Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1 ~ 6~362
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~ his i~vention relates generally to
vacuum cleaning appliances a~d more particu-
larly, but not exclusively, to portable
electrically operated vacuum appliances
intended for domestic use.
Vacuum cleaning appliances of thi~
kind include an electrically driven fa~
whereby dust, grit a~d other dirt ingrained
i~ a carpet i~ removed by suction, the dirt
being deposited in a removable container
such as a bag.
An upright-type cleaner of the above
kind usuall~ comprises a housing for the fa~
w it, the housing having a carpet engaging
section which may incorporate rotatable
, brushes. ~he machine is usually mPnipulated
i by a rigid handle pivotally mou~ted on the
casing of the applia~ce.
~ c~linder t~e machine of the above
k~nd usuall~ comprises a mai~ casing
containing the fan unit and havi~g an inlet
openi~g for receivi~g a flexible hose to which
r~
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I 1 62362
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suitable fittings ma~ be attached.
An object of the present invention
is to provide a vacuum cleaning appliance
which incorporates the advantages of both
t~es of machines and which is so constructed
that the machine may be easily and quickl~
converted from one typeto the other as
dePired. ~he cleaning appliance of the
invention may therefore be u3ed as an upright
type machine movable over a carpet to be~
clea~ed b~ means of its handle which in the
preferred embodiments of the invention
consists of a rigid tubular pipe member
mounted within a flexible hose connected to
the cas~ng of the cleaner. In the upright
operation of the cleaner ~he ;nner end of
the pipe member is slidably projected through
the surroundi~g flexible hose and is located
with m a~ opening in the casing to provide
a rigid handle for manoeuvrering the machine.
When so fitted the end of the pipe member
~eat8 within the opening in the casing so as
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to close the inner end of the pipe member
and it furthermore acts to maintain open a
spring operated valve member located in the
passageway co~necting the motor driven fan
unit with the floor engaging section of the
clea~er.
In order to convert the cleaner for
cylinder type operation the handle is
slidably removed ~rom the opening in the
casing so as to provide a rigid pipe member
mounted within the end of the surrounding
flexible hose connected to the casing. The
- removal of the pipe member from the opening
in the casing furthermore releases the valve
member which under the action of its spring
closes off the connection between the fan
unit and the carpet engaging section, and
thereby communicates the fan unit directly
with the hose member and its associated
: 20 pipe member which now forms the carpet
engag m g member of the cleaner. In this
mode of operation of the cleaner various
1 1 ~2362
attachments can be fitted to the end of the
pipe member in accordance with conventional
practice, for example for the cleaning of
curtains and furniture.
A further related object of the
invention is to provide the cleaner with an
improved brush unit in the carpet engaging
section of the appliance.
~he features of the invention may
~e incorporated in any conventional vacuum
cleaning appliance. However, in order that
the invention may be clearly understood the
features of the invention will now be des-
cribed by way of example with reference to
the accompanying drawings which illustrate a
cyclone t~pe vacuum cleani~g appliance as
described in m~ co-pendI~g application
~o. ~so ~ 9 0 . In the accompanying
drawings:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a
vacuum cleaning appliance incorporating the
features of the invention;
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Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2
of Figure 1.showing details of the handle
construction;
Figure 3 is a section through a part
of the vacuum cleani~g appliance taken on the
li~e 3-3 in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a horizontal section
through the casing of the vacuum clean m g
appliance taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 3
and showing the direction of air flow through
the appliance;
Figure 5 is a section taken on the line
; . 5-5 in Figure 4 and showing the valve device
controlled by the handle of the appliance for
~5 converting it from its upright mode of opera-
tion to its cyl~nder mode of operation and
vice ~ersa;
Figure 6 is a part sectio~al view
similar to Figure 5 showing the val~e device
an tubular handle positioned for upright mode
of operation of the appliance;
Figure 7 i8 a similar part section
show m g the ~alve device positioned for
1 1 62362
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cylinder mode of operation of the appliance;
Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8
in Figure 3 showing the carpet engaging section
or cleaner head of the appliance;
Figure 9 is a part section on the line
9-9 in Figure 3 showing the ratchet and pawl
arrangement for rotating the -carpet engaging
brushes; and
Figure 10 i8 a part section similar
to Figure 9 but showing the operation of the
ratchet and pawl during a re~erse movement of
the appliance over a carpet.
