CA1109612A - Apparatus for cleaning floors, carpets and the like - Google Patents
Apparatus for cleaning floors, carpets and the likeInfo
- Publication number
- CA1109612A CA1109612A CA315,791A CA315791A CA1109612A CA 1109612 A CA1109612 A CA 1109612A CA 315791 A CA315791 A CA 315791A CA 1109612 A CA1109612 A CA 1109612A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- suction
- container
- liquid
- cleaning apparatus
- inlet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/4013—Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
- A47L11/4016—Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like specially adapted for collecting fluids
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/34—Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
Landscapes
- Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
- Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
- Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
- Cleaning In General (AREA)
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
Suction cleaning apparatus comprises a container adapted for the collection of a liquid having an inlet for connection with a suction head adapted for picking up liquid and a suction inlet for connection to a source of suction, air flow through the container between the two inlets being constrained by a downwardly widening funnel which extends from said suction inlet into the interior of the container with a perforate screen across the wider end of the funnel. Generally vertical vanes may be provided within the interior of the funnel together with a float valve. Preferably, the funnel forms part of an annular reservoir for a cleaning liquid and the apparatus incorporates means for delivering such liquid to the suction head.
Suction cleaning apparatus comprises a container adapted for the collection of a liquid having an inlet for connection with a suction head adapted for picking up liquid and a suction inlet for connection to a source of suction, air flow through the container between the two inlets being constrained by a downwardly widening funnel which extends from said suction inlet into the interior of the container with a perforate screen across the wider end of the funnel. Generally vertical vanes may be provided within the interior of the funnel together with a float valve. Preferably, the funnel forms part of an annular reservoir for a cleaning liquid and the apparatus incorporates means for delivering such liquid to the suction head.
Description
6~2 This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning floors, walls, carpets, curtains, upholstery and the like.
Whilst the invention has been developed in connection with a dual purpose suction cleaning apparatus suitable both for dry suction cleaning and water extraction cleaning, the present invention is specifically concerned . with an improved arrangement for the collection of liquid as in a water extraction cleaning process. -According to the present invention we provide . suction cleaning apparatus comprising a container adapted ~ for the collection of a liquid and having a lateral inlet : for connection with a suction head adapted for picking up liquid and a central suction inlet which communicates with a source of suction, a downwardly widening cone-shaped funnel extending down from said suction inlet and into the interior of the container and arranged with its lower edge at a level substantially below the upper edge of the container and spaced above the bottom of the con-,~, , ~ ,.
, : . : ' : . ' . ' ' . ' !: ' , ' :
t ' :' : . .. ' ' :- ~:
: ' : i: ': ': : . '':,, ': .:,- , '' . : ' 3 ~ 2 ~.
tainer, and a plurality of substantial vertical, ~`-generally radial vanes provided within the interior of the cone.
These and other features of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:-FIGURE 1 shows a preferred embodiment of suction cleaning apparatus in front view and with a removable clean water reservoir in position;
FIGURE 2 shows a transverse section on the line A-A of Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 shows a horizontal section on the line C-C of Figure 2.
..
;, -.. : : - . : : .... ..
~ The suction cleaner illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes a circular main container 10 having an open top closed by a top cover assembly 20 with the interposition of either a reservoir 60 if the cl-eaner is to be used for water extraction cleaning, or a dust filter assembly (not shown) if it is to be used for dry suction cleaning. An impeller 27 driven by an electric motor for creating the suction is housed in the top cover assembly 20, together with a valve assembly 40 whereby exhaust air from the impeller is directed to the interior of the reservoir when the latter is in place or alternatively allowed to escape to atmosphere when the reservoir is not ~ -in place.
The main container 10 is formed on its side wall 10_ with a lateral protruberance 11 for the reception of an end fitting (not shown) of a suction hose. The protruberance 11 is formed, for this purpose, with a circular aperture 12, with recesses 13 spaced around its periphery. An opening 14 is formed opposite thereto in the upper portion of the side wall 1Oa of the container 10 so that air, together with any dust or water entrained therein, enters from the hose directly into the interior of the container in a substantially radial direction and, as can be seen, perpendicular to the side wall .
~ The impeller 27 in the top cover assembly 20 has an intake at its underside arranged to draw air from beneath the top cover assembly and exhaust air from the impeller r is directed by the valve assembly 40 either to the external atmosphere or through a central outlet aperture 34 concentric -~
with a ring 35 which defines an air inlet duct for the impeller. :
.
