Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02356489 2001-08-10
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to mobile large area
surface cleaning apparatus, and more particularly relates to such
large area surface cleaning apparatus for suctioning both dust and
debris from a surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When cleaning sidewalks, factories, warehouses, and the
like, various types of fine particulate material, such as dust, and
also larger debris, such as litter, are encountered. While it is
possible to manually sweep up fine particulate matter and litter
with a broom, and also to pick up litter by hand, such manual labor
is time-consuming and expensive, and therefore largely
unacceptable.
The need for thorough, yet quick and inexpensive cleaning
of sidewalks, factories, warehouses, and the like, has spawned
dozens of designs for walk behind push-type mobile surface cleaning
units, walk behind self-propelled mobile surface cleaning units,
and ride-on mobile surface cleaning units. These units effectively
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increase productivity and decrease the need for less productive
manual cleaning operations.
Part of the reason for the number of different units is
that each manufacturer is trying to achieve a useful balance
between suctioning up fine particulate matter and suctioning up
litter. Fine particulate matter typically is spread in a thin
layer over at least a large portion of the surface. Accordingly,
the covered surface must be vacuumed in its entirety. In order to
vacuum up fine particulate matter, it is well-known to use a
vacuuming head that closely engages the surface being cleaned in a
manner to cause a low pressure vacuuming force of air between the
vacuuming head and the surface. Further, such vacuuming heads on
mobile surface cleaning units are typically quite wide in order to
l~ permit a maximum area of the surface to be covered per unit time.
In order to vacuum up fine particulate matter, which has a small
surface area, a mobile vacuum unit must have high vacuum lift
characteristics. This is especially important where wide vacuuming
heads are used. Conversely, in order to suction up litter, which
2:.-~ has a comparatively large overall surface area for its light
weight, a mobile vacuum unit must produce high air velocity. These
units typically are designed such that, in use, the operator moves
a vacuum hose over the litter, without the vacuum hose necessarily
contacting the surface being cleaned in order to establish a
vacuuming effect. Debris is merely suctioned up the hose by the
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high flow of air, and is deposited in the receptacle for subsequent
disposal or dumping.
Accordingly, as is well known in the prior art, it is
S very difficult in the design of mobile surface cleaning units to
concurrently achieve both high vacuum lift characteristics
(typically measured by a column of water or mercury) and produce
high air velocity using an air impeller. Further, there is also no
known prior art unit that can maintain its vacuuming head in close
i0 proximity to a surface in order to properly suction dust and dirt,
and also concurrently permit the suctioning up of litter, or
conversely, there is no known prior art unit that can vacuum up of
debris while still maintaining its vacuuming head in close
proximity to a surface in order to properly suction dust and dirt.
15 One such prior art unit is taught in U.S. Patent No. 6,041,471
issued March 28, 2000, to Charky et a1, which teaches a Mobile
Walk-Behind Sweeper. Dust, dirt and litter are swept into a
central path by a pair of brushes 18 whereat a suction nozzle 26
attempts to suction up the dust, dirt and debris. The entire unit
can be manipulated via the handlebar 22 to position the suction
nozzle 26 vertically with respect to a surface being cleaned, to
either maximize the suctioning up of dust and dirt or accommodate
the suctioning up of litter. Such manual manipulation is very
cumbersome and slow, and is even difficult, and is therefore highly
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undesirable . Further, it is common to miss dust and dirt while
trying to raise the suction nozzle 26 high enough to suction up
litter.
Another reason that it is very difficult in the design of
mobile surface cleaning units to concurrently achieve both high
vacuum lift characteristics and produce high air velocity is the
necessity to filter out fine particulate matter from the flow of
air produced. The fine particulate filters required by present-day
legislation cannot pass very large volumes of air and still
function properly. Accordingly, it is difficult to produce a unit
that has the necessary high air velocity for suctioning up fine
particular matter.
It is an obj ect of the present invention to provide a
mobile large area surface cleaning apparatus that suctions up both
fine particulate matter, such as dust, and larger debris, such as
litter, from a surface.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
a mobile large area surface cleaning apparatus that suctions up
both fine particulate matter, such as dust, and larger debris, such
as litter, from a surface in one pass.
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It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a mobile large area surface cleaning apparatus that
suctions up both fine particulate matter, such as dust, and larger
debris, such as litter, from a surface with increased effectiveness
and efficiency.
