HOSE COUPLING DEVICE, MOP SUCTION DEVICE, ELECTRIC VACUUM CLEANER, AND BALL VALVE

• US 20150201818A1
• Filed: 07/11/2013
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawamura Keiichi
• Original Assignee: Kawamura Keiichi
• Inventors: Kawamura, Keiichi
• Granted Patent: US 9,863,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/502 Shakers for dust-cloths or mops; Bumpers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0052 Containers for cleaning articles by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0057 Suction cleaners adapted for cleaning of brushes shakers for dust-cloths or mops A47L13/502
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0072 Mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0876 one connecting conduit having the same axis as the spindle
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/607 characterised by particular material, by special measures to obtain aesthetical effects, or by auxiliary functions, e.g. storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86863 Rotary valve unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86871 Plug
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9029 With coupling

Abstract

[Object] To significantly increased the convenience in suctioning dust on a mop with use of a negative pressure of an electric vacuum cleaner.

[Solution] A hose coupling device 10 includes a connecting pipe 14, a branch pipe 15, a ball valve 40. The connecting pipe 14 has openings, one of the openings configured as a first inlet 31 and another one of the openings configured as an outlet 33 communicating with the one of the openings. The branch pipe 15 continues from a lateral surface of the connecting pipe 14 and has an opening configured as a second inlet 32. The ball valve 40 is arranged in a valve box 35 at which the connecting pipe 14 and the branch pipe 15 communicate such that the ball valve 40 is rotatable about a rotation axis corresponding to an axis of the branch pipe 15 while the ball valve 40 remains in contact with an inner wall of the valve box 35. The ball valve 40 includes a first sidewall 41, a second sidewall 42, a third sidewall 43 facing the branch pipe 15, a through hole 45, and a communicating groove 46 extending from the third sidewall 43 to the second sidewall 42. The ball valve 40 is configured to rotate about the rotation axis between a first communicating position to connect the first inlet 31 to the outlet 33 via the through hole 46 and a second communicating position to connect the second inlet 32 to the outlet 33 via the communicating groove 46.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A hose coupling device comprising:

a hollow connecting pipe having openings at ends, respectively, one of the openings being configured as a first inlet, another one of the openings being configured as an outlet communicating with the one of the openings;

a branch pipe continuing from a lateral surface of the connecting pipe and having an opening configured as a second inlet; and

a rotary valve having a spherical shape and arranged in a valve box at which the first inlet of the connecting pipe and the second inlet of the branch pipe communicate such that the rotary valve is rotatable about a rotation axis corresponding to an axis of the branch pipe while the rotary valve remains in contact with an inner wall of the valve box, wherein

the rotary valve includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall facing the branch pipe, a through hole, a communicating groove extending from the third sidewall to the second sidewall, a rotary valve rib that extends from a portion facing the branch pipe in an axial direction of the branch pipe and along an edge of the communicating groove, and

the rotary valve is configured to rotate about the rotation axis between a first communicating position to connect the first inlet to the outlet via the through hole and a second communicating position to connect the second inlet to the outlet via the communicating groove with the first sidewall faced toward the first inlet, the second sidewall faced toward the outlet, and the rotary valve rib pushed in a direction about the axis of the branch pipe.

13. The hose coupling device according to claim 12, wherein

when the first inlet is connected to the outlet, a first communicating channel is formed,

when the second inlet is connected to the outlet, a second communicating channel is formed, through which the second inlet and the outlet are in communication with each other, and

the first communicating channel is separated from the second communicating channel by the inner wall of the rotary valve to be independent of each other.

14. The hose coupling device according to claim 12, wherein the rotary valve is configured to rotate at different angles to adjust a flow rate from the first inlet to the outlet at the first communicating position and a flow rate from the second inlet to the outlet at the second communicating position.

15. The hose coupling device according to claim 12, wherein the branch pipe is a first branch pipe, the hose coupling device further comprising a second branch pipe continuing from a lateral surface of the connecting pipe and having an opening configured as a third inlet, wherein

the rotary valve includes a fourth sidewall located on an opposite side of the through hole from the third sidewall and facing the second branch pipe.

16. The hose coupling device according to claim 15, wherein

the communicating groove extends from the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall to the second sidewall, and

the second inlet and the third inlet are connected to the outlet via the communicating groove at the second communicating position.

17. The hose coupling device according to claim 15, wherein the branch pipe is a first branch pipe and the communicating groove is a first communicating groove, the hose coupling device further comprising a second branch pipe continuing from a lateral surface of the connecting pipe and having an opening configured as a third inlet, wherein

the second inlet is connected to the outlet via one of the first communicating groove and the second communicating groove at the second communicating position.

18. A mop suction device comprising a tubular cleaning portion including a connecting pipe rotatably coupled to the branch pipe of the hose coupling device according to claim 12, wherein

the cleaning portion includes opening portions at ends of a tubular peripheral wall, and

the opening portions each extending toward a middle portion of the peripheral wall with a curve and spread outward at an inner peripheral edge thereof.

19. The mop suction device according to claim 18, wherein

the peripheral wall of the cleaning portion has a slit in a lateral surface, the slit extending from one of openings to another one of the openings, and the mop suction device further comprising a flexible cover fixed to the cleaning portion so as to cover the slit.

20. An electric vacuum cleaner comprising:

a hose; and

the hose coupling device according to claim 12, the hose coupling device being attached to a hose coupling portion of the hose.

21. A rotary valve having a spherical shape, the rotary valve comprising:

a through hole running through the ball valve;

a first sidewall;

a second sidewall located on an opposite side of the through hole from the first sidewall;

a third sidewall;

a fourth sidewall adjoining to the first sidewall and the second sidewall and located on an opposite side of the through hole from the third sidewall; and

at least one of a communicating groove extending from the third sidewall to the second sidewall, a communicating groove extending from the fourth sidewall to the second sidewall, and a communicating groove extending from the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall to one of the second sidewall and the first sidewall.