EP0404278A2

EP0404278A2 - Floor washing apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP0404278A2
Application number: EP90202186A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Scott L. Duncan; Peter A. Basile; Hugh F. Groth; Edwin Fitzwater
Original assignee: TRC Acquisition Corp
Current assignee: TRC Acquisition Corp
Priority date: 1984-03-02
Filing date: 1984-11-02
Publication date: 1990-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 2004-11-02
Also published as: EP0404278B1; EP0174312A1; EP0404278A3; DE3485060D1; AU3671884A; DE3486370D1; EP0404279A3; EP0404279A2; ATE118324T1; DE3486370T2; ATE121918T1; EP0174312A4; EP0174312B1; WO1985003853A1; DE3486386D1; DE3486386T2; EP0404279B1

Abstract

The machine has a spray nozzle 42 for delivering fresh liquid to the floor and a suction nozzle 46 for removing waste liquid from the floor. The fresh liquid tank 48 and the waste liquid tank 50 form an assembly which is mounted on a frame 30 and secured by a cam latch 54. Waste liquid is drawn from the nozzle 46 to a separator 58 having a conical shroud 172 by a pump 62 and is conveyed to the waste tank 50 by a conduit 181 which passes through the fresh liquid tank 48. The conduit 181 is flared at its upper end 182 and carries a handle 52 by which the tank assembly can be lifted. Keyways 184 and 185 in the tanks fit around the conduits for the supply of pressurized air to the spray nozzle and the return of waste fluid from the suction nozzle.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cleaning devices and more particularly to an improved machine for the cleaning of surfaces such as carpets, floors and the like.
In carpet cleaning machines, a liquid is projected onto the carpet and the dirty liquid is removed by a suction nozzle. An air-liquid separator is generally provided to remove air from the dirty, waste liquid and disperse the air into the atmosphere. Cleaning fluid may be added to the liquid. Usually the liquids trickle into a spray nozzle since they are above the spray nozzle. The liquids may be mixed in a mixing manifold. A typical example of such carpet cleaners is illustrated in U.S. Patent 2,986,764 issued June 6, 1961 to D. C. Krammes. Other systems use various arrangements of tanks, valves and controls to carry out carpet cleaning operations. In spite of all of these efforts directed to the cleaning of floors and carpets, there has not, heretofore, been provided a machine adapted for domestic use which provides effective cleaning of surfaces such as carpets, floors and the like, which is simple to use and sufficiently low in cost to be attractive to domestic users.
Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved machine for cleaning surfaces such as carpets, floors and the like which can be manufactured and sold at low cost and which, nevertheless, is both simple to use and effective in operation.
The objects and advantages of the invention are obtained in a machine having improved arrangements of containers for cleaning fluids, such as shampoos and concentrated cleaning solutions, fresh liquids, such as clean water and for the reception of waste liquids. The machine has a nozzle for projecting the liquids onto the surface to be cleaned and for picking up the waste liquid from the surface. Both the separation of waste liquid and air and the delivery of the liquids is conjointly carried out with suction and air pressure generated in a housing to which a common air pump is connected. The machine is further improved by facilities for removably attaching the containers to the frame of the machine and for the controlled and selective application of the liquids with different concentrations of cleaning liquid and fresh liquid.
Briefly described, a machine in accordance with the invention for cleaning surfaces such as carpets, floors and the like has a frame. An air pump is mounted on the frame. A housing communicating with the pump has a suction inlet and pressurized air outlets. A suction nozzle is mounted on the frame at the end of the frame which is disposed adjacent to the surface to be cleaned. A liquid projecting nozzle is also mounted on the frame at the end adjacent to the surface to be cleaned. A plurality of containers for concentrated cleaning liquid, fresh and waste liquid are utilized. The containers are removably mounted to the frame and the housing with a conduit connecting the housing and the waste liquid container to communicate waste liquid separated from air and liquid transported into the housing to the waste liquid container. A conduit for air and waste liquid from the suction nozzle is connected to the suction inlet of the housing. A coupling between the pressurized air outlets, the cleaning fluid container and the fresh liquid container provide for the pressurization thereof. A further coupling is connected to the outlets from the fresh liquid and cleaning liquid containers, in which coupling the fresh and cleaning liquids flow together to an outlet to the liquid projection nozzle so as to apply the fresh and cleaning liquids to the surface. This coupling utilizes simplified mixing and valving to control the flow of the liquid to the liquid projecting nozzle and to provide selected concentrations of the cleaning liquid and the fresh liquid.
