GB2028111A

GB2028111A - Improvements in brush-type vacuum cleaners

Info

Publication number: GB2028111A
Application number: GB7833459A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MCDONALD ELECTRIC GmbH
Current assignee: MCDONALD ELECTRIC GmbH
Priority date: 1978-08-15
Filing date: 1978-08-15
Publication date: 1980-03-05

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner has a housing, containing a cylinder brush 12 and a fan 15 which draws air from the brush and delivers it to a dust bag. An opening 27 is provided in the housing to which a flexible suction hose can be connected, air then being drawn along the hose and into the dust bag, rather than from the brush. A nozzle 28 of the suction hose is arranged upon insertion through the opening into the housing to divert the air flow as required, to pass from the hose to the bag, and also causes a support to be projected through a bottom opening of the cleaner so that the front part of the cleaner, and the brush, is lifted clear of the floor. When the cleaner is to be used without a suction hose, a plug is inserted through the opening in the housing. The plug leads the air flow from the brush to the dust bag and locks the support within the housing so that the brush is in contact with the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in brush-type vacuum cleaners The invention relates to brush-type vacuum cleaners, and in particular to cleaners which can be converted from operation as a floor cleaner, employing a rotating brush, to operation with a flexible suction hose by introduction of a connecting nozzle of the hose into the air system of the vacuum cleaner there is a change-over of the flow of air from the rotating brushes to the suction hose.

The invention has as an object to provide for the conversion to the different modes of operation by a particularly simple and reliable means which is also simple to operate.

According to the invention there is provided a brush-type vacuum cleaner which can be converted from operation as a floor cleaner with a rotating front brush to operation with a flexible suction hose, in which the introduction of a connecting nozzle of the hose through an opening in a housing of the cleaner into the air system of the vacuum cleaner causes diversion of the suction flow from the rotating brush to the suction hose, characterised in that, in the housing of the vacuum cleaner, in the region of the introduction path of the nozzle, there is provided a device for lifting the brush or the front part of the vacuum cleaner housing.

Further features of the invention are the subject of the subsidiary claims, to the contents of which attention is drawn.

Further advantageous details of the invention are shown in the drawing in which an embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a general illustration of a brush-type vacuum cleaner in longitudinal section; Figure 2 shows in cross section a diagramatic illustration of a vacuum cleaner according to the invention in one operating mode: Figure 3 shows the same vacuum cleaner in the other operating mode for operation with a suction hose; Figure 4 shows a connecting nozzle for the rear opening of the vacuum cleaner housing; Figure 5 is a section on the line V-V in Fig.

4; Figure 6 illustrates a cam; Figure 7 shows the connecting nozzle for the suction hose in side view and partial section; Figure 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7; Figures 9 and 10 show a longitudinal section and elevation of a ring which is slidable in the direction of the axis of the suction pipe; Figures 1 1a and 11b show a diagramatic illustration of the lifting device and Figures 12 to 15 show details of the lifting device.

In Fig. 1 there is shown in general in section the construction of a brush-type vacuum cleaner whereas in Figs. 2 and 3 are illustrated the changeover of such a vacuum cleaner from operation as a floor cleaner using the brush to operation employing a suction hose.

Within the housing 11, which is mobile by means of the wheels 10, a cylinder brush 1 2 is mounted to rotate, being driven through a belt 1 3 or the like from an electric motor 14.

The motor 1 4 also drives a fan 1 5 which sucks the dust-iaden air and delivers it through a passage 1 6 into the hollow handie 1 7 of the vacuum cleaner and through the outlet opening 1 8 into a paper bag 1 9 enclosed in an outer dust bag 20.

As shown in Fig. 2, the dust-laden air is delivered from the brush 1 2 through the suction passage 21 to the passage 16. This path is achieved through plug 22 introduced into a rear opening 24 in the housing 11, this plug having an opening 23 giving a path from the suction passage 21 to the fan 15, whilst blocking the said opening in the housing 11 from atmosphere. The plug 22 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 to 6.

Illustrated diagramatically in Fig. 3 is the insertion of a connecting nozzle 28, in place of the plug 22, in the rear opening in the housing 11, the nozzle is shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 8. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the rear wall 25 of the nozzle 28 cuts off the suction passage 21 from the fan 1 5 and connects the fan 1 5 through the opening 26 in the support 24 and through the rear opening 27 to a suction hose, not shown, connected to the nozzle.

In the illustration in Fig. 2, therefore, the suction cleaner shown operates as a brushtype cleaner, using the rotating brush 12, whilst in Fig. 3 the vacuum cleaner is connected to a suction hose. Therefore, whilst the suction cleaner shown in Fig. 2 is moved across the floor by means of wheels 10 and thereby the dust is picked up by the rotating brush and fed by the fan to the dust bag 20 and paper bag 19, in the form shown in Fig.

3 the travel of the dust-laden air is through the opening 1 7 and via the suction hose connected to this opening.

In order that during operation in the mode shown in Fig. 3 the brush 1 2 does not engage the floor, thereby acting on it and damaging it unnecessarily, as in this case the vacuum cleaner is not moving over the floor but generally is stationary, the plug 22 shown in Figs. 4 to 6 is provided with cams 5 and the nozzle 28 shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is provided with connecting cams 6. On the introduction of the nozzle 28 into the rear opening of the vacuum cleaner housing, the cams 6 co-operate with a sleeve 29 which is moveable in the direction of the axis of the suction pipe against a spring 30 and which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 9 and 1 0.

The sleeve 29 has counter-cams 31 which co-operate with the cams 6 and two projections 32 each of which has an slot 33.

The function of this sleeve 29 is shown in the diagramatic drawings in Figs. 1 la and 11 b. In Fig. 11 a the position of a vacuum cleaner according to the invention is illustrated in the brush mode and in Fig. 11 b it is shown for operation in the suction hose mode.

In the lower part of the housing 11 there is a bridge 2 with a support 3 pivotally mounted about the axis 34. Engaging with its other end, in the slots 33 in the projections 32 of the sleeve 29, are guide pins 35 a plug spindle which is guided by the bores 36 in the bridge 2 as shown in Figs. 12 and 1 3.

When, as shown in Fig. 11 a, the plug 22 is introduced into the rear opening in the housing, the pins 35 are at the lower ends of the slots 33 and accordingly the bridge 2 is rocked so that the support 3 does not engage the floor. The cams 5 on the plug 22 lock any movement of the sleeve 29, with the effect that the support 3 remains retracted into the housing 11. This locking is obtained by rotation of the plug 22 in the rear opening in the housing. In the position shown in Fig. 11 b the nozzle 28, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, is introduced into the rear opening of the housing.By rotation of this nozzle after insertion into the opening, the engaging cams 6 cause the sleeve 29 to be displaced so that the pins 35 move relatively upwards in the slots 33 and the bridge 2 tilts about the axis 34 into the position shown in Fig. 11 b and lower the support 3 through the floor of the apparatus in order to lift the brush cylinder 1 2 from the floor. By rotation of the nozzle, the nozzle 28 is locked in the apparatus by a bayonet catch so that this connection, to which the suction hose is in fact joined, cannot be inadvertently detached from the apparatus.

In detail the bridge 2 and the support 3 can advantageously have the form shown in Figs.

12 to 1 5. Here the bridge 2, which is of Lshaped form as shown in Fig. 12, has two flanges 36 with apertures 37, and the support 3, shown in Fig. 11 b projecting through the base plate of the vacuum cleaner, has two corresponding counter-flanges 38 (Figs. 14 and 1 5) with holes 39 by which it is secured in a suitable manner to the flanges 36.

Claims

1. A brush-type vacuum cleaner which can be converted from operation as a floor cleaner with a rotating front brush to operation with a flexible suction hose, in which the introduction of a connecting nozzle of the hose through an opening in a housing of the cleaner into the air system of the vacuum cleaner causes diversion of the suction flow from the rotating brush to the suction hose, characterised in that, in the housing of the vacuum cleaner, in the region of the introduction path of the nozzle, there is provided a device for lifting the brush or the front part of the vacuum cleaner housing.

2. A cleaner according to claim 1 characterised in that the lifting device comprises a support movalbe through an opening in the bottom of the vacuum cleaner housing.

3. A cleaner according to claims 1 or 2 characterised in that the support is in the form of a strip.

4. A cleaner according to claim 1, 2 or 3 characterised in that the support 3 is arranged on a pivoting or tilting bridge which is tilted upon introduction of the connecting nozzle of the suction hose into an opening in the vacuum cleaner housing, in such a way that the moveable support penetrates through the base plate of the vacuum cleaner housing downwards and causes lifting of the brush away from the floor.

5. A cleaner according to any one of the foregoing claims characterised in that the connecting nozzle of the suction hose is provided with actuating cams for actuating the lifting device.

6. A cleaner according to claim 5 characterised in that a slidable sleeve is actuated by the actuating cams.

7. A cleaner according to one of claims 5 and 6 characterised in that the actuating cams simultaneously lock the suction hose nozzle in the housing.

8. A cleaner according to claim 6 characterised in that a projecting part of the sleeve is coupled to the bridge by way of an elongated slot.

9. A cleaner according to claim 6 characterised in that the sleeve is moveable against the loading of a spring.

1 0. A cleaner according to anyone of the foregoing claims characterised in that the opening in the housing on operation of the vacuum cleaner as a floor cleaner with a rotating brush is closed by a plug introduced into the opening in the housing, this plug leading the suction flow of air to the brush and locking and lifting device in a retracted position.

11. A cleaner according to claim 10 characterised in that the plug is provided with actuating cams for locking the lifting device in its retracted position.

1 2. A vacuum cleaner constructed ar ranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.