Vacuum cleaner assembly

June 28, 1966

K. G. GRELLSSON

3,257,784

VACUUM CLEANER ASSEMBLY

Filed April 1, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US3257784A_D0001.tif" />

<img file="US3257784A_D0002.tif" />

INVENTOR.

<img file="US3257784A_D0003.tif" />

ATTORNEY

June 28, 1966

3,257,784

K, G. GRELLSSON

VACUUM CLEANER ASSEMBLY

Filed April 1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US3257784A_D0004.tif" />

^'attorney

June 28, 1966

K. G. GRELLSSON

VACUUM CLEANER ASSEMBLY

3,257,784

Filed April 1, 1963

Sheets-Sheet 3

FIG. 4

<img file="US3257784A_D0005.tif" />

<img file="US3257784A_D0006.tif" />

<img file="US3257784A_D0007.tif" />

INVENTOR.

[fajL

<img file="US3257784A_D0008.tif" />

ATTORNEY

United States Patent Office

3,257,784

Patented June 28, 1966

3,257,784

VACUUM CLEANER ASSEMBLY

Karl Gustav Grellsson, Sollentuna, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Electrolux, Stockhoha, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden

Filed Apr. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 269,443

Claims priority, application Sweden, Apr. 3, 1962, 3,717/62 ' 10 Claims. (CI. 55—472)

My invention relates to suction cleaners.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved suction cleaner of simplified construction which can be readily assembled.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved suction cleaner having a compact arrangement of parts and in which operating elements are readily accessible for repair or replacement. I accomplish this by providing a suction cleaner having separable first and second cleaner components for respectively housing a dust collector and a motor-fan unit, and maintaining the dust collector anchored between the cleaner components by connecting means employed to detachably connect the cleaner components together. More particularly, an apertured partition disposed between the motor-fan unit and the dust collector frame and forming a part of the second cleaner component housing the motor-fan unit is provided with flanges projecting from opposing sides thereof, one of the flanges forming a part of structure for supporting the motor-fan unit in the second cleaner component and the other flange serving to maintain the dust collector in its anchored position between the partition and the first cleaner component when the cleaner components are detachably connected together.

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

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of a suction cleaner embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of the suction cleaner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, taken vertically midway between its side walls, of the rear end of the suction cleaner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3α is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view which complements FIG. 2 and illustrates corner details of the suction cleaner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3b is a sectional view taken at line 3b—3b of FIGS. 1 and 3α to illustrate corner details of the suction cleaner more clearly; 55

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of parts shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, said figure omitting element 44α.

Referring to FIG. 1, I have shown my invention em- θθ bodied in a portable elongated tank-type cleaner 10 having a casing 11 which is provided with a handle 12 and. runners 14 and 15 that extend lengthwise of the casing and are fixed thereto in any suitable manner to facilitate movement thereof on a supporting surface.

The casing 11 is formed of two parts comprising openended front and rear casing sections 11α and 116, respectively, which include integrally formed closed ends 11α' and 116' and are detachably connected together at their open ends by clamps 16 at opposing sides of the casing, yg the runners 14 and 15 being respectively fixed to the front and rear casing sections 11α and 116. The bottom 11α of the front casing section 11α, which is cup-shaped and defines a space 17 to receive a dust collector 18, communicates with a hollow fitting 19, the outer end 19α of which constitutes the air inlet of the cleaner and to which a flexible suction hose or suction cleaner wand may be detachably connected.

A motor-fan unit 20 is located in the space 21 defined by the rear casing section 116 which also is cup-shaped and includes a centirfugal fan 22 carried at one end of an electric motor 23. The motor-fan unit 20 is controlled by a switch (not shown) which is arranged to be actuated by an operating member 24 located in a recessed part 25 at the closed end of the rear casing section 116, as shown in FIG. 2.

