Universal nozzle with vibrator for both dry- and wet vacuum cleaning The invention relates to a nozzle for vacuum cleaning, which can be used in connection with both dry vacuum cleaning and wet vacuum cleaning of carpets , carpet linings, upholstered furniture, textiles and similar surfaces, after which the efficiency of the universal nozzle is improved by applying the textile surface a mechanical action in order to loosen impurities, which adhere to the bottom of carpet pile, for which reason these are difficult or impossible to extract by means of that vacuum, which it is possible to procure in a vacuum cleaner nozzle in usual way. As many impurities stick to the carpet pile, wherefore they have to be dissolved by water or a liquid detergent before they can be extracted, the vacuum cleaner nozzle is furthermore provided with a spray device for applying atomized liquid, supplied from a high pressure pump and container, placed in a vacuum cleaner which is connected to or built together with the nozzle.

The nozzle consists of a house with a pipe socket and a bot- tom plate, the center section of which forms a box-shaped cross section, transversely positioned in relation to the moving direction of the nozzle and mounted movable to the house, by means of two or more piston rods, which are lead- ed up through the top of the house and surrounded of exten- sion springs, fastened to the house and to the box-shaped part of the bottom plate, in such a way, these are kept to- gether mutual.

The up to now known nozzles for vacuum cleaners, provided with devices for applying carpets the said mechanical acti- on are mainly of that type, after which the nozzle is built together with the vacuum cleaner unit, often placed on the top of the nozzle unit and named as upright vacuum clea- ners. The mechanical treatment of the carpets is procured thereby, one or more, often one, of the build in brush cove- red cylindrical roller rotates round own axis and is driven by an air turbine or an electric motor. The said cylindri- cal rollers are typical eccentric suspended in relation to own axis of rotation. By the rotation is procured a vibra-

tion, which gives the carpet a mechanical knocking effect, the purpose of which is to make the vacuum cleaning more ef- ficient.

The surface of the brush roller may also be provided with an irregular surface to procure the same mechanical knocking effect on the carpet. Same type of mechanical action systems are also used in carrying outs where the rotating brush rol- lers are build in the vacuum cleaner nozzles, connected to a vacuum cleaner in usual way by pipes and hoses. Also va- cuum cleaner nozzles of the same type of construction are known, designed to be carried by hand for dust cleaning fur- niture and the like.

The disadvantage by these forms of motor driven, eccentric brushrollers are, they always are rotating in the same di- rection. By this hairs, threads and the like are wrapped a- round the rollers, whereafter these have to be cleaned manu- ally, which is difficult, takes time and is unhygiejnic. The driving parts consist typical of a motor with pulley and belt, which are worn out, have to be cleaned and maintained.

Usually is only one roller used, normally supplied with one or few rows of bristles, and as one roller only not is suf- ficient as bearing element, an upright vacuum cleaner has to be provided with further supporting or bearing rollers, which are without cleaning functions.

The construction of the mentioned forms of vacuum cleaners and nozzles, cause they are not suitable to apply liquid du- ring vacuum cleaning by means of one in the nozzle build in spray system, because applied liquid or detergent on a fast revolving brush will form an unacceptable mixture of water, hairs, lints and dirt. The consequence of this is, that if a user wants to do dry- and wet vacuum cleaning and for ex- ample at the same time spot-clean his carpet and furthermo- re wishes to use mechanical action at the same time, he has to purchase two or more different vacuum cleaners.

By the invention is provided an universal nozzle of the in the introduction mentioned nature which procures the descri- bed qualities.

The said qualities are obtained thereby, on the top side of the house of the vacuum cleaner nozzle is placed one or mo- re vibrators, the moving element of which is designed as a part of or built together with, one or more piston rods, fa- stened to, the in relation to the housing movable bottom plate with the box-shaped cross section, after which the said piston or pistons, by means of the vibrator or the vi- brators, procure a periodic alternating action, which alter- nate attract or repulse the house and the bottom plate in relation to each other, and after which the vibrations are procured by one, from the outside incoming resource of pul- sating power, arised from a source, typical placed in a va- cuum cleaner, connected to or built together with, the va- cuum cleaner nozzle.

