U.S. patent number 3,774,262 [Application Number 05/216,614] was granted by the patent office on 1973-11-27 for portable vacuum carpet and upholstery cleaning apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Carpetech Corp.. Invention is credited to Peter C. Anthony, James G. Colt, Solon Fournarakis.
United States Patent |
3,774,262 |
Anthony , et al. |
November 27, 1973 |
PORTABLE VACUUM CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY CLEANING APPARATUS
Abstract
Apparatus for cleaning carpets, upholstery and the like
comprising a separate reservoir system for supplying under pressure
to a remote cleaning head a heated cleaning solution and a separate
vacuum pick-up system for picking up via the cleaning head and
storing cleaning solution applied to a carpet or the like. The
reservoir system includes means to continuously heat the cleaning
solution in the reservoir and a fluid pump and an air pump driven
by an electric motor. The vacuum system includes a vacuum pump
which is driven by a second electric motor on an electrical circuit
separate and distinct from that of the motor in the reservoir
system. Both motors are of a size and design that they may be
separately started up and operated at full load on separate
residential electrical circuits without blowing the fuses for these
circuits. The vacuum system may also include means for directing
the heated air exhausted from the vacuum pump onto the material
being cleaned to facilitate drying.
Inventors: |
Anthony; Peter C. (Waltham,
MA), Colt; James G. (Belmont, MA), Fournarakis; Solon
(Waltham, MA) |
Assignee: |
Carpetech Corp. (Everett,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
26699861 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/216,614 |
Filed: |
January 10, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
25521 |
Apr 3, 1970 |
3603984 |
May 23, 1972 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/322;
15/345 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L
11/4044 (20130101); A47L 11/34 (20130101); A47L
11/4088 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
11/00 (20060101); A47L 11/34 (20060101); A47l
007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/321,322,345,346,320 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hornsby; Harvey C.
Assistant Examiner: Moore; C. K.
Parent Case Text
This is a division of application Ser. No. 25,521 filed Apr. 3,
1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,663,984.
Claims
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and
desired to protect as Letters Patent is:
1. In a cleaning head for use with ancillary equipment including a
vacuum source, a source of liquid under pressure, and a source of
air under pressure, the combination comprising:
a. means defining a suction chamber having a suction port adapted
to be coupled to said vacuum source and an elongated narrow suction
nozzle adapted to be maintained in contact with a surface of a
material to be cleaned;
b. cleaning fluid dispensing means including a plurality of first
outlet nozzles disposed in spaced relation to said suction chamber,
said first outlet nozzles being adapted to discharge cleaning fluid
to impinge on said surface in at least a first elongated narrow
region adjacent said suction nozzle, said cleaning fluid dispensing
means further including first and second manifolds spaced one from
another, each said manifold having a plurality of first outlet
nozzles, the outlet nozzles of each said manifold being arranged
and adapted to discharge cleaning fluid to impinge on said surface
in elongated narrow regions substantially spaced one from another;
and
c. air dispensing means including a plurality of second outlet
nozzles disposed in spaced relation to said fluid dispensing means,
said second outlet nozzles being adapted to discharge air to
impinge on said surface adjacent said first region and said air
dispensing means includes a third manifold, said second outlet
nozzles being carried on said third manifold, and said third
manifold being disposed intermediate said first and second
manifolds.
2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of
said first and second manifolds is adjustably supported whereby the
direction of impingement of said cleaning fluid on said surface may
be varied.
3. In a cleaning head for use with ancillary equipment including a
vacuum source, a source of liquid under pressure, and a source of
air under pressure, the combination comprising:
a. means defining a suction chamber having a suction port adapted
to be coupled to said vacuum source and an elongated narrow suction
nozzle adapted to be maintained in contact with a surface of a
material to be cleaned;
b. cleaning fluid dispensing means including a plurality of first
outlet nozzles disposed in spaced relation to said suction chamber,
sid first outlet nozzles being adapted to discharge cleaning fluid
to impinge on said surface in at least a first elongated narrow
region adjacent said suction nozzle; and
c. air dispensing means including a plurality of second outlet
nozzles disposed in spaced relation to said fluid dispensing means,
said second outlet nozzles being adapted to discharge air to
impinge on said surface adjacent said first region, at least one of
said first and second manifolds being adjustably supported whereby
the direction of impingement of said cleaning fluid on said surface
may be varied.
4. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said air
dispensing means is movably supported whereby the direction of
impingement of said air on said surface is substantially freely
variable as said cleaning head is moved along said surface.
Description
The present invention relates to carpet and upholstery cleaning
apparatus, and more particularly to such apparatus for supplying a
heated cleaning solution to a cleaning head for application to a
carpet or the like and providing vacuum pick-up means to withdraw
from the carpet the cleaning fluid and entrained dirt.
In the cleaning of carpet and upholstery, it has been found
effective to discharge a jet of pressurized cleaning solution into
the pile, nap, or weave of the fabric to be cleaned, and to
thereafter apply suction to the fabric to withdraw the used
cleaning solution from the fabric together with the dirt loosened
and entrained in the cleaning solution.
Cleaning apparatus of the type referred to above may comprise, for
example, a liquid tank and vacuum tank mounted on a base structure
housing a drive motor and its associated components. The motor
drives a suction blower, the intake side of which is coupled to the
interior of the vacuum tank while the discharge side of the vacuum
blower discharges to the atmosphere either directly or through a
muffler. A liquid pump also driven by the aforementioned motor is
connected to draw liquid from the liquid tank and feed the liquid
under pressure to heating means which is then discharged through a
hose and control valve to a spray or cleaning head attached to
discharge the heated liquid onto the material being cleaned.
Other cleaning devices particularly devoted to commercial cleaning
fields have been provided which include fluid distribution means
and a vacuum means for picking up fluid and loosened material from
surfaces after the surface has been scrubbed by brushes or the
like. Still other devices have been provided which include means
for high pressure fluid distribution and vacuum pick-up means for
receiving the fluid delivered to the surface to be cleaned. The
picked-up fluid may or may not be returned for recirculation. These
devices operate on the principle that the high pressure fluid
delivery serves as the cleaning and scrubbing element thereby
eliminating the use of brushes or other scrubbing devices.
It is therefor an object of the invention to provide improved and
simplified two-tank cleaning apparatus.
Another object of the invention is to provide improved and
simplified two-tank cleaning apparatus designed to deliver a heated
cleaning solution under pressure to a surface to be cleaned and to
recover the solution through the use of a vacuum system.
A further object of the invention is the provision of improved and
simplified two-tank cleaning apparatus comprising a portable
reservoir tank system separate from a portable vacuum pick-up
system.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of
cleaning apparatus comprising a reservoir system driven by an
electric motor and a separate vacuum pick-up system driven by a
second electric motor wherein the electric motors are connected to
and operate from separately fused conventional electric
circuits.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of
improved and simplified two-tank cleaning apparatus comprising a
portable reservoir tank system separate from a portable vacuum
pick-up system wherein cleaning solution in the reservoir system
may be continuously circulated through heater means when not
directed to a material or surface being cleaned.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and
simplified mechanism for supplying a cleaning solution under
pressure to one hose line for connection to one chamber of a
two-chamber carpet and upholstery cleaning nozzle, suction means
for connection to a vacuum hose line to be connected to the other
chamber of the cleaning nozzle, and means to discharge jets of high
pressure air adjacent the point at which the cleaning solution is
discharged from the cleaning nozzle to facilitate loosening of dirt
and the like from the surface of the material being cleaned and
produce suspension of the dirt in the cleaning solution discharged
from the cleaning nozzle.
The novel features that are considered characteristic of the
invention are set forth in the appended claims; the invention
itself, however, both as to its organization and method of
operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof,
will best be understood from the following description of a
specific embodiment, when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the reservoir system;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the vacuum pick-up system;
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the floor tool assembly;
FIG. 4 is a side view partly in section of the floor tool assembly
including hot air discharge apparatus; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cleaning head together with the
reservoir and vacuum pick-up systems.
Directing attention now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is shown the
reservoir system designated generally by the numeral 10. The
reservoir system is supported by an acoustically insulated base
housing 11 (see FIG. 5), the reservoir or solution tank 12 being
removably attached as by hooks or the like (not shown) to the upper
surface of the housing 11 and the balance of the reservoir system
more fully described hereinafter being contained in conventional
manner within the base housing 11.
