Patent Application
20050060833
Cleaning machines are used extensively for cleaning the surfaces of sinks, urinals, toilets, windows, shower stalls, tiles, stone, brick, locker rooms, swimming pool areas, carpets, vents and other surfaces. Maintaining the cleanliness of these surfaces, especially in high volume areas in commercial, industrial, institutional and public buildings is an ongoing and time consuming process. The present inventions relate generally to this field and are directed to a multi-functional cleaning machine which is useful in cleaning such surfaces, components and features thereof, and methods for efficiently and productively using such cleaning machines.
Building maintenance staff and others often clean dirty surfaces, such as restroom floors, using traditional mop and bucket assemblies. The bucket may include a detachable mop ringer and may be positioned on caster wheels to facilitate easy movement. Depending on the cleanliness of the equipment, a worker may be able to make a good start in cleaning a floor using the mop and bucket approach. However, soon the mop and fluid in the bucket becomes soiled or otherwise contaminated by such as germs and bacteria. From that point on, each time the worker plunges the mop into the bucket and rings the mop, both the mop and cleaning fluid become more and more dirty/contaminated. In the end, a dirty surface gets “cleaned” by pushing dirty and potentially disease or germ contaminated water over the surface to be cleaned with a dirty and/or contaminated mop. In short, the surface remains wet with contaminated solution.
These basic cleaning problems have generally been addressed by provision of a multi-functional cleaning machine, such as the machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,980 to Robinson, entitled “Multi-functional Cleaning Machine,” which is fully incorporated herein by reference. This type of cleaning machine generally includes a wheeled body with two tanks, one concentrated chemical receptacle, a vacuum and blower motor, and a fluid pumping system. Typically, such equipment includes only a single motor used for both vacuuming and blowing. Such a motor may include an air intake and an air outlet. The cleaning equipment also generally includes a tube connectable to either the air outlet or air inlet of that motor. When connected to the air outlet, air is forced down the tube for use in blow drying surfaces. When connected to the air inlet, a vacuum is created inside the tube, facilitating suctioning of fluid, which is generally dirty/contaminated, from the surface. In either case, however, the blower motor is always fixedly secured to and/or incorporated into the cleaning machine.
One of the tanks of these prior art machines is used to hold a base cleaning fluid, such as water, into which concentrated cleaning chemicals may be injected to create a cleaning solution. Thereafter, the cleaning solution may be pumped, via an appropriate hose or tubing, to any number of cleaning implements for supply to the surface to be cleaned, such as a pressure spray gun, a cleaning wand, etc. The pumping operation can be performed at either a relatively high or low pressure, depending upon the cleaning application and the fluid pump employed in the machine. The cleaning solution may be worked into the surface to be cleaned to release and then entrain dirt and debris deposited on the surface being cleaned. Next, dirty cleaning solution can be vacuumed, again via an appropriate vacuum hose, into the second tank, generally referred to as a recovery tank. Finally, a blower motor can supply pressurized air, typically through the vacuum hose, to dry the now cleaned surface.
Obviously, the use of one vacuum/blower motor and related tube creates a cleanliness problem similar to the problems created by use of a mop and bucket. Contaminants that are vacuumed through the hose and motor may become stuck to the motor and hose inner walls, etc. When that same equipment is used to blow dry a surface, the contaminants may become dislodged from the hose and motor and be deposited back onto the cleaned surface. For this reason, known prior art systems often facilitate spreading of germs and other contaminants. These problems were somewhat addressed by providing a surface cleaning machine having separate blower motor and vacuum motor assemblies. Such a cleaning machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,958 to Giddings et al., which is fully incorporated herein by reference. While these later surface cleaning machines have advanced beyond the single blower and vacuum motor cleaning approach, they still have significant shortcomings.
One shortcoming is the manner in which a cleaning solution is created. The prior art devices do not provide for one of multiple concentrated cleaning chemicals to be easily added to a base fluid (e.g., water) or to properly provide precise amounts of desired chemicals to the base fluid to create a desired cleaning solution. Further, these prior art devices add concentrated cleaning chemicals to a base fluid through a process of injection, which can create unwanted pressures in the overall system, potentially causing not only system failure, but hazards to system users. Use of injectors also adds componentry to the equipment, thereby increasing both cost and weight of the equipment.
