US885011A - Automatic vacuum cleaning apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

, 4@A1-RATED APR.2 1,1908. W.J.BERGENS.

lAUTOMATIC VACUUM 4CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLIoATIoN FILED JULY5,1907.

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No.`885,011. PATENTED APR. 21, 1908.

W. J. BERGENS. A AUTOMATIC SZVAGUUM CLEANING APPARATUS. APPL-IOATION .FILED .IULM 1907.

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`Automatic Vacuum Cleanin UNrrEDy sra-rus PnrENr onirica.

WILLIAM J. BERGENS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS. l

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 21, 1908.

'Application i'lled .Tilly A5, 1907. Serial No. 382,371.

Tofall whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. BERGENS, aresi'den-t ofPittsbur in the county of Alle-I systems and more especially to the apparatusfor producin the suction and disposing of the irt and ust.

The object of the invention is to provide 'apparatus for the purpose described which isv simple of construction, economical of operation, which is noiseless and requires no oiling,

and especially apparatus which automatically iiushes or cleans the'collecting chamber. Vacuum cleaning 'systems for dwellings, hotels, office buildings and other structures, aslnow installed, have the vacuum or suction pipe to which the cleaning tool is attached connected to apparatus usually located in the basement for roducin the suction and moistening and co ecting t e dust and dirt brought down through the* suction pipe., All such apparatus, as far as I am aware, requires considerable personal attention on the part of the attendant and especially order to iush the same when the water contamed in the collecting' chamber becomes too dirty for further use. All prior apparatus of this kind is also? quite noisy and requires frequent oilings.

The object of this invention 1s to provide such suction and collecting apparatus which is not noisy `and which requires very little personal attention and especially ,one whichv 4 1s self cleaning or flushing.

rlhe inventloncomprises the combination and arran ement of parts 'hereinafter described and claimed.'

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical-section through my apparatus on the line 1 1, Fig. 2; Fig. 2,-is a horizontal section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isa detail vertical section on theline 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section onthe line 4 4, Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the flushin valve.

In t e drawin sv the vacuum or suction pipe extending through the buildin to be cleaned is indicated at 1. To .the en of this .ipe is connected a `fitting 2 leading to a colecting chamber 3 and also having lconnected thereto a water inlet fittingl 4. The water chamber 3 above its bottom b .Water normally supplied to the suction a paratus when in operation. In use the va ve 7 is kept closed and the valve 9 set in such pos1t1on -as to supply the requisite-amount of ywater While-the valve 6 is used as the valve for turning the water on and off so that the attendant need not disturb the valve 9. The valve- 7 is only opened when a large stream of Water is toA beadmitted to the apparatus to ,clean it out.

w The water inlet fitting 4 .is connected to the means of a pipe connection 10 provided wlth a regulating valve 11, the inner end of the pi esection 10, being screened from the cham er 3 by a strainer or screen 12v to prevent the passage ofthe dirt through the pipe 10.

The regulating valve 9 will be set so as tosupply only av small quantity of water, it being the design t'o circulate the water from the chamber 3 back through pipes 10 and-4 into fittings 2 in order to thorou hly moisten the dirt and dust coming down t rough pipe 1.

i The suction is producedby means of a pump l2 Which may be of any desired construction and located in any suitable place with itsinlet connected to the pipe section 2 and its outlet communicatin with chamber 3. It is preferred to locate t iis pum in the chamber' 3 and keep it submerged wit watery sol as to dispense. with oil and make av substantially noiseless ap aratus. The pump shown is of the centrliiigalv type having the inlet opening' 1 4' at its center and the discharge opening 15 at the periphery. It isv shown as, located in horizontal position near the bottom of the chamber 3 with a pan 16 underneath the same having a goose neck 17 communicating with the pipe fitting 2, thereby directing the dirt and dust to the intake opening 14 of the pump. Thepump is driven by any suitable 'means such as the vertical shaft-18 extendor other point of deposit.