In a form of carrying out is inside the box-shaped part of the bottom plate, placed a pipe parallel positioned with the underlying carpet, and provided with one or more nozzles or nozzle openings, with one or more vertical pipes and connecting pieces, connected to an outside resource of water or liquid detergents, preferably arised from a high pressure water system, placed in a vacuum cleaner, connected to or built together with, the vacuum cleaner nozzle.

In a form of carrying out, the vibrator is designed as an e- lectric driven magnetic vibrator, in which the piston rod, connected to the bottom plate, is designed as a part of, or built together with, the magnet core of the vibrator, and where the magnet coil of the vibrator is connected to a source of power, which is alternating current, according to which, the alternating change of polarity of the magnet coil procures the alternating attraction or repulsion of the hou- se and the bottom plate in relation to each other, with the same frequency as the alternating current.

In a form of carrying out, the source of power is frequent regulated alternating current, which might regulates the frequency of the vibrator from low frequency areas to high frequency areas, by means of a transducer with regulator of known construction.

In a form of carrying out the vibrator, which procures the periodical alternating forward and backwards movements, is designed as a hydraulic cylinder in which the piston rod is provided with a piston head, sliding inside the cylinder and driven one from outside comming source of high pressure wa- ter, which arises from the in the vacuum cleaner built in high pressure water system, which is designed for applying liquid to the underlaying carpet and which send the pulsa- ting source of high pressure water into the cylinder, out through the boring in the piston rod and the spray nozzle o- pening and where the cross section area of the said boring is so small in relation to the cross section area of the said piston head that a sufficient atomizing pressure in the spray nozzle is maintained.

In a form of carrying out, the vibrator is formed as an hy- draulic driven vibrator similar to the above desribed, but the piston head is provided with an opening, leading into the cavity in the piston head where the said opening is clo- sed by the valve and the spring placed inside in the cavity in the piston head and where the valve and the spring are so dimensioned, they keep the opening closed against the ap- plied alternating liquid pressure on the top of the piston head and where the power of the liquid source is controlled by a control device of known design making it possible to apply highpressure liquid on the top of the piston in two or more steps of power after which it is possible to do vacuum cleaning with vibrator action without applying liquid on the floor when putting the control device in the first step but also to do vacuum cleaning with vibrator action be- sides applying liquid on the floor when putting the control in the next step, after which the liquid pressure on the top

of the piston increase so much, the valve opens up and lets the liquid flow pass through the bore in the bottom of the cavity and the bore in the piston rod to the spray nozzle system and where a spring is placed between the underside of the piston head and the top side of the house. By this the operator may free of choice select between vacuum clea- ning with or without applying detergent on the floor. Is the control device provided with a third step, a special deter- gent may be added to the spray system from a container.

In a form of carrying out the vibrator is designed as a pneumatic cylinder with a piston, to be driven by one from the outside applied source of power of pulsating highpres- sure air, typical arising from electric driven vibrator pump in the vacuum cleaner, connected to or built together with the vacuum cleaner nozzle.

The invention is explained in the following with reference to the enclosed drawings on the figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Fig. 1 shows the vacuum cleaner nozzle in 3 pictures, Fig.1A, Fig.lB and Fig.1C. The nozzle consist of a house 1, connec- ted to a vacuum cleaner by tubes and hoses to the pipe soc- ket 2. The bottom plate 3 is in the center area designed as a box shaped cross section 4, transverse positioned in the moving direction of the nozzle, after the bottom plate ob- tains a greater stiffness and thereby ability to transfer the from the vibrator 6 transmitted vibrations without un- desired vibrations. The bottom plate 3 is provided with a bend down edge surrounding the perimeter of the house 1 gui- ding the bottom plate horizontal in relation to the house.

Vertical is the house and the bottom plate guided by the pi- stons 5 which is fastened to the bottom plate 3 at the box- shaped section 4 in the one end and the pistons 5 in the vi- brators 6 in the other end. The house and the bottom plate are kept together by the springs 20, placed round the piston rods 5 in such a way, the pistons are in top position when the vibrator is inactive. The bottom plate 3 is provided

with oblong slots, transversely positioned parallel with the front edge and the rear edge of the housing, through which the air can pass by as indicated by the arrows a, when it is extracted through the pipe socket 2 as shown by the arrow A.

