Patent US3872540A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3872540A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sweeper pickup head
Assignee: Clarke Gravely Corp
•
Filing: 1973-08-07
•
Granted: 1975-03-25
•
Expires: 1993-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A sweeper having an air-assist pickup head in which the exhaust chamber is bounded on three sides by a secondary exhaust chamber. A primary exhaust line extends from the primary exhaust chamber to a debris collecting plenum. A secondary exhaust line extends from the secondary exhaust chamber and joins the primary exhaust line through a small orifice located just ahead of the debris plenum. The secondary exhaust chamber is completely bounded by walls which extend to the surface being cleaned so that the secondary chamber is reasonably well sealed both from the primary exhaust chamber and from the atmosphere. When the pickup head passes over deviations in the surface being cleaned, however, air and dust leaking out through such deviations from the primary exhaust chamber are captured within the secondary exhaust chamber and exhausted to the debris plenum. Air is recirculated from the debris plenum to the pickup head through an air delivery line. A portion of the recirculated air is bled off from the air delivery line through a filter positioned above the pickup head. A chute extends from the filter housing to the pickup head so that collected dust can be shaken off of the filter element downwardly into the pickup head.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas S Block
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:06
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L9/00; A47L9/20; A47L11/00; A47L11/24; A47L11/40; A47L5/00; A47L5/12; A47L5/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A surface cleaning apparatus including a pickup head, said apparatus comprising: said pickup head having a first chamber and a second chamber, said second chamber being adjacent said first chamber; said first chamber being open at the bottom; air delivery means in flow communication with said first chamber of said first and second chambers only; air exhaust means in flow communication with said first chamber; said second chamber being open at the bottom and including sealing means at the periphery of said second chamber for generally sealing said second chamber from said first chamber and from the atmosphere when said pickup head is in an operative position whereby the flow of air through said second chamber is normally minimal; a secondary exhaust line operably joining said second chamber to said exhaust means at a point substantially downstream from said first chamber whereby when saiD pickup head passes over a deviation in the surface being cleaned, air and dust escaping out of said first chamber are generally captured in said second chamber and exhausted through said secondary exhaust line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A surface cleaning apparatus including a pickup head, said apparatus comprising: said pickup head having a first chamber and a second chamber, said second chamber being adjacent said first chamber; said first chamber being open at the bottom; air delivery means in flow communication with said first chamber of said first and second chambers only; air exhaust means in flow communication with said first chamber; said second chamber being open at the bottom and including sealing means at the periphery of said second chamber for generally sealing said second chamber from said first chamber and from the atmosphere when said pickup head is in an operative position whereby the flow of air through said second chamber is normally minimal; a secondary exhaust line operably joining said second chamber to said exhaust means at a point substantially downstream from said first chamber whereby when saiD pickup head passes over a deviation in the surface being cleaned, air and dust escaping out of said first chamber are generally captured in said second chamber and exhausted through said secondary exhaust line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including: said exhaust means including a primary exhaust line in flow communication with a blower; said secondary exhaust line being operably connected to said primary exhaust line at a point substantially downstream from the juncture of said primary exhaust line with said first chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 2 comprising: a plenum chamber for collecting debris; said primary exhaust line exhausting into said plenum chamber; said secondary exhaust line being joined to said primary exhaust line just ahead of said plenum chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 3 comprising: said secondary exhaust line being of a sufficiently large diameter that air flows relatively easily theretrhough; said secondary exhaust line being joined to said primary exhaust line through an orifice, said orifice being of a smaller diameter than the diameter of said secondary exhaust line whereby dilution of the exhausting force through said primary exhaust line is minimized and whereby just enough exhausting force is maintained in said second chamber to effect dust control when said pickup head passes over deviations in the surface being cleaned.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which said secondary exhaust line is joined to said primary exhaust line through an orifice whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of said secondary exhaust line; the ratio of the diameter of said secondary exhaust line to the diameter of said orifice being approximately 3 to 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which the diameter of said secondary exhaust line is approximately 3 inches and the diameter of said orifice is approximately 1 inch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which the ratio of the diameter of said primary exhaust line to said orifice is approximately 6 to 1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 in which the diameter of said primary exhaust line is approximately 6 inches, the diameter of said secondary exhaust line is approximately 3 inches and the diameter of said orifice is approximately 1 inch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which said second chamber bounds said first chamber on three sides of said first chamber; said first chamber being closed at the front by a generally flexible flap whereby said first chamber is generally sealed with respect to the atmosphere but whereby debris can pass into said first chamber underneath said generally flexible flap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 in which said second chamber includes a rear portion at the rear of said first chamber and a side portion at each of the sides of said first chamber; said secondary exhaust line being joined to said second chamber generally at the center of the rear portion of said second chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus according to claim 10 in which said side portions of said second chamber comprise a pair of plates joined to the opposite sides of a generally U-shaped spacer, one of said plates including an aperture therein whereby said side portions of said second chamber communicate with said rear portion thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said air delivery means includes a slot in said first chamber through which air is delivered, said slot being positioned immediately adjacent said rear portion of said second chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus of claim 2 comprising: said secondary exhaust line being of a sufficiently large diameter that air flows relatively easily therethrough; said secondary exhaust line being joined to said primary exhaust line through an orifice, said orifice being of a smaller diameter than the diameter of said secondary exhaust line whereby dilution of the exhausting force through said primary exhaust line is minimized and whereby just enough exhausting force maintained in said second chamber to effEct dust control when said pickup head passes over deviations in the surface being cleaned.