Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~3~3~;7
CLEANING DEVICE WITH CONTAINER,
COLLAR AND DOCKETING RECESS
D SC~PTION
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY_O~ T1113 INVENTION
5The present invention relates to cleaninq dev~ces
and more particularly to an lmproved machine fo~ the
cleaning of surfaces such as carpets, floors and the like.
In carpet clean$ng machlnes, a liquid i8
pro~ected onto the carpet and the dirty liquid i8 removed
by a suctlon nozzle. An air-liquid separator ~ 8 generally
provided to remove air from the dirty, waste llquid and
disperse the a$r into the atmosphere. Cleaning fluld may
be added to the liquid. Usually the liquids trickle into
a spray nozzle since they are above the spray nozzle. The
liquids ~ay be mixed in a mixing manifold. A typical
example of such carpet cleaners is illustrated ln U.S.
Patent 2,986,764 issued June 6, 1961 to D. C. KEammes.
RE-133COMPCT
-
13~23S7
Other systems use varlous arrangements of tanks, valves
and controls to carry out carpet cleanlng operatlons, In
spite of all of these effort~ d kected to the cleanlng of
~loors and carpetQ, there has not, heretofore, been
prov~ded a machlne adapted for domestic use whlch provid~s
effective cleanlng of surfaces such as carpets, ~loors and
th~ like, whlch 18 slmple to use and su~lclently low ln
c08t to b~ attractlve to domest~c users
~ccordlngly, it 18 th~ ob~ect of th~ prQ8ent
10 lnventlon to provlde an lmproved machlna ~or cl~anlng
surfaces such as carpets, floors ~nd th~ llk~ whlch can b~
manufactured ~nd sold at low C08t and wh~ch, nqvertheless,
is both slmple to uqe and effe~tlve ~n operatlon.
Here described is a machine having
15 impro~ed arrangements of
con~ain~rs ~or cleanlng ~lulds, such a8 shampoos and
concentratsd cleanlng solutlons, fresh llquld~, such a~
clean water and for the receptlon of waste llquld~. ThR
machine has a nozzle for pro~ectlng th~ llquids onto th~
20 surface to be cleaned and for picklng up the wast~ llquld
from the surface, Both the separatlon of wast~ llquld and
air and the dellvery of the llqulds $8 con~olntly carsled
out wlth suctlon and air pre~sure generated ln a housing
to which a common air pump 18 connected. The machlne 18
RE-133COMPCT
13~Z35~
further i~proved by ~acilitles for ~emovably attaching the
contalnars to the ~rame of ths machlna and for th~
cont~olled and selective ~ppllcatlon o~ the l~quids wlth
d~erent concentrations o~ cl~aning llquld and fr~sh
5 liquld.
~r~efly, a machine is here
described for cleaning surfaces such as carpets,
floors and th~ llk~ ha3 a frame. An alr pump 18 mountod
on the ~rame. A hou31ng communicatin~ wlth the pump ha~ a
~uotlon inlet and pressurized alr outlet~. A su~tlon
nozzle i~ mounted on tba frame at the end o~ the frama
whlcb ls dl~po~ed ad~acent to the 8Ur~A~ ~0 be claan~d.
A llquid pro~cting nozzle 18 al80 mounted on th~ fram~ ~t
th~ end ad~acent to the surfa6e to b~ oleanQd. A
15 plurallty o~ contalners for concentrat~d cloanln~ llquld,
fresh and waste llquld are utlllzed. The contalners ara
removably mounted to the frame and th~ houslng wlth a
conduit connectlng the houslng and the wasta llquld
contalner to communicate wast~ liquld separat~d ~rom ~lr
and li~uld transported lnto th~ hou~lng to tha wasta
llquid contalnerO A condult ~or air and waste llqu~d ~rom
th~ suctlon nozzle $s connected to the suctlon lnlct of
the houslng. A coupling between the pr2ssuElzed ~lr
outlets, the cleanlng ~luid contalner and the ~resh llquid
~E-133COMPCT
13at23S7
- 4 -
container provide for the pressurization thereof. A further
coupling is connected to the outlets from the fresh liquid and
cleaning liquid containers, in which coupling the fresh and
cleaning liquids flow together to an outlet to the liquid
projection nozzle so as to apply the fresh and cleaning liquids
to the surface. This coupling utilizes simplified mixing and
valving to control the flow of the liquid to the liquid
projecting nozzle and to provide selected concentrations of the
cleaning liquid and the fresh liquid.
Other features and advantages are provided by the
arrangements used for assembling the containers, for providing
the pressurized air and suction, and for separating waste liquid
picked up from the surface to be cleaned from the air, the
container for the cleaning liquid which is adapted to be readily
attached and removed from the housing of the machine and the
liquid projection and spray nozzles themselves.
More particularly in accordance with a first aspect
of the invention there is provided apparatus for use in a
cleaning device for assembling a container with said cleaning
device, said apparatus characterized in that said cleaning
device has a housing, a docking recess in said housing, a pair
of spaced apertures in a base wall of said docking recess, a
container being receivable in said docking recess, said
container having a pair of laterally spaced orifices with the
357
- 4a -
same central spacing as said pair of apertures, and collar means
mounted to said container and engaging said docking recess for
aligning and axially advancing said container in said docking
recess to mate said apertures and orifices when rotated without
S rotation of said container and for locking said container onto
said housing.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention
there is provided a container mountable to a cleaning device
comprising:
a body;
a pair of laterally spaced orifices;
a collar encompassing and rotatable about a portion
of said body;
a cam surface on said collar for cooperating with a
respective cam surface of said device; and
means on said collar and said body defining an
initial entry angular position of said collar on said body and
defining a final locked angular position of said collar on said
body.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described
with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein;
~`
. . . -
~3{~23S7
B~IE~ D~SCR~PT~ON OF T~E D~AWINGS
Flgure 1 ~s a perspective of a new cleaning
device.
