AU625435B2 - Cleaning head - Google Patents

Description

OPI DATE J.4/06/89 APPLN- I D 27279 88 PCT wo AOJP DATE 20/07/89 ?CT NUMBER PCT/AU88/00447 INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PI S U5E 4 E ENOOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) International Patent Classification 4 A47L 9/02, 11/34 (11) International Publication Number: (43) Int national Publication Date: WO 89/ 04627 1 June 1989 (01.06.89)

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(21) International Application Number: PCT/AU88/00447 (22) International Filing Date: 17 November 1988 (17.11.88) (74) )gents: HARWOOD, Errol, John et al.; Wray Associates, P.O. Box 6292, East Perth, W.A. 6004 (AU).

(81) Designated States: AU, BR, DK, FI, JP, KR, NO, US.

Published With international search report.

(31) Priority Application Numbers: PI 5496 PI 6413 (32) Priority Dates: (33) Priority Country: 18 November 1987 (18.11.87) 22 January 1988 (22.01.88)

AU

(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): VAX APPLIANCES (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD [AU/AU]; 89 Knutsford Avenue, Rivervale, W.A. 6103 (AU).

(72) Inventor; and Inventor/Applicant (for US only) HOLLAND, John, Anthony [AU/AU]; 11 Norton Ridge, Wintrop, W.A.

6150 (AU).

(54) Title: CLEANING HEAD (57) Abstract An elongate cleaning head comprises an outer housing (10) defining a suction chamber and an inner housing (20) affording a cleaning liquid distributing chamber (26) from which liquid flows through closely spaced fine outlets (33) into a liquid delivery chamber (29) at a position spaced from the mouth (25) of the inner housing. The side walls (22) of the inner housing are formed with baffles (24) including upwardly divergent wings (24a, 24b) so that air flow through the suction chamber initially diverges away from the open mouth thereof towards an upper zone (17) between the upper wall (22a) of the inner housing (20) and the upper wall (13) of the outer housing in which upper zone the air-flow converges to an outlet (11).

ill PCT/AU88/00447 WO 89/04627 Title: "Cleaning Head" 3Description of the Invention This invention relates to a cleaning head for use with an apparatus for cleaning floors, walls, carpets, curtains, upholstery and the like, and more particularly concerns a cleaning head for use in the process of water extraction cleaning, in which a carpet or the like is thoroughly wetted by a solution containing a suitable cleansing agent, such as a non-foaming detergent, and the carpet or the like is then dried by the uptake of that solution by means of suction. Such a cleaning head is the subject of our British Patent No. 1601455 and the present invention concerns a development of the design disclosed therein.

According to the present invention we provide an elongate cleaning head comprising a suction chamber having an open mouth and a centrally disposed outlet for connection to a source of suction, and an inner compartment extending substantially medially within the suction chamber and having side walls defining an open mouth substantially in the plane of the open mouth of the suction chamber, the inner compartment having associated therewith a cleaning liquid distributing chamber formed with a plurality of closely spaced fine outlet passageways adapted to allow cleaning liquid to flow into the inner compartment at a position spaced from the mouth thereof, wherein the suction chamber is divided into two laterally spaced suction zones by means of a central baffle which diverges in a direction away from the open mouth of the suction chamber towards an upper zone of the suction chamber into which upper zone said outlet opens.

The divided suction chamber with the upwardly divergent baffle causes the air flow through the head from the open mouth to the outlet to be split into two streams which diverge away from the centre of the head in the respective suction zones and then converge towards the outlet in the upper zone of the head. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the transverse width of the head without reducing the efficiency of the liquid pick-up operation and without increasing the overall air flow requirement.

Thus in practice, the use of a cleaning head in accordance with the present invention typically makes it possible to uilise a cleaning head having a width i I WO 89/04627 PCT/AU88/00 4 4 7 -2of approximately 20cm (8 inches) without increasing the air flow requirement over that which would otherwise be required for a 12.5cm (5 inch) head whilst maintaining equivalent efficiency of operation.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention the inner compartment is formed or provided with a separating wall dividing it into an i outer liquid delivery chamber adjacent to said open mouth of the inner compartment and an inner chamber which serves as said liquid distributing chamber, said outlet passageways being formed in said separating wall.

i, :Preferably said liquid distribution chamber is so dimensioned to serve as i a storage reservoir within the cleaning head, for the cleaning liquid, which E reservoir has a height sufficient to create a substantially equal hydrostatic head pressure at each of the outlet passageways. 'Typically the height of the reservoir may be at least 10 mm.

i Preferably said liquid distribution chamber has sufficient volume such that when substantially full a substantially equal flow rate of cleaning liquid i from each of the outlet passageways can be achieved during application of the open mouth to a surface. Typically, the volume may be approximately I| Icc per linear centimetre of the head.

