US3864784A - Surface treating attachment device - Google Patents

Abstract

A surface treating device such as a surface grinder in which power is transmitted to the operative elements of the assembly by a flowing gas, for example, air. The device is attached to a source of at least a partial vacuum, such as a vacuum cleaner. The motor fan unit of the vacuum cleaner together with a rotatable fan housed in the device form the power generating source which in turn operates the grinding member of the surface treating device in order to treat the work surface with an oscillating motion in a plane generally parallel thereto.

Description

United StatesPatent 1 1 Kilstrom et a1.

[ SURFACE TREATING ATTACHMENT DEVICE [75] Inventors: Lars Gunnar Kilstrom, Taby; Goran Arvid l-lenning Ridderstrom, Stockholm. both of Sweden [73] Assignee: Akteibolaget Electrolux. Stockholm.

Sweden [22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 338,370

[52] U.S.C1 15/380, 15/387, 51/170 MT, 285/7, 285/325 [51 Int. Cl. A471 5/30, A471 9/24 Field ofSearch 15/3 80, 381, 387; 51/170 MT. 285/325. DIG. 4. 7

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 360 779 4/1887 Moss 285/325 1 Feb. 11, 1975 1020.002 3/1912 Warner 285/D1G. 4 2.338.339 1/1944 LaMere et al. 15/387 UX 2.477.681 8/1949 Anderson 15/387 X Primary Emminer-Harvey C. Hornsby Assisumt Era/nirwr-C. K. Moore [57] ABSTRACT A surface treating device such as a surface grinder in which power is transmitted to the operative elements of the assembly by a flowing gas, for example, air. The device is attached to a source of at least a partial vacuum, such as a vacuum cleaner. The motor fan unit of the vacuum cleaner together with a rotatable fan housed in the device form the power generating source which in turn operates the grinding member of the surface treating device in order to treat the work surface with an oscillating motion in a plane generally parallel thereto.

15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB! 1 i975 SHEET 10F 4 1 SURFACE TREATING ATTACHMENT DEVICE The present invention relates to a surface treating attachment device which is connected directly, or indirectly by a hose, to a source of at least a partial vacuum, such as a vacuum cleaner, and a fan wheel in the device which is directly in the path of air flow and is operable thereby.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to use a flowing gas, such as air, as a power transmitting medium to a surface treating device. The device may be connected to the suction opening ofa vacuum cleaner in order to produce a sufficient air flow to operate the surface treating device.

When air is used as a power transmitting medium, the device has a decided advantage over mechanical drive structures in its great flexibility. Moreover, the risk of the motor being damaged in the case of an overload is much smaller than in the case of a direct electric motor drive. Furthermore, it should be noted that a variety of tools can be selectively connected to the output shaft of the rotating fan unit, such as replaceable grinding, rubbing, brushing, scrubbing, or polishing tools. It will also become apparent that the same flowing air which operates the rotating fan unit can be used to carry away the particles of grinding dust materials.

A number of serious disadvantages have arisen in the use of air-operated grinding apparatus of the abovedescribed type. One disadvantage is that the known grinding apparatus, after a short period of use, becomes clogged due to the accumulation of grinding particles in the air flow channels. This is especially true in the air paths to the rotating fan unit of the surface grinder. When the fan unit becomes clogged, a time consuming disassembly and cleaning operation becomes necessary. A further disadvantage of the known grinding apparatus construction is that the results of using a rotating grinding or polishing attachment are not satisfactory since very often circular marks are left on the work surface which cannot be eradicated.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages by providing a surface treating attachment device in which the clogging of the rotating fan unit is effectively prevented, and at the same time, a much better surface treatment of the work area is achieved.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a means on the blades of a rotating fan unit for converting the rotating motion of this unit to an oscillating motion. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide flow paths to the rotating fan unit of the proper dimensions in order to eliminate the possibility of the clogging of the fan unit assembly by dust particles generated by the grinding operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a unique handle construction in order to prevent or to substantially reduce or cushion the vibrations from being carried from the grinding mechanism to the handle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a quick connect and disconnect coupling for a vacuum cleaner hose which positively maintains the required vacuum in the device.

alternate embodiments of the present invention in which the surface treating device has a low overall structural height so that it can be easily operated under low furniture and the like.

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the surface treating device attached to a household vacuum cleaner and constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-section on a larger scale showing the surface treating device in detail;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the energy absorbing coupling member that is positioned between the handle and the oscillating working member of the surface treating device;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the outlet connection of the surface treating device, and a section of the vacuum cleaner hose which is removably attachable thereto; and

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are diagrammatic illustrations of al ternate embodiments of the energy absorbing coupling member which are specifically constructed to reduce the overall constructional height of the device.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION A vacuum cleaner of a known type is shown in FIG. 1 and is referred to generally by thenumber 10. The vacuum cleaner has a suction opening 11 from which atmospheric air is drawn by amotor fan unit 12 through adust collector 13. The clean air coming from the outlet of the dust collector exits to the ambient through the exhaust opening 14 of thevacuum cleaner 10.

