Diverter valve for vacuum cleaner apparatus

• US 5,355,549 A
• Filed: 03/13/1992
• Issued: 10/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amway Corporation (Alticor Incorporated), Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Amway Corporation (Alticor Incorporated), Bissell Inc.
• Inventors: Steinberg, Gary, Rosendall, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US07/850,679
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 15/331, 15/334, 15/335, 15/339
• US Class Current: 15/334
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24

Abstract

A vacuum diverter valve for a vacuum cleaner is located in a generally cylindrical valve housing with a vacuum outlet and first and second inlets circumferentially placed thereabout. The valve slideably engages the valve housing, and an interior wall on the valve defines a passage to allow communication between the vacuum outlet, and the first inlet or second inlet, or combination thereof. The valve is preferably formed with a clear plastic outboard endwall for viewing.

Claims

1. A diverter valve assembly for a vacuum cleaner with suction creating means, a floor cleaning member for carrying dirty air from a floor surface, and an accessory cleaning member for carrying dirty air from an off-floor surface, comprising:

a vacuum cleaner housing defining a cylindrical shaped cavity therein, a vacuum outlet orifice communicating with the suction creating means, located generally tangential to the cavity and in a first quadrant of said cavity,

a first orifice communicating with the floor cleaning member, located generally normal to the cavity and in a second quadrant of said cavity,

a second orifice communicating with the accessory cleaning member, located generally tangential to the cavity and in a third quadrant of said cavity, and

a post affixed to the housing, extending into the cylindrical shaped cavity and parallel to the axis of the cylindrical shaped cavity, said post located between said vacuum cleaner housing and said cavity axis, about 180 degrees from said vacuum outlet orifice;

a clear plastic substantially cylindrical valve member having a centered cylindrical hole extending axially through inboard and outboard axial end walls, and an arcuate slot in said inboard end wall of said valve member adapted to receive said post therein, said valve member being slidably received in said housing cavity with said post received in the arcuate slot to allow for limited rotation of said member with respect to said housing,

said valve member further defining an arcuate cavity open along the circumference of said member, with said axial end walls corresponding to the bases of said member, and an interior generally planar wall,

said member having a flange extending from one base thereof and defining an annular recess therein with said recess opening toward the other base of said valve member;

an annular gasket received in said flange annular recess; and

removable attachment means for rotatably retaining said cylindrical member within the housing cavity, whereby the member may be rotated with respect to the housing and allow the vacuum outlet orifice to effectively communicate with the first and second orifice.

2. A diverter valve assembly for routing airflow in a vacuum cleaner as between a floor cleaning mode of operation and an accessory mode of operation, comprising:

a generally cylindrical-shaped valving member having an axis, a circumferential sidewall, an inboard axial endwall, an outboard axial endwall, and an interior wall extending between said endwalls in a general plane generally parallel to said axis, said interior wall with said endwalls defining an axially cross-sectioned cylinder-shaped passage through said valving member which has an opening radially outwardly above said interior wall wherein said inboard endwall has an arcuate channel formed therein,

a valving member housing in said vacuum cleaner within which said valving member is mounted for rotation about said axis, said valving member housing having an interior sidewall generally conforming to the shape of said valving member circumferential sidewall, and having formed therethrough a suction outlet orifice, a first inlet orifice and a second inlet orifice, said first and second inlet orifices respectively communicating with conduits to a floor cleaning member and an accessory member, said valving member housing including a post received within said arcuate channel in said inboard endwall, said post cooperating with said arcuate channel and constituting a stop to the rotation of said valving member at such point where said passage for airflow is aligned between said suction outlet orifice and one of said first or second inlet orifices;

said valving member when rotated within said housing selectively aligning said passage for airflow between said suction outlet orifice and one or both of said first and second inlet orifices, and

removable attachment means for rotatably retaining said valving member within said valving member housing, whereby said valving member may be readily removed and cleaned.

3. A diverter valve assembly for routing airflow in a vacuum cleaner as between a floor cleaning mode of operation and an accessory mode of operation, comprising:

a generally cylindrical-shaped valving member having an axis, a circumferential sidewall, an inboard axial endwall, an outboard axial endwall, and an interior wall extending between said endwalls in a general plane generally parallel to said axis, said interior wall with said endwalls defining an axially cross-sectioned cylinder-shaped passage through said valving member which has an opening radially outwardly above said interior wall wherein said inboard endwall has an arcuate channel formed therein,

a valving member housing in said vacuum cleaner within which said valving member is mounted for rotation about said axis, said valving member housing having an interior sidewall generally conforming to the shape of said valving member circumferential sidewall, and having formed therethrough a suction outlet orifice, a first inlet orifice and a second inlet orifice, said first and second inlet orifices respectively communicating with conduits to a floor cleaning member and an accessory member, said valving member housing including a post received within said arcuate channel in said inboard endwall, said post cooperating with said arcuate channel and constituting a stop to the rotation of said valving member at such point where said passage for airflow is aligned between said suction outlet orifice and one of said first or second inlet orifices, wherein said inboard endwall includes detents extending into said arcuate channel adjacent opposite ends thereof, said detents cooperating with said post to releasably secure said valving member in place at either of said opposite ends;

said valving member when rotated within said housing selectively aligning said passage for airflow between said suction outlet orifice and one or both of said first and second inlet orifices, and

removable attachment means for rotatably retaining said valving member within said valving member housing, whereby said valving member may be readily removed and cleaned.

4. A diverter valve assembly for routing airflow in a vacuum cleaner as between a floor cleaning mode of operation and an accessory mode of operation, comprising:

a generally cylindrical-shaped valving member having an axis, a circumferential sidewall, an inboard axial endwall, an outboard axial endwall, and an interior wall extending between said endwalls in a general plane generally parallel to said axis, said interior wall with said endwalls defining an axially cross-sectioned cylinder-shaped passage through said valving member which has an opening radially outwardly above said interior wall wherein said inboard endwall has an arcuate channel formed therein,

a valving member housing in said vacuum cleaner within which said valving member is mounted for rotation about said axis, said valving member housing having an interior sidewall generally conforming to the shape of said valving member circumferential sidewall, and having formed therethrough a suction outlet orifice, a first inlet orifice and a second inlet orifice, said first and second inlet orifices respectively communicating with conduits to a floor cleaning member and an accessory member, said valving member housing including a post received within said arcuate channel in said inboard endwall, said post cooperating with said arcuate channel and constituting a stop to the rotation of said valving member at such point where said passage for airflow is aligned between said suction outlet orifice and one of said first or second inlet orifices, wherein said inboard endwall includes detents extending into said arcuate channel adjacent opposite ends thereof, said detents cooperating with said post to releasably secure said valving member in place at either of said opposite ends;

said valving member when rotated within said housing selectively aligning said passage for airflow between said suction outlet orifice and one or both of said first and second inlet orifices, wherein said first and second inlet orifices are located about 150 degrees apart, and

removable attachment means for rotatably retaining said valving member within said valving member housing, whereby said valving member may be readily removed and cleaned.