Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to a cleaning head for use with
an apparatus for cleaning floors, walls, carpets, curtains,
upholstery and the like, and more particularly concerns a :
cleaning head for use in the process of water extraction
cleaning, in which a carpet or the like is thoroughly wetted
by a solution containing a suitable cleansing agent, such as
a non-foaming detergent, and the carpet or the like is then
dried by the uptake of that solution by means of suction. .
The invention also relates to a method of cleaning a
carpet or the like. ~:
According to the present invention we provide a
cleaning head comprising a suction chamber adapted for
connection to a source of suction and having an open mouth,
and an inner compartment arranged substantially centrally within
the suction chamber and having side walls def:Lning an open
mouth in the plane of the open mouth of the suction chamber,
the inner compartmen* having associated therewith a cleaning
liquid delivery duct formed with a plurality of closely : ~.
spaced fine outlets adapted to allow cleaning liquid to flow ~- :
~o substantially dropliise into the inner compartment at a
position spaced from the mouth thereof, the arrangement being ~:
such that when the cleaning head is applied to a surface to be
cleaned, cleaning liquid is applied to a part of *he surface ~.
which is shielded from air flow arising from vacuous condition~ ;
within the suction chamber, but upon movement of the cleaning -~
head in either of at least two opposed dlrections the area
then wetted by the cleaning liquid is immediately subjected to ~ -
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suction drying.
The end edges of the side walls of the inner compartment
are preferably free from local protrusions or recesses so as
to engage uniformly the surface to be cleaned. Similarly,
the mouth of the suction chamber is preferably also free from
local pro-trusions or recesses, and the end edges of the side
walls defining the suction chamber may be of smoothly
rounded shape in transverse section.
The head may be of elongate form with the inner com- ;
partment extending medially along the length of the suction
chamber, or alternatively the head may be of round form and
the inner chamber may then be of circular or annular form.
The invention also consists of a method of cleaning a
carpet or the like comprising the steps of: providing a
cleaning head including a suction chamber hauing means for
connection to a source of suction and an open mouth; an inner
compartment arranged substantially centrally within the
suction chamber and having sidewalls defining an open mouth
in the plain of the open mouth of the suction chamber, and a
cleaning-liquid delivery duct disposed within said inner com-
partment in spaced relation to said mouth and formed with a
plurality of closely spaced fine outlets adapted to allow
cleaning fluid to flow therethrough in drop wise manner;
establishing a flow of cleaning liquid under a low pressure
gradiant along the cleaning-liquid delivery duct thereby
delivering said liquid in a drop wise manner through said
fine outlets into the inner compartment and onto the carpet
surface; and applying suction to the suction chamber of said
cleaning head while moving the latter over the carpet surface
with the mouths of the inner compartment and the suction
chamber in contact with the carpet.
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These and other features of the present invention will
now be described by way of example with reference to the
accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of
cleaning head in accordance with the invention. In the
drawings~
FIGURE 1 shows the head in a ha:Lf sectional front
elevation;
FIGURE 2 shows a section on the line X-X of Figure l;
FIGURE 3 shows a section on the line Y-Y of Figure l;
and
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FIGURE 4 shows a corresponding underneath plan ~iew.
The preferred form of cleaning head 100 includes a tubular
spigot 101 for attachment to the suction hose (not shown) and a
transverse housing 102 with an internal transverse rib 103 and a
central hollow boss 104 for reception of a nozæle 105 at the
end of the pipe 77 through which liquid is supplied. A hole ~o6
is formed at the lower end of the boss and communica-tes with a
channel 107 which extends along the underside of the transverse
rib 103. A pair of mouldings 108 are located within the housing
102 by enga~ing at their ends in slots 109 formed in the ends of
the housing. Additional}y, the two mouldings in combination
are shaped to afford a pair of vertlcal lugs 110 which fit
within apertures 111 formed in the top wall of the housing
adjacent the ends thereof. The two mouldings in combination
also define a channel 112 which together with the channel 107
defines a transver~ely extending duct 113 whereby liquid
recei~ed ~rom the nozzle 105 *hrough the hole 106 is
distributed along the whole length of the hou~ing 102.
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- Calibrated apertures 114 are provided at spaced
intervals along the length of the head in order to regulate
the flow of liquid so as to cause it to be delivered uniformly
and continuously at an appropriate rate. Typically~ the
apertures 114 have a diameter of 0.!4 mm and are spaaed on
4 mm centres. Liquid then drips through thesa aperturas and
enter~ an inner compartment 115 defined between a pair of
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transversely extending walls 116 formed on the mouldings 108.
The inner compartment 115 is disposed centrally of an ou-ter
compartment 117 de~ined by the casing 102, and the end faces
118 of the walls 116 are arranged so as to be flush with the
mouth of the housing 102 as defined by a rounded bead 119.
The bead i9 of continuous and uninterrupted form so that when
passed over a pile fabric, the pile is not separate or oombed.
In this way the outer chamber 117 can be effectively sealed
from the outside atmosphere so that a strong suction is
0 applied to the fabric being cleaned. The arrangement of the
end faces 118 of the walls 116 in the same plane as the mouth
of the outer compartment 17 ensures that the inner compartment
115 is likewise effectively sealed against the fabric being
treated and there is virtually no posssibility of liquid being
drawn from the inner compartment 115 directly to the outer
compartment 117 by virtue of the air flow established within
the head. Instead, the liquid is constrained to drip onto
the fabric being cleaned. In this way, a thorough wetting
of the fabric is ensured without spraying. This in turn,
~70 makes it possible for the appliance to operate with only a
low pressure gradient acting on the liquid, and without *he
need for any pump for the delivery of cleaning liquid to the
head.
A shut-off valve ~not shown) may be incorporated in the
pipe 77 so as to enable the flow of cleaning liquid to the
head to be interrupted.
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