Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ROTARY CLEANING HEAD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to floor cleaning machines for hard or soft
surfaces; and
more particularly, it relates to rotary cleaning heads for floor cleaning
machines.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There has been a long felt need for a simple, economical and effective rotary
cleaning
head for floor cleaning machines that may solve some of the problems
associated with
conventional rotary cleaning heads.
For example, one problem that may be solved by the present invention is how to
provide
a rotary cleaning head that distributes vacuum to the rotary cleaning head's
vacuum heads in a
simple, effective, and efficient way, despite the rotation of the rotary
cleaning head during use.
The present invention may solve this problem by providing a rotary cleaning
head that may
comprise a main disc and a cover, wherein the cover may define an axially
aligned central
vacuum opening that may be adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum; and
wherein the
main disc and cover may define therebetween a vacuum distribution hub and one
or more
vacuum channels for efficiently distributing vacuum from the cover's central
vacuum opening to
the vacuum slots in the vacuum heads, via vacuum slots located in the main
disc. The vacuum
channels may also serve the dual function of helping to guide the flow of air,
used cleaning fluid,
dirt and debris through the rotary cleaning head in a way that reduces, if not
eliminates, any areas
within the rotary cleaning head that might otherwise tend to trap some of the
used cleaning fluid,
dirt and debris.
Another problem that may be solved by the present invention is how to quickly,
easily
and efficiently provide a seal between the cover and the main disc, while
simultaneously
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providing a means that may define at least part of the vacuum distribution
hubs and vacuum
channels within the rotary cleaning head. The present invention may solve this
problem by
providing a relatively thick seal that is located between the cover and the
main disc. The seal's
outer periphery may provide a seal between the outer portions of the cover and
the main disc,
while other portions of the seal may define at least part of the vacuum
distribution hub and the
vacuum channels within the rotary cleaning head.
Another problem that may be solved by the present invention is how to provide
a rotary
cleaning head that may be quickly, easily, and inexpensively modified so that
it may be used to
clean either hard surfaces or soft surfaces. A conventional rotary cleaning
head for cleaning hard
surfaces may include scrubbing bristles or scrubbing pads, squeegee equipped
vacuum heads,
and a sprayer for the cleaning fluid. Such a rotary cleaning head would not be
useable for
cleaning soft surfaces, such as carpeting, because the cleaning bristles or
scrubbing pads would
tend to snag or untwist the carpet fibers, and the squeegee equipped vacuum
heads would not be
very effective on a carpeted surface. On the other hand, a conventional rotary
cleaning head for
cleaning carpeted surfaces may include vacuum heads without squeegees, no
cleaning bristles or
cleaning pads, and a sprayer for cleaning fluid. Such a rotary cleaning head
would not be very
useable for cleaning hard surfaces, since it would lack squeegees and
scrubbing bristles or
scrubbing pads.
However, the rotary cleaning head of the present invention may be easily
modified to
clean either hard surfaces or soft surfaces because any type of vacuum head
may be secured to
the lower side of its main disc, which will then provide the vacuum heads with
vacuum through
the corresponding vacuum slots in the main disc. Similarly, the lower side of
the main disc may,
or may not, be provided with cleaning bristles or scrubbing pads, depending on
whether it is a
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hard surface or a soft surface that is to cleaned.
Another problem that may be solved by the present invention is how to reduce,
if not
eliminate, the amount of cleaning fluid that may be slung out by the rotary
cleaning head's
vacuum heads during operation of the rotary cleaning head. The present
invention may solve
this problem by providing the vacuum heads with vacuum notches or ridges that
may help to
collect and direct the cleaning fluid on at least part of the vacuum heads'
outer surfaces into
vacuum heads' vacuum slots.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided A
rotary
cleaning head for a cleaning machine for a floor, wherein said rotary cleaning
head is
operable to receive a vacuum from a source of vacuum, to receive a cleaning
fluid from a
source of cleaning fluid, and to receive rotation from a source of rotary
power; wherein
said rotary cleaning head has an axis of rotation; and further comprises:
a drive spindle; a vacuum distribution hub; a vacuum channel; a main disc
having
an upper surface and a lower surface; and a main disc cover having an upper
surface and
a lower surface; and a main disc seal operable to provide a seal between said
main disc
and said main disc cover; wherein said main disc, said main disc cover and
said main
disc seal rotate about said axis of rotation during operation of said rotary
cleaning head;
wherein said drive spindle is operable to receive said rotation from said
source of
rotary power; wherein said drive spindle is not operable to receive said
vacuum from said
source of vacuum; and said drive spindle is not operable to convey said vacuum
from
said source of vacuum to said vacuum distribution hub;
wherein said vacuum distribution hub and said vacuum channel are in fluid
communication with each other and are located between at least a portion of
said upper
surface of said main disc and said lower surface of said main disc cover;
wherein said
vacuum distribution hub rotates about said axis of rotation during operation
of said rotary
cleaning head; and said vacuum channel extends outwardly, away from said axis
of
rotation, and rotates about said axis of rotation during operation of said
rotary cleaning
head;
wherein said main disc further comprises a main disc vacuum port which extends
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through said lower surface of said main disc and is in fluid communication
with said
vacuum channel; and said main disc vacuum port rotates about said axis of
rotation
during operation of said rotary cleaning head;
wherein said main disc cover comprises a vacuum opening which extends through
said upper surface of said main disc cover and is in fluid communication with
said
vacuum distribution hub and is operable to be connected to said source of
vacuum;
wherein said vacuum opening rotates about said axis of rotation during
operation of said
rotary cleaning head;
wherein, despite said rotation of said rotary cleaning head, said rotary
cleaning head is
operable to provide a continuity of vacuum from said source of vacuum to said
main disc
vacuum port via said vacuum opening in said main disc cover, said vacuum
distribution
hub, and said vacuum channel.
