Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US4856133?dq=7,752,326
Timestamp: 2017-02-25 07:14:53
Document Index: 724231964

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n3', 'art.\n14', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'arts 110', 'art 110', 'arts 110', 'art 110', 'arts 110', 'art 110']

Patent US4856133 - Low profile gear driven rotary scrub brush - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush comprising a housing. The housing has a top side and bottom side which converge moving toward an opposite end relative to an inlet end for fluid, thus providing a very low profile assembly, resulting in limited internal cavity space for mounting the fluid driven...http://www.google.com/patents/US4856133?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4856133 - Low profile gear driven rotary scrub brushAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS4856133 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 06/899,336Publication dateAug 15, 1989Filing dateAug 21, 1986Priority dateAug 21, 1986Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCA1285108CPublication number06899336, 899336, US 4856133 A, US 4856133A, US-A-4856133, US4856133 A, US4856133AInventorsGeorge SanchezOriginal AssigneeClyde Industries LimitedExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (21), Referenced by (22), Classifications (10), Legal Events (10) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetLow profile gear driven rotary scrub brush
US 4856133 AAbstract
A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush comprising a housing. The housing has a top side and bottom side which converge moving toward an opposite end relative to an inlet end for fluid, thus providing a very low profile assembly, resulting in limited internal cavity space for mounting the fluid driven mechanism. Within the housing cavity is a rotary brush mounting adaptor, with affixed gear teeth, for removably mounting such a rotary brush facing out of an opening in the bottom of the housing and with the adaptor and affixed gear teeth rotating about an axis extending out of the opening. Also in the housing is a waterwheel, with affixed gear teeth, rotating about a second axis displaced toward the inlet end from the first axis. The adapter and waterwheel gear teeth are in driving engagement and water vanes on the waterwheel are axially displaced toward the top side from the adaptor and waterwheel gear teeth.
1. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush, the assembly comprising:a housing comprising a top side elongated between an end and an opposite end of the housing, the end of the housing comprising a fluid receiving inlet, a bottom side facing substantially opposite from the top side, a cavity in the housing and an opening through the bottom side to the cavity, the housing converging in cross section between the top side and bottom side, moving towards the opposite end relative to the inlet end, the housing comprises an upper housing portion comprising a mounting portion extending at least partially around the opening; a fixed brush mounted on the mounting portion and having an opening therein and extending substantially around the opening in the housing; the housing containing, substantially in the cavitya rotary brush mounting adaptor for removably mounting a rotary brush facing out of the opening in the fixed brush base and adaptor gear teeth affixed to the adaptor, both the rotary brush mounting adaptor and the adaptor gear teeth being mounted for rotation about a common first axis extending out of the opening; a waterwheel and waterwheel gear teeth affixed to the waterwheel, both mounted for rotation about a second common axis, displaced towards the inlet end from the first axis, the waterwheel gear teeth being in driving engagement with the adaptor gear teeth and the waterwheel comprising water vanes axially displaced towards the top side from the waterwheel gear teeth and the adaptor gear teeth; a nozzle for dispensing against the water vanes, at a position displaced toward the inlet end from the second axis, fluid received from the inlet end; the upper housing portion comprising a substantially circular portion adjacent the opposite end and wherein the housing comprises a lower housing portion attached to the upper housing portion on the opposite side from the top side, the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion comprising a throat portion extending from the substantially circular portion and containing therein the nozzle and the fluid inlet; and a shroud defining, with the top wall, a waterwheel cavity which opens into the cavity, the waterwheel being at least partially positioned in the waterwheel cavity such that the vanes receive fluid from the nozzle in the water wheel cavity. 2. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 1 wherein the waterwheel and waterwheel gear teeth comprise a unitary plastic part.
3. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 1 wherein the fixed brush comprises a substantially ring shaped array of bristles extending substantially away from the bottom side and around said opening.
4. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a first housing portion having a substantially ring shaped fixed brush base adapted to be mounted onto the first housing portion, and further adapted for mounting bristles around the opening and around such mounted rotary brush, said fixed brush comprising said fixed brush base and bristles.
5. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 4 wherein the fixed brush base comprises a plastic ring attached to the first housing portion around the opening and brush bristles mounted on the ring and extending away from the bottom side.
6. A fluid driven assembly according to claim 4 wherein the brush base comprises substantially circular inner and outer perimeters.
7. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 1 or claim 4 comprising, as a unitary part, the adaptor and around a perimeter of the adaptor, the adaptor gear teeth.
8. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises at least one wall defining the inside of the cavity and which converges toward the bottom side starting substantially at the inlet end and moving toward the opposite end from the inlet end.
9. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 8 wherein the fluid is thrown out by the water vanes against the at least one wall of the cavity which in turn directs the fluid toward the opening around the rotary brush.
10. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 9 comprising baffle means extending into the flow of fluid for slowing the rotation of the fluid passing out of the opening.
11. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a top wall defining an inside wall of the cavity and comprising the top side, and comprising a first shaft extending from the inside wall on which the adaptor is mounted and rotates and a second shaft extending from the inside wall on which the waterwheel is mounted and rotates.
12. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 11 wherein the first shaft and the second shafts are each mounted on the inside wall.
13. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 12 wherein the top wall of the housing and the first and second shafts are molded into a unitary plastic part.
14. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 11 comprising and a ring shaped fixed brush ring for mounting bristles around the opening and thereby forming the fixed brush.
15. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 14 wherein the top side also converges toward the bottom side on opposite sides of a plane between the inlet end and the opposite end and in a direction transverse to the elongation of the housing.
16. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 15 wherein the top side is substantially tear drop shaped.
17. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 16 comprising a fluid passing swivel connected at and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet end for coupling to a fluid supply conduit.
18. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush according to claim 1 wherein the mounting portion and the fixed brush comprise, on one, a tongue and, on the other, a groove into which the tongue extends.
19. A fluid driven assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the exterior of the housing is substantially symmetrical when viewed from the top side on opposite sides of a plane through the first and second axis.
20. A fluid driven assembly as defined in claim 19 wherein the housing comprises, when viewed from the top side, a circular portion adjacent the opposite end and an elongated throat portion which extends from the circular portion at the inlet end, the throat portion being, when viewed from the top side, substantially symmetrical about the center line.
21. A fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush, comprising:a housing comprising a top side elongated between an end and an opposite end, the end of the housing comprising a fluid receiving inlet, a bottom side facing substantially opposite from the top side, a cavity in the housing and an opening through the bottom side to the cavity, the housing converging, in cross section between the top side and bottom side, moving toward opposite end relative to the inlet end; a fixed brush extending substantially around the opening; the housing containing substantially in the cavity a rotary brush mounting adaptor for removably mounting a rotary brush facing out of the opening and adaptor gear teeth affixed to the adaptor, both the rotary brush mounting adaptor and the adaptor gear teeth being mounted for rotation about a common first axis extending out of the opening; a waterwheel and waterwheel gear teeth affixed to the waterwheel, both mounted substantially in the cavity for rotation about a second common axis, displaced toward the inlet end from the first axis, the waterwheel gear teeth being in driving engagement with the adaptor gear teeth and the waterwheel comprising water vanes axially displaced toward the top side from the waterwheel gear teeth and the adaptor gear teeth, and a nozzle in the cavity for dispensing against the water vanes, at a position displaced toward the inlet end from the second axis, fluid received from the inlet end; wherein the housing comprises at least one wall defining the inside of the cavity and which converges toward the bottom side moving toward the opposite end from the inlet end and wherein the fluid is thrown out by the water vanes against the at least one wall of the cavity which in turn directs the fluid towards the opening around the rotary brush, the assembly further comprising baffle means comprising, a substantially radially inwardly extending fluid diverter in the opening and means for slowing the rotation of the fluid around the diverter before passing out of the opening. 22. A fluid driven assembly according to claim 21 wherein the means for slowing comprises a member extending into the cavity on the side of the fluid diverter opposite from the bottom side.
