Vacuum driven tool

• US 4,589,161 A
• Filed: 08/08/1985
• Issued: 05/20/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LaSalle National Bank (Bank of America Corp.)
• Original Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kochte, Werner W., Nimon, Susan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Chris K.
• Application Number:
  US06/763,813
• Time in Patent Office: 285 Days
• Field of Search: 15/371, 15/372, 15/385, 15/387
• US Class Current: 15/372
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0416 driven by fluid pressure, e.g. by means of an air turbine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0455 Bearing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0472 Discs

Abstract

A rotary brush vacuum sweeper having a directly coupled disc brush and turbine wheel. The disc brush floats axially within the sweeper housing to control brush force and is in telescopic relation with rearward motor components to promote favorable air flow characteristics. Hollow space between the disc brush and turbine wheel is continuously purged of dirt and debris by ambient air passing through an associated internal circuit.

Claims

1. A vacuum rotary sweeper comprising a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, a rotating unit including a rotary brush supported on a central shaft in the housing adjacent the inlet for rotation about the axis of the shaft, a turbine wheel rotatably supported on the shaft in the housing for rotation about said shaft axis, means rotationally coupling the brush to the turbine wheel, the housing having an interior peripheral surface area encircling a portion of the turbine wheel and forming a portion of an annular flow passage for air passing between the inlet and outlet, a stator disposed about said shaft axis, an end bearing supported on the housing on a side thereof opposite said inlet, said end bearing having an end wall surface for supportinig end thrust and a sidewall surface for supporting radial loads, a bearing in said stator for supporting radial loads, said shaft having a spherical end portion for operation in said end bearing, said spherical end portion allowing said shaft to self-align with said end bearing and permitting said rotating unit carrying said shaft to be readily removed and replaced from and into said housing by movement in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the shaft.

2. An implement including a housing and a rotating unit, the housing surrounding a space for receiving the rotating unit and having an opening at one side thereof, the rotating unit being adapted to pass through the opening from and to the receiving space for inspection and reinstallation, an end bearing supported on the housing at a side opposite said opening, said end bearing having an end wall surface for supporting end thrust and a sidewall surface for supporting radial loads, the rotating unit including a shaft having a rotational axis, a stator disposed about said shaft axis, means for holding said stator stationary with respect to said housing, a bearing on said stator for supporting radial loads, the shaft being supported for rotation by said bearings, means in said housing for imparting rotation to said shaft in said bearings, said shaft having a spherical end portion for operation in said end bearing, said spherical end portion allowing said shaft to self-align with said end bearing and permitting said rotating unit carrying said shaft to be readily removed and replaced from and into said housing by movement in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the shaft.

3. An implement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said stator is assembled on said shaft and is removable from said housing with said rotating unit.

4. An implement as set forth in claim 2, wherein said rotating unit includes peripherally arranged turbine blades, said blades providing said rotation imparting means.

5. An implement as set forth in claim 4, including a flow path for air passing through said blades, said housing forming a portion of said flow path.

6. An implement as set forth in claim 5, wherein said flow path communicates with said opening in said housing.

7. An implement as set forth in claim 6, wherein said housing includes an outlet adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum for drawing air through said flow path.