P~gure 2 is a slde view of the cleanlng devlce of Figu~e 1.
Figure 3 ls a partlal cross-sec~$onal view of the cleaning
device.
Figure 4 ls a .cross-sectional vlew o~ a spray
nozzle.
Figure 5 ls a plan vlew o~ s control swltch and mixer ln
l~s init~al closed positlon.
Flgure 6 is a cross-sectlonal vlew taken along llnes 6-6 of
~igure 5.
~ igure 7 ~s a plan vlew of the control switch and mixer ln
lts spottlng posltlon.
F~gure 8 ls a cross-sectional view taken along llnes 8-8 o~
~igure 7.
F~gure 9 is a crosQ-sec~lonal vlew o~ the tr~gg~ and
~po~tlng actuator.
~ lgure 10 ls a top v~ew of a portlon of the wat~ tank and
separator assembly.
Flgure 11 ls a comblned cross-sectlonal Yiew tak~n alon9
lines 11-11 o~ Flgure 10 and a flu~d schematlc of th~ ~luld
system .
~3~Z3~7
-- 6 --
F$gure 12 ls a b~ck v~ew of the separator houslng.
Flgure 13 is a part~al cross-sectlon taken along llnas
13^13 of Flgure 12.
F$gure 14 ls ~ top vlew of the separator taken along llnes
14-14 of Flgure 3.
F~gure lS 18 a top vlew of the water tank taken alon3 llnes
15-lS of Figure 3.
Flgure 16 i8 a top view of the was~e ~luld tank ~aken along
llnes 16~16 o~ F~gure 3.
F~gure 17 i~ a cross-sectlonal v~ew o~ the cam lateh devlc~
ln lts unlatched poslt~on.
Flgure 18 ~s ~ side vlew o~ a cleanlng ~luld cartr~dge-
Flgure 19 ls a top vlew taken along llnes 19-19 o~ Flgure
18.
Flgure 20~18 a cross-sectio~al view t~ken along l~ne~ 20-20
of F~gure lB.
Flgure 21 ~ 5 a perspectlve of a ooll~r.
Flgure 22 ls a cross-sectlon~l vlew o~ the c~rtr~dg~ and
docklng port .
~gure 23 is a cross-sectlonal v~ew o~ the suc~on nozzle
taken along l~nes 23-23 o~ F$gure 24.
F~gure 24 ls a perspe~t$ve view of the suctlon nozzl~.
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- 7 -
DETAILED DESCR~PTION
A new cleaning device is
illustrated ln Figures 1, 2 ~nd 3 ~s ~ncluding a frame 30 to
which are mounted a pair of wheels 32 by strut 34. As
illustrated ln Figure 2, the wheels are in their operable
position allowing the cleaning device to move across the
surface to be cleaned. For the stored posltlon, the wheel~ are
rotated forward or counter-clockwi~e ~n ~gure 2 ~nd com~s to
rest below the ~ront end o~ the frame 30. Extendlng from the
top end o~ the frame 30 i8 a handle 36 havlng flu~d actlv~tlon
trigger 38 and a spotter ac~uator 40. ~ounted to the ~ront ~nt
o~ the frame ~s a spray no~-~le 42 for pro~ectlng ~l~nnlng ~luld
m~xtures onto tha sur~ace to be cleaned and a ~uction nozzl~ 46
mounted to plpe 44 ~or ~emovlng fluld~ from the su~a¢e to be
cleaned,
A water t~nk 48 and waste ~luid or return tan~ 50 ar~
connected as ~ ~ln~le unlt lncludlng a hand~a 52. The tan~s
are removably mounted to the frame 30 And ar~ secured thersto
~y a cam latch 54 engaglng the bottom o the waste fluld tank
50. An upper houslng 56 mounted to frama 30 above th~ tan~
unit includes an air fluid separ~or 58, a motor 60 and ~ pump
or fan 62 as lllustrated in Figure 3. An openlng 57 1
provlded in the upper housing 56 to view the fluid ln the
~eparator 58 wh~ch has ~ transparent body. An electr~cal
sw~tch 63 activates the motor 60 and an electrlc cord 65
provides power.
13~23S7
-- 8 --
A conta~ne~ or car~rldge of detergent, shampoo or other
concentra~ed cleanlng flui~ S4 includ~ng a collar 66 is mounted
to docklng port 68 ln the upper houslng 56 as lllus~rated $n
Figure 2. ~he clean$ng fluld is mixed wlth water from the
water tank and projected through ~pray nozzle 42.