A second shortcoming of the known devices is the manner in which concentrated cleaning chemicals are stored upon those machines. Known cleaning machines allow receptacles of concentrated cleaning chemicals to be placed upon the cleaning machine in a completely unsecured and unprotected fashion. The cleaning chemicals can thus be stolen or tampered with, or the cleaning chemical receptacle may easily be damaged or spilled. Obviously, any of these situations is not desired and is potentially very dangerous not only to the public at large, but also to the user of the equipment.
A third shortcoming of known cleaning machinery relates to the blower used to dry and/or clean, etc., a surface. Prior art blowers are fixedly secured or otherwise incorporated into cleaning machinery. Accordingly, use of these blowers is limited to the general location of that machinery and generally may not be used if other componentry is in use, such as the vacuum assembly. Obviously, hoses can be used to extend blower reach, but such hoses are expensive, utilize limited storage space, add weight to the overall machine and generally decrease the effectiveness of the blower.
A further shortcoming of known prior art devices is that they do not provide a ergonomically efficient or easily regulatable system for applying a pressurized cleaning solution to a surface. It is often desirable or necessary when cleaning a surface to apply a cleaning solution to the surface with force. Such is accomplished by known machines through use of a spray gun which uses pressurized cleaning or other solution. However, in these prior art devices, the pressure at which the cleaning solution is supplied to the gun is not easily regulatable throughout a range of pressures and certainly not regulatable at the gun itself. Moreover, prior art spray guns do not include attachments, such as a lance wand adapted to provide comfortable use of the gun in at least several typical surface cleaning applications. Instead, ergonomically unsound lance wands are used, which tend to fatigue the equipment user more readily than is necessary or desired.
Another drawback of known prior art cleaning machines is the use of vacuum hoses that need to be wound and stored within the machine. Use of such hoses not only monopolizes space, which is in short supply on a compact cleaning machine, but also wastes operator time. Accordingly, there is a need to develop and incorporate into compact cleaning machines a vacuum hose which need not be wound, i.e., self-retracting, for purposes of storage.
Another drawback of known cleaning machines relates to the vacuum and solution extension wand, which may be used with the machinery and into which various cleaning tools may be attached. Such tools include: a squeegee for recovering spent cleaning solution from a hard floor; a dry pickup for recovering dirt and debris (i.e., traditional vacuuming application) from both hard and soft floors; a carpet sprayer and extractor tool for applying and recovering cleaning solution; and a grout tool for providing cleaning solution to a grouted hard floor or similar surface via specialized pressure jets and a brush and vacuum assembly to complete the cleaning process, etc. Unfortunately, these prior art wands do not facilitate quick and easy removal and replacement of all available tools which is obviously problematic for the user of such equipment.
There is also a need for an improved grout tool for use with prior art cleaning machines. Known grout tools do not provide adequate adjustability or positioning of a cleaning solution spray jet. Also, reliance on a single jet, as opposed to multiple jets, minimizes the productivity and effectiveness of the tool. Due to these shortcomings, known tools do not adequately clean soiled grouted surfaces.
Another problem with known cleaning machines is the failure to provide a work station environment, including poor placement of machine controls, tools and hoses. In such machines, the controls for activating or adjusting pumps, motors, valves, injectors, etc., are located in a position that is inconvenient for a user. In these machines, tools are also scattered around the machine, i.e., they are not concentrated in any particular area of the machine. Moreover, tools which come into contact with fluid are often stored on prior art machines in such a way as to facilitate dripping of fluids back onto a clean surface. Obviously, this is not advantageous. Thus, there is a need to provide a cleaning machine that provides a work station environment, including placing the tools and controls in a position on the device that is convenient for use by the operator when the machine is in use. Such ergonomically friendly placement of controls, tools and hoses will not only facilitate usability of the machine, but will also increase productivity of the user of that machine.