STJ1~IARY OF T8E INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
there is disclosed a novel mobile large area surface cleaning
apparatus for suctioning both dust and debris from a surface being
cleaned. The mobile large area surface cleaning apparatus
comprises a main body carrying a vacuum source and having wheels
for permitting travel along the surface being cleaned. A housing
has a surface facing peripheral bottom edge defining a suctioning
bottom opening and is operatively mounted on the main body such
that, in use, the surface facing peripheral bottom edge is disposed
adjacent with the surface being cleaned, in dust suctioning
relation thereto. A dust transfer duct has an inlet disposed in
dust suctioning relation with the suctioning bottom opening of the
housing and is connected in fluid communication via an airflow
passageway to an outlet disposed exteriorly to the housing and is
operatively connected in fluid communication and in debris transfer
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relation to the vacuum source. A debris transfer duct is
operatively mounted on the main body for movement therewith and has
a debris inlet disposed in debris suctioning relation exteriorly to
the housing at least partially above the peripheral bottom edge of
the housing to thereby accept debris too large to pass between the
peripheral bottom edge and a surface being cleaned during use, and
is connected in fluid communication to a debris outlet disposed in
debris transfer relation to the vacuum source.
1U Other advantages, features and characteristics of the
present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of
the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts
and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description and the
appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the
latter of which is briefly described hereinbelow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T8E DRAWINGS
The novel features which are believed to be
characteristic of the mobile large area surface cleaning apparatus
according to the present invention, as to its structure,
organization, use and method of operation, together with further
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objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from
the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of
the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is
expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the
purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended
as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the
accompanying drawings:
Figure 1A is a perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of the mobile area surface cleaning apparatus according
to the present invention;
Figure 1B is a side elevational view partially cut away
of the first preferred embodiment mobile area surface cleaning
apparatus of Figure 1A, with the flap valve in a closed position;
Figure 1C is a side elevational view partially cut away
similar to Figure 1B, but with the flap valve in an open position,
and with debris entering into the debris transfer duct;
:' n
Figure 2A is a side elevational view partially cut away
of a portion of a second preferred embodiment mobile area surface
cleaning apparatus according to the present invention, with the
flap valve in a closed position;
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Figure 2B is a side elevational view partially cut away
similar to Figure 2A, but with the flap valve in an open position
and with debris entering the debris transfer duct;
Figure 3A is a side elevational view partially cut away
of a portion of a third preferred embodiment mobile area surface
cleaning apparatus according to the present invention; and,
Figure 3B is a top plan view partially cut away of a rear
portion of the third preferred embodiment mobile area surface
cleaning apparatus of Figure 3A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED E1~ODIMENT
Referring to Figures 1A through 3B of the drawings, it
will be noted that Figures 1A through 1C illustrate the first
preferred embodiment of the mobile area surface cleaning apparatus
of the present invention, Figures 2A and 2B illustrate the second
preferred embodiment of the mobile area surface cleaning apparatus
of the present invention, and Figures 3A and 3B illustrate the
third preferred embodiment of the mobile area surface cleaning
apparatus of the present invention.
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Reference will now be made to Figures 1A through 1C,
which show a first preferred embodiment of the mobile area surface
cleaning apparatus of the present invention, as indicated by
general reference numeral 20. The mobile area surface cleaning
apparatus 20 is for suctioning both dust and debris from a surface
22 being cleaned, such as a factory floor, a warehouse floor, a
sidewalk, or any other substantially flat surface.
Briefly, the mobile area surface cleaning apparatus 20
comprises a vehicle 25 carrying a vacuum source 69 and having
wheels 27. A housing 30 mounted on the vehicle 25 has a surface
facing peripheral bottom edge 46 that defines a suctioning bottom
opening 48. A dust transfer duct 60 has an inlet 62 disposed in
dust suctioning relation with said suctioning bottom opening 48 of
the housing 30 and connected in fluid communication via an internal
airflow passageway 64 to an outlet 66 disposed exteriorly to the
housing 30 and in fluid communication and in debris transfer
relation to a vacuum source 69. A debris transfer duct 40 has a
debris inlet 41 and a debris outlet 42. A valve means 80 is
provided for controlling air and debris flow through the debris
transfer duct 40. A selectively operable control means 90 is
provided for controlling the valve means 80.
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The various elements of the first preferred embodiment
mobile area surface cleaning apparatus 20 will now be described in
greater detail.