Initially, the water tank 48 is f$11ed wlth fluld and
mounted to the frame 30 and securely held thereto by cam latch
54. A concentrated cleaning fluid cartrldge 64 ls mounted lnto
docking port 68. Now the system $s ready for operatlon. As
wlll be explained more fully below, the clean~ng devlce
operates by act~vatlng the motor 63 to turn on the motor to
operate the fan and pump 62 to create a force to pro~ect a
mlxture of clean~ng fluid and water out of spray nozzle 42 on
the surface as wèll as to create ~ suctlon to draw fluld
through suct~on noizle 46. Wlth the trlgger 38 ln lts normal
posltion, no fluld ls d~spensed. Upon depresslng ,trigger 38,
the amount of flu~d pro~ected from spray nozzle 42 can be
controlled. If a stubborn sta~n or especlally dlrty surface ls
to be cleaned, the spotting actuator 40 is operated to lncrease
the m~xlng ratlo of detergent to water. The dlrty or waste
fluid from suction nozzle 46 ls prov$ded to separator 5B
wherein the air is separated from the dlrty ~luid whlch 1~
provided to waste fluld tank 50. The alr ~s provid~d back
through the fan/pump 62 to be re-~ntroduced to the ~pray nozzle
42. Once the cleaning is done, the tank ~ssembly ls removed by
~3~Z3S7
g
releasing cam latch 54 and the contents of the waste fluid tank
50 are emptied. This cycle of operat$on may be repeated.
~he spray nozzle 42, which is ~llustr ted ln detail in
Figure 4, $s an air venturi system whlch draws a cleaning flu~d
mixture and projects lt onto the cleaning surface. Spray
nozzle 42 includes an air manifold havlng two complementary
pieces 70 and 72 joined along a l$ne or plane 74 ~see Figure
2). As illustrated ~n detail ~n Figure 4 with the top alr
manifold 72 removed, the nozzle of the air manifold i8
qenerally fan-shaped havinq a plural~ty of nozzle ~hannels 76
extend1ng therçthrough. 'Jnitary to the air manlfold ~s an
inlet tube or conduit 78 connected to a source of pressurized
air or the output of the fan 62. Mounted interior the air
manifold is a fluid manifold 80 having a plural~ty of fingers
82 extending therefrom and lyinq ln the nozzle channelæ 76.
Supports 84 and 85, which are ~ntegral with the a~r man~fold
elements 70 and 72, position the fluid manifold 80 and $ts
finqers 82 central wlthin the air man~fold and supports 84 and
the nozzle channels 75. The flu~d man~fold 80 lncludes an
inlet 86 extending through the back wall of the air.manifold
and is connected by tubinq 88 to the source of a cleaning fluid
mixture.
Air introduced ~nto conduit 78 moves through the air
manifold around the liquid manifold 80 and fin~er~ 82 and exlt
nozzle channels 76. The restrict~on of the air through the
I
13~23~7
nozzle channels creates a venturi effect so as to draw or educe
cleaning fluid mixture from.the fingers 82 to be forceably
ejected onto a surface to be cleaned. Although the system has
been designed to operate on a pure eduction pr$nciple, it is
preferred tha~ the source of cleaning fluid m$xture be
pressurl2ed so as to ma$ntain an even ~low of cleanlng mixture
fluid to the spray nozzle 42. Since the principle ~orce to
draw the cleaning fluid mixture ls the ven~uri effect produced
by the a~r manifold, the pressure prov~ded to the cleanlng
fluid source is substantlally ~maller than that provided to the
a~r manifold.
The cleaning fluid m~xture prov~ded to the spr~y nozzle 42
by tubing 88 is from a control switch and mixer illustrated
specifically in Figures 5-8 and operated by the ~rlgger
actuator 40 and the spotting actuator 38 ~llustrated ~n detall
in Figure 9. A mixlng V or connector 90 which is mounted to
the frame 30 has a mixing outlet connected to tube 88, a wa~er
inlet connected to tube 92 and a cleaning fluid lnlet connected
to tubing 94. The water from tube 92 and the clean~ng fluid
from tube 94 are mixed ~n the V 90 and provided to outlet tube
88. Engaging one side of the outlet tube 88 ls an anvil 96 and
adjacent one side of the water inlet t~be 92 is an anvil 98.
Pivotally connected to the frame 30 at 100 is a rocker arm 102
! hav$ng hammers 104 and 106 respect~vely on opposlte 81des of
1 25 the plvot 100. A biasing means or 5pring 108 ls recelved ln a
spring housing 110 on the frame 30 and engages the rocker arm
102 around post 112. The biasing means or spring 108 biases
the rocker arm 102 counter-clockwise in Figure 5. A slot 114
in the rocker arm 102 receives 8 control link or wlre 116
connected ~o the spottér actuator 40 and the trigger 38.
Without operation of the tr~gger 38 or spottlnq actuator
40, spring 108 rotates the rocker ~rm 102 to ~ts initi~l
position illustrated ln Figure S such that hammer 104 ~s
pressed against anvil 96 completely res~ricting the tublng 88
at the outlet of~the mixer 90. Thls $s illustrated
specific~lly in the cross-section of Figure 6. In thls
position, no cleanlng fluld mixture is provided to the spray
nozzle 42. Thus, ~f the electric motor ~s actu~ted, only air
is blown onto the surface to be cleaned. This could produce an
air drying if desired.
With movement of the control wire 116 to the right, the
rocker arm 102 rotates counter-clockwise moving the hammer 104
away from the anvil 96 so as to begin to open the closed outlet
tube 88. Dependent upon the amount of motion of wlre 116 and
pivotal rotation of rocker arm 102, the flow rate o~ cleaning
fluid mlxture can be controlled. The rocker arm 102 can be
rotated to a position allowing unrestricted flow of the outlet
tube 88 as well as unrestricted flow from water inlet tubing 92.
j Further rightward motion of wlre 116 and counter-clockwise
1 25 rotation of rocke~ arm 102 causes hammer 106 to engage the
13q~Z3S7
-- 12 --
water inlet tube 92 and being restricting its flow into the
mixing V 90. ~he degree o~ restrlc~lon of water inlet 92
permitted is def~ned by a stop 118 and is illustrated in
Figures 7 and 8. This restrlcted posltion of water inlet ~ube
92 defines a specific ratio of concentrated clean~ng fluid from
tube 94 and water from tuhe 92 to remove stubborn sta~ns or
spots and 1~ known as the spottlng position.