It should be understood that the foregoing summary of the present invention
does not set
forth all of its objects, features, advantages, characteristics, structures,
materials, methods and
processes; since these and further objects, features, advantages,
characteristics, structures,
materials, methods and processes of the present invention will be directly or
inherently disclosed
to those of ordinary skill in the art to which it pertains in view of all of
the disclosures herein..
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the rotary cleaning head of the present
invention
installed in a floor cleaning machine;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the lower side of the rotary cleaning
head;
Fig. 3 is perspective view showing the upper side of the rotary cleaning head;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary cleaning head, taken along line
4-4 of Fig. 3,
also showing the vacuum plenum in cross section, parts of the gear drive in
elevation and cross-
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section, and the fluid coupling in elevation;
Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a sprayer that may be used in the rotary
cleaning head;
Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a main disc that may be used in the rotary
cleaning head;
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the main disc, taken along line 7-7 of
Fig. 6;
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Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the bottom of a vacuum head that may be
used in the
rotary cleaning head;
Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the vacuum head;
Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the vacuum head, taken along line 10-10
of Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is top plan view of a cover that may be used in the rotary cleaning
head;
Fig. 12 is cross-sectional view of the cover and a seal, taken along line 12-
12 of Fig. 11;
Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of the cover and seal;
Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary cleaning head; and
Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Turning now to Fig. 1, the rotary cleaning head 1 of the present invention may
be used
with any suitable floor cleaning machine 13. A conventional floor cleaning
machine 13 may
typically comprise any suitable frame 21 and a pair of handles 22. The handles
22 may be made
height adjustable in any suitable way, such as by telescoping them within
frame 21 and
selectively locking them in place with any suitable locking mechanism, such as
a pair of locking
knobs 23.
One of the handles 22 may carry a fluid coupling 24 to which a source of
cleaning fluid
may be attached. Any suitable cleaning fluid may be used, such as water for
example, to which
may be added any suitable cleaning agents such as detergents, anti-foam
agents, or surfactants,
for example.
Any suitable valve mechanism, such as a valve 25 actuated by a control lever
26, may be
providing for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to the rotary cleaning
head I through a supply
line 27 and a rotary fluid coupling 28. Any suitable flow control valve 84 may
be provided, if
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desired, for further control of the flow of cleaning fluid to the rotary
cleaning head 1. One of the
handles 22 may carry any suitable control, such as a control lever 29 and a
switch 82, for starting
and stopping a drive motor 30 for the rotary cleaning head 1. The drive motor
30 may be
attached to the lower part of the frame 21. The speed of the drive motor 30
may be set in any
suitable way, in order to control the rotational speed of the rotary cleaning
head 1, such as by use
of a speed control knob 31 and any suitable associated electrical control
circuitry.
Secured to the lower part of the frame 22 may be any suitable vacuum plenum
32, which
may have any suitable vacuum coupling 33 (such as the pipe stub 33 illustrated
in Figs. 1 and 4),
to which any suitable vacuum source may be attached. The vacuum plenum 32 may
provide a
source of vacuum for the rotary cleaning head 1, as will be described in more
detail below. The
vacuum plenum 32 may have any suitable size, shape and construction, as long
as its inlet 81 is
sized, shaped and located so as to provide an adequate source of vacuum for
the vacuum opening
41 in the cover 7 of the rotary cleaning head 1.
