US2449997A - Convertible suction cleaner with agitator drive disengaging means - Google Patents

Description

pt. 28, 1948. P. T. HAHN E'I'AL 2,449,997

. CONVERTIBLE SUCTION CLEANER WITH AGITATOR DRIVE DISENGAGING MEANS Filed May 3, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOD. ?ul 77/74/7 7. By eqr ge 7f Cass.

Sept. 28, 1948 P. T. HAHN EI'AL CONVERTIBLE SUCTION CLEANER WITH AGITATOR DRIVE ,DISENGAGING MEANS, Filed Kay 3, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a J 2 m R x 1v a Y W M $2 0 U 5 ..P 2 J W a 8 l l K I IHH l fil h wamw v 525 v Sept. 28, 1948.

Filed lay 3, 1943 P. T. HAHN ETAL 2,449,997 CONVERTIBLE SUCTION CLEANER WITH AGITATOR DRIVE DISENGAGING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORfi. 74112 77/7'Akr1,

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 28, 1948 CONVEBTIBLE SUCTION AGITATOR DRIVE 'DISENGAGING MEANS Paul '1'. Hahn and George R. cm, Detroit, Mich" assignon to Eureka Williams corporation of Michigan Corporation, a

- Application May 3, 1943, semi No. 485,586

: 8 Claims. (cut-o) This invention relates has particularreterence to a novel and very efllcient manner of and means for converting a floor type cleaner into one adapted for so-called "oi! the floor cleaning.

Our invention has particular application to that type of floor cleaner having a vertical driving motor, a fan driven thereby, a floor nozzle having a communication with said fan and having a surface cleaning member associated there-.

with, and a driving connection arranged in said communication and extending between said motor and said surface cleaning'member for actuating the latter, and, as illustrated in the embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration, consists of a device normally positioned out of said communication and cooperable with said driving connection for renderingv the same inoperative, and a coupling insertableiin said communication so as to shut off the flow of air from the floor nozzle to the fan and which coupling is adapted to have suction cleaning tools connected therewith; thereby to connect said tools to the fan, said coupling being cooperable with said device for moving the same into and out of said communication in order to render said driving connection inoperative and operative.

Principal objects of the invention are:

To provide simple and convenient means for. eificiently converting floor type cleaners for "08 the floor cleaning; I

To provide a converter with built-in means for rendering the driving connection inoperative and operative and which means are extremely simple and eflicient and are positioned out of the path of flow of air between the floor-nozzle and the fan when the cleaner is used as a floor type cleaner;

To provide a floor type cleaner ofthe type heretofore referred to with converter provisions which permit the cleaner to be pulled over the floor when converted for off the floor cleaning; and

To provide a conversion system for vacuum cleaners which includes a converter that efiectively breaks the communication between the floor nozzle and the fan and which seats around the driving connection and cooperates therewith for shutting off the communication between the floor nozzle and the fan:

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with to vacuum cleaners an 2 the accompanying drawings, of which there ar three sheets and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a part of a floor type vacuum cleaner embodying the'invention. the hood and other parts being.

omitted:

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the floor nomle o! the-cleaner and illustrating: v the'driving connection in its normaloperative position and certain parts of the conversion system:

Fig. 81s a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the arrangement of the parts when the driving connection has been broken;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken in a plane along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan viewof part of the nozzle of the cleaner with the converter coupling secured thereto;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the cleaner and coupling and taken in a plane along the line 6-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a plane along'the line '|1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken in a plane along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6, but with the inner sleeve of the coupling in its other position;-

and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner, partially illustrated in the foregoing views, with a hose and dusting tool attached useful is illustrated in Fig. 1 and includes a vertical electric motor in forming a driving means for a suction creating means which includes the' fan l2 arranged in fan chamber Hi, the fan l2 being secured to the motor shaft in rotation therewith. The fan is provided with an inlet formed by fan eye it and an outlet I8 to which a dust collecting receptacle is-adapted to be connected. The cleaner further includes a rotary surface cleaning member such as an agitator or brush 28 which is rotatably mounted within the floor nozzle 22, the mouth 24 of the nozzle being normally positioned slightly above the surface upon which the cleaner is supported by front and rear wheels 26 and 28. An air flow communication 30 connects the nozzle 22 with the fan through inlet it so that upon operation of the fan, l2, dirt laden air is drawn through the mouth 24 of the nozzle and conducted to the receptacle which is adapted to be afllxed to the fan discharge l8. When the cleaner is operated 3 on a surface covering such as a rug. the suction at the mouth of the nozzle induced by operation of the fandraws such surface covering up against the mouth of the nozzle where it is acted upon by the rotary surface cleaning member 28, in this case a rotary brush having bristles 32. which are adapted to sweep and/or beat the carpet to expedite the cleaning thereof.

