CN117835885A

CN117835885A - Surface cleaner

Info

Publication number: CN117835885A
Application number: CN202280056099.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: J·克雷格; R·达维拉; C·贝克
Original assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2021-07-16
Filing date: 2022-07-15
Publication date: 2024-04-05
Also published as: WO2023288087A1; AU2022311823A1

Abstract

A wet surface cleaner is operable to draw liquid and debris from a surface to be cleaned into a recovery tank. The recovery tank includes a cover removable from the recovery tank, wherein the cover is capable of encircling at least a portion of the tank outlet.

Description

Surface cleaner

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/222,528 filed on 7.16 of 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Background

The present invention relates to surface cleaners, and more particularly to a recovery tank for a wet surface cleaner.

Disclosure of Invention

In one embodiment, a surface cleaner is disclosed that includes a body, a handle positioned on the body, a suction source, and a recovery tank. The suction source is configured to generate a suction airflow along an air path between the suction inlet and the exhaust. The recovery tank is in communication with the suction inlet and the suction source along an air path. The recovery box has: an upper portion including a cover removably connected to the upper portion; a lower portion; and side walls connecting the upper portion and the lower portion. The recovery tank having a tank inlet in communication with the suction inlet; and an outlet conduit within the recovery tank, the outlet conduit in communication with the exhaust port. The outlet duct extends from the lower portion towards the upper portion. When the cover is connected to the recovery tank, the cover forms an outlet chamber adjacent to the outlet conduit.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a surface cleaner according to one embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a surface cleaner according to an alternative embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the recovery tank of the surface cleaner of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the recovery tank of fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the recovery tank of fig. 3, showing the cover in a removed position.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the recovery tank of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of a lid of the recovery tank according to one embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the recovery tank of fig. 3, showing the walls of the recovery tank removed.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an inlet duct and tank inlet according to one embodiment.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure relates to surface cleaners, and in particular to surface cleaners configured to recover and/or dispense cleaning liquids. The surface cleaner includes a recovery tank configured to collect dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned. The recovery tank has a cover removably connected to an upper portion of the recovery tank. The recovery tank also has an outlet duct extending from a lower portion of the recovery tank, wherein the cover forms an outlet chamber over the outlet duct. This arrangement causes air to travel along a path through the recovery tank to reach the outlet duct, thus inhibiting liquid from entering the outlet duct.

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a surface cleaner 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The surface cleaner 10 is configured to clean a surface 100. The surface cleaner 10 is an aspirator, hard floor cleaner, or the like configured to dispense liquid to a surface and aspirate debris and soiled liquid. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 1, the surface cleaner 10 has a body 12 with a base 14 that supports the surface cleaner 10 on a cleaning surface 100. The base 14 is pivotably coupled to the body 12 and is configured to move over the cleaning surface 100. The body 12 also includes a handle 16 opposite the base 14. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, the surface cleaner 10 is a spot cleaner. The spot cleaner shown in fig. 2 is configured to dispense fluid to a surface and to aspirate debris and soiled fluid through the hose 62 or wand (shown in a stowed position) to clean the surface.

The surface cleaner 10 (fig. 1 and 2) has a suction source 28 configured to generate a suction airflow along an air path between the suction inlet 18 and the exhaust 24. The recovery tank 30 is in communication with the suction inlet 18 and the suction source 28 along an air path. The recovery tank 30 is configured to separate liquid from air and to hold the liquid in the recovery tank 30. The recovery tank 30 includes a tank inlet 38 in fluid communication with an inlet conduit 58. The recovery tank 30 also includes a tank outlet 40 in fluid communication with an outlet conduit 42. In the illustrated embodiment, the tank outlet 40 includes one or more ribs 64. The ribs 64 inhibit large debris from entering the bin outlet 40. In operation, liquid and debris enter the suction inlet 18, move along an air path through the inlet duct 58 to the recovery tank 30, exit the tank inlet 38 in the recovery tank 30, move through the recovery tank 30 to the tank outlet 40, and move along the outlet duct 42 to the exhaust port 24. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the suction inlet 18 is in the base 14 of the surface cleaner 10. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, the air path is similar, but the suction inlet 18 is in the cleaning tool 60 rather than in the base 20.