As best seen in Fig. 1, an optional bump cover 49, with a resilient rim 50,
may be secured
to the top of the vacuum plenum 32 in any suitable way, such as with four
screw knobs 51. The
function of the bump cover 49 may be to help prevent the rotary cleaning head
1 from damaging
walls and furnishings during operation, since the resilient rim 50 is slightly
larger in diameter
than the rotary cleaning head 1.
A pair of wheels 34 may be attached to the lower part of the frame 21 to
enable the
cleaning machine 13 to be moved more easily. Although not illustrated in Fig.
I for clarity and
simplicity, the cleaning machine 13 may include any suitable mechanism for
permitting the
handles 22 and at least part of the frame 21 to be tilted at any desired angle
with respect to the
vacuum plenum 32, for the comfort and convenience of the user.
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As best seen in Fig. 14, the rotary cleaning head 1 may comprise a spindle 6,
a spindle 0-
ring 16, a seal 8, a cover 7, six hollow spacers 39, a seal 14, a main disc 2,
a sprayer 3, a sprayer
O-ring 17, three vacuum heads 4, three glide shoes 5, six each of assembly
screws 15 and 20;
four mounting screws 18 for each of the vacuum heads 4; and one mounting screw
19 for each of
the glide shoes 5. The spacers 39 may be molded as an integral part of the
main disc 2, rather
than being separate elements.
The spindle 6 may have a cleaning fluid bore 35, drive threads 36, and a
flange 37 having
six mounting holes 38. The spindle 6 and cover 7 may be made of any suitable
strong, durable
material, such as metal, plastic, or composites.
The cover 7 may have six mounting holes 40 and a vacuum opening 41 surrounded
by a
flange 42 for positioning and holding the seal 8 in its proper location on the
upper side of the
cover 7. The vacuum opening 41 may be of any suitable size, shape, and
location as long as it
does not unduly restrict the flow of air, used cleaning fluid, dirt and debris
into the inlet 81 of the
vacuum plenum 32. Alternatively, the flange 42 may be eliminated, and the seal
8 may be
positioned and held in its proper location on the cover 7 in any other
suitable way, such as by
gluing it in place with any suitable adhesive, for example. The adhesive may
be selected such
that the seal 8 may be easily removed, such as if it is worn out and a new
seal 8 is needed. As
further alternatives, the lower side of the vacuum plenum 32 may carry the
seal 8; or the seal 8
may be held in place by simply being sandwiched between the upper side of the
cover 7 and the
lower side of the vacuum plenum 32.
The seal 8 may be used to prevent a vacuum leak between the upper side of the
cover 7
and the lower side of the vacuum plenum 32. The seal 8 may have any suitable
size, shape,
construction and location, as long as it does not unduly restrict the flow of
air, etc. through the
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vacuum opening 41 in the cover 7 and the inlet 81 of the vacuum plenum 32
during use of the
rotary cleaning head 1. The seal 8 may be made from any suitable material,
such as an elastomer
or felt. Alternatively, a separate seal 8 may be eliminated, and the desired
seal between the
upper side of the cover 7 and the lower side of the vacuum plenum 32 may be
provided in any
other suitable way, such as by providing matching smooth sealing surfaces on
the upper side of
the cover 7 and the lower side of the vacuum plenum 32.
As best seen in Figs. 12-13, the seal 14 may have six spacer holes 43 that are
sized to
receive the six spacers 39; and may also have three vacuum channels 44 in
communication with
its vacuum distribution hub 45. The seal 14 may be made from any suitable
material, such as an
elastomer or felt. The seal may be positioned and held in its proper location
between the cover 7
and the main disc 2 in any suitable way, such as by being sandwiched
therebetween, or by being
secured in any suitable way to the lower side of the cover 7 or to the upper
side of the main disc
2, such as by the use of any suitable adhesive. The seal 14 may have a
thickness that is selected
so that it may extend from the upper side of the main disc 2 to the lower side
of the cover 7
One function of the seal 14 may be to prevent an undesired vacuum leak between
the
cover 7 and the main disc 2. As perhaps best seen in Figs. 4, 12 and 13, the
outer peripheral
portion of the seal 14 may serve this function. Alternatively, the desired
seal between the cover
7 and main disc 2 may be provided in any other suitable way, such as by
providing a separate 0-
ring or other seal between the cover 7 and main disc 2; in which case the
outer peripheral portion
of the seal 14 may be eliminated. As a further alternative, the cover 7 may be
enlarged so that it
extends over the raised rim 53 of the main disc 2, and any suitable seal may
then be provided
between the cover 7 and the rim 53; in which case the outer peripheral portion
of the seal 14 may
again be eliminated.
