U.S. patent application number 13/843618 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-01 for rotary surface cleaning tool including tools suitable for cleaning carpets, and associated systems and methods.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAPPHIRE SCIENTIFIC INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAPPHIRE SCIENTIFIC INC.. Invention is credited to Brett Bartholmey, William Bruders, Bill Elmer Richardson, Keith Studebaker, Roy Studebaker, Kevin A. Wolfe.
Application Number | 20140115816 13/843618 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50545389 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140115816 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bruders; William ; et
al. |
May 1, 2014 |
ROTARY SURFACE CLEANING TOOL INCLUDING TOOLS SUITABLE FOR CLEANING
CARPETS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Abstract
Rotary surface cleaning machines with recovery tanks and
associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative
rotary surface cleaning machine in accordance with the present
disclosure includes a base assembly, a support frame coupled to the
base assembly, a recovery tank carried by the support frame, a
vacuum blower, and a discharge pump. The vacuum blower draws a
mixture of air and fluid from the base assembly to the recovery
tank when the base assembly is in operation. Then the discharge
pump discharges a liquid portion of the mixture from the recovery
tank.
Inventors: |
Bruders; William; (Sedro
Woolley, WA) ; Bartholmey; Brett; (Bellingham,
WA) ; Richardson; Bill Elmer; (Prescott Valley,
AZ) ; Wolfe; Kevin A.; (San Marcos, CA) ;
Studebaker; Keith; (Tumwater, WA) ; Studebaker;
Roy; (Centralia, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAPPHIRE SCIENTIFIC INC. |
Prescott |
AZ |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAPPHIRE SCIENTIFIC INC.
Prescott
AZ
|
Family ID: |
50545389 |
Appl. No.: |
13/843618 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61719342 |
Oct 26, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/320 ;
134/21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/408 20130101;
A47L 11/4044 20130101; A47L 11/4083 20130101; A47L 11/34 20130101;
A47L 11/4016 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/320 ;
134/21 |
International
Class: |
A47L 11/40 20060101
A47L011/40 |
Claims
1. A rotary surface cleaning machine, comprising: a base assembly
having an exhaust port and carrying a rotary surface cleaning tool
that includes a plurality of spray nozzles; a support frame coupled
to the base assembly; a handle assembly operably coupled to the
support frame; a recovery tank carried by the support frame and in
fluid communication with the exhaust port; a drive motor carried by
the support frame and coupled to the rotary surface cleaning tool;
a vacuum blower carried by the support frame and coupled in fluid
communication to the exhaust port to draw a mixture of air and
fluid from the exhaust port into the recovery tank; and a discharge
pump carried by the support frame and coupled to the recovery tank
to discharge a liquid portion of the mixture from the recovery
tank.
2. The rotary surface cleaning machine of claim 1 wherein the drive
motor is positioned within the recovery tank.
3. The rotary surface cleaning machine of claim 1 wherein the
recovery tank includes a first compartment and a second
compartment, and wherein the first compartment is coupled to the
rotary surface cleaning tool to deliver a cleaning fluid to the
rotary surface cleaning tool, and wherein the second compartment is
in fluid communication with the exhaust port and is not in fluid
communication with the first compartment at the recovery tank.
4. The rotary surface cleaning machine of claim 3 wherein the first
compartment and the second compartment are separated by a flexible
baffle.
5. The rotary surface cleaning machine of claim 3 wherein the first
compartment and the second compartment are separated by a
bladder.
6. The rotary surface cleaning machine of claim 1, further
comprising a wheel assembly coupled to the support frame to support
the support frame.
7. The rotary surface cleaning machine of claim 1 wherein the
recovery tank includes a tank lid.
8. The rotary surface cleaning machine of claim 1 wherein the
handle assembly is formed in a shape corresponding to a shape of
the recovery tank.
9. The rotary surface cleaning machine of claim 1, further
comprising a housing carried by the support frame and positioned to
accommodate the vacuum blower and the discharge pump.
10. A recovery system for use with a rotary surface cleaning tool
having an exhaust port, the recovery system comprising: a support
frame; a recovery tank carried by the support frame and positioned
to couple in fluid communication with the exhaust port; a housing
positioned adjacent to the recovery tank; a vacuum blower
positioned in the housing and coupled to the recovery tank to draw
a mixture of air and fluid from the exhaust port into the recovery
tank; a discharge pump positioned in the housing and coupled to the
recovery tank to discharge a liquid portion of the mixture of air
and fluid from the recovery tank; and a control unit coupled to the
recovery tank and positioned to monitor a status of the recovery
tank.
11. The recovery system of claim 10, further comprising a drive
motor positioned within the recovery tank to rotate the rotary
surface cleaning tool.
12. The recovery system of claim 10 wherein the recovery tank
includes a first compartment and a second compartment, and wherein
the first compartment is coupled to the rotary surface cleaning
tool to deliver a cleaning fluid to the rotary surface cleaning
tool, and wherein the second compartment is in fluid communication
with the exhaust port and is not in fluid communication with the
first compartment at the recovery tank.
13. The recovery system of claim 10 further comprising a
notification unit coupled to the control unit to generate a signal
in response to an operation event.
14. The recovery system of claim 10 wherein the recovery tank
includes a first compartment and a second compartment, and wherein
the first compartment is separated from the second compartment by a
flexible baffle operably positioned within the recovery tank.
15. A method for cleaning surfaces, comprising: elevating the
temperature of a cleaning fluid; delivering the cleaning fluid to a
rotary surface cleaning tool coupled to a support frame; rotating
the rotary surface cleaning tool to generate a mixture of air and
cleaning fluid; drawing at least a portion of the mixture through
an exhaust port of the rotary surface cleaning tool to a recovery
tank via a vacuum blower, while the recovery tank is carried by the
support frame; storing a liquid portion of the mixture in the
recovery tank; and discharging the liquid portion of the mixture in
the recovery tank via a discharge pump.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing the liquid
portion of the mixture when the rotary surface cleaning tool is in
operation.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein discharging the liquid portion
includes discharging the liquid portion to a drain, a sewer, or a
waste receptacle.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein elevating the temperature of the
cleaning fluid includes transferring heat from the vacuum blower or
the discharge pump to the cleaning fluid.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing clean water
in a first compartment of the recovery tank and storing the liquid
portion of the mixture in a second compartment of the recovery
tank.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein the recovery tank includes a
first compartment and a second compartment, and wherein the first
compartment is separated from the second compartment by a flexible
baffle, the method further comprising increasing the size of the
first compartment of the recovery tank by adjusting the flexible
baffle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/719,342, filed Oct. 26, 2012, which is
incorporated herein by reference. To the extent the foregoing
application and/or any other materials incorporated herein by
reference conflict with the present disclosure, the present
disclosure controls.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present technology relates generally to a rotary tool
for cleaning surfaces, including rugs and carpets, and in
particular to such apparatuses and methods with brushes for
coaction with cleaning liquid delivering devices and suction
extraction devices.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Many apparatuses and methods are known for cleaning
carpeting and other flooring, wall and upholstery surfaces. The
cleaning apparatuses and methods most commonly used today apply a
cleaning fluid as a spray under pressure to the surfaces whereupon
the cleaning fluid dissolves dirt and stains, and the cleaning
apparatus scrubs the fibers of the surfaces while simultaneously
applying suction to extract the cleaning fluid and the dissolved
soil. Many different apparatuses and methods for spraying cleaning
fluid under pressure and then removing it with suction are
illustrated in the prior art. Some of these cleaning apparatuses
and methods use rotating devices and the entire machine is
transported over a carpeting area to be cleaned while a cleaning
head is rotated about a vertical axis.
[0004] Another category of carpeting and upholstery cleaning
apparatuses and methods includes machines having a plurality of
arms, each arm having one or more spray nozzles or a suction means
coupled to a vacuum source. These rotary cleaning tools provide a
more intense scrubbing action since, in general, more scrubbing
surfaces contact the carpeting area to be cleaned. These
apparatuses and methods are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No.
4,441,229.
[0005] A third category of carpeting and upholstery cleaning
apparatuses and methods that attempt to deflect or otherwise
control the cleaning fluid is illustrated by U.S. Pat. No.
6,243,914, which is incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Pat. No.
6,243,914 discloses a cleaning head for carpets, walls or
upholstery, having a rigid open-bottomed main body that defines a
surface subjected to a cleaning process. Mounted within or adjacent
to the main body and coplanar with the bottom thereof is a
fluid-applying device which includes a slot at an acute angle to
the plane of the bottom of the body located adjacent to the plane
of the bottom of the body. The slot is configured such that the
fluid is applied in a thin sheet that flows out of the slot and
into the upper portion of the surface to be cleaned and is
subsequently extracted by suction into the vacuum source for
recovery. The cleaning head can have a plurality of arms which are
rotated about a hub.
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a typical prior art professional fluid
cleaning system as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,914. It is to
be understood that this cleaning system is typically mounted in a
van or truck for mobile servicing of carpets and flooring in homes
and businesses. The typical truck-mounted fluid cleaning system 1
includes a main liquid waste receptacle 3 into which a soiled
cleaning fluid is routed. A cleaning head or nozzle 5 is mounted on
a rigid vacuum wand 7 which includes a handle 8 for controlling the
cleaning head 5. A supply of pressurized hot liquid solution of
cleaning fluid is supplied to the cleaning head 5 via a cleaning
solution delivery tube 9 arranged in fluid communication with a
cleaning solution inlet orifice 11 of the cleaning head 5 for
delivering therethrough a flow of pressurized liquid cleaning
solution to fluid cleaning solution spray jets 13 of the cleaning
head 5. The cleaning head 5 typically includes a rectangular,
downwardly open truncated pyramidal envelope 15 which contains the
cleaning fluid spray that is applied to the carpet or other
flooring, as well as forming a vacuum plenum for the vacuum
retrieving the soiled liquid for transport to waste receptacle 3.
An intake port 16 of the vacuum wand 7 is coupled in fluid
communication with the vacuum plenum of the cleaning head 5.
