Patent Application
20060272120
The present invention relates to extraction cleaning devices for floor, upholstery and fabric care.
Many types of cleaning devices are available for commercial and consumer cleaning needs. While conventional vacuums are popular for general floor cleaning, various types of extraction cleaners have been developed to provide deeper or more problem-specific cleaning operations. Extraction cleaners generally use a liquid or dry composition depositing system in conjunction with a vacuum source to deposit a cleaning substance on the surface being treated, then recover the deposited cleaning substance and any entrained dirt or debris back into the extractor. Extractors can also be used or adapted to deposit other types of compound on the surface, such as sealers and protectants. Like vacuums, extractors are provided in many different forms, such as upright, portable, canister, and handheld.
Typical wet extractors use a fluid dispensing system having a fluid reservoir to store a detergent mixture, a pump to pressurize the mixture, and a fluid conduit to convey the pressurized fluid mixture to the surface to be cleaned. Many variations on this design have been produced. For example, some wet extractors store concentrated detergent and water in two separate reservoirs, and mix the two at some point in the process of conveying it to the surface to be cleaned. It is also known in upright extractors to supply the cleaning fluid by gravity. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,082,376, 4,458,377, 6,125,498, 6,378,162, 4,809,396, 6,167,586, and 5,615,448, which are incorporated by reference herein, show these and various other wet extractor configurations and features.
The cleaning fluid, along with any entrained dirt or debris, is recovered by applying a vacuum to the surface. The vacuum is generated by a vacuum pump, such as a conventional fan and motor assembly, that creates a working airflow within the extractor that extends from the inlet nozzle (typically a narrow slit) to a recovery tank. The recovery tank is usually positioned, in a fluid sense, between the inlet nozzle and the vacuum source to prevent fluid and dirt from contaminating the vacuum fan or motor, but it is also known to locate the recovery tank fluidly downstream of the vacuum source. Typical recovery tanks comprise a removable chamber having a float and valve arrangement that closes the path to the vacuum source when the tank reaches a predetermined fill level to prevent fluid from entering the suction source.
Wet extractors are often operated in a two-step process. In the first step, the cleaning step, the cleaning fluid is deposited on the surface being cleaned, then recovered along with any entrained dirt and debris. In the second step, the rinsing step, the cleaning fluid is replaced with clean water, which is deposited on and recovered from the surface to rinse away any remnants of the cleaning fluid. While known extractors have proved useful for cleaning carpets, upholstery and other fabrics and textiles, this second rinsing step has been found to be inconvenient and time consuming because remnants of the cleaning fluid often remain in the fluid conduit between the fluid reservoir (or reservoirs) and the conduit outlet. As such, operators typically must flush the fluid that remains in the fluid conduit before beginning the clean water rinse cycle, and may also need to remove the pre-mixed cleaning solution from the reservoir and replace it with clean water for rinsing. Such flushing may be inconvenient, and may waste cleaning solution. Similar problems may arise when using dry chemical extraction devices.
In view of these and other problems with the known extraction cleaning devices, there remains a need to provide an improved extraction cleaning device.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a hose assembly and a cleaning head. The housing is adapted to hold a first supply tank adapted to contain a first fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet. The pump inlet is adapted to receive the first fluid from the first supply tank. The hose assembly has a proximal end connected to the housing and a distal end freely moveable relative to the housing, and includes a vacuum hose in communication with the recovery tank and a fluid hose in communication with the pump outlet. The cleaning head is connected to the distal end of the hose assembly, and has an inlet nozzle in communication with the vacuum hose and a fluid deposition system in communication with the fluid hose. The fluid deposition system has a second supply tank adapted to contain a second fluid, a fluid mixer adapted to mix the first fluid with the second fluid, and a first fluid sprayer located downstream from the fluid mixer. The second supply tank is selectively removable from the cleaning head and has a dry-break valve that automatically seals the second supply tank upon removal of the second supply tank from the cleaning head.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a hose assembly and a cleaning head. The housing is adapted to hold a first supply tank adapted to contain a first fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet. The pump inlet is adapted to receive the first fluid from the first supply tank. The hose assembly has a proximal end connected to the housing and a distal end freely moveable relative to the housing, and includes a vacuum hose in communication with the recovery tank and a fluid hose in communication with the pump outlet. The cleaning head is connected to the distal end of the hose assembly, and has an inlet nozzle in communication with the vacuum hose and a fluid deposition system in communication with the fluid hose. The fluid deposition system has a second supply tank adapted to contain a second fluid, a tank receptacle, a fluid mixer adapted to mix the first fluid with the second fluid, and a first fluid sprayer, located downstream from the fluid mixer. The second supply tank is selectively removable from the cleaning head, and the tank receptacle is adapted to receive substantially the entire second supply tank. The tank receptacle has an open portion through which at least a portion of the second supply tank is visible.
In still another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a hose assembly and a cleaning head. The housing is adapted to hold a first supply tank adapted to contain a first fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet. The pump inlet is adapted to receive the first fluid from the first supply tank. The hose assembly has a proximal end connected to the housing and a distal end that is freely moveable relative to the housing, and includes a vacuum hose in communication with the recovery tank, a fluid hose in communication with the pump outlet, and a hose cuff located at the distal end. The cleaning head has an inlet nozzle in communication with the vacuum hose and a fluid deposition system in communication with the fluid hose. The fluid deposition system includes a flow valve adapted to block the flow of the first fluid in an off position, and allow the flow of the first fluid in at least one operating position, a second supply tank adapted to contain a second fluid, a fluid mixer adapted to mix the first fluid with the second fluid, and a first fluid sprayer, located downstream from the fluid mixer. The cleaning head is selectively connectable to the hose cuff such that the cleaning head can be simultaneously connected to the vacuum hose and the fluid hose.
In still another aspect, the invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a hose assembly and a cleaning head comprising. The housing is adapted to hold a first supply tank adapted to contain a first fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet. The pump inlet is adapted to receive the first fluid from the first supply tank. The hose assembly has a proximal end connected to the housing and a distal end freely moveable relative to the housing, and includes a vacuum hose in communication with the recovery tank and a fluid hose in communication with the pump outlet. The cleaning head is connected to the distal end of the hose assembly, and has an inlet nozzle in communication with the vacuum hose, a handle, and a fluid deposition system in communication with the fluid hose. The fluid deposition system includes a flow valve adapted to block the flow of the first fluid in an off position, and allow the flow of the first fluid in at least one operating position, a second supply tank adapted to contain a second fluid, a fluid mixer adapted to mix the first fluid with the second fluid, a first fluid sprayer, located downstream from the fluid mixer, and a diverter valve adapted to create a rinse flow path from the fluid hose to a second fluid sprayer, such that the rinse flow path bypasses the fluid mixer. The flow valve and the diverter valve are positioned proximal to the handle such that a user can grip the handle in one hand and operate the flow valve and the diverter valve with the one hand without releasing the handle.