When the suction cleaner is being operated and the fan 22 driven by the motor 23, dust-laden air flowing through a wand or suction hose connected to the air inlet 19α is drawn through the latter into dust collector 18 in the front casing section 11α. During the cleaning operation, dust collects in the dust collector 18, and air from which dust has been removed passes through the dust collector into an inlet 26 of the fan 22. The air is discharged from the fan 22 and flows through the motor 23, and thereafter is discharged through a hollow fitting 27 which communicates with the space 21 at the bottom 116 of the rear open-ended cup-shaped casing section 116 and constitutes the air outlet 27α of the cleaner.

A partition 28 is disposed between the front and rear casing sections 11α and 116 and formed with a plurality of openings 29 through which air passes from the space 17 to the inlet 26 of the fan 22, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As will be described hereinafter, the partition 28 is removably secured to the rear casing section 116 and forms a unitary part thereof. Since partition 28 normally is fixed to the rear casing section 116 and is removed therefrom only when it is necessary to inspect or repair the motor-fan unit 22, the rear casing section 116 and partition 28 collectively may be referred to as a rear component 106 of the cleaner 10, and the front casing section 11α may be referred to as a front component 10α of the cleaner.

In accordance with my invention, the partition 28 is provided with forwardly and rearwardly extending inner and outer flanges 28α and 286, respectively, the flanges 28α and 286 being of annular form with the peripheral edge portion 28c of the partition projecting radially outward from the outer flange 286, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The peripheral edge portion 28c of the partition 28 snugly receives an annular-shaped sealing member 30 which is formed of resilient material, such as rubber, for example, and is generally U-shaped in section. The rear casing section 116 is notched at 116' to receive the base or closed end of the U-shaped sealing member 30, and the spaced arms of the sealing member extend toward and bear against the flanges 28α and 286, respectively. One arm of the U-shaped sealing member 30 projects radially outward and forms a rib 30α which bears against the extreme end edge of the rear casing section 116.

When the partition 28 is removably secured to the rear casing section 116, it will be evident that the sealing member 30 is firmly anchored against the extreme end edge of the rear casing section 116 and forms the exposed end of rear component 106 of the suction cleaner. When the front and rear cleaner components 10α and 106 are detachably connected together by the clamps 16, the rib 30α of the sealing member forms a joint between the components, as seen in FIG. 4. The partition 28 at the corners thereof is formed with openings 31, one of which is shown in FIG. 3α, which receive threaded bolts 32 having tightening nuts 33 held in fixed positions in any suitable manner between spaced ribs 34 which are pro

3,257,784 vided at the inner surface of the rear casing section lift and extend lengthwise thereof, as best shown in FIGS. 3α and 3b.

In accord with my invention, the partition 28 is effectively employed to resiliently anchor the motor-fan unit 20 in position in the rear casing section 11Z&gt;. As shown in FIG. 3, an apertured annular body 35 of resilient material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, for example, is disposed between the rear end of the motor 23 and a waif member 36 at the bottom 11b of the rear casing section 11Z&gt;. The resilient body 35 conforms to the irregularly-shaped configuration of the motor 23 and wall member 36 against which it bears to obtain a snug fit therebetween, the coacting parts being of such shape that relative angular movement about the axis of the motor 23 is prevented between the motor and the resilient body 35 and between the latter and the end wall member 36.

The front end of the fan 22, at the vicinity of the partition 28, receives a member 37 of annular form which is L-shaped in section and may be formed of resilient material, such as rubber, for example. The arms 37α and 37b of member 37, which are at a right angle with respect to one another, form an open-bottomed cup in which the front end of the fan 22 nests. The arm 37α at its inner surface is formed with a boss 37c of annular form which bears against the front end of the fan 22 to absorb axially extending components of vibrations developed by the motor-fan unit 20; and the arm 37b, which bears snugly against the side of the fan 22, is formed with a boss 37 d of. annular form at its outer surface which bears against the flange 28Z? to absorb radially extending components of vibrations developed by the motor-fan unit 20.

It will now be understood that the motor-fan unit 20 is anchored in position in the rear cup-shaped casing section 11b by the removably secured partition 28 which essentially clamps the motor-fan unit endwise between the resilient members 35 and 37. As just explained, the arms 37a and 37b of the resilient member 37 function to absorb axially and radially extending components of vibrations developed by the motor-fan unit. The resilient member 35 nests in a cup-shaped part of the wall member 36, whereby the resilient member 35 also functions to absorb axially and radially extending components of vibrations developed by the motor-fan unit 20.

