The present invention relates to a cleaning machine.
In the background art, cleaning machines capable of nebulising a liquid product by means of a compressor are known. It is possible to obtain a nebulised mixture of air and liquid product containing very fine particles of liquid product, typically about 50 microns in diameter or less. These machines comprise a dispensing gun adapted to mix compressed air and the liquid product to obtain nebulisation. Liquid droplets are created by the mechanical action of compressed air striking against a liquid stream, generating liquid particles with the appearance of very small droplets.
Disadvantageously, the compressor is heavy, energy-intensive and occupies a large volume.
Cleaning machines also exist on the market, with or without a compressor, provided with a hydraulic pump whose pressure allows to nebulise a liquid into very fine particles. The pump pushes the liquid into a suitable circuit which ends with one or more nozzles for nebulisation. By using suitable pressure and sufficiently small nozzles, it is possible to nebulise the liquid into fine particles, e.g., with a diameter of 100 microns or less. The hydraulic pump pressurises the liquid to a pressure between 25 and 30 bar, for example, and the machine is provided with a nebulising gun with a suitable nozzle. Liquid droplets are obtained by forcing a liquid through very small holes in suitable nebulising nozzles, which is made possible by the pressure exerted by a suitable hydraulic pump. The diameter of the particles decreases with increasing pump pressure and decreasing nozzle section. To obtain small droplets (e.g., with a diameter of the order of 50 microns or less) it is necessary to have fairly high pressures (generally at least around 10-20 bar) which require an expensive pump and disadvantageously small nozzles, which are likely to become clogged over time by limescale or impurities contained in the liquid. Disadvantageously, the hydraulic pump is heavy, occupies a large volume and is energy-intensive.
In all the cleaning machines of the background art which are provided with at least one suction motor, it is evident that the air sucked by the motor and which is removed from a dirt container exits the motor itself and is reintroduced into the environment, possibly passing through filters, but without disadvantageously using it for other purposes.
Disadvantageously, the cleaning machines of the background art perform the nebulisation function by virtue of a suitable air compressor or a hydraulic pump. In fact, the nebulisation of a liquid in very fine particles can be performed by acting on the liquid by means of the pressure exerted by an air compressor, or by means of the pressure exerted by a hydraulic pump.
The object of the present invention is to obtain a cleaning machine comprising a function for nebulising a liquid product, for example sanitiser, which is low in cost and small in size.
In accordance with the invention, such an object is achieved with a cleaning machine according to claim 1.
Other features are provided in the dependent claims.
The features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description, which is to be understood as exemplifying and not limiting, with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:
With reference to the above figures, a cleaning machine 100 is shown which does not comprise any compressors.
The cleaning machine 100 is comprised in the following types: domestic, professional or industrial vacuum cleaners or wet vacuums, provided with at least one suction motor 121; “injection-extraction” machines, provided with at least one suction motor 121 and a circuit for spraying liquid and cleaning accessories, connected to the machine by means of special flexible connection tubes; cleaning and sanitising machines functioning with the “spray-rinse-suction” or “foam-rinse-suction” systems, provided with a circuit for spraying product in the form of foam or liquid and at least one suction motor 121; self-contained machines, suitable for carpeted or non-carpeted surfaces, provided with at least one suction motor 121 and a washing unit placed directly below the machine body, possibly with one or more rotating brushes; floor cleaning machines, specific for hard floors, provided with at least one suction motor 121 and a washing unit placed directly below the machine body, possibly provided with one or more rotating brushes; different types of cleaning machines, as long as they are provided with at least one suction motor 121.
The present invention relates to the possibility of obtaining said cleaning machine 100 which nebulises a liquid product in very fine particles, without the machine using an air compressor for such a purpose.
In all the embodiments, the machine 100 according to the present invention allows the nebulised liquid to be sprayed through a manual dispenser 10 such as a dispensing gun, which allows the operator to direct the flow in the desired manner.
Preferably, the machine 100 does not even comprise a hydraulic pump 50 as shown in
As shown in
The liquid product 115 is a cleaning or sanitising product or simply a liquid which is to be nebulised for cleaning.
Said nebuliser device 10 comprises a dispenser 20 for dispensing said liquid product 115, a first connecting duct 211 which connects in fluid communication said tank 110 with said dispenser 20, a second connecting duct 225 which connects in air-flow communication said at least one waste air vent 125 of said intake part 120 with said dispenser 20.
As shown in particular in
A space forming a nebulisation area 40 is provided between an outlet pass-through opening of said dispensing tube 30 and an outlet pass-through opening of said inner cavity 25, in which said nebulisation area 40 is arranged inside said inner cavity 25.
It should be noted that the machine 100 advantageously does not comprise any compressor which is adapted to increase the air pressure before introducing it into the second duct 225 which connects in air-flow communication the intake part 120 of the machine 100 with the dispenser 20 of the machine 100.