At the base of the reservoir tank are provided two connections 13
and 14 preferably of the conventional "quick disconnect" type so
that the reservoir tank can be simply, quickly, and without loss of
fluid, removed from the base housing while still containing a
liquid or cleaning solution. Disposed within and supported by the
base housing is an electric drive motor 15 of such power rating and
speed more fully described hereinafter coupled, for example, in
conventional driving relationship via pulleys to a solution or
liquid pump 16 and an air pump 17. While the electric drive motor
must meet certain power requirements set forth below, the specific
type of liquid pump or air pump employed is not material to the
invention, and since several well-known types are suitable for the
purpose, the details thereof are not illustrated or described
herein. As and for the purposes more fully set forth hereinafter,
the drive motor 15 must be of a type and capacity that with the
current drawn by the heater means, is incapable of drawing
sufficient current under substantially full load during start up
and operation to blow a fuse in conventional residential and
industrial circuits, all of which must be fused at fifteen amperes
in accordance with the National Electrical Code.
The inlet or low pressure side of the liquid pump 16 is connected
by a conventional pipe or liquid supply line 19, a pressure
sensitive switch 25, and a flexible hose 26 to the quick disconnect
connection 13.
The inlet and outlet sides of the liquid pump are coupled through
conventional by-pass means including pipes 27 and 28 and a pressure
regulator 29 for maintaining a predetermined pressure at the outlet
of the liquid pump. The liquid pump may be of a conventional type
as noted above and typically should be capable of providing an
outlet pressure of about 100 psi at flow rates of about 2 gallons
per minute. The pressure regulator 29 which also is of the
conventional type preferrably is adjustable to permit adjustment of
the output pressure of the solution pump. The outlet of the liquid
pump 16 communicates through pipe 31 and a one-way check valve 32
with the lower end of a conventional electric type heater means 33
for increasing or raising the temperature of the cleaning fluid to
a suitable temperature to provide at its outlet fluid at a
temperature of, for example, about 160.degree. F. A suitable heater
may be, for example, a "Chromalox", Model No. B, manufactured by
the Edwin L. Wiegand Company which includes adjustable thermostat
means 33a to limit the maximum temperature of the liquid heated by
the heater.
The outlet side of the heater 33 communicates through one port of a
T-connection via pipe 34, flexible hose 30, a pressure regulator
35, and connection 14 with the interior of the reservoir tank 12.
Through the other port of the T-connection, the outlet of the
heater also communicates via pipe 36, filter 37, adjustable flow
pressure valve 38, pressure gauge 39 and a quick disconnect
connection 41 with an insulated and flexible high temperature fluid
hose 42, the remote end of which hose communicates with the
cleaning head more fully described hereinafter. As will now be
apparent, heated fluid may flow from the heater 33 in one of two
directions, the first of which is through pressure regulator 35 and
back into the reservoir tank and the second of which is via pipe 36
and flexible hose 42 to the cleaning head. Pressure regulator 35 is
adjusted to open and permit heated fluid to pass there through when
the pressure in line 34 is slightly less than the pressure at which
regulator 29 in the liquid pump by-pass circuit is set.
It is an important feature of the invention that when the control
valve in the cleaning head is in its normally closed position,
thereby preventing the discharge of cleaning fluid (or flexible
hose 42 is disconnected thereby closing line 36 at connection 41),
cleaning fluid in the reservoir tank will be continuously supplied
to the heater 33, heated, and then circulated back into the
reservoir tank 12. The adjustable flow pressure valve 38, pressure
gauge 39, and one-half of connection 41 are mounted in the base
housing 11. The quick disconnect connection 41 is, of course, poled
such that the high temperature fluid line 36 is closed when the
flexible hose 42 to the cleaning head is disconnected.
When the high temperature fluid line 36 is coupled to the cleaning
head via hose 42 and the control valve at the cleaning head is
opened, the heated fluid which previously was flowing back into the
reservoir tank via pressure regulator 35 now flows through the high
temperature flexible hose 42 and is discharged at the cleaning head
because the pressure on the heater outlet side of pressure
regulator 35 drops below the critical pressure at which it is set
and, accordingly, pressure regulator 35 closes. Upon closure of
regulator 35, the heated fluid is directed to the cleaning head.
When the control valve on the cleaning head is closed or hose 42 is
disconnected, the pressure on the heater side of pressure regulator
35 increases to substantially that of regulator 29, thereby causing
pressure regulator 35 to exceed its critical pressure and, hence,
open and permit heated cleaning fluid to again be circulated back
to the reservoir tank. As will now be obvious in accordance with
the invention, there is a continuous flow of fluid from the
reservoir tank to the heater and thence back to the reservoir tank
except when fluid is permitted to be discharged at the cleaning
head. This permits the solution in the tank to be continuously
increased toward and/or maintained at the maximum desired operating
temperature thereby allowing maximum cleaning capability to be
effected by the cleaning solution.
