Early None Electric Vacuum Cleaners
Long before vacuum cleaners were invented, people cleaned floors with mops, brushes, and brooms. Twig brooms were used as far back as 2300 B.C. by cave dwellers.
Hand pump vacuumsSome machines were made from sheet metal, some were cast iron, and still others were made of wood. Most cleaners were mounted on a wooden board or sled runners for to make them more stable. They had a large handle to provide power. Every machine had a diaphragm chamber to create the suction and a compartment to capture and hold the dirt. The easiest way to use these hand pump machines was to have two people operate them. One person would pump the vacuum while a second would use the hose and wand or tools to clean. The well-to-do would often purchase the cleaning contraptions to ease the workload of their servants or housekeepers
Plunger Vacuum CleanerSome people believe this style of cleaner originates from the 1800's. In actuality, the plunger vacuum made its appearance after 1900. They are normally long, slender cylinders that taper at the bottom of the machine with a nozzle connected at the end which contacts the floor. A plunger handle at the top of the cleaner is pulled up with one hand, while the other hand holds the machine steady. This action develops suction as air is drawn into the nozzle when the plunger seal moves up through the cleaner's body. It works in a similar way to a hypodermic needle. Dust was sucked into a small diameter tube where it entered the center of the body. After the dust fell to the side of the cleaner's interior, it was trapped in the funnel shaped part of the machine. A cloth air filter was also incorporated into the design.
The main drawback of the early plunger machines was the fact that they only created suction on the upward stroke. This meant that the machines were only effective for 50% of the operation time.
Wheel Operated Vacuum CleanersIn their day, wheel operated vacuums were considered to be at the cutting edge of early technology. This style of machine provided powerful and continuous suction. The increase in vacuum even allowed for larger diameter hoses and bigger cleaning tools to be used. One person cranked the wheel while another cleaned with a wand or hand tool. Mechanical advantage was achieved through the use of belts and pulleys. The hand, or power wheel, was set into motion with a cranking handle. The large wheel drove a belt that also went around a much smaller pulley. The small pulley was fixed to a shaft which would spin a fan or pump a set of bellows. These machines were used until the early electric vacuums became popular.
There isn't a dust bag on this cleaner, but the design does include two hoses. One hose is connected to the inlet and used in the usual way. The second hose is connected to the outlet. The vacuum was placed near an open window, with the hose end stuck out of the window, the dirt was then deposited outside.
Bellows Operated Vacuum Cleaners
They appeared in several styles and shapes. Some early vacuums only had one bellows. This made the cleaner less efficient because there was no suction as the bellows closed. Suction was produced only as air rushed into the bellows as it opened. To make the machines more useful, bellows were installed in pairs and offset to allow one to open while the other closed. Some machines were mounted on a board and operated by a tiller handle. Others incorporated bellows power in a plunger style body. Still others used hand-turned wheels to work the bellows. The most common bellows machine looked like a carpet sweeper, but had no rotating brush. Rear mounted wheels provided the power to a crank shaft that propelled push rods connected to sets of bellows.
Friction Vacuum CleanersFriction vacuum cleaners are based on a concept conceived by James Kirby. The driving force of the rear wheels are used to power the cleaner. The vacuum gets its power from the operator pushing it across the floor. The front wheels are connected to a brush roller to create a sweeping action. They are lightweight, quiet, and cost nothing to use. Friction vacuums were popular well into the 1940's in communities where there was no electricity.
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