US1900885A - Suction cleaner - Google Patents

Description

March 7, '1933.' D. G; MELLIE 1,900,885

sUcTION GLEANER Filed Deel. 1, 1930 e sheds-sheet 1 Egt/.251655 57726//86 March 7, 1.933. D Q SMELLIE 1,900,885

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Dec. V1, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet V2 March 7, 1933. D Q SMELLlE y 1,900,885

sUcTIoN CLEANER Filed Dec. l, 1930 6 Sheets-Shee'll 3 Marchv 7, 1933.

D. G. SMELLIE sUcTIoN CLEANER AFiled Deo. l, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 7, 1.933. D. G. s-MELLIE SUCTION CLEANER Filed Dec. e sheets-sheet 5 imm March 7, 1933. l v D. G. sMELLlE 1,900,885

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Deo. l, 1930 `f5 SheeLs-Sheet 6 CTI f Vtion nozzle, of a body of air at greater than Patented Mar; 7,1933 'f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DONALD SMELLIE, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOOVER OOMPANY, OF NORTH CANTON, OHIO,A CORPORATION OF OHIO SUCTION Application led December lips of a type which assist the air in its dirtremoving function. The invention Aalso includes the provision'of means to increase the velocity of the cleaning air as it passes under the surface-contacting lips.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a suction cleaner of increased cleaning eiiiciency. It is a further object to provide a suction cleaner in which the cleaning air enters the nozzle proper at substantially the vpoint of maximum surface covering agitation. It is another object to provide a suction cleaner nozzle construction which contains cleaning fluid at different pressures and in which the flow of fluid from the point of high pressure to the point of low pressure is past a point of surface covering agitation.

lt is still another object to provide in a suc-a tion cleaner a novel arrangement of lparts in lwhich a rotary agitator is positioned -within a body of fluid at substantially air pressure which is surrounded by a second body of fluid at a reduced pressure and in which the point at which the agitator contacts the surface covering Vundergoing cleaning is closely adjacent the point at which the cleaning Huid passes from the body of high pressure to the body of low pressure in the operation of the machine. A still further object is the provision of a suction cleaner construction char! acterized by the presence. within the sucatmospheric pressure anda body of air at less than atmospheric pressure; and by the further fact that the flow of air from the point of high pressure to the point of. low

- pressure is past a point of surface covering agitation. Itis a still further object of the present invention to provide a new and novel A CLEANER 1, 1930. Serial No. 499,135.

reading the following specification and conl sidering therewith the drawings which are related thereto.

Referring now to the drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed and in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout:

Fig. -1 is a side view of a suction cleaner embodying the present invention with certain parts fbroken away and in section;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with` certain parts broken away and shown in section upon the line .2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view of the suction cleaner embodying the present invention with the front wall of the nozzle broken away and showing certain parts in section;

FFig. 4 is a sectionupon the line 4 4 of Fig. 5 is a section upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 with the agitator and air tunnel removed;

Fig.. 6' is a section upon the line 676 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a partial view upon the line 7 -7 of Fig. 2 showing the power transmission from the motor shaft to the agitator driving pulley; c

Fig. 8 is` a front view upon a section thru the nozzle of a modified embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 of a further modiication;

` Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section thru the nozzle of a modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a section upon the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Y Fig. 12 is a view in perspective of the improved agitator embodied in the modification of the present invention shown in Figs. 10 and 11; y I l Fig. 13 is a further form of agitator that can be embodied in the modification shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

In the drawings, and in Figures 1 to 7 in particular, a suction cleaner embodying the present invention is disclosed and comprises a main casting or casing 10 which forms the cleaner nozzle 11, which includes the front and rear walls 12 and 13 respectively; the fan chamber 14, and the exhaust outlet 15 which is adapted to receive a suitable dust bag or dirt separator. A motor, casing 16, which houses a suitable driving motor, is positioned upon the main casing 10 immediately above the fan chamber 14, and motor shaft 17 projects downwardly therefrom into the fan chamber 14 where the suction-creating fan 18 is 1nounted thereon. The botom plate 19 of the motor casing supports the lower bearing 20 for the motor shaft 17 and also provides the upper wall of the air passage from the suction nozzle 11 to the eye 21 of the fan chamber 14 which is formed in the upper wall 22 thereof. A depending curved wall 23 on the motor bottom plate 19 cooperates with the upper wall 22 of the fan chamber to form the sides and bottom of the air directive passage leading to the eye. The entire construction is movably supported upon the surface undergoing cleaning by means of the front supporting wheels 24, 24 positioned in the wheel pockets formed by casing 10 immediately adjacent the nozzle 11, and the rear supporting wheel 25, as in the usual suction cleaner.

Positioned within the suction nozzle 11 is an agitator 26 o'f a common and well known type which is rotatably supported upon the non-rotatable shaft 27 which is itself supn ported at its ends in the end walls 35, of the nozzle 11. The agitator 26 is adapted to be rotated at high speed while in contact with the surface covering undergoing cleaning and imparts thereto a distinct and positive agitation as the rigid beaters 28, 28 and the flexible brush 29 contact therewith. The agitator 26 is positioned midway of the nozzle 11 between the walls 12 and 13 and extends substantially into the plane of the broad-sealing lips 30 and 3l carried by said nozzle.

On one end of the agitator is secured, by means of supports 33, 33, a pulley 32 which is positioned outside the interior proper of the nozzle, that is that part which is directly connected to the fan chamber, Within a separate compartment or housing formed by the vertical wall 34 which extends parallel to the nozzle end walls. At the rear of this separate compartment, or pulley housing, is a second pulley 36 which is carried by a transversely-extending rotatable shaft 37 mounted in bearings 38 and' 39 carried by the fan. chamber 14 and the depending wall 34 respectively. The shaft 37 extends from the pulley 36 to a well 40, see Figures 1 and 7, formed in the bottom of the fan chamber 14 by a circular wall and by a removable cover 41, which encloses in sealed relationship, as indicated at 42, the lower extremity of the motor shaft 17. Within the well 40 is rotatably mounted a worm gear 43 which is driven by the shaft 17 and which makes driving con-v tact with a spiral gear 44 carried at the end of the shaft 37. The rotation of the motor dened by longitudinally extending parallel lips 47 and 48 respectively which are in all respects surface-contacting lips of a type known as pile penetrating, being relatively thin as compared to the usual nozzle lips and of such thickness as to be able to extend between adjacent tufts of pile and into a single tuft of pile. Tunnel 46 is maintained in nozzle 11 by means of the removable seats at its opposite ends which are indicated by the reference characters 50, 50, see Figures 5 and 6. These seats 50, 50 are held in place relative to the end Wall 35 and the depending wall 34, at the opposite ends of the air tunnel 46, by suitable means such as screws 51, 51 and when in place function to support the ends of the tunnel and to clamp them against the overhanging circular walls or flanges 52, 52 formed on the opposed end wall and dcpending wall. For the purpose of making the clamping action more positive the seats 50, are which cooperate with the notched ends 54, 54 of tunnel 46, see Figure 3.

lVithin the nozzle 11 between the front and rear walls thereof are spaced walls 55, 55 which extend downwardly and outwardly and which encircle the opposite upper ends of the tunnel 46 sealing them from the remainder of the interior of the nozzle in substantially air tight relationship. lVithin the the lines of contact of the walls 55` 55 are provided openings 56, 56 which connect the interior of the tunnel with those portions or pockets in the nozzle which are sealed from the interior 55. The rear wall 13 of the nozzle l1 at its ends, and adjacent the pockets defined by the Walls 55, 55, is provided with openings 57, 57 of substantially the saine area as the openings 56, 56 in the tunnel 46. The presence of openings 57, 57 in wall 13 provides means of direct communication between thc interior of the air tunnel 46 'and the air at atmospheric pressure exterior of the machine and as found Within the wheel pockets formed by casing 10 which contain the front supporting . wheels 24, 24 immediately adjacent the rear nozzle wall 13. It is understood that the presence of the walls 55, 55 serves to prevent the passage of the air entering l provided with shoulders 53, 53 -5 surface areas of the tunnel defined by proper thereof by the walls 55,

the nozzle pockets through the openings 57, 57 to any'part of the interior of the nozzle except to the interior of the air tunnel 46 thru the openings' 56, 56.

ln the operation of the cleaner constructed in accordance with the aforedescribed embodiment of the present invention as the motor revolves the suction-creating fan creates a reduced pressure Within the nozzle 11 in that portion exterior of the air tunnel 46 and between the walls 55, 55. The presence of thc reduced pressure within the nozzle lifts the surface covering undergoing cleaning up into contact with the'broad sealing lips 30 and 31 which, because of theirrelatively great width, serve to materially reduce the flow ot air between themselves and the said surface covering. With the flow of' air under the nozzle lip 30 and 31Areduced to a substantially negligible quantity, practically all the ,air entering the nozzle enters through the air tunnel 46, having gained -entrance thereto through the openings 56, 56 which connect, as aforedescribed, to the openings 57, 57 in the rear wall 13 which are open to the atmospheric air. In gaining entrance to the interior of the nozzle from tunnel 46,

with the surface covering raised bythe nozzle ing efficiency resulting from such relationi ship.

The construction of the aforedescribed invention is one of relative simplicity and involves no .complicated mechanism to accomplish its purpose. The construction is easily disassembled, it being necessary only to remove one of the end plates 35,'which is made detachable for that purpose, as indicated at 60, and the detachable seats 50, 50, and the agitator and air tunnel may be removed bodily from the cleaner, nozzle.

Referring nowto FiguresB'and 9, furthe l embodiments of the present invention are disclosed. Use has been made of what are known as small diameter agitators, having different characteristics than the agitator embodied in the irst described modification and the dimensions of the cleaner have been slightly altered 'to accommodate the change inV agitators.

Reierrlngk to Figure 8, in particular, the suctlon cleaner is shown and comprises, as

in the previous embodiment, the'nozzle 11,-

which forms part of the main casing 10, the

motor casing 16 and the front supporting wheels 24, 24. The air tunnel, which is indicated by the 4reference character 46, is suitably positioned within the nozzle 11 and secured, as in the previous embodiment, and is provided at its ends with the openin s 56, 56 which open into the pockets formed 1n the ends of the nozzle by the downwardly and outwardly extending walls 55, 55. The rear` wall 13 of the nozzle 11 is vprovided with openings 57, 57 which connect the pockets formed by the walls 55, to the exterior atmosphere as it exists within the wheel pockets in the cleaner nozzle as in the previous modification.

Referring now to the agitator which is indicated generally by the reference character 70, it is noted that the agitator is of relatively small diameter, and that instead of having beating elements upon its Vsurface it is -provided with surface contacting helical elements, indicated by the reference characters 71, 71, which are relatively thin and which are positioned on the agitator body in the manner of screw threads. The agitating elements, 71, 71 lie upon the surface of the agitator upon a very small pitch and upon 4 lthe rotation oli-agitator 70 function rather as pile separatorsand deiiectors than as beaters as do the elements 28, 28 of the agitator in the first described embodiment of the present invention. Thevelements 71, 71 are shown as extending in opposite directions with reverse angularity from a common point 72 at substantially the center of the agitator.

Between the successiveturns of the helical pile-deflecting elements 71, 71 extend brushes suitably carried by the agitator 70 and which are indicated by the reference characters 73, 73. Brushes 73, 73 have a common central point 74 which is spaced eircumferentially from the common point 72 of the pile-deflecting elements 71, 71. At one of its ends,'and outside the downwardly-extending wall 34 in the nozzle, the agitator carries a pulley 75 which is threaded upon, and so rigidly carried by, the threaded end 76 of the agitator receives its power thru the transmissionl mechanism described in connection with the previous embodiment.

