Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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BATTERY POWERED EXTRACTOR
TECHNICAL FIELD
In general, the present invention relates to a,battery powered extractor
having an
agitator, a vacuum source, and a cleaning solution dispenser. More
particularly, the
present invention relates to a battery powered extractor having a switch that
selectively
applies power to the agitator and vacuum source to extend battery life.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Personal extraction floor cleaners are rapidly becoming a common fixture in
many homes. Such devices typically include a solution.reservoir that holds a
supply of
floor cleaning solution. The cleaning solution may be selectively applied to
the floor
through a pump or by the action of gravity. Such devices further include a
vacuum
source in communication with a nozzle positioned in close proximity to the
surface. The
vacuum source creates a pressure differential the draws air and moisture up
through the
nozzle and into a recovery tank. The recovery tank thereafter retains the
dirty liquid until
emptied by the user. Such vacuums may further include an agitator positioned
in
engaging contact with the surface to be cleaned. Agitators may be rotated by a
motor,
thereby increasing cleaning performance.
Such extraction devices, as well as standard vacuums, have in recent years
been
made more portable with the addition of battery power units. Such 'devices may
be
operated without being plugged into a wall outlet and may thus be used quickly
and
conveniently. One drawback to battery powered devices of this nature is the
short
operational life of the batteries. Particularly, it has been found that the
concurrent
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energizing of both the vacuum pump and the agitator motor rapidly drains the
battery and
thus limits the usefulness and convenience to the user.
Thus there is a need in the art for a battery operated extraction floor
cleaning
device that is operable in a inanner which prolongs battery life.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally provides a battery powered extractor having a
switch that separately activates an agitator motor and a vacuum motor to
extend the
useful life of the battery.
The present invention further provides an extractor including a foot adapted
to
move over a surface, the foot defining a suction nozzle opening toward the
surface; a
handle attached to the foot; a cleaning solution dispenser adapted to
selectively disperse
cleaning solution on the surface; an agitator mounted on the foot, the
agitator being
engageable with the surface; an agitator motor adapted to drive the agitator;
a vacuum
motor adapted to apply suction at the suction nozzle and recover cleaning
solution on the
surface in a recovery tank mounted on the handle; a battery; and a switch
connected to
the battery, the vacuum motor, and the agitator, wherein the switch has a
first position
connecting the battery to the agitator motor and a second position connecting
the battery
to the vacuum motor, wherein the switch disconnects the agitator motor from
the battery
in the second position, and wherein the switch disconnects the battery from
the vacuum
motor in the first position.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. I is a perspective view of a battery powered extractor according to the
concepts of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;
Fig. 3 is a left side elevational view thereof;
Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a base of the extractor;
Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of the base depicted in Fig. 4 with the cover
removed to show further details of the extractor;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a handle of the extractor with the rear cover
removed to show further details of the extractor;
Fig. 7 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 8;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged partially fragmented perspective view of the handle
depicting
details of a switch according to the concepts of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a graph showing battery energy as a function of time when an
extractor
simultaneously operating an agitator motor and vacuum motor;
Fig. 10 is a graph similar to Fig. 9 showing operation of an extractor with
only the
vacuum motor activated;
Fig. 11 is a graph similar to Fig. 9 showing alternating separate operation of
an
agitator motor and a vacuum motor for 30 second intervals; and
Fig. 12 is a graph similar to Fig. 11 where the agitator motor was operated
for a
15 second interval while the vacuum motor was operated for a 5 second
interval.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An extractor according to one form or preferred embodiment of the present
invention is generally indicated by the number 10 in the accompanying
drawings. The
preferred extractor is an upright style extractor 10 having a surface engaging
portion or
foot 12 with a handle portion 14 pivotally attached to the foot 12 for
propelling the
extractor 10 over a surface.
Referring now to FIG. 4, foot 12 is formed of a main frame 15 and a hood or
cover 16(Fig. 1) that are fastened together in any suitable fashion. Wheels 17
may be
provided on frame 15 to help move the foot 12 on the surface. A suction nozzle
18 is
mounted on a leading edge of foot 12 and depends downwardly from frame 15 to
apply
suction near the surface. A transparent suction nozzle cover 20 extends
upwardly from
suction nozzle 18 and defines a plenum that leads to a recovery conduit 23
(Fig. 5)
through which soiled cleaning liquid is channeled to a recovery tank 25, as
described
more completely below. Suction nozzle cover 20 is received in a recess in the
top of the
hood 16.
Frame 15 defines an opening 24 in its lower surface 26 behind suction nozzle
18.
A dispenser, generally indicated by the number 30, is provided within opening
24 to
dispense cleaning solution on to the surface. Dispenser 30 may be of any known
type
capable of depositing fluid on the surface. In the example shown in Fig. 6,
dispenser 30
includes plural openings 32 spaced widthwise along the foot 12 and within the
confines
of opening 24. Openings 32 are recessed within a laterally extending channel
34 that
helps to disperse the cleaning solution laterally. Cleaning solution is
supplied to the
dispenser 30 from a supply tank 37, which may be mounted on handle 14 (Fig.
1), via a
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supply tube 39 (Fig. 5). Mounting supply tank 37 above foot 12 allows cleaning
solution
to be gravity fed to dispenser 30. To maximize the potential energy of the
cleaning
solution within the supply tank 37, supply tank =37 may be mounted at an upper
portion
39 of handle 37. To prevent the supply tank 37 from interfering with the
user's operation
5 of handle 14, a grip 72 may extend above supply tank 37.
An agitator, generally indicated by the number 35, may be mounted near
dispenser 30, as shown, to help disperse the cleaning solution on the surface.
Agitator 35
may include brushes 36 to work the cleaning solution into the surface and
dislodge dirt or
other debris on. or within the surface. Any known agitator brush may be used.
