U.S. patent application number 12/860224 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-03 for chemical distribution system for floor cleaning machine.
Invention is credited to Dale A. Krausnick, Mark R. McKenzie, Mark N. Rupp.
Application Number | 20110047730 12/860224 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43622673 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110047730 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Krausnick; Dale A. ; et
al. |
March 3, 2011 |
CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE
Abstract
A chemical distribution system for a floor cleaning machine is
described. The system utilizes at least one container that is
selectively connected to a pump that pumps a cleaning chemical
solution from the container into a tee for combining with a fluid
from an onboard fluid tank at a rate determined by a machine
operator. Chemical containers may be readily and interchangeably
connected to the pump to permit various solutions to be selectively
utilized to optimize floor cleaning.
Inventors: |
Krausnick; Dale A.;
(Perrysburg, OH) ; McKenzie; Mark R.; (Monclova,
OH) ; Rupp; Mark N.; (Delaware, OH) |
Family ID: |
43622673 |
Appl. No.: |
12/860224 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61275621 |
Aug 31, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/49.1 ;
15/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/305
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/49.1 ;
15/98 |
International
Class: |
A47L 11/00 20060101
A47L011/00; A47L 11/02 20060101 A47L011/02 |
Claims
1. A chemical distribution system for an automatic floor scrubber
having a body portion mounted on a set of wheels comprising: a
fluid tank containing a fluid solution and having a fluid tank
line; a valve control having a valve control line; an adjustment
valve connected to said fluid tank line and connected to said valve
control line, said adjustment valve having a valve fluid line; at
least one removable chemical container on a floor scrubber body
portion, said removable chemical container containing a cleaning
chemical solution and having a chemical container line connected at
one end to said chemical container; a chemical pump connected at
another end of said chemical container line and having a chemical
pump line; a pump control having a pump control line electrically
connected to said chemical pump and having a flow meter feedback
line; a tee having a first port connected to said valve fluid line,
a second port connected to said chemical pump line and a third port
connected to a tee line; a flow meter connected to said tee line
and connected to said flow meter feedback line so as to be
connected in a closed feedback loop to said pump control and to
said chemical pump, and said flow meter connected to at least one
outlet line to distribute a combination of said fluid solution and
said cleaning chemical solution to pads and/or a floor.
2. The chemical distribution system of claim 1, wherein said
chemical container line is removably connected by a quick-connect
connection at said one end to said chemical container.
3. The chemical distribution system of claim 1, wherein said valve
control line is electrically, mechanically, or manually
controlling.
4. The chemical distribution system of claim 1, further comprising
a container receptacle wherein said removable chemical container is
located within said container receptacle.
5. The chemical distribution system of claim 4, wherein said
container receptacle is integrally formed, one-piece and unitary
with said body portion of an automatic floor scrubber.
6. The chemical distribution system of claim 4, wherein said
container receptacle is a separate component attached to said body
portion of said automatic floor scrubber with mechanical
fasteners.
7. The chemical distribution system of claim 1, further comprising
multiple container receptacles each having a removable chemical
container located therein.
8. The chemical distribution system of claim 1, wherein said pump
control communicates a ratio of chemical solution over fluid
solution and a pumping rate to said chemical pump by way of said
flow meter and wherein said chemical pump is located on a rear
portion said floor scrubber body portion.
9. A chemical distribution system for an automatic floor scrubber
having a body portion mounted on a set of wheels comprising: a
fluid tank containing a fluid solution and having a fluid tank
line; a valve control having a valve control line; an adjustment
valve connected to said fluid tank line and connected to said valve
control line, said adjustment valve having a valve fluid tank line;
at least two internal chemical containers in a floor scrubber body
portion, said internal chemical containers connected to separate
chemical container lines and containing separate cleaning chemical
solutions; a chemical pump connected to each of said separate
chemical container lines and having a chemical pump line; a pump
control having a pump control line electrically connected to said
chemical pump and having a flow meter feedback line; a tee having a
first port connected to said valve fluid line, a second port
connected to said chemical pump line and a third port connected to
a tee line; a flow meter connected to said tee line and connected
to said flow meter feedback line so as to be connected in a closed
feedback loop to said pump control and to said chemical pump, and
said flow meter connected to at least one outlet line to distribute
a combination of the fluid solution and said cleaning chemical
solution to pads and/or a floor.