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which said secondary exhaust line is joined to said primary exhaust line through an orifice whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of said secondary exhaust line; the ratio of the diameter of said secondary exhaust line to the diameter of said orifice being approximately 3 to 1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 14 in which the ratio of the diameter of said primary exhaust line to said orifice is approximately 6 to 1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 in which the diameter of said primary exhaust line is approximtely 6 inches, the diameter of said secondary exhaust line is approximately 3 inches and the diameter of said orifice is approximately one inch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said second chamber bounds said first chamber on three sides of said first chamber; said first chamber eing closed at the front by a gnerally flexible flap whereby said first chamber is generally sealed with respect to the atmosphere but whereby debris can pass into said first chamber underneath said generally flexible flap.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said air delivery means includes an air delivery line connected with said pickup head; a bleed-off line joined to said air delivery line for bleeding of a portion of the air passing through said air delivery line beofre it reaches said pickup head; a filter on said bleed-off line, said filter being positioned above said pickup head; a chute joining said filter with said pickup head whereby dust collected in said filter can fall down through said chute into said pickup head.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which said apparatus includes means for shaking said filter whereby dust which has collected therein can be loosened by shaking so that it falls downwardly through said chute into said pickup head.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said air delivery means includes an aperture in said first chamber through which air is delivered, said aperture being positioned immediately adjacent said second chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
213 words
A surface cleaning apparatus including a pickup head, said surface cleaning apparatus comprising: said pickup head including first and second chambers; said first chamber having peripheral wall means generally enclosing said first chamber, said first chamber being open at the bottom; air delivery means in flow communication with said first chamber of said first and second chambers only for delivering air under pressure into said first chamber; exhaust means in flow communication with said first chamber for exhausting air, duct and the like therefrom; said second chamber being adjacent said first chamber; said second chamber being open at the bottom and having peripheral wall means extending around the entire periphery thereof and extending downwardly generally to the surface being cleaned when said pickup head is in an operative position for generally sealing said second chamber from said first chamber and from the atmosphere whereby the flow of air through said second chamber is normally minimal; a secondary exhaust line operably connecting said second chamber with said exhaust means at a point substantially downstream from said first chamber whereby when said pickup head passes over a deviation in the surface being cleaned, air and dust escaping out of said first chamber are generally captured in second chamber and exhausted through said secondary exhaust line.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
213 words
A surface cleaning apparatus including a pickup head, said surface cleaning apparatus comprising: said pickup head including first and second chambers; said first chamber having peripheral wall means generally enclosing said first chamber, said first chamber being open at the bottom; air delivery means in flow communication with said first chamber of said first and second chambers only for delivering air under pressure into said first chamber; exhaust means in flow communication with said first chamber for exhausting air, duct and the like therefrom; said second chamber being adjacent said first chamber; said second chamber being open at the bottom and having peripheral wall means extending around the entire periphery thereof and extending downwardly generally to the surface being cleaned when said pickup head is in an operative position for generally sealing said second chamber from said first chamber and from the atmosphere whereby the flow of air through said second chamber is normally minimal; a secondary exhaust line operably connecting said second chamber with said exhaust means at a point substantially downstream from said first chamber whereby when said pickup head passes over a deviation in the surface being cleaned, air and dust escaping out of said first chamber are generally captured in second chamber and exhausted through said secondary exhaust line.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 21 including: said exhaust means including a primary exhaust line in flow communication with a blower; said secondary exhaust line being operably connected to said primary exhaust line at a point substantially downstream from the juncture of said primary exhaust line with said first chamber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 22 comprising: a plenum chamber for collecting debris; said primary exhaust line exhausting into said plenum chamber; said secondarY exhaust line being joined to said primary exhaust line just ahead of said plenum chamber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 23 comprising: said secondary exhaust line being of a sufficiently large diameter that air flows relatively easily therethrough; said secondary exhaust line being joined to said primary exhaust line through an orifice, said orifice being of a smaller diameter than the diameter of said secondary exhaust line whereby dilution of the exhausting force through said primary exhaust line is minimized and whereby just enough exhausting force is maintained in said second chamber to effect dust control when said pickup head passes over deviations in the surface being cleaned.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 24 in which said second chamber bounds said first chamber on three sides of said first chamber; said first chamber being closed at the front by a generally flexible flap whereby said first chamber is generally sealed with respect to the atmosphere but whereby debris can pass into said first chamber underneath said generally flexible flap.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 21 in which said second chamber bounds said first chamber on both sides and the rear of said first chamber; said first chamber being closed at the front by a generally flexible flap whereby said first chamber is generally sealed with respect to the atmosphere but whereby debris can pass into said first chamber underneath said generally flexible flap.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 26 in which said air delivery means includes a slot in said first chamber through which air is delivered, said slot being positioned immediately adjacent said rear portion of said second chamber.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 21 in which said air delivery means includes an air delivery line connected with said pickup head; a bleed-off line joined to said air delivery line for bleeding off a portion of the air passing through said air delivery line before it reaches said pickup head; a filter on said bleed-off line, said filter being positioned above said pickup head; a chute joining said filter with said pickup head whereby dust collected in said filter can fall down through said chute into said pickup head.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 28 in which said apparatus includes means for shaking said filter whereby dust which has collected therein can be loosened by shaking so that it falls downwardly through said chute into said pickup head.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 21 in which said air delivery means includes an aperture in said first chamber through which air is delivered, said aperture being positioned immediately adjacent said second chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |