Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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B~CKGROUND OF T~ INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved
vacuum cleaning machine of the wet/dry extraction type
wherein the container and cover are removable and seamed
to each other by suction from a source exteriorly thereof.
More paxticularly, the invention relates to a
machine wherein the container for receiving the solution
and dirt is removably contained within a housing and
wherein a cover, including a suction port, is removably
secured over the container and through which the extracted
solution passes before entering the bucket. The bucket is
free of outside pressure or of connections therein to a ~ -
vacuum source.
(b) Description of Prior Art
Of the devices known of the aforementioned
type, such as that disclosed in U.S~ Patent No. 3,821,~30
issued on July 2, 1974, the extracted liquid solution
and dirt enters a cover compartment above a container
and is directed downwardly into the container. A dis-
advantage of this type of device is that because the
solution contains a detergent chemical, the splashing
action of the solution falling into the container, or
bucket, causes a foam head to build up on the upper sur-
face of the liquid contained in the container and as this ~ ;
foam head rises, it spills out of the container and enters
the suction ports or pipes leading to the vacuum motor,
causing deterioration thereof.
A further disadvantage is that the covers for
such machines are usually transparent, or at least a
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portion of a cover adjacent the container is transparent,
whereby to visually inspect the level of liquid within
the container. As the foam builds up in the container,
some of the suds will deposit on the transparent wall
and hinder the transparency thereof. Still further,
because these liquids are warm liquids and the outside
wall of the container is subject to ambient eooler tem-
perature, the temperature differential on the transparent
portion of the cover causes fogging on the transparent
portion and thus further hindering the visibility~
Furthermore, because foam builds up on the top
surface of the liquid within the container, it is diffi-
cult to ascertain the exact quantity of liquid within the
container. There is no mechanism in the prior art, other
than the visual mechanism, to indicate the amount of liquid
within the container. Furthermore, in known machines,
where the container is removable, the vacuum is usually
applied along the outside wall of the container in a
vacuum housing. Accordingly, the walls of the vacuum
housing are continuously under stress by the force of
the vacuum and also by an outside force exerted on the
wall by cleaning solution contained within a reservoir
formed about such wall. Other known removable type con-
tainers have pipes formed therewith and extending from
their bottom wall to connect to a suction sourceO Such ;;
pipes are a hindrance when emptying the container as they
stick out and are subject to damage. Because of the suc-
tion in the pipe,liquid from the container will be sucked
into the vacuum motor through small cracks in the pipe.
Also, a vacuum connection must be made under the bucket
and this added to the height of the machine makes it bulky
and difficult to transport in automobiles, for example.
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Furthermore, the vacuum pipe prevents the provision of
a handle inside the bucket container. Also, such
containers are expensive to construct and require special
seals. -
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to ~ ;
provide an improved cleaning mac'nine which substantially
overcomes all of the above-mentioned disadvantages. ~ ,
A further feature of the present invention is ;
to provide a cleaning machine having a novel cover
construction and wherein the cover continuously remains
transparent for visual inspection of the removable ;
container positioned thereunder and wherein the formation `-
of foam in the solution within the container is substan- '
tially reduced. ;`~-~
A further feature of the present invention is
to provide an improved cleaning machine construction
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~ wherein the vacuum is taken directly from the inside of ~ ;~
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the cover and wherein the inside of the removable container
20 ~ is sealed wlth the inside of the cover to form a vacuum
chamber and any stress caused by the vacuum is applied
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to the removable parts of the machine, and namely, the
insidé walls of the cover and~container. An assembly is
also provided to ascertain the proper level of sulution ~;
within the container to prevent overflow.
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According to the above features, from a broad
aspect, the present invention provides a vacuum c:Leaning
device for extracting wet/dry material from a surface
comprising a transportable container having an open end
portion for disposal within which said material is
collected, said container further comprising an open
- ended one-piece container having solid walls free of any
passageways; a removable cover having a vacuum port
formed therein for securement to said open end portion
of said container, suction means located exteriorly of :~
said cover and container and connected to said vacuum
port whereby a vacuum is applied inside said cover and
container' said cover further comprising an open hottom .
portion, a peripheral sealing edge to establish a seal
about said container open end portion, and an enclosed :
wall above said open bottom portion' inlet tube formed
: in said enclosed wall and including an inlet end and an
~ outlet end and convection means connected to said inlet
:
: end; whereby said wet/dry material can be directed to :
said container by said convection means when vacuum is
: applied to said vacuum~port,;said container being indepen-
dent from said cover so as to receive vacuum and said ~.
