Vacuum cleaning systems

by M. S. Cooley

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
History of Mechanical Cleaning.
PAGE
Early Attempts		[3]
Limitations of the Carpet Sweeper		[4]
Compressed Air Cleaners		[5]
Vacuum Produced by Compressed Air		[7]
Compressed Air Supplemented by Vacuum		[7]
Piston Pump the First Satisfactory Vacuum Producer		[9]
Systems Using Vacuum Only		[11]
Renovator with Inrush Slot		[13]
Steam Aspirators Used as Vacuum Producers		[14]
Piston Pump Used Without Separators		[15]
First Portable Vacuum Cleaner		[15]
First Use of Stationary Multi-Stage Turbine Blowers		[16]
Separators Emptying to Sewer by Air Pressure		[18]
Machines Using Root Blowers as Vacuum Producers		[18]
CHAPTER II.
Requirements of an Ideal Vacuum Cleaning System.
Necessity and Proper Location of Stationary Parts		[24]
CHAPTER III.
The Carpet Renovator.
Four Important Parts of Vacuum Cleaning System		[25]
The Straight Vacuum Tool		[26]
Renovator with Auxiliary Slot Open to Atmosphere		[27]
Renovator with Two Cleaning Slots		[30]
Renovator with Inrush Slots on Each Side		[30]
Tests on Dirty Carpets		[30]
Type A Renovator Most Efficient on DirtyCarpets		[36]
Tests of Carpets “Artificially” Soiled		[36]
Effort Necessary to Operate Various Type of Renovators		[51]
Relative Damage to Carpets with Various Type of Renovators		[52]
CHAPTER IV.
Other Renovators.
Different Form of Renovator Necessary to Clean Walls, Ceilings and Similar Flat Surfaces		[60]
Upholstery Renovators Disastrous to Surfaces Cleaned		[64]
Attempts to Overcome Destructive Tendency of Straight-Slot Upholstery Renovator		[64]
Upholstery Renovators Most Serviceable Clothing Cleaners		[65]
Special Renovators for Cleaning Stairs		[66]
Renovation of Furs		[66]
Renovation of Pillows		[66]
CHAPTER V.
Stems and Handles.
Use of Drawn Steel Tubing for Stems of Cleaning Tools		[70]
Drawn Aluminum Tubing for Long Stems		[71]
Swivel Joints Between Renovator and Stem		[72]
Wear on Hose Near Stem		[74]
Methods of Overcoming Wear of Hose		[74]
Valves to Cut Off Suction		[78]
CHAPTER VI.
Hose.
Early Types Made of Canvas-Wound Rubber Tubing		[80]
Standard Weight Adopted		[80]
First Type Produced Especially for Use in Vacuum Cleaning Work		[81]
First Attempt to Produce Light-Weight Hose		[81]
Other Types		[82]
Hose Couplings		[82]
Hose Friction		[84]
Effect of Hose Friction		[88]
Most Economical Hose Size for Carpet and Floor Renovators		[93]
Conditions for Plant of Small Power		[97]
Limit of Length for Hose		[99]
CHAPTER VII.
Pipe and Fittings.
Hose Inlets		[100]
Pipe Friction		[107]
Determination of Proper Size Pipe		[107]
Determination of Number of Sweepers to be Operated		[113]
Determination of Number of Risers to be Installed		[115]
Size of Risers		[115]
Illustration of Effect of Long Lines of Piping		[120]
CHAPTER VIII.
Separators.
Classification of Separators		[127]
Primary Separators		[127]
Secondary Separators		[130]
Complete Separators		[134]
Total Wet Separator		[138]
CHAPTER IX.
Vacuum Producers.
Types of Vacuum Producers		[142]
Displacement Type		[142]
Centrifugal Type		[142]
Power Required to Produce Vacuum		[142]
Reciprocating Pumps		[143]
Rotary Pumps		[148]
Centrifugal Exhausters		[156]
Steam Aspirators		[162]
CHAPTER X.
Control.
First Type of Controller		[166]
Second Form of Control		[168]
Appliances for Varying Speed of Motor-Driven Vacuum Pump		[171]
CHAPTER XI.
Scrubbing Systems.
First Real Mechanical Scrubbing Device		[176]
Combining Scrubbing with Dry Cleaning		[177]
Ideal Separator for Use with a Combined Cleaning and Scrubbing System		[178]
CHAPTER XII.
Selection of Cleaning Plant.
Renovators		[179]
Hose		[182]
Pipe Lines		[182]
Separators		[182]
Vacuum Producers		[183]
Control		[183]
Selection of Appliances for Four Classes of Work		[184]
	Class 1.—Plant for Residence or Small Office or Departmental Building,to be Not More than One-Sweeper Capacity.
	Class 2.—Large Office or Departmental Building Where Carpet Cleaningis Important and Pipe Lines are of Reasonable Length.
	Class 3.—Large Building or Group of Buildings Where Carpet Cleaningis Important and Long Lines of Piping are Necessary.
	Class 4.—Large or Small Plant Where Carpet Cleaning is Not anImportant Function of the Cleaning System.
CHAPTER XIII.
Tests.
Early Methods of Testing		[187]
Most Rational System of Testing		[189]
Use of Vacometer		[190]
Proper Orifice to be Used with Each Class of Plant		[191]
CHAPTER XIV.
Specifications.
Award of Contracts on Evaluation Basis		[193]
Determination Basis of Evaluation		[193]
Specification for Class 1, Plant for Residence or Small Office Building ofOne-Sweeper Capacity		[194]
Specification for Class 2, Plant for Large Office Building Having Pipe Linesof Moderate Length		[204]
Specification for Class 3, Large Installation, with Unusually Long Pipe Lines		[209]
Specification for Class 4, Large or Small Plant Where Carpet Cleaning is ofSecondary Importance		[215]
Specification for Class 5, To Give Widest Competition		[218]
CHAPTER XV.
Portable Vacuum Cleaners.
Power Required		[228]
Weight of Efficient Portable Cleaners		[228]
Limit of Power Consumption When Attached to Lighting System		[229]
Disadvantage of Having Dust Bag at Outlet of Fan		[230]
Portables Equipped with Mechanically-Operated Brushes		[231]
Portables Exhausting Air Inside of Building		[231]