The housing includes a neck portion, extending from a circular portion, through which fluid passes. In addition, a soap dispenser is located in the neck portion from which soap or detergent is dispensed into the fluid. The housing around the opening to the cavity is circular and within the circular opening is placed a waterwheel with curved open sided cups or vanes which extend generally radially out from the waterwheel. The waterwheel is rotatably mounted on a metal shaft which is molded on the inside wall of the housing. The rotary brush is formed as an integral part of the waterwheel. Brush bristles on the rotary brush extend out of the opening from the rotor. Annular shaped fixed brush bristles extend around the opening and the rotary brush. A nozzle is located in the neck portion and dispenses fluid (water and detergent) against the vanes of the waterwheel, thereby rotating the waterwheel and hence the rotary brush.
It is also difficult for the user to replace the rotary brush and the waterwheel must be replaced along with the brush.
In addition to the Canadian patent, other patents are known which have a generally elongated housing between an inlet and an opposite end. By way of example, note the following: Williams U.S. Pat. No. 2,759,208, Nicholson U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,079, Zhadanov U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,558, Spence U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,454, Gonzalvo U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,771, Keddie U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,466; and the German patent Offenlegungsschrift No. 13645.
Various techniques have been used for increasing the power output from fluid driven waterwheel. By way of example, one group of devices are known in which the vanes on the waterwheel are ribbed to assist in the placement of water, however, the sides of the vanes on opposite sides of the ribs are closed, see for example Richwood U.S. Pat. No. 890,709 and the chapter entitled "Hydraulic Turbines by R. M. Donaldson" appearing in Marks Engineering Handbook by Marks & Bauemister, Published by McGraw & Hill Book Co., 1958. In other designs the cups are flat or curved but do not have ribs. See for example the waterwheel in the above identified Canadian patent; Hubert U.S. Pat. No. 2,019,705, Batlas et al U.S. Pat. No. 2,717,403, Man-King U.S. Pat. No. 3,869,746, Bryerton U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,871, Sekula U.S. Pat. No. 4,207,640, Malcolm U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,051 and Daniels U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,160; the Austrian Pat. No. 195863 and the Japanese Pat. No. 52-45163 (4/9/77). The Smith U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,281 discloses closed vanes or holes. Puddling of water on the water vanes and, therefore, reduced output power are problems with these waterwheel patents.
One group of fluid driven rotary scrub brushes or the like are known which have a housing with a cavity therein that contains a fluid driven waterwheel which in turn drives a rotary brush mounted exterior to the housing. Gearing is provided to increase the power between the waterwheel and the rotary brush, some or all of which is external to the housing. Note, for example, Rix U.S. Pat. No. 661,277 and to Spence U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,454. The problem of external moving parts mentioned above is applicable to these devices.
The Gonzalvo U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,771 has separate cavities for the waterwheel and the rotary brush and its size is not a restriction.
Other rotary brushes are known that have a fluid driven waterwheel within a cavity, with a rotary brush, driven by the waterwheel, external to the cavity. The axis of rotation of the waterwheel is on the opposite side of the axis of rotation of the rotary brush from the fluid inlet to the cavity or housing with the waterwheel. Nozzles or passages are required to conduct the fluid from the fluid inlet over to the, waterwheel, thus making it difficult to reduce the size of the housing. See for example the Rix U.S. Pat. No. 661,277 and to Boyle U.S. Pat. No. 2,540,240. Along these same general lines note the Spence U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,454.