[0007] Mounted above the main waste receptacle 3 is a cabinet 17
housing a vacuum source and a supply of the pressurized hot liquid
cleaning fluid. The soiled cleaning fluid is routed from the
cleaning head 5 into the waste receptacle 3 via the rigid vacuum
wand 7 and a flexible vacuum return hose 19 coupled in fluid
communication with an exhaust port 20 thereof, whereby spent
cleaning solution and dissolved soil are withdrawn under a vacuum
force supplied by the fluid cleaning system, as is well known in
the art. A vacuum control valve or switch 21 is provided for
controlling the vacuum source.
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates details of operation of the typical
truck-mounted fluid cleaning system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. Here,
the main waste receptacle 3, as well as the vacuum source and the
cleaning fluid supply cabinet 17, are shown in partial cut-away
views for exposing details thereof. The cleaning fluid is drawn
through the cleaning solution delivery tube 9 from a supply 23 of
liquid cleaning solution in the cabinet 17. The vacuum for vacuum
return hose 19 is provided by a vacuum suction source 25, such as a
high pressure blower, driven by a power supply 27. The blower
vacuum source 25 communicates with the main waste receptacle 3
through an air intake 29 coupled into an upper portion 31 thereof
and, when operating, develops a powerful vacuum in an air chamber
33 enclosed in the receptacle 3.
[0009] The vacuum return hose 19 is coupled in fluid communication
with the waste receptacle 3 through a drain 35, for example, at the
upper portion 31, remote from the air intake 29. The vacuum return
hose 19 feeds the soiled cleaning fluid into the waste receptacle 3
as a flow 37 of the soiled cleaning fluid with dissolved dust, dirt
and stains, as well as undissolved particulate material picked up
by the vacuum return but of a size or nature as to be undissolvable
in the liquid cleaning fluid. The flow 37 of the soiled cleaning
fluid enters into the waste receptacle 3 through the drain 35 and
forms a pool 39 of the soiled cleaning fluid filled with dissolved
and undissolved debris. A float switch 41 or other means avoids
overfilling the waste receptacle 3 and inundating the blower 25
through its air intake 29. A screen or simple filter may be applied
to remove gross contaminants from the flow 37 of the soiled
cleaning fluid before it reaches the pool 39, but this is a matter
of operator's choice since any impediment to the flow 37 reduces
crucial vacuum pressure at the cleaning head 5 for retrieving the
soiled cleaning fluid from the cleaned carpet or other surface.
[0010] The soiled liquid cleaning fluid effectively filters air
drawn into the waste receptacle 3 by dissolving the majority of
dust, dirt and stains, and drowning and sinking any undissolved
debris whereby it is sunk into the pool 39 of the soiled cleaning
fluid and captured therein. Thus, the soiled cleaning fluid in the
vacuum return hose 19 effectively filters the air before it is
discharged into the enclosed air chamber 33, and no airborne
particles of dust and dirt are available to escape into the
enclosed air chamber 33 floating above the liquid pool 39.
[0011] In a rotary surface cleaning tool, the cleaning head 5
utilizes a cleaning liquid delivering means and suction extraction
means in combination with a rotary cleaning plate that is coupled
for a high speed rotary motion.
[0012] One example of a rotary surface cleaning tool is illustrated
by U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,001. FIG. 3 illustrates the rotary surface
cleaning and rinsing machine of Krause, indicated generally at 50,
which includes a substantially circular housing 51 and a frame 53
with its lower axial face open at 55, with this face 55 being
disposed substantially parallel to the surface which is to be
cleaned, such as a rug 57. Mounted on top of the housing 51 and the
frame 53 is an enclosure 59 from which a handle assembly 61
extends. The handle assembly 61 is held by an operator during the
manipulation of the machine 50. The handle assembly 61 has
operating levers 63 and 65. The operating handle 65 regulates flow
of cleaning or rinsing fluid to the housing 51 of a rotary surface
cleaning tool through a feed line 67. For example, the feed line 67
is coupled to the cleaning solution delivery tube 9 from the supply
23 of liquid cleaning solution in the cabinet 17 in a truck-mounted
unit, or another supply of liquid cleaning solution. The operating
handle 63 can be used to regulate the starting and stopping of
drive motors.
[0013] An exhaust pipe or tube 69 is mounted on the handle assembly
61 and is connected to the top of the rotary surface cleaning tool
at an outlet connection 71. Suction is created by a motor and fan
assembly 73. In other embodiments, the exhaust pipe or tube 69 is
coupled for suction extraction to the vacuum return hose 19 and
vacuum source 25 in a truck-mounted unit. The soiled cleaning fluid
extracted by suction extraction from the carpet or rug 57 is drawn
off through the outlet connection 71 and through the exhaust pipe
69. The frame 53 may also be supported by a swivel wheel 75. A
large rotor 77 is rotationally mounted within the housing 51 and
rotationally coupled within the enclosure 59. The rotor 77 is
drivingly connected by a drive belt or chain 79 to an output shaft
81 of an electric motor 83 mounted on the frame 53. Motor 83 serves
to turn large rotor 77. A plurality of circular brushes 85 are
located on the rotor 77.
[0014] FIG. 4 shows that the brushes 85 are rotated as shown by
arrows 87 in the opposite direction from the turning motion 89 of
the rotor 77 by a rotating drive means for contrarotating the
brushes 85 with respect to the rotor 77. Moreover, the brushes 85
are rotated at significantly higher revolutions per minute (RPM)
than the rotor 77 for producing a very vigorous brush scrubbing
action. For example, the brushes 85 rotate more than seven times
with respect to the rug 57 for each full rotation of the rotor 77.
As a result, the brush elements or bristles in the peripheral
region travelling very rapidly in a backward direction 87 relative
to the rotor 77 tend to lift up and to flip over the matted pile of
the rug 57 thereby exposing and scrubbing its underside. Then, in
interior regions 91 where the brush elements or bristles are
travelling in the same direction as the rotor 77, they flip the
matted pile back into its original position for scrubbing it on the
other side. Thus, the pile of the rug 57 becomes thoroughly
scrubbed on its underside as well as on its upper side. A cyclic
scrubbing action is produced flipping the matted pile back and
forth many times during one pass of the machine 50.
[0015] Also positioned on the rotor 77 are suction extraction
nozzles 93 spaced between the brushes 85 and communicating with the
discharge hose 69. The suction extraction nozzles 93 are fixed to
the rotor 77 and each is provided with a relatively narrow vacuum
extraction slot 95. Each vacuum extraction slot 95 is positioned
coplanar with the ends of the brush elements or bristles of the
brushes 85 distal from the rotor 77.
[0016] Also mounted on the rotor 77 are a plurality of spray nozzle
means 97 for dispensing cleaning or rinsing liquid. Each of the
spray nozzle means 97 can be mounted for angular adjustment so as
to direct sprays of cleaning or rinsing liquid through individual
nozzles 99 onto the rug 57 at different angles. The cleaning or
rinsing fluid is conveyed to the nozzle means 97 through the line
67 which leads to a supply of cleaning or rinsing fluid, such as
either the feed line 67 or the solution delivery tube 9.
[0017] During operation of the cleaning device, the rotor 77
rotates in the direction indicated by arrow 89. As the cleaning
liquid is sprayed onto the rug 57 through the nozzles 99, rotating
the brushes 85 agitates the pile of the rug 57 in conjunction with
the cleaning liquid to loosen dirt in or on the surface. The spent
cleaning liquid and loosened dirt are extracted up by the next
succeeding suction extraction nozzle 93. Accordingly, the
liquid-dwell-time is solely controlled by the machine 50, and not
by the rate at which the operator advances the machine 50 over the
floor.
[0018] However, known rotary surface cleaning tools are limited in
their ability to effectively provide the desired cleaning of target
floor surfaces and extraction of soiled cleaning fluid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages
of this technology will become more readily appreciated as the same
becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed
description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a typical prior art professional fluid
cleaning system of a type that is typically mounted in a van or
truck for mobile servicing of carpets and flooring in homes and
businesses;
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates details of operation of the typical
truck-mounted fluid cleaning system illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates one rotary surface cleaning and rinsing
machine of the prior art;
[0023] FIG. 4 is another view of the rotary surface cleaning and
rinsing machine of the prior art as illustrated in FIG. 3;
[0024] FIG. 5A illustrates a rotary surface cleaning machine in
accordance with an embodiment of the present technology for
delivery of liquid cleaning fluid to a target surface to be
cleaned, such as either carpeting or hard floor surfaces including
but not limited to wood, tile, linoleum, and natural stone
flooring;
[0025] FIG. 5B illustrates a rotary surface cleaning machine in
accordance with another embodiment of the present technology having
a self-contained fluid collection receptacle;
[0026] FIG. 5C illustrates a flexible baffle in accordance with an
embodiment of the present technology;
[0027] FIG. 5D illustrates a bladder in accordance with an
embodiment of the present technology;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a side view of the rotary surface cleaning machine
illustrated in FIG. 5A, with a plurality of suction extraction
shoes more clearly illustrated as being located on a rotary surface
cleaning tool and projected from an open lower axial face of a
circular housing;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the rotary surface cleaning
machine illustrated in FIG. 5A and FIG. 6, with the plurality of
suction extraction shoes more clearly illustrated as being located
on the rotary surface cleaning tool in the open lower axial face of
the circular housing;
[0030] FIG. 8 illustrates the rotary surface cleaning tool of the
rotary surface cleaning machine illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG.
7, with the rotary surface cleaning tool mounted on the support
frame with an on-board power plant;
[0031] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-section view of the rotary surface
cleaning machine illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 8, with the
rotary surface cleaning tool mounted on the support frame through a
rotary coupling;
[0032] FIG. 10 illustrates the rotary surface cleaning tool of the
rotary surface cleaning machine illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG.