10. The chemical distribution system of claim 9, wherein said valve
control line is electrical, mechanical, or manual.
11. The chemical distribution system of claim 9, further comprising
at least two container receptacles wherein said chemical containers
are located within respective said container receptacles.
12. The chemical distribution system of claim 11, wherein said
container receptacles are integrally formed, one-piece and unitary
with a body portion of an automatic floor scrubber.
13. The chemical distribution system of claim 11, wherein said
container receptacles are separate components attached to a body
portion of an automatic floor scrubber with mechanical
fasteners.
14. The chemical distribution system of claim 9, wherein each of
said container receptacles has a removable chemical container
located therein.
15. The chemical distribution system of claim 9, wherein said pump
control communicates a ratio of chemical solutions over fluid
solution and a pumping rate to said chemical pump by way of said
flow meter and wherein said chemical pump is located on a rear
portion said floor scrubber body portion.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/275,621, filed Aug. 31, 2009, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.111(b),
which application is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a system for using a
cleaning chemical with a floor cleaning machine and a method of
distributing cleaning chemicals from the machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Floor cleaning machines, which include scrubbers, are
well-known devices utilized for cleaning and maintaining floor
surfaces. Generally, there are two types of scrubbers, both of
which distribute water, or a cleaning fluid solution, on a floor
where it can be worked by brushes or pads to clean the floor.
[0004] Typically, in a first type of scrubber an operator simply
adds a cleaning chemical to a fluid, for example, clean water, that
is in an onboard fluid tank. The operator meters a predetermined
amount of the cleaning chemical into a measuring device, such as a
measuring cup, and then pours the cleaning chemical into the
onboard fluid tank which results in a cleaning fluid. Often the
rate at which the machine draws the cleaning chemical out of the
onboard fluid tank is varied by the operator.
[0005] However, various floors and surfaces have different physical
characteristics that require them to be cleaned with different
cleaning fluids or approaches. Further, the various floors and
surfaces are subject to different kinds and amounts of debris and
dirt. Consequently, the above-described first type of scrubber is
not optimized for dealing with various types of floors and various
kinds and amounts of dirt and debris. Instead, this first type of
scrubber simply puts down whatever cleaning solution (defined in
the first type of scrubber as fluid that flows from the onboard
fluid tank) is in the onboard fluid tank regardless of the floor
type or debris encountered. As a result, it has been found that
this first type of scrubber is ineffective and inefficient at
cleaning floors.
[0006] Further, even if the operator recognizes that a particular
floor or a particular dirt/debris problem on a floor requires a
different cleaning approach or cleaning solution, the operator may
have to empty the entire onboard fluid tank so that a proper
overall cleaning solution can be attained. It can be readily
appreciated that emptying the entire onboard fluid tank wastes
cleaning chemicals, fluid, operator time, and undesirably takes the
scrubber out of service.
[0007] On the other hand, some operators may recognize the need for
a different cleaning chemical ratio in the onboard fluid tank for a
particular cleaning problem and thereby may try to increase or
decrease the cleaning chemical ratio by further adding water or a
cleaning chemical to the onboard fluid tank. It has been found,
however, that many times the operator's calculation for increasing
or decreasing an overall cleaning chemical ratio of a cleaning
solution in the onboard fluid tank is incorrect or is made too
casually. This results in wasted cleaning chemicals and an
inefficient cleaning method.
[0008] In a second type of scrubber, cleaning chemical metering
systems are utilized to draw a cleaning chemical from a separate
chemical container and combine it with clean water as the water
flows out of the onboard fluid tank, where an overall cleaning
solution for the second type of scrubber is defined as the
combination of the cleaning chemical with the fluid from the
onboard fluid tank.
[0009] There are numerous disadvantages associated with the current
known designs for this second type of scrubber. For example, when
the chemical metering system is activated, it only permits fluid
(e.g., water) to be drawn from the onboard fluid tank at a single,
fixed rate. Since some cleaning circumstances call for increased or
decreased fluid flow, this is a disadvantage. Further, the chemical
metering system makes it difficult to change a type of cleaning
chemical and a rate at which the cleaning chemical is drawn from
the separate chemical container.
