Vacuum Cleaner Having A Foam Generator

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner has a cleaning foam generating and conveying means for selectively discharging cleaning foam at the nozzle, brushing the surface to be cleaned, and sucking the dirt from the surface. An air bleed port at the nozzle controls application of foam or suction at the nozzle. Compressed air pressurizes and propels cleaning liquid from a reservoir to an air charged foam generator to generate the foam. An electric switch or a manual valve at the nozzle are included as alternate embodiments of the foam control.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to vacuum cleaning apparatus having built-in foam or cleaning fluid applicating means.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art patents of which I am aware are as follows:

2,198,322 Schrader 2,499,876 Platek 2,757,406 Decker 2,960,710 McKeegan 2,996,743 Noble 3,094,152 Kenny 3,109,559 Wilburn 3,143,756 Siskd 3,381,327 Kelly

While the foregoing references describe various types of cleaning devices, foam generators and controls, there has remained a need for apparatus which is comparatively simple in construction and operation, compact, safe to use, and which lends itself to coin-operated installations as well as to those not employing coin controls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Described briefly, in a typical embodiment of the present invention, an applicator device includes a vacuum nozzle and foam dispenser. The vacuum nozzle communicates with a vacuum cleaner fan, while the dispenser communicates with a cleaning foam generator. An air compressor is included to pressurize a tank of cleaning fluid, urging the fluid toward the foam generator. The compressor is also coupled to a bleed port in the applicator. A foam control valve is operable in response to rise of pressure in the passageway to the bleed port, upon restriction of the port, to open the valve for dispensing the cleaning foam. Similarly a pressure operated normally closed switch to the vacuum fan drive motor is opened in response to the pressure rise due to restriction of the bleed port, to terminate vacuum operation while foam is being dispensed. One electrical circuit is arranged to permit selection of either a vacuum-only operation, or the selectable vacuum-shampoo operation, depending upon activation of one or another of two actuators, which may be controlled by use of a coin of one value or another. Other embodiments permit use of a manual valve or a manual switch at the applicator instead of a bleed port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram of the pulmbing and a portion of the electrical circuitry employed in the typical embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective interior view of the foam flow dispenser.

FIG. 4 is an exploded cutaway view of the foam generator.

FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic diagram of the control circuitry, arranged for the option of "vacuum-shampoo" or "vacuum only" operation.

FIG. 6 shows a modification to the diagram of FIG. 2 which would be employed if the bleed port control were omitted and a manual foam flow control valve substituted for it.

FIG. 7 is still another embodiment showing the modification of FIG. 2 which would result if the bleed port control were placed by an electrical switch control for the foam dispensing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a combination vacuum and foam dispensing applicator nozzle assembly 11 is connected to the end of a flexible hose assembly 12 which is connected into the base of the cleaner housing 13 which is of a frustro-conical shape, although other shapes might also be employed. For access to the interior of the housing, the top portion thereof can be separated from the lower portion at a circular joint around the circle 14, for example. The interior components and their operative arrangement can be appreciated upon consideration of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, some of the components are drawn out of proportion to their actual size, in order both to conserve space in the drawing and at the same time clearly present the functional relationship of the components. In FIG. 2, vacuum generator 16 may be of conventional construction employing an electrical motor to establish a vacuum to which the flexible hose 12 is coupled, and discharging air at outlet 18. At the opposite end of the hose is the assembly 11 having a typical, generally rectangular brush 19 surrounding the air inlet port 21 (FIG. 1). A power driven rotary brush might also be used on the nozzle. The intake port 21 communicates with the vacuum hose 12 whereby the unit is capable of normal vacuum cleaner operation. Referring further to FIG. 2, an air compressor and storage tank assembly is shown at 22 and has an output line coupled through the check valve 23 and pressure regulator 24 to a pair of "T" connections 26 and 27. Line 28 extends therefrom to the top of a reservoir 29 having a cleaning fluid therein, typically in the form of a liquid soap or detergent. A sight glass 31 is provided on the reservoir to show the level of soap therein at 32. A pressure gauge is provided thereon at 33 and an outlet line therefrom is provided at 34. This outlet line passes through a flow controller 36 to the foam generator 37.

At the "T" connection 27, air can move through the line 38 and flow control 39 to the foam generator 37.

At the "T" connection 26, compressed air can move through the line 41 and flow control 42 to the "T" connection 43 from which it is applicable to an operator for the air-piloted, normally closed, two-way valve 44. The connection 43 also provides a means for providing compressed air supply through line 46 which extends into the interior of the vacuum hose at a point inside the housing 13 (FIG. 1) and continues inside the hose and inside the nozzle to a port 47 on the top of the nozzle. Port 47 serves as a bleed port. Although the line 46 extends through the interior of most of the length of the hose 12, and through the interior of the nozzle 11, there is no communication between the air in line 46 and the interior of the hose or nozzle, the only output being at the port 47. An appropriate seal is provided around the circumference of the tube 46 where it enters the vacuum hose 12 at point 48 to avoid leakage of air from the environment into the hose at that location.

A foam output line 64 is provided from the foam generator 37 through the flow control 66 to the normally closed valve 44. The foam output line 49 from valve 44 enters the vacuum hose at the point 51 where it is well sealed to avoid leakage, and extends through the length of the hose and the nozzle assembly into the interior of a foam flow compensator 52 at the end of the nozzle assembly. The interior of this compensator is shown in FIG. 3 where, immediately inside the mounting face 54 there is a cavity 56. At the lower margin of this cavity there is an elongated slot 57 passing vertically downward through the lower cross member 58 of the compensator and opening at the underside 59 thereof. This opening is behind the distributor flange 61. The compensator is secured to the front end of the nozzle by a pair of screws 62 (FIG. 2) received through the apertures 63, and a gasket may be provided at 64. Thus the foam which is supplied to the nozzle assembly by means yet to be described, does not communicate with the interior of the nozzle assembly at all, but rather enters only the chamber in the compensator, from which it is discharged through the slot 57 immediately ahead of the nozzle but behind the flange 61.

Referring further to FIG. 2, pressure from the "T" connection 67 is applied to an operator 68 for the normally closed electrical switch 69. Electrical energy from the line plug 71 is applied through a toggle switch 72 and then conductors 73 and 74 to the two terminals of the air compressor motor, and to one terminal of the vacuum cleaner motor and one terminal of the switch 69. When this switch is in its normally closed state, conductor 74 is thereby connected to the other terminal of the vacuum cleaner motor.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the foam generator may be made of a block of material having passages 76 and 77 drilled completely through and plugged at both ends. Similarly a passage 78 extends up from the bottom and intersects both passages 76 and 77 as indicated at 79 and 81. A fourth passage 82 enters the left-hand end, extends to a point near passage 78 and has an output port 83 in the rear wall of the housing. Six passages 84 drilled into the top, intercept the passageways 76, 77 and 82, and all are plugged at the top.

A liquid introducing member 86 is threadedly received into the end of the passageway 82 and secured in place by means of the threads 87 thereon. This member can be a piece of copper tubing capped at the inner end and having a plurality of orifices 88 therein for dispensing the liquid therefrom. Approximately 30 orifices approximately one-sixteenth inch in diameter is suitable.

The operation of the foam generator itself involves the introduction of the pressurized liquid soap from flow control 36 through the apertures 88 in the introducing member 86 and thereby into the passageway 82. At the same time compressed air enters passageway 78 from the flow control valve 39 and pressurizes the passageways 76 and 77. This air is admitted to the chamber 82 from both passageways through the 12 ports resulting from intersection of the passages 84 with the chamber 82. This combination of pressurized fluids generates a foam which is discharged through the port 83 and line 64 to the flow rate control 66.

The operation of the apparatus as described thus far may begin with closing the manually operated switch 72, which may be a simple toggle switch. This energizes both the vacuum cleaner motor and the compressor motor, whereupon the applicator assembly can be used for simple vacuum cleaning operations. The compressor establishes air pressure in the various lines described above at a level which may be adjusted by the manually operable pressure regulator 24. It thus pressurizes the detergent or soap in the reservoir 29 to a pressure level established by the regulator 24 and registered on the gauge 33. This liquid is thereby pressurized and moves into the foam generator while air pressure through flow rate controller 39 moves into the foam generator also. The foaming results at this point and the foam moves therefrom through the controller 66 to the valve 44 which is normally closed and precludes movement of the foam from that point. Air also passes through the line 41, flow rate controller 42, line 46 and port 47.