The fan l2, as previously indicated, is mountedupon an extension of the shaft of the motor I8 and consists of a series of blades extending radiallyfrom a hub 84; said hub forming a continuation of the shaft of the motor Hi and extending through the fan in'let i8 substantially at the center thereof and in spaced relation with the edges defining the fan inlet i8 which usually and as illlustrated comprises a circular opening having its center substantially coinciding with the center of the hub 84. The hub 84 projects downwardly into the communication 88, which sometimes is considered a part of the nozzle, and is formed to provide a pulley 88 having an elastic endless belt 88 associatedtherewith so as to be driven thereby.

The belt 88 has driving engagement with a pulley suitably formed on the rotary brush 20 so that normally during operation of the motor i and the fan l2 the brush 28 will be driven. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the driving connection between the surface cleaning member 28 and the motor. and which driving connection includes the pulley 28 and the belt 88, is arrangedin and extends through the communication 88 between the front part of the nozzle 22 and the fan eye l8, although it will be observed that the belt 88 is positioned at one side of the communication and closely adjacent the wall thereof. The normal positionof the strands of the belt 38 is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6, which'ls a vertical. sec-' tional view taken across the communication 88 with the converter coupling therein.

The vertical sides of the communication 80 may be formed by suitably spaced vertical flanges or walls 40 depending from the body of the cleaner and extending between that part of the nozzle 22 in which the brush 28 is arranged and the fan eye. The space between such walls 40 may be closed by a removable generally horizontally disposed plate 42 having upwardly extending flanges 44 which form a seat for receiving the lower edges of the walls 40. The forward end of the plate 42 may be suitably interlocked with a part of-the nozzle wall 22 while the rear end of the plate 42 .may have a shoulder 48 engaged by a spring clip 48 carried by the cleaner for removably securing the plate 42 in position to close the bottom of the communication 88 between the nozzle and the fan eye. At one side, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the plate. 42 has an upwardly extending portion 88 which is provided with two internal shoulders 52 and 54 which form seats for the strands of the belt 38 when the converter coupling is connected to the cleaner. The side wall 40 is cut away to accommodate the portion 50 which includes a continuation of flange 44 for receiving the lower edge of the cutaway portion of the wall 48.

The plate 42 has pulleys 58 and 58 rotatably secured thereto, the plate'42 being embossed as indicated at 68 in Fig. 4 for accommodating the pulley 58 and embossed as illustrated at 82 in -Fig. 6 for accommodating the pulley 56. Rivets 84 secure the pulleys G and 88 to the plate 42 for rotation about their axis defined by the rivets 64. The pulleys are interconnected by an endless wire belt 88 which is accommodated in suitable channels 88 formed in the'plate 42. The

pulley 58 has secured to the upper face thereof an upstanding lug or finger 18 which normally is positioned out of the communication 38 and as'illustrated in Fig. 2. The pulley 58, incidentally. has its pivot disposed off center relative to the axis of the pulley 36.

The side wall 40 is interrupted to provide a vertical port or slot 12 which communicates with a chamber 14 formed in part by the wall 48 and plate 42 and positioned exteriorly of the communication 30. Except for slot 12, chamber 14 is closed.

When the cleaner is used for floor cleaning purposes, that is, when the belt 38 is drivingly connected with the pulley 86, the finger "I0 is positioned in the chamber 14 and obstructs the port or slot 12. In this way the finger 10 is normally positioned out of the communication 30 and hence is not in a position to obstruct the flow of dirt laden air between the nozzle 24 and the'fan intake l8. Rotation of the pulley 58 one hundred eighty degrees in a counterclockwise direction will shift the lug or finger 10 from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to that illustrated in Fig. 3. During movement from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to that illustrated in Fig. 3, the finger 18 will pass below the upper strand of the belt 38 and engage the. lower strand thereof in front of the pulley 86 and lift the belt 38 free of'the pulley 86,

as illustrated in Fig. 3, thereby breaking the driving connection between the motor l0 and the surface cleaning member 20.

. the driving connection between the motor i0 and the surface cleaning member 28.

When the lug or finger Ill, which comprises a belt lifter, is positioned as illustrated in Fig. 3, the port 12 will be closed by a gate 15 which is formed on the end of a spring 18 seated within the chamber 14.

On its under face the pulley 58 is provided with a groove ll which is formed as a semi-circle around the pivot of the pulley' 58. A lug I9 projecting upwardly from the plate 42 extends into the groove I! for limiting the extent of oscillation. The pulley 58 is shifted from one of its positions to the other by oscillation of the pulley 56, which in turn is shifted by the coupling member indicated generally at 88 and as hereinafter set forth.

Pulley 56 is provided with an upstanding key 82. The coupling member consists of a pair of sleeves 84 and 86, the sleeve 86 being rotatably fitted within the sleeve 84. The coupling member 88 is adapted to be inserted through a port 88 formed in the upper wall 98 of the nozzle and the inserted ends of the sleeves 84 and 8B are shaped to seat on the pulley 56, the inner sleeve 86 being provided with a slot 92 which receives the key 82.

The slot 92 is formed by cutting away a portion of the bottom edge of the sleeve 86 corresponding in shape to the cross section of the key 82. The outer sleeve 84 has a shape corresponding to the shape ,of the port 88 and has a snug fit therein-and the sleeve 84 may have an annular shoulder 84 which seats on the wall 98 around the port 88. The inner sleeve 86 projects above the outer sleeve 86 and has secured thereto a collar 86 by means of which the inner sleeve may be rotated from one of its positions to the other.

An elbow 88 is swiveled between the end of the sleeve 08 and an internal shoulder formed on thecollar 88 and the elbow 88 may have connected thereto or be formed for connection with a flexible air conducting hose I to the other end of which suction cleaning tools are adapted to be connected. The coupling member 80, which includes the sleeves 84 and 88 together with the elbow 88, forms a hollow air conducting member.

The outer sleeve is provided with laterally extending vertical wings or guides I02 and I08 which are adapted to pass through slots communicating with the port 88 and when arranged as illustrated in Fig. 6 are adapted to cooperate with the sleeves '84 and 88 and the walls of the passage 80 for shutting oi! the communication between the fan inlet I8 and the mouth 22 of the floor nozzle. The wing I08 is formed with shoulders I08 and I08 which are adapted to seat against the strands of the belt 88 and force the same against the seats 82 and 84 formed by the portion 80 of the bottom plate 82, thereby effectively sealing the space on one side of the converter coupling 80 from the space on the other side thereof. The wing I02 closes the space between the sleeve 88 and the right side of the passage 80, looking at Fig. 6.

. After the coupling member is inserted through the port 88 and positioned, in the cleaner as illustrated in Fig. 1, manipulation of the collar 88 by turning the same through 180 of rotation will, through the pulley 08, belt 88, and pulley 58, .shift the belt shifter from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to that illustrated in Fig. 3, or otherwise stated, will lift the belt 38 from the pulley 38. Reversal of movement'of the collar 86 will shift the belt shifter I0 back to the position illustrated in Fig. 2 and the sleeve 88 and pulley 88 back to the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

A part of the sleeve 84 facing the pulley 38 is cut away as indicated at H0 in order to establish communication between that part of the passage 80 between the coupling 80 and the fan eye I8 and the interior of the coupling 80. The cutaway portion IIO is closed by the sleeve 88 when the coupling is initially inserted in the machine. The sleeve 88 is provided with a similar port or cutaway portion II! which, when the sleeve 88 is shifted 180 from that illustrated in Fig. 1, becomes aligned with the port IIO thereby to establish communication between the passage 30 and the interior of the coupling 80, as shown in Fig. 8.

. hose which is connected to ,the converter coupling".