Thus, it can be ~een that the rocker arm 102 se~uent~ally
oper~tes from a first positlon ~llustrated in Flgure 5 whereln
the outlet is restricted by ~nvil 96 ~nd hammer 104 for zero
flow rate through a first plur~lity of intermediate angular
positions having $ntermediate restrictions of the outlet to
define various flow rates and a second plural~ty of
intermediate angular positions hav~ng in~ermediate restrictlons
o~ the water lnlet 92 provided ~y anv~l 98 and hammer 106 to
define the mixing ratio. Thus, a single assembly 18 provlded
which controls both the flow rate of dispensing cleaning fluid
mixture as well as the mixing rat~o of cleaning fluid to
water. If required, the rocker arm can be resh~ped such that
hammer 106 will begin to restrict water lnle~ tube 92 wh$1e
hammer 104 also restricts outlet tube 88.
The opera~ion of the rocker arm 102 is controlled via wire
116 by the spotting actuator 40 and trlgger 38 illustrated in
detail in Figure 9. The spotting actuator 40 i~ pivo~ally
i 25 mounted to the handle 36 at 120 as ~s trigger 38. The control
I
~3U'~3S7
wire 116 is connected to pos~ 122 on spotting actuator 40.
Post 122 lies in a elongated slot 124 in the trigger 38. The
spotting actuator 40 extends from the top of the handle wh$1e
the trigger 38 extends ~rom the bottom of the handle. Thls
S allows activation of either control with the same hand that
holds and directs the cleaning device. The spotting actuator
40 may be controlled by the thumb and the t~igger 38 by the
other fingers which wrap about the handle 36.
Counter-ciockwise rotation of trigger 38 as lllustrated in
~igure 9 from ~ts init~al position causes oounter-clockwlse
rotatlon of the spotting actuator 40 ~nd moves the control wire
116 to the right. The trigger 38 ls designed such that the
total amount of angular motion which lt ~s capable of
travell~ng ~s limited to produce via control w$,re 116 rotation
of the ro~ker arm 102 from the fully restr$cted condition of
outlet tube 88 of mixer 90 to the completely unrestricted
condition of outlet tube 88 and no restriction of the water
inlet tube 92. The restrict$on of water inlet tube 92 by
hammer 106 is produced by the further motion by travel ~roduced
by spotting actuator 40. The counter-clockwise rotat$on of
spotter actuator 40 mo~es the wlre 116 further to the right
without further motion of trigger 38 since post 122 moves ~n
slot 124. It should also be noted that spotter actuator 40 may
be operated independent of trlgger 38 be~au3e of the slot 124.
The biaslng means 108 of rocker arm 102 is suff$c$ently strong
:~31~Z357
-- 14 --
to clamp the outlet tubing 88 and retains the spott$ng actuator
38 and trigger 40 in thelr position illustrated ~n Flgure 9 vla
wire 116.
The water line 92 and the cleaning fluid l$ne 94 of the
mixing V 90 are connected to the fluld clrcult lllustrated in
Figure 11. A block 126 lncludes ~n air port 128 ~nd a water
port 130. An air lnlet n~pple 132 ~nd a water outlet nipple
~34 are provided in the top of water tank 48. A tube 136
extends down from the water outlet nipple 134 ~o the bottom of
the water tank 48. The nlpples 132 ~nd 134 are recelved ln
ports 128 and 130 respect~vely of the bloc~ 126. As will be
explained more fully below, the block 126 $s mounted to the
separator 58 to receive the nlpples 132 and 134 during mountlng
of the tank assembly onto ~he ~rame as illustrated ln Flgure
10. A ball 138 in water port 130 acts as a check valve to
prevent back ~low in~o the water tank 48.
Connected to the other end of water port 130 is A first
fitting 140 having a main outlet 142 connected to the mlxinq
water inlet tube 92 and a restr~cted outlet 144. The ax~ of
the inlet of fitting 140 ls colnc$dent with the axls o4 the
restrlcted outlet 144 and is orthogonal to the maln outlet 142
axis. The cross-sectional area of maln outlet 142 is
substan~ially larser than the cross-sectional area of
. restricted outlet 144. By way of example, the maln outlet may
; 25 have a cross-sectional area four times that of the restrlcted
outlet.
~3~J~3S7
-- 15 --
Connected to the fir~ f$tting 140 about re~tricted outlet
144 is a second f~tting 146. A prlmary cleaning fluid inle~
148 of f$tting 146 is connected to the concentrated cleaning
fluid contalner 64 by tube 150. The reætricted outlet 144
provides a secon~ary inlet to the second fltting 146. The
outlet 152 of the second f$tting 146 is connected to cleaning
fluid lnlet pipe 94 of the mlxer 90. The fan or pump 62
provldes pressurized air via tublng 154 to an lnput of the
concentrated cleaning fluid container 64 nnd by tubing 156 to
water tank 48 via air por~ 128. The primary outlet of pump 62
is through conduit 158 to the a$r manifold of spr~y nozzle 142.