The open mouth of the inner compartment is preferably of elongate configuration and said inner compartment preferably extends across the i. suction chamber substantially parallel to the main axis thereof.

SThe open mouth of said inner compartment is preferably located substantially centrally within the open mouth of the suction chamber whereby |i air-flow into the suction chamber takes place on both sides of the open mouth of the inner compartment, and the upper side of the body is preferably spaced above the upper side of the inner compartment by such a distance as to allow substantially unrestricted air-flow towards the outlet from both sides of the inner compartment.

According to a further preferred feature of the invention said inner compartment may be formed as a separate unit which is removable from the suction chamber, although it may alternatively be formed integrally.

The present invention further resides in an improved suction cleaning head comprising a body defining a suction chamber having a boundary wall defining an open mouth and having an outlet adapted to be connected to an air extraction means, and an inner compartment extending across the suction chamber and having a substantially planar open mouth parallel or co-planar with the open mouth of the suction chamber, wherein said inner compartment 3 is formed or provided with a separating wall dividing it into an outer liquid delivery chamber adjacent to said open mouth of the inner compartment and an internal liquid distribution chamber which extends across the suction chamber and which has an inlet adapted to be connected to a supply of cleaning liquid, and a plurality of flow passageways are provided which extend through said separating wall between the liquid reception chamber and the liquid delivery chamber.

The invention further resides in a separable inner housing for assembly with a suction cleaning head, the housing comprising an elongate body having a pair of lateral walls defining between them an elongate open mouth, a transverse separating wall extending between said lateral walls and dividing the housing into an outer liquid delivery chamber S* adjacent to said open mouth and an inner liquid distributing chamber having a liquid inlet, said transverse separating wall being formed with a plurality of fine outlet passageways at closely spaced intervals along the length thereof to allow liquid to flow from said liquid distributing chamber into said liquid delivery chamber at a position spaced from the open mouth, wherein the lateral walls of the housing carry on their external faces respective ribs of V-shape having two upwardly diverging wings.

These and other features of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:- Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of cleaning head in a part sectional front elevation; Figure 2 shows an underneath plan view thereof; Figure 3 shows a vertical section on the line III-III of Figure 1;

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Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of cleaning head in a part sectional front elevation; Figure 5 shows a vertical section on the line V-V of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side view of an inner housing for cleaning head as shown in Figures 4 and Figure 7 is a cross-section on the line VII-VII of Figure 6; Figure 8 is an underneath plan view of the inner housing shown in Figure 6; Figure 9 is a side view of a T-section bar which fits into the inner housing shown in Figure 6; and Figure 10 is an end view of the T-section bar.

The first embodiment of cleaning head in accordance with the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 comprises an elongate outer housing 10 with a centrally disposed tubular outlet spigot 11 for attachment to the suction base PCT/AU. 0 0 4 4 7 RECEIVED 2 0 OCT 1989 4- (not shown). The outer housing 10 receives therein a structurally separate medially extending inner housing having side walls 22 which are spaced from the side walls 12 of the outer housing and an upper wall 23 which is spaced from the upper wall 13 of the outer housing. The side walls 22 of the inner housing 20 each carry a shallow V-formation rib 24 including wings 24a, 24b which bridge the space between the side walls 22 of the inner housing and the side walls 12 of the outer housing.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the wings 24a, 24b diverge upwardly away from the open mouth 15 of the outer housing and outwardly from the centre. The ribs 24 serve as baffles whereby the suction chamber defined by the outer housing 10 is divided into two laterally spaced suction zones 16a, 16b in which air drawn in through the open mouth 15 is divided into two divergent streams as indicated by the arrows A and B. The ribs 24 terminate at positions approximately half way between the centre line and the end walls 14 of the outer housing, so that the air flows enter an upper zone 17 of the outer housing above the inner housing 20 and converge towards the outlet spigot 11 as indicated by arrows C.

The portion of the inner housing 20 adjacent to the open mouth 25 accommodates a T-section bar member 30 whereof the transverse web 32 is received innermost and is supported at the ends of the inner housing 20 by A engagement within recessed portions of the end walls thereof. The central leg 31 of the T-section bar member extends downwardly from the web 32 and terminates in the plane of the open mouth 25 of the inner housing The lateral edges of the transverse web 32 of the Tsection bar member 30 are formed with a plurality of spaced calibrated grooves 33 which extend between each S: face thereof.