A ball detent I20 is operatively positioned between sleeves 84 and 88 for locating the position of one relative to the other. when the sleeve 88 is rotated, the detent I20 moves out into a recess in the sleeve 88 and projects from the surface of the sleeve 88. This ball detent I20 thus cooperates with the under surface of the wall 80 adjacent the port 88 for locking the converter in position in the cleaner. Thus, in order to insert or remove the converter coupling 80 from the cleaner, the sleeves must be positioned relative to each other as illustrated in Fig. 1 otherwise the ball detent I20 will engage the edge of the port 88 and prevent the seating of the converter coupling or the removal of the converter coupling. The ball detent I20 will by gravity assume the position illustrated in Fig. 1, but will beforced out of such position by turning movement of the sleeve 88.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the side walls of the passage or communication 30 may be provided with inwardly extending ribs I20 which function as guides for the wings or flanges I02, I04 and converter coupling and which in turn is connected to the front of the cleaner. When the converter coupling 80 is separated from the cleaner the port 88 and the slots communicating therewith are adapted to be closed by a suitable cover so that at such time the nozzle mouth 24 is operatively connected with the fan inlet I8 and the rotary brush 20 in the nozzle 22 is driven by The sleeve 88, as previously stated, is shifted I by turning the collar 88. As the sleeve 88 cooperates with the key 82 to rotate the pulley 88, the belt 38 is lifted from the pulley 38 at the same time that communication is established between the interior of the coupling 80 and the passage 30, and similarly as the driving connection-is reestablished the communication between the interior of the coupling 80 and the passage 80 is shut off. As previously indicated, the positioning of the coupling 80 within the cleanershuts oil the communication between the mouth 24 of the nozzle and the fan eye I8. Therefore, when the converter is employed to connect suction cleaning tools to the fan, the communication of the fan with'the floor nozzle is shut ofl and the driving connection between the motor and the surface cleaning member 20 is broken. As the the motor during the operation of the fan.

The terms "-agitator, surface cleaning member, or rotary brush as used herein are employed generically to designate elements such as brushes, heaters, polishers, or other devices which may be operatively associated with the mouth of a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner and used either with or without air flow through the nozzle, and which are normally adapted to be actuated during operation of the fan.

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purpose of illustration only converter coupling 80 projects forwardly and upand is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement ofparts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

We claim:

A vacuum cleaner comprising an electric motor having a vertical shaft, a fan arranged below said motor and connected to said shaft to be driven thereby, said fan being provided with an air inlet on the under side thereof, a nozzle having a downwardly presented mouth and an agitator operatively associated therewith, a belt forming a driving connection between said shaft and said agitator for driving the "latter during operation of the fan, a communication forming an air passageway between said nozzle and said fan-inlet for inducing a flow of air into said nozzle during operation of said fan, said belt extending through said passageway, said communication being provided with an upwardly facing air inlet port at the front of said cleaner and which port is normally closed, a converter coupling comprising a hollow unobstructed air conducting member adapted to be removably connected with said port when the same is open, said air conducting member when connected to said port having the end thereof arranged to project into said passageway and seat on the wall thereof opposite said port, said end having provision for accommodating the strands of said belt and conforming to the cross section of said passageway and cooperating with the walls thereof to obstruct said passageway so as to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet during operation of said fan, said air conducting member when connected to said port being adapted to communicate with said fan inlet through said passageway, and means assembled to said cleaner independently of said converter coupling and cooperable with said belt to disengage the same from said shaft for rendering the driving connection inoperative, said converter having a shifta-ble part cooperable with saidmeans for operating the same to disengage and engage said belt when said converter is connected to said port.

A vacuum cleaner comprising an electric motor having a vertical shaft, a fan arranged below said motor and connected to said shaft to be driven thereby, said fan being provided with an air inlet on the under side thereof and through which said shaft extends, a nozzle having a downwardly resented mouth and an agitator operatively associated therewith, a communication forming an air passageway between said nozzle and said fan inlet for inducing a flow of air into said nozzle during operation of said fan, a belt arranged in driving relationship with said shaft and agitator for actuating the latter during operation of said fan and extending through said passageway, said communication being provided with an upwardly facing air inlet port which is arway and seat therein, said end and said part of i said passageway being formed to fit together with the strands of said belt therebetween, said end conforming to the cross section of said passageway and cooperating with the walls thereof to obstruct said passageway so as to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet during operation of said fan, said air conducting member when connected to said port being adapted to communicate with said fan inlet through said passageway, and a belt lifter assembled to said cleaner independently of said converter coupling and engageable with said belt for disengaging the same from said shaft, said converter having a shifta'ble part cooperable with said belt lifter for operating the same to disengage and engage said belt when said converter is connected to said port.