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Another function of the seal 14 may be to define its vacuum channels 44 and
its vacuum
distribution hub 45, which may have any suitable respective size and shape.
The respective
vacuum channels 44 in the seal 14 and the vacuum channels 57 in the main disc
2 may be
aligned with each other, to form respective composite vacuum channels 44, 57.
The vacuum
channels 57 may be of any suitable size and shape, and the respective vacuum
channels 44, 57
may not be of the same size and shape. Similarly, the vacuum distribution hub
45 in the seal 14
may be aligned with the vacuum distribution hub 58 in the main disc 2, to form
a composite
vacuum distribution hub 45, 58. The vacuum distribution hub 58 may be of any
suitable size and
shape, and the respective vacuum distribution hubs 45, 58 may not be of the
same size and shape.
As an alternative to one seal 14 defining the vacuum distribution hub 45 and
all of the vacuum
channels 44, a separate seal that extends between the upper surface of the
main disc 2 and the
lower surface of the cover 7 may define the vacuum distribution hub 45 or any
particular vacuum
channe144.
One of the functions of the vacuum channels 44, 57 may be to help channel the
flow of
air, etc., from the vacuum slots 59 in the main disc 2 to the vacuum
distribution hubs 45, 58.
Another function of the vacuum channels 44, 57 may be to help guide the flow
of air, used
cleaning fluid, dirt and debris through the rotary cleaning head in a way the
reduces, if not
eliminates, any areas within the rotary cleaning head 1 that might otherwise
tend to trap some of
the used cleaning fluid, dirt and debris. One of the functions of the vacuum
distribution hubs 45,
58 may be to help channel the flow of air, etc., from the vacuum channels 44,
57 to the vacuum
opening 41 in the cover 7.
One vacuum channel 44, 57 may be provided for each vacuum slot 59 in the main
disc 2.
As an alternative, one or more of the vacuum channels 44 may be enlarged so
that it merges
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together with an adjacent vacuum channel 44, in which case the corresponding
portions of the
seal 14 that would have been located between the merged vacuum channels 44 may
be
eliminated. As a further alternative, all portions of the seal 14 located
between the vacuum
channels 44 may be eliminated, resulting in one large vacuum channel 44 for
all of the vacuum
slots 59 in the main disc 2.
As a further alternative, one or more of the vacuum channels 44 in the seal 14
may be
eliminated, in which case the seal 14 may extend into the areas that would
have been occupied
by the eliminated vacuum channels 44. This may be done, for example, if the
corresponding
vacuum channels 57 in the main disc 2 are enlarged in any suitable way so that
they can perform
the functions of the eliminated vacuum channels 44 in the seal 14.
If all of the vacuum channels 44 in the seal 14 are eliminated in the manner
just
described, then the entire seal 14 may be eliminated, and a seal between the
cover 7 and the main
disc 2 may be provided in any other suitable way, such as those that have been
described above.
There may, or may not, be a space provided between all or part of the cover 7
and the main disc
2 in this situation.
As a further alternative, the seal 14's vacuum distribution hub 45 may be
eliminated, such
as by eliminating the seal 14. This may be done if the corresponding vacuum
distribution hub 58
in the main disc 2 is enlarged in any suitable way so that it can perform the
functions of the
eliminated vacuum distribution hub 45 in the seal 14. Here again, a seal
between the cover 7 and
the main disc 2 may be provided in any other suitable way, such as those that
have been
described above. There may, or may not, be a space provided between all or
part of the cover 7
and the main disc 2 in this situation.
As best seen in Figs. 4, 6, and 14, the main disc 2 may have six threaded
mounting holes
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46 for cover 7, each surrounded by a spacer 39; three threaded mounting holes
47, one for each
of the glide shoes 5; twelve mounting holes 48 for vacuum heads 4, four for
each of the vacuum
heads 4; and six mounting holes 52 for the spindle 6 and sprayer 3. The main
disc 2 may be
made from any suitable strong, durable material, such as metal, plastic or
composites; and may
be made as one piece in any suitable way, such as by injection molding it from
plastic.
The upper side of the main disc 2 may have a raised peripheral rim 53; a
raised central
boss 54 having a circular recess 55 for O-ring 16, and a fluid bore 56 for the
cleaning fluid; three
recessed vacuum channels 57 communicating with a recessed vacuum distribution
hub 58; and
three vacuum slots 59 in the vacuum channels 57 for the three vacuum heads 4.