In addition to the Canadian patent mentioned above, there are a large group of rotary brushes and alike that have a waterwheel in a cavity of the housing in direct drive with the rotary brush without any gearing, some where the rotary brush is within and some outside of the cavity. Note, for example, Wensinger U.S. Pat. No. 846,636, Patrick U.S. Pat. No. 919,756, Masser U.S. Pat. No. 1,375,102, Emerson U.S. Pat. No. 1,813,569, Karas U.S. Pat. No. 2,284,213, Chiaie U.S. Pat. No. 2,514,934, Williams U.S. Pat. No. 2,759,208, Swearngin U.S. Pat. No. 2,918,686, Williams U.S. Pat. No. 3,074,088, Williams U.S. Pat. No. 3,153,799, Frandsen U.S. Pat. No. 3,431,573, Gaudio U.S. Pat. No. 3,813,721, Kadlub U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,137, Zhadanov U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,558, Malcolm U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,051, Zhadanov U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,444, Floros U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,826, Smyth 4,471,503, Watanabe U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,250 and Smyth U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,666.
A group of devices are also known that have a combined waterwheel and waterwheel gear and a combined rotary brush and rotary brush gear, all coaxially mounted with side gearing to connect the waterwheel wheel gear to the rotary brush gear. The rotary brush in some is contained within and some outside of the cavity. Note, for example, Demo U.S. Pat. No. 2,678,457, Alpert U.S. Pat. No. 2,797,132, Keddie U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,466 and Mostul U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,052, the W. German patent to Offenlegungsschrift (December 31) 13645A1, and the Swiss patent to Schrift No. 436,216. Replacement of the brush requires replacement of gearing in these devices.
Waterwheel driven rotary brushes are also known which have a plate or other member that is rotated by the waterwheel on which means is provided for removably mounting the rotary brush to the rotary plate or member. Attachment is by screws, clips, studs and washers, key slotted rings, cotter pins and thumb screws. Note for example Rix U.S. Pat. No. 661,277, Light et al. U.S. Pat. No. 1,212,967, Young U.S. Pat. No. 1,479,272, Karas U.S. Pat. No. 2,284,213, Boyle U.S. Pat. No. 2,540,240, Sears U.S. Pat. No. 2,659,915, Batlas et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,717,403, Williams U.S. Pat. No. 2,759,208, Williams U.S. Pat. No. 3,074,088, Williams U.S. Pat. No. 3,153,799, Frandsen U.S. Pat. No. 3,431,573, Gaudio U.S. Pat. No. 3,813,721, Lanusse U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,591, Kadlub U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,137, Sekula U.S. Pat. No. 4,207,640, Malcolm U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,051, Spence U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,454; the Austrian Pat. No. 195863; Canadian Pat. No. 1,155,260 and Japanese Pat. No. 52- 45163 (4/9/77). One such device has a bayonet type or detent locking mechanism. Note the Chiaie U.S. Pat. No. 2,514,934 that discloses a rotary scrub brush having an interchangeable rotary brush which utilizes a spring biased ball to removably attach the rotary brush to a drive hub. Problems presented in the Chiaie device include the large number of separate parts, compared with an embodiment of the present invention, the likelihood that parts may become hard to deactuate and even freeze making removal of the rotary brush difficult and the difficulty of grabbing hold of any part of the rotary brush, except the bristles, for removal. Also, the device does not lend itself to all or nearly all plastic molding of the parts increasing cost of manufacture.
The Demo U.S. Pat. No. 2,678,457, discloses a device where the rotary brush is connected to the member rotated by the waterwheel using large headed bolts which insert into large diameter apertures and are rotated to smaller diameter apertures where an interference parallel with the axis of rotation is formed.
One device has a ring shaped cover that holds the waterwheel in place on a rotatable shaft. See, for example, Kiddie U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,466. However, removal of the cover allows other internal parts to come loose and fall out.
Another type of device has a rotary brush that snaps in place on a shaft and is removable by pulling the brush parallel with the shaft. However, the brush is directly rotated by gearing connected directed to the rotary brush. See Higdon U.S. Pat. No. 2,933,747.