The recovery tank 30 has an upper portion 32, a lower portion 34, and a sidewall 36 connecting the upper portion 32 and the lower portion 34. The recovery tank 30 has a cover 50 that is removably connected to the upper portion 32. The outlet conduit 42 is in communication with the exhaust port 24 and the outlet conduit 42 extends from the lower portion 34 toward the upper portion 32. The tank outlet 40 is positioned in the upper portion 32. The tank outlet 40 is in the air path between the recovery tank 30 and the outlet duct 42. When the cover 50 is connected to the recovery tank 36, the cover 50 forms an outlet chamber 44 adjacent to the tank outlet 40 and adjacent to at least a portion of the outlet conduit 42. As illustrated in fig. 4, 6 and 7, the lid 50 includes a lid top wall 90, a lid front wall 90' opposite the tank outlet 40, a lid rear wall 90 "opposite the lid front wall 90', a lid first side wall 90", and a lid second side wall 90' "opposite the lid first side wall 90". The top cover wall 90 is opposite the area open to the volume of the recovery tank 30. In other embodiments, the outlet chamber 44 is formed by one or more surrounding walls of the recovery tank 30 (rather than the cover 50). The outlet chamber 44 is defined by the surrounding cover walls 90, 90', 90", 90'", 90"" of the cover 50. Generally, the outlet chamber 44 is a region surrounding the tank outlet 40 or outlet conduit 42 that separates the tank outlet 40 from an adjacent region in the recovery tank 30. The cover 50 and the outlet chamber 44 prevent direct flow from the tank inlet 38 to the tank outlet 40. The indirect air path improves the separation of air and water as the air travels along path 80 from recovery tank inlet 58 to tank outlet 40 and outlet conduit 42 for exiting through tank outlet 40. The indirect air path inhibits liquid from exiting through the tank outlet 40.

In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 1 and 2, the surface cleaner 10 includes a fluid dispenser 22 configured to dispense cleaning liquid to the surface 100 to be cleaned. Cleaning liquid is stored in the supply tank 20. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the fluid dispenser 22 is positioned in the base 14 of the surface cleaner. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 2, the fluid dispenser is not shown but is positioned on the cleaning tool 60, which is positioned to dispense cleaning liquid to the surface when the cleaning tool 60 is in use. The supply tank 20 is in fluid communication with a fluid dispenser 22 via a fluid line (not shown). In one embodiment, the surface cleaner 10 is configured to aspirate debris and soiled liquid, but does not include a supply tank and a fluid dispenser.

In operation, air and fluid enter the recovery tank 30 through the tank inlet 38. Air and fluid travel along inlet conduit 58, out of tank inlet 38, into recovery tank 30. The tank inlet 38 is in communication with the suction inlet 18. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 4 and 6, the inlet conduit 58 extends from the lower portion 34. As shown in fig. 4, the recovery tank 30 includes an inlet top wall 92, an inlet rear wall 92', an inlet front wall 92 "opposite the inlet rear wall 92', an inlet first side wall 92 '", and an inlet second side wall 92' "opposite the inlet first side wall 92 '". In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the surrounding inlet walls 92, 92', 92", 92'", 92"" extend around the tank inlet 38, forming the inlet chamber 46 surrounding the tank inlet 38. In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, an inlet rear wall 92' separates the tank inlet 38 from the tank outlet 40. In one embodiment, the inlet front wall is absent and the tank inlet 38 is separated from the tank outlet 40 by the cover 50, and the inlet chamber 46 is defined by the cover front wall 90'. In one embodiment, the lid front wall 90' is omitted and the tank inlet 38 is separated from the tank outlet 40 by an inlet rear wall 92', and the outlet chamber 44 is defined by the inlet rear wall 92 '. The inlet walls 92, 92', 92", 92'", 92"" forming the inlet chamber 46 and the cover walls 90, 90', 90", 90'", 90"" forming the outlet chamber 44 work individually and together to separate the tank inlet 38 and the tank outlet 40 such that air must travel in an indirect path and through the recovery tank 36 in order to exit through the tank outlet 40. In one embodiment, the inlet conduit 58 has a tank inlet 38. In the embodiment shown in fig. 8, the inlet conduit 58 has two tank inlets 38, 38' to the recovery tank 30. The tank inlets 38, 38' are positioned in a generally T-shaped arrangement relative to the inlet conduit 58. The liquid and debris flow along path 80'. Liquid and debris leave the inlet conduit 58 and enter the tank inlet 38, 38' at an angle 102 between 60 degrees and 110 degrees. In other words, the liquid and debris exiting the tank inlets 38, 38 'is transverse to the flow 80' within the inlet conduit 58. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 8 and 9, the inlet conduit 58 includes a flow splitter 66. The diverter 66 is positioned such that the liquid and debris flow 80 'is split, with a portion exiting the tank inlet 38 and the remainder exiting the tank inlet 38'. As shown in fig. 9, the inlet conduit 58 has a cross-sectional distance 84 and the tank inlets 38, 38 'have cross-sectional distances 86, 86', respectively. The flow 80' flowing through the cross-sectional distance 84 of the inlet conduit 58 is separated by the flow splitter 66 and exits through the cross-sectional distances 86, 86' of the tank inlets 38, 38'. The two tank inlets 38, 38' create a larger cross-sectional area for the liquid and debris to flow through, thus reducing the velocity of the incoming liquid and debris. The reduced velocity of the incoming liquid and debris entering the recovery tank 30 reduces turbulence and foaming in the recovery tank 30.