In that in'fig shown form of carrying out, the vibrations are procured by means of magnet vibrators of known con- structions, in the main consisting of a magnet coil, connec- ted to a source of alternating current by the cable 7. When the house and the bottom plate are forced apart from each other, caused by the polarity of the vibrator, a clearance upon the top of the piston 5 appears, indicated by the di- stance S, similar to the stroke of the piston 5. When the alternating current is connected to a magnet vibrator by the cable 7, the piston 5 makes a periodical forward and back- ward movement, which is transmitted to house and buttom pla- te, such they oscillate, timing with the vibrations, alter- nately towards and against each other, indicated by the di- stance L, which is similar to the distance S.

By this the carpet underlay is applied a vibrating mechani- cal action which is transmitted by the whole surface of the bottom plate, causing the bOttom of the carpet in consi- derable degree, oscillates concurrent with the vibrations.

By this is achieved a more efficient mechanical action com- pared to the usual one-sided impact action from the top side of the carpet. The arised alternating current may be regula- ted regarding to amperage, voltage and frequency by means of apparatus of known construction. For instance the frequency may be increased by means of a transducer up to the high frequency field named ultrasound. By experience these have a very high ability to loosen sticking particles. Frequencies in this fields are not audible for the human hearing, which is an improvement.

In fig.2 is shown a form of carrying out of the vibrator 6, by which this is made respectively as a hydraulic or pneuma- tic driven vibrator, the effect of which is the same as the magnetic vibrator. The kabel 7 is substituted by a hose con-

necting, supplying the vibrator 6 with respectively water or air under pressure, arised from a hydraulic or a pneumatic vibrator pump, which supplies the vibrator with a periodical pulsating flow of water or air. By this the piston 5 toge- ther with the spring 20 cause the oscillating movement, which activates the housing and bottom plate.

In fig. 3 is shown a vertical cross section of the vibrator vacuum cleaner nozzle, in which this is built together with an universal vacuum cleaner nozzle, known from Danish Patent no. 167423. The vibrator 6 is an electrical driven magnetic vibrator. The house 1 with the pipe socket 2 is provided with a bottom plate 3, which surrounds the perimeter of the house in such a way, the two components are moveable verti- cal in relation to each other. The center section of the bottom plate has a box-shaped cross section 4 and is provi- ded with slots transverse positioned in relation to the moving direction of the vaccum cleaner nozzle.

The house and the bottom plate are kept together by inserted springs 20, placed surrounding the pistons 5. Inside the box-shaped part 4 of the bottom plate 3 is positioned a pi- pe 14 placed in a groove in the underside of the bottom pla- te and provided with spray nozzles or nozzle holes. The pipe is connected to the vertical entrance pipe 15 and the en- trance pipe socket 18. The entrance pipes are made of non- magnetic materials and carried through the piston 5 in the vibrator 6 placed on the top side of the housing 1. The ver- tical pipes are provided with threads and self-locking nuts with a movable washer, after which the house and the bottom plate are assembled. When the vibrator piston is positioned in lower position, the distance L between the house and bot- tom plate appears, which distance is equal to the distance S between the piston 5, identical with the magnetic core of the vibrator, and the vibrator housing. The in according to the above mentioned Danish Patent described cleaning rol- lers 9 with the axles 11 are fastened by the springs, which may be made of spring steel, and fastened to the box-shaped

part 4 of the bdttom plate 3. The in the patent described cleaning combs are shown at 12 and are working as described in the patent.

The combined vibrator and universal vacuum cleaner nozzle a- re by this working in the following way: The vacuum cleaner nozzle is connected to a vacuum cleaner which may be used for both dry vacuum cleaning and wet va- cuum cleaning, by the pipe socket 2. The air is extracted as shown by the arrow A and sucked in through the slots in the bottom plates and through the house, as indicated by the ar- rows a. The alternating current is connected by the cable 7, which can be activated by means of a contact, placed in the vacuum cleaner. By this is provided the above desribed me- chanical action of the carpet underlay 21 by means of the bottom plate 3, which especially is activating the bottom of the carpet due to the great surface of contact. At the same time, the carpet is affected by a mechanical knocking action from the cleaning rollers 9, as these are suspended in the spring steel wires 10.