~eferring now to ~igure 1 of the
drawings, the vacuum cleaning appliance of the
invention is shown in its upright mode of oper-
ation and it comprises a main casi~g 10 which
is detachabl~ fitted to the top of a casing 11
containi~g the electric motor and fan unit.
~he main casi~g 10 is pro~ided with a rigid
U-shaped carr~ing handle 12 which is connected
at its ends to the opposite side portio~s 13
of the main casing. The motor ca~ing 11 is
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fitted at opposite sides with a pair of
supporting wheels 15 (see ~igure 3) for the
appliance and the casing also includes an on-
off push switch 16 for controlling the
operation of the electric motor.
A lower cleaner head 17 for engaging
a carpet to be cleaned is pivotally mounted
on the motor casmg 11 so that during use of
the appliance the main casing ma~ be pivoted
relatively to the cleaner head 17 to allow the
passage of the appliance under low furniture
such as a bed.
~ he motor casing 11 is provided with an
extension 18 which forms a rigid socket for
slidably receiving the lower end of a tubular
pipe or wand 19. ~he pipe 19 at its upper end
is fitted with a hand grip 20 and forms a handle
for manoeu~riDg the appliance. The pipe 19
~lidably fits within a stretch, retractable
flexible hose 21 which is secured at its lower
end around the upper open end of the extension
18 of the casing. ~he arrangement is such that
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I 1 62362
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the pipe 19 when fitted in the socket of the
extension 18 enables the handle to be used
for manoeu~rering the appliance as an upright
type machine. When the pipe 19 is slidably
removed from the socket in the extension 18
the pipe 19 is then used as a cleaner head
at the end of the flexible hose 21 thus
converting the appliance into a c~linder type
machi~e. ~he fitting of the pipé 19 in hose
21 a~d the conversion of the appliance from
one mode of operation to the other and ~ice
versa will be described hereinafter in
greater detail.
Figure 3 of the drawings provides a
section through the lower part of main casing
10, motor casing 11 and cleaner head 17 of
the appliance.
~ he main casing 10 provides a
hous~ng for the cleaner unit which may be of
any conventional type including e.g. dust
bags. In the drawing the cleaner unit
con~ists of a pair of cyclones 22 and 23 which
I 1 62362
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are located in series in the air flow
through the appliance and which operate to
remo~e b~ centrifugal action the dust and
other dirt engrained in the air. ~he con-
struction and operation of such cleaninsunits are described and claimed in my
co-pending application.
~ he c~clones 22 t 2~ at their lower
larger ends are interconnected centrally
of the casing so as to provide an inter-
communicating passageway 24 (see Figure 4)
for the air flow through the appliance.
- ~he cyclones 22, 23 are spaced from
the casing 10 to form therebetween and
externally of the cyclones a chamber 32 for
receiving dust and other dirt removed from
; the air flsw by the cyclone units.
The air flow enters the main casing
10 through a flexible hose 45 which is
attached to a short rigid pipe 46 opening
into the casing 47 of the lower cleaner head
17. The hose 45 at its upper end is attached
to a short rigid pipe 48 which extends through
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1 1 62362
a horizontal plate 49, which plate is
attached to and forms the top plate of the
motor casing 11. The pipe 48 connects with
a curved entry pipe 49 so as to direct the
air flow as shown by the arrows into the
basé of the cyclone 22 in a tangential
manner (see also ~igures 4 and 5), the air
then spiraling up the inner surface of the
curved wall of the cyclone to depo~it en-
grained aust and dirt by centrifugal action
o~er the top edge of the cyolone.
The air flow then passes centrally
down the cyclone into a pipe 50 formed in the
top plate 49 and then enters the transverse
- 15 passageway 24. ~he air flow then enters the
lower part of the cyclone 23 also I~ a tan-
gential manner (Qee Figure 4) and is again
processed in the cyclone so as to remo~e any
further remaining fine dùst and dirt.
The air flow then passes centrall~
down the c~clone 23 to enter a pipe 51 up-
standing from the plate 49. ~he air flow
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exits from the pipe 51 into the fan and
motor chamber 52 of the casing 11, and is
then discharged through an aperture 53 into
the cleaner head casing 47 from which it
discharges into the carpet through an elon-
gated slot 54 (see Figure 8) formed in the
casing. In an alternative construction the
air flow ma~ discharge directly into the
atmosphere from a side slot i~ the casing.