9, with the rotary surface cleaning tool drivingly connected, for
example but without limitation, by a drive gear to the rotary drive
output of the on-board power plant;
[0033] FIG. 11 illustrates an upper coupling surface of the rotary
surface cleaning tool of the rotary surface cleaning machine
illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, as further illustrated in
FIG. 10;
[0034] FIG. 12 illustrates a bottom operational surface of the
rotary surface cleaning tool of the rotary surface cleaning machine
illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, as further illustrated in
FIG. 10 and FIG. 11;
[0035] FIG. 13 is a detail view of one embodiment of the suction
extraction shoe of the rotary surface cleaning machine illustrated
in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9;
[0036] FIG. 14 is a detailed cross-section view of one embodiment
of the suction extraction shoe illustrated in FIG. 13, with the
suction extraction shoe shown as having a leading surface and a
trailing surface as a function of the rotational direction of the
rotary surface cleaning tool;
[0037] FIG. 15 illustrates the bottom operational surface of the
rotary surface cleaning tool of the rotary surface cleaning machine
illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, having the suction
extraction shoe with an optional raised leading surface portion and
a relatively lower trailing surface portion as illustrated in FIG.
13 and FIG. 14;
[0038] FIG. 16 illustrates the bottom operational surface of the
rotary surface cleaning tool of the rotary surface cleaning machine
illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, having a spiral pattern of
cleaning solution delivery spray nozzle arrays of individual
delivery holes, with each spray nozzle array consisting of one to
about four individual delivery holes, and with the individual spray
nozzle arrays positioned in a spiral pattern across the bottom
operational surface of the rotary surface cleaning tool;
[0039] FIG. 17 is a detailed view of another embodiment of the
suction extraction shoe of the rotary surface cleaning machine
illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, with the leading surface not
including the optional raised portion but is rather substantially
coplanar with the trailing surface, but the leading surface rather
includes one or more bristle brushes in one or more rows arranged
along an outermost portion thereof;
[0040] FIG. 18 is a detailed cross-section view of the embodiment
of the suction extraction shoe illustrated in FIG. 17;
[0041] FIG. 19 illustrates the operational surface of the rotary
surface cleaning tool of the rotary surface cleaning machine
illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, with the suction extraction
shoes configured with substantially coplanar leading and trailing
surfaces, and the shoe leading surfaces have one or more of the
bristle brushes in one or more rows arranged along the outermost
portions thereof;
[0042] FIG. 20 illustrates a rotary surface cleaning tool of the
rotary surface cleaning machine illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG.
9, with each suction extraction shoe supported in the bottom
operational surface by a biasing device structured for individually
biasing or "floating" each suction extraction shoe outwardly
relative to the bottom operational surface of the rotary surface
cleaning tool;
[0043] FIG. 21 is a cross-section view of the rotary surface
cleaning tool of the rotary surface cleaning machine illustrated in
FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, with the biasing device for individually
biasing or "floating" each suction extraction shoe outwardly
relative to the bottom operational surface of the rotary surface
cleaning tool being structured, by example and without limitation,
as a resilient cushion, such as a closed foam rubber cushion of
about one-quarter inch thickness or thereabout, that is positioned
between a flange portion of each shoe and the rotary surface
cleaning tool;
[0044] FIG. 22 is a detail view of another embodiment of the
suction extraction shoe of the rotary surface cleaning machine
illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, with each suction extraction
shoe structured for accomplishing the "washboard" scrubbing effect
of the moveable target surface, i.e. carpet surface, independently
of the next consecutive suction extraction shoe;
[0045] FIG. 23 is a detailed cross-section view of the embodiment
of the suction extraction shoe illustrated in FIG. 22, with the
suction extraction shoe shown as having the optional relatively
lower or recessed portion formed on the leading surface and the
relatively raised portion is formed on the trailing surface as a
function of the reversed clockwise rotational direction of the
rotary surface cleaning tool; and
[0046] FIG. 24 illustrates the bottom operational surface of the
rotary surface cleaning tool of the rotary surface cleaning machine
illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, having the suction
extraction shoe formed with the optional relatively lower or
recessed surface portion on its leading surface, and the optional
relatively raised surface portion formed on the trailing surface as
illustrated in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0047] The present technology is directed generally to a rotary
surface cleaning machine for cleaning floors, including both
carpeted floors and uncarpeted hard floor surfaces, such as wood,
tile, linoleum and natural stone flooring. The rotary surface
cleaning machine has a rotary surface cleaning tool mounted on a
frame and coupled for a high speed rotary motion relative to the
frame. The rotary surface cleaning tool has a substantially
circular operational surface that performs the cleaning operation.
The rotary surface cleaning tool is driven by an on-board power
plant to rotate at a high rate. The rotary surface cleaning tool is
coupled to a supply of pressurized hot liquid solution of cleaning
fluid and a powerful vacuum suction source. In particular
embodiments, the cleaning machine also includes a self-contained
receptacle for carrying post-cleaning wastewater.
[0048] According to one aspect of the present technology a
plurality of individual arrays of cleaning solution delivery spray
nozzles are substantially uniformly angularly distributed across
the operational surface of the rotary surface cleaning tool, the
arrays of spray nozzles being coupled in fluid communication with a
pressurized flow of cleaning fluid through a plurality of
individual liquid cleaning fluid distribution channels of a
cleaning fluid distribution manifold portion of the rotary surface
cleaning tool. Each of the plurality of individual arrays of
cleaning solution delivery spray nozzles includes a plurality of
individual delivery spray nozzles that are radially oriented across
the substantially circular operational surface of the rotary
surface cleaning tool, and each individual array of the spray
nozzles extends across a portion of the operational surface that is
substantially less than an annular portion thereof extended between
an inner radial limit and an outer radial limit. Individual ones of
the arrays of spray nozzles are positioned in a substantially
spiral pattern across the annular portion of the operational
surface of the rotary surface cleaning tool between the inner
radial limit of the annular portion and receding therefrom over the
annular portion toward the outer radial limit thereof.
[0049] This spiral pattern of individual array of spray nozzles can
greatly reduce the number of individual delivery spray nozzles that
must be supplied on the operational surface of the rotary surface
cleaning tool. However, the high speed of rotation can ensure that
a sufficient quantity of cleaning solution is delivered since each
individual array of spray nozzles is presented to the target floor
area at least one, two or several times each second. The spray
nozzles are typically expensive to drill or otherwise form because
they are only about 1/10,000th of an inch in diameter. Therefore, a
large cost savings is gained, while the delivery of the cleaning
solution does not suffer. Forming the array of spray nozzles in the
spiral pattern so that the individual array of spray nozzles covers
only a fractional portion of the operational surface of the rotary
surface cleaning tool can also ensure that the cleaning solution is
delivered with substantially uniform pressure across the entire
radius of the rotary surface cleaning tool, without resorting to
special design features normally required in the prior art to
provide uniform pressure across each spray nozzle array that
extends across at least a large portion of the radius of the rotary
surface cleaning tool, or else the entire radius.
[0050] According to another aspect of the present technology a
plurality of suction extraction shoes are also substantially
uniformly angularly distributed across the operational surface of
the rotary surface cleaning tool alternately between the arrays of
cleaning solution delivery spray nozzles and are projected from the
operational surface of the rotary surface cleaning tool by a
biasing device that is structured for individually biasing each
suction extraction shoe outwardly relative to a bottom operational
surface of the rotary surface cleaning tool. For example, a
resilient cushion, such as a closed foam rubber cushion of about
one-quarter inch thickness or thereabout, is positioned between a
flange portion of each shoe and the rotary surface cleaning
tool.
[0051] Each of the suction extraction shoes is further formed with
a fluid extraction passage presented in a position adjacent to the
operational surface of the rotary surface cleaning tool. The fluid
extraction passage of each suction extraction shoe communicates
through one of a plurality of plenum branch passages within the
rotary surface cleaning tool with a vacuum plenum that is in fluid
communication with the vacuum suction source.
[0052] According to another aspect of the present technology the
rotary surface cleaning tool has a target surface scrubbing device
that can cause a washboard-type scrubbing effect of a moveable
target surface to be cleaned, i.e., a carpet. The target surface
scrubbing means causes oscillations of the moveable target surface
alternately toward and away from the operational surface of the
rotary surface cleaning tool by alternate application of vacuum
suction pulling the carpet toward the operational surface of the
rotary surface cleaning tool and application of compression by the
next consecutive shoe pushing the carpet away from the operational
surface of the rotary surface cleaning tool.
[0053] According to another aspect of the present technology the
target surface scrubbing device is one or both of (a) a relatively
raised surface portion of each suction extraction shoe that
projects further from the operational surface of the rotary surface
cleaning tool than a relatively lower surface portion thereof, and
(b) one or more rows of bristle brushes arranged along a surface
portion of each suction extraction shoe and projected further from
the operational surface of the rotary surface cleaning tool than a
surface of the corresponding suction extraction shoe. The
relatively raised surface portion of each suction extraction shoe,
or the one or more rows of bristle brushes, whichever is present,
forms the leading surface portion of the suction extraction shoe as
a function of a direction of the rotary motion of the operational
surface of the rotary surface cleaning tool, while the relatively
lower surface or a brushless portion forms the trailing surface
portion of the suction extraction shoe.
[0054] When present, the rows of bristle brushes provide a more
aggressive cleaning action in cleaning when provided in combination
with fluid cleaning of carpet or other target flooring surface.
Furthermore, when present the optional raised bristle brushes
effectively raise bottom operational surface of the rotary surface
cleaning tool slightly away from a target floor surface so that the
rotary surface cleaning machine can be alternated between carpeting
and hard floor surfaces such as wood, tile, linoleum, and natural
stone flooring, without possibility of scarring or other damage to
either the operational surface of the rotary surface cleaning tool
or the hard floor surfaces.
[0055] Other aspects of the present technology are detailed herein.
In the Figures, like numerals indicate like elements.
[0056] FIG. 5A illustrates a rotary surface cleaning machine 100 of
a type for delivery of liquid cleaning fluid to a target surface to
be cleaned, such as either carpeting or hard floor surfaces such as
wood, tile, linoleum, and natural stone flooring. The rotary
surface cleaning machine 100 is coupled to draw liquid cleaning
fluid through the cleaning solution delivery tube 9 from the supply
23 of liquid cleaning solution in the cabinet 17.