Finally, known cleaning machines do not provide adequate onboard storage for carrying needed cleaning supplies, tools, etc. Likewise, known machines do not provide a flexible approach to adding storage facilities for trash and the like when the need for such arises. Machinery that addresses these issues is therefore needed.
The present inventions relate to methods of cleaning surfaces and devices used therein. The inventive cleaning equipment includes a fluid housing and a base. Within the base is a fluid pump assembly and a vacuum assembly. The device further includes two tanks, one for retaining a base cleaning fluid, such as water, and a second for retaining spent cleaning solution, both of which are housed in the fluid housing. The inventive machine also includes one or more concentrated cleaning chemical receptacles designed to hold concentrated cleaning chemicals. The receptacles are stored on the machine within a lockable structure, adding safety to the overall machine.
In operation, fluid from the chemical receptacles flow through a tube to a chemical selector, which can include a metering valve. The selector has a positive shut-off position. When in that position, fluid is not allowed to flow through the selector regardless of the fluid pressure in a fluid line. That selector is responsive to input from the operator to select one of the several cleaning chemicals. Once a chemical is selected, it is free to flow through the chemical selector and appropriate amounts thereof may be provided to one of any number of inlets to a mixing tee. The amount of chemical allowed to flow can be adjusted by a metering valve built into the selector or separate from the selector, in a known fashion. A base cleaning fluid, such as water, may flow from the fluid tank and through a separate tube to a second leg of the mixing tee. The cleaning fluid and concentrated cleaning chemical then mix within the mixing tee to create a cleaning solution. That solution may then be passed through the selector outlet to a pressure pump, when the cleaning solution may be pressurized and communicated via appropriate tubing to a spray gun. The pump, which draws fluid to and through the selector, also preferably may include a bypass system to facilitate regulation of pump pressure. Use of the pump to draw fluid is preferred as it does not create unwanted pressures in the fluid lines.
A solution can be applied to a surface to be cleaned using the spray gun. It is well known in the art that such surfaces readily include hard surfaces such as tile and toilets. However, the preferred machine also has great utility in cleaning carpeted surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, the spray gun or associated solution lines or tubes include an adjustable valve, which may be used to adjust the pressure and flow of solution allowed to exit the spray gun. Because of the adjustability, the machine can be utilized as a pre-sprayer for various carpet treatments, including spotting or other treatments. As the preferred machine can provide clean water, multiple chemicals or combinations thereof, it can also be used as an application device of extraction chemicals or rinse fluids to a carpeted surface.
By use of the chemical selector, two or more receptacles of cleaning chemicals can easily be fluidly connected to a mixing tee. By this arrangement, a user of the machine can create any number of cleaning solutions without the need for adding receptacles or switching chemical feed lines from one receptacle to another or without changing metering tips that can easily become lost or confused. Instead, all that needs to be done is the selection of a desire chemical through use of the selector. The less cleaning chemicals are handled, the safer the cleaning process. Similarly, use of a metering valve will allow a user to create a very precise cleaning solution.
It is preferred that one-way check valves be used throughout the system. For instance, check valves can be included in: delivery lines that supply cleaning chemicals to the metering tee; lines that supply water to the metering tee; lines that supply cleaning solution to the pump; lines that supply cleaning solution to the spray gun; or in the metering tee, itself The check valves prevent reversal of fluid and prevent contamination of one fluid with another.
The inventive cleaning machine also includes a modular blower assembly. The blower assembly may be hand-held and operate completely apart from the overall cleaning machine. The blower assembly can be used to dry areas physically separate from where the machine may be stored. Because the blower assembly is separate from the machine, it may also be used for other blowing functions, such as blowing leaves, grass, dirt or other debris. The blower assembly can be used with a detachable hand nozzle, a flexible nozzle, an extension wand, etc., thereby increasing the overall flexibility of the blower assembly. As the blower assembly is modular, it may be utilized separately from the machine or with the machine, as desired. The blower assembly may utilize an integrated on/off switch and be powered by electricity supplied by any typical extension cord, including a cord that supplies current to the cleaning machine. It may also be that if the cleaning machine is battery powered, that a cord attached at one end to the battery power may be supplied to the blower assembly. The blower may be configured to be stored on the cleaning machine in one of any number of convenient ways. It should be appreciated that having a modular blower assembly of this type is very beneficial to the overall functionality of a multifunctional cleaning machine and related process.
Another aspect of the inventive cleaning machine relates to an ergonomically enhanced spray gun, having the capability of infinite adjustability of the pressure of fluid to be dispensed through the spray gun nozzle. Such a gun allows a user to vary the pressure of cleaning solution or other fluid exiting the gun by adjusting a variable pressure reduction valve mounted on or near the gun itself. Provision of various pressure and flow at the gun also saves cleaning solution and can act as a safety feature as the machine operator can efficiently manipulate cleaning fluid pressures while he or she is actually working with the device. A variable spray gun is also useful in carpet cleaning operations as it can be used as a carpet extractor pre-cleaning device. The gun may also include a lance wand which has a curvature at its end. Such curvature provides an ergonomically superior wand to clean floors, toilets, etc., as it allows the operator to clean hard to reach surfaces.
A further inventive aspect of the cleaning machine is the use of a self-retracting vacuum hose. The inventive hose compresses when not in use, making it unnecessary to wind the hose around a retaining structure formed on, in, or near the cleaning machine for storage. When in use, the hose expands to many times its compressed length, providing an operator with substantial operating mobility. Not only does use of such a retractable vacuum hose save an operator time (i.e., no need to wind a hose), it also saves space on the cleaning machine and reduces trip hazards, as it only expands to a length necessary for a given job —excess hose is, thus, not left on the floor creating hazardous situations.
A further inventive aspect of the present cleaning machine is a modular vacuum extension wand. The modular wand is similar to known wands, except that it utilizes a cleaning solution transport tube and valve which terminates in a coupling device located just above a terminal end of the wand. Tools which utilize cleaning solution, such as carpet spray and extraction and grout tools, can include an onboard cleaning solution tubing terminating in a device capable of quickly attaching to the coupling device located on the wand itself. Attaching spray jets to the tool, instead of the wand, means that the correct pressure and spray patterns may always be used and a wide variety of various cleaning tools can thus quickly and easily be attached to the inventive modular extension wand, facilitating cleaning operations and saving operator time.
Another inventive aspect of the present invention is an improved grout tool. The tool provides for spray jets to be attached to the tool body, in an adjustable fashion via brackets, and fluid to be applied to the cleaning surface at an angle. More specifically, the spray of cleaning solution from the grout tool jets hits the surface to be cleaned at an angle, forcing the cleaning solution into a cleaning brush, also carried on the tool body. The brush, in combination with the jet spray of cleaning solution, works dirt and debris loose from the surface being cleaned. Once loose, the debris is vacuumed into the recovery tank through a vacuum chamber formed in the grout tool body and hose.
A further inventive aspect of the present machine is that it utilizes a work station environment. The machine naturally has a front and back. An operator may properly push the machine, which utilizes large wheels in both the front and the back, by applying pressure to a handle found at the back of the machine. Once at an area to be cleaned, the operator typically moves to the machine front. Once in the front, the operator may lock caster wheels to keep the machine from moving while the operator is working and may select appropriate cleaning tools and supplies for the cleaning job at hand. Controls necessary for operating the machine are conveniently located on a panel secured to the front of the machine and thus easily accessible to the operator (i.e., cleaning professional). In this way, the cleaning professional can set the machine controls at about he same time he or she is collecting the necessary cleaning supplies and tools, saving time and making the cleaning process more efficient. Moreover, the inventive machine utilizes a drip pan, which is incorporated into the base. The drip pan is configured to catch any fluids that might be expelled from any cleaning tool used by the machine operator which comes in contact with fluid.
Another aspect of the inventive cleaning machine is the inclusion of bins, trays, bays and other storage devices at the machine front, again within easy reach of the cleaning professional. These bins provide the cleaning professional with substantial flexibility when cleaning a large building or area that has many types of surfaces that may need cleaning. Also, the present cleaning machine provides for modular trash/supply bins which can be added to or removed from the machine quickly and easily so that the machine can be configured for one of any number of cleaning activities.
Various aspects of the inventions discussed briefly above combine to provide an effective and efficient cleaning tool, useful in cleaning numerous areas in and around commercial, industrial, institutional and public buildings. Moreover, due to the various aspects of the present invention, a sanitation maintenance worker may clean a particular room or facility more efficiently than previously possible.
These and other benefits and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and description of the drawings, as well as a detailed description of those drawings and the inventions disclosed herein.
The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions.
a is a front view of one embodiment of a preferred multi-functional cleaning machine;
b is a side view of one embodiment of a preferred multi-functional cleaning machine;
a is a side view of one embodiment of a preferred multi-functional cleaning machine showing the blower assembly stored in a preferred position;
b is a side view of one embodiment of a preferred multi-functional cleaning machine showing the blower assembly stored in a preferred position;
c is a perspective view of one embodiment of a preferred multi-functional cleaning machine showing the blower assembly stored in a preferred position;
d is a perspective view of one embodiment of a preferred multi-functional cleaning machine showing the blower assembly stored in a preferred position;
a is an exploded view of one embodiment of the selector and metering valve a preferred multi-functional cleaning machine;
b is a side view of one embodiment of the selector and metering valve of a referred multi-functional cleaning machine;
c is a rear view of one embodiment of the selector and metering valve of a referred multi-functional cleaning machine;
d is a perspective view of one embodiment of the valve of the selector and metering valve;
a is a front view of one embodiment of the modular blower assembly of a preferred multi-functional cleaning machine;
b is a perspective view of one embodiment of the modular blower assembly utilizing a flexible nozzle extension;
c is a perspective view of one embodiment of the modular blower assembly utilizing an extension wand between the blower body and nozzle;
d depicts use of one embodiment of the modular blower assembly of a preferred multi-functional cleaning machine;
a is a front view of one embodiment of the spray gun and high pressure hose of a preferred multi-functional cleaning machine;
b depicts use of one embodiment of a spray gun in cleaning of a typical toilet;
c depicts use of one embodiment of a spray gun in cleaning a typical horizontal surface, such as a floor;
a is a side view of one embodiment of a preferred multi-functional cleaning machine with a self-retracting vacuum hose connected to a modular wand, at one end, and a control panel at the other end, with a tool attached to the wand and stored in a drip pan;
b is a side view of one embodiment of a preferred multi-functional cleaning machine with a self-retracting vacuum hose extended for use and connected to a modular wand and tool;
a is a perspective view of one embodiment of a grout tool for use with a modular extension wand;
b is a second perspective view of one embodiment of a grout tool for use with a modular extension wand;
c is a side view of one embodiment of a grout tool for use with a modular extension wand;
The following components and numbers associated thereto are shown in the drawings and provided here for ease of reference:
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
While the present invention has been illustrated by description of preferred embodiments and while the illustrative versions have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the inventors to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art upon reading this detailed description. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to these specific details, respective apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventors' general inventive concepts.
Referring initially to
In one embodiment, the base 14 is preferably configured to accept four wheels, two 12-inch, non-pneumatic (although pneumatic could also be used) wheels 24, preferably made by Gleason and offered under Part No. 12479492, located at about the bottom back of the machine 10, and two 6-inch caster wheels 26, preferably made by Colson casters under Part No. 6.00617.441BRK1, located at about the bottom front of the machine 10. The caster wheels 26 are preferably positioned inboard of the drip pan 34, facilitating stability. Such movement can be accomplished by either pulling, or more typically, pushing the machine 10 from the rear by applying pressure to a handle 28 formed in the fluid housing 12, in known fashion. It is preferred that the caster wheels 26 have a built-in brake system which can be set to keep the machine 10 from making unwanted movement.
As can best be viewed in
As may also be best seen in
In one embodiment, the base fluid tank 38 may also have adapted thereto a fluid level indicator 52, best seen in
The recovery tank 40 is designed to retain a dirty fluid, typically cleaning solution having dirt and debris entrained therein. The recovery tank 40 also has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with a vacuum motor 30 and associated assemblies which are designed to deposit dirty fluid into the recovery tank 40. The recovery tank 40 also has a dirty fluid outlet at the recovery tank 40 base and which preferably is in fluid communication with a flexible dump tube 54. The dump tube 54 may preferably be secured to the exterior of the machine 10 and is adapted to allow an operator to dump dirty fluid easily into a work basin, toilet, drain, etc. The dump tube 54 also can be made of a clear material and, similar to the base fluid level indicator 52, can be used to indicate the level of dirty fluid within the recovery tank 40.
As can be best seen in
Fluid storage receptacles 70 are best seen in
As best seen in
In one embodiment, the multi-functional cleaning machine 10 is adapted to create, on board, one of several different cleaning solutions. Such cleaning solutions may be created by mixing a base fluid, such as water, with a predetermined amount of one or more cleaning chemicals. Such a cleaning solution is generally created by a solution fluid system, a preferred embodiment of which will now be described.
As is set forth in
As shown in
In one embodiment, the selector and metering valve 72 includes a rotary valve 80, to which is attached a knob 82. The knob 82 is interconnected to the rotary valve 80 by a screw and washer 84. Optionally, a cap 86 may be used to protect the screw and washer 84 and knob 82. The selector and metering valve 72 may preferably be secured to the control panel 44 via a retaining nut 88, in known fashion.
As can be seen in
As will be understood by those of skill in the art, the operator may rotate the knob 82 to allow fluid to flow through one or the other of the selector fluid inlets 76. The operator could regulate the amount of fluid allowed to flow therethrough by regulating the total amount of knob 82 rotation, in known fashion. It should be understood by those with skill in the art that additional inlets and outlets can be added to the selector and metering valve 72. Additionally, skilled artisans will readily understand that selection and metering of a chemical can easily be accomplished by separate mechanical, as well as electromechanical devices. The selection and use of such alternative selectors and/or metering valves are deemed well within the ordinary skill in the art and are to be considered encompassed by this disclosure. It should also be understood that a selector and metering valve 72 can be configured to allow more than one chemical to flow through the valve 72.
With reference again to
In one embodiment, the mixing tee 92 preferably has two inlets 94 and one outlet 96. One inlet 94 is in secure fluid communication with tubing 90. The second mixing tee inlet 94 is in secure fluid communication with a base fluid tube 98. The other end of the base fluid tube 98 is in secure fluid communication with the base fluid tank outlet 50. A solution check valve 100 and/or filter 102 may preferably be placed in line with base fluid tubing 98. A solution check valve 100 may also be included as part of the mixing tee 92.
Fluids which flow from tubes 90, 98 to inlets 94 may be at least partially mixed within the mixing tee 92, exiting outlet 96 as a cleaning solution. Those skilled in the art will understand that the mixing tee 92 may take many shapes, sizes and configurations. For instance, the mixing tee 92 could have multiple inputs and multiple outlets. The mixing tee 92 could also include a mixing chamber into which fluids are dumped and perhaps agitated, prior to exiting the outlet 96. Also, the mixing of fluids could be achieved by use of a forceful mixing structure, such as an injection structure, instead of the preferred passive structure disclosed herein.