C'suui [ITUTE PCT/AU 9 0 04 4 7 RECEIVED 2 0 OCT 1939 4a The transverse web 32 of the T-section bar member 30 forms a separating wall which divides the inner housing 20 into an internal liquid distribution chamber 26 above the transverse web 32 and an outer liquid delivery chamber 29 below the transverse web 32, between which chambers communication is provided through the grooves 33. The chamber 26 within the inner housing above the bar 30 has a volume such that it serves as a reservoir for the reception of a cleaning solution which is supplied through a pipe (not shown) to an inlet spigot 21 which protrudes from the inner housing as shown in Figures 1 and 3, whereby when substantially full there is a substantially equal rate of delivery from each passageway 33 under equal hydrostatic pressure.

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WO 89/04627 PCT/AU88/00447 The calibrated grooves 33 are provided at spaced intervals along substantially the entire length of the edges of the web 32 to regulate the flow of liquid so as to cause it to be delivered uniformly and continuously at an il appropriate rate. Typically, the apertures 33 have a width of about 0.5 mm j I and are spaced on 10mm centres. The cleaning solution may be supplied by [I any appropriate means to the chamber 26, which may typically have a height of at least lcm and a volume of about Icc per centimetre of its length.

In par:icular, the head illustrated in Figures I to 3 is designed for use with substantially non-pressurised liquid delivery systems. Thus, the liquid 1: may be supplied gravitationally, or by a syphon system, in either case optionally assisted by a slight positive pressure generated for example by the application of exhaust air from the suction cleaner fan to a liquid reservoir in j themanner disclosed in our British patent No. 1601456.

The space within the inner housing below the transverse flange 32 of the bar 30 defines the liquid delivery chamber 29 which extends medially of the outer housing 10. The arrangement of the end faces of the side walls 22 in the same plane as the mouth of the outer housing 10 ensures that such inner compartment is substantially sealed against the fabric being treated and that there is virtually no possibility of the liquid passing through the j grooves 33 being drawn away directly by virtue of the air flow established within the head. Instead, the liquid is shielded by the side walls 22 and is constrained by the side walls to flow onto the fabric being cleaned. In this way, a thorough wetting of the fabric is ensured without spraying. This in turn makes it possible for the appliance to operate with only a low pressure gradient acting on the.liquid, and without the need for any pump for the delivery of cleaning liquid to the head under substantial pressure.

The divided air flow resulting from the ribs 24 ensures that substantially uniform suction is applied over the entire length of the head, which can thus be made sigificantly greater than in the absence of such ribs without requiring an increase in the overall air flow and without employing a correspondingly more powerful motor to drive the fan of the suction cleaner.

As can be seen most clearly from Figure 3 the space above and around the inner housing 20 is such as to proviue substantially unimpeded air-flow through the suction chamber on both sides of the inner housing, and over the top thereof into the upper zone 17 of the outer housing 10 and thence to the outlet I.

i L_ i I WO 89/04627 PCT/AU'88/0(447 -6- The second embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 10 is of generally similar form to that of the first embodiment described above and the same reference numerals are used to denote corresponding parts, the following description being largely confined to features of difference.

The outer housing IOA of the second embodiment is somewhat deeper than theat of the first embodiment and the inner housing 20A is also deeper than that of the first embodiment with a flat upper wall 23A.

The modified inner housing 20A as illustrated in Figures 6 to 10 is generally similar in construction to the inner housing 20 previously described, except in the following respects.

The wings 24a, 24b of the shallow V-shape ribs 24 do not extend directly to the lower edge of the inner housing, but an additional, vertical wing 24c extends downwardly from the point at which the wings 24a, 24b meet and i terminates at the lower edge of the housing Internal ribs 22a are formed o- the side walls of the housing 20A and terminate as shown at positions spaced inwardly from the open mouth of the housing. The ribs 22a serve to locate the T-section bar 30 within the housing Whilst the calibrated air-flow passageway in the illustrated embodiments comprises a pair of small apertures 28 which extend through the upper wall of the inner compartment and open into the upper region of the suction chamber II, other arrangements are possible. For example there may be a single opening in the upper region of the side wall 22 of the inner |i compartment 20 in register with the opening afforded by the outlet 14, or a tube may extend from the inner compartment into and along the length of the i: outlet 14.

If desired, the inner housing may be formed as a set of modules which can be interengaged in end-to-end relationship and to be receivable within suction heads of a variety of dimensions as required. By the use of such separate modules, a conventional suction head may be adapted for use for wet cleaning of floor surfaces.

Moreover, whilst in the illustrated embodiments a single V-formation rib 24 is formed on each side of the inner housing in a central region thereof, it may be ap:ropriate to provide additional V-formation ribs at positions offset from the central region towards the ends of the housing, particularly for heads of increased width.

Claims (12)

1. An elongate cleaning head comprising a suction chamber having an open mouth and a centrally disposed outlet for connection to a source of suction, and an inner compartment extending substantially medially within the suction chamber and having side walls defining an open mouth substantially in the place of the open mouth cf the suction chamber, the inner compartment having associated therewith a cleaning liquid distributing chamber formed with a plurality of closely spaced fine outlet pass ,geways adapted to allow cleaning liquid to flow into the inner compartment at a position spaced from the mouth thereof, wherein the suction chamber is divided into two laterally spaced suction zones by means of a central baffle which diverges in a direction f away from the open mouth of the suction chamber towards an upper zone of the suction chamber into which upper zone said outlet opens. s o

2. A cleaning head according to Claim 1 wherein said baffle comprises a rib of shallow V-shape having two upwardly diverging wings. 0.

3. A cleaning head according to Claim 2 wherein said upwardly diverging wings meet substantially in the plane of the open mouth of the suction chamber.

4. A cleaning head according to Claim 2 wherein said baffle comprises a third wing extending downwardly from the point at which said two wings meet and terminating substantially in the open mouth of said suction chamber. I 7a A cleaning head according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said inner compartment and said baffle are formed as a single unit which is structurally separate from and releasably received in, said suction chamber.

6. A cleaning head according to Claim 5 wherein the inner compartment has located therein a structurally separate dividing member which is formed with said fine outlet passageways and divides said inner housing so as to define therein said distributing chamber. 2 A L PCT/AU 3 /0 04 47 -8 ECEIVED 2 O OCT ila9 baffle are formed as a single unit which is structurally separate from and releasably received in, said suction chamber. b. (Amended) A cleaning head according to claim wherein the inner compartment is afforded by an inner housing which has located therein a structurally separate dividing member which is formed with said fine outlet passageways and divides said inner housing so as to define therein said distributing chamber.

7. (Twice Amended) A cleaning head according to claim 1 wherein the inner compartment is formed as a liquid delivery chamber in an inner housing which is formed or provided with a separating wall dividing it into an outer liquid delivery chamber and an inner chamber which serves as said liquid distributing chamber, said outlet passageways being formed in said separating wall.

8. A cleaning head according to claim 1 wherein said liquid distribution chamber is so dimensioned to serve as a storage reservoir within the cleaning head, for the cleaning liquid, which reservoir has a height sufficient to create a substantially equal hydrostatic head pressure at each of the outlet passageways.

9. A cleaning head according to claim 1 wherein said liquid distribution chamber has sufficient volume such that when substantially full a substantially equal flow rate of cleaning liquid from each of the outlet passageways can be achieved during application of the open mouth to a surface. (Amended) A cleaning head according to claim 7 wherein the open mouth of the inner compartment is of Sj SUBSTITUTE SHEET 9- it into an outer liquid delivery chamber adjacent to said open mouth of the inner compartment and an internal liquid distribution chamber which extends across the suction chamber and which has an inlet adapted to be connected to a supply of cleaning liquid, and a plurality of liquid flow passageways are provided which extend through said separating wall between the liquid distribution chamber and the liquid delivery chamber.

13. A cleaning head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 S: of the accompanying drawings. gee

14. A cleaning head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 4 and of the accompanying drawings. A separable inner housing for assembly with a suction cleaning heal, the housing comprising an elongate body having a pair of lateral walls defining between them an elongate open mouth, a transverse separating wall extending between said lateral walls and dividing the housing into an outer liquid delivery chamber adjacent to said open mouth and an inner liquid distributing chamber having a liquid inlet, said transverse separating wall being formed with a plurality of fine outlet passageways at closely spaced intervals along the length thereof to allow liquid to flow from said liquid distributing chamber into said liquid delivery chamber at a position spaced from the open mouth, wherein the lateral walls of the housing earry on their external faces respective ribs of V-shape having two upwardly diverging wings. 12 9 i (I: i 9a

16. A housing according to Claim 15 comprising a plurality of modules interengaged in end-to-end relationship.

17. A separable inner housing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in i Figures 6 to 10 of the accompanying drawings. *e i I $o* e* «e I__ PCT/'AU 88 !/00 44 10 RECEIVED LP 1S89 14. A cleaning head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 4 and of the accompanying drawings. A separable inner housing for a suction cleaning head and comprising an elongate body affording an elongate open mouth, the housing being formed or provided with a separating wall dividing it into an outer liquid delivery chamber adjacent to said open mouth and an inner liquid distributing chamber having a liquid inlet, said separating wall being formed with a plurality of fine outlet passageways at closely spaced intervals along the length thereof to allow liquid to flow from said liquid distributing chamber into said liquid delivery chamber at a position spaced from the open mouth. 16. A housing according to claim 15 comprising a plurality of modules interengaged in end-to-end relationship. 17. A separable inner housing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 6 to 10 of the accompanying drawings. J v;h IS U5TF;WJ