Therefore, the rollers oscillate reverse in relation to the oscillation of the bottom plate and describe a sector of a circle with the fastening point as centre. The spring system of the cleaner nozzle is so dimensioned, the nozzle is free of the floor, when unloaded. Such it is decided by the user, the power of which the cleaning rollers have to be pressed against the carpet, after the demand. If the nozzle adheres to the carpet underlay, the user eases the pressure and the spring system rises the nozzle free of the carpet. Liquid for cleaning of the carpet underlay is injected, carried from a container and a pump, placed in the vacuum cleaner, through the connecting pipe 18, as indicated by the arrow B, through the pipes 15 and the nozzle pipe 14, fastened to the bottom plate 3 at 4. By this, the by pressure injected li- quid is, applied the pulsating effect from the vibrator, by which the ability of the liquid to loosen firm sticking dirt

is improved, the effect of which is known among others from the so-called pressurizedwater cleaners.

The above mentioned Danish Patent no. 167423 describes a de- vice, after which the said cleaning rollers might be made active or non-active by lowering or rising them, which gives the user four altenative forms of applicability, namely to use the vacuum cleaner nozzle as an ordinary nozzle by not activating the cleaning rollers and the vibrating system, by activating only the cleaning rollers, by activating only the vibrating system or by activating both the cleaning rollers and the vibrating system at the same time. As all the forms of activating may be used side by side, with or without ap- plying liquid on the surface, the numbers of applicability may be doubled to eight. The actuating lever for liquid pump and vibrator may be placed on the connected vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum cleaner nozzle can with advantage be built toge- ther with the vacuum cleaner cabinet, if this type of vacuum cleaner named as "up-right" model is prefered. Besides the above mentioned qualities, that improvement is obtained, the cleaning rollers work as carrying elements, after which the set of rear wheels can be saved.

In fig.4 is shown a form of carrying out of the vibrator 6, after which this is made as a hydraulic driven vibrator in which the power medium is that liquid, which is intended to be sprayed on the carpet, normally water possibly added a detergent. The pump installed for this purpose may be used, if dimensioned herefore. The figure shows a cross section of the vibrator and the vacuum cleaner nozzle with the house 1 and the bottom plate 3, as shown in fig.3 and working in the same way. The liquid supplied from the entrance socket 7 is carried to the cylinder house 21, placed on the top side of the housing 1. The piston 5, connected to the bottom pla- te3 , is in the top provided with a piston head 22, sliding inside in the cylinder housing 21. From the top side of the piston head 22 is carried a boring down to the spray nozzle opening 14. The area of the piston head is essential greater

than the area of the said boring, leading down to the spray nozzle opening 14, by which the driving thrust on the piston head only is reduced insignificant. When the pulsating flow of liquid is carried to the top of the cylinder, the piston due to the alternating highpressure and lowpressure influ- ence makes the described pulsating movement of the stroke S.

By this the desired vibration of the bottom plate 3 is ob- tained. The spring 20 between house and bottom plate can be made as an extension spring, which keeps these together, af- ter which the piston is in top position, when unloaded.

In fig.5 is shown a form of carrying out of the vibrator 6 similar to the form shown in fig.4, but after which the pi- ston head 22 is provided with an opening, leading into the cavity 25, and where the said opening is closed by the valve 23 and the spring 24, placed inside the cavity 25 in the pi- ston head 22. The valve, which could be a seat valve, and its spring, are so dimensioned, they keep the opening closed aginst the alternating liquid pressure on the top of the pi- ston head. The source of liquid is controlled by a control device of known design, which makes it possible to the ope- rator to apply the highpressure liquid to the top of the pi- ston in two or more steps of power. If the operator wants to do vacuum cleaning using the vibrator only, he puts the con- trol device in the first step, which supplies the vibrator with sufficient power to produce the alternating vibrations of the piston, but not sufficient to open the valve 23. If the operator besides use of vibrator also wants to apply li- quid on the floor, he puts the control device in the next step, which increases the power of liquid pressure suffici- ent to open the valve 23, whereafter the liquid at high pressure flows out of the bore in the bottom of the cavity and through the piston rod 5 to be atomized through the li- quid spray nozzle system 14. The spring 20, keeping the hou- se 1 and the bottom plate 3 together, is in this form of carrying out placed between the piston head 22 and the top of the house 1. The piston rod 5 might be protected by a sleeve 26 with a gasket 27.