The lower side
of the main disc 2 may have a circular recess 60 for O-ring 17.
The functions of the raised peripheral rim 53 may include helping to properly
position
and protect the cover 7 and seal 14. Alternatively, the rim 53 may be
eliminated, such as if the
seal 14 were eliminated, so that the cover 7 may rest close to, or on, the
upper surface of the
main disc 2.
As seen in Figs. 6 and 14, one vacuum channel 57 may be provided for each of
the
vacuum slots 59. As an alternative, one or more of the vacuum channels 57 may
be enlarged so
that it merges together with an adjacent vacuum channel 57 to form an enlarged
composite
vacuum channel 57. As a further alternative, all of the vacuum channels 57 may
be enlarged and
merged, to form one large composite vacuum channel 57 for all of the vacuum
slots 59.
As another alternative, one or more of the vacuum channels 57 in the main disc
2 may be
eliminated. This may be done, for example, if the corresponding vacuum
channels 44 in the seal
14 are enlarged in any suitable way so that they can perform the functions of
the eliminated
vacuum channels 57.
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As best seen in Figs. 2, 5, and 14, the sprayer 3 may have a hollow hub 9
having six
threaded mounting holes 61 and a central port 62 in its upper side; and three
hollow spray arms
10, each terminating in a hollow elbow 11 and a spray nozzle 12. One of the
functions of the
sprayer 3 may be to deliver, in any suitable way, sprays of cleaning fluid to
the surface being
cleaned. The sprayer 3 may be of any suitable size, shape, construction and
location; and may be
made from any suitable strong, durable material such as metal, plastic or
composites. The
sprayer 3 may have any desired number of spray arms 10, with their associated
elbows 11 and
spray nozzles 12. As an alternative, the elbows 11 may be eliminated and
replaced by a bent
portion of the spray arms 10.
As best seen in Figs. 2 and 14, each glide shoe 5 may have a mounting bore 63
for its
mounting screw 19, and the lower end 64 of its mounting bore 63 may be
enlarged, so that the
head of its mounting screw 19 may be recessed below its lower surface. The
glide shoes 5 may
be of any suitable size, shape, construction and location; and may be made
from any suitable
strong, durable material such as metal, plastic or composites. The glide shoes
5 may have a
vertical thickness that is selected to be about the same as that of the vacuum
heads 4. One
function of the glide shoes 5 may be to help support the main disc 2. There
may be any desired
number of the glide shoes 5. Alternatively, the glide shoes 5 may be
eliminated.
As best seen in Figs. 2, 8-10 and 14, each vacuum head 4 may have four
threaded
mounting bores 65 for its mounting screws 18, a vacuum slot 66, and a vacuum
notch 67. The
vacuum heads 4 may be of any suitable size, shape, construction and location;
may be made from
any suitable strong, durable material such as metal, plastic or composites;
and all of the vacuum
heads 4 may not be the same in their respective sizes, shapes, constructions
and locations.
The lower sides 69 of the vacuum head 4s may taper in width to a relatively
narrow
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support surface 70 that may have chamfered shoulders, in order to help prevent
the edges of the
support surface 70 from snagging on soft surfaces, such as carpeting, or from
scratching hard
surfaces. During use of the rotary cleaning head 1, the support surfaces 70
may be in contact
with the surface being cleaned, and may at least partially support the rotary
cleaning head 1.
Alternatively, there may be less, or no, taper in the lower sides 69 of the
vacuum heads 4, so that
the support surfaces 70 may have a maximum width that is the same as that of
the lower sides 69
of the vacuum heads 4.
One function of the vacuum slots 66 in the vacuum heads 4 may be to convey
air, etc.,
from the surface being cleaned to the corresponding vacuum slots 59 in the
main disc 2. The
vacuum slots 66 may increase in length from the upper sides 68 of the vacuum
heads 4 to their
lower sides 69, as best seen in Figs. 9-10. This increase in length permits
the vacuum slots 66 to
reach closer to the periphery of the main disc 2 than would otherwise be the
case, for better
vacuuming action. Alternatively, the length of the vacuum slots 66 may be
uniform between the
vacuum head 4's upper and lower sides 68, 69. The vacuum slots 66 may be of
any suitable size,
shape, construction and location; and all of the vacuum slots 66 may not be
the same in size,
shape, construction and location. As an alternative, there may be more than
one vacuum slot 66
in any particular vacuum head 4.