Other features and advantages of the invention are provided by the arrangements used for assembling the containers, for providing the pressurized air and suction, and for separating waste liquid picked up from the surface to be cleaned from the air, the container for the cleaning liquid which is adapted to be readily attached and removed from the housing of the machine and the liquid projection and spray nozzles themselves.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, as well as the presently preferred embodiment thereof will become more apparent from a reading of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective of a cleaning device incorporating the principles of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of the cleaning device of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cleaning device.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the spray nozzle incorporating the principles of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a plan view of a control switch and mixer in its initial closed position incorporating the principles of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a plan view of the control switch and mixer in its spotting position.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the trigger and spotting actuator assembly incorporating the principles of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a top view of a portion of the water tank and separator assembly.
Figure 11 is a combined cross-sectional view taken along lines 11-11 of Figure 10 and a fluid schematic of the fluid system incorporating the principles of the present invention.
Figure 12 is a back view of the separator housing incorporating the principles of the present invention.
Figure 13 is a partial cross-section taken along lines 13-13 of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a top view of the separator taken along lines 14-14 of Figure 3.
Figure 15 is a top view of the water tank taken along lines 15-15 of Figure 3.
Figure 16 is a top view of the waste fluid tank taken along lines 16-16 of Figure 3.
Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of the cam latch device in its unlatched position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A cleaning device according to the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 as including a frame 30 to which are mounted a pair of wheels 32 by strut 34. As illustrated in Figure 2, the wheels are in their operable position allowing the cleaning device to move across the surface to be cleaned. For the stored position, the wheels are rotated forward or counter-clockwise in Figure 2 and comes to rest below the front end of the frame 30. Extending from the top end of the frame 30 is a handle 36 having fluid activation trigger 38 and a spotter actuator 40. Mounted to the front end of the frame is a spray nozzle 42 for projecting cleaning fluid mixtures onto the surface to be cleaned and a suction nozzle 46 mounted to pipe 44 for removing fluids from the surface to be cleaned.
A water tank 48 and waste fluid or return tank 50 are connected as a single unit including a handle 52. The tanks are removably mounted to the frame 30 and are secured thereto by a cam latch 54 engaging the bottom of the waste fluid tank 50. An upper housing 56 mounted to frame 30 above the tank unit includes an air fluid separator 58, a motor 60 and a pump or fan 62 as illustrated in Figure 3. An opening 57 is provided in the upper housing 56 to view the fluid in the separator 58 which has a transparent body. An electrical switch 63 activators the motor 60 and an electric cord 65 provides power.
A container or cartridge of detergent, shampoo or other concentrated cleaning fluid 64 including a collar 66 is mounted to docking port 68 in the upper housing 56 as illustrated in Figure 2. The cleaning fluid is mixed with water from the water tank and projected through spray nozzle 42.
Initially, the water tank 48 is filled with fluid and mounted to the frame 30 and securely held thereto by cam latch 54. A concentrated cleaning fluid cartridge 64 is mounted into docking port 68. Now the system is ready for operation. As will be explained more fully below, the cleaning device operates by activating the motor 63 to turn on the motor to operate the fan and pump 62 to create a force to project a mixture of cleaning fluid and water out of spray nozzle 42 on the surface as well as to create a suction to draw fluid through suction nozzle 46. With the trigger 38 in its normal position, no fluid is dispensed. Upon depressing trigger 38, the amount of fluid projected from spray nozzle 42 can be controlled. If a stubborn stain or especially dirty surface is to be cleaned, the spotting actuator 40 is operated to increase the mixing ratio of detergent to water. The dirty or waste fluid from suction nozzle 46 is provided to separator 58 wherein the air is separated from the dirty fluid which is provided to waste fluid tank 50. The air is provided back through the fan/pump 62 to be re-introduced to the spray nozzle 42. Once the cleaning is done, the tank assembly is removed by releasing cam latch 54 and the contents of the waste fluid tank 50 are emptied. This cycle of operation may be repeated.
The spray nozzle 42, which is illustrated in detail in Figure 4, is an air venturi system which draws a cleaning fluid mixture and projects it onto the cleaning surface. Spray nozzle 42 includes an air manifold having two complementary pieces 70 and 72 joined along a line or plane 74 (see Figure 2). As illustrated in detail in Figure 4 with the top air manifold 72 removed, the nozzle of the air manifold is generally fan-shaped having a plurality of nozzle channels 76 extending therethrough. Unitary to the air manifold is an inlet tube or conduit 78 connected to a source of pressurized air or the output of the fan 62. Mounted interior the air manifold is a fluid manifold 80 having a plurality of fingers 82 extending therefrom and lying in the nozzle channels 76. Supports 84 and 85, which are integral with the air manifold elements 70 and 72, position the fluid manifold 80 and its fingers 82 central within the air manifold and supports 84 and the nozzle channels 76. The fluid manifold 80 includes an inlet 86 extending through the back wall of the air manifold and is connected by tubing 88 to the source of a cleaning fluid mixture.
Air introduced into conduit 78 moves through the air manifold around the liquid manifold 80 and fingers 82 and exit nozzle channels 76. The restriction of the air through the nozzle channels creates a venturi effect so as to draw or educe cleaning fluid mixture from the fingers 82 to be forceably ejected onto a surface to be cleaned. Although the system has been designed to operate on a pure eduction principle, it is preferred that the source of cleaning fluid mixture be pressurized so as to maintain an even flow of cleaning mixture fluid to the spray nozzle 42. Since the principle force to draw the cleaning fluid mixture is the venturi effect produced by the air manifold, the pressure provided to the cleaning fluid source is substantially smaller than that provided to the air manifold.
The cleaning fluid mixture provided to the spray nozzle 42 by tubing 88 is from a control switch and mixer illustrated specifically in Figures 5-8 and operated by the trigger actuator 40 and the spotting actuator 38 illustrated in detail in Figure 9. A mixing V or connector 90 which is mounted to the frame 30 has a mixing outlet connected to tube 88, a water inlet connected to tube 92 and a cleaning fluid inlet connected to tubing 94. The water from tube 92 and the cleaning fluid from tube 94 are mixed in the V 90 and provided to outlet tube 88. Engaging one side of the outlet tube 88 is an anvil 96 and adjacent one side of the water inlet tube 92 is an anvil 98. Pivotally connected to the frame 30 at 100 is a rocker arm 102 having hammers 104 and 106 respectively on opposite sides of the pivot 100. A biasing means or spring 108 is received in a spring housing 110 on the frame 30 and engages the rocker arm 102 around post 112. The biasing means or spring 108 biases the rocker arm 102 counter-clockwise in Figure 5. A slot 114 in the rocker arm 102 receives a control link or wire 116 connected to the spotter actuator 40 and the trigger 38.
Without operation of the trigger 38 or spotting actuator 40, spring 108 rotates the rocker arm 102 to its initial position illustrated in Figure 5 such that hammer 104 is pressed against anvil 96 completely restricting the tubing 88 at the outlet of the mixer 90. This is illustrated specifically in the cross-section of Figure 6. In this position, no cleaning fluid mixture is provided to the spray nozzle 42. Thus, if the electric motor is actuated, only air is blown onto the surface to be cleaned. This could produce an air drying if desired.
With movement of the control wire 116 to the right, the rocker arm 102 rotates counter-clockwise moving the hammer 104 away from the anvil 96 so as to begin to open the closed outlet tube 88. Dependent upon the amount of motion of wire 116 and pivotal rotation of rocker arm 102, the flow rate of cleaning fluid mixture can be controlled. The rocker arm 102 can be rotated to a position allowing unrestricted flow of the outlet tube 88 as well as unrestricted flow from water inlet tubing 92.
