CA1120215A - Cleaning head and method - Google Patents

Cleaning head and method

Info

Publication number
CA1120215A
CA1120215A CA000303122A CA303122A CA1120215A CA 1120215 A CA1120215 A CA 1120215A CA 000303122 A CA000303122 A CA 000303122A CA 303122 A CA303122 A CA 303122A CA 1120215 A CA1120215 A CA 1120215A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
cleaning
suction chamber
inner compartment
cleaning head
suction
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
Application number
CA000303122A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Alan J. Brazier
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Vax Appliances Ltd
Original Assignee
Vax Appliances Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB2015177A external-priority patent/GB1601455A/en
Application filed by Vax Appliances Ltd filed Critical Vax Appliances Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1120215A publication Critical patent/CA1120215A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/40Parts 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
    • A47L11/4036Parts or details of the surface treating tools
    • A47L11/4044Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/34Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam

Abstract

CLEANING HEAD AND METHOD

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A cleaning head for use in a water extraction cleaning process comprises a suction chamber for connection to a source of suction and having an open mouth. An inner compartment is arranged substantially centrally within the suction chamber and has side walls defining an open mouth in the plane of the open mouth of the suction chamber. Associated with the inner compartment there is a cleaning liquid delivery duct formed with a plurality of closely spaced fine outlets adapted to allow cleaning liquid to flow substantially dropwise into the inner compartment at a position spaced from the mouth thereof. When the cleaning head is applied to a surface to be cleaned, cleaning liquid is applied to a part of the surface which is shielded from air flow but arising from vacuous conditions within the suction chamber, but, upon movement of the cleaning head in either of at least two opposed directions, the area then wetted by the cleaning liquid is immediately subjected to suction drying.

Description

%:~L5 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. .
The invention also relates to a method of cleaning a carpet or the like. ~:

According to the present invention we provide a cleaning head comprising a suction chamber adapted for connection to a source of suction and having an open mouth, and an inner compartment arranged substantially centrally within the suction chamber and having side walls def:Lning an open mouth in the plane of the open mouth of the suction chamber, the inner compartmen* having associated therewith a cleaning liquid delivery duct formed with a plurality of closely : ~.
spaced fine outlets adapted to allow cleaning liquid to flow ~- :
~o substantially dropliise into the inner compartment at a position spaced from the mouth thereof, the arrangement being ~:
such that when the cleaning head is applied to a surface to be cleaned, cleaning liquid is applied to a part of *he surface ~.
which is shielded from air flow arising from vacuous condition~ ;
within the suction chamber, but upon movement of the cleaning -~
head in either of at least two opposed dlrections the area then wetted by the cleaning liquid is immediately subjected to ~ -
- 2 - . .

~t 2~

suction drying.
The end edges of the side walls of the inner compartment are preferably free from local protrusions or recesses so as to engage uniformly the surface to be cleaned. Similarly, the mouth of the suction chamber is preferably also free from local pro-trusions or recesses, and the end edges of the side walls defining the suction chamber may be of smoothly rounded shape in transverse section.
The head may be of elongate form with the inner com- ;
partment extending medially along the length of the suction chamber, or alternatively the head may be of round form and the inner chamber may then be of circular or annular form.
The invention also consists of a method of cleaning a carpet or the like comprising the steps of: providing a cleaning head including a suction chamber hauing means for connection to a source of suction and an open mouth; an inner compartment arranged substantially centrally within the suction chamber and having sidewalls defining an open mouth in the plain of the open mouth of the suction chamber, and a cleaning-liquid delivery duct disposed within said inner com-partment in spaced relation to said mouth and formed with a plurality of closely spaced fine outlets adapted to allow cleaning fluid to flow therethrough in drop wise manner;
establishing a flow of cleaning liquid under a low pressure gradiant along the cleaning-liquid delivery duct thereby delivering said liquid in a drop wise manner through said fine outlets into the inner compartment and onto the carpet surface; and applying suction to the suction chamber of said cleaning head while moving the latter over the carpet surface with the mouths of the inner compartment and the suction chamber in contact with the carpet.

f~

, ;~. ~ .. :

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These and other features of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of cleaning head in accordance with the invention. In the drawings~
FIGURE 1 shows the head in a ha:Lf sectional front elevation;
FIGURE 2 shows a section on the line X-X of Figure l;
FIGURE 3 shows a section on the line Y-Y of Figure l;
and ; ~ :

~' ~'.