In still another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a hose assembly and a cleaning head. The housing is adapted to hold a first supply tank adapted to contain a first fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet. The pump inlet is adapted to receive the first fluid from the first supply tank. The hose assembly has a proximal end connected to the housing and a distal end freely moveable relative to the housing, and includes a vacuum hose in communication with the recovery tank and a fluid hose in communication with the pump outlet. The cleaning head is connected to the distal end of the hose assembly, and has an inlet nozzle in communication with the vacuum hose and a fluid deposition system in communication with the fluid hose. The fluid deposition system has a second supply tank adapted to contain a second fluid, a third supply tank connected to the second supply tank and adapted to contain a third fluid, a fluid mixer adapted to selectively mix the first fluid with the second fluid in a first mixer position, and with the third fluid in a second mixer position, and a first fluid sprayer located downstream from the fluid mixer.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a first supply tank adapted to contain a first fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, a fluid pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a fluid supply hose connected to the pump outlet, and a bypass valve fluidly positioned between the pump inlet and the fluid supply hose. The pump inlet is adapted to receive the first fluid from the first supply tank. The cleaning device also has a fluid deposition system in communication with the fluid supply hose. The fluid deposition system has a flow valve adapted to block the flow of the first fluid in an off position, and allow the flow of the first fluid in at least one operating position, and a first fluid sprayer located downstream from the flow valve. The bypass valve is adapted to open when the flow valve is in the off position.
In still another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing with an air inlet, an air outlet and a motor cooling path therebetween. A first supply tank is selectively removable from the housing and is adapted to contain a first fluid. A recovery tank is also provided and is selectively removable from the housing. A vacuum fan is located within the housing, and a fan motor is located within the motor cooling path and adapted to drive the vacuum fan to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank. A motor cooling fan is located within the motor cooling path and adapted to generate a cooling air flow along the motor cooling path that enters the housing through the air inlet, is heated by the fan motor, and exits the housing through the air outlet. The device also includes a fluid deposition system that is fluidly connected to the first supply tank, and adapted to deposit the first fluid on a surface to be cleaned. The first supply tank is located adjacent at least a portion of the motor cooling path between the fan motor and the air outlet, and the first fluid is adapted to be heated by the cooling air flow.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a supply tank selectively removable from the housing and adapted to contain a fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor has a first element attached to the supply tank, a second element attached to the housing, and a display positioned to indicate the thermal condition of the fluid to an operator.
In still another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a housing, a supply tank selectively removable from the housing and adapted to contain a fluid, a recovery tank, a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow through the recovery tank, and a temperature sensor attached to the supply tank and adapted to indicate the thermal condition of the fluid to an operator.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning device having a fluid supply system, a fluid recovery system, and one or more ultraviolet lights adapted to irradiate the fluid supply system and/or the fluid recovery system. The fluid supply system has a first supply tank for containing a fluid, and a fluid deposition system, associated with the first supply tank and adapted to deposit the fluid on a surface to be cleaned. The fluid recovery system has a recovery tank, an inlet nozzle, and a vacuum fan adapted to generate a working air flow from the inlet nozzle to the recovery tank.
The present invention provides an improved wet extraction cleaning machine having a unique and useful housing construction and layout for providing improved compactness and efficiency. The present invention also provides a unique fluid system providing enhanced control over the mixture of detergent and water, and quick changing between depositing a detergent/water mixture and pure water, which allows for quicker and more efficient rinsing operations. The present invention also provides the ability to quickly change between various cleaning solutions, improved on-board tool and hose storage capability, and various other features as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art.
Referring now to
The extractor 100 includes a removable fluid supply tank 106 and a removable recovery tank 108, which preferably are retained in the upper surface of the base assembly 102 in a laterally juxtaposed orientation. That is, the supply and recovery tanks 106, 108 are on opposite sides of the long axis of the device. The supply and recovery tanks 106, 108 may be individually removable, or may be connected to one another to allow removal together. A cleaning head 110 is provided, and is preferably configured such that it nests in a pocket 111 in the base assembly 102, and in a channel 113 created between the supply and recovery tanks 106, 108. A vacuum hose 112 is provided to connect the cleaning head 110 to a vacuum fan 324 (
Preferably, the vacuum hose 112 is fixedly attached to the base housing 102 or to a part or parts therein or thereon (i.e., attached such that it is not intended to be detached during general use, but may be detached and reattached when cleaning the device or for other service). It is also preferred for the vacuum hose 112 to be selectively attachable to the cleaning head 110 (i.e., attached such that it is readily connected or disconnected during general use). While the preceding attachments are preferred, they may altered, reversed, or otherwise varied, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings herein. The base assembly 102 and various working parts of the wet extractor 100 are shown in more detail in
A number of fastener bosses 308 are provided for passing fasteners (preferably screws) therethrough to secure the upper and lower housings 302, 304 together. The lower housing 304 also includes a fluid pump mount 310, into which the bottom of a fluid pump 312 fits. The pump mount 310 has, in this preferred embodiment, the form of two ribs that form a cradle, but may be otherwise shaped. An additional rib (not shown) is also provided below the fluid pump 312 to provided additional support thereto, and other support structures may be used instead. The pump 310 is secured in the base housing 102 by an upper pump mount 314 that is shaped to fit over and capture the pump 312 in place. The upper mount 314 may be attached to the lower housing 304 by its fasteners, may be captured in place between the upper and lower housings 302, 304, or may be attached to the upper housing 302 in the appropriate location to capture the pump 312 when the upper housing 302 is attached to the lower housing 304. Vibration- or noise-reducing padding may be placed between the pump 312 and the mounts 310, 314 if desired.
The pump 312 is provided for pressurizing fluid from the supply tank 106 and conveying it to the cleaning head 110. Any type of pump can be used, such as an electric motor 316 adapted to drive a centrifugal pump 318, a vacuum-driven pump, self-priming pumps, and so on. When an electric motor-driven pump is used, a cooling fan 320 may optionally be provided on the motor 316 to cool it, as shown. The inlet of the pump 312 is connected to the supply tank 106 by way of a fluid hose (not shown) that leads to a dry-break receptacle 370 (shown in more detail in FIGS. 5A-B). A check valve (not shown) may also be provided to prevent backflow from the pump to the dry-break fitting. The pump's outlet is connected to the cleaning head 110 by way of another fluid hose 902 (
A vacuum fan assembly 322 is also contained in the base housing 102. The vacuum fan assembly 322 comprises a vacuum fan 324 that is driven by an electric fan motor 326. The vacuum fan 324 may be any type of impeller or fan arrangement that generates a working air flow in the device when the electric motor 326 is activated. The vacuum fan 324 and fan motor 326 are contained between first and second housing shells 328, 330. One or both of the fan motor 326 and the vacuum fan 324 may be mounted within the first and second housing shells 328, 330 on vibration- or noise-reducing isolation mounts, and the assembly may include various seals and gaskets to help control or isolate the airflow within it, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art.