Mixed fluid, referred to generally as a cleaning solution, is preferably then passed by tube 104 to fluid pump 32, tube 104 being in secure fluid communication at one end with the mixing tee outlet 96, and at the other end to a fluid inlet 106 of fluid pump 32. Pump 32 can preferably pressurize cleaning solution supplied to inlet 106 and pass that pressurized cleaning solution to pump outlet 108. Pump 32 will pressurize cleaning fluid at a preferred constant pressure of 50 to 460 pounds per square inch. The pump 32 will also create a suction in tube 104, generally facilitating pulling of base fluid from tank 38 and, if selected, one or more chemical receptacles 70. The pump 32 may also preferably be equipped with a bypass line 110 and bypass valve 112, which are useful in regulating the fluid line pressures. If so equipped, cleaning solution can either be pressurized by the pump 32 or fed in an unpressurized fashion to any number of cleaning tools by providing the cleaning solution through bypass line 110 and valve 112 to such tools. In secure fluid communication with pump outlet 108 is a high pressure hose 114 of suitable construction. Preferably, high pressure hose 114 is plumbed to the control panel 44, where it connects in a secure fluid communication with a high pressure hose quick connect coupling device 116 (see
Typically, an operator of the spray gun 120 cannot accurately control the pressure and flow with which cleaning solution is allowed to exit the spray gun 120. Instead, the spray gun 120 usually operates in a binary, i.e., high/low or on-off, fashion. As such, only fluid at selected line pressures is allowed to exit the spray gun 120. Such operation is often problematic for a cleaning operator, as it may be necessary to use a pressure and fluid flow different from a present pressure and flow for a given cleaning operation. Accordingly, it is preferable to include a variable pressure reduction valve 130 somewhere in line with the pressurized cleaning solution. In one embodiment, a preferable valve 130 is a needle valve adapted for use to provide maximum adjustment in preferably one turn. Such a valve is manufactured by Generant of New Jersey under Part No. FFP-882 and is preferably adapted to selectively reduce the pressure and flow capacity, simultaneously, of pressurized cleaning solution which is allowed to exit the spray gun 120. In one embodiment, it is preferable to have the variable pressure reduction valve 130 located near or on the spray gun 120, itself, for ease of use of the valve 130 by an operator when that operator is engaged in cleaning a surface. The reduction valve 130 may be capable of reducing line pressure to zero, at one extreme of the operating spectrum, and provide no reduction in line pressure at the other extreme of the operating spectrum, and be infinitely adjustable between those spectrum ends. Preferably, however, the valve 130 should not completely shut-off line pressure and flow. Instead, that should be accomplished by release of the spray gun 120 trigger 121.
It is also preferable to use a curved lance wand 126 with the spray gun 120. Such a wand 126, as shown in
In operation, the fluid system may create and dispense, under pressure, a cleaning solution to a surface to be cleaned. The pressurized cleaning solution alone, or with help of a brush or other cleaning device, may be used to clean the surface. Once cleaned, however, the dirty solution must preferably be removed from the surface. This can be accomplished by vacuuming the fluid into a storage tank or drying the fluid from the surface in some other fashion, or a combination thereof. A vacuuming function may be performed, in known fashion, through use of a wet vacuum and related assemblies.
In the preferred embodiment, as seen in
Attached to the terminal end 141 of vacuum hose 140 is preferably a vacuum wand 142, to which cleaning tools 144 may be attached, as shown in
In one embodiment, the first quick connect coupling device 150 is adapted to easily attach to the second high pressure hose 118. A valve and trigger assembly 154 is preferably located adjacent the first quick connect 150 and is adapted to control the flow of fluid from the second high pressure hose 118, which is to be passed to the third high pressure hose 148. The second quick connect coupling device 152 is adapted to facilitate quick and easy attachment of fluid hoses which may be associated with individual cleaning tools, such as the grout tool 156 or carpet spray and extractor 158. For instance, on the grout tool 156, two fluid lines are attached, in known fashion, to a single quick connect coupling device 176 at one end, and to two spray jets at their other ends (see
Now with reference to
Once a surface has been cleaned and excess dirty cleaning solution removed from the surface via a vacuum or removal process, it is often desirable to blow dry the surface. A blower can also be useful in other cleaning activities, such as blowing dust from upholstery and like objects, or blowing leaves and like debris from a particular surface. The present invention utilizes such a blower, which is uniquely modular in design and functionality.
Now with reference to
In one embodiment, the blower assembly 178 may be supplied electrical energy from the same electrical cord 190 that is generally used to supply A.C. power 191 to the machine 10. Alternatively, if the machine 10 runs on battery power, that same battery power could be supplied to the blower assembly 178 in a known fashion. In one embodiment, the blower assembly 178 can also include a flexible hose 192 or extension wand 194 disposed between the blower motor and the nozzle 188 to extend the reach and functionality of the blower assembly 178 (see
Now with reference to
Now with reference to
With reference to
The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention.
Moreover, though the description of the invention has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the invention, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.
This application is a divisional of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/438,485, filed May 14, 2003, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10438485 | May 2003 | US |
| Child | 10933990 | Sep 2004 | US |