The surface treating attachment device referred to generally by thenumeral 16 is shown connected to the suction opening 11 of thevacuum cleaner 10 by means of aflexible hose 15. However, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide a direct attachment of the present device to the suction opening of the vacuum cleaner. The surface treatingattachment device 16 is connected to one end of thehose 15 by a handle shapedpart 17 which is the upper portion of the device while the working member referred to generally by thenumeral 18 engages the floor or other surfaces to be treated.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 2, the workingmember 18 comprises askirt 19 that is open on the bottom and encloses arotatable fan wheel 20. The latter is rotatably mounted onball bearings 21 about astub shaft 22 that is connected to the horizontally disposedbase plate 23. Thebase plate 23 is provided with an annular wall 24 which extends upwardly and surrounds thefan wheel 20 at a given distance therefrom and is provided with a plurality ofair inlet openings 25. A substantial annular gap A exists between the circumfer' ential periphery of thebase plate 23 and the adjacent interior surface of theskirt 19 whereby air flows through the gap and through theopenings 25 to the vanes of thefan wheel 20. It will be noted that the undersurface of thebase plate 23 is provided with a layer ofresilient material 68, such as foam rubber. Secured to the underside of the foam rubber is a sheet of grindingpaper 69 for grinding treatment of the work surface. Thebase plate 23 is fastened to theskirt 19 by means of threadedbolts 26 passing through holes in theskirt 19. Thebolts 26 are integral with the lever 28 which is pivoted at 71 on thebase plate 23. Thefree end 72 of the lever 28 engages the edge of the grindingpaper 69 and holds it in firm contact with the periphery of thebase plate 23 when thenuts 27 on the threadedbolts 26 are tightened. Thus, the grindingpaper 69 is maintained in place on thebase plate 23.

Aweight 29 is shown secured to a part of the underside of therotatable fan wheel 20 adjacent to the periphery thereof. Because theweight 29 is positioned eccentrically on thefan wheel 20, the center of gravity of the rotating fan wheel will be outside of its center of rotation. Thus, the the constant air flow through the device causes thefan wheel 20 to operate, but because of its unbalance, the wheel makes an oscillating motion.

The present surface treating attachment device operates as follows: The vacuum cleaner is turned on and themotor fan unit 12 becomes operative thereby drawing atmospheric air through the gap A between theskirt 19 and thebase plate 23, and then through theopenings 25 in the wall of thebase plate 23 to thevanes 30 of therotatable fan wheel 20. The dust laden air continues to flow through the handle-shaped part 17 and the flexible hose to thesuction inlet 11 of thevacuum cleaner 10. Since theweight 29 is mounted eccentrically on thefan wheel 20, the movement of the wheel due to an unbalance is changed to an oscillating movement. This motion is transmitted to thebase plate 23 having the grindingpaper 69 securely mounted thereon and consequently the base plate will oscillate over the work surface in a movement which is generally parallel thereto. The dust created by the grinding operation is drawn by the air under at least a partial vacuum through the rotating wheel and air channels to thedust collector 13 of thevacuum cleaner 10. Because of the vigorous vibration exerted on the entire workingmember 18 there is no risk of clogging of the air paths by dust particles. Consequently, the rotatingfan wheel 20 is virtually self-cleaning.

Because of the rather considerable vibration created by the present construction, it is important to prevent the vibrations in the workingmember 18 from being carried to the handle of the device. Thehandle part 17 is therefore'provided with a coupling member, as particularly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, which effectively absorbs the vibrations of the operative device yet permits excellent guidance of the working member. The coupling member, shown in detail in FIG. 3, comprises acylindrical tube 31, the lower end of which is attached to the upper surface of theskirt 19 and the upper end is clamped under the upper part of the handle shapedpart 17. As seen in FIG. 3, thetube 31 has fourjoints 32 disposed at opposite ends of the tube and arranged substantially at right angles to each other in pairs. It will be noted that each joint is formed by two diametrically opposed wall portions of the tube. Those parts of the wall which are between two wall portions of the tube form one and the same joint and are removed. Thetube 31 is constituted of a resilient material, such as polypropylene, so that the joints will effectively absorb all radial forces caused by the vibrating working member which acts on thetube 31. The tube construction maintains a satisfactory stiffness for the rotational movement around the longitudinal axis of the tube whereby the precise guiding of the operative working member is ensured.

