Patent Publication Number: US-3874024-A

Title: Hose coupling arrangement for pneumatically actuated floor care appliances

Description:
United States Patent Ford [ 1 Apr. 1, 1975 HOSE COUPLING ARRANGEMENT FOR PNEUMATICALLY ACTUATED FLOOR CARE APPLIANCES [75] Inventor: Roger S. Ford, Memphis, Tenn.  
 [73] Assignee: The Hoover Company. North Canton, Ohio [22] Filed: Sept. 13, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 397,150  
 [52] US. Cl 15/339, 285/7, 285/137 R [51] Int. Cl A471 9/00 [58] Field of Search 15/302, 321, 345, 346,  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1933 Brown ct al. 15/321 12/1936 Good 15/345 X 2,516,883 8/1950 Kelly 285/7 2,951,714 9/1960 Carlberg....  
 3,250,551 5/1966 Draudt 285/7 3,355,762 12/1967 Cavell et al 15/321 3,484,890 12/1969 Case 15/346 Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Assistant E.\&#39;aminerC. K. Moore [57] ABSTRACT A hose coupling arrangement is provided which directly connects the cleaner, proper, with its suction hose and also with a pneumatic pulse-carrying conduit that activates cleaning action. The hose coupling arrangement, because of its configuration, insures easy communication between that portion of the pneumatic pulse-carrying conduit extending along the hose and that portion of the pneumatic pulse-carrying conduit fixed to the cleaner.  
 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU APR 1 9 5 SHEET 1 UP 4 PATENTEU APR 1 I975 SHEET u [If 4 HOSE COUPLING ARRANGEMENT FOR PNEUMATICALLY ACTUATED FLOOR CARE APPLIANCES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a hose coupling arrangement for a floor care appliance and, more specifically, relates to a hose coupling arrangement for a pneumatically actuated floor care appliance having remote user initiated actuation.  
 2. Description of the Prior Art One common type of vacuum cleaner is a canister or tanktype cleaner. In such a unit, a housing which normally rests on the floor, includes a motor, dirt-storing bag and fan system therein for creating a vacuum and filtering dirt-laden air drawn into it by reason of the vacuum. A hose extends from this housing, and is normally provided at its opposite end with some type of cleaning nozzle such as a crevice tool, furniture tool or floor nozzle.  
  Actuation of such a cleaner is generally occasioned by manipulation of a switch mounted on the cleaner housing by either the hand or foot of the user so as to provide suction at the tool end of the suction hose. Such an arrangement requires user effort in moving between the cleaner housing and the manipulative end of the suction hose when the cleaner is turned on and off. Thus, a remotely actuated cleaner, with the initiating button for cleaning action mounted proximate the tool end ofthe hose, would provide the advantage of greater user efficiency since initiation or termination of cleaner operation would not require user movement between the cleaner hose end and the cleaner, per se.  
  Such a cleaner is disclosed in application Ser. No. 397,151 (Hoover Case 2101), filed concurrently herewith, invented by Charles C. Coons and titled A Fluid or Pneumatically Actuated Floor Care Appliance. In this cleaner, remote actuation of it is dependent entirely upon the use of a pressure pulse created at the tool end of the suction hose which is carried down the hose and thence into the cleaner. Actuation may be fluidic (pneumatic) so that a direct communication (conduit) for the pressure pulse must be provided between the actuatable electric switch mounted in the cleaner housing and the remote end of the suction hose where the pressure pulse is created.  
  Accordingly, no mechanism for this communication being heretofore known in the prior art, it would be advantageous to provide a novel suction hose coupling arrangement which coupled the cleaner housing to the adjacent end of the suction hose that, upon coupling of the suction passageway for the carrying of dirt-laden air, also resulted in the coupling and direct connection of the pneumatic pulse lines, inwardly to the cleaner and outwardly to the remote tool mounting suction hose end.  
  It would be additionally advantageous to provide such a structure in which such direct communication of the pulse conduit also resulted, without resorting to extremely close tolerances between the coupling part mounted on the cleaner housing and the coupling part mounted on the adjacent end of the suction hose.  
  It would also be advantageous to provide structure in the coupling assembly which insured proper automatic alignment of the two pressure pulse conduit sections upon connection of the hose coupler part to the cleaner coupler part.  