The reservoir 60 includes an outer ring 74 which is interposed between the upper edge of the main container 10 and the lower edge of the top cover assembly~20, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The outer ring 74 has an inwardly directed flange 73 which supports an integral annular trough 62 which is defined by an outer annular wall 63 and a downwardly inclining frusto-conical inner wall or cone 64. As can be seen in Figure 2, the lower edge of the cone 64 is disposed at a level substantially below the upper edge of the container 10 and spaced above the bottom of the container. The cone 64 supports a boss 65 which co-acts with the valve assembly 40 so as automatically to direct exhaust air from the impeller 27 into the interior of the reservoir through the aperture 34.
In this way, sufficient pressure is generated within the trough 62 to displace cleaning liquid therefrom through a pipe 77 for delivery to a cleaning head (not shown) at which liquid is applied to a carpet or other like floor covering or other material which is to be cleaned.
; The boss 65 also defines a central opening which serves to place the inlet of the impeller 27 in communication with the - 6 ~ 6~
main container 10 beneath the reservoir 60 and this functions as a suction inlet for the container. In this way, suction is applied to the previously mentioned hose which is connected to the main container 10 by means of the aperture 12 and .
S extends to the cleaning head so as to pick up used cleaning liquid.
To facilitate separation of entrained liquid droplets from the incoming air, the air flow is discharged into an annular space external to said cone. In the embodiment illustrated the air flow is arranged to impinge directly on a flat face 86 afforded by the annular wall 63 of the trough 62 which, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3 is spaced inwardly from the outer wall 10a of the container. In this way, the incoming air tends to spread out in all directions and the sudden change in direction of flow when the air impinges on the flat face 86 assists in separation of the liquid droplets which collect on the outer face of the annular wall 63 and drain down so as to collect on a flange 79 formed at the underside of the trough 62, which is spaced above the bottom of the container 10, so that the liquid thén drips into the body of the main container 10.
The arrangement whereby the incoming air from the suction hose enters the main container 10 substantially radially and flows in opposite directions around the annular wall 63 of the trough 62 serves largely to prevent a swirling action and the establishment of a vortex in a ~ '' .~.. ... ...... , ~ . , ,, ~
~ ; , . ~ . . :,: .. : .:.; -:. .
manner which would tend to generate foam on the surface of liquid collected within the container 10.
In order to further reduce the generation of such foam, a liquid filter assembly 80 is positioned beneath the cone 64. A ring 81 is formed with a flange 82 which fits tightly within the flange 79, and a central boss 83 is supported by radial ribs 84 which have a nylon mesh filter 85 moulded integrally. The filter 85 further acts to reduce the risk of a vortex being created as air is sucked up within the cone 64. Additionàlly, the size of the apertures defined by the mesh can be so chosen as to prevent the passage of foam.
For this purpose, the holes defined by the mesh may typically have a maximum dimension of about 0.15 mm and preferably as little as 0.02 mm.
In order to prevent liquid being sucked up into the ir.1peller 27 if the capacity of the main container is exceeded, a shut-off valve 70 is provided. This consists of spherical float 69 confined between three guides 71a which extend vertically downwardly from the centre of the cone 64 and carry a float retaining disc 72 at their lower ends. The boss 65 affords a seating 68 for the float G9.
The guides 71a are formed at the vertical edges of respective triangular vanes 71 which are arranged so as to extend substantially vertically and generally radially within ~ ,"
.
the interior of the cone, as can be seen. Alternatively, since such vanes are of generally triangular shape, their vertical edges may themselves serve as guides for the float 69. Either arrangement as the advantage of further restricting the possibility of the establishmenL of a vortex beneath the cone 64, to such an extent that a filter assembly 80 i~
could be omitted, although it is preferable to retain it because of its function as a screen substantially impervious to the passage of foam.
Although the invention has been described in relation to an appliance in which cleaning liquid is delivered to the cleaning head by pressurisation of the reservoir 60 by means of the exhaust air from the impeller 27, it will be appre-ciated that the invention is applicable to other types of suction cleaning apparatus in which the cleaning liquid is delivered by other methods, for example by means of a suit-able pump, and to suction cleaners which are not adapted themselves to deliver liquid to a cleaning head, but are only intended for picking up a cleaning liquid. In a case where there is no liquid reservoir, or where such reservoir is not disposed within the container, the latter, or the cover member 20, or some other part interposed between the container and the cover member, will then serve to support an annular wall and a cone corresponding to the wall 63 and cone 64 of the trough 62 of the illustrated embodiment.
