suction therefrom whenever deposited liquid
relieved of dirt, dust and water or other clean
in the chamber rises to a predetermined level.
Still another object of this invention is to pro
vide in cleaning apparatus a depositing chamber
ing liquids removed from. the articles cleaned.
for receiving dirt-laden moisture and liquid and
The usual vacuum cleaning apparatus removes
dirt and dust from rugs, carpets, tapestry, up
tion or vacuum including a house-type vacuum
depositing chamber therefor, wherein the air is
which apparatus is actuated by any source of suc
holstered work, and the like. Cleaning opera
tions are performed on dry articles because the
mechanism of the vacuum cleaner is not con
structed to remove or hold liquids. To, do so
would require waterproofing, by shielding or other
means, of the electric motor which drives the
suction fan and providing a watertight deposit
cleaner.
Another and further object of this invention is
the provision of cleaning apparatus which is
portable and easily transported from place to
place and yet sufficiently large to receive clean
ing liquid from large areas.
Another and still further object of this inven
ing container other than the usual dust-proof 15 tion is the provision of an improved cleaning ap
fabric or paper bag.
paratus which is simple in construction, eco
The dry removal of dust and dirt by a suction
nomical to manufacture, and highly e?icient in
operation.
'
type vacuum cleaner is not entirely satisfactory.
During cleaning operations, much of the dis
Other and further objects of the invention will
turbed dust becomes suspended in the surround 20 become apparent to those skilled in the art from
the following detailed description of the preferred
ing air and thereby escapes the cleaner. The re
sult is unhealthy both because dust and germs
embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the
annexed sheet of drawings. ’
are inhaled and because they come in contact
On the drawings:
7
with the mouth, after settling on eatables, cook
Figure 1 is a side view in elevation, partly frag
ing and eating utensils, drinking cups and 25
glasses, toothbrushes, medical and dental instru
‘ments, and the like.
‘
My invention seeks to eliminate these objec
tional features in suction cleaners. By scrubbing
mentary and partly in cross-section, illustrating
details of construction of a cleaning apparatus
embodying principles of my invention; and,
Figure 2 is an end view thereof.
As shown on the drawings:
with soap and water, or other cleaning liquids, 30
The cleaning apparatus illustrated includes a
the particles of dust and dirt or other solids in
depositing chamber construction l0 into which
the articles to be cleaned are picked up by the
moisture or liquid and dirt laden air is caused to
solution and carried in suspension. This elim
flow by means of a source of suction which, in
inates the dust becoming air-borne. In remov
ing from the articles to be cleaned the cleaning 35 the present instance, is a house-type vacuum
liquid containing the particles of‘dirt, however,
it is not possible to do so by the usual types of
vacuum cleaners as they are not constructed
either to remove or to hold liquids. It is neces
sary, therefore, to provide apparatus which will 40
cleaner H. The chamber comprises a tank or
reservoir 12 supported on legs [3 and M which
have casters l5 mounted thereon for transport-7
ability of the apparatus.
A shelf l6, connected tothe tank by means of
legs I‘! and [8, supports the vacuum cleaner H
remove cleaning liquids from articles being
in order that the apparatus be transportable as a
cleaned and to collect both the liquids and any
unit.
It is to be understood, however, that this
suspended particles of dirt for disposal.
invention is not con?ned to the combination with
Accordingly, it is an important object of my
a vacuum cleaner as any source of suction may
invention to provide cleaning apparatus capa 45 be used equally as well. In the usual construc
ble of removing dirt-laden cleaning liquids from
tion of a vacuum cleaner, there is provided an
articles cleaned and collecting the liquids for
opening in the suction fan casing to which cleaner
disposal.
‘
attachments may be removably fastened. As
Another object of the invention is to‘ provide 50 shown in Figure 1, a ?exible hose I9 is connected
a suction operated depositing chamber for clean
at one end 20 by any suitable means to the suc
ing apparatus which chamber is so constructed
tion casing 2|. At its other end 22, the hose is
that air drawn from an article being cleaned and
attached by means of a tubular nipple 23 to a
carrying dislodged dirt and liquid to the chamber
?lter or moisture trap 24.
is completely relieved from its load of foreign 55
For purposes of convenience only, the ?lter con
‘matter thereby effecting the flow of clean, mois
struction is removably mounted on the tank by
ture-free air to the suction side of the chamber.
means of legs 25, 25. This construction per
A still further object of this invention is to pro
mits ready access through a cover 26 hinged at 21,
vide in cleaning apparatus'a suction operated de
21 but which normally is kept tightly closed. As
positing chamber having means for cutting-off 60 shown, a matting of suitable ?brous material 28
2,549,181
3
any other material not affected by the cleaning
is provided as a ?lter, the function of which is
liquid. Filtered moisture and liquid ?ows through
the'opening 3|, down the cylinder, and back to
more fully described hereinafter.