- 3a - . ,, ~s~ :
~ ' FIGURE 4 shows a corresponding underneath plan ~iew.
The preferred form of cleaning head 100 includes a tubular spigot 101 for attachment to the suction hose (not shown) and a transverse housing 102 with an internal transverse rib 103 and a central hollow boss 104 for reception of a nozæle 105 at the end of the pipe 77 through which liquid is supplied. A hole ~o6 is formed at the lower end of the boss and communica-tes with a channel 107 which extends along the underside of the transverse rib 103. A pair of mouldings 108 are located within the housing 102 by enga~ing at their ends in slots 109 formed in the ends of the housing. Additional}y, the two mouldings in combination are shaped to afford a pair of vertlcal lugs 110 which fit within apertures 111 formed in the top wall of the housing adjacent the ends thereof. The two mouldings in combination also define a channel 112 which together with the channel 107 defines a transver~ely extending duct 113 whereby liquid recei~ed ~rom the nozzle 105 *hrough the hole 106 is distributed along the whole length of the hou~ing 102.

' - Calibrated apertures 114 are provided at spaced intervals along the length of the head in order to regulate the flow of liquid so as to cause it to be delivered uniformly and continuously at an appropriate rate. Typically~ the apertures 114 have a diameter of 0.!4 mm and are spaaed on 4 mm centres. Liquid then drips through thesa aperturas and enter~ an inner compartment 115 defined between a pair of . . .
- - . . . , -~: .. ,.. , , . ~ . ., .~, . . :

:: . :: ., ~ .,~ ::; : ., : ; : , transversely extending walls 116 formed on the mouldings 108.
The inner compartment 115 is disposed centrally of an ou-ter compartment 117 de~ined by the casing 102, and the end faces 118 of the walls 116 are arranged so as to be flush with the mouth of the housing 102 as defined by a rounded bead 119.
The bead i9 of continuous and uninterrupted form so that when passed over a pile fabric, the pile is not separate or oombed.
In this way the outer chamber 117 can be effectively sealed from the outside atmosphere so that a strong suction is 0 applied to the fabric being cleaned. The arrangement of the end faces 118 of the walls 116 in the same plane as the mouth of the outer compartment 17 ensures that the inner compartment 115 is likewise effectively sealed against the fabric being treated and there is virtually no posssibility of liquid being drawn from the inner compartment 115 directly to the outer compartment 117 by virtue of the air flow established within the head. Instead, the liquid is constrained to drip onto the fabric being cleaned. In this way, a thorough wetting of the fabric is ensured without spraying. This in turn, ~70 makes it possible for the appliance to operate with only a low pressure gradient acting on the liquid, and without *he need for any pump for the delivery of cleaning liquid to the head.

A shut-off valve ~not shown) may be incorporated in the pipe 77 so as to enable the flow of cleaning liquid to the head to be interrupted.
.:

. : : . -: ,.:.: . - ; , , : -,:

Claims (8)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A cleaning head comprising a suction chamber adapted for connection to a source of suction and having an open mouth, and an inner compartment arranged substantially centrally within the suction chamber and having side walls defining an open mouth in the plane of the open mouth of the suction chamber, the inner compartment having associated therewith a cleaning liquid delivery duct formed with a plurality of closely spaced fine outlets adapted to allow cleaning liquid to flow substantially dropwise into the inner compartment at a position spaced from the mouth thereof, the arrangement being such that when the cleaning head is applied to a surface to be cleaned, cleaning liquid is applied to a part of the surface which is shielded from air flow arising from vacuous conditions within the suction chamber, but upon movement of the cleaning head in either of at least two opposed directions the area then wetted by the cleaning liquid is immediately subjected to suction drying.
2. A cleaning head according to Claim 1 wherein the end edges of the side walls of the inner compartment are free from local protrusions or recesses.
3. A cleaning head according to Claim 1 wherein the mouth of the suction chamber is free from local protrusions or recesses.
4. A cleaning head according to Claim 3 wherein the end edges of the side walls defining the suction chamber are of smoothly rounded shape in transverse section.
5. A cleaning head according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the suction chamber is of elongate form with the inner com-partment extending medially along the length thereof.
6. A cleaning head according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the suction chamber is defined by an outer housing having a medially extending rib therein and the inner compartment is defined by a pair of members which are held in assembled re-lation with the rib and in combination with the rib define said duct whereby cleaning liquid is distributed to said outlets.
7. A carpet cleaning head according to Claim 1 wherein a flow of cleaning liquid is established under a low pressure gradiant along the cleaning-liquid delivery duct of the cleaning head to deliver said liquid in a drop wise manner through said fine outlets into the inner compartment and onto the surface being cleaned, and wherein a suction is applied to the suction chamber of said cleaning head while it is moved over the surface being cleaned with the mouths of the inner compartment and of the suction chamber being in contact with said surface.
8. A method of cleaning a carpet or the like comprising the steps of:
providing a cleaning head including a suction chamber having means for connection to a source of suction and an open mouth;
an inner compartment arranged substantially centrally within the suction chamber and having sidewalls defining an open mouth in the plain of the open mouth of the suction chamber, and a cleaning-liquid delivery duct disposed within said inner compartment in spaced relation to said mouth and formed with a plurality of closely spaced fine outlets adapted to allow cleaning fluid to flow therethrough in drop wise manner;