TABLES.

PAGE
[1].	Cleaning Tests of Dirty Carpets	34
[2].	Cleaning Tests of Carpets Filled with Quicksand	38
[3].	Cleaning Tests Using 1 oz. of Sand per Square Yard of Carpet	40
[4].	Comparison of Tests Made by Mr. Reeve and by the Author	48
[5].	Effort Necessary to Operate Cleaning Tools	51
[6].	Vacuum Required at Hose Cock to Operate Type A Renovators Attached to VaryingLengths of Different-Sized Hose	89
[7].	Air Quantities and Vacuum at Renovator with 1-in. Hose and 10 in. Vacuum at Hose Cock	90
[8].	Air Quantities and Vacuum at Renovator with 1¹⁄₄-in. Hose and 6 in. Vacuum at Hose Cock	90
[9].	Vacuum Required at Hose Cock to Operate Type C Renovators with Various Lengths ofThree Sizes of Hose	91
[10].	Air Quantities Through Floor Brush with Various Sizes and Lengths of Hose, Operatedon Same System with Type A Renovators	92
[11].	Horse Power Required at Hose Cock to Operate Bare Floor Brushes on Same System withType A Renovators	93
[12].	Free Air Passing Brush Type of Bare Floor Renovator Operated on Same System with TypeC Carpet Renovators	94
[13].	Horse Power at Hose Cock with Brush Type of Bare Floor Renovator Operated on SameSystem with Type C Carpet Renovators	94
[14].	Cubic Feet of Free Air Passing the Felt-Covered Floor Renovator Operated on Same Systemwith Type A Renovators	96
[15].	Horse Power Required at Hose Cock to Operate Felt-Covered Floor Renovators Operated onSame System with Type A Renovators	96
[16].	Vacuum at Hose Cock with 2 in. Vacuum at Type A Renovator	97
[17].	Air Quantities when Bristle Bare Floor Renovators are Used in Conjunction with Type ACarpet Renovators at 2 in. Mercury	98
[18].	Pipe Sizes Required, as Determined by Air Passing Renovators	109
[19].	Friction Loss in Pipe Lines, with Carpet Renovators in Use Exclusively	109
[20].	Pressure Losses from Inlet to Separator in System for Cleaning Railroad Cars	121

