Power-propelled suction cleaner

Claim 2

In a reversible transmission having rotatably mounted, spaced-apart, input and output shafts, the improvement comprising first and second power takeoff members positioned in axially spaced-apart relation on said input shaft for rotation relative thereto, clutch means positioned on said input shaft between said power takeoff means and unitarily rotatable with such shaft, first drive means connecting said first power takeoff member with said output shaft and providing for application of torque tending to rotate the latter in one direction upon application of torque to said first power takeoff member tending to produce rotation thereof in a predetermined direction, second drive means connecting said second power takeoff member with said output shaft and providing for application of torque tending to rotate the latter in the opposite direction upon application of torque to said second power takeoff member tending to produce rotation thereof in said predetermined direction, and means for selectively shifting said clutch means into engagement with either said first or second power takeoff member to selectively transfer torque from said input shaft to said output shaft through said clutch means and through either said first or second power takeoff member and its connected drive means.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 wherein said drive means is enclosed in a housing, wherein said input and output shafts are rotatably mounted in said housing in spaced, side-by-side relation, wherein said housing comprises first and second portions removably secured together in axially spaced relation, with said first housing portion in part enclosing said first drive means and with said second housing portion in part enclosing said second drive means, and wherein said housing further comprises a third portion intermediate said first and second housing portions and removably secured thereto for spacing purposes, said clutch means and said power takeoff members being disposed intermediate said first and second housing portions and outside said third housing portion thereby separating said clutch means and said power takeoff members from said drive means.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 1 wherein said clutch means provides opposed friction surfaces engageable with respective power takeoff members, wherein a nonrotatable force-applying member is interposed between said clutch means surfaces, and wherein antifriction thrust bearings are interposed between said force-applying member and respective clutch means surfaces.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 3 wherein said force-applying member is a disc with opposed, radially outwardly projecting ears each having opposed, flat thrust faces, wherein an actuator is pivoted adjacent said input shaft and has spaced arms adjacent respective member ears aforesaid, wherein said actuator arms are longitudinally slotted to receive such respective member ears, and wherein said actuator arm slots are in part defined by opposed, rounded abutments intermediate said actuator arm slot ends for engagement with adjacent thrust faces of respective force-applying member ears.

Claim 6

In a revErsible transmission having rotatably mounted, spaced-apart, input and output shafts, the improvement comprising power takeoff means comprising a pair of power takeoff members positioned on one of said shafts in axially spaced-apart relation, first drive means connecting said first power takeoff member with said other shaft, second drive means connecting said second power takeoff member with said other shaft, clutch means positioned on said one shaft between said power takeoff members, said clutch means and said power takeoff members having facing, complementary friction surfaces and one of said clutch means and said power takeoff means being fixed for unitary rotation with said one shaft but being axially shiftable relative thereto and the other of said clutch means and said power takeoff means being freely rotatable on said one shaft, means for effecting axial movement of said one of the aforesaid power takeoff and clutch means to frictional engagement with the other to provide for the transfer of torque therebetween. and a housing supporting said input and output shafts and having spaced arm portions with said one shaft extending therebetween, such housing arm portions at least in part enclosing respective first and second drive means, and said power takeoff members and said clutch means being disposed exteriorly of said housing between said spaced arm portions thereof.

Claim 7

In a revErsible transmission having rotatably mounted, spaced-apart, input and output shafts, the improvement comprising power takeoff means comprising a pair of power takeoff members positioned on one of said shafts in axially spaced-apart relation, first drive means connecting said first power takeoff member with said other shaft, second drive means connecting said second power takeoff member with said other shaft, clutch means positioned on said one shaft between said power takeoff members, said clutch means and said power takeoff members having facing, complementary friction surfaces and one of said clutch means and said power takeoff means being fixed for unitary rotation with said one shaft but being axially shiftable relative thereto and the other of said clutch means and said power takeoff means being freely rotatable on said one shaft, means for effecting axial movement of said one of the aforesaid power takeoff and clutch means to frictional engagement with the other to provide for the transfer of torque therebetween. and a housing supporting said input and output shafts and having spaced arm portions with said one shaft extending therebetween, such housing arm portions at least in part enclosing respective first and second drive means, and said power takeoff members and said clutch means being disposed exteriorly of said housing between said spaced arm portions thereof.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 wherein said input shaft has projection means extending substantially radially therefrom between said first and second power takeoff member, said clutch means having circumferentially spaced-apart ear means thereon for receiving said projection means therebetween, said projection means engaging said ear means to continuously transfer torque from said input shaft to said clutch means through said projection means and said ear means.