GB1602918A - Apparatus for cleaning floors carpets and the like - Google Patents

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FLOORS, CARPETS AND THE LIKE (71) We, ABRA INVESTMENTS LIMITED, a British Company of 21, Hall Street, Birmingham B18 6BS, West Midlands, formerly of Weatheroak, Alvechurch, Birmingham B48 7EG, West Midlands, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 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 as described and claimed in our co-pending application No. 20152/77 (Serial No. 1601455) cognate 46144/77, and which is 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 this invention we provide suction cleaning apparatus comprising a reservoir for storing cleaning liquid, means for delivering such liquid from the reservoir for application to a surface to be cleaned, and an open topped container adapted for the collection of a liquid and having a lateral side wall which is circular in plan with an inlet therein for connection with a suction head adapted to pick up liquid from a surface being cleaned, wherein said reservoir is mounted across the open top of the container and comprises an annular trough which is supported within the container and spaced from the bottom thereof, the trough incorporating firstly a central opening which serves as a suction inlet for placing the interior of the container in communication with a source of suction and secondly an outer wall which is of circular form in plan and is spaced inwardly from the lateral side wall of the container so that incoming air flow through the inlet opening impinges substantially perpendicularly onto the outer wall of the trough.

This arrangement has the advantage that the reservoir also serves as a separator for the incoming air flow which is subjected to an abrupt change of direction as it strikes the outer wall of the reservoir so facilitating separation of liquid droplets entrained in the air flow, whilst the air flow itself is distributed substantially uniformly around the outer wall so as to flow under the lower edge of the latter at all points around its periphery whilst moving in a substantially radial direction with a minimum component of circumferential movement. This reduces the tendency for a vortex to be established centrally of the container, and this in turn reduces the production of foam on water collected within the container which, when the apparatus is being used for water extraction cleaning, will normally contain a detergent or wetting agent which tends to promote the creation of such foam.

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; m poslhon; 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 main container 10 having an open top closed bv a top cover assembly 20 with the interposition of either a reservoir 60 if the cleaner 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 driven by an electric motor for creating the suction is housed in the top cover assembly 20, together with a valve assembly whereby exhaust air from the impeller is directed to the interior of the reservoir when the latter is in use or alternatively allowed to escape to atmosphere when the reservoir is not in use.

The main container 10 is of circular form in plan 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 at spaced points on its periphery. An opening 14 is formed opposite thereto in the upper portion of the lateral side wall 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.

An 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 is directed by a 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, as described more fully in our copending application No. 20152/77 cognate 46144/77 (Serial No. 1601455).

The reservoir 60 is also of circular form in plan and 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 a generally cylindrical outer wall 63 and a frusto-conical inner wall or cone 64. 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. In this way, sufficient pressure is generated within the trough 62 to displace liquid therefrom through a pipe 77.

The boss 65 also defines a central opening which serves to place the inlet of the impeller 27 in communication with the main container 10 beneath the reservoir 60. In this way, suction is applied to a hose (not shown) connected to the main container 10 by means of the aperture 12.

To facilitate separation of entrained liquid droplets from the incoming air, the air flow is arranged to impinge directly and substantially perpendicularly onto the outer wall 63 of the trough 62, a flat face 86 being preferably formed, as shown, in register with said inlet. 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 outer wall 63 and drain down so as to collect on a flange 79 formed at the underside of the trough and then drip 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 outer 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 prevent liquid being sucked up into the impeller 27 if the capacity of the main container is exceeded, shut-off valve 70 is provided. This consists of a spherical float 69 confined between three guides 71 which extend downwardly from the centre of the cone 64 and carry at their lower ends a disc 72. The boss 65 carried by the cone 64 is formed with a seating 68 against which the float 69 will engage sealingly so as to prevent the passage of water upwardly into the intake chamber 43. In the illustrated embodiment, the float 69 is made of thin plastics material so as to be capable of being lifted solely by air flow. In practice, if the level of liquid in the container 10 rises to such a height that it enters the space beneath the cone 64, and thus lifts the float 69 towards the seating 68, the flow of air which continues to be drawn beneath the trough 62 will eventually lift the float up to seating 68 before the water level reaches the lower edge of the hose inlet aperture 12.

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 appreciated 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 suitable pump.

Certain features of the apparatus described herein are also the subject of our copending applications No. 17061/78 cognate 20996/78 and No. 20152/77 cognate 46144/77 (Serial Nos. 1602919, 1601455).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. Suction cleaning apparatus comprising a reservoir for storing cleaning liquid, means for delivering such liquid from the reservoir for application to a surface to be cleaned, and an open topped container adapted for the collection of a liquid and having a lateral side wall which is circular in plan with an inlet therein for connection with a suction head adapted to pick up liquid from a surface being cleaned, wherein said reservoir is mounted across the open top of the container and comprises an annular trough which is supported within the container and spaced from the bottom thereof, the trough incorporating firstly a central opening which serves as a suction inlet for placing the interior of the container in communication with a source of suction and secondly an outer wall which is of circular

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. 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 at spaced points on its periphery. An opening 14 is formed opposite thereto in the upper portion of the lateral side wall 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. An 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 is directed by a 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, as described more fully in our copending application No. 20152/77 cognate 46144/77 (Serial No. 1601455). The reservoir 60 is also of circular form in plan and 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 a generally cylindrical outer wall 63 and a frusto-conical inner wall or cone 64. 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. In this way, sufficient pressure is generated within the trough 62 to displace liquid therefrom through a pipe 77. The boss 65 also defines a central opening which serves to place the inlet of the impeller 27 in communication with the main container 10 beneath the reservoir 60. In this way, suction is applied to a hose (not shown) connected to the main container 10 by means of the aperture 12. To facilitate separation of entrained liquid droplets from the incoming air, the air flow is arranged to impinge directly and substantially perpendicularly onto the outer wall 63 of the trough 62, a flat face 86 being preferably formed, as shown, in register with said inlet. 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 outer wall 63 and drain down so as to collect on a flange 79 formed at the underside of the trough and then drip 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 outer 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 prevent liquid being sucked up into the impeller 27 if the capacity of the main container is exceeded, shut-off valve 70 is provided. This consists of a spherical float 69 confined between three guides 71 which extend downwardly from the centre of the cone 64 and carry at their lower ends a disc 72. The boss 65 carried by the cone 64 is formed with a seating 68 against which the float 69 will engage sealingly so as to prevent the passage of water upwardly into the intake chamber 43. In the illustrated embodiment, the float 69 is made of thin plastics material so as to be capable of being lifted solely by air flow. In practice, if the level of liquid in the container 10 rises to such a height that it enters the space beneath the cone 64, and thus lifts the float 69 towards the seating 68, the flow of air which continues to be drawn beneath the trough 62 will eventually lift the float up to seating 68 before the water level reaches the lower edge of the hose inlet aperture 12. 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 appreciated 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 suitable pump. Certain features of the apparatus described herein are also the subject of our copending applications No. 17061/78 cognate 20996/78 and No. 20152/77 cognate 46144/77 (Serial Nos. 1602919, 1601455). WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. Suction cleaning apparatus comprising a reservoir for storing cleaning liquid, means for delivering such liquid from the reservoir for application to a surface to be cleaned, and an open topped container adapted for the collection of a liquid and having a lateral side wall which is circular in plan with an inlet therein for connection with a suction head adapted to pick up liquid from a surface being cleaned, wherein said reservoir is mounted across the open top of the container and comprises an annular trough which is supported within the container and spaced from the bottom thereof, the trough incorporating firstly a central opening which serves as a suction inlet for placing the interior of the container in communication with a source of suction and secondly an outer wall which is of circular

form in plan and is spaced inwardly from the lateral side wall of the container so that incoming air flow through the inlet opening impinges substantially perpendicularly onto the outer wall of the trough.

2. Suction cleaning apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the outer wall of the trough is formed with a flat area in register with said inlet.

3. Suction cleaning apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the trough is provided at its underside with a downwardly extending circular rib.

4. Suction cleaning apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said trough includes a generally cone-shaped inner wall leading up to the central opening.

5. Suction cleaning apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said trough is provided with a perforate screen across the open underside of the cone-shaped inner wall.

6. Suction cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a shut-off valve is provided to close the central opening of the reservoir in response to the level of liquid in the container.

7. Suction cleaning apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein said shut-off valve comprises a float valve and the central opening defines a seating for the float thereof.