When the outlet tubing 88 of mixer 90 is totally
restricted, no fluid is flowing in the circuitry of Figure 11.
Once the restriction of outlet tubln~ 88 is removed, water
under pressure leaves the tank 48 through tublng 136, nlpple
134 and port 132 to raise check valve 138 an~ the flow th~ough
main outlet 142 and tubing 92 to the mixing valve 90.
Similarly, concentrated ~leaning fluid from contalner 64 flows
via conduit 150 and f~tting 146 to tubing 94 ~nd mixer 90. In
this state, very llttle water, i~ any, exits the restricted
outlet 144 from the first fitt~ng 140 lnto the second fitting
146. For spotting or any other condition where$n the water
inlet tubing 92 ~s restricted, the flow in main outlet 142 of
fitting 140 ls reduced and therefore the flow in restricted
outlet 144 is increased. Although th~s flow $ntroduce~ water
13~DZ357
- 16 -
into the concentrated clean~ng fluid, it does not dllute ~t
compared to the unrestr~cted waterline flow mixture. It al80
$ncreases the pressure ln tub$ng 94. Th$s allows for greater
flow rate of the concentr~ted cleaning fluid into the m$xer 90
S and thus the resulttng clean~ng fluld mixture exit~ng the mixer
90 has a substantially increased ratio of clean$ng flu$d to
water.
As can be seen from the c$rcu$t of Figure 11, the water and
the cleaning fluid supply o~ the system are pressurlzed. This
producec even control of the fluids such that thelr m~xing
rat~o and flow r~te can be assured. The system al~o takes
advantage of the natural siphonlng effect wh$ch results from
the venturi ~pray nozzle 42.
Realiz~ng this, the pressure provided by pump 62 v$a tubing
154 and 156 to the concentrated clean$ng flu$d supply and the
water supply respect~vely $s small compared to the overall ~$r
pressure provided via condu$t 158 to the venturi spray nozzle
42, Although the pressure supply v~a tub~ng 154 ind 156 $s
small, it is very $mportant that $t be constant to maintain the
desired mixing ratio and flow rntes. It should al50 be noted
that by prov~d$ng the water outlet on the top of t~nk 48 and
the secondary pass~ge 144 of f$ttlng 140 be~ng vertical, the
force of gravity helps to further reduce the amount of fluid
¦ flowing through restrict$ve passage 144 ~nto the concentr~ted
' 25 cleaning flu$d f~ttlng 146.
13C~Z3~7
-- 17 -
A pump cap~ble of produc~ng the h~gh air flow rate ~or the
venturi spray nozzle as we~l as a uniform small flow rate for
the pressur$zed water and cle~ning ~lu~d containers is
illustrated specifically in F~gures 3 and 12-14. The separator
58 includes a substantially cyl~ndrical housing 160 with a top
rim 162 which forms the hous~ng for the fan or slr pump. The
pressurized air exiting the chamber formed by the wall of the
r$m 162 enters tan~entially as ~llustrated in Figure 14 to a
f$rst portion 163 of primary outlet 164. The condult 158
connected to the venturi ~pray nozzle ~s connected to second
portion 165 of primary outlet 164.
A pair of secondary smaller outlets 166 ~nd 168 ~re
prov~ded in a wall 169 of the prlmary outlet 164 and ~ligned
parallel to the flow axis o~ the second portion o~ the primary
outlet 164. The ax~s of the secondary outlets 166 and 168 are
perpendicular to the flow axi~ of the second portlon of the
pr~mary outlet. A ledge or wall 167 extends transverse to the
flow axis of the second portion 165 of the primary outlet 164
to create a zone of relatively constant pres~ure compared to
the remainder oi the primary outlet. The seqondary outlets are
adjacent the ledge 167 in this zone. As is evident from the
draw$ngs, the cross-sectional area of the pr1mary outlet 164 ls
quite substantially larger than the crossosectional area of the
¦ secondary outlets 164 and 166. This particular structure
1 25 provides 2 uniform pressure at secondary outlet~ 166 ~nd 168.
~3~Z3S7
-- 18 --
An air inlet 170 to the separator houslng 160 $s
illustrated $n ~igure 12 and provides a flow axis tangentlal to
the cyl$ndrical separator housing 160. This causes 2
centrifugal flow within the $nter$or. A con$cal shroud 172,
illustrated in Figure 3 inter~or the cylindrical houslng 160
has interior thereto an air outlet 174 covered by screen 176.
The shroud 172 and the outlet 174 are an integral part of plate
178 which is mounted to the cylindrical separator housing 160.
Fluid outlet 180 at the bottom of the cylindrlcal housing ls
provided at the bottom of the cylindrical fieparator houslng
160. The outlet 174 $s displ~ced vertically and horlzontally
from the lower edge of the conical shroud 172. Dirty fluid and
air enter the separator houslng 160 through openlng 170 and
begin a spiraling down and out motion. The shroud 172 ~oroes
the air flu$d m~xture to the outside of the cyllndr$~al housing
or that portion hav~ng a greater radius and veloclty.
By using a conical shroud, the area at the entry port 170
is not d$minished to retard flow of the m1xture $nto the
separator chamber while d1recting the downw~rd mov~ng mlxture
to the highest veloc$ty portion of the flow thereby.maxfm$zlng
separation of the air ~nd the l$qu$d. The heav~er fluld moves
towards the cylindrical housing 160 and cont$nues down through
outlet 180. The lighter air turns a sharp angle and exlts
through screen 176 and outlet 174 into the fan or pump 62. The
position of the outlet 174 should not be too close to the outer
13~Z3S7
- 19 -
edge of the shroud, otherwise the exlting air wlll not be
completely separated from ~he fluld. Sim$1arly, lf the outlet
1~4 $s displaced too far from the edge of the shroud, the
system will choke. ~he liqu$d outlet 180 of the separator 58
is connected to the waste fluld tank 50 by a condu~t 181.