Even more preferably and as shown in particular in
In the first example shown in
In the second embodiment shown in
Said dispensing tube 30 comprises at least one hollow cylindrical portion 36, in which said at least one hollow cylindrical portion 36 of said dispensing tube 30 is arranged inside said at least one hollow cylindrical portion 26 of said inner cavity 25.
In the first embodiment shown in
In the second embodiment shown in
The second embodiment shown in
Even more preferably and advantageously in order to direct and increase the air velocity in the nebulisation area 40, said inner cavity 25 comprises at least one hollow portion in truncated-cone shape 27.
Even more preferably said dispensing tube 30 comprises a hollow portion in truncated-cone shape 37.
Said at least one hollow portion in truncated-cone shape 27 of said inner cavity 25 comprises an open greater geometrical base forming a first pass-through opening 271 with a greater width which matches with a width of said at least one hollow cylindrical portion 26 of said inner cavity 25 and an open smaller geometrical base forming a second pass-through opening 272 with a smaller width which is said outlet pass-through opening of said hollow body 21 of said dispenser 20.
Said hollow portion in truncated-cone shape 37 of said dispensing tube 30 comprises an open greater geometrical base forming a first pass-through opening 371 with a greater width which matches with a width of said at least one hollow cylindrical portion 36 of said dispensing tube 30 and an open smaller geometrical base forming a second pass-through opening 372 with a smaller width which is said outlet pass-through opening of said dispensing tube 30.
Even more preferably and advantageously to create a uniform flow of both air and fluid, said at least one hollow cylindrical portion 26 of said inner cavity 25 comprises a circular transversal section, furthermore said one hollow cylindrical portion 36 of said dispensing tube 30 comprises a circular transversal section, furthermore it is provided that respective geometric axes of symmetry of each of said hollow cylindrical portions 26, 36 are congruent.
As shown in
The entry of air from the outlet duct 212 into the tank 110 causes a pressure increase of the gas contained in the tank 110, increasing the internal pressure of the tank 110 and consequently causing the liquid product 115 to remain inside the tank 110 at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.
The first connecting duct 211 has one end which is immersed in the liquid product 115 contained inside the tank 110.
This first embodiment is preferable, as the machine 100 advantageously lacks the hydraulic pump 130, thereby the machine 100 is even less energy-intensive, even lighter and even smaller in volume.
Even more preferably, the first embodiment in
As instead shown in
As shown in particular in
The dispensing device 10 is in the form of a gun, as shown in
As shown in
It is further possible to provide that a portion of the container 150 facing the operator's shoulders may have a padded surface 162 forming part of the harness 160.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
During the dirt recovery operations, the container 150 is kept under vacuum by virtue of the action of the suction motor 121, which removes air from the container 150, keeping it always under vacuum. The container 150 is put in communication with the outside by means of connection tubes and suitable suction nozzles or accessories which come into contact with the surfaces to be cleaned and which serve to suction dust or liquids inside the recovery tank.
When the machine 100 is of the vacuum cleaner type, the container 150 may be provided with a bag for containing dust. In any event, both for vacuum cleaners and for the other types of cleaning machines 100 mentioned above, there may be filters interposed between the suction motor 121 and the container 150, which serve to prevent fine dust from being sucked directly into the motor 121 of the intake part 120.
As shown in
As shown in
The inlet pass-through opening 184 channels air from the dirt container 150 to the motor 121, while the outlet pass-through opening 183 channels the vent air towards the second duct 225. The container 190 comprises a bearing surface which may be the same load-bearing structure of the body of the machine 100 as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Preferably, the outlet pass-through opening 183 is obtained from the opening flange 187 as shown in
More generally, the machine 100 comprises the dirt container 150 and said intake part 120 comprises at least one motor 121 adapted to suction air from said dirt container 150, in which said at least one motor 121 is housed inside the container 190 of the intake part 120. Said container 190 comprises at least one inlet pass-through opening 184 for passing air from said dirt container 150 towards said at least one motor 121 and said at least one outlet pass-through opening 183, in which said at least one outlet pass-through opening 183 is said at least one waste air vent 125.
Said output pass-through opening 183 is arranged laterally to said at least one motor 121 as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Advantageously, the container 190 of
Preferably as shown in
As shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
Said pass-through vent hole 189 is particularly useful for ensuring an air vent of the container 190 if abnormal operation prevents air from freely flowing through the outlet pass-through hole 183 and thus to the second duct 225.
The outlet pass-through opening 183 is sized to allow most of the air sucked by the motor freely flow through the second duct 225.
For example, the safety pass-through vent hole 189 may have a section equal to ⅙th of the section of the second duct 225. Alternatively, other dimensions are possible, all of which are adapted to ensure a sufficient vent.
In
The above-described invention may provide the presence of further connecting or filtering components useful for conveying or filtering the air exiting from said at least one outlet opening 183, before it enters the second duct 225.
Advantageously, the cleaning machine 100 comprises a liquid nebulisation function, is low cost and small in size.
Advantageously, the cleaning machine 100 is capable of both cleaning and nebulising a liquid in the form of a mixture of air and very small liquid droplets.
