Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Patent
1991-04-03
1992-04-28
Moore, Chris K.
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
15395, A47L 536
Patent
active
051075687
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for cleaning air ducts in houses or buildings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. Nos. 1580294, 2078634, and 4800616 disclose air powered cleaning devices comprising a hose having a turbine attached thereto which is rotated by air for rotating a brush or other device for cleaning purposes. Netherlands patent No. 676.188 discloses a cleaning brush driven by an electric motor with a vacuum attachment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a cleaning apparatus which allows the thorough, yet gentle cleaning of small and/or fragile ducts in homes or buildings.
The apparatus comprises a flexible hose means having first and second ends with the second end being insertable into a duct for cleaning purposes. The flexible hose means provides an air flow path between said first and second ends. Drive means is provided having a rotatable shaft means. A flexible drive shaft extending at least partially through said flexible hose means has a first end coupled to said shaft means and a second end extending out of said second end of said flexible hose means for rotation with said shaft means. Brush means is coupled to said second end of said flexible drive shaft for rotation therewith for cleaning the wall of the air duct upon rotation of said flexible drive shaft.
In a further aspect, means coupled to said first end of said flexible hose means is provided for reducing the pressure within said flexible hose means for causing air to flow through said flexible hose means for removing dust and other material loosened in the air duct by said brush means.
In another aspect, the drive means is operated by air for rotating said shaft means.
In one embodiment a separate air source is provided for operating said drive means. In this embodiment, a tubular support member is coupled to said first end of said flexible hose means and said drive means is mounted to said tubular support member. The flexible drive shaft extends from said shaft means through the wall of said tubular support member to the interior of said flexible hose means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of components of one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates a blower coupled to the larger hose of the apparatus of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the mechanism for coupling the flexible drive shaft and its sleeve to the turbine shaft and to structure of the apparatus of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling means of FIG. 3 for coupling the flexible drive shaft to the turbine shaft.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling means of FIG. 3 for coupling the flexible drive shaft sleeve to structure of the turbine housing.
FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tubular support member of the apparatus of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the connection of the flexible drive shaft portion and the shaft of the air motor of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, the cleaning apparatus comprises a housing 21 which supports a turbine 23 for rotation. The turbine 23 comprises blades 25 attached to a shaft 27 which are supported for rotation in the housing 21. A flexible hose 29 has an end 29A coupled to the end 21A of the housing 21 and an end 29B coupled to a blower 31. A smaller diameter flexible hose 35 has an end 35A coupled to the end 21B of the housing 21 and a free end 35B adapted to be located in an air duct 41 for cleaning purposes. A flexible drive shaft 43 has an end 43A connected to the drive shaft 27 a rotation therewith. The drive shaft 43 extends through the hose 35 and projects beyond its free end 35B. A brush 51 is connected to the free end 43B of the drive shaft. In the preferred operation, the end 35B of the smaller diameter hose 35 and the brush 51 are inserted into the conduit 4I and the blower 31 is operated as
REFERENCES:
patent: 1580294 (1926-04-01), Gawley
patent: 2078634 (1937-04-01), Karlstrom
patent: 2351169 (1944-06-01), Weinland
patent: 4792363 (1988-12-01), Franklin et al.
patent: 4800616 (1989-01-01), Wade
Moore Chris K.
Steamatic, Inc.
Zobal Arthur F.
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