The partition 28 is also effectively employed to anchor the dust collector 18 in position in the cup-shaped front casing section 11α when the front and rear open-ended casing sections 11α and lib are connected together by the clamps 16. The dust collector 18 comprises a selfsustaining frame structure 38 which is formed of lightweight metal or stiff plastic elements and includes spaced fingers or ribs 39 extending axially of the frame structure between an open end ring member 40 at an opening 41 which defines the open end of the dust collector 18 and an apertured bottom end ring 42, and a plurality of axially spaced rings 43 disposed between the bottom end ring 42 and the end ring 40 at the open end of the dust collector 18 to reinforce the frame structure 38. The axially extending ribs 39 at 39α overlap the bottom end ring 42 at the closed end of the dust collector 18, the extreme end portions 39α of the ribs overlying the peripheral outer surface of the apertured bottom end ring 42. Within the frame structure 38 and integrally united to the inner surfaces of the axially spaced rings 40, 42 and 43 are one or more layers of material which are pervious to air and function as a filter 44 to remove dust and dirt from air. When the dust collector 18 is positioned in the open-ended cup-shaped front casing section 11α, the open end ring 40 at the open end 41 of the dust collector 18 bears against an annular-shaped sealing member 45 which is formed of resilient material like rubber, for example, and snugly fits in a recess 46 at the inner surface of the bottom 11α of the cup-shaped front casing section, as best shown in FIG. 4.

If desired, a removable paper dust bag 48 may be employed within the dust collector 18. As shown in FIG. 4, the mouth of the bag 48 extends through the open end 41 of the dust collector with the lip 48α of 5 the mouth folded over the end ring 40. With this arrangement, the lip 48α is disposed between the front casing section 11α and the end ring 40 and the sealing member 45 bears against the folded-over lip of the paper bag to hold the paper bag in sealing relation therewith. IQ When the front and rear cleaner components 10α and 10h are connected together by the clamps 16 with the open end 41 of the dust collector 18 in sealing relation with the front sealing member 45, the dust collector, due to the axially extending ribs 39, is yieldingly clamped 15 between the front sealing member 45 and the partition 28. In its clamped position, the extreme ends 39α of the axially extending ribs 39 of the dust collector 18 are seated within the forwardly extending flange 28α and the end portions 39α of the axially extending ribs 39 and 20 the open end ring 42 at the closed end of the dust collector 18 space the filter 44, including the transverse part 44α thereof at the bottom end ring 42, radially from the flange 28α; and a boss or ridge 28c? of annular form and of smaller diameter than the ring 42, which extends for25 ward from the partition 28, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A, is adapted to act against the bottom portion 44α of the filter 44 to space the filter 44 axially from the partition 28, the open bottom ring 42 and the part 44α of the filter 44 defining the closed end of the dust collector 18, as 30 shown in FIG. 4, whereby flow of air through the filter 44 will not be obstructed and air flow therethrough will be promoted.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 3A and 4, a plurality of ribs 49 and 49α are distributed about the flange 28α and ex35 tend radially outward therefrom, the ribs 49α being radially wider than the ribs 49 in view of the crosssectional shape of the cleaner, as best shown in FIG. 2. However, all of the ribs are of such axial length that they function as positioning guides for the open end of 40 the front casing section 11α when it is positioned over the flange 28α against the sealing member 30, as shown in FIG. 4. With the open end of the front casing section 11α positioned over the outer extremities of the ribs 49 and 49α in abutting relation with the sealing member 30, ₄₅ the clamps 16 can be employed to draw the front casing section 11α toward the rear casing section lib and connect the front and rear cleaner components 10α and 10ό together.

If desired, the rear cleaner component 10£&gt; may be 5Q employed as a blower unit to provide a source of heated air for operating a hair dryer. Accordingly, the cleaner components 10α and 10Z&gt; may be detached from one another and the rear cleaner component 10Z? may be supported in an erect position on the flange 28α, the latter 55 serving as a supporting base and being formed with notches 28e to permit clean ambient air to pass therethrough and flow into the inlet 26 of the fan 22 when the motor-fan unit 20 is being operated. The air flowing from the fan 22 passes through the motor 23 and begQ comes heated, such heated air being discharged from the outlet 27α to which may be connected an air inlet connection of a hair dryer.

It will now be understood that the casing 11 comprises an open-ended cup-shaped front casing section 11α havg5 ing a bottom 11α and an open-ended cup-shaped rear casing section 11b having a bottom lib”. The front and rear cup-shaped casing sections 11α and 11b respectively have first and second openings 19α and 27α at the bottoms thereof, the first and second openings 19α and 27α γθ respectively defining the inlet an outlet for air. As best shown in FIG. 4, an extreme end portion or flange 11α' of the front casing section 11α projects beyond the bottom 11α thereof which is formed with an opening (not shown) with which the hollow fitting 19 communj75 cates.

3,257,784

The means for moving air comprises a motor 23 and fan 22 driven thereby, the motor 23 and fan 22 defining a motor-fan unit 20. The partition 28 and fastening elements 32 and 33 therefor comprise means for mountthe motor-fan unit 20 in the rear casing section 11/; 5 with the fan 22 adjacent to the open end thereof and the motor 23 adjacent to the second opening 27α defining the air outlet.

The dust collector 18 comprises an elongated member 38 having first and second ring-shaped ends 40 and 42, ιθ respectively, and an elongated cup-shaped dust holder including a filter 44 comprising suitable filter material. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the elongated member 38 comprises an apertured frame having transverse ring-shaped elements 40 and 42 at the ends thereof 15 and spaced transverse rings 43 therebetween, all of which are axially spaced from one another. The transverse rings are connected by axially extending ribs 39. The frame parts 39, 40, 42 and 43 may be formed of stiff plastic elements which are connected to one another and 20 have inner surfaces.

The material forming the filter 44 defines an elongated cup-shaped dust holder having a bottom 44α at the second ring-shaped end 42 of the elongated member or frame structure 38 and an access opening 41 for air at the first 25 ring-shaped end 40 thereof for flowing air from the inlet 19α into the interior of the dust holder 44 and flowing air from which dust has been removed from the exterior of the dust holder 44 to the outlet 27α. The axially extending filter 44 engages the inner surfaces of the aper- 30 tured frame parts 48, 42 and 43, as best shown in FIG. 4, and is disposed in the path of flow of air. It will be seen in FIG. 4 that the inner surfaces of the rings 40, 42 and 43 are spaced radially from the axially extending ribs 39 to provide gaps 47 therebetween. 35

The front cup-shaped casing section 11α is provided with a first part in the form of a resilient member 45 which is seated in a ring-shaped groove at the vicinity of the bottom 11α of the front casing section 11α, the part 45 being axially removed from the open end of the front 40 casing section. The rear cup-shaped casing section 11Z&gt; is provided with a second part 28α of annular form which is carried by the partition 28 at the open end of the rear casing section. The parts 45 and 28α in the front and rear casing sections 11α and Uh, respectively, anchor the 45 dust collector 18 between the casing sections when they are detachably connected by the clamps 16. When this is done, the first end or ring 40 of the dust collector 18 exerts force against the first part 45 and the second end or ring 42 thereof exerts force against the second part 50 28α. Since the ribs 39 are stiff and may be formed of plastic, as explained above, these parts of the dust collector 18 are stiffer than the material employed to provide the filter 44. The first and second end rings 40 and 42 respectively engage the air access end 41 and 55 bottom 44α of the cup-shaped dust holder 44. The frame or elongated member 38 is capable of yielding and being axially compressed when the dust collector 18 is anchored between the front and rear casing sections 11α and lib, respectively, with the first ring-shaped end 44 exerting 60 force against the first part 45 and the second ring-shaped end 42 exerting force against the second part 28α when the casing sections are detachably connected by the clamps 16.

Although I have shown and described a single embodi- 65 ment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the particular arrangement set forth, and I intend in the following claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.