The tank assembly $nclud$ng fresh water tank 48 and waste
fluid tank 50 is $11ustrated ln ~lgures 3, 15 and 16. The
clean water tank 48 lncludes a U-shaped keyway 184 extendlng
along its length. In the top portlon of the keyway ~8
illustr~ted in Figure 15 l$es the conduit 181 connecting the
liquid outlet 180 of the separator 58 and the 1nlet to the
return or dirty fluid tank S0. In the bottom of the keyway
mounted to the frame 30 are received alr condu~t 158 prov~ding
pressurized a$r to the spray nozzle and return condult 173
bringing waste fluid back from the suction nozzle 46. ~hus,
the air and fluid condu~ts 158 and 173 respectively form the
key for the tank assembly or unit keyways. Simllarly, as
illustrated in Figure 16, the return tank 50 also has a
longltudinal U-shaped keyway 185 receiv$ng conduits 158 ind 173.
The conduit lBl ls flared ~t 182 at its upper end to
prov$de a funnel and lncludes a flange 183 extèndlng therefrom
to engage the top of the fresh l$quld water tank 48 and provide
the handle 52 for carrying the tank units. ~he lower end of
condu$t 181 includes a rlm 191 which is received in an
lndenture 188 $n the neck 190 extending from the return tank 50
i3~3S7
- 20 -
into the keyway 184 of the fresh water tank 48. ~he b~se 193
of neck 190 is rectangular ~nd is received in rectangular
shoulder 195 in the bottom of water tank 48. The ~resh water
tank 48 has an inlet 186 covered by cap 187 which ls secured to
the handle 52.
To assemble the tank unit, the waste fluid tank 50 ls
inserted onto the lower end of the clean water tank wlth the
neck 190 extending into the keyway 184 and base 193 ln shoulder
195. The conduit 181 ~s then lnserted from the other end
snappin~ ridge 191 into indenture 188 to mount the condu~t to
the waste fluid tank and securely mount the clean water tank
and the waste fluid tank together. ~t is evldent that the neck
190 and base 193 of the waste flu~d tank extending into the
keyway and shoulder of the clean water tank 48 stabillzes the
tank assembly.
A portion 192 of keyway 185 of the waste fluld tank 50 ls
inclined to receive a condu~t 194 between the flul~ return
conduit 173 and tube 44 leading to the suction nozzle 46. The
bottom of the tank 50 includes ~ recess 196 lFigure 1) having a
camming surface 198 therein. As illustrated in Fig~re 3, the
cam latch 54 lies in the recess 196 and rests agaln~t the
camming surface 198 of the return tank 50. As will be
-explained more fully, the cam latch 54 will be rotated $nto
recess 196 to initial~y alisn and ride on camming sur~ace 198
to move the tank assembly along the keys formed by conduits 158
~3tl~3S7
-- 21 --
and 173 into alignment w~th the upper hous~ng 56. Thls mates
the flared portion 182 o~ condu~t 181 wlth the ou~let 180 of
the separator 58 as well as nipples 132 and 134 into port 128
and 130 respectively of block 126.
As illustrated in Figures 3 and 17, the cam la~ch 54
$ncludes a su~stantially L-shaped handle 203 having a cammlng
surface 201 and a lever portion 203, The camming surface 201
engages the camming surface 198 $n the bottom of the waste
flu$d tank 50. The handle 54 ~s plvotally mounted at lt~ lower
end at 205 to the block 207 of the frame 30. An L-shaped latch
209 is pivotally connected at 211 the juncture of the legs to
the L-shaped handle 203. A spring 213 engages the $nterlor of
handle 203 and one of the legs of latch 209 to blas the latch
counter-clockwise relative to ~he handle as ~llustrated in
Figures 3 and 17. A ridge or shoulder 215 ln the block 207
forms a catch for a leg of latch 209 wh~ch acts as a detent to
lock the cam latch in the position illustrated ~n Flgure 3.
The unlatch posltion, allowing removal of the tank assembly
from the cleaning dev~ce, is illust;ated ~n Figure 17.
In order to release the cam latch 54 from the pos$tion
illustrated in Figure 3, the latch 209 is rotated clockw~se
against the spring 213 w$th the handle 203 stationary sllowing
the detent and the latch 209 to ride out of the cam latch or
ridge 215 on block 207. The cam latch 54 may then ~e rotated
counter-clockw~se. To mount the ~ank asæembly to the clean~ng
~3~Z357
-- 22 --
device, the tank assembly is mount~d wlth the keyways 184 and
185 on the keys formed by condu~ts 158 and 173 and 194. ~he
cam latch 54 ~s rotated back into recess 196 $n the bottom of
return tank 50 and engages camming surface l9B. The detent
portion 20 of latch 209 rides nlong the exterior edge 217 of
block 207 until it exceeds the top thereof and falls lnto the
catch 215.