The first housing shell 328 encases the vacuum fan 324 and includes an inlet passage 332 that directs air to the vacuum fan inlet (not visible), and an outlet passage 334 that conveys air exiting the vacuum fan outlets 336. The first housing shell 328 may be partially formed by an additional cover 338. Such a cover 338 is not required, but may be useful to reduce production costs or complexity, especially when it is desired to form the first housing shell 328 as a complex part that defies conventional or practical forming operations. Of course, these well-understood principles of part manufacture and cost control are equally applicable for the other parts of the invention, particularly parts that are conveniently made as molded plastic parts (such as the upper and lower housings 302, 304), which may be formed either as monolithic pieces that are formed in a single operation, or as conglomerations of separately-manufactured pieces that are assembled together to form the final part.
The second housing shell 330 encases the fan motor 326 and includes an inlet 340 into which air is drawn by a motor cooling fan 342, and an outlet (not visible) located near the other end of the fan motor 326. In operation, the motor cooling fan 342 produces a cooling air flow that passes over and cools the fan motor 326. While the second housing shell 330 is not required, it is useful to improve motor cooling and to prevent unregulated release of heated air from the motor into the base housing 102. Air is provided to the interior of the base housing assembly 102 through one or more housing inlet vents 341. The housing inlet vents 341 are preferably located above the lower surface 306 of the lower housing 304, so that any suction created by the motor cooling fan 342 does not draw fluid or objects into the housing inlet vents 341.
The installation of vacuum fan assembly 322 may be executed in a similar manner as the pump mounting. In a preferred embodiment, the lower housing 304 is provided with a pair of ribs that form a vacuum fan assembly mount 344. A corresponding surface or surfaces in the upper housing 302 capture the vacuum fan assembly 322 in place when the housings are assembled together. In addition, fasteners are used to secure the vacuum fan assembly 322 to the upper housing 302. Vibration- or noise-reducing materials may be provided between the vacuum fan assembly 322 and its mounts. Of course, other vacuum fan assembly mounting arrangements may be used. For example, the vacuum fan assembly mount 344 may simply comprise one or more fasteners (such as screws) that pass through the lower housing 304 to hold the vacuum fan assembly 322 in place, or the device may be provided with straps that retain the vacuum fan assembly 322. Other variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
An exhaust assembly 346 may also be provided in the base housing 102. The exhaust assembly 346 is provided to direct air exiting the vacuum fan 324 and the fan motor 326 to a vent 350. The vent 350 may be located in either the upper or lower housing 302, 304, and may be directed downward to reduce the noise level of the device. As shown in
The base assembly of
Still referring to
The upper housing 302 has a first pocket 366 that is adapted to receive the supply tank 106 (
The first and second pockets 366, 368 and their respective tanks 106, 108 preferably are made such that the tanks 106, 108 can be vertically lowered into the pockets 366, 368, and held in place by gravity or by gravity and snap fittings. Such snap fittings may simply comprise protrusions in the pockets 366, 368 that snap into corresponding detents on the tanks 106, 108, or any other engagement by resiliently biased parts. Of course, other engagement devices may be used to retain the tanks 106, 108 instead, such as a tapered sliding engagement, clamps or other locking devices. The first pocket 366 includes a dry-break receptacle 370, described in detail with reference to
The upper housing 302 preferably is also provided with an opening 372 into which the cleaning head 110 is adapted to fit, as shown in
A power switch 374 is provided in a corresponding opening 376 in the upper housing 302. Wiring (not shown) connects the switch 374 to the fan motor 326 and/or pump motor 316 in a known manner. In a preferred embodiment, the switch 374 activates the fan motor 326 and pump motor 316 simultaneously, but the switch 374 may be a three-position switch in which the first position de-energizes the device, the second position energizes just the vacuum motor 326, and the third position energizes both the vacuum motor 326 and the pump motor 316. The vacuum motor 326 and pump motor 316 may also be separately controlled by separate switches. In any of these embodiments, one or more of the switches may be positioned on the cleaning head 110, rather than on the base 102 assembly. The wiring and fluid plumbing for device are excluded from these drawings solely for the sake of clarity of illustration, but these features will be well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.
The upper housing 302 may also be provided with an electrical cord holding device, such as an upper hook 378 and a lower hook 380. the upper and lower hook 378, 380 face in opposite directions, as shown in
The upper housing 302 also includes a pair of handle pivot holes 382 (one of which is visible). The handle pivot holes 382 are adapted to receive handle pivot bushings 384, which in turn hold a handle pivot 386. The handle pivot 386 has a hollow portion therein that forms a portion of the working air passage between the cleaning head 110 and the recovery tank 108. A portion of the fluid hose 902 (
Turning now to
The supply tank 106 comprises a selectively sealable inlet 406 having a cover 408 or a screw-on cap. The cover 408 preferably is made from a flexible material, and may be provided with a pin 410 that is pressed into and captured in a corresponding hole 412 in the supply tank 106 wall, to thereby retain the cover 408 when it is removed from the inlet 406. A vent hole 414 is provided in the cover 408 or in the tank walls near the uppermost extent of the supply tank 106. The cover pin hole 412 may also serve as a vent hole if the tolerance between the hole 412 and the pin 410 is great enough to allow air to pass therethrough. The supply tank 306 has an outlet 416 in its lowermost wall, and a dry-break outlet fitting 418, as are known in the art, is positioned in the outlet 416 to prevent the escape of fluid when the supply tank 106 is not installed in the device. Also shown in
The supply tank 106 optionally includes thermally conductive surfaces 422, such as those described with reference to the first pocket 366 shown in
The operation of the dry-break outlet 418 is shown in
The supply tank 106 preferably is shaped so that it has a low profile when it is oriented to be filled. This allows the supply tank 106 to be filled even when relatively little vertical room is available, as is often the case in bathroom sinks, in which the sink basin is typically shallower and the faucet is typically lower than in kitchen or utility sinks. In order to accomplish this goal, the exterior walls of the supply tank 106 define a flattened outer periphery having its inlet 406 located on a flattened side thereof. In this embodiment, the supply tank 106 is filled by removing it from the base assembly 102, removing the cover 408, turning the tank on its side, and positioning the inlet 406 under a faucet. The narrow, flattened profile of the supply tank 106 provides substantially more clearance than typical supply tanks, and allows the inlet 406 to be positioned under faucets in sinks that have relatively shallow basins and low faucets.
An embodiment of a recovery tank 108 of the present invention is shown in exploded view in
The recovery tank 108 is provided with a working air inlet 610 that, when installed in the device, fits over the outlet 364 of the inlet air conduit 358 in the base assembly 102 to form a continuous fluid conduit to the cleaning head 110. The recovery tank 108 also has a working air outlet 612 that fits over the inlet passage 332 to the vacuum fan assembly 322 to form a continuous path to the vacuum fan 324. it will be appreciated that when the vacuum fan 324 is activated, it applies a vacuum to the working air outlet 612, which is conveyed to the working air inlet 610 and the cleaning head 110 to extract water and entrained soil for the surface being cleaned. The recovery tank 108 also has a drain outlet 614 that is selectively sealed by a drain cover 616 to allow an operator to conveniently drain the contents of the recovery tank 108. The drain cover 616 preferably has a pin 618 that is attached to a corresponding hole (not shown) in the recovery tank 108 to secure the cover to the recovery tank 108 when it is not covering the drain outlet 614. The drain cover 616 may also be identical to the supply tank cover 408 to reduce manufacturing costs.
The recovery tank 108 is provided with an internal assembly 619 that prevents the working air from going directly from the working air inlet 610 to the working air outlet 612 without first depositing any liquid and entrained soil into the recovery tank 108. The internal assembly 619 includes an air router 620, a diverter 622, a float assembly having a float 624 and a float linkage 626, and a door 628.
The air router 620 has two passages through it. The first passage is a dirty air passage 802 (
The float assembly comprises a buoyant float 624, which may comprise any structure that will tend to float on liquid that accumulates in the recovery tank 108. The float 624 preferably is a hollow air-filled plastic chamber, but it may also be a naturally buoyant material (such a closed-cell foams), or an inverted cup-like structure. The float 624 is attached to a float linkage 626, which is captured between the air router 620 and diverter 622 such that it is free to move vertically, but otherwise generally constrained from movement. The door 628 is pivotally attached to the air router 620 below the clean air passage inlet 626, and can rotate to cover the inlet 626. The float linkage 626 is provided with an actuating pin 642 or other structure that is positioned to press on and close the door 628 when the float 624 rises on liquid in the recovery tank 108. In addition, the door 628 may be provided with a spring or weight to bias the door open, which may be useful to re-open the door against the suction force of the vacuum should the door 628 close before the tank is full. The shape and size of the float 624, float linkage 626 and door 628, as well as the float's buoyancy, can all be adjusted to close the door 628 when the liquid level in the recovery tank 108 reaches its desired fill point, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.
A preferred relationship between the recovery tank 108, its internal assembly 619, and the base assembly 102 and its internal parts is shown in more detail in
The working air flow path through the recovery tank 108 and its various components is shown in
Referring now to
The vacuum hose 112 may be permanently attached to the cleaning head 110 (i.e., attached such that it can not be readily removed during regular use), but preferably is selectively removable from the cleaning head 110. To this end, the vacuum hose 112 terminates at a hose cuff 904 that can be easily attached to and removed from the cleaning head 110. The hose cuff 904 includes a hose connection sleeve 906 over which the vacuum hose 112 slidably fits, and a vacuum connection sleeve 908, which is adapted to slidably fit over a corresponding sleeve 910 in the cleaning head 110. The vacuum connection sleeve 908 has a hole 912 therein, which is positioned to receive a resiliently biased pin 914 on the cleaning head connection sleeve 910 to hold the two in engagement until the pin 914 is pushed out of the hole 912. When the vacuum connection sleeve 908 and the corresponding cleaning head sleeve 910 are engaged, they form a continuous enclosed passage through which the working air can pass to the vacuum hose 112.
In order to connect the liquid hose 902 to the cleaning head 110, the hose cuff 904 is also provided with a female fluid coupler 916, which is retained in place under a cover 918. The liquid hose 902, which is elsewhere contained within the vacuum hose 112, passes through an opening 920 in the hose cuff 904, and is attached to an appropriate fitting 922 on the female fluid coupler 916. The female fluid coupler 916 is positioned such that it slides over a male fluid coupler 924 contained within the cleaning head 112 when the vacuum connection sleeve 908 is engaged. One or both of the female and male fluid couplers 916, 924 may be provided as dry-break fitting that prevents fluid flow therethrough when not attached to the other coupler.
Using this arrangement, the cleaning head 112 can be easily disconnected from the vacuum hose 112 by simply pressing the pin 914 inwards and separating the parts. While this embodiment is preferred because it allows simple, simultaneous attachment of the vacuum and liquid lines, other embodiments may also be used. For example, a bayonet-type fitting or other type of removable attachment may instead be used for the vacuum attachment, and a separate dry-break attachment may be provided for the liquid hose, and so on.
The cleaning head 110 generally comprises a handle 926, a trigger 928, a mixture control 930, an auxiliary supply tank 932, and an inlet nozzle 934. The handle 926 is shaped to be gripped by a user to control the cleaning head, and the trigger 928 and mixture control 930 are preferably provided within easy reach of the handle 926, such that they can be manipulated without removing one's hand from the handle 926. The trigger 928 is positioned to operate a flow valve 936, and the mixture control 930 operates a diverter valve 938. Both valves 936, 938 are contained within the cleaning head 110. The operation of the valves is described elsewhere herein with respect to
The auxiliary supply tank 932 may be removable from the cleaning head 110, or may be permanently attached thereto. The auxiliary supply tank 932 is provided to contain detergent or other desirable chemical treatments. In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary supply tank 932 comprises a generally enclosed chamber having a cover 940 that seals a refill opening 942 on top of the tank. The cover 940 is similar to the supply and recovery tank covers 408, 616, and may be provided with a pin that fits into a corresponding hole to retain the cover 940 when it is not sealing the opening 942. The auxiliary supply tank 932 or its cover also may have a vent hole (not shown), such as those described elsewhere herein. The auxiliary supply tank 932 has an outlet 948 that is sealed by a dry-break valve 950, such as those described herein or of similar construction, that seals the auxiliary supply tank 932 when it is removed from the cleaning head 110. The dry-break valve 950 engages with a corresponding auxiliary supply tank fluid connector 952 in the cleaning head 110 to open a fluid path when the auxiliary supply tank 932 is installed.