In the mobile area surface cleaning apparatus 20, the
vehicle 25 carries the vacuum source 69 that comprises an impeller
69a, a motor 69b, two filters 69c, and a debris receptacle 69d, as
is well known in the art. The impeller could alternatively be
replaced by a vacuum pump. Also, it is well known that the vacuum
source 69, although is commonly located after the receptacle 69d,
can also precede the receptacle and thereby have debris flow
through it. The debris receptacle 69d, as illustrated, has a rear
dump door 69e to permit removal of debris therefrom. It is also
well known in the industry to use removable top plates, tipping
cannisters, removable cannisters, bags, and so on. Preferably, the
duct 60 is made from a rigid metal or plastic material, such as
stainless steel, aluminum, UHMW (ultra-high molecular weight)
plastic, or any other suitable material, as is well known in the
industry.
The vehicle 25 also has four wheels 27, specifically two
steerable front wheels 27f (only one shown) and two larger rear
wheels 27r (only one shown). The wheels 27f,27r are for permitting
travel along the surface 22 being cleaned. The apparatus 20 is
--- self propelled and steered by a user holding onto the steering
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wheel 28. Alternatively, the rear wheels 27r of the apparatus'20
could be powered by an electric motor or internal combustion engine
(not shown) and also could be steerable by means of the steering
wheel 28 through a suitable linkage (not shown).
J
The housing 30 includes a perimeter portion 34 having a
front portion 35, a back portion 36, a left end portion 37, and a
right end portion 38. As can be best seen in Figure 1A, the
housing 30 is elongate from its left end portion 37 to its right
i0 end portion 38, and is preferably about two to three feet long
(from the left end portion 37 to the right end portion 38), and is
generally proportionate to the diameter of the dust transfer duct
60, (about two to four inches high at the center) , and about two to
four inches from front to back depending on the specific
15 configuration of the housing 30.
The particular housing 30 illustrated is also tapered
downwardly from a raised central portion 39 towards each of the
left and right end portions 37, 38, and is also tapered slightly
a from front to back towards each of the left and right end portions
37,38. In this manner, the left and right end portions 37,38 can
be used to vacuum under slightly raised objects.
As can be best seen in Figure 1A, the front portion 35 of
the perimeter portion 34 comprises a left front portion 351 and a
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right front portion 35r that are each sloped rearwardly a'nd
inwardly to the debris inlet 41 of the debris transfer duct 40.
The debris inlet 41 is disposed exteriorly to the housing 30
between the left front portion 351 and the right front portion 35r,
and above the peripheral bottom edge 46 of the housing 30 in debris
suctioning relation with respect to a surface 22 being cleaned.
The rearwardly and inwardly sloping left and right front portions
351, 35r, cause debris to be deflected towards the central opening
40 when the housing 30 of the mobile large area surface cleaning
apparatus 20 is pushed forwardly along the surface 22 being
cleaned.
The housing 30 of the mobile area surface cleaning apparatus
preferably has a substantially hollow interior 32, as can best
15 be seen in Figures 1B and 1C. The perimeter portion 34 of the
housing 30 terminates downwardly in the substantially straight
surface facing peripheral bottom edge 46. The surface facing
peripheral bottom edge 46 defines the suctioning bottom opening 48
that is continuous with the interior 32 of the housing 30.
%' 0
The housing 30 is operatively mounted on the vehicle 25, such
that, in use, the surface facing peripheral bottom edge 46 is
disposed adjacent the surface 22 being cleaned, in dust suctioning
relation thereto. The term "dust suctioning relation" refers to
the surface facing peripheral bottom edge 46 being a very small
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distance above the surface 22 being cleaned (or actually partially
touching it) in order to cause the air being suctioned into the
interior 32 of the housing 30 between the surface facing peripheral
bottom edge 46 and the surface 22 being cleaned to maintain a
sufficient air speed and vacuum to suction dust and other fine
particulate matter into the interior 32 of the housing 30, or in
other words, to maintain the housing 30 in dust suctioning relation
with respect to the surface 22 being cleaned. The distance of the
surface facing peripheral bottom edge 46 above the surface 22 being
cleaned is determined by the vertical adjustment of an adjustable
mounting bracket (not shown) or alternatively by small wheels or
skid plates mounted in vertically adjustable relation on the
housing 30. This vertical adjustment may even be set such that the
surface facing peripheral bottom edge at least partially contacts
the surface 22 being cleaned.