In order to discharge foam from the nozzle assembly, and more specifically from the foam compensator slot 57, the thumb of the hand holding the nozzle handle is placed over the bleed port 47. This causes pressure to rise in the line 46 and this pressure, operating on the pilot for valve 44, will eventually rise to the point where it opens the valve 44. At the same time, this pressure applied to the operator 68 for the switch 69 will open the switch. Opening of switch 69 turns off the vacuum cleaner while opening the valve 44 admits foam to the compensator chamber 56, and thence out the slot 57. The distributor flange 61 controls the dispensed foam to urge it toward the brush 19 and thus avoid its mere piling up in front of the nozzle assembly. Therefore, as the unit is pushed back and forth across the surface to be cleaned, there is always foam being applied to the brush, so long as the port 47 is sufficiently closed to maintain sufficient pressure to keep the foam control valve open. Once the thumb is removed, bleeding of air can resume, whereupon the foam control valve will close and the vacuum cleaner motor switch will also close to reinstate operation of the vacuum cleaner.

The various flow control valves 24, 36, 39 and 66, mentioned above, are manually operable to provide the desired rates of flow for proper mixing of liquid from the soap tank and air from the compressor, and to control the flow from the foam generator to the nozzle while the valve 44 is open, and also to control the rate of air flow from the compressor to the bleed port so as to determine the amount of restriction needed to raise the pressure sufficiently to open the valve 44 and open the vacuum cleaner motor switch 69. For example, the greater the air flow to the bleed port, the quicker will be the activation of the foam valve 44 and opening of the motor switch 69 when the bleed port is closed.

Typically the slot 57 in the bottom of the foam flow compensator is approximately equal to the length of the brush in order to better distribute the foam evenly over the brush. The cavity acts as a surge control for the foam line and thus serves as a flow compensator.

It can readily be recognized that the present invention is very well suited to employment both for commercial and non-commercial work in a variety of environments. It is useful in homes, offices, automobiles and wherever a vacuum cleaner with cleaning fluid dispensing would be helpful. It is also useful where dirt removal by an air blast rather than vacuum would be helpful, as it will be seen that some of my claims are not limited to the use of vacuum. A particular advantage of the construction described thus far is the elimination of any electrical components from the housing to the applicator member. This can be a considerable advantage in terms of safety.

My invention readily lends itself to employment in establishments such as "do-it-yourself" car wash operations. It can be used in a "vacuum-only" or in a "vacuum-shampoo" mode. For this purpose, the electrical arrangement of FIG. 5 is particularly useful, as it lends itself to coin operation in response to mode selection in accordance with the monetary value of the coin employed.

In FIG. 5, components which are the same as in FIG. 2 are provided with the same reference numerals. Instead of the single toggle switch to energize both the vacuum cleaner motor and compressor motor, FIG. 5 shows a normally open switch 91 and another normally open switch 92, each of these switches being of the air-actuated type. There is also shown a relay 93 having an operating coil 94 connected in parallel with the terminals of the compressor motor so that, whenever the compressor motor is energized, so is the operating coil for the relay. The bridging contactor 96 of the relay is normally separated from the stationary contactors which are connected across the terminals of switch 91.

For operation of the vacuum cleaner motor only, switch 91 is closed. Energy is thereby provided from line plug 71, through conductor 74, switch 91, and conductor 102 and the normally closed contacts of switch 69 to the vacuum cleaner motor, the other terminal of which is connected to the ground line 73.

For activation of both the compressor motor and the vacuum cleaner motor, to enable not only the vacuum cleaning operation but also generation and dispensing of foam when desired, switch 92 must be closed. When this occurs, electrical energy from the line plug 71 through conductor 74 and switch 92 is applied through conductor 97 to the one terminal of the compressor motor, the other terminal of which is returned through conductor 73. As the compressor motor is energized, so is the relay operating coil which thereby bridges the contacts thereof and connects electrical energy from conductor 74 through the bridging contact of the relay and thence to conductor 92 through switch 69 to the vacuum cleaner motor. Where the switches 91 and 92 are air-actuated, switch 91 can be closed by application of air through the actuator thereof in response to insertion of a dime, for example, in a coin meter which responds thereto to provide a pressure output to switch 91. Actuation of switch 92 could be employed with a similar coin meter accepting a quarter. This is just an example.

Typically in the employment of coin operation, some timing means are used to limit the duration of operation of the equipment. Where air operated coin metering is employed as suggested above, appropriate bleed or other means can be employed to limit the duration of application of air to the actuators for switches 91 and 92. Various mechanical or electrical coin metering can also be employed to operate switches such as 91 and 92 in lieu of the air actuation therefor.