material without specific orientation of its walls. ~ :
~; : : According to a further broad aspect of the ~ .present inventlon,~ there is provlded a vscuum aleanlng
machine of the:liquid extraction type utilizing a liquid
cleaning solutlon~comprlsi.ng: means for extracting
said solution~by~suction from a surface; a~removable . -~:~
container connected to said extracti:ng means for
~::30: : collection of said solution for disposal, said container .`~
comprising::an~open ended one-piece container having solid
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~ walls free of any passageways, said~machine further `~
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comprising: a ~ousing within which said container
is disposed, a removable cover hav.ing a vacuum port
formed therein mounted on said housing positioned above :
said container, said cover further comprising an open
bottom portion, a peripheral sealing edge to establish
a seal about said open end of said container, and an
enclosed wall above said open bottom portion, suction
means located exteriorly of said cover and container
whereby a vacuum is applied inside said cover and
container and connected to said vacuum port' inlet
tube formed in said enclosed wall and including an
inlet end and an outlet end, said vacuum port drawing
said solution by suction within said inlet passage so
as to direct said solution in said contai.ner, said
.
container being independent from said cover so as to ~-.
receive vacuum and said material without specific
orientation of its walls.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS .
Various other objects, features and attendant :~
~: 20 advantages of the present invention will be more fully
appreciated as the~same becomes better understood from :~
the following detailed description when considered in
~: connection with the accompanying drawings in which like
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reference characters designate like or corresponding parts ;~
; 2~5 ~ through~the several views and wherein~
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the cleaning ;`~
machine houslng, ~.
FIGURE 2 lS a perspective~top vlew of the
machlne housing with the cover removed;
~;~;3~0 ~ ~FIGURE 3~is a sectlonal side view, partly : :
:: fra~gmented, of:the housing~
FIGURE 4 is a partly fragmented~section view ~: `; -.
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showing the construction and location of the cover and
the removable container for collecting the cleaning
solution,
FIGURE 5 is a top view of the cover; and
FIGURE 6 is a fragmented side view of an embodiment ;
of the shut-off valve for the vacuum port.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMæNTS
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly
to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown generally at 10, the
cleaning machine housing of the present invention for
cleaning surfaces, such as floor suxfaces having carpets,
etc. The machine includes essentially a portable housing
11 displaceable on casters 9 and having handle bars 14.
A vacuum source 8 is provided in the housing 11 and a
cleaning solution 17 is placed in a storage chamber 16.
The liquid cleaning solution 17 is sprayed on a surface
~m to be cleaned and extracted therefrom by~a liquid ex-
tracting tool (not shown). The tool is connected to
the housing 11 by means of a flexible conduit or hose
~20 (not shown) having a vacuum therein to suck the solid dirt or
;~ liquld having diss~olved dirt from the carpet. The liquid
solution acts as a carrier for the;dirt. The liquid sol-
ution 17 contained within the machine housing is a hot
water and detergent solution. Spray nozzles (not shown)
25~ are provided in the head of the tool and connected by
conduit~12 to a~pump 13 for pumping the solution. The
solution is~sprayed into the surface to be cleaned im~
medlately before the vacuum is applied to the carpet
whereby the solution has a chance to penetrate down into
~30 ~ ~ the pile of the carpet to the backing to dissolve dirt
contained therein.
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~ The housing 11 is formed of a rigid industrial plastic `~
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material or any other suitable material and defines there-
in the storage chamber 16 for containing the hot cleaning
solution 17. The vacuum motor 8 is mounted within the ;
housing 11 to provide the suction force connected by the
hose to the extracting tool.
A container 19 is mounted within the housing 11
and is provided with a cover 20 and a bottom wall l9a.
As shown in this particular embodiment, the container is
a removable pail having a handle 21 hinged on the inside
wall thereof. There are no holes or conduits in the con-
tainer to develop leaks.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the housing has a ~ -
container cavity 22 defined in a top wall 23 thereof.
The cavity has a bottom wall 24, a continuous side wall 25,
and an open top end. The container 19 is seated on the
bottom wall 24 which is the bottom wall of housing 11.
Thus, the housing height can be maintained to a minimum.