  It would be further advantageous to provide such an arrangement in which molded parts, of relatively easy and inexpensive manufacture, could be utilized so that manufacturing efficiency and low cost resulted.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is provided in a canister cleaner as exemplary of a floor care appliance, with the same including an electric switch mounted within the canister cleaner housing and including the provision for either manual actuation at the housing or remote, pneumatic pulsing actuation.  
  Creation of the pressure pulse or impulse can be by a button-operated piston or a squeeze bulb or any other equivalent means (not shown). This pulse is led through a pneumatic, flexible conduit or relatively small diameter, mounted with the suction hose, proper, so that pressure pulse may be communicated down the hose towards the cleaner housing and electric switch. At the cleaner housing end of the suction hose, a hose coupler part is fixedly mounted to the suction hose by means of a clamp ring or the like. The pneumatic conduit communicates with this coupler part by means of a rigid tube, mounted within the coupler part, over which the pneumatic, flexible conduit is telescoped.  
  This coupler part terminates in a generally flat face which includes an arcuately extending groove opening towards the housing coupler part. A bore, in the hose coupler part, extends from the rigid tubular member to the groove so as to be in confluent communication with the arcuate groove.  
  The housing coupler part is mounted fixed relative to the cleaner housing and extends inwardly thereof so as to provide communication for the flow of suction cleaner air inwardly into the cleaner. This coupler part also includes a bore extending longitudinally relative to the axis of the coupling part so as to open to the arcuate groove of the hose coupler part when the suction hose is assembled with the cleaner housing.  
  The just-mentioned pulse-carrying bore extends inwardly towards the cleaner housing and then turns at a generally rightangle, with this portion of the bore receiving another rigid tubular piece that also extends outwardly of the housing coupler part. Attached to the extending end of the rigid tubular piece is another pneumatic, flexible conduit, also of relatively small diameter, that extends around one-half the periphery of the cleaner and then inwardly of the cleaner housing, adjacent the hinge for the top section of the housing of the cleaner, to be confluently connected at its inner terminating end to a pneumatically actuatable push-push mechanism and switch that provides initiation of the cleaner motor.  
  A bayonet coupling arrangement is utilized for the connection of the two coupler parts that insures proper orientation of the arcuate groove with its abutting bore to secure confluence.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings for a better understanding of the invention, both as to its organization and function, with the illustration being of a preferred exemplary embodiment only and in which:  
  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional, elevational view of a cleaner incorporating the hose coupling arrangement of the instant invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional elevational view of the same cleaner and showing the hose coupling arrangement somewhat enlarged;  
  FIG. 3 is generally a cross-sectional elevational view of the hose coupling arrangement of the instant invention taken on line 33 of FIG. 2;  
  FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but looking in the opposite direction and taken on line 44 of FIG. 2;  
  FIG. 5 is generally a cross-sectional elevational view of the hose coupling arrangement taken on line 55 of FIG. 2; and  
  FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the cleaner housing adjacent the hose entrance and with the hose end shown in phantom.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Refering now specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that a canister cleaner 10 is provided having a housing 11 composed of a medial housing section 12, an upper housing section 14, a lower housing section 16 and a medallion section 18, with these sections cooperating to form the canister cleaner l0, proper.  
  Conveniently disposed therein is a motor 20 that provides the driving force for a fan system 22 having a pair of fans 24 and 26 so that high performance for the cleaner 10 is obtained to yield an acceptable and easily marketable cleaner for the housewife.  
  A housing coupling fitting 28 communicates with the interior of the canister cleaner housing 11, with the same being mounted on the medial housing section 12 so that it communicates with a chamber 30, within the housing 11, within which is disposed a conventional dirt-collecting bag 32. The flow of cleaner air, then, is through the housing coupling fitting 28, the dirtcollecting bag 32 and from thence to the motor 20, for cooling, with this air being motivated by the fans 24 and 26.  
  A hinge 36 mounts the upper housing section 14 to the medial housing section 12 so that the canister cleaner 10 may be opened and the dirt-collecting bag 32 replaced when necessary. A cord reel 38 is conveniently housed between the upper housing section 14 and the medallion section 18. This cord reel conventionally carries a cord 40 which may be unreeled by the user of the cleaner and plugged into a handy wall outlet (not shown) to provide electrical power for the cleaner.  
  A handle 42 is fixedly attached to the housing 11 to provide a user grasping means so that the cleaner 10 may be pulled along the floor or carried in a manner similar to a suitcase. A pair of large rollers 44, 44 (only one shown) are mounted at the rear portion of the housing 11 and a single caster wheel 46 is mounted in the front portion of this cleaner housing so that a threepoint floor-engaging configuration is employed.  