. , - - . . :
Whilst the invention has been developed in connection with a dual purpose suction cleaning apparatus suitable both for dry suction cleaning and water extraction cleaning, the present invention is specifically concerned . with an improved arrangement for the collection of liquid as in a water extraction cleaning process. -According to the present invention we provide . suction cleaning apparatus comprising a container adapted ~ for the collection of a liquid and having a lateral inlet : for connection with a suction head adapted for picking up liquid and a central suction inlet which communicates with a source of suction, a downwardly widening cone-shaped funnel extending down from said suction inlet and into the interior of the container and arranged with its lower edge at a level substantially below the upper edge of the container and spaced above the bottom of the con-,~, , ~ ,.
, : . : ' : . ' . ' ' . ' !: ' , ' :
t ' :' : . .. ' ' :- ~:
: ' : i: ': ': : . '':,, ': .:,- , '' . : ' 3 ~ 2 ~.
tainer, and a plurality of substantial vertical, ~`-generally radial vanes provided within the interior of the cone.
These and other features of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:-FIGURE 1 shows a preferred embodiment of suction cleaning apparatus in front view and with a removable clean water reservoir in position;
FIGURE 2 shows a transverse section on the line A-A of Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 shows a horizontal section on the line C-C of Figure 2.
..
;, -.. : : - . : : .... ..
~ The suction cleaner illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes a circular main container 10 having an open top closed by a top cover assembly 20 with the interposition of either a reservoir 60 if the cl-eaner is to be used for water extraction cleaning, or a dust filter assembly (not shown) if it is to be used for dry suction cleaning. An impeller 27 driven by an electric motor for creating the suction is housed in the top cover assembly 20, together with a valve assembly 40 whereby exhaust air from the impeller is directed to the interior of the reservoir when the latter is in place or alternatively allowed to escape to atmosphere when the reservoir is not ~ -in place.
The main container 10 is formed on its side wall 10_ with a lateral protruberance 11 for the reception of an end fitting (not shown) of a suction hose. The protruberance 11 is formed, for this purpose, with a circular aperture 12, with recesses 13 spaced around its periphery. An opening 14 is formed opposite thereto in the upper portion of the side wall 1Oa of the container 10 so that air, together with any dust or water entrained therein, enters from the hose directly into the interior of the container in a substantially radial direction and, as can be seen, perpendicular to the side wall .
~ The impeller 27 in the top cover assembly 20 has an intake at its underside arranged to draw air from beneath the top cover assembly and exhaust air from the impeller r is directed by the valve assembly 40 either to the external atmosphere or through a central outlet aperture 34 concentric -~
with a ring 35 which defines an air inlet duct for the impeller. :
.
The reservoir 60 includes an outer ring 74 which is interposed between the upper edge of the main container 10 and the lower edge of the top cover assembly~20, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The outer ring 74 has an inwardly directed flange 73 which supports an integral annular trough 62 which is defined by an outer annular wall 63 and a downwardly inclining frusto-conical inner wall or cone 64. As can be seen in Figure 2, the lower edge of the cone 64 is disposed at a level substantially below the upper edge of the container 10 and spaced above the bottom of the container. The cone 64 supports a boss 65 which co-acts with the valve assembly 40 so as automatically to direct exhaust air from the impeller 27 into the interior of the reservoir through the aperture 34.
In this way, sufficient pressure is generated within the trough 62 to displace cleaning liquid therefrom through a pipe 77 for delivery to a cleaning head (not shown) at which liquid is applied to a carpet or other like floor covering or other material which is to be cleaned.
; The boss 65 also defines a central opening which serves to place the inlet of the impeller 27 in communication with the - 6 ~ 6~
main container 10 beneath the reservoir 60 and this functions as a suction inlet for the container. In this way, suction is applied to the previously mentioned hose which is connected to the main container 10 by means of the aperture 12 and .
S extends to the cleaning head so as to pick up used cleaning liquid.