Advantageously, the mixture of liquid and air generated by the machine 100 can be sprayed in closed environments with the aim of diffusing a liquid, e.g., sanitiser, into the same.
Advantageously, the same mixture can also be directed directly onto surfaces in order to distribute a liquid product thereon in the form of a thin layer which uniformly covers the surfaces.
Advantageously, the nebulised solution allows to reach every point in the environment or on surfaces, uniformly distributing the product, in the desired amount and without waste.
Advantageously, the air coming from the machine 100 exerts a pressure on the liquid contained in the tank 110, of the order of about 0.1 to 0.2 bar. This pressure allows the liquid product 115 to rise through the rising channel, which is the second duct 225.
Advantageously, a nebulisation jet of the air mixture to the liquid product 115 comprises very small particles which take the form of very fine droplets. Using air jets of 30-50 litres per second and by sizing the liquid and air passage sections and the nebulisation area 40 it is possible to obtain a very fine mixture jet. Such a jet can reach a distance of 3-4 metres from the operator. The amount of nebulised liquid in the mixture jet is adjustable by virtue of a flow regulator which intercepts the liquid passage.
By appropriately sizing the sections of the inner cavity 25 and the dispensing tube 30, it is possible for the liquid to be suctioned by Venturi effect from the tank 110 thereof.
Advantageously, if the cleaning machine 100 is of the vacuum cleaner or wet vacuum type, it can operate even if it does not contain in the machine body any tank to contain the liquid 115, nor any pump 130 and a hydraulic circuit to push the liquid to the nebuliser device 10.
Alternatively, it is possible to provide that the cleaning machine 100 comprises a hydraulic pump 130, in which the hydraulic pump 130 continuously feeds the spray gun 10, so as to have a virtually unlimited spray autonomy during nebulisation.
Alternatively, it is possible to provide other geometric shapes of the inner cavity 25 and the dispensing tube 36, for example it is possible to provide for them to have truncated-cone shape.
Alternatively said at least one hollow cylindrical portion 26 of said inner cavity 25 comprises an elliptical transversal section, furthermore said one hollow cylindrical portion 36 of said dispensing tube 30 comprises an elliptical transversal section.
Alternatively, it is provided that the respective geometric axes of symmetry of each of the hollow cylindrical portions 26, 36 are not congruent.
Alternatively, it is provided that the respective geometric axes of symmetry of each of the hollow cylindrical portions 26, 36 are parallel to each other.
Alternatively, if the motor 121 is mounted by means of locking flanges integrated in the load-bearing structure thereof, such as perforated tabs, at least one part of the fixing of the container 190 could be replaced by simple fixing screws. In each case, the motor 121 is fixed with respect to the body of the machine 100.
Alternatively, the safety pass-through vent hole 189 may be replaced by several holes or slots of any shape. The pass-through vent hole 189 may have a free passage, or a valve, or a normally closed passage by means of a sprung plug which opens the passage section of the pass-through vent hole 189 only when the pressure inside the container 190 exceeds a safety value, upon the occurrence of an obstruction along the second duct 225. The presence of the pass-through vent hole 189 also makes it advantageous not to overly raise the temperature inside the container 190.
Alternatively, the pass-through vent hole 189 may be arranged differently, for example the pass-through vent hole 189 could be located near the second duct 225 or above the second duct 225, or near the body of the machine 100.
Alternatively, it may be provided that the pass-through vent hole 189 may be arranged at any point on the walls of the container 190.
Alternatively, a pass-through vent hole 189 may be provided near the nebulisation area 40.
Alternatively, as shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
Alternatively, each motor may contribute to the generation of the air required for nebulisation. In this case the container 190 delimits said one or more motors 121.
Alternatively, said liquid product 115 is pushed into the first connecting duct 211 at a pressure lower than an atmospheric pressure and is maintained in a liquid state inside said tank 110. In this case, air is extracted from the tank 110 by Venturi effect.
Alternatively, said hollow cylindrical portion 26 of said inner cavity 25 comprises a prismatic transversal section.
Alternatively said at least one hollow cylindrical portion 36 of said dispensing tube 30 comprises a prismatic transversal section.
Alternatively as shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
Alternatively, said outlet duct 212 comprises a hollow upper end in air-flow communication directly with the second duct 225 and a lower end in air-flow communication with the tank 110.
Alternatively as shown in
Alternatively as shown in
Alternatively, the lower end of the outlet duct 212 ends in any point in the tank 110 which allows air to enter the tank 110.
Alternatively, said outlet pass-through opening 183 may be arranged at any point in the container 190 containing the motor 121.
Alternatively, as shown in
Alternatively said dispensing tube 30 does not comprise any hollow portion in truncated-cone shape 37.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible to many modifications and variants, all falling within the same inventive concept; furthermore, all details can be replaced by equivalent technical elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as their dimensions, can be of any type according to the technical requirements.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102020000027125 | Nov 2020 | IT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IB2021/060400 | 11/10/2021 | WO |