~he plate 49 forming the top plate
of the motor casing 11 has an outer peripheral
flange 55 which seats in thé lip 56 of a
housing 57 providing the lower part of the
casing 11. ~he plate 49 i~ attached to the
housing 57 b~ connecting bolt 58 and nut 59,
the bolt extending through a chamber 60 which
; communicates with the Inlet pipe 48 by means
Or an aperture 61 (see Figuré ~ he
chamber 60 also communicates with hollow shaft
27 which is provided with a control knob (not
shown). The user of the appliance ma~
progressively vent the inlet passa~eway of the
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l 1 6~362
_ 13 _
appliance to atmosphere and so var~ at will
the degree of suction exerted on the carpet
being cleaned. This control of the appliance
is available whether the appliance is operat~ ng
in its upright or cylinder mode of operation.
~he casing 11 consisti~g of the top
plate 49 and the housing 57 to which it is
connected provides firstly the chamber 52 for
the motor 64 and the fan 65, and secondly a
chamber 66 in which i8 mounted a spring loaded
reel 67 for the electric supply cable 68 of
the appliance.
~he lower cleaner head casing 47 is
elongated in shape and extends across the width
Or the appliance having a pair of spaced up-
standing arms 69 and 70 which are pivotally
attach~d to the casing 11 by means of pivot
l pins 71 located within sl~ts in the bottom
¦ housing 57. ~he casing 47 is provided with the
¦ 20 exit pipe 46 previously mentio~ed and also
formed with a chamber 72 provided by walls 73
upstanding from the casing 47 and which slidably
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1 ~ 62362
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engage the lower wall of the housing 57
around the aperture 53.
~ he cleaner head casIng 47 furthermore ha~
a longitudinal open-sided slot 74 in which is
located a rotatable brush unit 75. ~he brush
unit comprises opposite sets of bristles and
is mounted on a longitudinal shaft 76 pivotally
mounted in the end walls 77 of the casing. ~he
shart 76 al~o supports the plates 78 which are
toothed and one of which comprises a ratchet
which i8 engaged by a pawl 79 during one direc-
tion Or rotation of the ~rush unit.
During forward movement of the appliance
as shown in Figure 9 the brush unit 75 rotates
free~y while in contact with the carpet, but
- during reverse movement as shown in ~igure 10
the pawl 79 engages a ratchet tooth 80 on the
correspondIqg plate 78 so as to prevent reverse
movement of the brush unit 75 and which thereb~
provides a brushing effect to the carpet.
During rotation of the brush unit 75 during a
forward movement of the appliance, the opposite
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1 1 6236~
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sets of bristles preferably passed between
spaced plates 81 (see particularly ~igure ~)
so as to remove therefrom any accumulated
fluff and other dirt which is then sucked into
the appliance through the pipe 46.
As previously mentioned the vacuum
cleaning appliance of the invention as shown
~n the drawings is primarily intended for
operation as an upright type cleaner, the
appliance being manoeu~red by the handle 20
on the end of the tubular pipe 19 which fits
the socket in the extension 18 of the motor
casing 11.
~he invention however provides that
the appliance may be quickly and simply
converted for operation as a cylInder t~pe
cleaner and vice versa, merel~ by the remo~al
and insertion of the tubular pipe or wand 19
in the socket of the casing extension 18.
~he constructional features which enable
this change over are sh9wn more clearl~
Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings.
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~ 1 623~2
- 16 - . :
Figure 5 shows the pipe or wand 19
inserted in the extension 18 which provides an
open socket 82 for slidably receiving the lower
end of the pipe. ~he socket 82 provides an end
seat 83 for the end of the pipe 19, but in its
operating mode as an upright cleaner as shown
in ~igure 5 the end of the pipe is held spaced
from the seat 83 by a valve device shown
generally by the refere~ce 85.
~he valve device 85 controls an aper-
ture 84 in the side wall of the socket 82 which
communicates the socket with the inlet pipe 48
of the appliance.
~he valve de~ice is pivotally mounted
at 86 on the casing and it comprises a valve
member 87 normally closing the aperture 84.
At the other side of the pivot point 86 the
valve device has an open sided housing 88 in
which is mounted a compression spring 89
normally urging the valve device in an a~ti-
clockwise direction to open the aperture 84.