[0010] For example, one design of this second type of scrubber
locates a means for changing a rate change of fluid being drawn
from the onboard fluid tank at the front of the scrubber, while the
operator's station is at the rear of the scrubber. This same design
also requires the use of specially designed chemical containers
that are only available from the manufacturer of the scrubber,
which have their own signaling means to alert the operator of
level/amount of cleaning chemicals remaining in the chemical
containers. These specially designed chemical containers add to the
expense of the system and do not permit an operator to use chemical
containers from other suppliers that may be less expensive and
equally, if not more, effective.
[0011] It would, therefore, be preferable for a scrubber operator
to have the opportunity to tailor not only the type of cleaning
fluid to be used on a particular floor, but also to tailor the
type, amount, and/or concentration of the selected cleaning
chemical to be combined with the fluid from the onboard fluid tank
and to permit the operator to do so from a convenient location. It
would also be preferable that the overall cleaning solution
concentration (i.e., the overall combination of the cleaning
chemical with the fluid) be easily selectable so that the cleaning
chemical and time are both optimized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] A chemical distribution system for an automatic floor
scrubber, which has a body portion mounted on a set of wheels,
comprises the following elements. A fluid tank contains a fluid
solution and has a fluid tank line. A valve control has a valve
control line. An adjustment valve is connected to the fluid tank
line and is also connected to the valve control line. The
adjustment valve also has a valve fluid line.
[0013] At least one chemical container is disposed on or within a
floor scrubber body portion, where the chemical container contains
a cleaning chemical solution and has a chemical container line
connected to the chemical container. A chemical pump is connected
to the chemical container line and the chemical pump has a chemical
pump line. A pump control has a pump control line electrically
connected to the chemical pump and the pump control also has a flow
meter feedback line. A tee has a first port that is connected to
the valve fluid line, a second port is connected to the chemical
pump line, and a third port is connected to a tee line.
[0014] A flow meter is connected to the tee line. Also, the flow
meter is connected to the flow meter feedback line, so as to be
connected in a closed feedback loop to the pump control and the
chemical pump. Further, the flow meter is connected to at least one
outlet line to distribute a combination of the fluid solution and
the cleaning chemical solution to pads and/or a floor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The advantages of the present invention will become readily
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed
description when considered in light of the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a three dimensional perspective view of a first
embodiment of a floor cleaning scrubber in accordance with the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic of a chemical distribution system of
the floor cleaning scrubber of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a three dimensional perspective view of a second
embodiment of a floor cleaning scrubber in accordance with the
present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic of a chemical distribution system of
the floor cleaning scrubber of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] It is to be understood that the invention may assume various
alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly
specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the
specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached
drawings, and described in the following specification are simply
exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts. Hence, specific
dimensions, directions or other physical characteristics relating
to the embodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting,
unless expressly stated otherwise.
[0021] FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a first embodiment of a floor cleaning
machine 10, with a chemical distribution system 20, utilized with
the present invention. The floor cleaning machine 10 of FIG. 1 is
an automatic floor scrubber but the present invention is not
limited to floor scrubbers. Instead, the present invention maybe
used with any floor cleaning machine known to those skilled in the
art.
[0022] The automatic floor scrubber 10 is constructed of a body
portion 12 mounted on a set of wheels 14 (one or more not shown but
common in the art) that permits the body portion 12 to be moved
over a floor F. Machine controls 16 are provided for an operator to
turn the machine 10 on and off, to steer and control the speed of
the machine 10 and monitor machine performance, among other
functions provided by automatic scrubbers in general. The machine
controls 16 are provided at a rear portion 18 of the machine 10,
where the operator is located.
[0023] In general, the flow of fluids 22, 24, 24a-n, 26, 26'
throughout FIGS. 1-4 is shown with solid arrow-headed lines 28,
28a-n, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 that indicate the direction of
fluid flow. Specifically, regarding the fluid flow depicted in the
first embodiment 10, a fluid tank 44 is provided forward of the
operator in the body portion 12. The fluid tank 44 may hold water
or a fluid solution. While either water or fluid solution may be
used, for simplicity, the remainder of the description will use the
term fluid solution 22.