[0057] The rotary surface cleaning machine 100 is optionally a
stand-alone unit coupled to a supply of pressurized hot liquid
solution of cleaning fluid and having an on-board motor or other
power plant coupled for driving a fan assembly for generating a
suction as, for example, a rotary tool for cleaning surfaces
disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,001, which is incorporated herein
by reference. Alternatively, the rotary surface cleaning machine
100 is a part of a truck-mounted fluid cleaning system such as
illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,243,914, which is incorporated herein by reference. When part of
a truck-mounted fluid cleaning system, the rotary surface cleaning
machine 100 is coupled to the vacuum return hose 19 and the
truck-mounted vacuum source 25 by means of an exhaust pipe or hose
102 coupled to an exhaust port 104. Fluid extraction suction is
generated by the vacuum force supplied by the vacuum source 25. The
soiled cleaning fluid extracted from the carpet or rug 57 is drawn
off through the exhaust port 104 and carried through the flexible
vacuum return hose 19 to the main waste receptacle 3.
[0058] As illustrated here by example and without limitation, the
rotary surface cleaning machine 100 includes a support frame member
106, which may be supported by a wheel assembly 108. The support
frame 106 carries a substantially circular housing 110 having its
lower axial face open at 112 with this face 112 being disposed
substantially parallel to the surface which is to be cleaned, such
as the rug 57 (FIG. 3). A pivotally mounted handle assembly 114 is
used by the operator during operation for manipulating the machine
100. The handle assembly 114 supports one or more operating control
mechanisms mounted thereon for the convenience of the operator. For
example, one flow control mechanism 116 regulates a flow of
cleaning fluid through the cleaning solution delivery tube 9. A
conventional quick connection can be used for supplying the liquid
cleaning solution. Another vacuum control mechanism 118 can be used
to regulate the suction extraction of spent cleaning liquid and
loosened dirt. A rotary control mechanism 120 can be used to
regulate the starting and stopping of the rotary surface cleaning
tool through control of an on-board power plant 122, such as an
electric motor or other power plant, mounted on the support frame
106.
[0059] A rotary surface cleaning tool 124 is configured as a large
rotor that is journaled with the support frame 106 for a high speed
rotary motion within the circular housing 110. The on-board power
plant 122 is coupled for driving the high speed rotary motion of
the rotary surface cleaning tool 124.
[0060] A plurality of suction extraction shoes 126 are located on
the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 and project from the open
lower axial face 112 of the circular housing 110. Each suction
extraction shoe 126 is coupled in fluid communication with the
vacuum source 25 through the exhaust port 104 and the exhaust pipe
or hose 102 for the suction extraction of spent cleaning liquid and
loosened dirt.
[0061] FIG. 5B illustrates an embodiment of a rotary surface
cleaning machine 500 in accordance with the present technology. As
shown in FIG. 5B, the rotary surface cleaning machine 500 can
include a base assembly 510, handle assembly 514, an on-board
recovery tank 501, a drive motor 503 (e.g., having functions
similar to those of the power plant 122), a vacuum blower 504, a
discharge pump 505, and a pump/blower housing 506. As shown in FIG.
5B, the recovery tank 501 can be mounted on or otherwise carried by
a support frame 507. The recovery tank 501 can further include a
tank lid 502 to prevent accidental fluid spills. In some
embodiments, the drive motor 503 can be surrounded by or placed
within the recovery tank 501. For example, the drive motor 503 can
be positioned in a hollow space defined by the recovery tank 501
(as shown in FIG. 5B). The arrangement can effectively reduce the
heat generated by the drive motor 503 and thus can enhance the
overall performance of the rotary surface cleaning machine 500. The
recovery tank 501 is in fluid communication with an exhaust port
508. The soiled cleaning fluid or waste water extracted from the
carpet or rug 57 (FIG. 3) can be drawn off through the exhaust port
508 (e.g., having functions similar to those of the exhaust port
104 shown in FIG. 5A) to the recovery tank 501 for temporary
storage. When appropriate (e.g., when the base assembly 510 is not
in operation), the soiled cleaning fluid stored in the recovery
tank 501 can be directed to a drain, a sewer, or another waste
receptacle through flexible hoses, pipes, channels, or devices with
similar structures. In certain embodiments, the shape of the handle
assembly 514 can be selected to accommodate the recovery tank 501.
For example, the handle assembly 514 can be curved, bent or twisted
in a manner corresponding to the shape of the recovery tank 501.
The pump/blower housing 506 can accommodate the vacuum blower 503
and the discharge pump 505. In some embodiments, the pump/blower
housing 506 can protect the vacuum blower 503 and the discharge
pump 505 from accidental impacts. In certain embodiments, the
pump/blower housing 506 can be integrally formed with the recovery
tank 501.
[0062] In some embodiments, the rotary surface cleaning machine 500
can have a controller or timer that can monitor the operation
thereof. The controller can be coupled to a notification unit that
generates signals to a user or an operator of the rotary surface
cleaning machine 500 in response to an operational event (e.g., an
operation lasting a pre-determined time period, or a full recovery
tank, discussed in detail below). For example, when a user
continuously operates the rotary surface cleaning machine 500 for a
predetermined time period (e.g., 10 minutes, see explanation
below), the controller can instruct the notification unit to notify
the user that the recovery tank 501 may be full of collected
cleaning fluid. For example, the notification unit can send signals
to the user. Examples of signals include playing a sound, turning
on an indication light, or displaying an image on a display. In
some embodiments, the pre-determined time period can be decided
based on the total volume of the recovery tank 501 and a recovery
rate (e.g., an amount of fluid that can be collected within a time
unit, such as gallon per minute) of the cleaning fluid. For
example, if the recovery tank 501 can contain 10 gallons of
cleaning fluid and the recovery rate is around 1 gallon per minute,
then the predetermined time period can be determined as 10 minutes.
In other embodiments, the controller can be positioned inside the
recovery tank 501 and can monitor a status of the recovery tank
501. For example, when the controller detects that the collected
cleaning fluid in the recovery tank 501 exceeds a certain level
(e.g. the maximum capacity or 2/3 of the maximum capacity), the
controller can stop the operation (e.g., turning off the drive
motor 503 and the vacuum blower 504) and instruct the notification
unit to notify the user of the rotary surface cleaning machine
500.
[0063] FIG. 5C illustrates a flexible baffle in accordance with an
embodiment of the present technology and FIG. 5D illustrates a
bladder in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.
As shown in FIG. 5C, the recovery tank 501 can include a flexible
baffle or divider 516 to divide the recovery tank 501 into first
and second compartments 520, 522 that are not in fluid
communication with each other. The flexible baffle 516 can be made
from a flexible and/or stretchable plastic or any other suitable
materials. In some embodiments, the position of the flexible baffle
can be adjusted or shifted to produce various compartments sizes
(e.g., the first compartment 520 can have a 20% volume of the
recovery tank 501, while the second compartment 522 can have a 80%
volume of the recovery tank 501, or vice versa). As shown in FIG.
5D, the recovery tank 501 can include a bladder 518 positioned
therein such that the recovery tank 501 is divided into two
compartments 520, 522. The first compartment 520 of the recovery
tank 501 can be used for storing clean water (e.g., can an
additional supply for the cleaning fluid) or a certain type of
cleaning fluid (e.g., with different cleaning chemicals and/or
different concentration of the cleaning fluid supplied by the
supply 23). In some embodiments, the first compartment 520 of the
recovery tank 501 can store the same cleaning fluid as delivered by
the supply 23 (FIG. 5A). In some embodiments, the stored clean
water can be used to mix with the liquid cleaning solution
delivered by the delivery tube 9 before the mixture enters into the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124. In other embodiments, the stored
clean water can be supplied directly to the rotary surface cleaning
tool 124 by any suitable device (e.g., a flexible tube). The second
compartment 522 of the recovery tank 501 is in fluid communication
with the exhaust port 508 and can store the soiled cleaning fluid
(e.g. can function as a recovery tank as discussed above).
[0064] In various embodiments, the rotary surface cleaning machine
500 can include a heat exchanger (not shown) positioned adjacent to
the vacuum blower 504, the discharge pump 505, and/or the drive
motor 503. The heat exchanger can utilize the heat generated by the
vacuum blower 504, the discharge pump 505, and/or the drive motor
503 to increase or maintain the temperature of the liquid cleaning
solution delivered by the delivery tube 9 at a predetermined
temperature. For example, in some embodiments, elevating the liquid
cleaning solution to be within a pre-selected temperature range can
improve the efficiency with which the solution cleans the carpet or
other target surface. In some embodiments, at least a portion of
the heat exchanger can be positioned within the pump/blower housing
506. The heat exchanger can be integrally formed with the housing
506. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger can be positioned
adjacent to the drive motor 503 and surrounded by the recovery tank
501.
[0065] One advantage of the recovery tank 501 is that it can allow
users to operate the rotary surface cleaning machine 500 without
connecting the exhaust port 508 to a drain, a sewer, or another
waste receptacle. Specifically, by temporarily containing the
soiled cleaning fluid or waste water, the recovery tank 501 allows
users to operate the rotary surface cleaning machine 500 in remote
sites where there is no suitable arrangement for containing waste
water, or where there is no economically-feasible arrangement for
connecting the exhaust port 508 of the rotary surface cleaning
machine 100 to a drain, a sewer, or another waste receptacle. In
addition, the recovery tank 501 also allows users to operate the
rotary surface cleaning machine 500 in an environmentally-sensitive
area where discharging soiled or waste water may be prohibited.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 5B, the vacuum blower 504 and the discharge
pump 505 can be positioned in the pump/blower housing 506. The
pump/blower housing 506 can be mounted on the support frame 507
(e.g., having functions similar to those of the support frame 106)
and positioned adjacent to the recovery tank 501. In other
embodiments, the vacuum blower 504 and the discharge pump 505 can
be mounted on the support frame 507 directly. The vacuum blower 504
can draw air with soiled or waste water from the exhaust port 508
to the recovery tank 501. The discharge pump 505 can draw soiled or
waste water from the recovery tank 501 to a drain, a sewer, or
another waste receptacle.
[0067] FIG. 6 is a side view of the rotary surface cleaning machine
100 illustrated in FIG. 5A, with the plurality of suction
extraction shoes 126 more clearly illustrated as being located on
the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 and projected from the open
lower axial face 112 of the circular housing 110.