Air pump 17 is driven via a pulley by the electric motor 15. The
air pump which may be a conventional air compressor pump
preferrably provides about 10 pounds per square inch pressure at
its outlet at a flow rate of about 3 cubic feet a minute. The
outlet or high pressure side of the air pump communicates through
pipe 43 and quick disconnect type connection 44 with a flexible air
hose 45, the remote end of which is coupled to the cleaning head as
and for the purposes more fully described hereinafter.
Directing attention now to FIG. 2 there is shown the vacuum tank
pick-up system generally designated by the number 55 comprising a
vacuum tank 56 removably supported as by hooks (not shown) on a
second base housing 57 separate from housing 11, a second drive
motor 58, and a suction blower 59. The drive motor 58 is drivingly
connected as by a pulley-belt system to the suction blower 59. The
suction blower may be of the positive displacement type. The
specific type of suction blower employed is not material to the
invention, and since several well-known types are suitable for the
purpose, the details thereof are not illustrated or described
herein. The outlet or high pressure side of the suction blower 59
communicates through a pipe 61 with one end of a silencer 62 which
may be a small conventional muffler of the type used to muffle the
exhaust noise of internal combustion engines and the like. The
silencer 62 is preferrably supported within the base housing as by
support brackets or the like.
A suction type flexible hose 60 is connected to the inlet or low
pressure side of the suction blower 59 and extends upwardly through
a hole in the base housing 57. The upper end of the flexible hose
60 is removably fitted onto the lower end of a suction tube 63
incorporated axially in the vacuum tank 56. The flexible hose 60
preferrably is of the annularly corrugated, axially resiliently
extensible type to permit it to be easily connected and
disconnected from the axial tube 63 of the vacuum tank 56.
The base housings 11 and 57 may be of sheet metal, cylindrical,
mounted on casters, and of a size to receive the components as
described hereinbefore.
The vacuum tank is of the same size and generally of the same
structure as the reservoir tank. Each may comprise a conventional
domed bottom, sealed into the lower end of a conical wall having a
radially inwardly extending shoulder. While the upper end of the
reservoir tank is open, that of the vacuum tank is closed, and has
a suction relief valve 64 mounted thereon. The suction relief valve
64 is so adjusted that when the pressure within the vacuum tank
drops below a pre-set minimum of the relief valve, the latter will
open to permit atmospheric air to bleed in and thus limit the
vacuum in the tank to the desired level. A conventional vacuum
gauge 65 is mounted on the vacuum tank to indicate the degree of
vacuum therein. Also mounted on the vacuum tank is a soiled water
level control switch 66. Switch 66 is connected in series via
conductor 67 with the drive motor 58 to shut the motor off when the
liquid level in the vacuum tank approaches the top thereof. Also
provided adjacent the top of the vacuum tank is a suction inlet 68
for communicating the vacuum hose 69 with the interior of the
vacuum tank. The remote end of the vacuum hose 69 is coupled to the
cleaning head as and for the purposes more fully described
hereinafter. A drain valve 71 is also provided at a low point in
the vacuum tank for draining soiled cleaning solution therefrom. An
extension cord 72 is provided for connection to a suitable source
of electric power for operating the motor 58. Similarly, an
extension cord 73 is provided for connecting drive motor 15 of the
reservoir system to a suitable but separately fused source of
electric current. Pressure switch 25 is connected in series with
electric motor 15 via conductors 74. Pressure switch 25 in the
reservoir system is effective to shut off motor 15 when the
pressure, and, hence, the fluid level in reservoir tank 12 reaches
a suitable predetermined low value.
Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 4, 5, a cleaning head in accordance
with the invention indicated generally by the numeral 81 includes a
floor tool head assembly 82 and a handle assembly 83. Referring
particularly now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the floor tool head assembly
includes a pick-up nozzle unit 84 to the opposite ends of which are
secured outwardly extending members or brackets 85 and 86. A split
roller 87 is rotatable on a shaft 88 which may include adjustable
securing means (not shown) at the outer ends of brackets 85 and 86.
The adjustment means are preferably constructed and arranged in
conventional manner so that when the split roller 87 is in contact
with the surface of the carpet or the like being cleaned, the
nozzle unit 84 assumes the position indicated in FIG. 4, i,e., the
open end of the nozzle unit is parallel and in contact with the
surface 91 being cleaned.