The present modification functions, in its broad aspects, substantially as doesthe aforedescribed embodiment but differs therefrom inthe agitation which is given to the surface covering undergoing cleaning by the agi-y tator. In `theoperation of the present niachine the agitator 70 revolves at a high speed between the-lips of the air tunnel 46, 46 but,

instead of positively beating and sweeping the surface covering, as was -the case in the previous embodiment, the surface covering oint of contact of the agitator and the sur-` ace covering, is closely adjacent the point at which the air leaves the tunnel 46 and enters the nozzle 11, this latter point being under the lips of the tunnel 46, as shown in Figures 1 and 4 in particular. Because of the relatively small diameter of the agitator in the present modification, the lips of the tunnel vcan more closely approach the point of surface covering agitation with a resultant increased cleaning` eiciency.

Referring now to-Figure 9 1n particular a still further 'modification of the present in vention is disclosed which is quite similar to that shown in Figure 8, being of the smalldiameter agitator type, but differs therefrom in the specific type of agitator used. In the present embodiment the agitator, which is indicated by the reference character-80, is provided with a corrugated surface which comprises alternate raised and lowered portions which extend helically. At substantially the center of the agitator the direction of angular advance is reversed so that the piledeflec'tors, which are formed by the raised portions on the surface of the agitator body and which are represented by the reference character 81, extend in opposite directions of angular advance from the mid-point of the agitator. As in theprevious modifications the pile-deflecting elements are of relatively small pitch and function, not as surface covering beaters, but instead as pile-defiectors which comb and deiiect the pile of the surface covering. superimposed upon the surface of the agitator 80, and extending radially a substantial distance beyond the raised portions 81, 81, are the beater elements 82, 82 which are of the common and well known positive beater type. Elements 82, 82 extend in opposite directions of 'angular advance from midpoint of the agitator and each element 82 advances in the opposite direction from the pile-defiecting element 81 on which it is superimposed. Agitator 80 carries a pulley 85, at one of its ends outside the depending wall 34` which is secured to the agitator by screws 86, 86. ,Agitator 80 is rotatably.

mounted upon a supporting shaft 87 asin the first embodiment. l

In the operation of this last described emface covering is agitated both by the piledeflection of the elements 81, 81 and by the positive beating, in the sense of vertical displacement, of the elements 82, 82. As in the previous embodiments the point at which the cleaning air leaves the air tunnel 46 to enter themain nozzle 11, and in so doing contacts the surface covering, is closely adjacent to the point of surface covering contact by the agitator.

As disclosed in Figures 10.to 13 inclusive, the present invention incorporates means for increasing the cleaning .etiiciency of the machine through increasing the velocity at which the air passes under the lips of the air tunnel in gaining entrance to the suction nozzle; it being recognized that cleaning efficiency varies with the velocity of the air which contacts the covering and removes the embodied foreign matter. This is accomplished by means of raising the pressure within the air tunnel to a pressure greater than atmospheric.

ln the drawings, and in Figures 10, l1 and 12 in particular, reference character 11 again represents the suction cleaner nozzle which is provided with the end pla'es 35, 35 and at one end with a depending rwall 34. The air ltunnel 46 extends between one end wall 35 and the depending wall 34 and is unprovided with cut-away portions at its ends, as in the previous embodiments, but instead extends continuously between the limits mentioned. According to the present embodiment the cleaning air gains entrance to the air tunnel at the ends through openings in the end walls 35, 35 which are indicated by the reference characters 90, 90. The agitator proper is represented generally by the character 91 and is of a common and well known type being provided with helically extendingbeater bars, one of which is indicated by 92, and longitudinally extending brushes 93, 93. Atthe Opposite ends of the agitator,l however, are provided radially and inwardly extending blades 94, 94 etc. between which the surface end. p-lates, as indicated by 96, 96, which are open as at 97 over a large part of their area. Each end plate 96 is provided with a longitudinally extending cylindrical portion 98 within which bearings, indicated generally by the reference- characters 99, 99, are seated and which se'rve to rotatably support the agitator uponthe non-rotating shaft 100 which is carried by the end plates 35, 35 of the nozprevious exemplifications, by means of a pulley, which is indicated by the reference character 101, which is carried between theend wall 35' and. the depending wall 34 by the agitator, being connected thereto as by suit- 103 which are aligned with the openings 97 in the adjacent end plate 96 in order that the cleaning air may gain entrance to the agitator from the openings 90 in the nozzle end wall. A belt 45, which is driven as described ina previous modification, is operatively connected to the pulley.