  A push-push mechanism or structure 60 (e.g. FIG. 2) is motivated by a pressure pulse or impulse carried by a first pressure pulse conduit 64 mounted to and carried by a suction hose 66, with the hose having a handle wand or hose tube (not shown) attached to its remote end (not shown) so that cleaning tools for a variety of purposes may be mounted on the end of the handle wand for the various cleaning operations undertaken by the user of the canister cleaner 10.  
  A second pressure pulse conduit extends around (not shown) and within the cleaner 10 and is connected to the push-push mechanism or structure 60. Impulse or pressure waves, then, are carried by the first and second pressure pulse conduits 64 and 70 to the push-push mechanism 60 after having been created by a buttonoperated piston, squeeze bulb or the like (not shown) located in the remote or wand end (not shown) of the cleaner hose 66.  
  The cleaner 10 also includes a manually operated switch button 74 extending outwardly of the medallion section 18 of the cleaner 10, adjacent the top of the cleaner so that a user may initiate cleaner action manually, at the cleaner housing, itself.  
  A more detailed and complete description of the operation of the pneumatic system, including the pushpush mechanism 60, manual switch button 74, remote button-operated piston and flow of the pressure pulse may be had by reference to the aforesaid application of Charles C. Coons. It is sufficient for the purposes of this description only to note that the cleaner 10 may be remotely actuated through the just-recited elements by the direct connection function of the hose coupling arrangement of the instant Application.  
  As set out earlier, pressure pulse conduit 64 is carried by a hose 66, or more specifically, the suction hose 66 carries that part of first pressure pulse conduit 64 comprising a flexible tubing 128. This is accomplished in the following manner. Suction hose 66 is substantially conventional and includes, at the boundary of its interior wall, a coiled spring formed in the manner of a helix and extending for the length of the suction hose 66. A vinyl coating 132 is extruded over the coiled spring 130 to form a unitary wall so that they coact together to provide the needed flexibility for the hose 66. Disposed over the outside of the vinyl coating 132 is a nylon scrim sleeve, with this sleeve being united to the vinyl coating by the application of another vinyl coating 134 and heat to unify all the components of suction hose 66.  
  The above description refers only to that portion of the hose in which the flexible tubing 128 is not disposed. In that portion of the hose including flexible tubing 128, the flexible hose 128 is situated against the first vinyl coating 132 and the scrim sleeve and the second vinyl coating 134 placed thereover so that the flexible tubing 128 extends parallel to the axis of the hose 66, heat and the second vinyl coating 134, of course,.  
 bonding the hose elements and flexible tubing 128, one to the other.  
  The end of the suction hose 66, adjacent to the canister cleaner 10, terminates in a suction coupling fitting or hose coupler part 135. A coupling member 136 of suction coupling fitting has a general annular configuration save for an enlarged, peaked portion 138 that accommodates the flexible tubing 128. This coupling member is fixedly mounted on the end of suction hose 66.  
  More specifically, the coupling member 136 includes a pair of transversely extending coincident bores 140, 140 (only one shown) and also the male members 142, 142 and 143 of bayonet coupling arrangement 144. Received in the bores 140, 140 are a pair of diametrically opposed pins 146, 146 (only one shown with lateral section rotated to bottom) that are integral with a hose crimp ring 148. This ring is of a split configuration and may include a living hinge (not shown) opposite to the split for&#39;easy encompassing assembly around the suction hose 66. As set out, the hose crimp ring is less than a full circumference to provide a gap at its top that accommodates the bulge occasioned by the first pressure pulse conduit 64. The hose crimp ring also includes an inner periphery 147 having a helix surface so as to conform to the outer helix surface of suction hose 66. Thus, when the hose crimp ring 148 is received in compressing engagement about the suction hose 66, as urged in compression by coupling member 136, the same conforms to both its convolutions and the general bulge provided by first pressure pulse conduit 64.  
  A hose connection collar 150 taking the form of a hollow cylinder having a radially extending circular flange 151 is disposed in the end of suction hose 66. The outer diameter of the cylinder portion is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the suction hose 66 so that it is easily received within suction hose 66. The outer diameter of the flange 151 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the suction hose 66 so that it provides a seating face against which a portion of the first coupling fitting 136 engages. A felt gasket 152 is also utilized in suction coupling fitting 135 between the end of hose 66 and the flange 151 to provide a sealing relationship between the suction coupling fitting 135 and the suction hose 66.  