To facilitate separation of entrained liquid droplets from the incoming air, the air flow is discharged into an annular space external to said cone. In the embodiment illustrated the air flow is arranged to impinge directly on a flat face 86 afforded by the annular wall 63 of the trough 62 which, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3 is spaced inwardly from the outer wall 10a of the container. In this way, the incoming air tends to spread out in all directions and the sudden change in direction of flow when the air impinges on the flat face 86 assists in separation of the liquid droplets which collect on the outer face of the annular wall 63 and drain down so as to collect on a flange 79 formed at the underside of the trough 62, which is spaced above the bottom of the container 10, so that the liquid thén drips into the body of the main container 10.
The arrangement whereby the incoming air from the suction hose enters the main container 10 substantially radially and flows in opposite directions around the annular wall 63 of the trough 62 serves largely to prevent a swirling action and the establishment of a vortex in a ~ '' .~.. ... ...... , ~ . , ,, ~
~ ; , . ~ . . :,: .. : .:.; -:. .
manner which would tend to generate foam on the surface of liquid collected within the container 10.
In order to further reduce the generation of such foam, a liquid filter assembly 80 is positioned beneath the cone 64. A ring 81 is formed with a flange 82 which fits tightly within the flange 79, and a central boss 83 is supported by radial ribs 84 which have a nylon mesh filter 85 moulded integrally. The filter 85 further acts to reduce the risk of a vortex being created as air is sucked up within the cone 64. Additionàlly, the size of the apertures defined by the mesh can be so chosen as to prevent the passage of foam.
For this purpose, the holes defined by the mesh may typically have a maximum dimension of about 0.15 mm and preferably as little as 0.02 mm.
In order to prevent liquid being sucked up into the ir.1peller 27 if the capacity of the main container is exceeded, a shut-off valve 70 is provided. This consists of spherical float 69 confined between three guides 71a which extend vertically downwardly from the centre of the cone 64 and carry a float retaining disc 72 at their lower ends. The boss 65 affords a seating 68 for the float G9.
The guides 71a are formed at the vertical edges of respective triangular vanes 71 which are arranged so as to extend substantially vertically and generally radially within ~ ,"
.
the interior of the cone, as can be seen. Alternatively, since such vanes are of generally triangular shape, their vertical edges may themselves serve as guides for the float 69. Either arrangement as the advantage of further restricting the possibility of the establishmenL of a vortex beneath the cone 64, to such an extent that a filter assembly 80 i~
could be omitted, although it is preferable to retain it because of its function as a screen substantially impervious to the passage of foam.
Although the invention has been described in relation to an appliance in which cleaning liquid is delivered to the cleaning head by pressurisation of the reservoir 60 by means of the exhaust air from the impeller 27, it will be appre-ciated that the invention is applicable to other types of suction cleaning apparatus in which the cleaning liquid is delivered by other methods, for example by means of a suit-able pump, and to suction cleaners which are not adapted themselves to deliver liquid to a cleaning head, but are only intended for picking up a cleaning liquid. In a case where there is no liquid reservoir, or where such reservoir is not disposed within the container, the latter, or the cover member 20, or some other part interposed between the container and the cover member, will then serve to support an annular wall and a cone corresponding to the wall 63 and cone 64 of the trough 62 of the illustrated embodiment.
. , - - . . :
Claims (8)
1. Suction cleaning apparatus comprising a container adapted for the collection of a liquid and having a lateral inlet for connection with a suction head adapted for picking up liquid and a central suction inlet which communicates with a source of suction, a downwardly widening cone-shaped funnel ex-tending down from said suction inlet and into the interior of the container and arranged with its lower edge at a level substantially below the upper edge of the container and spaced above the bottom of the con-tainer, and a plurality of substantial vertical, generally radial vanes provided within the interior of the cone.
2. Suction cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said lateral inlet of said container discharges the incoming air in a direction perpendicular to the outer wall of the container and into an annular space external to said funnel.
3. Suction cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a shut-off valve is provided within said funnel to close said central suction inlet in response to the level of liquid in the container.
4. Suction cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said shut-off valve comprises a float valve and the central suction inlet defines a seating for the float thereof.
5. Suction cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the vanes define at their radially inner ends a vertically extending guide for said float.
6. Suction cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the funnel forms an inner wall of an annular trough which serves as a reservoir for cleaning liquid and the apparatus includes means for delivering such liquid from the reservoir to the suction head.