In the operation of the machine embodying the instant modification of the present invention upon the rotation of theV agitator 91 the surface covering is positively agitated and swept between the front and rear lips 47" and 48 of the air tunnel 46, into contact with which it is drawn by the suction existing within the nozzle 11. The rotation at high speed'of the blades 94, 94 etc. at each end of the agitator causes those blades to act as a centrifugal fan functioning to draw air into the agitator thru the endsand forcing it outwardly thru the opening 95, 95 etc., into the air tunnel. The air exhausted from the agitator is received in the air tunnel 46 and there builds up a positive pressure which is greater than atmosphericto an extent dependent upon the effectiveness of the afore- 1 described fan. As in the previous modifications air within the air tunnel enters the surroundin nozzle by passing under the air tunnel lips- 47 and 48 which are of the pile penetrating type. In the present-modification it is clear that the velocity of the air passing under said lips into the nozzle is increased because of the greater pressure difference existingbetween the interiorof the air tunnel and the surrounding nozzle.

In Fig. 13 an agitator shell with the end plates removed is shown which is applicable in the modification of the present invention which is shown in Figs.- 10 and 11. The

present formof agitator differs from that described and shown in Fi ure 12 in that theblades 94 and the opening 95 between said blades extend the entire length of the agitator instead'of being positioned only at the ends thereof. In an agitator so constructed the-pressure in the air tunnel 46 can be raised to a greater extent than would be pos sible with the, agitator constructed as disclosed in Figure 12. The beating and sweeping function of the agitator, as performed by the positive beaters and the brushes, is in no waychanged. v l

Having clearly disclosedand claimed the present invention and several of its desirable and preferred embodiments, I claim 1. In a suction cleaner a suctionl nozzle, means to draw air through said nozzle, a housing in said nozzle in communication with the exterior atmosphere and open to said nozzle on its under side and a pile penetrating lip adapted to extend between adjationed in said housing; v

6.In a suctlon 'cleaner a suction nozzle, means to draw air through said nozzle, a`

cent tufts and into a singletuft of pile formed thereon.

2. In a suction cleaner-a suction nozzle, means to draw air through said nozzle, a

longitudinally-extending housing in saidv nozzle 1n communication with the exterior atmosphere and having a longitudinal open.

ing on its lower side, and pile-penetrating lips of such thickness as to be able to extend between adjacent tufts of pile and into a single tuft of pile formed on said housing adjacent the sides of said opening.

In a suction cleaner, a casin including a nozzle, surface-contacting lips ening the mouth of said nozzle, means movably supporting said casing with said lips spaced above asurface covering, suction-creating means connected to and adapted to create a reduced pressure in said nozzle to effect the lifting of said surface covering into contact with' said lips and into said mouth between said lips, an air tunnel in said nozzle interiorl connected to atmosphere and to said nozz e and adapted to convey air into said nozzle in response to a reduced pressure existing therein, and surface-contacting means adapted to contact the portion of the lifted surface covering in said nozzle mouth and defining the opening of said air tunnel into said nozzle.

4. In a suction cleaner, a casin including a nozzle, surface-contacting lips efi'ning Vthe lifting of said surface covering into contact with said lips and into said mouth between said lips, an air tunnel in said nozzle interiorl-y connected to ,atmosphere and to said nozzle and adapted to convey air into said nozzle in response to a reduced pressure l existing therein, and surface-contacting pile penetrating lips adapted to contact the portion of the lifted surface covering in said nozzle mouth Aand deining'the openingof l said air tunnel'into said nozzle.