In the fitting 23 is a valve 28 arranged to close either the opening 24 or opening 25, but not both at the same time, said valve being shown as of the flap type pivoted at 29 and provided with an arm 30 for operating the same. Normally the valve will e in the position shown in full lines in Fig.A 5 so as to maintain the outlet opening 25 closed but is arranged to be periodically thrown to dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 soas to close the opening -24 and open thel outlet 25 tp the sewer in order to flush the chamber 3. This valve is moved periodically to these positions by automatic mechanism, that shown comprising a lever 3l pivoted at 32 and provided with fork 33 engaging the arm 30 of the valve and having itsl opposite end connected by a slot and pin connection 34 to a member 35 secured to a rod 36 mounted in the casing for vertical movement.

Slidably mounted on the rod 36 is a float 37 A which can travel idly between the member 35 above the float and another member 38 on therod below the float.

Normally the valve 28 is in position to keep the outlet 25 closed. The water sup lied through the valve 9 gradually fills the c amber 3, thereby raising theiioa't 37 until it strikes the member 35 on rod 36 and then causes theoat to raise said rod and through the lever 31 throw the valve 28 tothe dotted line position shown in Fig. 5. Connected to the lower end of the rod 36 isa suitable valve 40, shown as of the Gate type, and which controls an opening 41 affording a communication between the chamber 3 and the pan 1.6 underneath the pump, thus enabling the pump. to draw out the contents ofthe tank and eject the same through outlet opening 25. 42 is a vent pipe for chamber 3.

The operation of the apparatus described is as follows: The valve 9 will be set and locked in position to 'supply the requisite amount of water, itbeing the design to ll the chamber 3 about once an hour when in use, as it is found that ordinarily in about an hours time thewater becomes so dirty that it should be iiushed out. This periodic flushing of the tank, however, may be varied to suit conditions so as to iiush more or less frequently than once in an hour. This may be accomplished by merely adjustingthe valve 9. rIhe attendant need only open the Valve 6 fully as the valve 9 regulates the flow of the water. A The attendant will also close the switch to the motor 20 setting the pump in oper-ation.

clust down throug the same and through the pump. The water coming through the supply pipe 4- mingl'es with the dirt and dust and mistens the same. Normally the valve This produces the necessaryv suction in the pi e l, drawing the dirt and is closed and the valve 28 in position to close the outlet 25 so that the dirt and water are forced by the ump up through the pipe 22 passing out tfirough opening 24 into the chamber 3. In this manner the water is constantl agitated and the dirt and dust thorough y moistened. The water from the Itank 3 circulates back through the pipe 10 y As the operation yof the va ve 28 and holds the same to its seat.

Consequently the float 27 meets with considerable resistance so that it becomes fairly well submerged-before its buoyancy is sufcient to overcome the pressure on valve 28.

Consequently, when it does overcome .such pressure the float moves rapidly upward moving the valve 28 rapidly over to the op osite position and also ,drawing up the va ve 40. The chamber 3 now has a direct communication with the inlet of the pump while the outlet of the pump is connected to the sewer outlet 25. Consequently, the chamber is quickly emptied and the water and dirt contained 4therein forced by the pump through the opening 25 to the sewer. As soon as emptied, the float 37 drops, striking the fitting 38 and by its weightl forces the valve 4() closed and also draws down on the rod 36 and through the lever 31 moves the 4valve 28 back to its normal position. The apparatus will then continue to o erate in t e normal manner. When it is esired to thoroughly clean the chamber 3 the valve 7 is opened so as to allow a large quantity of water to flow into the chamber 3, thus quickly filling the same and getting frequent flush` in s inquick succession.

he apparatus described is simple of construction and requires a minimum amount of attention. The pump is submerged in the water, requires no oiling and operates practically without noise. operate only the valve 6 and occasionallythe valve 7, and the switch for the motor 20. The ap aratus then operates entirely automatical y to flush itself periodically. The water is circulated by means of the pump so as to require only a., small amount of water to thoroughly meisten the dirt and dust and the Dump also serves to agitate this water so as to insure the thorough wetting of the dirt and dust.

