Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A CLEANING MACHINE FOR CLEANING A SURFACE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This is a divisional of application No. 2,465,010 filed April 21, 2004.
1o Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable cleaning machine for
cleaning a surface.
Backaround Information
15 It is know to have cleaning machines for cleaning a surface. One
example of a cleaning machine is a carpet extractor that distr ibutes wafer
and
detergent cleaning solution to a cleaning surface and substantially
simultaneously extracts it along with the dirt on the carpet in a continuous
operation. This machine generally uses one or two tanks for holding the
2 o cleaning solution and one tank for containing the extracted or recovered
dirt and
cleaning solufion. When using this carpet extractor, the majority of this
v~r~ater is
recovered and then discarded. Such an arrangement has several
disadvantages. One is that at least two tanks are used which together provide
about twice the tank volume that is need to hold the actual volume. Another is
that the user has to carry the recovery tank when full to the sink for
disposal of
the recovered solution and then refill the solution tankls).
To overcome these disadvantages, the carpet extractor can be
designed to recycle the extracted cleaning solution for reuse. This solution
would eliminate the additional recovery tank and the disposal of the recovered
3 ~ cleaning solution in the tank several times dur ing the cleaning of the
carpet with
the carpet extractor. Further, this solution reduces significantly the number
of
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times the user has to stop and refill the solution tank(s). It would also be
desirable for such a carpet extractor that has a detergent tank to adjust the
amount of detergent in the recycled water or the clean water from a different
fluid
source, if the extracted water is not reused, so that the ratio of detergent
to water
is optimized to produce the desired cleaning performance on the carpet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other facets of the present invention will be
readily apparent from the following description and the attached drawings. In
one aspect of the invention, a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in
which
cleaning solution is distributed to the surface and substantially
simultaneously
extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation as it
moves
along the surface is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a
liquid distribution system operatively associated with the housing. The liquid
distribution system includes a fluid source providing a supply of the cleaning
solution and a distributor fluidly connected to the fluid source for
distributing the
cleaning solution to the surface. A liquid recovery system is operatively
associated with the housing and includes a suction nozzle and a recovery tank
removably mounted to the housing and in fluid communication with the suction
nozzle. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for
applying suction to draw the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface
through
the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. A filter system is provided on
the
housing and in fluid communication with the recovery tank for filtering the
recovered cleaning solution to be reused. The filter system includes a first
filter
2s provided on a filter support mounted to the recovery tank for filtering
particles
from the cleaning solution and dirt, and a second filter fluidly connected
between
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the recovery tank and the distributor for filtering particles from the
cleaning
solution and dirt of a smaller size than the particles filtered from the first
filter.
In another aspect of the invention, a cleaning apparatus for
cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is distributed to the surtace
and
substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a
continuous operation as it moves along the surface is provided. The cleaning
apparatus includes a housing and a liquid distribution system operatively
associated with the housing. The liquid distribution system includes a fluid
source providing a supply of the cleaning solution and a distributor fluidly
1o connected to the fluid source for distributing the cleaning solution to the
surface.
A liquid recovery system is operatively associated with the housing and
includes
a suction nozzle and a recovery tank removabl,y mounted to the housing and in
fluid communication with the suction nozzle. - A suction source is in fluid
communication with the suction nozzle for applying suction to draw the
cleaning
solution and dirt .from the surface through the suction nozzle and into the
recovery tank. A filter system is provided on the housing and in fluid
communication with the recovery tank for filtering the recovered cleaning
solution
to be reused, wherein the filter assembly is composed of a
polytetrafluoroethylene film.
2 o In still another aspect of the invention, a cleaning apparatus for
cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is distributed to the surface
and
substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a
continuous operation as it moves along the surface is provided. The cleaning
apparatus includes a housing and a liquid distribution system operatively
2~ associated with the housing. The liquid distribution system includes a
fluid
source providing a supply of the cleaning solution and a distributor,fluidly
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connected to the fluid source for distributing the cleaning
solution to the surface. A liquid recovery system is
operatively associated with the housing and includes a
suction nozzle and a suction source in fluid communication
with the suction nozzle for applying suction to draw the
cleaning solution and dirt from the surface through the
suction nozzle. An adjusting device is operatively
connected to the detergent tank and the cleaning solution
from the fluid source. The adjusting device detects the
concentration of detergent in the cleaning solution and
adjusts the flow of detergent from the detergent tank to the
cleaning solution to a predetermined value based on the
concentration of detergent in the cleaning solution detected
by the adjusting device.
According to yet another aspect of the invention,
there is provided a portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning
a surface in which cleaning solution is distributed to the
surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along
with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation as it
moves along the surface comprising: a) a housing mounted to
a handle assembly pivotally connected to a base assembly; b)
a liquid distribution system operatively associated with
Said housing and including: a fluid source providing a
supply of the cleaning solution, said fluid source being
mounted to said housing; a distributor fluidly connected to
said fluid source for distributing the cleaning solution to
the surface; c) a liquid recovery system mounted to said
base assembly and operatively associated with said housing,
said liquid recovery system including: a suction nozzle; a
recovery tank removably mounted to said housing and in fluid
communication with said suction nozzle; a suction source in
fluid communication with said suction nozzle for applying
suction to draw the cleaning solution and dirt from the
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surface through the suction nozzle and into said recovery
tank; and d) a filter system provided on said housing and in
fluid communication with said recovery tank for filtering
the recovered cleaning solution to be reused, said filter
system comprising: a first filter provided on a filter
support mounted to said recovery tank, said first filter
filtering particles from the cleaning solution and dirt; a
second filter fluidly connected between said recovery tank
and said distributor, said second filter filtering particles
from the cleaning solution and dirt of a smaller size than
the particles filtered from said first filter, wherein said
handle is pivoted and manipulated to move said base assembly
relative to the surface.
According to yet another aspect of the invention,
there is provided a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a
surface in which cleaning solution is distributed to the
surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along
with dirt on the surface in a continuous operation as it
moves along the surface comprising: a) a housing; b) a
liquid distribution system operatively associated with said
housing and including: a fluid source providing a supply of
the cleaning solution; a distributor fluidly connected to
said fluid source for distributing the cleaning solution to
the surface; c) a liquid recovery system operatively
associated with said housing and including: a suction
nozzle; a recovery tank removably mounted to said housing
and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle; a
suction source in fluid communication with said suction
nozzle for applying suction to draw the cleaning solution
and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle and
into said recovery tank; d) a filter system provided on said
housing and in fluid communication with said recovery tank
for filtering the recovered cleaning solution to be reused,
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said filter system comprising: a first filter provided on a
filter support mounted to said recovery tank, said first
filter filtering particles from the cleaning solution and
dirt; a second filter fluidly connected between said
recovery tank and said distributor, said second filter
filtering particles from the cleaning solution and dirt of a
smaller size than the particles filtered from said first
filter; e) a detergent tank fluidly connected to said second
filter to supply a concentration of detergent to the
cleaning solution; and f) an adjusting device operatively
connected to said detergent tank and the cleaning solution
from said recovery tank, said adjusting device detecting the
concentration of detergent in the cleaning solution and
adjusting the supply of detergent from said detergent tank
to the cleaning solution to a predetermined value based on
the concentration of detergent in the cleaning solution
detected by said adjusting device.
According to yet another aspect of the invention,
there is provided a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a
surface in which cleaning solution is distributed to the
surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along
with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation as it
moves along the surface comprising: a) a housing; b) a
liquid distribution system operatively associated with said
housing and including: a fluid source providing a supply of
the cleaning solution; a distributor fluidly connected to
said fluid source for distributing the cleaning solution to
the surface; c) a liquid recovery system operatively
associated with said housing and including: a suction
nozzle; a recovery tank removably mounted to said housing
and in fluid communication with said suction nozzle; a
suction source in fluid communication with said suction
nozzle for applying suction to draw the cleaning solution
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and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle and
into said recovery tank; d) a filter assembly provided on
said housing and in fluid communication with said recovery
tank for filtering the recovered cleaning solution to be
reused; e) a detergent tank fluidly connected to said filter
assembly to supply a concentration of detergent to the
cleaning solution; and f) an adjusting device operatively
connected to said detergent tank and the cleaning solution
from said recovery tank, said adjusting device detecting the
concentration of detergent in the cleaning solution and
adjusting the supply of detergent from said detergent tank
to the cleaning solution to a predetermined value based on
the concentration of detergent in the cleaning solution
detected by said adjusting device, wherein said filter
assembly includes a polytetrafluoroethylene film.
According to yet another aspect of the invention,
there is provided a cleaning apparatus for cleaning a
surface in which cleaning solution is distributed to the
surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along
with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation as it
moves along the surface comprising: a) a housing; b) a
liquid distribution system operatively associated with said
housing and including: a fluid source providing a supply of
the cleaning solution; a detergent tank removably mounted to
said housing and providing a supply of detergent to the
cleaning solution; a distributor fluidly connected to said
fluid source for distributing said cleaning solution to the
surface; c) a liquid recovery system operatively associated
with said housing and including: a suction nozzle; a suction
source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle for
applying suction to draw the cleaning solution and dirt from
the surface through the suction nozzle; and d) an adjusting
device operatively connected to said detergent tank and the
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cleaning solution from said fluid source, said adjusting
device detecting the concentration of detergent in the
cleaning solution and adjusting the flow of detergent from
said detergent tank to the cleaning solution to a
predetermined value based on the concentration of detergent
in the cleaning solution detected by said adjusting device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described, by way of
example, with reference to the attached drawings, of which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carpet
extractor embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the base assembly
of the carpet extractor illustrating the principal elements
thereof; and
Figure 3 is a schematic view of the fluid
distribution system of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a
perspective view of an upright carpet extractor 60 according
to one embodiment of the present invention. The upright
carpet extractor 60 comprises a handle portion 62 pivotally
connected to the rear portion of the floor-engaging portion
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or base assembly 64 that moves and cleans along a surface 74 such as a
ca rp et.
A housing 76 is mounted to the handle portion 62 of the eytr actor
60 and houses several components of the extractor 60, which will be further
described. A combined airlwater separator and recovery tank 80 removably
sets atop base assembly 64 and is surrounded by a hood portion 82. Before
the extractor is used for cleaning the surface, the recovery tank 80 is filled
with
cleaning solution such as clean water. Referring to FIG. 2, the base assembly
64 includes a frame assembly 83 which comprises a generally unitary molded
rear body 84 having two laterally displaced wheels 66 (the left wheel 66!
being
shown in FIG. 1 ) rotatably attached to the rear of the rear body 84.
Integrally
molded into the bottom of the rear body 84 is a circular stepped basin 86
receiving therein a motor/fan assembly 90 used to provide the suction power.
The motor/fan assembly 90 is in fluid communication with the recovery tank 80.
A suitable motor/fan assembly is shown in U.S. patent 5,500,977.
The base assembly 64 includes a brush assembly 70 having a
plurality of rotating scrub brushes 72 (FIG. 3) for scrubbing the surface. An
air
driven turbine 98 providing motive power for the brush assembly 70 is mounted
on the front portion of the rear body 84. The brush assembly 70 is contained
in
a brush cavity 73 formed in the underside of the front body 92. A suitable
brush
assembly 70 is taught in patent 5,867,857. Brush assembly 70 is operated by a
suitable gear train (or other known means), not shown, contained in
transmission
housing 100. A suitable air turbine driven gear train is taught in U.S. Pat.
No.5,443,362.
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Turning back to FIGS. 1 and 2, a floor suction nozzle assembly 124
is removably mounted to the hood portion 82 of the base assembly 64. In
particular, the floor suction nozzle assembly 124 includes a front plate 126
secured to a rear plate 128 that in combination define dual side ducts 130,
132
separated by a tear drop shaped opening 134 as best depicted in FIG, 2. The
opening 134 extends down from an accessory hose opening 136, formed in the
front portion 126 to a ,predetermined distance above the suction inlet 138 of
the
floor suction nozzle assembly 124. A door 168 is pivotally connected to the
front portion 126
and releasably fits into the complimentary recess 167 to cover the opening 136
1 o when the carpet extractor 60 is used to clean the floor.
The front and rear plates-or portions 126, 128 are secured to one
another by ultrasonic welding and screw fasteners, however, other types of
ways to secure them such as for example, by adhesive, can be used. The
distance above the suction inlet 138 for the opening 134 is about one fourth
of
an inch, which provides a flow path for liquid and dirt pick up in the center
of the
suction inlet 138 of the nozzle 124. The side ducts 130, 132 converge
upstream into a recessed throat portion 149 (FIG. 1 ), which terminates into
an
upwardly extending rear duct 150. The rear duct 150 is positioned in a
complementary recess portion 152 formed in the front lower portion of the
2 o recovery tank 80. The duct 150 fluidly connects with the. recovery tank
80.
As depicted in FIG. 2, the recovery tank 80 sets down over.and
surrounds a portion of the motor cover 230 of base frame assernbiy 64. It is
preferred that recovery tank 80 set atop and surround a portion of the motor
fan
assembly 90 thereby providing sound insulating properties and assisting in
. noise reduction of the extractor. A u-shaped carrying handle 332 is
pivotally
connected to the upper portion .of the recovery tank 80. The recovery tank lid
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assembly 301 incorporates therein the air/fluid separator. The motor/fan
assembly 90 extracts the air and soiled liquid from the carpet and draws it
through the suction nozzle 124 and side suction ducts 130, 132 to the lid
assembly 301 of the recovery tank 80 where separation of the air and liquid
occurs.
The recovery tank 80 includes a filter basket or frame 21 1 that
supports a coffee type disposable filter 213 removably mounted on the filter
basket 211 and aligned below the lid 301. The coffee type filter 213 is
composed of a polytetrafluoroethylene film, which has good dirt release and
1o filtering properties. To remove the filter 213, a user first removes the
lid 301 to
gain access to the filter 213. The filter 213 generally filters out large
particles,
fibers, and hairs from the extracted cleaning solution traveling from the lid
301
and passing through it to the bottom of the recovery tank 80. The liquid
collects
in the bottom of the recovery tank 80 and is reused as cleaning solution after
being further treated, which will be further explained in more detail.
A detergent supply tank 622 with cap 720 (FIG.3) is adhesivefy
mounted to the housing 76 as depicted in FIG 1. Alternatively, an additional
clean water tank can be removably mounted to the handle 62 and filled with
detergent or any other desired fluid such as liquid protectant or a fragrance
2 o emitting solution. The detergent supply tank 622 is positioned upon a
bottom
base 624 and is removably mounted to the handle 60.
FIG. 3 illustrates the overall solution distribution system, which will
be described below. The carpet extractor includes a solution hose 790 that
fluidly connects an outlet of the recovery tank 80 to an inlet 812 of a
pressure
actuated shut off valve 804. The outlet of the detergent tank 622 is fluidly
connected to an inlet 523 of an electrically controlled variable mixing valve
796
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via a suitable flexible hose 798.
The pressure actuated shut off valve 804 is fluidly connected
between the recovery tank 80 and the mixing valve 796 for turning off and on
the flow of water. This shut off valve 804 is opened and closed by outside
s pressure v.ia a conduit 806 connected between it and the outlet 807 of a
pump
808 through a Tee 817.. The valve 804 includes a pressure .port 82~ fluidly
connected to the outlet 807 of the pump 808. An outlet 814 of the valve 804 is
fluidly
connected to an inlet 521 of the mixing valve 796 via hose 815. It should be
known that recovery tank 80 could be fluidly connect to the outlet 814 of the
1 o valve 804 with the inlet 812 of the valve 804 being fluidly connect to the
mixing
valve 796 ~so that fluid could flow the opposite direction if desired:
In operation, when the pressure at the pressure port 822 is below a
predetermined value such as between 7 to 10 psi, the valve 804 opens to allow
water to flow in both directions. Such a pressure value at the pressure port
8.22
15 occurs when the main shut off valve 820 is opened and the pump 808 is
turned
on. The pump 808 also pressurizes the cleaning solution to draw it to the
distributor 792. When the pressure exceeds a second predetermined value
such as between 20 to 30 psi, the valve 804 closes.. This would occur if the
main shut off valve 820 is closed and the pump is turned on. Thus, with the
2 0 valve 804 closed, the cleaning solution is prevented from flowing through
it.
Various types of pumps can be used such as a piston pump, gear pump or
centrifugal pump.
A sediment filter 215 is disposed in the solution hose 815 and fluidly
connected between the outlet 814 of the shut off valve 804 and inlet 521 of
the
2 5 mixing valve 796. The sediment filter 215 filters out particles smaller
than those
filtered out by the coffee type filter 213. In particular, the sediment filter
215
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removes particles down to about 5 microns. A charcoal filter 217, disposed
downstream of the sediment filter 215, is fluidly connected to the inlet 521
of the
mixing valve 796. The charcoal filter 217 fitters out particles smaller than
those
of the sediment filter. Specifically, the charcoal filter 217 filters out
detergent
residue and oils from the cleaning solution.
Outlet 525 of the mixing valve i96 is fluidly connected via flexible
hose 823 to the inlet of the pump 808, which provides pressure to draw the
cleaning solution lo the distributor 792, when it is turned on. A relief valve
809
is fluidly connected across the pump 808 to limit the pressure at the outlet
807
of the pump 808 to a predetermine value. The outlet 807 of the pump 808 is
fluidly connected to the-main shut off valve 820 via flexible hoses 825, 874
and
876. A heater 227 is disposed in the solution hose 874 to heat the cleaning
solution. One example of such a heater is the heater disclosed in Pat. No.
6,131,237; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
z5 The carpet extractor 60 includes another so~c~tion hose 794 that
fluidly connects another outlet of the recovery tank 80 to a shut off valve
800
used far selectively turning on and off the flow of clean water, which is
filtered
by a sediment filter 219 disposed in the solution hose 794 and charcoal filter
221 disposed in the solution hose 79~ downstream of the sediment filter 219.
Both of the filters 219, 221 are similar to their respective filters 215, 217.
A
pump 223 with relief valve 225, which is similar to pump 808 and relief valvz
809, is provided in the solution hose 794 and fluidly connected between the
charcoal filter 221 and shut off valve 800 to pressurize and draw the clean
water
to the distributor 792. A heater 229 similar to Beater 227 is disposed in the
25 solution hose 794 downstream of the pump 223 to heat the cleaning solution.
Both of the shut off valves 800, 820 are in the form of a solenoid valve,
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however, other electrical actuated valves could be.also used
A microcontroller 231 is electrically coupled to the mixing valve 796
to control the mixing ratio of detergent from the detergent tank 622 and
filtered
clean water from the recovery tank 80. A pH sensor 233 is connected in the
portion of the solution hose 815 between the charcoal filter 217 and the inlet
521 of the mixing valve 796 to detect the pH level of the water. The output of
the pH sensor 233 is electrically coupled to an input of the microcontroller
231.
fn operation, the pH sensor 233 outputs a signal representative of the pH
level
of the water to the input of the microcontoller 231. The microcontroller 231
1 o utilizes a look up table to convert the pH level to the concentration of
detergent
in the water. The microcontrolfer 231 then outputs a control signal
representative of the concentration of detergent in the water to the.mixing
valve
796. Based on this control signal, the mixing valve 796 adjusts the flow of
detergent from the detergent tank 622 tv the cleaning solution at a value that
provides the optimum concentration of detergent in the cleaning solution
forthe
best cleaning performance using the extractor 60. Alternatively, a clean water
tank could be used instead of the recovery tank 80 in this system for
adjusting
the concentration of detergent of the cleaning solution.
The valves 800, 820 are operated by a trigger switch 821 as
2o depicted in FIG. 1. The,trigger switch 821 is pivotally connected to the
upper
handle portion 358 approximately near a closed looped handgrip 824. Slide
switch 858 is used to select one of the shut off valves 800, 820 to be opened
and
closed by the trigger switch .821. Slide switch 856 is the main power switch,
which turns on and off the suction motor 90 and pumps 808, 223. The cleaning
2s solution flows to their associated shut off valves 800, 820. The cleaning
liquid
distributor 792 evenly distributes the cleaning solution to each of the rotary
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scrub brushes 72. The scrub brushes 72 then spread the cleaning solution onto
the carpet (or.bare floor), scrub the cleaning liquid into the carpet and
dislodge
embedded soil. A solution discharge valve 877 allows the mixed detergent and
clean water to flow through an integrally formed nipple 218 and a detachable
s solution tube 216 to a hand-held cleaning attachment (not shown) and
dispense
by typical spray means.
In operation, a user fills the recovery tank 80 with clean water and
the detergent tank 622 with detergent. The user then pivots the handle 62 in
an
incline position white moving the carpet extractor 60 over the surface to
clean it.
1 o The carpet extractor 60 distributes the cleaning solution to the carpeted
surface
using the brushes.72 and substantially simultaneously extracts it along with
the
dirt on the carpet in a continuous operation. The soiled cleaning solution is
extr acted from the carpet by the suction nozzle 124 and transported into the
recovery tank 80 where the liquid and air are separated. The extracted f iquid
is
~ 5 filter and reused as cleaning solution as pr2viousiy mentioned. A vacuum
is
created in the recovery tank 80 by the suction motor 90, which draws air from
the recovery tank 80 and exhausts the air to the carpeted surface 74.
Alternatively, the exhausted air could be fluidly connected to solution hose
790
io provide additional pressure to increase the cleaning solution flow rate.
2 o Further details of the carpet extractor are disclosed in published U.S.
patent
application No. 2003/0226230.
The present invention has been described by way of example using
the illustrated embodiments. Upon reviewing the detailed description and the
2s appended drawings, various modifications and variations of the embodiments
will become apparent to one of ordinary skiff in the art. All such obvious
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modifications and variations are intended to be included in the scope of me
present invention and of the claims appended hereto.
In view of the above, it is intended that the present invention not be
limited by the preceding disclosure of the embodiments, but rather be limited
only by the appended claims.
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