The auxiliary supply tank fluid connector 952 is fluidly connected to an eductor 954, the operation of which is described elsewhere herein, or any other type of fluid mixing device. This connection preferably includes a check valve that prevents fluid from escaping out of the fluid connector 952 when the auxiliary supply tank 932 is removed. In one embodiment, the check valve may comprise a rubber plug 956, a spherical plug (ball bearing), thin film, or the like, that is biased by a spring 958 to cover the exit 960 of the fluid connector 952. This arrangement allows fluid to flow from the auxiliary supply tank 932 to the eductor 954, but not in the other direction. Of course, other check valves may be used instead, or the check valve may be omitted. While the eductor 954 is shown below the auxiliary supply tank fluid connector in
It has been found that placement of the auxiliary supply tank 932 in the cleaning head 110 provides numerous advantages over systems in which the auxiliary supply tank is contained in the base assembly 102 or is pre-mixed with the water in the supply tank 106. One advantage is that the flow of detergent can be nearly instantaneously stopped, allowing for rapid switches between the washing mode of operation, in which water and detergent are applied to the surface being cleaned, and the rinsing mode of operation, in which only clean water from the supply tank 106 is deposited. This is possible because the detergent only passes through a relatively short section of tubing before being deposited, preferably less than about six inches, and therefore it can be rapidly purged from the system when it is no longer desired. Another advantage of the present invention is that the auxiliary supply tank 932 can be quickly replaced by another tank having an additional cleaning fluid or a different or complementary chemical treatment. For example, the device may be provided with multiple cleaning tanks 932, each of which has a detergent specially selected to treat particular types of stains or soil. In an embodiment in which multiple auxiliary supply tanks 932 are provided, the base assembly 102, handle 104, cleaning head 110, hose 112 or other parts of the device may be provided with pockets, clips or other mounting structures to hold the tanks that are not currently being used. For example, a storage pocket 114 may be provided on the base assembly 102, as shown in
In another embodiment of the invention, the cleaning head 110 may have multiple auxiliary supply tank receptacles 990, each of which receives a separate auxiliary supply tank 932. Each of the tanks 932 is plumbed into the fluid system, and a user can operate a valve to elect which tank is to be used at a given time. This allows the user to quickly select from among several different fluids to mix and apply to the surface being cleaned. In another embodiment, the auxiliary supply tank 932 itself may be partitioned into multiple separate compartments, each of which is separately fluidly connected to the cleaning head (such as by separate dry-break connectors). This provides a more compact system in which the user can select which tank (and its associated contents) to use at any given time. For example, the tank 932 may contain separate compartments (
The inlet nozzle 934 of the cleaning head 110 is formed as a narrow slit between a nozzle cover 962 and a nozzle base 964. The nozzle cover 962 preferably is removable from the nozzle base 964, and may be pivotally attached thereto by pins 966 that fit into corresponding holes 968. A projection 970 on the nozzle base 964 snaps into a corresponding notch (not shown) in the nozzle cover 962 to hold it in place during operation. The nozzle base 964 and nozzle cover 962 form a narrow slit-like passage that extends upwards from the surface being cleaned to a main vacuum passage 972 that extends back to the sleeve 910. Thus, it will be seen that, when the hose cuff 904 is attached to the cleaning head 110 and the recovery tank 108 is installed in the base assembly 102, a continuous working air passage is formed between the inlet nozzle 934 and the vacuum fan 324.
The cleaning head 110 may also include a brush 980 that may be permanently or selectively attached near the nozzle base 964 to provide the user with a means for manually agitating the surface. The brush 980 may also be replaced by a powered brush of any known type, as are known in the art. The brush may also be replaced by an ultrasonic cleaning implement that agitates the surface with ultrasonic waves to enhance the cleaning operation. Such devices are known in the art and described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,276,444 and 4,069,541, which are incorporated herein by reference.
In the embodiment of
In the shown embodiment, the cleaning head 110 has two sprayers 984 that are held in corresponding cradles 986 on opposite sides of the main vacuum passage 972, and are oriented to spray through respective spray openings 988 through the bottoms of the cleaning head housing halves 974, 976. While the term sprayer is used generally herein, it will be understood that such sprayers need not forcibly eject the fluid therefrom, and instead may operate by slowly depositing the fluid or “dribbling” the fluid onto the surface being cleaned or otherwise expelling the fluid on the surface. The two sprayers 984 may be provided separately, but in a preferred embodiment they are conjoined as a single part (see
The cleaning head housing halves 974, 976 also form an auxiliary supply tank receptacle 990. The auxiliary supply tank receptacle 990 preferably is shaped to slidably receive the auxiliary supply tank 932, and has cut-back ends 992 that allow a user to grasp the sides of the auxiliary supply tank 932 for removal. The auxiliary supply tank receptacle 990 is tilted downward towards the back of the cleaning head 110 so that the contents of the auxiliary supply tank 932 tend to flow down towards the dry-break valve 950 and auxiliary supply tank fluid connector 952 when the cleaning head 110 is held horizontally, as during normal use. The auxiliary supply tank receptacle 990 also preferably has an open rear portion 994 (which may be open or covered with a transparent window) to allow the user to see the auxiliary supply tank 932. When such an opening 994 is provided, the auxiliary supply tank 932 may have a transparent window (or be made entirely of a transparent material), that aligns with the opening 994 so that a user can check the contents of the auxiliary supply tank 932.
While the foregoing auxiliary supply tank receptacle 990 is preferred, it is also envisioned that the receptacle may take other configurations, and need not be adapted to slidably receive the auxiliary supply tank 932. For example, the auxiliary supply tank receptacle may instead comprise a threaded or bayonet-type receiver for receiving corresponding portion of the auxiliary supply tank, or may be an internal compartment that is accessed by a door, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure and with further practice of the invention.
The pressurized fluid passing out of the flow valve 936 is conveyed via a conduit 1114 to the inlet of the diverter valve 938. The diverter valve 938 preferably comprises a two-way valve that directs the pressurized fluid to either a first outlet 1122 or a second outlet 1126, depending on the position of an annular seal 1120 located within the valve 938. The annular seal 1120 is actuated by the mixture control switch 930 by way of a plunger 1118 or other armature or linkage. While the shown diverter valve 938 is a binary valve—that is, it only passes fluid in one of the two outlets at any given time—it is also envisioned that the diverter valve 938 may be provided as a proportional valve that allows fluid to be passed through both outlets at the same time, but in varying proportional amounts.
When the mixture control 930 is positioned to direct the pressurized fluid through the first diverter valve outlet 1122, the pressurized fluid is conveyed through conduit 1124 directly to a first sprayer 984′. In this position (which is illustrated in
In the washing mode, the pressurized fluid is conveyed through conduit 1128 to the inlet 1130 of the eductor 954. The eductor 954 comprises a main inlet 1130, an outlet 1132, a suction inlet 1138, and a constriction 1134 between the main inlet 1130 and the outlet 1132 and suction inlet 1138. The constriction, like in conventional known eductors, comprises an area of reduced cross-sectional area where the fluid momentarily accelerates as it passes through the eductor. As the fluid exits the constriction 1134, it creates a suction force that draws fluid in from the suction inlet 1138, which then mixes with the main fluid supply. In this manner, a detergent or other cleaning fluid can be introduced into the main fluid supply. The use of such eductors to mix detergent into a main cleaning fluid is known, and described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,203, which is incorporated herein by reference. While the shown eductor 954 is fixed (that is, its geometry can not be varied to change the ratio of the fluid mixture), it may instead be adapted to have a variable profile, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,203 or in other known ways.