A switch member 90 is also mounted pivotally
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~623~2
7 _
on the valve device and is movable relatively
thereto. ~he switch member 90 is formed with
a bore which contains a compression spring 94
acting against a slidable p1unger 93.
When the appliance is in its upright
mode of operation the pipe 19 is located as
shown in Figure 5 with the corner edge 91 of
the switch member 90 engaging a groove 92 in
the pipe 19. In this position the valve member
87 has closed the aperture 84 and the plunger
93 has engaged a part Qf the pivot 86 which is
on that side of the pivot line adjacent the
housing 88. In this position the switch member
90 i6 locked into position so that anti-
1~ clockwise movement of the switch member and
valve device is prevented and this retains the
pipe 19 firmly in position to act as a handle
to manoeuvre the appliance.
In order to convert the appliance to a
cyli~der type cleaner the pipe 19 i8 firstly
pu~hed downwardly In the socket 82 into the
seat 83 as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings.
1 1 62362
As the pipe 19 moves downwardly the switch
member pivots clockwise relatively to the
valve device and this re-engages the plunger
93 on the opposite side of the line from the
pivot 86. The plunger 93 now holds the switch
member 90 in the position shown in Figure 6
which allows for uurestricted removal of the
pipe 19 upwardl~ from the socket 82.
As the pipe 19 moves upwardly the
valve device 85 pivots anti-clockwise under
the action of its spring 89 to the position
shown in Figure 7. In this position the
- ~al~o. member 87 engages the top edge of the
wall of the pipe 48 to allow the plunger to
re-engage the opposite side of the line from
the pivot point 86 which thus allows anti-
clockwise pivotal movement of the ~witch
member 90 relative to the valve device. This
sets the switch member for subsequent engage-
ment with the pipe 19 when the pipe is reinsertedin the socket 82 for conversion to the upright
mode of operation of the appliance.
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I 1~2362
- 19
In this cylinder mode of operation as
shown in ~igure 7 the pipe 19 is now connected
through the aperture 84 directly with the
passageway entering the cleaner unit. The
valve member 87 now closes the inlet connection
to the cleaner head and by slidably moving the
pipe 19 to the end of the surroundi~g flexible
hose 21 the open end of the pipe handle 20 can
be used as a cleaner head and may be fitted
with various attachments in the conventional
manner. ~he pipe 19 is retained in a sealing
tight manner in the outer end of the hose 21
by a cuff 95 which permits sliding of the pipe
19 and the lock~ng therein of the end of the
pipe by means of the groove 92.
Although in the preferred embodime~t
as described above the change-over from cylinder
to upright mode of operation and vice versa is
effected by mcvement of the wand handle it will
be understood that entirely separate control of
the chan~e-over valve may be incorporated in
the appliance. For example, the valve device
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~ 1 623~2
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85 may be actuated manually from the exterior
of the casing or it may be controlled electri-
cally from the handle of the appliance. In
such arrangements the wand handle would be
fitted in the flexible hose to engage the
locating socket as previousl~ described.
Referring now to Figure 2 of the
drawings the pipe or wand 19 is slidabl~
mounted in ho3e 21 and at its inner
or lower end it i8 fitted with a fixed sleeve
96. ~he hose 21 i8 connected at its lower
end to the socket 82 b~ a cuff 97, the hose
having a PVC sleeve 98 bonded to the cuff.
The upper end of the hose includes a further
PVC sleeve 99 bonded to the cuff 95 which
includes a felt or similar seal 100 in
sliding contact with pipe 19. In ~igure 2
pipe 19 i8 show~ in the in~erted or upright
mode of operation of the appliance. In the
conversion of the appliance to its cyl~nder
mode pipe 19 ~lide~ relative to cuff 95
until the upper edge 101 of sleeve 96 engages
surface 102 of upper cuff 95. The arrangement
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1 1 6236~
- 21 -
prevents the removal of pipe 19 from hose 21
but the be~elled edge 101 enables the hose to
be removed if required by force. The arrange-
ment as described is of course applicable to
- 5 an~ conventional cylinder type appliance for
locating the wand when not in use.
In order to re-convert the appliance
for upright mode of operation the pipe 19 is
merely re-i~serted slidably within the short
upright tubular casing 82. This manoeuvre is
generally facilitated by closing the open end
of the pipe handle ~0 while the fan is oper-
ating~ the resulting suction acting to
straighten the hose 21 which enables the pipe
19 to be slidabl~ moved therein without
difficulty.