  First pressure pulse conduit 164 extends through and terminates at the cleaner end of the suction coupling fitting 135 in the following manner. Flexible tubing 128 extends into the peaked portion 138 of coupling 136 in a space 139 to be confluently connected to short rigid rube 154 that is confluently connected, in turn, to an axially extending bore 156 provided in a tube seal 158.  
  Tube seal 158 is annular in shape and made of compressible material so as to be sealingly received in another axially extending bore 160, coaxial with bore 156, and formed in coupler member 136. Beyond the tube seal 158, the bore 160 gradually necks down as it approaches the cleaner so as to form a smaller diameter bore 162 extending towards and terminating nearly at the cleaner end of the coupler member 136.  
  At a flange 163 formed by the termination of coupler member 136, a segmental, arcuate groove 164 is formed that communicates with the axially extending bore 162. Arcuate groove 164 makes allowance for some misalignment between the termination of the first pressure pulse conduit 64 and the beginning of the second pressure pulse conduit 70, in the event that the suction coupling fitting 135 and the hose coupling fitting 28 are engaged, with some slight imperfection in the axial alignment of axially extending bore 162 in coupler 136 and a similarly axially extending bore 166 in the housing coupling fitting 28. The axially extending bore 166 in housing coupling fitting 28 is, of course, directly connected with the segmental, arcuate groove 164 in suction coupling fitting 136.  
  Within the housing coupling fitting 28, bore 166 merges with a transverse bore 168 that extends to and terminates at the arcuate periphery of housing coupling fitting 28. A short rigid tube 170 extends into bore 168 and outwardly therefrom to provide an easy connection to a second flexible tubing 172 of second pressure pulse conduit 70. Second pressure pulse conduit 70 then extends around the cleaner (not shown) and into the housing 11 thereof adjacent the hinge 36 for connection to the push-push mechanism 60.  
  With specific reference now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, it can be seen that handle 42 includes attached integrally at its lower end a tube fitting 174 of generally hollow, annular shape having a bore 175. Tube fitting 174 includes an outer rim portion 176 that extends radially inwardly relative to the remainder of tube fitting 170 to form, essentially, a stepped bore within tube fitting 174. An enlarged flange 178 on housing coupling fitting 28 is nested within the inner portions of this stepped bore and maintained in this position by the press-fit of housing coupling fitting 28 with the housing 11 through which it extends. Outwardly of enlarged flange 178 the bayonet lugs 142, 142 and 143 of suction coupling fitting are also nested after having been inserted through a series of three bayonet cutouts 180, 182 and 182 in rim portion 176 and turned clockwise.  
  It should be noted that bayonet cutout 180 is of larger dimension than the&#39;bayonet cutouts 182, 182. In a similar manner, bayonet lug 143 is larger than bayonet lugs 142, 142, with bayonet lug 143 being only slightly smaller than bayonet cutout 180 but larger than bayonet cutouts 182, 182. Thus, the bayonet coupling arrangement 144 serves to orient the adjoining terminations of first and second pressure pulse conduits 64 and 70, respectively, to provide direct communication therethrough, with a series of inwardly projecting shoulders 184, 184, 184 limiting turning movement (clockwise) of suction coupling fitting 135 to align the first and second pneumatic pulse conduits.  
  The operation of the invention should now be selfevident. The hose coupling fitting 135 and attached hose 66 is mounted to cleaner 10 by alignment of the bayonet lugs 142, 142 and 143 with bayonet cutouts 182, 182, 180, respectively. The hose coupling fitting 136 is then inserted through the bayonet cutouts and the bore 175 of tube fitting 174. Upon insertion a sufficient depth to provide axial clearance between the bayonet lugs 142, 142 and 143 and the inner face of the rim portion 176, proper, the hose coupling fitting 135 is rotated clockwise into abutment with inwardly projecting shoulders 184, 184, 184 to lock the bayonet lugs behind the rim portion 176. At the same time, the arcuate groove 164 is placed in confluent communication with bore 166 of housing coupling fitting 28. The&#39;aforesaid requisite insertion depth also places the confronting faces of housing coupling fitting 28 and hose coupling fitting 135 into abutting relationship. i  
  The flow path of cleaner suction air is then complete and is conventional. The flow path for the pneumatic pulse through the coupling arrangement is also complete. This flow path, within hose coupling fitting 135, being through flexible tube 128, rigid tube 154, the tapered portion of bore 162, segmental arcuate groove 164 and then within housing coupling fitting 28 through bore 166, bore 168, rigid tube and thence to flexible tube 162 to the push-push mechanism 60.  