It is conceivable that, in some instances one might wish to dispense with the vacuum bleed control of foam dispensing, and substitute a pressure control system. For this purpose and referring to FIG. 6, the changes are limited to portions of the diagram appearing to the right of the dashed line 105 in FIG. 2. In this instance, it will be apparent that the pressure line 41 from the compressor 52 is omitted as is the valve 44. A "T" fitting 106 is employed on the foam line 49 and connected to the actuator 68. In this instance, the switch 69A is a normally open switch which is closed upon pressure rise. The bleed line 46 of FIG. 2 is omitted as is the bleed port 47, but a manual control valve having an operating button 107 is employed in the foam supply line through the nozzle. This valve 107 is operable to open or close the line conveying the foam to the compensating chamber 56.

In the operation of this (direct manual control of foam) embodiment, foam generation is the same as previously described. However, the full pressure is always available in the line 49 to the foam control valve 107 in the nozzle assembly. As long as this valve is closed, full pressure will exist and be applied to the actuator for switch 69A. Therefore, while foam is shut off from being dispensed, the vacuum cleaner motor can be energized whenever the toggle switch 72 is closed. When the button 107 is pressed to open the foam line to the foam flow compensator, the pressure falls in line 49 in an amount determined to a large extent by the setting of the flow control 66 as well as the flow control 36 and 39 (FIG. 2), and releases pressure from the actuator 68 on switch 69A, whereupon the switch 69A opens and the vacuum cleaner motor stops.

FIG. 7 shows another possible modification. In this embodiment, an electric switch of the normally closed type 112 is provided at the nozzle, instead of the bleed port of FIG. 2. Thus the bleed line 46 is omitted from FIG. 7 as is the pressure line 41 and the air controlled two-way valve 44 of FIG. 2. Instead a solenoid operated two-way valve 113 is provided from the foam flow controller 66 to the foam line 49. This valve is normally closed to preclude flow of foam to the nozzle assembly. Instead of the air-actuated switch for the vacuum cleaner motor, the switch 112 controls it and whenever the switch 112 is closed in its normally closed condition and the master toggle switch 72 is closed, the vacuum cleaner motor is energized, as is the solenoid on valve 113, keeping this valve closed. Whenever the push button 114 for switch 112 is pushed, thus opening the switch, the vacuum cleaner motor is de-energized and the solenoid is de-energized permitting valve 113 to open and admitting foam through line 49 to the nozzle assembly.

Either the pressure system described with reference to FIG. 6 or the electrical system described with reference to FIG. 7 for controlling the dispensing of foam at the nozzle assembly, can be adapted to the optional type of control discussed above with reference to FIG. 5. Also it should be understood that the present invention employs, to a very large extent, components which are readily available and, in many instances, off-the-shelf items.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail in the drawings and foregoing description, they are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, as other modifications may readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art and within the broad scope of the invention.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A cleaner apparatus comprising:

an applicator,

a first fluid mover coupled to said applicator and establishing a flow of a first fluid through said applicator;

a first source of a second fluid, said first source being coupled to said applicator;

control means including a valve coupled between said source and a portion of said applicator and operable to admit and terminate flow of said second fluid to a discharge point in said applicator;

and said control means further including means to terminate flow of said first fluid through said applicator during admission of said second fluid to said applicator;

a second source of fluid;

a bleed outlet on said applicator;

said valve having an operator coupled to a passageway from said second source to said bleed outlet and operable, by pressure rise in said passageway upon restriction of said bleed outlet, to admit flow of said second fluid to said applicator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to terminate include:

switch means having an operator coupled to said passageway and operable by pressure rise in said passageway upon restriction of said bleed outlet, to terminate operation of said first mover.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

said first fluid mover is a motor driven vacuum generator;

said first source of second fluid is a reservoir containing a cleaning liquid; and

said second source of fluid is an air compressor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

said reservoir is coupled to said compressor and pressurized thereby to force said cleaning fluid toward said valve.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 and further comprising:

foam generator means coupled between said reservoir and said valve, said generator means having an input from said compressor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said foam generator means include:

first and second generally parallel elongated chambers receiving compressed air from said compressor and pressurized thereby;

a third elongated chamber receiving said cleaning liquid from said reservoir;

a plurality of distributor passages providing communication between said first, second and third chambers for mixing of compressed air with said cleaning liquid to generate foam; and

an outlet from said third chamber and coupled to said valve to deliver foam to said valve.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 and further comprising:

an elongated fitting coupled to said generator means and extending into said third chamber,

said fitting having a plurality of small apertures spaced along the length thereof and introducing said cleaning liquid from said reservoir to said chamber.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 and further comprising:

flow control means coupled between said foam generator means and said reservoir, and said compressor, and said valve.