As seen in FIG. 2, threerods 33 are shown within thehandle part 17. Therods 33 tend to maintain a constant distance between the undersurface of thehandle part 17 and the upper surface of theskirt 19. The space formed between the side walls of thehandle part 17 and the mounting place of thetube 31 on theskirt 19 is connected and sealed by adiaphragm 34, which also allows some relative movement between the workingmember 18 and thehandle part 17.

Referring to FIG. 2, thehandle part 17 has twoopenings 35 and 36 into either one of which the vacuumcleaner hose 15 can be connected. However. the opening which is not used is closed by a sealingplate 37. In order to ensure the satisfactory flow of air in the hose connection adjacent to theopening 36, the median part of thetube 31 is provided with a plurality of spaced holes 38.

As seen in FIG. 4, a tubularoutlet connecting piece 39 is illustrated at one end of thehandle part 17. One end ofhose 15 having annular segments is adapted for insertion in the openings 73 and 74 of thetubular piece 39. The extreme end of thetubular piece 39 is in the form of an inwardly turnedcollar 40. It will be noted that both thetubular piece 39 and thecollar 40 are partly split open in order to permit the side insertion of one end of thehose 15, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4. Thehose 15 is slightly compressed upon insertion through theslot 41 and into the openings 73 and 74 of oftubular piece 39. When the hose is properly in place in the circular opening, the hose springs back to its natural circular form and the inwardly turnedcollar 40 engages the annular end segment of the hose l5 and securely locks the hose relative to the opening.

There are some occasions, when using the floor treating apparatus, that it is desirable to have a structure with a low overall height thereby making it possible to surface treat a floor under low furniture and the like. FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 show diagrammatically various coupling arrangements which reduce all components to the same generally horizontal plane.

Referring to FIG. 5, the working member which is similar to memberl8 is designated by thereference numeral 42 and has on opposite sides twopins 43 supporting the member inholes 44 in arectangular frame structure 45. Theframe 45 is in turn supported bypins 46 in abracket 47 to which is connected an operating shaft S, not shown in detail. The through connecting line between thepins 46 is generally at right angles to the through connecting line between thepins 43. Between the outeredge of the workingmember 42 and the inside of theframe 45 as well as between the outer edge of theframe 45 and the inside of thebracket 47,resilient elements 48 are arranged, the first of which absorb the movement of the workingmember 42 in the direction designated by the arrow X and the other two absorb the remaining movement in the direction designated by the arrow Y. The desirable result of this construction is that thebracket 47 and hence also the operating shaft S will be cushioned from the vibrations of the workingmember 42.

Another embodiment of the coupling arrangement is shown in FIG. 6, in which a generally L-shapedbracket 49 is attached to theoscillating working member 50 by twoelongated springs 51 and 52, which absorb the movement in the direction designated by the arrow X. The remaining movement in the direction designated by the arrow Y is absorbed by twoelongated springs 53 and 54 each attached at one end to thebracket 49 so that the operatingshaft 55, which is connected to the other ends ofthe springs 53 and 54 by abracket 56, will be substantially without vibrations.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in a top view of FIG. 7. In this construction, the working member is assumed to be connected to awall 57 of aframe structure 58 of elastic material, such as polypropylene.Walls 59 and 60 of theframe 58 which are adjacent to thewall 57 have thinnedportions 61. Thewalls 59 and 60 are joined by awall 62 which by means ofpart 63 passes inwardly to form an inner frame structure withwalls 64 and 65 as well as awall 66, which joins thewalls 64 and 65 and is generally parallel to thepart 63. In addition, thewalls 64 and 65 have thinnedportions 67 at their connections to thepart 63 and thewall 66, respectively, which thinned portions together with the thinnedportions 61 act as the resilient elements shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, i.e., theportions 61 absorb the movement in the direction X and theportions 67 absorb the movement in the direction Y such that thewall 66 and an operating shaft connected to it, but not shown, will be free from vibrations in the same way as shown and described in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Also, in this embodiment the requirement for a low structural height is satisfied because all frame parts are situated generally in the same horizontal plane.

What is claimed is:

l. A surface treating attachment device adapted to be connected to a source of at least a partial vacuum comprising: an air flow channel extending from a location adjacent to the surface to be treated to said vacuum source, a rotatable fan wheel in said air flow channel, a handle-shaped part, said fan wheel having a weight placed outside the axis of rotation thereof whereby movement of the fan wheel by the air striking the vanes of the fan wheel generates an oscillating mo tion, a surface engaging working member operatively connected to said fan wheel whereby the oscillating motion generated by the fan wheel is transmitted to the working member which in turn oscillates in a plane that is generally parallel to the work surface, and energy absorbing means for operatively connecting said handleshaped part to said working member which absorbs the movement of the working member in two directions that are generally perpendicular to each other.