Hubert U.S. Pat. No. 2,019,705 discloses a rotary brush base where a keyed hub slips around a keyed boss which in turn is driven by a waterwheel. A spring loaded ball detent retains the hub and waterwheel in place on the boss. With this device the rotary brush base snaps in place and is removed by pushing the brush parallel with the axis of rotation and pulling it parallel with the axis of rotation snapping the device in place or out of place. However, this device makes it hard to remove the brush due to the constant friction and drag of the ball detent and it is difficult at best to form from injection molded parts.
Other miscellaneous fluid driven tools are disclosed in the Eichelberger U.S. Pat. No. 1,212,967, Young U.S. Pat. No. 1,479,272, Sears U.S. Pat. No. 2,659,915, Grikscheit U.S. Pat. No. 2,708,599, Hidgon U.S. Pat. No. 2,933,747, Vivion U.S. Pat. No. 3,760,447, Colemann U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,265, Lanusse U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,591, Nicholson U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,079 and Schulz U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,381.
The Durant U.S. Pat. No. 630,600, Broderick U.S. Pat. No. 639,348 and Muend U.S. Pat. No. 1,765,693 disclose fluid passing swivel joint as does the above referenced Canadian patent.
One device is disclosed in the June 12, 1985 issue of the Chicago Tribune and contains a unitary plastic housing having an inlet at one side. A tubular fluid supply conduit is fastened around the inlet portion by detent locking means. A fixed base brush has mounted therein to a water wheel and a directly connected rotary brush. The fixed circular brush ring is mounted around the opening to the housing by a detent interlocking arrangement, which is operated by rotating the brush ring. When mounted the waterwheel is inside of the cavity of the housing and the rotary brush is just outside of and faces away from the cavity of the housing. The waterwheel has cupped shaped vanes with a ridge along the center extending radially outwards and closed sides on opposite sides of the ridge. A nozzle extends out of the opening from the fluid supply tube and directs fluid into the vanes rotating the waterwheel and the rotary brush.
Briefly, an embodiment of the present invention is a fluid driven assembly for a rotary brush comprising a housing. The housing comprises a top side, elongated between an end, comprising a fluid receiving inlet end of the housing, and an opposite end of the housing. The housing also has a bottom side facing substantially opposite from the top side. A cavity is provided in the housing and an opening is provided through the bottom side to the cavity. The housing converges in cross-section between the top side and bottom side moving towards the opposite end relative to the inlet end, thus providing a very low profile housing but with limited internal space for mounting the fluid driven mechanism. A fixed brush extends substantially around the opening.
Substantially, within the cavity, there is provided a brush mounting adaptor for removably mounting the brush facing out of the opening and adaptor gear teeth affixed to the adaptor. Both the adaptor and gear teeth are mounted for rotation about a common first axis extending out of the opening. Also, substantially within the cavity is a waterwheel and waterwheel gear teeth affixed to the waterwheel. Both the waterwheel and waterwheel gear teeth are mounted for rotation about a second common axis, displaced towards the inlet end from the first axis. The waterwheel gear teeth are in driving engagement with the adaptor gear teeth and the waterwheel comprises waterwheel vanes axially displaced towards the top side from the waterwheel gear teeth and the adaptor gear teeth. Also, within the cavity is a nozzle for dispensing against the water vanes, at a position displaced towards the inlet end from the second axis, fluid received from the inlet end.
Such an arrangement allows the problems associated with prior art devices to be substantially reduced or eliminated and allows a low cost substantially all plastic molded brush assembly to be formed. Also, with this construction a geared waterwheel driven with a brush mounting adaptor is formed within the limited confines of the low profile housing with limited interior space. Preferably, the water receives the fluid within a side cavity minimizing or eliminating the fluid directed out on the user. The shape of the housing and arrangement of parts allows the fluid to be evenly directed and dispersed out of the opening of the rotary brush mounted thereon.