[0068] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the rotary surface cleaning
machine 100 illustrated in FIG. 5A and FIG. 6, with the plurality
of suction extraction shoes 126 more clearly illustrated as being
located on the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 in the open lower
axial face 112 of the circular housing 110.
[0069] As disclosed herein, a rotary drive output 128 of the
on-board power plant 122 can be coupled for driving the high speed
rotary motion of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124. For example,
the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 can be rotationally mounted
within the housing 110 and drivingly connected, for example but
without limitation by any of: a drive belt, a drive chain, or a
drive gear, to the rotary drive output 128 of the on-board power
plant 122 mounted on the frame 106. Here, by example and without
limitation, the rotary drive output 128 of the on-board power plant
122 is a drive gear coupled to drive a circumferential tooth gear
130 disposed about the circumference of rotary surface cleaning
tool 124. Accordingly, drive devices, other than the rotary gear
drive disclosed herein by example and without limitation are also
included within the present disclosure and may be substituted
without deviating from the scope of the present technology. The
power plant 122 thus serves to turn the rotary surface cleaning
tool 124 at high speed rates, under the control of the rotary
control mechanism 120.
[0070] The rotary surface cleaning tool 124 includes a plurality of
arrays 132 of cleaning solution delivery spray nozzles each coupled
in fluid connection to the pressurized flow of cleaning fluid
delivered through the cleaning solution delivery tube 9. The spray
nozzle arrays 132 deliver pressurized, hot (e.g., at a certain
predetermined temperature) liquid solution of cleaning fluid to a
target carpeting or hard floor surface. The spray nozzle arrays 132
are distributed on the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 in groups
positioned between the plurality of suction extraction shoes 126.
Accordingly, when the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 turns at 150
RPM during operation, each spray nozzle array 132 delivers the
pressurized hot liquid solution of cleaning fluid to the target
floor surface at least one, two or more times each second.
Consecutively with the arrays 132 of spray nozzles, each of the
plurality of suction extraction shoes 126 also covers the same area
of the target floor as the spray nozzle arrays 132 at least one,
two or more times each second. Furthermore, each of the plurality
of suction extraction shoes 126 includes a relatively narrow
suction or vacuum extraction passage 136 oriented substantially
radially of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124.
[0071] FIG. 8 illustrates the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 of
the rotary surface cleaning machine 100 illustrated in FIGS. 5A,
5B, 6 and 7, and the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 is mounted on
the support frame 106 with the on-board power plant 122. Here, by
example and without limitation, the rotary drive output 128 of the
on-board power plant 122 is a drive gear coupled to drive the
circumferential tooth gear 130 disposed about the circumference of
the rotary surface cleaning tool 124. However, as disclosed herein,
drive devices other than the rotary gear drive are also included
within the present disclosure and may be substituted without
deviating from the present technology.
[0072] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-section view of the rotary surface
cleaning machine 100 illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 8, and the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124 is mounted on the support frame
106 through a rotary coupling. For example, the rotary surface
cleaning tool 124 is mounted through a cylindrical sleeve extension
138 of a rotor hub member 140 that is journaled in a bushing
142.
[0073] Each of the plurality of spray nozzle arrays 132 is coupled
in fluid communication with the pressurized hot liquid solution of
cleaning fluid through a cleaning fluid distribution manifold 144
that is in fluid communication with the cleaning solution delivery
tube 9. The cleaning fluid distribution manifold 144 includes a
central sprue hole 146 for receiving the pressurized cleaning fluid
and an expansion chamber 148 for reducing the pressure of the
cleaning fluid to below a delivery pressure provided by the supply
of pressurized cleaning solution, such as but not limited to the
supply 23 of pressurized cleaning solution in the cabinet 17 of a
truck-mounted system, or another supply of pressurized cleaning
solution. The expansion chamber 148 is connected for distributing
the liquid cleaning fluid outward along a plurality of radial
liquid cleaning fluid distribution channels 150 for delivery by the
plurality of spray nozzle arrays 132 uniformly distributed across a
bottom cleaning surface 72 of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124.
Individual radial cleaning fluid distribution channels 150 are
uniformly angularly distributed within rotary surface cleaning tool
124, and each of cleaning fluid distribution channels 150
communicates with one of the plurality of spray nozzle arrays 132
for delivery thereto of the pressurized hot liquid solution of
cleaning fluid. The radial liquid cleaning fluid distribution
channels 150 are optionally extended to an outer circumference 124a
of the large rotor of the surface cleaning tool 124 for ease of
manufacturing, and later sealed with plugs 151.
[0074] Between adjacent arrays 132 of the spray nozzles are the
distributed radially-oriented suction or vacuum extraction passage
136 each coupled to a vacuum source for retrieving a quantity of
the soiled cleaning fluid. The radially-oriented plurality of
suction extraction shoes 126 are uniformly distributed angularly
about the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 for uniformly angularly
distributing the suction or vacuum extraction passages 136 about
the rotary surface cleaning tool 124. The exhaust port 104
communicates with a vacuum plenum 152 within the rotor hub member
140, which in turn communicates through respective suction
extraction shoes 126 with each suction or vacuum extraction passage
136. For example, the radially-oriented suction or vacuum
extraction passages 136 communicate through individual vacuum
plenum branch passages 154 that each communicate in turn with a
central cylindrical passage 156 within the rotor hub member 140.
The central passage 156 communicates at its upper end through the
exhaust port 104 with the exhaust pipe or hose 102.
[0075] As indicated by a rotational arrow 158, the rotary surface
cleaning tool 124 is rotated at a high speed during application of
cleaning solution to the target surface. The rotary surface
cleaning tool 124 successfully delivers a generally uniform
distribution of liquid cleaning solution to a target surface, such
as the rug 57, between the quantity of arrays 132 of spray nozzles
and the large number of passes, i.e. at least one, two or more
passes per second, of each spray nozzle array 132 occasioned by the
high rotational speed rotary surface cleaning tool 124 regardless
of any lack of uniformity in the instantaneous fluid delivery of
any individual spray nozzle array 132. Additionally, the
instantaneous fluid delivery of each individual spray nozzles array
132 tends to be generally uniform at least because the length of
the spray nozzle array 132 is minimal as compared with the size of
the rotary surface cleaning tool 124.
[0076] FIG. 10 illustrates the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 of
the rotary surface cleaning machine 100 illustrated in FIG. 5A
through FIG. 9, and the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 is
drivingly connected, for example but without limitation, by a drive
gear to the rotary drive output 128 of the on-board power plant
122. Here, by example and without limitation, the rotary surface
cleaning tool 124 is a large rotor that is fixedly attached to a
rotary drive member 160 through a fixed coupling 162, such as a
plurality of threaded fasteners (shown) or other conventional fixed
coupling means. The rotary drive member 160 includes the
circumferential tooth gear 130 disposed about the circumference
thereof for operating as the drive gear coupled to the rotary drive
output 128 of the on-board power plant 122.
[0077] The rotary drive member 160 is mounted to the cylindrical
sleeve extension 138 of the rotor hub member 140 that is in turn
journaled in the bushing 142 (see, e.g., FIG. 9). The large rotor
of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 is fitted with the central
sprue hole 146 and includes the expansion chamber 148 and the
plurality of individual closed liquid cleaning fluid distribution
channels 150, as well as the plurality of spray nozzle arrays 132
that are uniformly distributed across the bottom cleaning surface
of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124. The large rotor of the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124 also includes individual vacuum
plenum branch passages 154 that each communicate in turn with the
central cylindrical passage 156 of the rotor hub member 140, as
well as the plurality suction or vacuum extraction passages 136 of
respective suction extraction shoes 126 located on the rotary
surface cleaning tool 124 and projected from the open lower axial
face 112 of the circular housing 110.
[0078] FIG. 11 illustrates an upper coupling surface 164 of the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124 of the rotary surface cleaning
machine 100 illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, as further
illustrated in FIG. 10. The large rotor of the rotary surface
cleaning tool 124 is again illustrated as including the expansion
chamber 148 and the plurality of individual closed liquid cleaning
fluid distribution channels 150 that communicate with the plurality
of spray nozzle arrays 132 distributed across the bottom cleaning
surface of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124. Here, the rotary
drive member 160 is removed to more clearly show individual vacuum
plenum branch passages 154 that each communicates in turn with the
central cylindrical passage 156 of the rotor hub member 140. Each
individual vacuum plenum branch passage 154 terminates in a fluid
extraction passage 166 of about identical radial lengths 168
positioned adjacent to the circumference of the large rotor of the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124. In assembly, each shoe 126 is
coupled to the lower face of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124
with respective suction or vacuum extraction passages 136 in
communication with a respective fluid extraction passage 166 of one
of the individual vacuum plenum branch passages 154. As illustrated
here by example and without limitation, the individual vacuum
plenum branch passages 154 optionally include a curved portion 170
inwardly of the respective fluid extraction passage 166. The
optional curved portion 170 of the vacuum plenum branch passages
154, when present, operates to urge generation of a Coriolis effect
in a suction or vacuum fluid extraction airstream received into the
central cylindrical passage 156 of the rotor hub member 140.
[0079] FIG. 12 illustrates a bottom operational surface 172 of the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124 of the rotary surface cleaning
machine 100 illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, as further
illustrated in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The large rotor of the rotary
surface cleaning tool 124 is again illustrated as including the
expansion chamber 148 and the plurality of individual closed liquid
cleaning fluid distribution channels 150 that communicate with the
plurality of spray nozzle arrays 132 distributed across the bottom
operational surface 172 of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124.