2. A surface treating attachment device as claimed inclaim 1 further comprising a skirt housing said fan wheel, a base plate for said working member and a dust collector in said vacuum source, said working member being secured to the underside of said base plate, and a plurality of passageways being provided in the base plate for conveying dust-laden air via the fan wheel to said dust collector.

3. A surface treating attachment device as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said energy absorbing means are members which absorb in pairs the movement of the work ing member, said members being arranged substantially in the same horizontal plane.

4. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said members are resilient elements positioned in two supporting locations between said working member and said handle-shaped part, the imaginary lines through the two supporting locations are substantially perpendicular to each other.

5. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said resilient elements are metal springs.

6. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said resilient elements are constituted of an elastic material.

7. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said resilient elements are constituted of a plastic material.

8. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said resilient plastic elements are constituted of polypropylene.

9. A surface treating attachment device claimed inclaim 1 further comprising a skirt housing said fan wheel, said skirt supporting said handle-shaped part, and said energy absorbing means including four joints arranged in pairs in different planes but substantially parallel to the work surface and operatively connecting said working member to said handle-shaped part, one joint of a pair being located at right angles to the other joint thereof. said joints co-acting to absorb radial forces caused by the oscillating working member but are of sufficient rigidity to precisely guide said working member.

10. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said joints are formed by wall portions in a cylindrical tube, said wall portions being in pairs located diametrically opposite to each other.

11. A surface treating attachment device as claimed inclaim 10 wherein said tube is constituted of an elastic material.

12. A surface treating attachment device as claimed inclaim 11 wherein said tube is polypropylene.

13. A surface treating attachment device as claimed inclaim 10 further comprising a spacing element positioned between the handle-shaped part and said skirt which maintains a constant distance therebetween.

14. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim l3 wherein said spacing element comprises at least three rods arranged about said tube.

15. A surface treating attachment device as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said handle-shaped part is provided with a tubular piece having at its outer end a radially split inwardly turned collar, and a hose having one end adapted for insertion laterally through the slot formed by said radial split in the outer end of the tubular piece and engaged by the inwardly turned collar of the tubular piece.

Claims (15)

1. A surface treating attachment device adapted to be connected to a source of at least a partial vacuum comprising: an air flow channel extending from a location adjacent to the surface to be treated to said vacuum source, a rotatable fan wheel in said air flow channel, a handle-shaped part, said fan wheel having a weight placed outside the axis of rotation thereof whereby movement of the fan wheel by the air striking the vanes of the fan wheel generates an oscillating motion, a surface engaging working member operatively connected to said fan wheel whereby the oscillating motion generated by the fan wheel is transmitted to the working member which in turn oscillates in a plane that is generally parallel to the work surface, and energy absorbing means for operatively connecting said handle-shaped part to said working member which absorbs the movement of the working member in two directions that are generally perpendicular to each other.

2. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a skirt housing said fan wheel, a base plate for said working member and a dust collector in said vacuum source, said working member being secured to the underside of said base plate, and a plurality of passageways being provided in the base plate for conveying dust-laden air via the fan wheel to said dust collector.

3. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said energy absorbing means are members which absorb in pairs the movement of the working member, said members being arranged substantially in the same horizontal plane.

4. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said members are resilient elements positioned in two supporting locations between said working member and said handle-shaped part, the imaginary lines through the two supporting locations are substantially perpendicular to each other.

5. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said resilient elements are metal springs.

6. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said resilient elements are constituted of an elastic material.

7. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said resilient elements are constituted of a plastic material.

8. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said resilient plastic elements are constituted of polypropylene.

9. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a skirt housing said fan wheel, said skirt supporting said handle-shaped part, and said energy absorbing means including four joints arranged in pairs in different planes but substantially parallel to the work surface and operatively connecting said working member to said handle-shaped part, one joint of a pair being located at right angles to the other joint thereof, said joints co-acting to absorb radial forces caused by the oscillating working member but are of sufficient rigidity to precisely guide said working member.

10. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said joints are formed by wall portions in a cylindrical tube, said wall portions being in pairs located diametrically opposite to each other.

11. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said tube is constituted of an elastic material.

12. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said tube is polypropylene.

13. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a spacing element positioned between the handle-shaped part and said skirt which maintains a constant distance therebetween.

14. A surface treating attachment device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said spacing element comprises at least three rods arranged about said tube.

15. A surface treating attachment device as claiMed in claim 1 wherein said handle-shaped part is provided with a tubular piece having at its outer end a radially split inwardly turned collar, and a hose having one end adapted for insertion laterally through the slot formed by said radial split in the outer end of the tubular piece and engaged by the inwardly turned collar of the tubular piece.

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