[0024] The fluid solution 22 flows out of the fluid tank 44 via
gravity, or may be drawn out by a pump (not shown). Subsequently,
the fluid solution 22 is combined with a chemical solution 24 to
result in an overall cleaning solution 26. The overall cleaning
solution 26 is then sprayed or distributed by the floor outlet line
42 directly onto the floor F as shown, or by respective outlet
lines 34, 40 to floor cleaning pads 46, 48, via one or more nozzles
(not shown). As a result, the floor cleaning pads 46, 48 scrub the
overall cleaning solution 26 on the floor F surface to clean the
floor F.
[0025] Further to the construction of the scrubber 10, one or more
motors 50 may be located in the body portion 12 as well. The motors
50 power drive systems (not shown) that move the machine 10 over
the floor F. One such drive system may have an electric motor
powered by one or more batteries (not shown), which would also be
located in the body portion 12. The motor 50 is connected to
various controls and functioning parts and is electronically linked
to the machine controls 16. The motor 50 may be physically linked
to the wheels 14 so that the operator can control the scrubber 10
at the desired speed over the floor F.
[0026] The same motor 50, or different motors located in the body
portion 12, may rotate the floor cleaning pads 46, 48. The pads 46,
48 may be located at a forward portion 52 of the body portion 12,
although other locations are permissible. The pads 46, 48 are
readily replaceable, as they wear out over time with use.
Therefore, different pads 46, 48 can be used for different floor
surfaces F and different cleaning circumstances.
[0027] The body portion 12 also supports a recovery tank 54. The
recovery tank 54 is connected to a vacuum system (only partially
shown). The vacuum system, which may be powered by the motor 50,
vacuums an overall cleaning solution 26. Once the overall cleaning
solution 26 has been worked into the floor F, it typically contains
debris that is undesirable to leave on the floor F, and it is
undesirable to leave the floor F wet because it is slippery.
[0028] Hence, the vacuum system draws cleaning solution from the
floor F into the recovery tank 54. The recovery tank 54 can then be
emptied in a preferred location at the operator's convenience.
[0029] One or more squeegees 56 may be used to direct and collect
the cleaning solution from the floor F. The squeegee(s) 56 is
typically located at the rear portion 18 of the machine 10 and
positioned against the floor F to wipe the floor F of any excess
cleaning solution 26 that then contains debris and other
contaminants.
[0030] FIG. 1 further depicts a container receptacle 58 in the
forward portion 52 of the body portion 12. In the depicted
embodiment 10, the container receptacle 58 is attached to or formed
at least partially within the outer surface 68 of the scrubber 10.
Therefore, a portion of the volume of the solution tank 44 is
reduced approximately by the volume of the container receptacle 58.
This is not problematic, however, because the volume of the
solution tank 44 is large and the volume taken up by the container
receptacle 58 is relatively small in comparison.
[0031] The container receptacle 58 may be a separate component that
is attached to the body portion 12 or it may be integrally formed,
one-piece and unitary with the body portion 12. In the depicted
embodiment 10, the container receptacle 58 is a separate component
that is attached to the body portion 12 with mechanical fasteners
59, like screws that are common in the art. Other means, in
addition to or separately from mechanical fasteners, may be
utilized as well.
[0032] The container receptacle 58 preferably comprises a five
sided holding device with four sides 60 and a bottom surface 62
connected to the sides. It is preferred that the sides 60 and
bottom surface 62 are fluid tight, since on the other side of the
sides 60 and bottom surface 62, there is the fluid solution 22 of
the fluid tank 44.
[0033] Preferably, the top 64 of the container receptacle 58 is
open so that removable chemical containers 66 of solution can be
easily added or removed from the receptacle 58. It is within the
scope of the present invention for the container receptacle 58 to
have a top cover (as shown in FIG. 3 where the covers are lids
64a-n and where removable chemical containers 66 can be placed,
quick-connected 70, and removed as needed) that is selectively
openable and/or for the sides of the container receptacle 58 to
extend above the outer surface 68 of the body portion 12.
[0034] The container receptacle 58 depicted in FIG. 1 is
substantially rectangular in cross-section. The present invention,
however, is not limited to this particular shape. Instead, the
container receptacle 58 maybe of any cross-section, including, but
not limited to, circular or any polygonal shape.