The top wall~about the cavity 22 defines a seating wall 26
to receive the cover thereon. A vacuum connecting port 27
is provided in the seating wall 26 and connects to the :`
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~ vacuum source via a vacuum conduit 28 (See Figures 2 and 4). ~ ~
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~ A peripheral recess 29 is formed on the top wall ,
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23 circumferentlally about the cavity 22. This recess
is formed to receive a transverse circumferential shoulder
30 which is provided along the top circumferential edge -~
of the contalner whereby the top~of the~container is ,',
terminated flush with the top wall 23 of the housing. ,
Thus, the removable container or pail 19 is snugly fitted
within the cavlty 22. As shown ln Flgure 4, at least ;
one orifice 31 may be provided in the side wall 25 of the
cavity~to communicate with outsi~e atmosphere whereby ~`
no suction force will be applied in the extracting
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tool if the pail l9 is not in position within the cavity ~-
22 When the pail is in position, this orifice is sub-
stantially obstructed from communication with the vacuum
port 27, as will be evident later when describing the
construction o~ the cover,
Referring now more particularly to Figures 2, 4
,
and 5, there is shown the construction of the cover which
is removably positionable above the container l9 and loc~
atable on the seating wall 26 by means of a peripheral
flange 32 formed about the seating wall 26. The cover
20 consists of a transparent upper portion 33 e*tending
above a peripheral sealing edge 34. A cylindrical flange
35 depends from the peripheral sealing edge 34 and ter-
minates in an open bottom 36. As shown in Figure 4, when
the cover is positioned above the container, the cylindrical
flange 35 enters a top portion of the container l9. Also, -~
the peripheral sealing edge 34 is provided with a cushion-
ing material 37 on the underside thereof whereby the
mater1al wil1 compress when suction is applied within the -~
20 ~ inside of the cover and the container l9 to make a sub~
stantial hermetic seal in the joint between the cover
and the seating wall 26 of the housing. The orifice 31 in `
the side wall 25~o~ the cavity 22 is substantially sealed
from~the inside of the container 19 when a vacuum is
25~ ~ applied therewithin by the`cushioning materiaI 37. The -~
; pressure of the~cover is applied on the top wall of the
housing and~not on the periphery of the container. ~`
The t~ransparent upper portion 33 of the cover
20~ consists~of~an enc~losed wall wh1ch is~a dome-shaped wall
38 consisting of a first wall section 39 extending upwardly
and inclined~inwardly and merging integral with a top wall
or surface 40 hav1ng a ra1sed spherica1 central portion 41.
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As can be seen, an inlet passage, herein an
inlet tube 45, is secured inside the transparent upper
portion of the cover and defines an inlet end 46 in commu~
nication with outside at~osphere. The inlet end is the ~,
S inlet of the tube 45 and this tube has a right angle bend
therein whereby the outlet end 47 of the tube is connected
substantially centrally to the underface of the spherical
central portion 41. At least one opening 48, two being
shown in Figure 5, is provided in the outlet end 47 and
this is where the liquid cleaning solution enters the
cover and is directed to the container 19 when the machine
is in operation. The small hole 69 in the tube 45 is a
drain hole when there is no vacuum to drain any solution
from the tube.
As shown more clearly in Figures 4 and 5, the
peripheral sealing edge 34 extends under the transparent ~,
upper portion and terminates in the cylindrical flange 35.
A suction conduit or vacuum port 50 is provided on the
peripheral edge 34 inwardly of the housing and has a
i 20 suction tube 51~extending into the cover and spaced from
the walls thereof and~posltioned angularly upwards whereby ~'~
the inlet suction end~S2 thereof polnts at the openings 48
of the inlet tube 45. A hole 53 ia provlded in the
peripheral sealing edge 34 under the suction conduit 50 ,~
and positioned for registry with the vacuum connecting ~-
port 27 ln the seating~wall 26.
As can be~seen more clearly in Figures 4 and 5,
the outlet~ end 47 of the tube 45 lS provided wlth a vacuum
protection wall 54 which is positioned intermediate the ~ ;
30~ outlet;end and the~ inlet suctlon end 52 to shield the ~ ~-
inlet suction end;~from the outlet openings 48. With the
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cover in po9ition over the container 19, and with the
vacuum source energized, a suction force will be created
inside the cover and container through the inlet suction
end 52. This suction force will then be applied inside
the inlet tube 45 through the openings 48 and cause a
suction within the flexible conduit 13 connected to the
inlet end 46 of the tube 45. This suction will then
suck up the liquid cleaning solution and the dirt dis- -
solved therein and direct it within the container 19 via .
the inlet tube 45. As the liquid enters the inlet tube
45, it is directed upwardly to the openings 48 and re-
leased at high velocity at the top wall 40 of the cover
20. Because of the vacuum within the area under the ~-~
; cover, the solution flows along the surface of the top
wall 40 and flows downwardly by gravity into the container ~;
19 as it is guided down by the cylindrical flange 35.