The spray nozzle arrays 132 are illustrated here by example and
without limitation as radially oriented arrays of a plurality of
individual delivery spray nozzles 174 of about 1/10,000th of an
inch in diameter formed through the bottom operational surface 172
of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124, for example by drilling,
into communication with the individual closed liquid cleaning fluid
distribution channels 150 for delivery therethrough of the
pressurized hot liquid solution of cleaning fluid. As illustrated
here by example and without limitation, each spray nozzle array 132
consists of the plurality of individual delivery spray nozzles 174
substantially uniformly distributed over a substantially identical
annular portion 176 of the bottom operational surface 172 extended
between an inner radial limit 178 and an outer radial limit 180
thereof, and the annular portion 176 covered by the delivery spray
nozzles 174 has about the same radial extents as the radial length
168 of the fluid extraction passages 166 of the suction extraction
shoes 126, and the inner radial limit 178 is about identical with
an inner terminus 166a of the fluid extraction passages 166 and the
outer radial limit 180 is about identical with an outer terminus
166b of the fluid extraction passages 166. Therefore, the delivery
spray nozzles 174 are distributed over the annular portion 176 that
is substantially radially coextensive with the fluid extraction
passages 166.
[0080] Each individual fluid extraction passage 166 is positioned
adjacent to the circumference of the large rotor of the rotary
surface cleaning tool 124 and oriented substantially radially
thereof approximately halfway between the adjacent cleaning
solution delivery spray nozzle arrays 132. As illustrated here by
example and without limitation, each individual fluid extraction
passage 166 is positioned in a shoe recess 182 formed into the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124 below the bottom operational
surface 172 thereof. Each shoe recess 182 is appropriately sized
and shaped to receive thereinto one suction extraction shoe 126
with its surrounding flange portion 184 being substantially flush
with the bottom operational surface 172 of the rotary surface
cleaning tool 124.
[0081] Optionally, a plurality of lightening holes or recesses 186
are provided to reduce the weight of the rotary surface cleaning
tool 124.
[0082] FIG. 13 is a detail view of one embodiment of the suction
extraction shoe 126 of the rotary surface cleaning machine 100
illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9. As disclosed herein above,
the suction extraction shoe 126 is structured to sit in the recess
182 flush or below the bottom operational surface 172 of the rotary
surface cleaning tool 124. Accordingly, the flange portion 184
surrounding each suction extraction shoe 126 is structured for
being fixed to the bottom operational surface 172 of the rotary
surface cleaning tool 124 within the shoe recess 182. Optionally,
the suction extraction shoe 126 may include a sealing member 187
structured to fit into preformed slots in the bottom operational
surface 172 of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 and form a
substantially airtight seal therewith to concentrate the force of
the fluid extraction suction generated by the vacuum force supplied
by the vacuum source 25 into the individual fluid extraction
passages 136 of the shoes 126.
[0083] Here, the suction extraction shoe 126 is shown as having a
leading surface 188 and a trailing surface 190 as a function of the
rotational direction (arrow 158) of the rotary surface cleaning
tool 124. As shown here, the leading surface 188 is shown by
example and without limitation as having an optional relatively
raised portion 192 thereof that stands out further from the bottom
operational surface 172 of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124
than a relatively lower or recessed portion 194 of the trailing
surface 190. When the optional raised portion 192 of the suction
extraction shoe 126 is present, the optional raised portion 192 of
the suction extraction shoe 126 causes a "washboard" scrubbing
effect of a moveable target surface, i.e. carpet surface, and
up-down oscillations of the moveable carpet are caused by alternate
application of vacuum suction and shoe compression of the carpet
57. In other words, the target carpet is initially sucked up toward
the recessed trailing portion 194 of the shoe 126 and the
operational surface 172 by one suction extraction passage 136, and
then squeezed back down by the optional raised portion 192 of the
leading surface 188 of a next consecutive suction extraction shoe
126, as illustrated in FIG. 15, before being immediately sucked up
again by the suction extraction passage 136 of the same next
consecutive suction extraction shoe 126. This alternate vacuum
suction and shoe compression of the carpet 57 is repeated by each
next consecutive suction extraction shoe 126 as a function of the
combination of recessed trailing portion 194 and raised leading
surface portion 192. Since rotary surface cleaning tool 124 turns
at a high speed rotary motion these up-down oscillations of the
moveable carpet are repeated at least one, two or several times
each second, which results in significantly aggressive agitation of
the target carpet 57 in combination with the fluid cleaning.
[0084] Alternatively, the rotational direction (arrow 158) of the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124 is reversed, whereby the optional
raised portion 192 is positioned on the trailing surface 190 as a
function of the reversed rotational direction (arrow 158a shown in
FIG. 15). Accordingly, the "washboard" scrubbing effect of the
moveable target surface, i.e. carpet surface, is accomplished by
the recessed leading surface 188 and the optional raised portion
192 of each suction extraction shoe 126 in turn. Furthermore, as
illustrated here each suction extraction shoe 126 optionally
further includes an extension portion 126a that overhangs an outer
end portion 184a of its surrounding flange portion 184. The
extension portion 126a permits the extraction passages 136 to
extend radially outwardly of the cleaning tool operational surface
172 beyond the radial extent of the fluid extraction passages 166
of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124. Accordingly, when the
optional extension portion 126a is present, the suction extraction
passages 136 extend nearly to the outer circumference 124a of the
large rotor of the surface cleaning tool 124, as illustrated in
FIG. 15.
[0085] FIG. 14 is a detailed cross-section view of one embodiment
of the suction extraction shoe 126 illustrated in FIG. 13, and the
suction extraction shoe 126 is shown as having the leading surface
188 and the trailing surface 190 as a function of the rotational
direction (arrow 158) of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124. As
shown here, the leading surface 188 is shown by example and without
limitation as having the optional raised portion 192 thereof that
stands out further from the bottom operational surface 172 of the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124 than the relatively lower or
recessed portion 194 of the trailing surface 190.
[0086] FIG. 15 illustrates the bottom operational surface 172 of
the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 of the rotary surface cleaning
machine 100 illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, having the
suction extraction shoe 126 with the optional raised surface
portion 192 formed on the leading surface 188 and the relatively
lower or recessed surface portion 194 formed on the trailing
surface 190 as illustrated in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14. Here, the
suction extraction shoe 126 is illustrated having the optional
raised surface portion 192 leading and the relatively lower or
recessed surface portion 194 trailing as a function of the optional
counterclockwise rotational direction (arrow 158) of the rotary
surface cleaning tool 124. It will be understood that suction
extraction shoes 126 and the rotational direction 158 of the rotary
surface cleaning tool 124 is optional and can be reversed such that
the functional leading surface 188 and functional trailing surface
190 portions thereof are maintained. Accordingly, reversal of
rotational direction 158 of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124
disclosed herein by example and without limitation is also
contemplated and may be substituted without deviating from the
scope and intent of the present technology. The suction extraction
shoes 126 are attached to the bottom operational surface 172 of the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124 by an attachment means 196, such
as but not limited to one or more threaded fasteners.
[0087] FIG. 16 illustrates the bottom operational surface 172 of
the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 of the rotary surface cleaning
machine 100 illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, having a spiral
pattern of the cleaning solution delivery spray nozzle arrays 132
of individual delivery spray nozzles 174, and each spray nozzle
array 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d and 132e consists of one to about four
individual delivery spray nozzles 174, and individual spray nozzle
arrays 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, 132e are positioned in a spiral
pattern 198 across the bottom operational surface 172 of the rotary
surface cleaning tool 124 that is substantially radially
coextensive with the radial lengths 137 of the fluid extraction
passages 136 of the shoes 126 between the extremes of the annular
portion 176 between the inner radial limit 178 and the outer radial
limit 180. The spiral pattern 198 of the spray nozzle array 132a,
132b, 132c, 132d, and 132e optionally proceeds in a uniform
stepwise manner around the bottom operational surface 172 of the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124, with the nozzle array 132a being
nearest to a center point 200 of the operational surface 172 and
substantially radially coextensive with the inner radial limit 178.
Each of the consecutive nozzle array 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, and
132e steps further outwardly therefrom toward the outer radial
limit 180 of the operational surface 172. Alternatively, the
stepwise manner of the spiral pattern 198 of the spray nozzle
arrays 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, and 132e alternatively proceeds in a
non-uniform manner (shown) and one or more of the spray nozzle
arrays 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, and 132e are optionally out of step
with an adjacent one of the spray nozzle arrays 132a, 132b, 132c,
132d, and 132e. Thus, the spiral pattern 198 of spray nozzle arrays
132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, and 132e is optionally either uniformly
stepwise between the inner radial limit 178 and the outer radial
limit 180 of the radial lengths 168 of the fluid extraction
passages 136 of the shoes 126, or else the spiral pattern 198
proceeds in a non-uniform manner. The psiral pattern 198 of the
spray nozzle arrays 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, and 132e proceeds in
either a clockwise manner between the inner radial limit 178 and
the outer radial limit 180 of the radial lengths 137 of the fluid
extraction passages 136 of the shoes 126, or else the spiral
pattern 198 proceeds in a counterclockwise manner without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present technology.
[0088] The spiral pattern 198 of the spray nozzle arrays 132a,
132b, 132c, 132d, and 132e is effective for delivery of cleaning
solution at least because, as disclosed herein, the rotary surface
cleaning tool 124 turns at a high rate during operation, whereby
each spray nozzle array 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, 132e delivers the
pressurized hot liquid solution of cleaning fluid to the target
floor surface at least one, two or more times each second.
Furthermore, dividing the spray nozzle arrays 132 into several
spray nozzle arrays 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, and 132e reduces the
number of the individual delivery spray nozzles 174 that have to be
drilled or otherwise formed through the bottom operational surface
172 of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 by a factor of the
number of the spray nozzle arrays 132 otherwise provided in the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124. Here, as illustrated in FIG. 12,
there are five radial rows of the spray nozzle arrays 132 across
the operational surface 172. By dividing the spray nozzle arrays
132 into several spray nozzle arrays 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, and
132e, the total number of the individual delivery spray nozzles 174
that have to be provided in the bottom operational surface 172 is
reduced by a factor of five, so that only one-fifth or twenty
percent of the number of the delivery spray nozzles 174 that have
to be provided in the bottom operational surface 172. The delivery
spray nozzles 174 are very expensive to drill or otherwise form
because they are only about 1/10,000th of an inch in diameter.