The vacuum notches 67 of the vacuum heads 4 may be one of the important
features of
the present invention, since they may serve the function of routing into the
vacuum slots 66 at
least some of the cleaning fluid being slung outwardly by centrifugal force
along the outer
surfaces 83, 69 of the vacuum heads 4. Thus, the vacuum notches 67 may help to
prevent the
undesirable spraying of the cleaning fluid out from the rotary cleaning head
2, where it might
damage walls or furnishings, for example. The vacuum notches 67 may be
oriented so that they
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extend in a direction towards the adjacent spray nozzle 12, and facing the
direction in which the
rotary cleaning head 1 is turning. This is because the side 83 of each vacuum
head 4 that is
closest to the adjacent spray nozzle 12, and that is closest to the direction
in which the rotary
cleaning head 1 is turning, will tend to be the wettest.
The vacuum notches 67 may be of any suitable size, shape, construction and
location.
For example, rather than the vacuum notches 67 being located only in the
support surfaces 70 of
the vacuum head 4, as an alternative they may extend part, or all, of the way
across the lower
side 69 of the vacuum head 4, and they may extend part, or all, of the way
down the sides 83 of
the vacuum heads 4. The functions of such elongated vacuum notches 67 may
include helping to
collect and direct water, etc. into the portion of the vacuum notch 67 that
lies in the support
surface 70. As further alternatives, there may be more than one vacuum notch
67 in any
particular vacuum head 4, or the vacuum notch 67 in any particular vacuum head
4 may be
eliminated. All of the vacuum notches 67 may not be the same in their
respective sizes, shapes,
constructions and locations.
As another alternative, any particular vacuum head 4 may include a ridge 85
that may
extend part, or all, of the way across the lower side 69 of the vacuum head 4,
and that may
extend part, or all, of the way down the side 83 of the vacuum head 4. The
radially inward
surfaces of the ridge 85 may be flat and vertical with respect to the
respective surfaces 69, 83 of
the vacuum head 4, or may be flat and inclined at an acute angle with respect
to the respective
surfaces 68, 83, to aid in the ability of the ridge 85 to serve its functions.
The functions of the
ridge 85 may include helping to collect and direct water, etc. into the vacuum
notch 67 on that
vacuum head 4. All of the ridges 85 may not be the same in their respective
sizes, shapes,
constructions and locations. Both a ridge 85 and an elongated vacuum notch 67
may be used on
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any particular vacuum head 4.
Although three vacuum heads 4 are illustrated, as an alternative there may be
one, two, or
more than three vacuum heads 4. Regardless of the number of vacuum heads 4,
the rotary
cleaning head I may have for each vacuum head 4 a respective vacuum slot 59,
vacuum channels
44, 57; and vacuum distribution hubs 45, 58. Similarly, each vacuum head 4 may
have an
associated spray arm 10, elbow 11 and nozzle 12 located near to it.
In order to assemble the rotary cleaning head 1, the spindle O-ring 16 and the
sprayer 0-
ring 17 may be placed in their respective recesses 55, 60 in the main disc 2.
The assembly
screws 15 may then be used to assemble the spindle 6 and the spindle O-ring 16
to the upper
surface of the main disc 2's central boss 54, and to assemble the sprayer 3
and the sprayer O-ring
17 to the bottom of the main disc 2, by placing the assembly screws 15
sequentially through the
holes 38 in the spindle flange 37 and the holes 52 in the central boss 54; and
by then threading
them into the threaded holes 61 in the hub 9 of the sprayer 3.
The assembly screws 20 may be used to assemble the cover 7, the seal 14 and
the hollow
spacers 39 to the upper surface of the main disc 2 by placing the assembly
screws 20 sequentially
through the holes 40 in the cover 7 and the holes in the hollow spacers 39;
and by then threading
them into the threaded holes 46 in the main disc 2.
The mounting screws 19 may be used to mount the glide shoes 5 to the lower
surface of
the main disc 2 by passing them through the mounting bores 63 in the glide
shoes 5, and by then
screwing them into the threaded mounting holes 47 in the lower side of the
main disc 2.
The mounting screws 18 may be used to mount the vacuum heads 4 to the lower
surface
of the main disc 2 by passing them through the mounting holes 48 in the main
disc 2, and by then
screwing them into the threaded mounting bores 65 in the vacuum heads 4.
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Referring now to Figs. 1 and 4, the rotary cleaning head 1 may then be mounted
to the
cleaning machine 13 by screwing the drive threads 36 on the spindle 6 into
corresponding drive
threads 71 on the interior of a hollow drive sleeve 72. During use of the
rotary cleaning head 1,
when the drive motor 30 is actuated it drives a gear box 76 having a drive
gear (not illustrated,
for clarity) that drives the drive sleeve 72 which, in turn, drives the
spindle 6, thereby causing the
rotary cleaning head 1 to rotate.
As best seen in Figs. 1 and 4, cleaning fluid may be supplied to the rotary
cleaning head 1
through the rotary coupling 28 in any suitable way, such as by screwing the
output fitting 73 of
the rotary coupling 28 into a hollow threaded pipe fitting 74, which is, in
turn, screwed into the
top of the hollow drive sleeve 72.
During use of the rotary cleaning head 1, the cleaning fluid travels from the
rotary
coupling 28 sequentially through its output fitting 73, the hollow pipe
fitting 74, the cleaning
fluid bore 35 in spindle 6, the cleaning fluid bore 56 in the central boss 54
of the main disc 2, the
hollow hub 9 of sprayer 3, the spray arms 10 and the hollow elbows 11 to the
spray nozzles 12.
As best seen in Fig. 4, vacuum may be supplied to the rotary cleaning head I
by attaching
a source of vacuum to the vacuum coupling 33. During use of the rotary
cleaning head 1 air,
used cleaning fluid, dirt and debris travel through the rotary cleaning head 1
following the path
generally indicated by the flow line 75; i.e. they travel sequentially through
the vacuum slots 66
and notches 67 in the vacuum heads 4; the vacuum slots 59 in the main disc 2;
the vacuum
channels 44 and 57 in the seal 14 and the upper side of the main disc 2; the
vacuum distribution
hubs 45, 58 in the seal 14 and the upper side of the main disc 2; the vacuum
opening 41 in the
cover 7; the inlet 81 of the vacuum plenum 32; the vacuum plenum 32; and the
vacuum coupling
33.
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It is understood that any particular part of the rotary cleaning head 1 may be
suitably
combined or formed with one or more of its other parts to form a composite
part, without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, the
spacers 39 may be
formed as part of the main disc 2; or the spindle 6 may be formed as part of
the main disc 2.
Similarly, it is understood that any particular part of the rotary cleaning
head 1 presently
shown as being made in one piece may be formed by assembling together in any
suitable way,
two or more sub-pieces, without departing from the scope and spirit of the
present invention. For
example the rim 53 and central boss 54 of the main disc 2 might be made as
separate sub-pieces,
which may then be assembled to the rest of the main disc 2 in any suitable
way, to form the
completed main disc 2.
It is to be further understood that any different number of the screws, e.g.
screws 15, 18,
19, and 20 (and their associated holes or bores, e.g., 38, 40, 46, 47, 48, 52,
61, 63, and 65) may
be used in lieu of the number of those screws and their associated holes or
bores that have been
described and illustrated herein, without departing from the scope and spirit
of the present
invention. In addition, the direction of travel of one or more of those screws
may be reversed
without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For
example, the direction
of travel of the mounting screws 19 for the glide feet 5 may be reversed, so
that the mounting
screws 19 first pass through the holes 47 in the main disc 2 and are then
screwed into the
mounting bores 63 of the glide feet 5.
It is to be additionally understood that the manner in which the various parts
of the rotary
cleaning head 1 may be assembled together that has been described herein is
strictly by way of
non-limiting example, since the various parts of the rotary cleaning head 1
may be assembled
together in any other suitable way, by using any other suitable means, such as
by using rivets,
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nuts and bolts, welding, gluing, screwing together, friction fits, keys, etc.,
in lieu of one or more
of the screws 15, 18, 19, and 20 described herein, without departing from the
scope and spirit of
the present invention.
The rotary cleaning head 1 may be particularly adapted to be used to clean
carpeted
surfaces. However, in general, the rotary cleaning head 1 may be easily
modified for use to
clean any hard or soft surface, by suitably selecting any suitable and needed
sprayers 3, vacuum
heads 4, and glide shoes 5.
For example, the rotary cleaning head la of Fig. 15 may be particularly
adapted to be
used to clean any hard surfaces, such as those made of wood, tile, vinyl,
composition, or
concrete. The rotary cleaning head 1 a may be the same as, or at least similar
to, the rotary
cleaning head 1 in any particular respect, such as with respect to their
respective mountings,
locations, quantities (how many), sizes, shapes, designs, materials,
compositions, constructions,
manufactures, physical properties, dimensions, specifications, variations,
operations, methods,
and uses, except for those differences which will be made apparent by all of
the disclosures
herein. Accordingly, for clarity, certain parts of the rotary cleaning head I
a have been given the
same reference numerals as the corresponding parts of rotary cleaning head 1,
but with an "a"
suffix.
The rotary cleaning head 1 a may incorporate any suitable patterns of
conventional hard
surface scrubbing bristles 77 carried by the main disc 2a's lower side in any
suitable way, to aid
in cleaning a hard floor, and may have three vacuum heads 4a, each of which
may carry a
squeegee 78 held in place by a clamping block 79 and mounting screw 80.
Alternatively the
squeegee 78 could be held in place in the vacuum head 4a in any other suitable
way, such as by
being secured in a squeegee slot in the vacuum head 4a with any suitable
adhesive, or by being
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formed with a head that may be slid into a correspondingly shaped slot in the
vacuum head 4a.
The spray arms 1Oa may be shorter than the spray arms 10 of the rotary
cleaning head 1, in order
to fit within the inner circumference of the pattern of bristles 77. Only two
of the three vacuum
heads 4a are illustrated in Fig. 15; the third vacuum head 4a having been
replaced for illustrative
purposes in Fig. 15 by an alternative construction which will now be
described.
As an alternative to having vacuum heads 4a mounted to the lower side of the
main disc
2a in registry with the corresponding vacuum slots 59a in the main disc 2a;
one or more of the
vacuum heads 4a may be eliminated, and replaced by a pattern of scrubbing
bristles 86 that may
be carried by the lower side of the main disc 2a in any suitable way. The
pattern of bristles 86
may have any suitable size, shape and location on the lower side of the main
disc 2a, as long as it
wholly or partially surrounds its respective vacuum slot 59a in the main disc
2a. The pattern of
bristles 86 may be used in lieu of, or in addition to, one or more of the
patterns of bristles 77.
The bristles 86 may be of any suitable length, diameter, stiffness and
material, and may
have a density of from about 1,000 to 3,500 bristles per square inch, with a
preferred density of
about 2,250 bristles per square inch.
A guard 87 which may be made of any suitable elastic or resilient material,
such as an
elastomer, may wholly or partially surround the pattern of bristles 86. The
guard 87 may be
carried by the main disc 2a in any suitable way; or it may be carried by the
bristles 86 in any
suitable way, such as by being secured to them with any suitable adhesive. The
guard 87 may
have any suitable thickness, and may have a height that is the same as, or
less than, the length of
the bristles 86. One function of the guard 87 may be to help prevent the
passage of air, used
cleaning fluid, dirt and debris through one or more of the sides of the
pattern of bristles 86, so
that the vacuum effect from the vacuum slot 59a may be concentrated on the
portion of surface
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being cleaned that is located under the vacuum slot 59a. Another function of
the guard 87
may be to help to prevent the bristles 86 from being bent or distorted during
use, in order to
increase their useful working life.
By way of further example, U.S. Patent No. 5,517,715 issued on May 21, 1996
for a
Cleaning Head, discloses rotary cleaning heads 8 that may be particularly
adapted to clean
carpeted surfaces. The cleaning heads 8 may comprise vacuum scrubber feet 30,
and spray
nozzles 40 that are directly connected to a central hub 16. The vacuum
scrubber feet 30
may modified as needed and substituted for the vacuum heads 4 of the present
invention; and
the spray nozzles 40 may be modified as needed and connected to the hub 9 of
the sprayer 3
of the present invention in lieu of the spray arms 10, elbows 11 nozzles and
12 of the present
invention.
Thus it is seen that by suitably selecting the size, shape, number, location
or type of
vacuum shoes 4, 4a, patterns of bristles 77 and 86, and sprayers 3, 3a (and
their various
components); the rotary cleaning heads 1, 1 a may be quickly and easily
customized to be used on
any type of hard or soft surfaces. The rotary cleaning heads 1, 1 a may be
further customized in
any other suitable way for cleaning any type of surface by incorporating or
substituting any other
kind of suitable cleaning elements, such as cleaning pads, for example, into
the rotary cleaning
heads 1, 1 a.
As used herein, except in the claims, the words "and" and "or" are each
defined to also
carry the meaning of "and/or".
If the term "at least one of is used in any of the claims, that term is
defined to mean that
any one, any more than one, or all, of the listed things following that term
is, or are, part of the
claimed invention. For example, if a hypothetical claim recited "at least one
of A, B, and C",
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then the claim is to be interpreted so that it may comprise (in addition to
anything else recited in
the claim), an A alone, a B alone, a C alone, both A and B, both A and C, both
B and C, or all of
A, B and C.
It is understood that the foregoing forms of the invention were described and
illustrated
strictly by way of non-limiting example.
In view of all of the disclosures herein, these and further modifications,
adaptations and
variations of the present invention will now be apparent to those of ordinary
skill in the art to
which it pertains, within the scope of the claims.
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