establishing a flow of cleaning liquid under a low pressure gradiant along the cleaning-liquid delivery duct thereby delivering said liquid in a drop wise manner through said fine outlets into the inner compartment and onto the carpet surface; and applying suction to the suction chamber of said clean-ing head while moving the latter over the carpet surface with the mouths of the inner compartment and the suction chamber in contact with the carpet.
CA000303122A 1977-03-13 1978-05-11 Cleaning head and method Expired CA1120215A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB20151/77 1977-03-13
GB2015177A GB1601455A (en) 1977-05-13 1977-05-13 Cleaning head
GB4614577 1977-11-05
GB46145/77 1977-11-05

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1120215A true CA1120215A (en) 1982-03-23

Family

ID=26254487

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000303122A Expired CA1120215A (en) 1977-03-13 1978-05-11 Cleaning head and method

Country Status (9)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS5413668A (en)
AU (1) AU519031B2 (en)
BR (1) BR7803050A (en)
CA (1) CA1120215A (en)
CH (1) CH630518A5 (en)
DE (1) DE2820568A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2390145A1 (en)
SE (1) SE438247B (en)
YU (1) YU114378A (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6057350U (en) * 1983-09-22 1985-04-22 社団法人 日本ビルエネルギ−総合管理技術協会 cleaning equipment
ES2035222T3 (en) * 1987-11-18 1993-04-16 Vax Appliances (Australia) Pty Limited VACUUM CLEANING HEAD.
GB8822391D0 (en) * 1988-09-23 1988-10-26 Vax Appliances Ltd Cleaning head
US6029310A (en) * 1998-04-01 2000-02-29 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Apparatus for cleaning carpeted stair treads
US6243914B1 (en) * 1999-08-04 2001-06-12 Hydramaster Corporation Sprayless surface cleaner
JP2008094487A (en) * 2006-10-10 2008-04-24 Mikio Shimoyama Pet-kun or tool for peeling label on pet bottle

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT298729B (en) * 1965-07-12 1972-05-25 Reima Reinigungsmaschinen Gmbh Device for cleaning textile floor coverings, such as carpets or the like.
GB1121225A (en) * 1966-11-25 1968-07-24 Wladyslaw Brycki Improvements in or relating to suction cleaning apparatus
DE2166158A1 (en) * 1966-11-25 1973-07-05 Brycki Wladyslaw ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENT TO OR IN RELATION TO AN INTAKE PURIFICATION DEVICE
US3747155A (en) * 1971-07-09 1973-07-24 G Koellisch Nozzle construction for portable carpet cleaning machine
US3919729A (en) * 1974-08-01 1975-11-18 Servicemaster Ind Method for cleaning carpets

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE7805396L (en) 1978-11-13
BR7803050A (en) 1978-12-26
FR2390145B1 (en) 1984-02-10
AU519031B2 (en) 1981-11-05
JPS5413668A (en) 1979-02-01
JPS6332446B2 (en) 1988-06-30
YU114378A (en) 1982-06-30
SE438247B (en) 1985-04-15
CH630518A5 (en) 1982-06-30
AU3608378A (en) 1979-11-15
FR2390145A1 (en) 1978-12-08
DE2820568A1 (en) 1978-11-23

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKEX Expiry