It wil-l be understood that various modifications in construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without de arting from the s irit of the invention, and {therefore wish 1t understood that no limitations` The attendant need' claims hereinafter made'eitlaer by the specific illustration or the specic description in the s eciication.

at I,claim is:`

1. In vacuum cleaning apparatus, the' ber, and automatic mechanism for periodically ushing said chamber.

2. In vacuum cleaning apparatus, the combination of a suction pipe, a chamber into'which it discharges, a connection for supplying al stream of water to said chainof the water in said chamber for periodica ly flushing the same.

3'. In vacuum cleamng apparatus, the combination of a suction pipe, 4a chamber into which it discharges, a. connection for supplying a stream of water to said chamber, a iushing Valve for said chamber, anda fioat in the chamber arranged to be actuated [by the water and-controlling said valve.

4. In vacuum cleaning apparatus, the combination of a chamber, a suction pipe, a pump connected tosaid pipe and discharging in the said chamber, a Waterl supply connected to the inlet of the pump, and mechanism controlled by the height of the water in said chamber for periodically iiushing the same.

5. In vacuum 'cleaning apparatus, the

combination of a'suc'tion pipe, a chamber, a pump connected to the suction ypi e and discharging into the chamber, an a Water supp f connected to the inlet of the pump.

combination of a suction pipe, a chamber, a pum connected to the suction pipe, a water su p y to the inlet of the pump, and a verti-l ca pipe connected to the outlet of the pump and discharging into the chamber.

7. yIii Vacuum cleaning apparatus, the combination of a suction pipe, a chamber, 'a

pump connected to the suction pipe anddischarging into the chamber, a water supply, and a circulating connection between the chamber and inlet of the pump.

8. In vacuum cleaning apparatus, the

combination of a suction pipe, .a chamber, a

pump connected. to the suction pipe, a vertical pipe connected to the outlet opening of vthe pump and'discliarging into saidchamber, a water supply, and a circulating con- .nection between the chamber and inlet of thel pump.

9. ,In vacuum cleaning apparatus, the combination of a' suction pipe, a chamber, a

pump connected to the suction pipe and disy cation 6. In vacuum cleaning apparatus, the

charging .into 'the chamber, a water supply, a iiushin valve, a valve controlling communietween the chamber and the in-talre of the puin and means for simultaneously opeiiin sai valves.

10. n vacuum cleanin apparatus, the combination of a suction pipe, a chamber, a water supply, a pump connected to the suction pipe and discharging into the chamber, al ushing valve, a valve controlling communication between the chamber and intake of the pump, and automatic means for periodically and simultaneously opening said valves.

11. In vacuum cleaning apparatus, the combination-of a suction pipe, a chamber, .a watersupply, a pump connected to the suction pipe and discharging into the chamber, a iushing valve controllin the outletfroin` the ump, a valve controIling communication etween the chamber and the um intake, and means controlled by the eig t of the Water inthe chamber for operating said valves.

12. In vacuum cleaning apparatus, the combination of a suction pipe,` a chamber, a water supply, .a pump connected to thesuction pipe, a pipe connected to the outlet of the pump and provided With two o enings, one communicating with the cham, er and the other with a iiushing `outlet, a valve-arranged to close either of said openings while maintaining the other openin and automatic mechanism for periodicely said valve.

13. In vacuum cleaning apparatus, the combination of a suction pipe, a chamber,V a water supply, a pump connected to the suc,- tion pipe, a pi e connected withfthe outlet of the pump an provided with twin o enings, one communicating with the chain er and the other with an outlet, a Valve arranged' to keep oneof said openings closed and the other open, a valve controlling communica- -tion-between the chamber and the pump inlet, and automatic mechanism for periodically and simultaneously operating the valves.

14. In vacuum cleaning apparatus, the combination of a suction pipe, a chamber, a .Water supply, and a pum located in said chamber below the waterllevel and having its inlet'connected to the suction ipe and its outlet A communicating with the chamber.

In testimony whereof, I the said WILLIAM J. BERGENs have hereunto set my hand. WILLIAM J. Bancarie.

Witnesses:

- ROBERT C. Tor'iiiN,

F. W. WINTER.

operating

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