In the illustrated embodiment, the recovery tank 36 further includes a baffle wall 52 extending from the lower portion 34. The baffle wall 52 is positioned between the tank inlet 38 and the tank outlet 40. The baffle wall 52 forms another barrier between the tank inlet 38 and the tank outlet 40 and helps reduce waves and splashes in the recovery tank 30.

In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 5 and 6, the top portion 48 of the outlet duct, including the tank outlet 40, extends above the outlet sidewall 36' adjacent the tank outlet 40. The tank outlet 40 extends above the outlet sidewall 36' by a distance 82. When the cover 50 is attached, as shown in fig. 4, the outlet duct 42 and the tank outlet 40 are covered. When the cover 50 is removed from the recovery tank 30, the outlet duct 42 and the tank outlet 40 are exposed above the outlet sidewall 36' by a desired distance 82 such that the outlet duct 42 is accessible from the top by a user. In one embodiment, distance 82 is between 1 millimeter and 20 millimeters.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 5 and 6, the cover 50 is completely removable from the recovery tank 30. In one embodiment, the lid 50 may be opened to allow access to the recovery tank 30 for emptying, cleaning, or maintenance, but the lid 50 remains coupled to the recovery tank 30 (e.g., via a hinge). In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the lid 50 is attached to the recovery tank 30 by a latch 70 and is held by the interaction of a pawl 72 and a protrusion 74. In other embodiments, the cover 50 may be attached to the recovery tank by a snap fit, quarter turn lock, or other connection means, as desired to accommodate the shape and desired operation of the recovery tank.

In one embodiment, the recovery tank 30 further includes a front portion 54 and a rear portion 56. In the case where the surface cleaner is an upright cleaner, the front portion 54 is in the direction of forward movement and the rear portion 56 is in the opposite direction to the forward movement. In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the tank inlet 38 is positioned in the front portion 54 and the tank outlet 40 is positioned in the rear portion 56. In one embodiment, the tank inlet 38 is positioned in the front portion 54 and the tank outlet 40 is positioned in the rear portion 56. By separating the tank inlet 38 from the tank outlet 40, the debris laden liquid has a greater distance of travel, thereby improving separation of the debris from the liquid.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A surface cleaner, comprising:

a body;

a handle positioned on the body;

a suction inlet;

an exhaust port;

a suction source configured to generate a suction airflow along an air path between the suction inlet and the exhaust;

a recovery tank in communication with the suction inlet and the suction source along the air path;

this collection box includes:

the upper part of the upper part,

a cover removably connected to the upper portion, the recovery tank further comprising

The lower part of the lower part is provided with a plurality of grooves,

side walls connecting the upper portion and the lower portion,

a tank inlet in communication with the suction inlet, an

An outlet conduit within the recovery tank, the outlet conduit in communication with the exhaust port, wherein the outlet conduit extends from the lower portion toward the upper portion, and wherein the cover forms an outlet chamber adjacent the outlet conduit when the cover is connected to the recovery tank.

2. The surface cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a supply tank in communication with the dispenser.

3. The surface cleaner of claim 1 or 2, wherein the outlet duct includes a tank outlet in the upper portion in the air path between the recovery tank and the outlet duct.

4. The surface cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tank inlet comprises an inlet chamber formed by inlet walls, wherein the inlet walls are part of the recovery tank.

5. The surface cleaner of claim 4, wherein the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber are separated by at least one of a cover wall and an inlet wall.

6. The surface cleaner of any one of the preceding claims wherein the outlet duct is surrounded on 3 sides by the cover.

7. The surface cleaner of any one of the preceding claims wherein the outlet duct is surrounded on 4 sides by the cover.

8. The surface cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the outlet conduit extends above the outlet sidewall of the recovery tank.

9. The surface cleaner of claim 8 wherein the outlet conduit extends 1 to 20 millimeters above the outlet sidewall.

10. The surface cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a top portion of the outlet duct is accessible from the top when the cover is removed from the recovery tank.

11. The surface cleaner of any one of claims 4 to 10 wherein the lower portion of the recovery tank includes a baffle wall positioned between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber.

12. The surface cleaner of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the recovery tank includes a front portion and a rear portion.

13. The surface cleaner of claim 12, wherein the tank inlet is positioned in one of the front portion and the rear portion, and the outlet conduit is positioned in the other of the front portion and the rear portion.

14. A surface cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a baffle wall is positioned between the tank inlet and the tank outlet.

15. The surface cleaner of any one of claims 4 to 14 wherein the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber are formed in the recovery tank.

16. A surface cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the recovery tank comprises a second tank inlet in communication with the suction inlet.

17. The surface cleaner of claim 16, wherein the tank inlet and the second tank inlet are positioned such that liquid and debris flow substantially tangentially to the airflow through the inlet conduit.

18. The surface cleaner of any one of claims 16 to 17, wherein the inlet duct includes a diverter.