~he unique cartr~dge 64 $ncludlng collar 66 is illustra~ed
in Figures 18-21. The cartrldge 64 lncludes a non~circular
body 200 having a neck 202 extending therefrom. ~hre~ded
portlons 204 oh neck 202 recelve cap 206. A circumferential
r$dge 208 on neck 202 retains the collar 66 between the top of
the cartridge and the ridge 208 ~uch that the collar m~y rotate
relative to the cartridge 64 w$thout any axial motion between
the collar and cartridge. ~he s$des of the cartrldge ad~acent
the top $ncludes four $ndentures 210, 212, 214 and 216.
Indentures 210 and 212 receive a handle 218 extending ~rom
collar 66 to def$ne two d~stinct pos$tions of the collar
relative to the body. As will be explained more fully below,
when the handle 218 $s in recess 210, the collar 66 ls ln its
$nitlal angular posit$on capable of entering $nto the docking
port 68 of the c?eaning dev$ce. As the collar 66 ~s rotated
counter-clockwise in F~gure 19, the handle will be received $n
recess 212 which w$11 define a flnal locked angular posltion of
0 25 the collar ~n the docking port. It Rhould al50 be noted that
13'~357
-- 23 --
the secess 210 allows the handle to be rece$ved substantially
within the body 200 and therefore allows for easy packaging.
The collar 66 includes a pair of camming recesses 220
therein to receive a pair of tabs ln the docking port of the
cleaning device. Each recess 224 lncludes an entry slot 222 on
the top of the collar connected respectively to a in~l$ned
port$on 224 followed by a hor~zontAl lock portion 226. A pair
o~ lugs 260 ~F1gure 22) on the dock$ng port 68 are received in
entry slots 222 and the collar ~s rotated relative to ~he body
causing the ~otal assembly to move axially w~thout rotation of
the car~ridge 64. The lugs 260 r~de down the incllned portion
224 along portion 226 to lock the collar and cartr~dge ln place
in the docklng port. The lock$ng portion 226 prevents reverse
rotation by v$br~tion or use of the cleaning de~ice. Slnce the
cartr~dge i~ part of a pressure fluld system, it i~ lmportant
that the docklng be f$rm ~nd secure for proper operation of the
cleanlng device. Thus, alignment and airtight connection ls
critical. As $11ustrated ~n Figure 21, the collar 66 $s formed
of two portions connected by an integral lying hinge 228. The
collar is wrapped around the neck 202 below ridge 208 with
latch 232 locking on top of catch 230.
Indentures 214 and 216 receive shoulders or keys in the
docking port to align and restrain the cartridge from rotating
during axial insertion into the docking port by hand as well as
by rotation of the collar 66.
13t~23S~
-- 24 --
~eceived in the top opening of the bottle neck 202 is an
insert 234 having a palr of no2zles 236 and 238 ~hereon. As
will be explalned below, these nozzles are allgned w$th ports
in the docking port with nozzle 236 being an alr inlet and
nozzle 238 being a fluid outlet. The insert 234 has a pair of
circumfer$al r$dges 240 which engage and seal the ~nsert
against ~he $nterior o the neck 202. As prev~ously d$scussed,
this $s a positive pressure supply system and therefore this
se~l must be maintained. An axial keyway 242 is provided in
the insert 234 and is recelved ln key 244 running along the
interior of the neck 202. This aligns the insert 234 ~nd the
nozzles 236 ~nd 238 to the cartrldge ~nd consequently to the
collar. This assures alignment of the nozzle and the
appropria~e inlet and outlet of the docking port. A tube 246
extends from the bottom of the body 200 to the fluld outlet
nozzle 238.
The cartridge 64 in docking port 68 is illustrated in
detail ln Figure 22. The docking port ls an ~ssembly which
includes a docking houslng 250 mounted to the upper hous$ng
56. A pair of opposed slots 252 are provided ln tbe docking
housing 250. A U-shaped clip 254 is inserted in the docking
housing havlng a pair of n~pples 256 and 258 exeending through
the housing 250 to receive a$r inlet conduit 154 from the
, outlet of the pump and cleaning fluld supply tubing 150 lead~ng
; 25 to the ~econd fitting 146 ~see Figure 11). The outer edges of
~3~X3S7
- 25 -
the U-shaped clip 254 has tabs 260 which engage the bottom of
the slots 252 in the dock~ng housing to main~aln the clip
therein. Extending to the $nterlor o the docking housing are
a pa$r of lugs 262. Thes2 lug~ ~o~m ~he complementary camming
s surfaces to be used wlth the camming recesses 220 in the collar
66. A molded rubber seallng disc 2~4 $s received in the
U-shaped clip 254.
By using a clip 254 to be inserted ~hrough the docking
housing, it can be made o~ hard mater~al capable of many
$nsert~ons on the cammlng sur~ace. ~or example, it may be made
of Delrin plastic. Th$s reduces the cost of the overall device
by making the shaped clip of such expensive material instead of
requiring the whole docking housing ~o be so made. The molded
rubber seal 264 creates an airtight seal since it rece~ves
nozzles 236 and 238 on the con~ainer and deforms as the
container is moved axially within the docking houslng. A pair
of shoulders 266 and 268 extend from ~he housing wall 56 and
provide guides or key for ~ndentures 214 and 216 of the
cartridge.
As can be seen from Figures 2 and 22, the cartridge 64 lies
in a chamber ln the upper houslng 56 with the neck port~on 202
extanding into a recess portion and the body 200 lying in a
cavity portion of the chamber. The cavtty encompasses at least
three of the sldes of the ~ody.