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Fig.		Page.
[1].	Early Type of Mechanical Cleaning Nozzle Using Compressed Air	6
[2].	Another Type of Compressed Air Cleaning Nozzle, Supplemented with Vacuum Pipe	8
[3].	Separators Used With Combined Compressed Air and Vacuum Machines	9
[4].	Piston Type of Vacuum Pump, Mounted Tandem With Air Compressor	9
[5].	Mr. Kenney’s First Renovators Vacuum Alone Being Used as Cleaning Agent	10
[6].	Air Compressors Arranged for Operation as Vacuum Pumps	11
[7].	Separators Installed by Mr. Kenney in Frick Building	12
[8].	Vacuum Renovator With Inrush Slot, Introduced by the Sanitary Devices Manufacturing Company	13
[9].	First Portable Vacuum Cleaner, Constructed by Dr. William Noe, of San Francisco, in 1905	16
[10].	Late Type of Spencer Vacuum Cleaning Machine, Operated by Multi-Stage Turbine Blowers	17
[11].	Type A, the Straight Vacuum Tool	26
[12].	Type B, with Wide Slot and Wide Bearing Surface	26
[13].	Type C, with Auxiliary Slot, Open to Atmosphere	28
[14].	Type D, with Two Cleaning Slots	28
[15].	Type E, with Inrush Slot on Each Side of Vacuum Slot	31
[16].	Type F, an Exaggerated Form of Type B	31
[17].	Tests of Three Renovators on Dirty Carpets	35
[18].	Cleaning Tests of Carpets Filled with Quicksand	39
[19].	Cleaning Tests Using 1 oz. of Sand Per Square Yard of Carpet	41
[20].	Three Series of Tests with Kenney Type A Renovators	45
[21].	Tests by Mr. Reeve, Using Type C Renovator	46
[22].	Tests by Mr. Reeve, Using Type D Renovator	47
[23].	Tests Showing Efficiency of Different Types of Renovators at Different Degrees of Vacuum	50
[24].	Early Type of Bare Floor Renovator	55
[25].	Later Type of Bare Floor Renovator	55
[26].	Another Type of Bare Floor Renovator	56
[27].	Bare Floor Renovator with Felt Cleaning Surface	57
[28].	Bare Floor Renovator with Unusual Form of Slot	58
[29].	Bare Floor Renovator with Hard Felt or Composition Rubber Strips	58
[30].	Bare Floor Renovator with Rounded Wearing Surface	59
[30a].	The Tuec School Tool	62
[31].	Round Bristle Brush for Carved or Other Relief Work	62
[32].	Rubber-Tipped Corner Cleaner for Use on Carved or Other Relief Work	62
[33].	Early Type of Upholstery Renovator	63
[34].	Upholstery Renovator with Narrow Slots to Prevent Damage to Furniture	64
[35].	Another Type of Upholstery Renovator with Short Slots	65
[36].	Hand Brush Type of Renovator	65
[37].	Form of Swivel Joint Connecting Stem to Renovator	72
[38].	Swivel Joint Arranged to Prevent Dust Lodging Between the Wearing Surfaces	73
[39].	Swivel Joint in Use	74
[40].	Another Use of Swivel Joint, Showing Possibilities of this Form	75
[41].	Operator Cleaning Trim of Door with Swivel Joint	76
[42].	Swivel Joint, with Screwed Union	76
[43].	Swivel Joint Having Ball Bearings	76
[44].	Action of Ball-Bearing Swivel Joint	77
[45].	Illustration of Defects of Plug Cocks	78
[46].	Bayonet Type of Hose Coupling, Introduced by the American Air Cleaning Company	82
[47].	All Rubber Hose Coupling Used by the Spencer Turbine Cleaner Company	83
[48].	Chart for Determining Hose Friction	86
[49].	Effect of Increase of Velocity on the Friction Loss	88
[50].	Another Test Showing Friction Loss Due to Velocity	89
[51].	Inlet Cock to Prevent Air Leakage when Not in Use	101
[52].	Type of Automatic Self-Closing Inlet Cock	102
[53].	“Smooth Bore” Pipe Coupling	103
[54].	Joint Made of Standard Pipe Flanges	104
[55].	Standard Durham Recessed Drainage Fittings Generally Used in Vacuum Cleaning Installations	105
[56].	Friction Loss in Pipe Lines	106
[57-60].	Diagrams Showing Operation of Brush and Carpet Renovators Under Different Conditions	110
[61].	Typical Floor Plan of Office Building Illustrating Number of Sweepers Required	114
[62].	Plan of Layout for Office Building Showing Best Location (at d) for Vacuum Producer	118
[63].	Vacuum Cleaning Layout for a Passenger Car Storage Yard	122
[64].	Arrangement of Piping Recommended as Best for Passenger Car Storage Yard	123
[65].	Good Location for Dust Separator Where Large Areas Are Served by One Cleaning System	125
[66].	Location of Separators at Centers of Groups of Risers for Large Systems	126
[67].	Early Type of Primary Separator, Used by Vacuum Cleaner Company	128