  It should be apparent that the invention described satisfies all the advantages set out for it in the beginning portion of the description and that the same functions very effectively in the transmission of pressure pulses to the cleaner 10. It should also be evident that many modifications could be made to the described embodiment which would still fall within the spirit and purview of the description offered.  
 What is claimed is:  
  l. A suction cleaner appliance having an on-off switch that is fluid actuated and a hose coupling arrangement therefor, the combination including;  
 a. a first coupling structure mounted with said floor care appliance,  
 b. a second coupling structure directly couplable with said first coupling structure,  
 c. integral, discrete passageway means in each of said first and second coupling structures for the passage of fluid for said fluid actuation, said discrete passageway means in said first and second coupling structures in direct communication with one another when said first and second coupling structures are coupled, and  
 d. said hose coupling arrangement including another directly connected passageway means, when said first and second coupling structures are coupled, for the passage of cleaner suction air.  
 2. The suction cleaner appliance and hose coupling arrangement of claim 1 wherein;  
 a. each of said passageway means for the passage of actuating fluid extends axially through the peripheral wall of its respective coupling structure,  
 b. one of said passageway means for the passage of actuating fluid in one of said first and second coupling structures includes a transversely extending grooved portion,  
 c. said first and second coupling structures being in general abutting engagement when in coupled condition, and  
 d. said transversely extending grooved portion situated adjacent said abutting engagement to insure direct fluid communication between-said fluid passageway means for the passage of actuating fluid in said first and second coupling structures.  
 3. The suction cleaner and hose coupling arrangement of claim 1 wherein;  
 a. each of said passageway means for the passage of actuating fluid extends axially through the peripheral wall of its respective coupling structure,  
 b. bayonet means are provided for coupling said first and second coupling structures together, said first and second coupling structures being tubular, and  
 c. said bayonet means include alignment means for orienting said passageway means in each of said first and second coupling structures so that direct communication is had for the passage of fluid for said fluidic actuation.  
 4. A hose and hose coupling arrangement for use with a floor care appliance including;  
 a. a first tubular coupling part mounted with the housing for said&#39;floor care appliance and extending outwardly therefrom,  
 b. a second tubular coupling part carrying said hose and coupled with said first tubular coupling part,  
 c. a third tubular coupling part also mounted with said housing for said floor care appliance, adjacent said first tubular coupling part, and extending outwardly from said housing beyond the outward extent of said first tubular coupling part,  
 d. bayonet connection means on said third tubular coupling part and said second tubular coupling part for coupling said second tubular coupling part in abutting engagement with said first tubular coupling part,  
 e. said second tubular coupling part including means for receiving said hose for said floor care appliance and means for receiving a flexible tubing of relatively smaller diameter than said hose, said hose being in fluid-tight relationship with said second tubular coupling part and said flexible tubing being in fluid-tight relationship with said second tubular coupling part,  
 f. flows through said hose and said tubing being maintained discrete and separate in said second tubular coupling part,  
 g. said first tubular coupling part having means for receiving and maintaining both of said flows discrete and separate for separate communication to said floor care appliance, and  
 h. segmental annular groove means provided in one of said first and second coupling parts adjacent said abutting engagement for accommodating misalignment therebetween to insure flow from said tubing being communicated to said floor care appliance.  
 5. A hose and hose coupling arrangement for use with a floor care appliance including;  
 a. a first tubular coupling part mounted with said floor care appliance,  
 b. a second tubular coupling part carrying said hose and coupled with said first tubular coupling part, c. said first and second tubular coupling parts including a first passageway means for the passage of a suction air flow for said floor care appliance and a second passageway means for the passage of fluid pulses,  
 d. said hose carrying a flexible tubing of relatively smaller size, relative to the size of said hose, for the transmission of fluid pulses therethrough, said hose providing for the transmission of a suction air flow for said floor care appliance,  
 e. said second passageway means includes a rigid tube disposed in said second tubular coupling part and having at least one end in fluid-tight relationmunication therebetween.