In the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the surface
facing peripheral bottom edge 46 comprises numerous downwardly
projecting bristles 46b that permit the housing 30 of the mobile
area surface cleaning apparatus 20 to slide along a smooth floor
without doing damage to either the floor or the surface facing
peripheral bottom edge 46 of the housing 30. The bristles also
provide an airflow passageway 64 between the surface 22 being
cleaned and the remainder of the housing 30, which airflow
%~ passageway has a relatively small cross-sectional area, that is
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preferably less than or even approximately the same cross-sectional
area as the internal airflow passageway 64 of the dust transfer
duct 60, so as to permit a suitable high speed airflow between the
surface 22 being cleaned and the remainder of the housing 30, and
subsequently into the housing 30 through the suctioning bottom
opening 48. In this manner, air and dust can enter the interior 32
of the housing 30, thus maintaining the housing 30 in dust
suctioning relation with respect to the surface 22 being cleaned,
as aforesaid. Alternatively, rubber squeegees can be used in place
of the bristles 46b for applications where water is to be
suctioned. Also, alternatively, the surface facing peripheral
bottom edge 46 may be substantially straight or may be ridged.
As is best seen in Figures 1B and 1C, the dust transfer duct
60 is connected at its inlet 62 to a crown portion 56 of the
housing 30 such that the inlet 62 disposed in dust suctioning
relation with the suctioning bottom opening 48 of the housing 30,
and is connected at its outlet 66 to the vacuum source 69 such that
the dust transfer duct 60 is connected in fluid communication via
64 an internal airflow passageway to the outlet 66 disposed
exteriorly to the housing 30 and in fluid communication with and in
debris transfer relation to the vacuum source 69. Preferably, the
dust transfer duct 60 is made from a rigid metal material, such as
stainless steel or any other suitable metal or metals, as is well
known in the industry.
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The debris transfer duct 40 is operatively mounted on the
vehicle 25 for movement therewith, as the mobile large area surface
cleaning apparatus 20 is moved across the surface 22 being cleaned.
In the first preferred embodiment as illustrated, the debris
transfer duct 40 is securely attached to the housing 30 and the
vehicle 25. Alternatively, it is contemplated that a forward
portion of the housing 30 may be mounted on the dust transfer duct
60 in removable and replaceable relation, and also be extensible,
so as to permit suctioning of debris from places other than in
front of the middle of the housing 30.
The debris inlet 41 of the debris transfer duct 40 is disposed
forwardly of the housing 30 between the left and right portions
351,35r of the front portion 35 of the perimeter portion 34 of the
housing 30, in debris suctioning relation exteriorly to the housing
30. Also, the debris transfer duct 40 is disposed at least
partially above the peripheral bottom edge of the housing 30, to
thereby accept debris too large to pass between the peripheral
bottom edge and a surface 22 being cleaned, during use, as can be
best seen in Figure 1C. The debris inlet 41 of the debris transfer
duct 40 is also connected in fluid communication to a debris outlet
42 disposed in debris transfer relation to the vacuum source 69,
through the dust transfer duct 60. More particularly, in the first
preferred embodiment, the debris outlet 42 of the debris transfer
». duct 40 is disposed in debris transfer relation and in fluid
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communication at an airflow junction 43 with the airflow passageway
64 of the dust transfer duct 60. It is contemplated that the
airflow junction 43 could alternatively be disposed in any other
suitable location along the dust transfer duct 60, or even in the
housing 30.
In the first preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the valve
means 80 for controlling air and debris flow through the debris
transfer duct 40 comprises a diverter valve, and more specifically
a flap valve 81, as can be best seen in Figures 1B and 1C. The
flap valve 81 is pivotally movable between a debris blocking
position, as can be best seen in Figure 1B, and a debris passage
position, as can be best seen in Figure 1C, which pivotal movement
is indicated by arrow "A". In the debris blocking position, the
debris outlet 42 of debris transfer duct 40 is closed off from
being in debris transfer relation to the vacuum source 69, through
the dust transfer duct 60. In the debris passage position, the
debris outlet 42 of debris transfer duct 40 is disposed in debris
transfer relation and in fluid communication with the airflow
passageway of the dust transfer duct 60 and with the vacuum source
69. Accordingly, debris 24 is suctioned into the debris inlet 41
of the debris transfer duct 40, as indicated by arrow "B" in Figure
1C, through the debris transfer duct 40, as indicated by arrow "C",
into the inlet 62 of the dust transfer duct 60, as indicated by
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arrow "D", and through the airflow passageway 64 of the dust
transfer duct 60 to the vacuum source 69.