In the
example shown, brushes 36 are arranged helically on a shaft 38. Shaft 38 is
journalled on
frame 15 so that it is freely rotatable within opening 24. Rotation of brush
shaft 38 is
controlled by operation of an agitator motor 40(Fig. 5) that is coupled to the
shaft 38 as
by a belt 42 or other known coupler.
Cleaning solution and any dirt on the surface is recovered by applying a
vacuum
to the recovery tank 25, which in turn creates suction at suction nozzle 18 in
a manner
well known in the art. Recovered cleaning solution and dirt flow from suction
nozzle 18
to recovery tank 25 via recovery conduit 23, which may include a flexible
portion 23A
that extends through the joint 45 between foot 12 and handle 14 (Fig. 5).
As best shown in Figs. 3 and 7, recovery tank 25 is releasably attached to
handle
14 and may be removed to discard the recovered dirty cleaning solution. To
that end,
handle 14 may be provided with a recovery tank support, generally indicated by
the
number 50, having a lower ledge 52 on which the recovery tank 25 rests. A
lower face
plate 54 may be attached to handle 14 to cover lower ledge 52 and partially
support
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recovery tank 25. A latch assembly 55 may be provided on handle 14 at the
upper
extremity of recovery tank 25 to grasp the upper extremity of recovery tank 25
and
selectively lock it in place. In the example shown, latch assembly 55 is
mounted on a
brace 56 that attaches to a center support 58(Fig. 6) within handle 14 above
recovery tank
25.
Center support 58 also acts as a mounting for a vacuum motor, generally
indicated
by the number 60 that selectively applies a vacuum to recovery tank 25 to
recover the
cleaning solution, as described above. As best shown in Fig. 6, vacuum motor
60 may
include a vacuum fan or blower 62 that is connected to the recovery tank by a
vacuum
nozzle 64 and draws working air through the recovery tank 25.
Power for the vacuum motor 60 and agitator motor 40 is supplied by one or more
batteries, generally indicated by the number 65 in Figs. 6 and 7. The battery
65 is
electrically connected in a selective fashion by a switch, generally indicated
by the
number 70. Switch 70 may be of any known type. Switch 70 limits operation of
the
agitator motor 40 and vacuum motor 60 so that only one may operate at a time
to
conserve the battery power and extend the useful life of the battery 65. As
depicted in the
graphs attached as Figs. 9-12, experiments were performed to test the useful
life of the
battery 65 under different operating conditions. Fig. 9 depicts an example of
a typical
prior art extractor arrangement operating with both the agitator and vacuum
motors
running. The useful life under these conditions was approximately 9 minutes.
Operating
the vacuum motor continuously, as depicted in Fig. 10 resulted in a useful
life of
approximately 12 minutes. Staggering operation of the agitator motor and
vacuum motor
was found to produce a dramatic increase in the useful life. For example, as
depicted in
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Fig. 11, operating the agitator motor and vacuum motor in alternating 30
second cycles
extended the useful life of the batteries to approximately 26 minutes. Even
greater
extension of the useful life was achieved by operating the agitator motor for
a 15 second
cycle and the vacuum motor for a 5 second cycle in alternating fashion. As
depicted in
-Fig. 12, under these operating conditions, a useful life of approximately 40
minutes was
achieved. ' The graphs and operating conditions described above are provided
as
examples and are not to be considered limiting. In general, to extend the
useful life of
battery 65, extractor 10 forces the user to alternately use the agitator motor
40 and
vacuum motor 60 by preventing simultaneous operation of both motors.
To that end switch 70 may include three positions. In a first position, switch
70
electrically connects the battery 65 to agitator motor 40. In a second
position, switch 70
electrically connects battery 65 to vacuum motor 60. And, in a third position,
switch 70
disconnects battery 65 so that extractor 10 is in an "off' condition. As best
shown in Fig.
8, switch 70 may be mounted on a grip portion 72 of handle 14 and located for
ease of
operation. For example, switch 70 may be placed on an upper surface 74 of grip
portion
72 so that the user may operated switch 70 with their thumb while maintaining
their grasp
on handle 14. To encourage the user to operate extractor 10 in an alternating
fashion,
switch 70 is arranged with the first position i.e. agitation or "scrub" mode
being forward
and the second position i.e. vacuum or "pick up" mode being rearward, and the
third
position i.e. "off' mode located between the first and second positions. As
shown in Fig.
3, a trigger 75 may be provided on the underside of handle 14 to open a valve
(not
shown) to dispense cleaning solution from supply tank 37 as described above.
In a
preferred method of operation, cleaning solution is dispensed by dispenser 30
on to the
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surface, and switch 70 is moved to a first position to agitate the dispensed
cleaning
solution by operation of agitator 35 powered by agitator motor 40. This
operation may be
performed with a forward stroke of extractor 10. Then after agitation, switch
70 is
moved to the second position to activate vacuum motor 60 and recover the
dispensed
cleaning solution from the surface and collect it in recovery tank 25. This
operation may
be performed in a return stroke of extractor 10 so that an altemating
operation of agitator
motor 40 and vacuum motor 60 on a stroke basis is achieved. This stroke based
operation of the agitator and vacuum motors would closely approximate the
conditions
observed in the examples depicted in Figs 11 and 12 maximizing battery life.
The present invention has been described by way of example using a preferred
embodiment. Modifications to and variations of the preferred embodiment will
be readily
apparent to one 'of skill in the art upon reading the above description and
reviewing the
appended drawings. In view of the above, it is intended that the present
invention not be
limited by the preceding detailed description of one form or preferred
embodiment of the
present invention, but rather include all modifications and variations of the
disclosed
embodiment within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