[68].	Primary Separator Used by the Sanitary Devices Manufacturing Company	128
[69].	Primary Separator Used by the General Compressed Air and Vacuum Cleaning Company	129
[70].	Primary Separator Made by the Blaisdell Engineering Co.	129
[71].	Secondary Separator Used by the Vacuum Cleaner Company	131
[72].	Secondary Separator Used by the General Compressed Air and Vacuum Cleaning Company	131
[73].	Secondary Separator Used by the Sanitary Devices Manufacturing Company	132
[74].	Type of Dry Separator Used as Secondary Separator	134
[75].	Form of Complete Separator Used by the Vacuum Cleaner Company	135
[76].	Complete Separator Brought Out by the Electric Renovator Manufacturing Company	136
[77].	Complete Separator Made by the American Radiator Company	137
[77a].	Interior Construction of Dunn Vacuum Cleaning Machine	140
[78].	Power Consumption and Efficiency of Air Compressor Used as a Vacuum Pump	143
[79].	Modification of Reciprocating Pump Made by the Sanitary Devices Manufacturing Company	144
[80].	Power Consumption and Efficiency of Modified Reciprocating Pump	145
[81] and [82].	Indicator Cards for Clayton and Modified Pumps	146
[83].	One of the Pumps Installed in Connection with the Vacuum Cleaning System in the New York Post Office, the Largest Reciprocating Pump Used for this Purpose up to the Present	148
[84].	Interior Arrangement of the Garden City Rotary Pump	149
[85].	Power Required to Operate Garden City Type of Rotary Pump	150
[86].	Arrangement of Double-Impeller Root Type Rotary Pump for Vacuum Cleaning Work	151
[87].	Rotary Pump Arranged with Double-Throw Switch for Reversing Pump	152
[88].	Power Consumption and Efficiency of Root Type of Pump	153
[89].	The Rotrex Vacuum Pump, Used by the Vacuum Engineering Company	153
[90].	Late Type of Centrifugal Exhauster Made by the Spencer Turbine Cleaner Company	154
[91].	Power and Efficiency Curves for the Spencer Machine	155
[92].	Interior Arrangement of Invincible Machine, Manufactured by the Electric Renovator Manufacturing Company	156
[93].	Power Consumption, Vacuum and Efficiency of First Types of Invincible Machine	157
[94].	Power Consumption, Vacuum and Efficiency of Invincible Machine After Valve Was Fitted to Discharge	158
[95].	Four-Sweeper Invincible Plant Installed in the United States Post Office at Los Angeles, Cal.	159
[96].	Centrifugal Pump with Single Impeller, Manufactured by The United Electric Company	161
[96a].	Test of Centrifugal Pump with Single Impeller	162
[97].	Steam Aspirator Used by the American Air Cleaning Company	163
[98].	Steam Consumption of Steam Aspirator	164
[99].	First Type of Controller Introduced by the Sanitary Devices Manufacturing Company, known as the “Unloading Valve”	167
[100].	Test of Controller Connected to Suction of 8-Sweeper Piston Pump	168
[101].	Type of Controller for Use on Pumps Without Valves	169
[102].	Regulator for Motor-Driven Vacuum Pump, Manufactured by the Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Company	170
[103].	Inspirator Type Vacuum Contactor, Used to Control Pilot Motor of Cutler-Hammer Controller	171
[104].	Vacometer for Use in Testing Vacuum Cleaning Systems	190

PREFACE.

The contents of this work are compiled from the observations of the author through the seven years during which he has been engaged in the preparation of specifications for, and the testing of, complete plants installed in the buildings under the control of the Treasury Department.

During this time it has become necessary to alter no less than five times the stock form of specifications for stationary vacuum cleaning plants which were adopted by the Government, with the intent of obtaining the widest competition possible with efficient and economical operation, in order to keep pace with the variation and improvement in the apparatus manufactured. As each new type of system has come on the market a personal investigation at the factory, together with tests, has been made. An exhaustive test of carpet renovators was also conducted, using one of the Government plants. In addition the vacometers recommended for use in capacity tests were carefully calibrated, using the machine at the Department of Agriculture.