I
~3~Z357
-- 26 --
A cartr~d~e 64 of concentrated cleaning fluid may be
mounted to the docking port 68 by align~ng the ~ndentures 214
and 216 of the cartridge with shoulders 266 and 268 of the
housing, respect~vely. The collar 66 ~s placed in $ts $n$t$al
5 or lnsert~on positton as defined by the handle 218 ly~ng ~n
indenture 210 of the body. The body and coll~r are movea
axially unt~1 the lugs 262 of the docking port are received in
entry slots 222 in the top of the collar. The collar 66 is
then rotated by handle 218 accessible from the exterior of the
cavity causing the body and collar to move ~xlally durlng
rotation of the colla~. The ~ndentures 214 and 216 eng~ge the
shoulders 266 and 268 to prevent the cartr$dge 64 from
rotat$ng. ~he collar $s rotated to lt~ in~1 or lock po~$tlon
defined by the handle 218 being received in indenture 212 on
the body. In th~s position, or$fices in nozzles 236 and 238 are
aligned and rece~ved with apertures in t~e base of n$pples 256
and 258. The $nsert 234 having ~ keyway assures alignment of
the nozzles with the body and the camming reces~ 220 of the
collar with tabs 262 assure in~tial alignment as well a~
indentures 214 and 216 of the body and shoulders 266 and 268 of
the housing assure $n~tial alignment of the body and nozzles
during the ax~al movement of the body produced by rotat$on of
the collar 66.
~he suction nozzle 46 of the present $nvent$on as
illustrated in Figures 23 and 24 $s compo~ed of ~ front-top
~3~;~3S7
-- 27 --
piece 270 and a back-bottom plece 272 tolned by appropriate
fasteners. The nozzle ~ncludes a fir~t or inlet pascage 274
and a second or outlet pas~age 276. The $nlet passage 274 ls
generally U-shaped along a cross-section transverse to the flow
S axis havlng a flat blght portlon 278 and a pa~r of short leg
portions 280. ~he front flat bight portlon 2~8 has a
substantially triengular configuratlon dlm$nlshlng from the
base or nozzle inlet 282 to lts ~uncture 284 wlth the outlet
passage 276. As can be seen from F~gure 23, the dlstance of
separation between the front and back portions of the wall~ of
the front and bottom pleces 270 and 272, respect$vely lncrease
from the base or inlet portion 282 to the ~uncture 284 between
the inlet, Sirst passage 274 and the outlet, second passa~e
276. This change of d$stance of separation compen~ate~ ~or the
diminish~ng trlangular portion of the front and back faces such
that the cross-sectlonal area of the lnlet passage 274 $s
substantially e~ual along the flow axls. ~his allows a un~form
draw or ~uct~on throughout the lnlet passage 278 and prevents
fluld from hanglng up and flowing back out the $nlet 282.
Tbe second passage or outlet passaqe 276 as illustrate~ ~n
Figure 23 has ~ generally t~iangular cross-sect$on along the
flow axis such that $ts cross-sectlonal are~, t~ansfers to the
flow ax$s, increases along the flow axis. A cyllndrlcal
connector portion 285 recelves p~pe 44 of the housing. The
bottom wall 286 of the outlet pas~age extends dla~onally across
~3~Z3$7
- 28 -
the connector lnle~ 284 tsee Yigure 3). Thus, the pro~ected
axis of t~e pipe 44 ~nd outlet connector 285 ~ntersects the
first, ~nlet passage 278 below the ~uncture 284 of the lnlet
and outlet passages 274 and 276, respectlvely, and forms 2n
obllque angle ~herewlth. Thus, the outlet p~ss~ge 276 forms a
hor~zontal trough to collect fluld whlch w~ll dr~p ~om the
condu~ts between the nozzle 46 and the flu~d separator 58 when
the motor and suction sy~tem are deactivated. ~hus, no ~lu~d
will exit the outlet 282 when the devlce ~s ~urned off.
In order for the user to determlne the cond~tion of the
extracted flu~d being drawn through nozzle lnlet 282, at least
the top wall 288 of the outlet sec~lon 276 should be
transparent. ~he front, top and sides of the top piece of the
nozzle 46 are transparent. ~h~s allows viewlng of the lu~d by
the user during use. ~he operator cannot see the ~ront wall of
passage 274 since he generally stands behind the device dur~ng
use. To further ~ncrease vislblllty of the fluid, the enlarged
cross-sect~onal area of the trough 276 causes a pressure drop
to slow down the flu~d at the ~uncture or intersect~on 284.
20 The bottom wall 286 malntains the fluid ad~acent the top wall
288 for be~ter vieweing. When this fluid $s;slowed down, the
exact content and color can be more readily ascertalned. It
should also be noted that by provld~ng the front or inlet
! passage 274 as U-shaped, the fluid from le~s 280 on entering
~ 25 the outlet passage 276 lntersect the prlmary flow ~rom the
~ 3S 7
bight portion 2~0 and create eddy currents at the$r ~unction.
These eddy currents further 810w down the 1uid ln the v~ew~ng
area.
~o further $ncrease visibility, the back and bottom walls
of the bottom piece 272 should be made of non-transp~rent
material. Preferably, they should be white such that
addit~onal light may be provided from the back to illuminate
the extracted fluids. It should be noted that the outside slde
walls re ex~ended at 290 to provide a shield for the spray
nozzle 42 to prevent water from being sprayed outside the
suction nozzle 46.
From the preceding description of the preferred
embodiments, it is evident th~t the objects o$ the invention
are attained, and although the invention has been descrlbed and
illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the
same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to
be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope o$ the
invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended
claims.