The nozzle unit 84 is generally hollow having converging front and
rear walls 92 and 93 and side walls 94 and 95 defining a suction
chamber 96 having an elongated narrow suction opening 97. In the
working position shown in FIG. 4, the nozzle opening 97 of the
nozzle unit is maintained in contact with an upper surface 91 of,
for example, a carpet being cleaned. Cleaning fluid dispensing
means including first and second tubes or manifolds 101 and 102
spaced one from another are adjustably secured by means 103 and 104
at about the inner and outer ends of the brackets 85 and 86. The
tubes 101 and 102 each have a plurality of adjustable jet outlet
nozzles 105, each having openings 106. The jet outlet nozzles of
each tube are preferably uniformly spaced from one another on a
common axis. The slots 107 of the nozzles are however, canted
slightly such that the edges of the fan shaped spray from the
nozzles overlap but do not interfere one with another. This is
effective in preventing what is commonly referred to as streak
lines in a carpet.
Each of the jet outlet nozzles 105 may be of conventional
configuration whereby various arrangements of spray distribution
may be provided. The tubes 101 and 102 are each rotatably adjusted
about their longitudinal axis to permit adjustment of the direction
in which fluid is discharged from each tube onto the surface being
cleaned. The nozzles of tube 101 closest the pick-up nozzle unit 84
is preferably oriented to direct the spray discharge to impinge the
surface being cleaned in the direction of the pick-up nozzle unit
at an acute angle, suitable 20.degree. to 40.degree.. The second
tube 102 is similarly oriented but at an acute angle away from the
pick-up nozzle of, suitably 20.degree. to 40.degree.. The provision
of a spray discharge directed both in a forwardly and rearwardly
direction in accordance with the invention results in both of the
sides of the fibers comprising the nap of the carpet, for example,
receiving the spray discharge. As a result a more effective
cleaning operation is provided. Further, the spray discharge from
each tube tends to further loosen, dislodge and especially lift to
the top of the nap the imbedded dirt loosened and dislodged by the
other tube. Still further, the two solution manifolds provide in a
single pass multiple agitation of the carpet fiber without
necessitating a second pass and superfluous undesirable wetting of
the carpet fiber.
The tubes 101 and 102 each have an inlet port to accept a hose 108
connecting the said tubes to the high temperature cleaning fluid
hose 42.
Disposed between the tubes 101 and 102 of the cleaning fluid
dispensing means is a third tube 109 having a plurality of jet
outlet nozzles 115 arranged and adapted substantially as described
in connection with the fluid cleaning dispensing means tubes 101
and 102. Tube 109 is adjustably secured by suspension means 116 at
the middle portions of brackets 85 and 86. Suspension means 116 are
preferably arranged and adapted to permit, within limits,
substantially free rotational movement of tube 109 substantially
about its longitudinal axis whereby its jet outlet nozzles may
substantially freely move or oscillate forwardly and rearwardly of
a plane normal to the surface being cleaned.
Tube 109 has an inlet port to accept hose 45 connecting the said
inlet port to the air pump 17. The provision of tube 109
intermediate tubes 101 and 102 is particularly advantageous in
facilitating cleaning of a carpet or the like. In addition to the
action provided by jet outlet nozzles of tubes 101 and 102, the
jets of air from jet outlet nozzles 115 of tube or air manifold 109
creates both turbulance and vibration of the nap which further
loosens, dislodges, and lifts to the top of the nap imbedded dirt
and soil. The air to tube or air manifold 109 is preferably
supplied from pump 17 at a pressure sufficient to produce
substantial agitation. The exact pressure and velocity will, of
course, depend on the size of tube 109 and the size and number of
the jet outlet nozzles 115.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the floor tool head assembly
82 and a handle assembly 83, the floor tool assembly and handle
assembly being shown in working position operatively connected to
the reservoir tank system 10 and the vacuum tank pick-up system 55.
The handle assembly 83 has spaced side members 121 and 122
rotatably mounted as seen at 123 and 124 (see FIG. 3), at the
outermost ends of the brackets 85 and 86. Known means can be
provided selectively to lock the handle at one of several alternate
positions. The vacuum hose 69 is shown extending from the handle
assembly 83 to the vacuum pick-up system 55. The fluid supply hose
42 extends from the reservoir tank system 10, a normally closed
fluid control valve 125 being provided to control the flow of
fluid. Further shown is the air pressure hose 45 extending from the
reservoir tank system 10 to tube 109. The control valve 125 is
placed in a position so as to be in convenient reach of a hand of
an operator.
