Method and apparatus for producing humanly-perceptable indicator of electrochemical properties of an output cleaning liquid

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a mobile body configured to travel over a surface, a cleaning device carried by the mobile body, a liquid flow path, and an electrolyzing device in the liquid flow path. An indicator provides a humanly-perceptible indication of an electrical operating characteristic of the electrolyzing device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a functional generator, which can be used to electrochemically activate a liquid to be treated for use in cleaning, such as water, onboard or off-board a hard and/or soft floor cleaner according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a functional generator according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an apparatus having a sparging device located downstream of a functional generator, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an apparatus having a sparging device located upstream of a functional generator, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an apparatus having an electrolysis cell type sparging device located upstream of a functional generator, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an apparatus having sparging devices located upstream and downstream of a functional generator, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an electrolysis cell type sparging device, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 8A and 8B together illustrate a housing containing a sparging device and a functional generator according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the sparging device shown in FIG. 8B.

FIG. 10A is a side elevation view of a mobile hard floor surface cleaner in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the mobile hard floor surface cleaner shown in FIG. 10A with its lid in a closed state.

FIG. 10C is a perspective view of the mobile hard floor surface cleaner shown in FIG. 10A with its lid in an open state.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a liquid distribution flow path of the cleaner shown in FIGS. 10A-10C in greater detail according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a floor cleaner that is configurable with multiple types of cleaning tools and extractors to accommodate different cleaning operations while using the same overall cleaner.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram, which illustrates the cleaner shown in FIG. 12 in a mode adapted to clean soft floors, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram, which illustrates the cleaner shown in FIG. 12 in a mode adapted to deeply clean soft floors, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram, which illustrates the cleaner shown in FIG. 5 in a mode adapted to clean hard floors, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a soft floor cleaner (e.g. carpet extractor), according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an all-surface cleaner, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a truck-mounted system according to a further embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a simplified block diagram, which illustrates a cleaner having an EA water distribution system with an odorous compound source according to a further embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a simplified block diagram of a cleaning liquid generator that mounted to a platform according to another embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a system, which includes an indicator representing an operating state of a functional generator.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a mobile body configured to travel over a surface;an electrolyzing device carried by the mobile body and comprising first and second power supply terminals, a reaction chamber having an anode and a cathode coupled to the first and second power supply terminals, and a liquid flow path through the reaction chamber from an inlet to an outlet of the electrolyzing device; andan indicator, which provides a humanly-perceptible indication that is representative of power drawn from the first and second power supply terminals by the electrolyzing device.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrolyzing device comprises a functional generator, which comprises: an ion exchange membrane, which divides the reaction chamber into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, and wherein the outlet comprises an anolyte outlet coupled to the anode chamber and a catholyte output coupled to the cathode chamber.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrolyzing device comprises a sparging device, wherein the reaction chamber is formed by a gap between the anode and the cathode that is free of an ion exchange membrane.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the electrolyzing device comprises a functional generator having an ion exchange membrane, which divides the reaction chamber into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, and wherein the outlet comprises an anolyte outlet coupled to the anode chamber and a catholyte output coupled to the cathode chamber; andthe surface cleaning apparatus further comprises an electrolyzing sparging device, which is electrically coupled in parallel with the functional generator and fluidically coupled in series with the functional generator, wherein the electrolyzing sparging device comprises a reaction chamber having an anode and a cathode and free of an ion exchange membrane therebetween.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises an element from the group consisting of a visual indicator, an audible indicator and a tactile indicator.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises an indicator control circuit, which operates the indicator as a function of a level of current drawn by the electrolyzing device.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit energizes the indicator to an “on” state when the current level exceeds a threshold level and cycles the indicator between the “on” state and an “off” state when the current level is below the threshold level.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises an indicator light and wherein the surface cleaning apparatus further comprises: a current sensor, which is electrically coupled in series with the electrolyzing device and generates a signal output representative of a level of current drawn by the electrolyzing device; andan indicator control circuit, which receives the signal output and operates the indicator light as a function of the current level.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 and further comprising: a lighted fan assembly located to cool control electronics associated with operation of the electrolyzing device, wherein the lighted fan assembly comprises the indicator light.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising: a least one wheel providing relative motion of the apparatus relative to the surface;a source of liquid, which is in fluid communication with the electrolyzing device;a liquid dispenser, which is in fluid communication with the electrolyzing device; anda liquid recovery device, which is operable to recover at least partially liquid dispensed by the liquid dispenser.

10. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a mobile body configured to travel over a surface;a cleaning device carried by the mobile body;a liquid flow path;an electrolyzing device in the liquid flow path; andan indicator that provides a humanly-perceptible indication of an electrical operating characteristic of the electrolyzing device.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the indicator provides the humanly-perceptible indication as a function of a level of power consumed by the electrolyzing device.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the indicator comprises a light attached to the apparatus.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises an element from the group consisting of a visual indicator, an audible indicator and a tactile indicator.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the indicator comprises: a current sensor coupled in series with the electrolyzing device and generating an output; andan electrical circuit, which controls the indicator as a function of the output.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electrical circuit energizes the indicator to an “on” state when a current level drawn by the electrolyzing device exceeds a threshold level and cycles the indicator between the “on” state and an “off” state when the current level is below the threshold level.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 and further comprising: a lighted fan assembly located to cool control electronics associated with operation of the electrolyzing device, wherein the lighted fan assembly comprises a light that forms the indicator.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electrolyzing device comprises a functional generator, which comprises: an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, and an ion exchange membrane, which separates the anode chamber and the cathode chamber.

18. The surface apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electrolyzing device comprises an electrolyzing sparging device having an anode, a cathode and a reaction chamber formed by a gap between the anode and the cathode.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 and further comprising: a least one wheel providing relative motion of the apparatus;a tank carried by the mobile body and coupled to the liquid flow path;a liquid dispenser, which is in fluid communication with the electrolyzing device; anda liquid recovery device.

20. A method comprising: a) onboard a mobile surface cleaning device, electrolyzing a liquid at least by a process of electrolysis;b) onboard the mobile surface cleaning device, measuring an electrical characteristic of the electrolysis process; andc) producing a humanly-perceptible indication of the electrical characteristic utilizing an indicator located onboard the mobile surface cleaning device.