7. Suction cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 wherein said trough includes a generally cylindrical outer wall which is spaced inwardly from a lateral wall of the container in which said lateral inlet is formed so that incoming air flow from said lateral inlet impinges substantially perpendicularly onto the outer wall of said trough.
8. Suction cleaning apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a perforate screen is provided across the open underside of said funnel.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB4614477 | 1977-11-05 | ||
| GB46144/77 | 1977-11-05 | ||
| GB17061/78 | 1978-04-28 | ||
| GB1706178A GB1602919A (en) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-04-28 | Apparatus for cleaning floors carpets and the like |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1109612A true CA1109612A (en) | 1981-09-29 |
Family
ID=26252428
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA315,791A Expired CA1109612A (en) | 1977-11-05 | 1978-11-03 | Apparatus for cleaning floors, carpets and the like |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5488664A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1109612A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2847512A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2407702A1 (en) |
| SE (1) | SE7811413L (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT8722649A0 (en) * | 1987-11-16 | 1987-11-16 | Micromax Spa | HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE FOR STEAM CLEANING. |
| KR950001511Y1 (en) * | 1992-05-27 | 1995-03-08 | 이헌조 | Device for supplying detergent in canister type vacuum cleaner |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1690472A (en) * | 1924-12-31 | 1928-11-06 | Breton Paul | Cleaning means |
| CH407436A (en) * | 1963-09-27 | 1966-02-15 | Diethelm & Co | Suction device for liquid and foam |
| GB1278266A (en) * | 1968-07-31 | 1972-06-21 | Geerpres Europ Ltd | Improvements in or relating to cleaning devices |
| US3910781A (en) * | 1974-10-22 | 1975-10-07 | Jr Samuel Bryant | Vertical-tank-type vacuum cleaner |
-
1978
- 1978-11-02 JP JP13466078A patent/JPS5488664A/en active Pending
- 1978-11-02 DE DE19782847512 patent/DE2847512A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1978-11-03 CA CA315,791A patent/CA1109612A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-11-03 SE SE7811413A patent/SE7811413L/en unknown
- 1978-11-03 FR FR7831227A patent/FR2407702A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2847512A1 (en) | 1979-05-10 |
| FR2407702A1 (en) | 1979-06-01 |
| JPS5488664A (en) | 1979-07-13 |
| SE7811413L (en) | 1979-05-06 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4218805A (en) | Apparatus for cleaning floors, carpets and the like | |
| US4185354A (en) | Apparatus for cleaning floors, carpets and the like | |
| US4287636A (en) | Apparatus for cleaning floor, carpets and the like | |
| US4287635A (en) | Wet and dry vacuum cleaner | |
| US4801376A (en) | Cleaner for swimming pools and the like | |
| CA1045315A (en) | Accessory for use with vacuum cleaners or vacuum cleaning conduits | |
| AU674359B2 (en) | Wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner | |
| US6829804B2 (en) | Filtration arrangement of a vacuum cleaner | |
| EP0459783B1 (en) | Vacuum cleaner | |
| AU2010214785B2 (en) | Extraction cleaner and centrifugal air/water separator therefor | |
| US4251241A (en) | Cyclone-type aspirated separator for washing dirt-laden dry airstreams | |
| US2867231A (en) | Liquid separator | |
| US20120311811A1 (en) | Wet/dry vacuum appliance, dust filtration attachment therefore, and methods of use | |
| US5343592A (en) | Hot water vacuum extraction machine with submicron size particle | |
| EP0607060A1 (en) | Dual tank vacuum cleaner | |
| KR19990087148A (en) | Devices for cleaning floor carpets, etc. | |
| US5394587A (en) | Hot water vacuum extraction machine with float sealed riser tube shut-off device | |
| WO1998035602A1 (en) | Device for a cyclone vacuum cleaner | |
| US5498272A (en) | Capsule vacuum cleaner assembly | |
| GB1602919A (en) | Apparatus for cleaning floors carpets and the like | |
| CA1109612A (en) | Apparatus for cleaning floors, carpets and the like | |
| US3797065A (en) | Integrated foam extracting and rotary scrubbing machine | |
| CA2174904A1 (en) | Wet vacuum accessory for a vacuum cleaner | |
| US6206955B1 (en) | Vacuum cleaner apparatus with at least three stages of dust collection, of the type with a path partially submerged in water and provided with a separation labyrinth | |
| GB2038168A (en) | Suction cleaning apparatus |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |