Patent GB-680315-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to suction cleaners
IPC: A47L5/32
Filed: 1950-08-23
Abstract: 680,315. Suction cleaners. HOOVER, Ltd. Aug. 23, 1950 [Sept. 2, 1949; Sept. 14, 1949; Nov. 8, 1949; Jan. 26, 1950], No. 20871/50. Class 8 (i). The converter passageway 24, Fig. 1, of a handle propelled suction cleaner having a main suction nozzle 14 containing an agitator 19 and communicating with a motor driven fan by an air passageway 15 extending to one side of the fan eye 16 in a rearward direction generally at right angles to the fan axis is disposed on the diametrically opposite side of the eye 16 for receiving the converter 40 which is inserted forwardly, and the cleaner comprises means whereby the insertion of the converter necessitates or causes the nozzle 14 to be raised relative to the floor surface. During normal cleaning the duct 24 is closed by a pivoted valve 25, and the middle portion 31 of a doubly cranked axle 28 having rear wheel carrying ends 27 clamped to the cleaner body 10 is spring biassed against the top of the duct 24 to form a barrier which on inserting the converter 40 is lowered by engagement with end walls 48, Fig. 3, resulting in retraction of the rear wheels 12 and upward pivoting of the nozzle 14 about front wheels 11. Completion of the insertion results in the valve 25 being opened by the end walls 48, and the fan eye 16 being shut off from the passageway 15 by spring biassed valves 49, 50 pivoted at a pin 45 and having upturned rearwardly extending ends 53, 54; the converter being held in position by engagement of the upwardly biassed barrier 31 in a recess 56. The wheels 12 may also be retracted and the barrier 31 lowered prior to the insertion of the converter 40 by depressing the rear of the cleaner body e.g., by means of the handle 13. In a modification the front instead of the rear wheels are mounted on upwardly biassed cranked ends 36, Fig. 4, of a shaft 34 Fig. 6 secured to the cleaner body 10 and the valve 25 is fixed to a cranked shaft 61 carrying a lever 65 by which the front wheels 11 are extended relative to the cleaner body 10 and hence the nozzle 14 pivoted upwardly about the rear wheels 12 on the opening of the valve 25 by the insertion of the convertor. Manual adjustment of the nozzle height when the converter is not in use is effected by angular adjustment of the crank 36 of the wheel 11 not linked to the valve 25. An extension 67 of the cranked end 36 engages one of three pairs of recesses 72, 73, 74 of a cam 71 which is adjusted about a fixed shaft 70 by an upwardly biassed pedal 83 connected to it by a bell crank 81 and a link 80 having a hooked end 79 which engages one of six pins 78 Fig. 8, of the cam 71. In a further modification the rear wheels are mounted on the lower ends of connected pivoted links which on insertion of the converter are moved forwardly from a position behind the centre of gravity of the cleaner body to a position in front of it so that the body of the cleaner rocks backwards and elevates the nozzle. In a further construction the fan axis is either vertical or horizontal and transverse to the direction of movement of the cleaner, and the nozzle height adjustment is effected by biassing of the front wheels. The fan axis of the construction shown in Figs. 1, 3, 6 may be arranged vertically and insertion of the converter may cause raising of the front wheels of Figs. 1, 3 and of the rear wheels of Fig. 6. Also the adjustable wheels may be under manual control.