While a supply of detergent or other cleaning fluid can be provided to the eductor's secondary inlet 1138 by any system of reservoirs and hoses, a compact and efficient fluid system is provided by the embodiment of
The dry-break valve 950 also includes a cage portion 1142 that is formed at the end of the tank fitting portion 1140 or formed separately and attached thereto by bayonet fittings or the like. The cage portion 1142 comprises a structure that allows fluid to pass through it, but has sufficient structure and shape to retain a plunger 1144, plunger seal 1146, and a spring 1148. The plunger 1144 is disposed in the dry-break valve 950 such that it extends into the central passage of the tank fitting portion 1140 into which the auxiliary supply tank fluid connector 952 fits. The plunger seal 1146 is disposed annularly around the end of the plunger 1144, and the spring 1148 biases the plunger 1144 towards the tank fitting portion 1140 (to the right in
The auxiliary supply tank fluid connector 952 may be directly connected to, or formed as part of, the eductor 954, however it is preferred to attaching the fluid connector exit 960 to the eductor's secondary inlet 1138 by a flexible hose 1139. The fluid passage between the auxiliary supply tank fluid connector 952 and the eductor 954 is also provided with a check valve to prevent fluid from passing from the eductor 954 to the auxiliary supply tank 932. The check valve also helps prevent fluid in the auxiliary supply tank 932 from siphoning out through the eductor 954 when the flow valve 936 is closed. The check valve may be of any construction, but preferably comprises a plug 956 that is inserted into the auxiliary supply tank fluid connector 952 itself, and biased against a corresponding sealing surface within the connector 952 by a spring 958. The plug 956 and spring 958 are held in place by abutment with the end of the secondary inlet 1138 of the eductor 954. This configuration has been found to provide a very compact package that can be used in any variety of cleaning heads 110.
As noted before, as pressurized fluid passes through the constriction 1134 of the eductor 954, it draws a certain amount of detergent from the auxiliary supply tank through the secondary inlet 1138, thereby providing a detergent mixture that exits the eductor outlet 1132. The exact proportion of detergent (or other fluid) that is mixed into the pressurized fluid will vary depending upon the size of the eductor constriction 1134 and the secondary inlet 1138, the size of the spray orifices through the sprayer(s) 984, the pressure, viscosity and temperature of the fluids, and various other factors that will be understood or readily determined by those of ordinary skill in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the constriction 1134 has a diameter of about 1.1 mm, the suction inlet 1138 passes through a restriction of about 0.7 mm, and the sprayer 984″ through which the mixture passes has a diameter of about 1.7 mm.
The fluid/detergent mixture leaving the eductor outlet 1132 is conveyed to a second sprayer 984″ via conduit 1136. The second sprayer 984″ preferably is formed as a single part 1150 with the first sprayer 984′. The first and second sprayers 984′, 984″ are each directed to focus their sprays on approximately the same position on the surface being cleaned, so that the spray pattern will be approximately the same regardless of whether the user is operating the device in the rinsing mode or the washing mode.
Having described an embodiment of the fluid supply system in detail, it will now be apparent that the fluid system of the present invention provides a novel system for providing a mixture of cleaning solution (or other chemical) and water to a surface being cleaned, while also allowing the provision of cleaning solution to be quickly cut off to operate using water alone. Furthermore, by positioning the auxiliary supply tank 932 in the cleaning head 110 and bypassing the auxiliary supply tank 932 when rinsing is desired, the rinse mode can be initiated without having to purge the fluid lines of detergent-laden fluid, which saves time and detergent. Other uses and combinations of fluids other than water and detergent may also be used with the present invention, as will also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
While the fluid circuit shown in
Referring now to
The inner handle shell 1204 preferably forms a semi-circular passage 1216 into which the vacuum hose 112 nests for secure and partially concealed storage. The semi-circular passage 1216 may also be shaped to envelop the vacuum hose 112 in such a manner that the hose 112 snaps into place within the passage 1216. Hose clips 1218, which are shaped to snap-engage with the hose 112, may also be provided on the handle 104, such as by being captured between the inner and outer handle shells 1202, 1204, or formed integrally with one or both of the handle shells (not shown). One or both of such hose clips 1218 may have multiple clips, such as one of the hose clips 1218 shown in
The free ends of the outer handle shell 1202 are provided with inwardly-protruding bearing portions 1220 that are shaped to slide over the handle pivot 386. In order to cause the handle pivot 386 to pivot with the handle 104, the bearing portions 1220 have indented portions 1222 that slide into a corresponding indented portion 1224 of the handle pivot. The close sliding engagement between these indentations 1222, 1224 acts as a physical stop to prevent independent rotation of the handle 104 and handle pivot 386.
The outer portions of the handle bearing portions 1220 are surrounded by handle pivot bushings 384, which fit within the pivot holes 382 of the upper extractor housing 302 (see
As noted before, the handle pivot 386 preferably includes a hollow portion that forms part of the air flow path from the cleaning head 110 to the recovery tank 108. As such, one end of the handle pivot includes a hollow hose fitting 1226 to which the vacuum hose 112 is affixed. The fluid hose 902 also passes through this hose fitting 1226. The hose fitting 1226 extends to the central portion of the hollow handle pivot 386, where it is fluidly connected to the handle passage outlet 808, which abuts the inlet opening 362 of the inlet air conduit 358, as described previously herein with reference to
The details of the handle pivot construction are shown in more detail in
Referring more specifically to
The extent to which the handle 104 can be raised and lowered is limited by the handle stop 388. The handle stop 388 comprises a base portion 1402 that is rigidly mounted to the extractor housing, and a stop portion 1404 that is shaped to fit within a corresponding indent 1406 of the handle pivot 386. As shown in
Referring now to
Variations on the embodiment of
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a pressure relief system to reduce dead head pressures that occur when the flow valve 936 is closed. During such conditions, if the pump continues to operate it will do so without moving any fluid, and may overheat. One solution to this is to electrically disconnect the pump when the flow valve 936 is closed. In such an embodiment, the electrical contacts may be operated by a temperature sensor that detects excessive heat build up in or around the motor 316, a pressure sensor, an electrical switch associated with the flow valve 936, and so on. As noted before, the flow valve 936 may also simply be replaced by an electrical switch that initiates and stops flow by activating and deactivating the pump 316. Such an electrical switch may be operated through a step-up transformer, “MOSFET,” operational amplifier or other circuitry to reduce the electrical current level in the wires leading to the electric switch used as the flow valve 936 to a degree that minimizes the risk of injury by electric shock.
Another dead head prevention system is illustrated in
The bypass inlet conduit 1626 serves as the entry point into the inlet side 1622 of a bypass valve 1612. The bypass valve 1612 may be any type of pressure relief valve that is closed at normal operating pressures, but opens when the pressure exceeds normal levels, as may occur when the flow valve 936 is closed but the fluid pump 312 remains operational. In the present exemplary embodiment, the bypass valve 1612 comprises a piston 1616 that fits within the bore of a cylinder 1620 such that it can slide along the cylinder's axis. A spring 1618 biases the piston 1616 against the flow of pressurized fluid, and a seal 1614 is provided on the piston 1616 at its downstream end to abut the end of the cylinder 1620 and seal the circuit. A bypass valve inlet 1622 is provided to receive pressurized fluid from the bypass inlet conduit 1626, and a bypass valve outlet 1624 is provided to fluidly connect to the first T-fitting 1604 by way of a bypass outlet conduit 1628.
During use, when the flow valve 936 is open, the pressurized fluid from the fluid pump 312 is free to flow through the main supply hose 902, and the pressure in the bypass inlet conduit 1626 remains relatively low. Under these conditions, the spring 1618 presses the piston 1616 towards the bypass valve inlet 1622 and the seal 1614 abuts the cylinder 1620 to prevent fluid from passing through the bypass valve 1612. When the flow valve 936 is closed, however, the pressurized fluid does not have a ready escape path, and the pressure in the bypass inlet conduit 1626 increases. When this occurs, the pressure in the fluid overcomes the bias of the spring 1618 and forces the piston along the direction of flow to unseat the seal 1614 and open the bypass valve 1612, as shown in
Also shown in
The priming assembly 1632 is spliced into the pump outlet conduit 1608 (or may be spliced into the fluid hose 902), by a T-fitting 1630. When the fluid system is empty (dry) and the supply tank 106 is attached to fill the system, fluid from the supply tank 106 flows into and through the pump 318 by gravity, then into the priming assembly chamber 1636. The force of the fluid drives air in the system through the conduits and pump to the priming assembly chamber 1636, where it escapes around the float 1638 and through the vent 1640. The fluid also eventually enters the chamber 1636, and lifts the float 1638 until it blocks the vent 1640, at which point the pump 318 is primed with fluid and the device is ready for operation. The chamber 1636 is preferably located such that the vent 1640 is as high as possible within the base assembly 102, which minimizes the amount of hydraulic pressure applied at the seal formed between the float 1638 and the vent 1640, thereby reducing the possibility of developing a leak at this seal. While this priming assembly is preferred, it will be understood that other priming assemblies (or check valves or the like) may be used with the present invention to ensure that the pump is properly primed, if necessary.
Referring now to
In this embodiment, the pivot bushings 384 are removed, and the ends of the outer handle 1702 are shaped with inwardly-extending pivot structures 1720.
As with the embodiment of
Referring now to
Another embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically in
The base assembly 2002 has a motor cooling air flow path that extends from an inlet grille 2016 to an exhaust grille 2018. In the shown embodiment, the cooling air flow path is generally contained within an isolated conduit 2014 within the housing that forms the base assembly 2002. One or more filters or sound mufflers (not shown) may be located in the conduit 2012. The motor 2010 and its cooling fan 2012 are located in the cooling air conduit 2012, and the cooling fan 2012 generates a cooling air flow that draws ambient air in through the inlet grille 2016, passes over and cools the motor 2010, and exits the base assembly 2002 through the exhaust grille 2018, as shown by the dashed arrows. The conduit 2014 may also have other heat-generating parts located in it, such as a pump motor (not shown) or a cord reel (not shown). While the motor's cooling air flow path is shown as being contained in a continuous, enclosed conduit 2014, this particular construction is not required for the present invention. The motor cooling path may instead simply comprise the interior space of the base assembly 2002, or be formed only in part by specific internal conduits.
The conduit 2014 is located within the base assembly 2002 such that it abuts one or more walls that form the supply tank pocket 2006. In this manner, heated air from the motor 2010 can be used to heat fluid 2024 in the supply tank 2004. To enhance the heat transfer between the warmed air in the conduit 2014 and the fluid 2024, the wall 2026 between the conduit 2014 and the pocket 2006 may be formed with (or have located thereon) one or more heat transfer enhancing surfaces. These surfaces may be relatively highly thermally conductive surfaces 2020, such as those described above with respect to
The base assembly 2002 may also include a door (not shown) that can be actuated to partially or wholly close off the cooling air conduit 2014 and simultaneously open a separate exhaust grille (not shown), or divert the airflow to the exhaust grille 2018 without passing through the cooling air conduit 2014. Such a door could be a manually-operated door that provides the operator with control over how much heat is transferred to the fluid 2024, or may be operated automatically by a control system that detects and regulates the temperature of the fluid 2024 in the supply tank 2004.
While the use of abutting conductive surfaces 2020, 2022 on the supply tank 2004 and the pocket 2006 is preferred, it may be desirable to omit the conductive surfaces 2022 on the supply tank 2004 if such surfaces may cause an undesirable reaction with the fluid 2024. Locating the surfaces 2022 on the exterior surface of the supply tank 2004 (such as by using a foil or deposited conductive layer on the exterior surface of the supply tank 2004), may also resolve any compatibility issues between the thermally conductive surfaces and the fluid 2024. Furthermore, it is believed that even if no conductive surfaces are provided, sufficient heat can be transferred from the motor 2010 to the fluid 2024 to keep the fluid 2024 at an elevated temperature for an extended period. For example, if a user places hot water into the supply tank 2004, then heat from the warm air in the conduit 2014 may be sufficient to maintain the temperature of the hot water within a few degrees Fahrenheit of the starting temperature for a time long enough to permit use of the device. Variations of these embodiments will be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure, for example, the features of this embodiment may be used with an upright wet extractor.
A temperature sensor may also be provided to indicate the temperature of the fluid in the supply tank 2004. In the embodiment of
In one embodiment, the temperature sensing element 2030 comprises a bimetallic switch that closes when the temperature exceeds a predetermined value, and thereby applies an electrical current to the display 2032, which comprises a light. Such a configuration provides a simple binary display system in which the light is illuminated when the temperature exceeds the predetermined value, and turns off when the temperature drops below this value. Of course, an opposite arrangement, in which the light is illuminated until the predetermined temperature is reached, may be used instead.
In other embodiments, the temperature sensing element 2030 and display 2032 may comprise a graduated (either digital or analog) display system. For example, the temperature sensing element 2030 may be a thermally expanding element or a thermocouple, and the display 2032 may be a graduated scale that graphically depicts the temperature by reference to this scale (e.g., low, medium, high). The display 2032 may also comprise a numerical temperature display that provides the actual temperature of the supply fluid 2024.
In still another embodiment, the temperature sensing element 2030 may simply comprise a thermometer bulb (or a conductive element that leads to a thermometer bulb), and the display 2032 may comprise the graduated portion of the thermometer.