Therefore, a large amount of cost savings is gained, while the
delivery of cleaning solution does not suffer. A further advantage
of dividing the spray nozzle arrays 132 into several spray nozzle
arrays 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, and 132e is that the cleaning
solution is delivered with substantially uniform pressure across
the entire radius of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 between
the inner radial limit 178 and the outer radial limit 180, without
resorting to special design features normally required in the prior
art to provide uniform pressure across each spray nozzle arrays 132
that extends all of the entire annular portion 176 between the
inner radial limit 178 and the outer radial limit 180 and
substantially radially coextensively with the fluid extraction
passages 136 of the suction extraction shoes 126. Therefore, the
optional spiral pattern 198 of the spray nozzle arrays 132a, 132b,
132c, 132d, and 132e, when present, provides both the economic
advantage not known in the prior art of forming fewer expensive
delivery spray nozzles 174 for multiple spray nozzle arrays 132
provided across the entire length of the annular portion 176
coextensively with the fluid extraction passages 136 of the shoes
126, and the technological advantage not known in the prior art of
providing substantially uniform cleaning solution delivery pressure
across the bottom operational surface 172 of the rotary surface
cleaning tool 124 for the entire length of the annular portion 176
without developing special fluid delivery features normally
required in the prior art.
[0089] Optionally, one or more bristle brushes 202 may be provided
across the bottom operational surface 172 of the rotary surface
cleaning tool 124 adjacent to the cleaning solution delivery spray
nozzle arrays 132, or the optional spiral pattern 198 of the spray
nozzle arrays 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, and 132e, when present. The
bristle brushes 202 may be provided substantially radially
coextensively with the fluid extraction passages 136 of the suction
extraction shoes 126 and either the adjacent cleaning solution
delivery spray nozzle arrays 132, or the optional spiral pattern
198 of the spray nozzle arrays 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, and 132e,
when present. Optionally, either multiple radial rows bristle
brushes 202 may be provided, or single radial rows of bristle
brushes 202 may be provided. The bristle brushes 202 both (1)
separate fibers of the rug 57 for dry removal of dust, dirt and
other particles, and (2) provide a more aggressive cleaning action
in cleaning when provided in combination with fluid cleaning of a
carpet or other target flooring surface.
[0090] FIG. 17 is a detail view of another embodiment of the
suction extraction shoe 126 of the rotary surface cleaning machine
100 illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, and FIG. 18 is a
detailed cross-section view of the embodiment of the suction
extraction shoe 126 illustrated in FIG. 17. Here, the leading
surface 188 does not include the optional raised portion 192.
Therefore, the leading surface 188 of the suction extraction shoe
126 is substantially coplanar with the trailing surface 190.
However, the leading surface 188 rather includes one or more
bristle brushes 204 in one or more rows arranged along an outermost
portion 206 thereof. Accordingly, the bristle brushes 204 are
substituted for the optional raised portion 192 of the leading
surface 188 and stands out further from the bottom operational
surface 172 of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 than the
relatively lower or recessed portion 194 of the trailing surface
190. The raised bristle brushes 204 of the leading surface 188
operate similarly to the optional raised portion 192 disclosed
herein. When the optional raised bristle brushes 204 of the suction
extraction shoe 126 are present on the leading surface 188,
optional raised bristle brushes 204 cause a "washboard" scrubbing
effect of the moveable target surface, i.e. carpet surface, and
up-down oscillations of the moveable carpet is caused by
alternately application of vacuum suction and shoe compression of
the carpet. In other words, the target carpet is sucked up into the
narrow suction or vacuum extraction passage 136, and then squeezed
back down by the optional raised bristle brushes 204 of the leading
surface 188 of next consecutive suction extraction shoe 126, as
illustrated in FIG. 15.
[0091] Similarly to the optional bristle brushes 202 on the bottom
operational surface 172 of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124,
the optional raised bristle brushes 204 on the leading surfaces 188
of the suction extraction shoes 126 provide a more aggressive
cleaning action in cleaning when provided in combination with fluid
cleaning of a carpet or other target flooring surface.
[0092] Furthermore, when present, the optional raised bristle
brushes 204 effectively raise the bottom operational surface 172 of
the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 slightly away from the target
floor surface. Accordingly, the rotary surface cleaning tool 124
can be alternated between carpeting and hard floor surfaces such as
wood, tile, linoleum, and natural stone flooring, without
possibility of scarring or other damage to either the operational
surface 172 of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 or the hard
floor surfaces.
[0093] FIG. 19 illustrates the operational surface 172 of the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124, and the suction extraction shoes
126 are configured with the substantially coplanar leading and
trailing surfaces 188, 190 and the leading surfaces 188 are
configured with one or more bristle brushes 204 in one or more rows
arranged along the outermost portions 206 thereof.
[0094] FIG. 20 illustrates the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 as
disclosed herein, and each suction extraction shoe 126 is supported
in the bottom operational surface 172 by a biasing means 208
structured for individually biasing each suction extraction shoe
126 outwardly relative to the bottom operational surface 172 of the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124.
[0095] Additionally, it is generally well known that if a suction
slot directly contacts the rug 57 or another floor, the suction
tool virtually locks onto the rug 57 or floor and becomes
immovable. Therefore, the suction tool must be spaced away from the
rug 57 or floor to permit some airflow which prevents such vacuum
lock-up. Airflow is also necessary for drying the carpet 57 or
floor. However, the airflow must be very near the rug 57 or floor
to be effective for drying. Also, excessive airflow decreases the
vacuum force supplied by the fluid cleaning system. Thus, there is
a trade-off between distancing the suction slot from the rug 57 or
floor to prevent vacuum lock-up and ensuring mobility on one hand,
and on the other hand positioning the suction slot as near to the
rug 57 or floor as possible for maintaining the vacuum force
supplied by the fluid cleaning system for maximizing airflow to
promote drying.
[0096] As disclosed herein, the suction extraction passages 136 are
oriented substantially perpendicular to the counterclockwise or
clockwise rotary motion (arrows 158, 158a) of the cleaning tool
124, i.e., oriented substantially radially with respect to the
cleaning tool operational surface 172. Here, the suction extraction
shoe 126 includes a plurality of shallow vacuum or suction relief
grooves 216 formed across its leading surface 188 and oriented
substantially perpendicular to the suction extraction passages 136,
whereby the suction relief grooves 216 lie substantially along the
rotary motion (arrows 158, 158a) of the cleaning tool 124. The
shallow suction relief grooves 216 operate to increase airflow to
the suction extraction passages 136, while permitting the cleaning
tool operational surface 172 to be positioned directly against the
rug 57 or floor, whereby moisture extraction is maximized. Another
advantage of the orienting suction relief grooves 216 along the
rotary motion (arrows 158, 158a) of the cleaning tool 124 is that a
carpet pile enters into the suction relief grooves 216 when the
cleaning tool operational surface 172 moves across the rug 57. This
permits airflow to be pulled through the rug 57 between fiber
bundles that make up the carpet pile so that the rotary motion of
the cleaning tool 124 is not wasted.
[0097] The quantity and actual dimensions of the suction relief
grooves 216 on the suction extraction shoes 126 is subject to
several factors, including but not limited to, the size and number
of the suction extraction shoes 126 on the operational surface 172
of the rotary cleaning tool 124, width and length dimensions of the
suction extraction passages 136, the vacuum force generated by the
suction source, and the rotational velocity of the cleaning tool
operational surface 172. When the relatively raised portion 192 is
present in contrast to the relatively lower or recessed portion
194, the resulting height differences between the leading surface
188 and the trailing surface 190 also affect the quantity and
actual dimensions of the suction relief grooves 216 on the suction
extraction shoes 126. The suction relief grooves 216 are also
optionally positioned on either one or both of the leading surface
188 and trailing surface 190 of the suction extraction shoes 126.
When positioned on both the leading surface 188 and trailing
surface 190 of the suction extraction shoes 126, the suction relief
grooves 216 are also optionally staggered between the leading and
trailing surfaces 188, 190 as shown. Distribution of the suction
relief grooves 216 is a function of its size, quantity, and
relative positioning, and it can be determined for any rotary
surface cleaning machine 100 without undue experimentation.
[0098] FIG. 21 is a cross-section view of the rotary surface
cleaning tool 124 as disclosed herein, and both the leading surface
188 and the trailing surface 190 of the suction extraction shoes
126 are illustrated as including the suction relief grooves
216.
[0099] Here, the biasing device 208 is structured by example and
without limitation as a resilient cushion, such as a closed foam
rubber cushion of about one-quarter inch thickness or thereabout,
that is positioned between the flange portion 184 of each shoe 126
and the rotary surface cleaning tool 124. For example, each shoe
recess 182 is recessed deeper into the bottom operational surface
172 of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 than a thickness of the
shoe flange portion 184, whereby each shoe recess 182 is
appropriately sized to receive the resilient biasing cushion 208
between an interface surface 210 of the flange portion 184 of the
suction extraction shoe 126 and a floor portion 212 of the shoe
recess 182, while a clamping plate 214 is positioned over the shoe
flange 184 and arranged substantially flush with the bottom
operational surface 172 of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124.
Accordingly, the resilient biasing device 208 permits each suction
extraction shoe 126 to "float" individually relative to the rotary
surface cleaning tool 124. Individually "floating" each suction
extraction shoe 126 both effectively balances rotary surface
cleaning tool 124 and causes each individual suction extraction
shoe 126 to be pushed deeper into portions of the carpet 57 that
may be positioned over small recesses in a non-flat substrate floor
surface. The pushing causes each individual suction extraction shoe
126 deeper into portions of a non-flat smooth floor surface such as
natural rock, distressed wood, and other non-flat or pitted floor
surfaces. Therefore, individually "floating" each suction
extraction shoe 126 in the bottom operational surface 172 of the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124 cleans carpet and non-carpeted
smooth floors alike more effectively than cleaning tools having
fixed suction extraction shoes, as known in the prior art.