3. A floor type vacuum cleaner comprising an electric motor having a shaft, a fan connected to 8 said shaft to be driven thereby, said fan being provided with an air inlet, a nozzle having a downwardly presented 'mouth and an agitator operatively associated therewith, ,a communication forming an air passageway between said nozzle and said fan inlet for inducing a flow of air into said nozzle during operation of said fan, a driving connection between said shaft and said agitator for driving the latter during operation of said fan, said communication being provided with an air inlet port which is positioned out of alignment with said fan air inlet and which port is normally closed, a removable converter coupling comprising a hollow unobstructed air conducting member adapted to be separably connected with said port when the same is open and when so connected to be positioned between said nozzle and said shaft, said coupling when connected to said port obstructing said passageway,

so as to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet and having an opening which affords communication with said fan inlet through said passageway, means assembled to the cleaner independently of said converter coupling and coopera'ble with said driving connection for breaking and remaking the same while said coupling is connected to said port, and an operator for said means mounted on said cleaner adjacent said port and positioned to be engaged by a shiftable port of said coupling when the same'is connected to said port and arranged to be actuated by-shifting movement of said part for breaking and remaking said driving connection.

4. A floor type vacuum cleaner comprising an electric motor having a shaft. a fan connected to said shaft to be driven thereby, said fan being provided with an air inlet, a nozzle having a downwardly presented mouth and an agitator operatively associated therewith, a communication forming an air passageway between said nozzle and said fan inlet for inducing a flow of air into said nozzle during operation of said fan, a readily removable plate forming the bottom wall of said passageway, a belt arranged in driving relationship with said shaft and agitator for actuating the latter during operation of said fan and extending through said passageway, said communication being provided with an air inlet ort which is positioned between said nozzle and said inlet and out of alignment with said fan air inlet and which port is normally closed, a removable converter coupling comprising a hollow unobstructed air conducting member adapted to be separably connected with said port when the same is open and when so connected positioned between said nozzle and said shaft, said coupling when connected to said port having the end thereof arranged to project into said passageway and seat on the Wall thereof opposite said port, said end having provision for accommodating the strands of said belt and conforming to the cross section of said passageway and cooperating with the walls thereof to obstruct said passageway so as to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet, said air conducting member having an opening which affords communication with said fan inlet through said passageway, and a belt lifter mechanism mounted on said remov able plate engageable with said belt for disengaging and engaging the same from said shaft when said coupling is connected to said port, said belt lifter mechanism including an operator poguano? ing movement of said part roibreaking and remaking said driving connection.

5. A floor type vacuum cleaner comprising an electric motor having a shaft, a fan connected to said shaft to be driven thereby, said fan being provided with an air inlet, a nozzle having a downwardly presented mouth and an agitator operatively associated'therewith, a belt arranged in driving relationship with said shaft and agitator for actuating the} latter during operation of said fan, a communication forming an air passageway between said nozzle and said fan inlet for inducing a now of air into said nozzle during operation of said Tan, said belt extending through said communication, said communication being provided with a converter air inlet port which is positioned out of alignment with said fan air inlet and betweeh said nozzle and said inlet and which port is normally closed, a converter coupling comprising a hollow unobstructed air conducting member adapted to be removably connected with said portwhen the same is open and when so connected positioned between said nozzle and said shaft, said coupling when connected to said port having the end thereof arranged to DI'O? s ject into said assageway and seat on .the wall thereof opposite said port, said end having provision for accommodating the strands of said belt relationship with said shaft, said belt lifter having an operator positioned to be engaged by a shiftable part of said coupling and arranged to be actuated by shifting movement of said part for breaking and remaking said driving connection.

6. A floor type vacuumcleaner comprising an electric motor having a shaft, a fan connected to said shaft to be driven thereby, said fan being provided with an air inlet, a nozzle having a downwardly presented mouth and an agitator operatively associated therewith, a belt in driving relationship with said shaft and agitator for drivng the latter during operation of said fan, a communication forming an air passageway between said nozzle and said fan inlet for inducing a flow of air into said nozzle duringoperation of said fan, said belt being arranged in said passageway, said communication being provided with an air inlet port which is positioned out of alignment with said inlet and between said nozzle and said inlet and which port is normally closed, a converter coupling comprising a hollow unobstructed air conducting member adapted to be removably connected with said port when the same is open and when so connected positioned between said nozzle andsaid shaft, said coupling when connected to said port having the end thereof arranged to project into said passageway and seat on the wall thereof opposite said port, said end having provision for accommodating the strands of said belt and conforming to the cross section of said passageway and cooperating with the walls thereof to obstruct said passageway so as to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan 10 i inlet, said coupling having a part thereof'iormed to accommodate and sealaroundsaid belt, said airconducting member having an openingwhicn affords communication with said fan 'inlet through said passageway, and a belt lifter assembled to said cleaner independently of said converter and normally positioned exteriorly of said passageway and engageable with said belt for disengaging and engaging the same from said shaft, said belt lifter being constructed and arranged to be actuated by said converter, and a chamber communicating with said passageway for housingsaid belt lifter when said belt is engaged with said shaft. 2

. 7. A floor type vacuurncleaner comprising an electric motor having a vertical shaft, a fan arranged below said motor and connected to said shaft to be driven thereby, said fan being provided with an air inlet on the under side thereof, a nozzle having a downwardly presented mouth and an agitator operatively associated therewith, a driving connection comprising a belt in driving relationship with said shaft and agitatorfor driving the latter during operation of said fan, a communication forming anairpassageway between said nozzleand said fan inletwfor inducing allow of air into said nozzle duringpperation of said said communication being provided with an upwardly facing converter port which is positioned between said nozzle and said inlet and which port is normally closed, a converter coupling comprising a hollow unobstructed air conducting member adapted to be removably connectedwith said port when the same is open and when so connected positioned between said nozzle and said shaft,

' said coupling when connected to said port having the end thereof arranged to project into said passageway and seat on the wall thereof opposite said port, said end having provision for accommodating the strands of said belt and conforming to the cross section of said passageway and cooperating with the walls thereof to obstruct said passageway so as to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet, said coupling having a part thereof formed to accommodate and seal around said belt, said air conducting member having an opening which affords communication with said fan inlet through said passageway, and

a belt lifter assembled to said cleaner independently of said' converter coupling and normally positioned exteriorly of said passageway and engageable with said belt for disengaging and engaging the same from said shaft, said cleaner having an operator for said belt lifter constructed and arranged to be engaged and operated by a shiftable part of said coupling when the same is connected to said port for breaking and remaking said driving. connection upon shifting movement of said part.

8. A floor type vacuum cleaner comprising an electric motor having a vertical shaft, a fan arranged below said motor and connected to said shaft to be driven thereby. said fan being provided with an air inlet on the under side thereof, a

latter during operation of said fan, a removable plate forming the bottom wall of said communication, said belt being arranged in said passagewayatone side thereof, said communication be-.-

ing provided with an upwardly facing converter port which is positioned at one side of said belt and which port is normally closed, aconverter coupling comprising a hollow unobstructed air conducting member adapted to be removably connected with said port when the same is open and when so connected positioned at one side of said belt, said coupling when connected to said port having the end thereof arranged to proiect into 10 said passageway and seat on the wall thereof opposite said port, said. end having provision for accommodating the strands of said belt and conforming to the cross section of said passageway and cooperating with the walls thereof to obstruct said passageway so as to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet. said coupling having apart thereof formed to accommodate and seal around said belt, said air conducting member having an opening which aflords communication with said fan inlet through said passageway, a belt lifter assembled to said removable bottom plate and normally positioned exterlorly of said communication and operable ior disengaging and engaging said belt, from said shaft, and an operator for-said belt lifter posi- .tioned below said' port and constructed and-arranged to be engaged and operated by a shiftable part of said coupling when the same is connected to said port for breaking and remaking said driving connection upon shifting movement of said hart.

PAUL T. HAHN. GEORGE R. C088.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Date Great Britain 1938

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