Extending between the ?lter 24 and the tank
or reservoir I2 is a cylinder 29 having one end
the
tank.
,7
.
'
As the level of deposited cleaning liquid 32 rises,
terminating under or within the ?brous matting
the weight or float 3| resists movement until
and its other end terminating in the upper por
tion of the tank. If desired, the upper end may
be sealed and an opening provided in the cap to
. it becomes buoyant. ' This buoyancy level is pre
' determined for at that level the mechanism now
act as a bearing for a valve actuating'stem 3B.
to be described automatically cuts oil‘ the flow of
In either construction, an opening such as 3|, is 10 air from the interior of the tank through the
provided through a sidewall of the cylinder. This
opening provides both a pathway ‘for ?uids .?ow'e
ing up through the cylinder to pass through the
?lter matting 28, for a reason to be fully ex
plained- later, and a drainage opening for any
moisture or liquids removed‘ by the ?lters'
At the lower end ‘of the stem 3!! is secured a
?lter.
?oat 3! of su?icient weight to maintain the
stem‘ in its lowermost position but light enough
to ‘rise with the level of liquid 32'.
A guide mem
berl33,~carried by the stem, is movable within
the cylinder to constantly maintain the stem in‘
a centered position therein.
'
The?oat 3| is normally positioned as shown in
full lines in which position the valve 34 is closed.
When the ?oat, becomes buoyant it rises to a
position shown in dotted lines and the valve 34
is‘ opened as the v‘tapered: valve member 39 rises
fr'o'in'its seat '38. -‘With ‘the'rvalve opened, suction
from the vacuum cleaner is exerted on the atmosa
pherev rather than through the ?brous matting.
28. A‘screen 49 is'provided on the dome of the
valve‘ to eliminate the entry of dust; dirt and
other foreign matter. It then becomes neces
sary to draw off excess cleaning liquid from the
tank 12 until the ?oat again drops to its lower
a
A valve 34 is carried by the cover ‘26 of the
filter '24. 'The valve includes an upper section 25 most position to close the valve 34.
i
It will be apparent that my cleaning apparatus
particularly lends itself to operations wherever it
is desired that dust and dirt not be disturbedidur
provided with a transverse wall having a tapered
ingI cleaning. ‘The use of‘ such apparatus has
opening therethrough de?ning a valve seat 38. A
tapered valve 39 is carried by the stem 30 and 30 been found to‘ be‘ especially desirablein medical,
dental and food establishments.
i
normally complementally vseats on the valve seat
The invention has been described herein more
38 thereby limiting downward movement of the
35 and a lower section 36 bolted or otherwise
secured together as at 31. Valve section 36 is
or less precisely. as to details, yet it is to be under
stood that ‘the invention is .not limited thereby,
float.
At one end of the tank i2 there is provided a
as changes may be made in the arrangementand
tubular member 40 terminating within the in
terior of its tank in a deflector or ba?le 4| . “The
proportion of parts and ‘equivalents may be sub
other terminal of the tubular member has at
, stituted, vwithout departing‘ from the'spirit and
scope'oi the invention.
tached a hose 42 having on its free end a broom
or suction nozzle 43.
- I claim (as my invention:
’
_
'
‘1. In cleaning apparatus adapted for connec
tion to and operation with a source of suction
' The operation of the device is as follows: The ~
suction source, in this case a vacuum cleaner 'll
of the hand operated type having a handle 44 and
a dust collecting, bag 55, is set in operation. Suc
tion is then exerted through the hose I9, the
such as a vacuum cleaner whereby ‘to remove‘
reservoir or'tank l2, and thehose 42.’ Asthe
' laden ‘with said solids and liquids are drawn by
dirt solids and cleaning liquids from articles
cleaned, .a depositing chamber into which air
said suction, a ?lter chamber having therein a
?brous matting ?lter, a tubular member con
broom Or suction nozzle 123' is moved over a sur
‘face which has been scrubbed with a clean
ing liquid, the liquid and any dust or dirt held , necting said ?lter and depositing chambers and
de?ning a pathway for the flow of air therebe
in suspension is mixed with air and drawn
through the hose 42 into the tank 12. Ba?ie M 50 tween and through said ?brous matting, a suc
tion ‘pathway connecting the source of suction
is suf?cientiy long to permit liquid and solids of
with said ?lter chamber on the side of the ?