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, there is disclosed a fluid driven rotary scrub brush, including a fluid driven driver 10 for a rotary brush 28. The driver has a fluid receiving inlet, a rotatably mounted waterwheel driven or rotated by the received fluid and a rotary brush mounting adaptor rotated by the waterwheel. The fluid driven driver includes a housing 12 with a top side 14, elongated along line or plane 14a between an end 16, comprising a fluid receiving inlet end, and an opposite end 18. A circular bottom side 20 of the housing, lying in plane 20a (FIGS. 1-5), faces substantially opposite from, but at a slight angle with respect to a center line along the top surface of top side 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Thus housing 12 converges, in side elevation and in cross section, between the top side and bottom side, moving towards the opposite end 18 relative to the inlet end 16 and has a sleek low profile construction.
Also within the cavity is a generally circular disk shaped fluid driven waterwheel 34 and, affixed thereto, waterwheel gear teeth 36. The waterwheel and waterwheel gear teeth are preferably a unitary plastic molded part and are coaxially mounted for rotation about a second common axis 40 (FIG. 3) parallel with axis 32 and extending out of the opening 24. Both axis 32 and axis 40 are in line with and parallel with plane 14a. The axis 40 is displaced from the axis 32 towards the inlet end 16. The waterwheel gear teeth 36 form a pinon gear and are engaged in direct driving relation with the larger diameter adaptor gear teeth 30. Additionally, the waterwheel has a plurality of generally radially extending, but curved water vanes 42 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) arranged in a circular array around the periphery of the waterwheel. The vanes of the water wheel are axially displaced along the axis 40 towards the top side 14 from the waterwheel gear teeth 36 and the adaptor gear teeth 30.
A substantially ring shaped and fixed array of fibers or bristle 50 are mounted in the housing and extend away from the bottom side 20 around the opening 24. A substantially ring shaped and fixed main brush base 52 is, adapted to be mounted to and forms part of the housing 12 and is adapted for mounting the bristles 50. The brush base 52 is an injection molded unitary plastic housing portion separate from the rest of the housing portions. The bristles 50 are plastic fibers grouped into tufts (not shown), each tuft fixed together by a ring shaped wire (not shown). Each tuft, together with the wire, is inserted into a different one of openings 54, which are equally spaced in a circle around the lower side of the brush base 52 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). Although each of the openings 54 are shown as being circular, in a preferred arrangement each is D shaped in cross sections so as to make it easier to automatically machine insert the tufts of bristles into the holes. The brush base 52 is substantially ring shaped and is easily attached to the upper housing by self interlocking mechanical locking means during the assembly operation.
Consider the construction of the housing 12 in more detail. The housing includes upper housing portion 74 and a lower housing portion 76 that are separate from each other and from the brush base 52, each being an injection molded unitary plastic part. The upper housing includes at least one wall 60 which defines an inside wall 62 and an outside wall 64 of the housing. The wall 60, including the inside and outside walls 62 and 64, forms a thin shell and converges towards the bottom side moving towards the opposite end 18 from the inlet end 16. Additionally, the wall 60, including inside wall 62 and outside wall 64 and the top side 14 converge towards the bottom side 20 moving transversely in opposite directions from plane 14a moving from the inlet end to the opposite end, as seen in FIG. 2. Also, as seen from the top in FIG. 2, the housing is generally tear dropped shaped with converging throat portion 92 extending from a substantially circular portion 94. As a result the cavity 22 inside of the housing is quite restricted in size limiting the number of and the possible positions, orientation and configuration of the internal parts. Significantly, the waterwheel, waterwheel gearing adaptor and adaptor gear teeth and rotary brush base are all located substantially within the cavity and the cavity, as well as a side cavity yet to be described, are all positioned, oriented and configured, within the housing.