~: Because the inlet suction end 52 is positioned away from ~
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the top wall 40, no liquid solution or any suds are sucXed :~
into the vacuum inlet end.
An advantage obtained by releasing the solution
upwardly towards the top wall of the cover, is that the .
solution will maintain the cover visible during operation :~
by preventing fogg1ng of the transparent~upper portion 33
and partlcularly the spherical central portion 41 whereby
to permit visual lnspection of the level of liquid within
the container l9.~; Furthermore, another advantage obtained
by releasing;the~solution at the top wall 40~is that
: :liquld is not directed at the surface 60 of the collected `:~
solutlon;61 withln~the container~l9:to cause excessive
~30 foaming~on the top~surface 60 as the solution does contain
: a;detergent additive. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, :;
the vacuum is applied:directly to the suction end 52 within ''` `
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the cover, ln close proximity to the openings 48 of the
inlet tube 45, and thus, no stress is ffpplied on the
structural wall 62 of the housing but only on removable ~
parts. An advantage of eliminating stress from this wall ~ ,
is that there already exists a pressure on the outside
surface of the wall by the cleaning solution 17 contained
within the storage chamber 16 of the housing 11. A ~ ~-
further suction on the inside surface would further weaken
the wall 62 as it would be constantly under stresses from
the suction on one side and the pressure on the other side
extending in the same direction.
Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown an
important feature of the vacuum system whereby a shut-off
valve 70 may be provided to cut-off the vacuum at the inlet
suction end 52 when a predetermined quantity defined by
level 75, of solution 61 has been collected in the container
19. As herein shown, the shut-off valve 70 consists of a
rubber-like gasket or top wall or surface 71 seamed to the
inside surface 35' of the flange 35 of the covfer and in
~20 alignment below~the suction conduit 50 by an attachment
portion 74. A float 72 is secured to a top wall portion 73
, f
of the gasket 71. As the level of~solution 61 raises to
the predetermined;level 75 within the container 19, the -
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suction at the end 52 will draw the top wall portion 73 of '-
the gaske~t thereagainst to obstruct the orifice therein,
thus cutting off the vacuum from the interlor of the -
container and cover.
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~ The shut-off valve above described if5 economical ; ~
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and simple in construction and is only but one example of
~;~ 30~ how a~predetermined level of solution in the container "
could be sensed. Other mechanisms may be provided such as
floats which may be secured on the inside wall of the
container 19 and whlch may be connected to activate a
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switch which would cut-off the vacuum source 8 to shut-
off the vacuum. Alternatively, the floats or sensor could
simply cause a visual or audible alarm to function indic~
ating to the operator that the machine should be stopped
and the container emptied. of course, with this type of
sensing device, there is no need to have the cover made
of transparent material. However, there is still the need
of preventing foam frorn building up inside the container
due to the disadvantages previously described and part-
icularly causing the foam to be sucked into the vacuum
source.
It can be seen that with the novel cover con- ;
struction and its cooperation with a removable container
positioned thereunder, there is provided a new method
of extracting cleaning solution from a surface to be ~`
cleaned, such as a carpet. The method can be summarized
as consisting of subjecting the solution to a suction to
channel the flow of solution carrier and dirt against ;`~
~ the wall of a cover positioned over an open end of the
`~ 20 container in sealing engagement thereabout. The cover and
;~ the container form a vacuum chamber when air is extracted
therefrom from a port shielded from the solution sucked
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in. Air is extracted from within the cover by the suction ~
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port which is spaced from the wall of the cover and the `~
solution is directed to the container as it flows along
the walls of the cover.
As previously mentioned, the device of this in-
vention may be modified to be accepted for wet/dry cleaning ~ ;-
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; and the essential parts thereof are the cover and container.
The vacuum source could be a vacuum cleaning machine con-
~;~ nected to the cover by means of its suction hose. The
container and cover are secured together by suction applied
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within the cover and the container is full of holes or
pipes. Also, the cover does not have any motor connected
thereto and extending within the container.
Obviously, numerous additional modifications
and variations of the present invention are possible in ~`
light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be ;
nderstood that within the scope of the appended claims,
the invention may be practicecl otherwise than as ;~
specifically described herein. `
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