5. In a suction cleaner a suction nozzle, means to draw air through said'nozzle, a housing in said nozzle in communication with the exterior atmosphere and' open to said nozzle in substantially the plane of surface contact and a surface covering lagitator posihousing in said nozzle in communication with the exterior atmosphere and open to said nozzle in substantially the plane of surface contact, and a rotary agitator positioned in said housing and arranged'to contact the surface covering.,r undergoing cleaning.

7. In a-suction cleaner a fan chamber, a l

suction-creating fan in said chamber, a driving motor connected to said fan, a suction nozzle directly connected to said fan chamber, lips upon said nozzle, a rotary agitator in said nozzle, power transmission means connecting said agitator to said driving motor, a housing open to the exterior atmosphere enclosing said agitator and provided with a longitudinal opening and lips carried b said housing adjacent said opening and su stantally in the plane of said nozzle lips.

8. In a suction cleaner, a fan chamber, a suction-creating fan in said chamber, a driving motor connected to said fan, a suction nozzle directly connected to said fan chamber, lips upon said nozzle deiining the nozzle mouth, a rotary agitator in said nozzle, power transmission means connecting said agitator to said driving motor, a housing within said nozzle enclosing said agitator and provided with an opening substantially inthe plane of said nozzle lips, a depending and outwardly extending Wall in said nozzle closely enclosing an end portion of said housing at the top and sealing said portion from the mouth of said nozzle, said housing being formed with an inlet-opening in that portion sealed from the nozzle mouth, and the rear wall of said nozzle being provided with an opening connecting the inlet-opening of said housing to the exterior atmosphere.

9. In a suction cleaner a suction nozzle, means to draw air through said nozzle, a housing in said nozzle in communication with the exterior atmosphere and open to saidnozzle in substantially the plane of surface contact, and beating and sweeping means positioned in said housing and arranged to contact the surface covering undergoing cleaning.

10. In combination in a suction cleaner having a suction nozzle stationary. agitating means within said nozz e, means to direct the flow of cleaning air entering said nozzle under said stationary agitating means, and additional positively actuated agitating means in said nozzle.

11. In a suction cleaner, a casing `including a nozzle, surface-contacting lips defining the mouth of said nozzle, means movably supporting said casing with said lips spaced above a surface covering, suction-creating means connected to and adapted tocreate a reduced pressure in said nozzle to eect the lifting o said surface covering into contact with said lips and into said mouth between said lips, positively actuated surface covering' pile-deflecting means in saidnozzle adapte to contact theportion of the lifted covering in said nozzle mouth, and an air tunnel interiorl connected to atmosphere and o en toksai nozzle for theurpose of directmg cleaning air into the eilected pile of the surface covering undergoing cleaning.

12. In a suctlon cleaner a suction nozzle, means to draw air through said nozzle, a

housing in said nozzle -in communication with the exterior atmosphere and open to said nozzle in substantially the plane'of the nozzle lips, and positively actuated surface covering pile-deflecting means positioned in said housing comprising a rotar agitator having small-pitch spiral extensions upon the surface thereof.

13. In a suction cleaner a suction nozzle, meansto draw air through said nozzle, a housing in said nozzle in communication with the exterior atmosphere and open to said nozzle in substantially the plane of the nozzle lips, and positively actuated surface covering pile-delecting and positive-beating means positioned in said housing comprisin a rotary agitator having small-pitch spira extensions forming deflecting elements and large-pitch spiral extensions forming beating elements.

14. In a suction cleaner, a casing including a nozzle, surface-contacting lips defining the mouth of said nozzle, means movably supporting said casing with said lips spaced above a surface covering, suction-creating means connected to and adapted to create a reduced pressurel in said nozzle to effect the lifting of said surface covering into contacty with said lips and into said mouth between said lips, an air tunnel in said nozzle interiorly connected to atmosphere and to said nozzle and adapted to convey air into said nozzle in response to a reduced pressure existing therein, surface-contacting means adapted to con, tact the portion of the lifted surface covering in said nozzle mouth and defining the opening of said air tunnel into said nozzle, and means in said tunnel to increase the pressure therein above the atmosphere to increase the velocity of air flow from said tunnel into said nozzle.v

15. In a suction cleaner a suction nozzle having lips adapted to contact a surface covering undergoing cleanin means to create areduced pressure in sai nozzle, a housing in said no zzle connected to atmosphere and open to said nozzle in substantially the plane of the lips thereof, surface-contacting members on said housing defining the opening therein, a rotary agitator in said housing arranged to contact the surface covermg between the surface-contacting members thereon, and means to increase the pressure in said i housing above the atmosphere to increase the velocity of air flow from said housing into the nozzle under said surface-contacting members comprising a centrifugal fan formed in said agitator open to said housing at its high pressure point.

16. A suction cleaner comprising a suction nozzle, spaced surface-contacting lips defining the nozzle mouth, means to create a reduced pressure in said nozzle and to draw air therefrom, an air tunnel in said nozzle open thereto in substantially the plane of the nozzle mouth, an open-ended hollow rotary agitator mounted in said air tunnel and interiorly connected to the external atmosphere through the surrounding nozzle., and a centrifugal fan formed in said agitator open to and exhausting in said air tunnel to increase the pressure therein forthe purpose of increasing the velocity of the air How from said tunnel opening into said nozzle.

17. A suction cleaner comprising a nozzle, suction-creating means connected to said nozzle, broad-sealing lips on said nozzle adapted to contact the surface covering undergoing cleaning and substantially prevent the fiow of air therebetweeninto said nozzle, and an air tunnel positioned insaid nozzle connected intcriorly to the external atlnosphere and open to said nozzle in substantially the plane of the lips thereof, pile-penetrating lips carried by said tunnel defining the sides of the opening therein and adapted to contact the surface covering, and means to increase the pressure in said tunnel for the purpose of increasing the velocity of air fiow under said penetrating lips intothe nozzle.

18. A suction cleaner comprising a nozzle, suction-creating means connected to said nozzle, broad-sealing lips on said nozzle adapt- -ed to contact thesurfaee covering undergoing cleaning and substantially prevent the flow of air therebetween into said nozzle, and an air tunnel positioned in said nozzle connected interiorly to the external atmosphere said nozzle in substantially` the plane of the A broad sealing lips.

22. In a suction cleaner, a casing including a nozzle, surface-contacting lips defining the mouth of said nozzle, 'means movahly supporting said casing with said lips spaced above a surface covering, suction-creating means connected to and ladapted to create a reduced -pressure in said nozzle to effect the lifting of said surface covering into contact with saidlips and into said mouth between said lips. an elongated air tunnel in said nozzle interiorly connected thru top openings at its ends thru said nozzle to at- -mosphere and open to said nozzle thru an opening along its underside, and surfacecontaetmg means adapted to contact the portion of the hfted-surface covermg in said nozzle mouth and defining the sides of the opening of said air tunnel into said-nozzle. Signed at North Canton, in the'eounty of Stark and State of Ohio, this 26th day of November, A. D. 1930.

DONALD G. SMELLIE.

and open to said nozzle in substantially thev l plane of the lips thereof, pile-penetrating lips carried lby said tunnel defining the sides of the opening therein and adapted to contact the surface covering and means positioned in said tunnel to increase the pressure therein for the purpose of increasing the velocitv of an air How under said penetrating lips into said nozzle.

19. In a suction'cleaner, a suction nozzle having lips adapted to contact a surface covering undergoing cleaning, lmeans to create a reduced pressure in said nozzle, a housing in said nozzle, means to create a positive pressure in part of said housing, said housing being open to atmosphere at itsV point of low pressure and to the nozzle at its point and of high pressure, and a surface-contacting lip on said housing defining one side of the openin to said nozzle.

20. n a suction cleaner, a suction nozzle, a hou ing in said nozzle open to said nozzle anv agitator in said housing, andfmeans to produce a positive pressure in -said housing.

21. In a suction cleaner, a suction nozzle, broad-sealing lips carried by said nozzle, means to draw air through said nozzle, an

teriorly connected exteriorly thereof,

air tunnel in said nozzle in communication with the exterior atmosphere, and spaced surface contactingv pile penetrating lips

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