[0035] A standard removable chemical container 66 is depicted as
being partially located in the container receptacle 58. Preferably,
the container receptacle 58 is of a predetermined depth so as to
maintain the removable chemical container 66 securely during
operation of the machine. It is also preferred that the container
receptacle 58 has sufficient depth so that the removable chemical
container 66 sits low enough on the machine 10 so as not to
interfere with the operation, including storage, of the machine 10.
It is also within the scope of the present invention for the
removable chemical container 66 to reside entirely within the
container receptacle 58, like the internal chemical containers 66a,
. . . , n depicted in FIG. 3.
[0036] A quick connect connection 70 is provided on an end 72 of a
chemical container line 28. The connection 70 may be such as a
male-female coupling or a threaded connection that permits the
chemical container line 28 to be easily and yet securely connected
to the removable chemical container 66. Preferably, the chemical
container line 28 extends beyond the connection 70 and into the
removable chemical container 66, as shown by the dashed line
extending into the removable chemical container 66 that is
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Specifically, the various lines 28,
30, 32, 34, 66, 38, 40, 42 indicate the flow of the fluid solutions
22 (associated with lines 32, 36), 24 (associated with lines 28,
30), 26 (associated with lines 34, 38, 40, 42) through the chemical
distribution system 20.
[0037] This arrangement permits almost any known floor removable
chemical containers 66 to be used with the present invention at any
time. For example, an operator may begin with one removable
chemical container 66 for one floor area F. During cleaning, the
operator may determine that a different solution is required based
on a different floor type and/or different dirt or debris
encountered. The operator may remove the original removable
chemical container 66 from the container receptacle 58, disconnect
it from the chemical container line 28, connect a different
removable chemical container (not shown) to the chemical container
line 28, locate the removable chemical container 66 in the
container receptacle 58 and continue cleaning. It can be
appreciated that the removable chemical container 66 could first be
located the in the container receptacle 58 and then a different
removable chemical container could be connected to the chemical
container line 28.
[0038] It can also be appreciated that multiple containers 66
located in separate container receptacles 58, each of which could
have a different removable chemical container 66 with a different
cleaning chemical therein, could be located in the machine 10.
These individual receptacles 58 would be similar to those
illustrated in FIG. 3 (see internal containers 66a-n). In any case,
the different cleaning chemical solutions 24 or 24a-n (FIG. 3) can
be immediately used by the machine 10.
[0039] The chemical container line 28 extends from the quick
connect connection 70 rearwardly from the container receptacle 58.
In the depicted embodiment 10, the chemical container line 28
extends into the body portion 12 rearwardly to the rear portion 18.
The chemical container line 28 may be a single continuous line or
it may comprise a plurality of lines 28a, b, . . . , n connected
together as discussed later for a second embodiment 10' and
illustrated in FIGS. 3-4.
[0040] FIGS. 1-2 illustrate that the chemical container line 28 is
preferably connected to a chemical pump 74. The pump 74 may be
located anywhere in or on the body portion 12. It has been found,
however, that it is convenient to locate the chemical pump 74 at
the rear portion 18 in the operator's area so that the pump control
76 for the chemical pump 74 are within easy reach. The pump control
76 permits the operator to request particular amounts of chemical
solution 24, in order to establish a ratio of chemical solution 24
over fluid solution 22, from the removable chemical container 66 by
setting the pump 74 at a particular pumping rate. The pump 74 may
be tied into the machine control 16 for additional coordination
between machine functions and the chemical pump 74, as well as for
electrical power.
[0041] The chemical pump 74 may be any fluid pump, such as, but not
limited to, bellows, centrifugal, diaphragm, drum, flexible liner,
gear, manual or hand, piston, rotary lobe or vane, or
peristaltic.
[0042] A chemical pump line 30 extends from the pump 74. As shown
in FIG. 1, the chemical pump line 30 extends within the body
portion 12 of the machine 10. However, whether the chemical pump
line 30 travels within or on the body portion 12, it is not
critical to the function of the invention. Although other fluid
connection means may be used, preferably the chemical pump line 30
is connected to a first port of a tee 78. It should also be noted
that, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, the various items and their
associated control lines (e.g., items 74, 76, 78, 86, 94 and lines
28, 30, 32, 36, 38, 88, 90, 92) are shown to be within various
parts of the body portion 12. However, the present invention is not
limited to the placement of these items and associated lines within
or on the body portion 12.