It is contemplated that it is also possible to have the flap
valve 81 not completely close off the inlet 62 of the dust transfer
duct 60 from fluid communication with the interior 38 of the
housing 30. In this manner, at least a partial air flow is
maintained at all times so as to maintain suctioning of dust
through the housing 30 at all times. However, in this instance,
full suction would not be available to the debris transfer duct 40.
The selectively operable means 90 for controlling the valve
means 80, namely the flap valve 81, from its dust suctioning
position to its debris suctioning position, comprises an
electrically operated rotary solenoid 91. As can be best seen in
Figures 1B and 1C, the body of the solenoid 91 is securely mounted
to the debris transfer duct 40 by means of suitable threaded
fasteners (not shown). The rotating drive shaft 91d of the
solenoid 91 is directly connected to the pivot axle 81p of the
flap valve 81.
The selectively operable control means 90 for controlling the
valve means 80 also comprises a thumb operable momentary contact
single-pole switch 94 mounted on the steering wheel 28, and
_.. electrically connected to the solenoid by wires 96.
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In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, it is
contemplated that although it is preferable to mount the housing 30
at the front of the vehicle 25 of the mobile large area surface
cleaning apparatus 20, it is also possible to mount the housing 30
on the vehicle 25 at any longitudinal position, from front to back.
For instance, the housing 30 could be mounted generally centrally
from front to back, such as under a small tractor or the like.
Reference will now be made to Figure 2A and 2B, which show a
second preferred embodiment of the mobile area surface cleaning
apparatus of the present invention, as indicated by general
reference numeral 220. The mobile area surface cleaning apparatus
220 is similar to the first preferred embodiment mobile area
surface cleaning apparatus 20, except that the debris transfer duct
240 is connected at its debris outlet 242 directly to the vacuum
source 269. The flap valve 281 is disposed at the debris outlet
242, and the selectively operable control means 290 comprises a
manually operable cable 291 disposed within a sheath 292 and
secured at its upper end 291a to the flap valve 281. The
selectively operable control means 290 comprises a hand operated
lever 297 pivotally mounted on a flange 229 on the vehicle 225
adjacent the seat 226. The cable 291 is secured at its lower end
291b to the hand operated lever 297.
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Reference will now be made to Figures 3A and 3B, which shows
a third preferred embodiment of the mobile area surface cleaning
apparatus of the present invention, as indicated by general
reference numeral 320. The mobile area surface cleaning apparatus
320 is somewhat similar to the second preferred embodiment mobile
area surface cleaning apparatus 320 in that the debris transfer
duct 340 is connected at its outlet 346 to the vacuum source 369;
however, the vacuum source 369 comprises a first vacuum source 369a
and a second vacuum source 369b that are mounted on the vehicle 325
in side-by-side relation and are separate and distinct one from the
other. As can best be seen in Figure 3B, the dust transfer duct
360 is connected at its outlet 366 to the first vacuum source 369a
and the debris transfer duct 340 is connected at its outlet 346 to
the second vacuum source. Further, there is no valve menas for
controlling air and debris flow through the debris transfer duct.
Instead, the air flow through the duct transfer duct 360 is
determined by the capacity (air flow) and vacuum strength of the
first vacuum source 369a, and the air flow through the debris
transfer duct 340 is determined by the capacity (air flow) and
~0 vacuum strength of the second vacuum source 369b. Accordingly, the
suctioning of dust through the housing 330 and the suctioning of
debris, through the debris transfer duct 340, both occur on a
continuous basis.
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As can be understood from the above description and from the
accompanying drawings, the mobile large area surface cleaning
apparatus according to the present invention permits suctioning of
both dust and large debris from a surface, especially in one pass;
and provides a mobile large area surface cleaning apparatus that
permits suctioning of dust and debris from a surface with increased
efficiency and effectiveness, all of which features are unknown in
the prior art.
Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to
those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such
variations are considered to be within the scope of the present
invention. For instance, the housing of the mobile surface
cleaning apparatus could be mounted generally centrally under the
vehicle, between the front and rear wheels. As such, a tractor or
tractor-like vehicle could be used as the vehicle in the present
invention. Also, the housing of the mobile surface cleaning
apparatus could be mounted at the rear of the vehicle. Further,
other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and
~?0 manufacture of the mobile area surface cleaning apparatus of the
present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of
the accompanying claims.
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