The baffle includes a substantially radially inwardly extending fluid diverter (i.e. ring 70) in the opening and means (i.e., finger 71) for slowing the rotation of the fluid around the diverter before it passes out of the opening to this end. The brush base 52 has, as an integral part, an inwardly extending circular shaped ring 70 (FIGS. 3 and 4) extending substantially completely around the opening 24, and around the adaptor, the adaptor gear teeth, and rotary brush, slowing the velocity of the fluid as it passes out of the opening and for redirecting the flow of the fluid back toward the center of the opening 24. A circular array of elongated resilient members or latch fingers 71 extend at various positions through the ring to hold the brush base in place in the housing. These members baffle or slow down the rotating fluid and inhibit the rotation of the fluid allowing the fluid to flow more slowly and evenly out of the circular array of openings 24 and around the sides of the adaptor and rotary brush. This helps minimize the throwing of water out of the opening and against the user and directs the fluid around the rotary brush 28 to the surface being washed. To this end the ring has a plurality of holes 72 through the ring 70. The holes 72 extend in a generally circular array around the opening 24 (FIG. 4).
Within the housing is a shroud 100 (FIGS. 2, 3, 19, 21) which, together with the wall 103 and inside wall 62 of the upper housing portion 74, form a side waterwheel cavity 102 opening into the side of the main cavity 22. As seen from the top, the shroud and cavity 102 are each generally crescent shaped (FIG. 2), and the shroud in cross section, is generally "L" shaped (FIG. 3). The shroud i s an injection molded unitary plastic part. A portion of the waterwheel, including the blades of the waterwheel, rotate into the side waterwheel cavity 102 for receiving the fluid from the nozzle.
Consider now the adaptor 26 and the rotary brush 28 in more detail. The rotary brush 28, as depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11, includes a brush base 120 preferably molded as a unitary plastic part on which is mounted a ring shaped array of bristles 28 extending away from the base as generally depicted by broken lines in FIGS. 1, 3 and 10. The brush base 120 includes a disk shaped base portion 124 and a cylindrical base portion 126 coaxial with and extending from -he opposite side of the base portion 124 from the bristles 28. The base portion 124 includes a coaxial hub 128 which mounts around a hub 142 on the adaptor 26. A ring shaped recess 130 in the base portion 124 extends coaxially around the hub 128. Resilient fingers 132 and 134, forming part of the locking parts extend, parallel with the axis of rotation, from the bottom of the recess 130 of base portion 126. The fingers 132 and 134 are symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of the axis 32 of the adaptor. Apertures 136 and 138 extend through the base portion 126, and are positioned radially outward from and immediately adjacent to, respectively, the fingers 132 and 134. The fingers 132 and 134, being injection molded as a plastic unit with the rest of the brush base 120, are resilient and are normally urged to the upright position parallel with the axis 32 as depicted in FIG. 10. The fingers 132 and 134 contain cam surfaces 132a and 134a, respectively, and stops or locking surfaces 132b and 134b, respectively, facing away from the adaptor.
A fluid driven driver for a rotary brush is disclosed with gearing that has a high degree of torque and power output, even though space for parts is small. The high torque and power output results, in part, from a unique design in the waterwheel. Each vane of the waterwheel has a pair of unobstructed open ends 160, one on each side of a vane surface 164. Ends 160, for each vane, are spaced apart in a direction parallel with the axis of the waterwheel. A fluid diverter 162 in the form of a ridge, is elongated transverse to the axis along each vane surface 164 and separates the pair of ends thereby diverting the fluid striking the vane surfaces, simultaneously, in opposite directions past the pair of ends 160 parallel with as in 40. A filet or circular curved surface 163 on each side of the ridge fades, into a portion 167 of the vane surface 164. The portion 167 on each side of the diverter 162 is substantially parallel to axis 40. Fluid from nozzle 46 strikes the surface 164 and is diverted by diverter 162 in opposite directions across the portions 167 and over the ends 160.