[0043] The fluid tank line 36 from the fluid tank 44 is connected
to the input side of an adjustment valve 80, which is controlled by
way of a valve control line 82 from a valve control 84. The valve
control line 82 may be electrically, mechanically, or manually
controlling. The output side of the adjustment valve 80 is
connected to a valve fluid line 32 which is connected to a second
port of the tee 78.
[0044] As a result of the two incoming connections to the tee 78,
the fluid solution 22 flows from the fluid tank 44 through to the
second port of the tee 78 by gravity or a fluid pump (not shown).
Then, in the tee 78, the chemical solution 24 from the chemical
container 66 combines with the fluid solution 22 from the fluid
tank 44 to result in the overall cleaning solution 26 that flows
from the third port of the tee 78, by way of the tee line 38. In
turn, the tee line 38 is connected to a flow meter 86.
[0045] The flow meter 86 may be of any known design for determining
fluid flow through a fluid line. The flow meter 86 is used to
communicate an open loop feedback flow rate through the tee line
38, by way of a flow meter feedback line 88, to the pump control 76
and then by way of a pump control line 90 to the chemical pump 74.
Also, the flow rate through the tee line 38 can be communicated,
preferably electrically, to an operator by way of a flow display
line 92 that is connected to a flow display 94 that is visible by
the operator who, as mentioned earlier, is located at the rear of
the scrubber 10.
[0046] The flow meter 86 is then connected to various means of
distributing the overall cleaning solution 26 to the floor F so as
to clean the floor F. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the flow meter 86
distributes the overall cleaning solution 26 to at least one outlet
line 34, 40, 42 for distribution to right and left pads 46, 48
and/or directly to the floor F. Subsequently, the pads 46, 48,
which are respectively attached to the scrubber 10 by way of right
and left hubs 96, 98 on which they are mounted, contact the floor F
for scrubbing. The above-mentioned vacuum system of the machine 10
is then used to collect the resulting dirt and debris laden
solution from the floor F and transport this dirt and debris laden
solution to the recovery tank 54.
[0047] FIGS. 3-4 illustrate the second embodiment 10' of an
automatic floor scrubber. The floor scrubber 10' is much the same
as that of the first embodiment 10, except that this second
embodiment 10' is configured to have at least two internal chemical
containers 66a-n with individual chemical container lids 64a-n that
respectively cover the chemical containers 66a-n, wherein each
chemical container 66a-n can have a separate chemical solution
24a-n therein and each chemical container 66a-n is separately and
selectively connected 28a-n to the chemical pump 74. Illustrated
are any number (n) of individual internal chemical containers 66a-n
that may be contained within the body portion 12. As a result of
this configuration, the tee 78 would combine any combination of the
chemical solutions 24a-n with fluid solution 22 to result in an
overall cleaning solution 26', as shown in FIG. 4.
[0048] The flow of the fluid solution 22 and chemical solutions 24,
24a-n, the setting of the ratio of chemical solutions 24, 24a-n
over fluid solution, and the pumping rate of overall cleaning
solutions 26, 26' is provided by the chemical pump 74 in
conjunction with the flow meter 86 and pump control 76, which are
in a closed feedback loop. These functions are provided to the
scrubber operator at the rear portion 18 of the scrubber 10, 10'
which makes it convenient for the operator.
[0049] Also, even though the placement of the containers 66, 66a-n
is shown located in the front 52 of the machines 10, 10', it can be
appreciated that these containers 66, 66a-n could be located
anywhere (for example, in the rear 18 or on the sides) in much the
same manner as that described for the front portion 52 of the body
portion 12. The location selection would depend on scrubber
design-wise considerations or if the location would provide
operational convenience to the operator. In any case, the
containers 66a-n could be integrally formed, one-piece and unitary
with the body portion 12.
[0050] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes,
the present invention has been described in what is considered to
represent its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted
that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically
illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or
scope.
* * * * *