The operation of the illustrative form of the invention is as
follows:
With the reservoir tank and vacuum tank pick-up systems assembled
and the cleaning head operatively connected, the extension cords 72
and 73 are connected to suitable but separate sources of electric
current each separately fused for 15 amperes. A supply of cleaning
solution such as, for example, water with suitable cleaning and/or
solvent material in solution therein, is poured into the open top
of the reservoir tank 12, the amount and type of solution used
being determined by the nature of the cleaning job to be performed.
With the drain valve 71 of the vacuum tank 56 closed, and the
suction relief valve 64 and the pressure regulator valves 29 and 35
set to the desired settings, the necessary switches 127 and 128 are
closed to energize the separate drive motors 15 and 58 and the
heating element of the heating means 33. With the reservoir system
drive motor 15 and the heater 33 operating, the liquid in the
reservoir tank is continuously being heated and the suction blower
59 immediately reduces the pressure within the vacuum pick-up tank
56 which causes a partial vacuum in the suction hose 69. Control
valve 125 being open, the size of the suction nozzle 97 is such as
to limit the flow of atmospheric air there through below the
capacity of the suction blower 59, so that were it not for the
vacuum relief valve 64, the vacuum in the hose 69 would be greater
than desirable. Accordingly, a suitable setting of the vacuum
relief valve 64 is such as to maintain the vacuum in the tank 56 at
a suitable level below ambient atmospheric pressure. With the
system thus operating and after a few moments have been allowed to
permit the heating of the liquid in the heater 33, the control
valve 125 at the cleaning head may be opened to permit the
discharge of cleaning fluid via nozzles 105 on to the surface to be
cleaned.
The suction nozzle 97 is drawn in successive strokes across the
material to be cleaned in the direction of the tubular nozzle
handles 121 and 122, while at the same time operating the control
valve 125 as required to direct two fan-shaped streams of heated
cleaning fluid from the jet outlet nozzles in the cleaning fluid
dispensing means on the material being cleaned. Simultaneously with
the discharge of cleaning fluid, high pressure fan-shaped jets of
air from the jet outlet nozzles 115 of the air dispensing means is
also discharged on to the material being cleaned in a region
between the jets of cleaning fluid. The dirt from the material
being cleaned, loosened and dislodged both by the action of the
jets of cleaning fluid and the jets of air together with the
cleaning solution used, and atmospheric air drawn through such
material, are all sucked into the cleaning fluid pick-up chamber 96
of the nozzle and passes thence through the vacuum hose 69 and
discharged in the vacuum tank 56 through the suction inlet tube
68.
The soiled cleaning fluid is discharged through the vacuum inlet
tube 68 into the vacuum tank 56 in conventional manner to prevent
the flow of said cleaning fluid thereof through the suction blower.
At desired intervals, the collected cleaning fluid may be withdrawn
from the vacuum tank 56 by opening the drain valve 71.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the air
exhausted from the silencer 62 may be utilized to facilitate drying
of the material being cleaned. Typically, air is exhausted from the
noise silencer or muffler 62 at a high flow rate and elevated
temperature. This heated air is utilized in accordance with the
invention to facilitate drying of a carpet or the like by directing
it via a hose 131 coupling the outlet end of the muffler 62 to an
air discharge chamber 132 carried by the floor tool head assembly
in such a manner that the air is discharged in close proximity to
the surface of the material being cleaned.
The invention provides a simple and highly effective apparatus for
supplying high pressure, high temperature cleaning fluid and vacuum
to a single cleaning head for use in cleaning carpets, upholstery,
and other materials. Apparatus in accordance with the invention is
compact, simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and very
effective and inexpensive to operate. It requires to separately
fused sources of electric current for its operation; it permits
continuous heating of the cleaning solution; it utilizes jets of
air to increase the cleaning action of the cleaning solution; it
reduces the necessity of the handling of cleaning solution; and
reduces the noise level inherent with the use of the system in
addition to permitting use of conventionally fused electric housing
circuits without blowing the fuses by the provision of a portable
reservoir tank system separate from a portable vacuum pick-up
system. It further utilizes the hot air exhaust to facilitate
drying.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated
and described, it will be understood, however, that various changes
and modifications may be made in the details thereof without
departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the
appended claims.
* * * * *