As best seen in FIGS. 3, and 12, each of the vanes extends substantially radially outward from the axis 40 between the corresponding pair of open ends 160 to a tip end 166 of the vane. Surface 164 of each vane is circular or curved and includes the rib 162, and the opposite side 169 of each vane is substantially flat. Each vane also has a wall 165 between adjacent vanes that converges to a narrow edge at the tip end 166. The circular or curved side 168 is on one side of the wall 165 and the flat side on the other. The stream of water flows from the nozzle 46 substantially tangential to a circle 34a coaxial with axis 32 that intersects the curved side or surface 168 and substantially parallel with a plane that is perpendicular to the axis 32 and such that the water strikes the curved side 168 of the vane. As the waterwheel is forced by the water to rotate clockwise as seen in FIG. 12, the end 166 of the next vane easily enters into the stream of water allowing the stream of water to immediately commence striking the curved surface of the next vane. The straight side between the two vanes never substantially comes into contact with the stream of water thereby preventing a counteracting force on the waterwheel.
Consider now in more detail the fluid passing swivel 110 (see FIGS. 2 and 14). The fluid passing swivel is connected to the pipe or fluid supply tube conduit 112 by swivel part 110a. The swivel part 110a has a female threaded coupling 172 threaded onto a threaded end of the supply tube 112, for passing fluid from the tube 112 to an inlet fluid passage 174. The inlet fluid passage 174 is in communication with an annular passage 176 passing coaxially around a cylindrical boss 178 and a circular metal shaft 180. The shaft 180 is rigidly, molded during the molding of swivel part 110a, in the boss 178 and extends transverse to the flow of fluid through the conduit 112. Swivel part 110a also includes an "O"]ring 182 outside of a circular array of alternating teeth and grooves 184, the "O" ring and array being coaxial with shaft 180. Swivel part 110b is provided on the rotary scrub brush head for passing fluid through passage 192 into the central passage (not shown) of the nozzle 46 (see FIG. 2). The swivel part 110b includes a circular array of teeth and grooves 194 in opposed relation to and engaging with, respectively, the teeth and grooves 184 in the swivel part 110a. A flat sealing surface 196 abuts the "O" ring 182 forming a tight seal when the swivel parts 110a and 110b are axially drawn together along the shaft 180. Swivel part 110b has a bore 198 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 180. Knob 200 has a threaded bore (not shown) which threads onto a threaded end of shaft 180 drawing the swivel parts 110a and 110b and their respective teeth and grooves engagement with each other. When so locked together, the angle of the rotary scrub brush head is fixed relative to the swivel part 110a and thus the fluid supply tube 112. The knob 200 may be loosened to allow the swivel parts 110a and 110b to be separated efficiently to allow the teeth and grooves of the two parts to be separated and swivel part 110b and the head rotated relative to the fluid supply tube 112 in either of two directions to the acute angles indicated by broken lines in FIG. 1 or any of many positions between.
Considering the method in more detail, the nozzle 46 is first assembled onto the upper housing 74. The nozzle is a unitary molded plastic tubular part including a large conduit portion 302 (FIG. 12) having two diametrically opposed raised alignment guides 304 extending longitudinally, one on each side of the conduit portion 302, one shown on the facing side in FIG. 12 and one not shown but on the opposite side. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 12, an enlarged grooved end portion 306 of the nozzle (FIG. 12) contains an "O" ring 308 in the groove which is positioned outside of the left hand end of the cylindrical inlet end 16. The cylindrical end is formed by the left hand end of the end portion 303 of the upper housing portion 74 and the left hand end portion 382 of the lower housing portion 76. The nozzle 46 has a small conduit portion 310 from which water is actually dispensed against the vanes of the waterwheel which rests in a groove formed in wall 103.
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A CORP. OF ILLINOIS, ILLINFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:SWIRLON INDUSTRIES, INC. A CORP. OF ILLINOIS;REEL/FRAME:005925/0061Effective date: 19911108Owner name: SWIRLON INDUSTRIES, INC. A CORP. OF ILLINOISFree format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KDW ENTERPRISES, INC. A CORP. OF ILLINOIS;REEL/FRAME:005925/0065Effective date: 19911108Dec 21, 1992FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Dec 19, 1996FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Mar 6, 2001REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedAug 12, 2001LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesOct 16, 2001FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20010815RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services