The temperature sensor and display may also be located in or on the supply tank. An embodiment of such an arrangement is shown in
The temperature sensor 424 of this embodiment may comprise any type of thermometer display, such as a conventional thermometer, but preferably comprises a thermochromic patch that changes color as its temperature changes. Such a thermochromic patch may be provided as a separate part or as an ink or paint that is applied to the surface of the supply tank 106. The thermochromic patch may be adapted to change color at a single predetermined temperature, in which case the predetermined temperature would be selected to correspond with the minimum optimal operating temperature of the fluid in the supply tank 106. The thermochromic patch may instead by provided as a composite of several thermochromic materials that change colors at various different temperatures, which will provide a graduated temperature scale. Thermochromic materials are described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,997,849 and 6,139,779, which are incorporated herein by reference. Suitable thermochromic materials are available from various suppliers, including H.W. Sands Corp. of Jupiter, Fla., and Chromatic Technologies, Inc. of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in
The embodiment comprises a wet extractor 2100 having a base housing 2102 and a supply tank 2014 releasably contained therein. As with the other embodiments described herein, the supply tank 2104 provides a supply to fluid 2106 to a cleaning head 2108 by way of a fluid supply line 2110. A pump 2120 and priming assembly 2122 are provided to pressurize the fluid 2106 and convey it to the cleaning head 2108. The cleaning head 2108 may be of the type described previously herein, or may simply have a conventional fluid valve 2112 and spray nozzle 2114 arrangement. The cleaning head 2108 is also connected to a vacuum hose 2116, and has an inlet nozzle 2118 for use in recovering deposited fluid and entrained dirt and debris from the surface being cleaned.
A first ultraviolet light 2124 is located adjacent the supply tank 2104, and is oriented to project UV light into the supply tank 2104 when it is installed in the base housing 2102. As such, at least the portion of the supply tank 2104 adjacent the UV light 2124 is preferably transparent or mostly transparent to UV light. A control circuit (not shown) may be provided to automatically activate the UV light 2124, or it may be manually operated. The UV light 2124 may also be active whenever the wet extractor 2100 is on or plugged in, and a switch 2126 may be provided to turn off the UV light 2124 when the supply tank 2104 is not installed. The first UV light 2124 (or a separate UV light) may also be located adjacent the recovery tank to help kill bacteria therein, or may be located along the incoming working air flow path to irradiate recovered fluid that is entrained in the working air flow path. It is also envisioned that a single UV light could be used to kill bacteria in the supply tank 2104 and the recovery tank.
A second UV light source 2128 is provided to project UV light into the fluid as it passes from the supply tank 2104 to the cleaning head 2108. In a preferred embodiment, the second UV light 2128 is located between the pump 2120 and the priming assembly 2122, however other locations are possible without leaving the scope of the invention. The second UV light 2128 is preferably arranged in a sheath around the fluid supply line 2110, which is partially or wholly transparent to UV light. The second UV light 2128 may be operated according to any desired power consumption algorithm (as with all of the other electric devices used in the device), and may be operated only when the pump 2120 is operating. The second UV light 2128 and fluid supply line 2110 are arranged such that the fluid passing through the supply line 2110 is exposed to the second UV light 2128 for sufficient time to kill a desirable amount of bacteria therein.
A third UV light source 2130 is provided on the cleaning head 2108. This UV light 2130 is oriented to direct UV light onto the surface being cleaned, and may also or alternatively direct UV light onto the fluid being emitted from the spray nozzle 2114 (before, while, or after it exits the nozzle). The third UV light 2130 is powered by either a battery or appropriate wiring from the base housing 2102. The third UV light 2130 may be on at all times when the device is on, but is preferably controlled either by a finger trigger (not shown), or by a trigger (not shown) that activates the third UV light 2130 whenever the inlet nozzle 2118 is positioned next to the surface being cleaned.
Variations on the foregoing arrangements of UV lights may be used with the present invention. For example, one or more of the UV lights may be omitted or relocated to a different position. In addition, one or more of the UV lights may be replaced by another non-chemical biocide devices, such as an ozone generator, an ion exchange module, an electrolytic treatment system, or a water filter. For example, an ozone generator can be provided to extend into the fluid in either the supply tank or the recovery tank, or the fluid supply line 2110 may convey the fluid through an ozone generator. Other variations will be apparent by those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosure herein and with routine practice of the invention. The UV light sources or other non-chemical biocide devices may also be used with non-wet extraction devices, such as conventional bag or bagless upright and canister vacuum cleaners. In such embodiments, the non-chemical biocide devices may be adapted to treat the air flowing into the vacuum cleaner, or the chamber and/or filters in which recovered dirt and debris are stored.
The present invention may be used with chemicals that are not conventionally considered detergents, but may still be useful for treating carpets or fabrics to resist stains, reduce mildew, reduce odors, and so on. One such chemical is sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). It is believed that the use of sodium bicarbonate may be useful to assist with cleaning carpets and fabrics. Such a solution also may leave a slight deposit of sodium bicarbonate on the surface being cleaned, which will tend to eliminate odors in the carpet. Furthermore, any sodium bicarbonate that is recovered in the recovery tank 108 will also help reduce odors therein, which is particularly useful when the recovery tank 108 is not thoroughly cleaned between uses.
The sodium bicarbonate can be provided by mixing it with the water in the supply tank 106, or by providing it as a concentrate in the auxiliary supply tank 932. The sodium bicarbonate may also be mixed with other chemical additives, such as perfumes, brighteners, detergents, and so on. The solution may be used in either the cleaning step or in the rinsing step (or in other steps). When it is only desired to reduce odors in the recovery tank 108, sodium bicarbonate can be placed directly therein. When used in the supply tank 106 or recovery tank 108, the sodium bicarbonate may be provided in a powdered, compacted powder, or solid form, or any other suitable form. When used in the auxiliary supply tank, a substantially liquid form (dissolved or as a suspended solid) is preferred to prevent particles from blocking the eductor. One product that may be adapted for use as described herein is sold under the name A
The present invention also encompasses the use of sodium bicarbonate in other types of wet extractor, that may or may not include the structural features of the device described herein. For example, it may be used with conventional upright or canister wet extractors. It may also be used as an additive for wet/dry vacuums, which are vacuums that are adapted to pick up fluids, but do not deposit a fluid on the surface being cleaned. Sodium bicarbonate may also be used with vacuums that use liquid to filter the incoming airstream. Other uses will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure and with practice of the inventions described herein.
While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein with reference to various preferred embodiments, it should be understood that these embodiments are exemplary only, and other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings provided herein. For example, while the foregoing description of the present invention has been described in reference to a portable wet extractor, the inventors have found that the features of the present invention can also be used with a wide variety of products, such as upright and canister style vacuums and extractors of both the wet- and dry-extraction type. For example the inventions herein may be incorporated into an upright wet extractor, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,912, which is incorporated by reference herein. In such a case, the extractor may comprise a housing that has both a base element and a handle element, and the supply tank, recovery tank, vacuum hose, fluid hose and other parts may be attached to or mounted on or within either the base or the handle portion of the housing, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art.
Furthermore, to the extent that the features of the claims are subject to manufacturing variances or variations caused by practical considerations, it will be understood that the present claims are intended to cover such claims. It will also be understood that while the present disclosure identifies and discusses numerous different inventions in relation to the preferred embodiments, the inventions recited in the following claims are not intended to be limited to being used in conjunction with any other inventions described herein unless specifically recited as having such limitations.