dirt and dust held in suspension to run to the
brous mattingopposite the connecting cylinder,
bottom of the tank where the solids precipitate.
a valve. connecting the atmosphere to the same
The baiile tends also to minimize agitation there
by aiding in the settling of foreign'matter in the 55 side of the ?lter chamber as the source of suc
tion, said valve having a seat and a closure mem
tank. When it becomes necessary, collected
her, a ?oat, and a shaft connecting said float and ‘
liquids may be drained away through faucet 4-6.
valve closure member, the Weight of said .?oat
A door 4? makes theinterior of the tank accessible
being such as to effect buoyancy thereof. at a
for cleaning purposes. This door is normally
locked by a latch 48.
-
60
Suction exerted by the vacuum cleaner through
the ?lter 24 draws moisture-laden air along a
path indicated by arrows. This path is upward
through the cylinder 29 and the ?lter matting
28, and-into the nipple 23 and hose 22. The
air ?nally is exhausted‘throu'gh the cleaner col
lecting
bag.
.»
.
'
~
-
Inasmuch as the vacuum cleaner is of a non
predetermined level of collected liquid in said de
positing. chamber whereby to open said valve,
said valve'whenopened connecting said source
of suction with the atmosphere and when closed
connecting the source to said depositing and ?l
ter chambers whereby ‘to draw. air from the de
positing chamber through the ?lter chamber.
' 2. In vcleaning apparatus adapted forconnec
tion to and operation: with a source of suction
waterproof type, it is necessary‘ to remove any
Such as a vacuum cleaner whereby to remove dirt
moisture from the air before it reaches the 70 solids and cleaning liquids from articles cleaned,
cleaner. This'is done in the ?lter matting 28. A
a depositing chamber into which air laden'with
said" solids-and liquids are drawn by said suction,
?brous matting is provided which is‘ inert or
a ?lter chamber‘ having therein a ?brous mat
impervious to water or other cleaning liquids used.
ting'?lter, a cylinder ‘connecting said ?lter and
Such a matting could be formed of glass ?bers,
depositing'chambers and de?ning a pathway for
hair, bristles,'?ne wire, ?laments of ‘metal, or.
5
2,549,181
6
the flow of air therebetween and through said
?brous matting, a suction pathway connecting
the source of suction with said ?ltering chamber,
a valve connecting the ?ltering chamber to the
the source of suction with said ?lter chamber on
atmosphere, and a ?oat member operatively con
the side of the ?brous matting opposite the con
necting cylinder, a valve connecting the atmos
nected to said valve, the weight of said ?oat being
such as to effect buoyancy thereof at a predeter
phere to the same side of the ?lter chamber as the
source of suction, said valve having a seat and a
mined level of collected liquid in said depositing
chamber whereby to open said valve, said valve
closure member adapted to engage said seat and
when opened connecting said source of suction
close the valve, a ?oat, a shaft extending through
with the atmosphere and when closed connecting
said cylinder and connecting said float and said ll) the source to said depositing and ?ltering cham—
valve closure member, and a guide member in said
bers whereby to draw air from the depositing ‘
cylinder for maintaining said shaft in centered
alignment therein and said valve parts in align
ment with each other, the Weight of said float
being such as to effect buoyancy thereof at "a ‘
predetermined level of collected liquid in said
depositing chamber whereby to e?’ect opening of
the valve, said valve when opened connecting
FEEFERENCES GITED
The following references are of record in the
tile of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS
Number
Name
Date
said source of suction with the atmosphere and
when closed connecting the source to said de
positing and ?lter chambers whereby to draw
air from the depositing chamber through the
?lter chamber.
3. In cleaning apparatus adapted for connec
963,139
1,512,358
2,114,780
2,219,567
‘2,327,181
tion to and operation with a source of suction, a
depositing chamber into which air laden with
solids and liquids are drawn by said suction, a
?ltering chamber having therein a filter, a ?uid
?ow passageway connecting said depositing and
?ltering chambers and de?ning a pathway
through said filter, a suction pathway connecting
chamber into the ?ltering chamber and through
said i?lter.
LUTHER DURHAM.
,
Number
30
112,636
Griffiths __________ __ July 5,
Neill _____________ __ Oct. 21,
Juelson __________ __ Apr. 19,
Speilman ________ __ Oct. 29,
Dunbar __________ __ Aug. 17,
1910
1924
1938
1940
1943
FOREIGN PATENTS
Country
Date
Netherlands ______ __ Jan. 16, 1938

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