[0100] When present as a closed foam cushion, the biasing device
208 optionally also operates as a sealing device between the
suction extraction shoe 126 and the rotary surface cleaning tool
124. Accordingly, the biasing device 208 is structured to form a
substantially airtight seal with the shoe recess 182 in the bottom
operational surface 172 of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 to
concentrate the force of the fluid extraction suction generated by
the vacuum force supplied by the vacuum source 25 into the
individual fluid extraction passages 136 of shoes 126. Optionally,
the closed foam cushion biasing device 208 is substituted for the
sealing member 187 for sealing the suction extraction shoe 126
relative to the rotary surface cleaning tool 124. However, although
disclosed herein by example and without limitation as a closed foam
rubber cushion, the biasing device 208 is optionally provided as
any resilient biasing structure, including one spring or a series
of springs, without deviating from the scope and intent of the
present technology. Accordingly, biasing device alternative to the
closed foam rubber cushion biasing device 208 disclosed herein by
example and without limitation are also contemplated and may be
substituted without deviating from the scope and intent of the
present technology.
[0101] FIG. 22 is a detail view of another embodiment of the
suction extraction shoe 126 of the rotary surface cleaning machine
100 illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, and each suction
extraction shoe 126 is structured for accomplishing the "washboard"
scrubbing effect of the moveable target surface, i.e. a carpet
surface, independently of the next consecutive suction extraction
shoe 126. Here, the suction extraction shoe 126 is again shown as
having the leading surface 188 and the trailing surface 190 both as
a function of the reversed rotational direction (arrow 158a) of the
rotary surface cleaning tool 124, shown as clockwise in FIG. 24. As
shown here, the leading surface 188 is shown by example and without
limitation as having the optional relatively lower or recessed
portion 194, while the trailing surface 190 is shown as having the
optional raised portion 192 thereof that stands out further from
the bottom operational surface 172 of the rotary surface cleaning
tool 124 than the relatively lower or recessed leading surface
portion 194.
[0102] When the optional recessed portion 194 and the raised
portion 192 of the suction extraction shoe 126 are present on the
leading surface 188 and trailing surface 190, respectively, the
relative difference in height of the recessed leading portion 194
and the raised trailing portion 192 combines in each suction
extraction shoe 126 to independently operate the "washboard"
scrubbing effect of a moveable target surface, i.e. a carpet
surface, and up-down oscillations of the moveable carpet are caused
by alternate application of vacuum suction and shoe compression of
the carpet 57. In other words, the target carpet 57 is initially
sucked up toward the recessed leading portion 194 of the suction
extraction shoe 126 by the action of the suction or vacuum
extraction passage 136, and then squeezed back down by the optional
raised trailing portion 192 of the trailing surface 190 of the same
suction extraction shoe 126, as illustrated in FIG. 24. Each
consecutive suction extraction shoe 126 operates independently of
the other suction extraction shoes 126 of the rotary surface
cleaning tool 124 to operate the suction or vacuum extraction
passage 136 to initially suck up the target carpet 57 toward the
recessed leading portion 194, before the raised trailing portion
192 of the same suction extraction shoe 126 consecutively
compresses the target carpet 57 back down toward the underlying
floor surface. This alternate vacuum suction and shoe compression
of the carpet 57 is repeated independently by each consecutive
suction extraction shoe 126. Since the rotary surface cleaning tool
124 turns at a high speed rotary motion these up-down oscillations
of the moveable carpet are repeated at least one or several times
each second, which results in significantly aggressive agitation of
the target carpet 57 in combination with the fluid cleaning.
[0103] Additionally, the suction extraction shoe 126 is illustrated
having a plurality of shallow vacuum or suction relief grooves 216
formed across the relatively raised portion 192 thereof and
oriented substantially perpendicular to the suction extraction
passages 136. The suction relief grooves 216 are formed across
either the leading surface 188 or the trailing surface 190 as a
function of the counterclockwise or clockwise rotary motion (arrows
158, 158a) of the cleaning tool 124. As disclosed herein, the
suction extraction passages 136 are oriented substantially radially
with respect to the cleaning tool operational surface 172 and
substantially perpendicular to the counterclockwise or clockwise
rotary motion (arrows 158, 158a) of the cleaning tool 124, whereby
the suction relief grooves 216 lie substantially along the rotary
motion (arrows 158, 158a) of the cleaning tool 124. The suction
relief grooves 216 formed across the relatively raised portion 192
of the suction extraction shoe 126 and oriented substantially
radially with respect to the cleaning tool operational surface 172
and along the rotary motion (arrows 158, 158a) of the cleaning tool
124 provide the advantages disclosed herein. The suction relief
grooves 216 permit the suction extraction passages 136 of the
suction extraction shoes 126 to be positioned as near to the rug 57
or floor as possible for maintaining the vacuum force supplied by
the fluid cleaning system for maximizing airflow to promote drying,
while preventing vacuum lock-up and ensuring mobility.
[0104] Again, as disclosed herein, the quantity and actual
dimensions of the suction relief grooves 216 on the suction
extraction shoes 126 are subject to such factors as the size and
number of the suction extraction shoes 126 on the operational
surface 172 of the rotary cleaning tool 124, the width and length
dimensions of the suction extraction passages 136, the vacuum force
generated by the suction source, and the rotational velocity of the
cleaning tool operational surface 172. When the relatively raised
portion 192 is present in contrast to the relatively lower or
recessed portion 194 as shown, the resulting height difference
between the leading surface 188 and the trailing surface 190 also
affects the quantity and actual dimensions of the suction relief
grooves 216 on the suction extraction shoes 126. The suction relief
grooves 216 are also optionally positioned on the relatively raised
portion 192 of either the leading surface 188 or the trailing
surface 190 of the suction extraction shoes 126. The distribution
of the suction relief grooves 216 is a function of its size,
quantity, and relative positioning, and can be determined for any
rotary surface cleaning machine 100 without undue
experimentation.
[0105] FIG. 23 is a detailed cross-section view of the embodiment
of the suction extraction shoe 126 illustrated in FIG. 22, and the
suction extraction shoe 126 is shown as having the leading surface
188 and trailing surface 190 as a function of the reversed
clockwise rotational direction (arrow 158a) of the rotary surface
cleaning tool 124. As shown here, the leading surface 188 is shown
by example and without limitation as having the optional relatively
lower or recessed portion 194, while the trailing surface 190 is
formed with the relatively raised portion 192 thereof that stands
out further from the bottom operational surface 172 of the rotary
surface cleaning tool 124 than the relatively lower or recessed
portion 194 of the leading surface 188.
[0106] FIG. 24 illustrates the bottom operational surface 172 of
the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 of the rotary surface cleaning
machine 100 illustrated in FIG. 5A through FIG. 9, having the
suction extraction shoe 126 with the relatively lower or recessed
surface portion 194 formed on the leading surface 188, and the
optional raised surface portion 192 formed on the trailing surface
190 as illustrated in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23. Here, the rotational
direction of the rotary surface cleaning tool 124 is reversed,
whereby the rotary cleaning tool 124 operates in a clockwise
direction (arrow 158a) in contrast to the counterclockwise
direction 158 illustrated in FIG. 15. As illustrated here, the
optional relatively recessed portion 194 is positioned on the
leading surface 188 of the suction extraction shoe 124, while the
relatively raised portion 192 is positioned on the trailing surface
190 as a function of the reversed clockwise rotational direction
(arrow 158a). Accordingly, the "washboard" scrubbing effect of the
moveable target carpet 57 is accomplished by each suction
extraction shoe 126 as a function of the combination therein of the
recessed portion 194 of the leading surface 188 and the raised
portion 192 of the trailing surface 190 in turn engaging the
movable target carpet 57.
[0107] The present technology also includes methods for cleaning
surfaces. Methods in accordance with embodiments of the present
technology can include elevating the temperature of a cleaning
fluid (e.g., to a temperature suitable for cleaning chemicals to
sufficiently dissolve in the liquid cleaning fluid). The method can
include delivering the cleaning fluid to a rotary surface cleaning
tool (e.g., the rotary surface cleaning machine 100 or 500) coupled
to a support frame (e.g., the support frame 106 or 507). The method
can further include rotating the rotary surface cleaning tool to
generate a mixture of air and cleaning fluid. In some embodiments,
the mixture can be generated by injecting the cleaning fluid by the
spray nozzles array 132. The method can further include drawing at
least a portion of the mixture through an exhaust port of the
rotary surface cleaning tool to a recovery tank (e.g, the recovery
tank 501) via a vacuum blower (e.g., the vacuum blower 504). In
some embodiments, the recovery tank can be carried by the support
frame. The method can further include storing a liquid portion of
the mixture in the recovery tank and discharging the liquid portion
of the mixture in the recovery tank via a discharge pump (e.g. the
discharge pump 505).
[0108] In various embodiments, methods in accordance with the
present technology can include storing the liquid portion of the
mixture when the rotary surface cleaning tool is in operation
(e.g., when a user operates the cleaning tool to clean a surface).
In some embodiments, methods in accordance with the present
technology can include discharging the liquid portion of the
mixture to a drain, a sewer, or a waste receptacle (e.g., after
finishing the operation of the cleaning tool). In some embodiments,
methods in accordance with the present technology can include
transferring heat from the vacuum blower, the discharge pump,
and/or the drive motor (e.g., the drive motor 503) to the cleaning
fluid.
[0109] The methods disclosed herein include and encompass, in
addition to methods of making and using the disclosed devices and
systems, methods of instructing others to make and use the
disclosed devices and systems. Such instructions can be contained
on any suitable computer readable medium. Accordingly, any and all
methods of use or manufacture disclosed herein also fully disclose
and enable corresponding methods of instructing such methods of use
or manufacture.
[0110] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific
embodiments of the present technology have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be
made without deviating from the technology. For example, the rotary
surface cleaning machine can have different dimensions as
specifically disclosed in the drawings. While embodiments of the
systems were described above in the context of using cleaning
fluids at high temperatures, the systems can also operate
effectively by using cleaning fluids at other temperatures. Certain
aspects of the technology described in the context of particular
embodiments may be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. For
example, different embodiments can include various combinations of
the housing described above, the tank lid described above, other
types of handles, and/or the support frames described above.
Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of
the disclosed technology have been described in the context of
those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such
advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such
advantages to fall within the scope of the presently disclosed
technology. Accordingly, the present disclosure and associated
technology can encompass other embodiments not expressly described
or shown herein.
* * * * *