Further rightward motion of wire 116 and counter-clockwise rotation of rocker arm 102 causes hammer 106 to engage the water inlet tube 92 and being restricting its flow into the mixing V 90. The degree of restriction of water inlet 92 permitted is defined by a stop 118 and is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. This restricted position of water inlet tube 92 defines a specific ratio of concentrated cleaning fluid from tube 94 and water from tube 92 to remove stubborn stains or spots and is known as the spotting position.
Thus, it can be seen that the rocker arm 102 sequentially operates from a first position illustrated in Figure 5 wherein the outlet is restricted by anvil 96 and hammer 104 for zero flow rate through a first plurality of intermediate angular positions having intermediate restrictions of the outlet to define various flow rates and a second plurality of intermediate angular positions having intermediate restrictions of the water inlet 92 provided by anvil 98 and hammer 106 to define the mixing ratio. Thus, a single assembly is provided which controls both the flow rate of dispensing cleaning fluid mixture as well as the mixing ratio of cleaning fluid to water. If required, the rocker arm can be reshaped such that hammer 106 will begin to restrict water inlet tube 92 while hammer 104 also restricts outlet tube 88.
The operation of the rocker arm 102 is controlled via wire 116 by the spotting actuator 40 and trigger 38 illustrated in detail in Figure 9. The spotting actuator 40 is pivotally mounted to the handle 36 at 120 as is trigger 38. The control wire 116 is connected to post 122 on spotting actuator 40. Post 122 lies in a elongated slot 124 in the trigger 38. The spotting actuator 40 extends from the top of the handle while the trigger 38 extends from the bottom of the handle. This allows activation of either control with the same hand that holds and directs the cleaning device. The spotting actuator 40 may be controlled by the thumb and the trigger 38 by the other fingers which wrap about the handle 36.
Counter-clockwise rotation of trigger 38 as illustrated in Figure 9 from its initial position causes counter-clockwise rotation of the spotting actuator 40 and moves the control wire 116 to the right. The trigger 38 is designed such that the total amount of angular motion which it is capable of travelling is limited to produce via control wire 116 rotation of the rocker arm 102 from the fully restricted condition of outlet tube 88 of mixer 90 to the completely unrestricted condition of outlet tube 88 and no restriction of the water inlet tube 92. The restriction of water inlet tube 92 by hammer 106 is produced by the further motion by travel produced by spotting actuator 40. The counter-clockwise rotation of spotter actuator 40 moves the wire 116 further to the right without further motion of trigger 38 since post 122 moves in slot 124. It should also be noted that spotter actuator 40 may be operated independent of trigger 38 because of the slot 124. The biasing means 108 of rocker arm 102 is sufficiently strong to clamp the outlet tubing 88 and retains the spotting actuator 38 and trigger 40 in their position illustrated in Figure 9 via wire 116.
The water line 92 and the cleaning fluid line 94 of the mixing V 90 are connected to the fluid circuit illustrated in Figure 11. A block 126 includes an air port 128 and a water port 130. An air inlet nipple 132 and a water outlet nipple 134 are provided in the top of water tank 48. A tube 136 extends down from the water outlet nipple 134 to the bottom of the water tank 48. The nipples 132 and 134 are received in ports 128 and 130 respectively of the block 126. As will be explained more fully below, the block 126 is mounted to the separator 58 to receive the nipples 132 and 134 during mounting of the tank assembly onto the frame as illustrated in Figure 10. A ball 138 in water port 130 acts as a check valve to prevent back flow into the water tank 48.
Connected to the other end of water port 130 is a first fitting 140 having a main outlet 142 connected to the mixing water inlet tube 92 and a restricted outlet 44. The axis of the inlet of fitting 140 is coincident with the axis of the restricted outlet 144 and is orthogonal to the main outlet 142 axis. The cross-sectional area of main outlet 142 is substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of restricted outlet 144. By way of example, the main outlet may have a cross-sectional area four times that of the restricted outlet.
Connected to the first fitting 140 about restricted outlet 144 is a second fitting 146. A primary cleaning fluid inlet 148 of fitting 146 is connected to the concentrated cleaning fluid container 64 by tube 150. The restricted outlet 144 provides a secondary inlet to the second fitting 146. The outlet 152 of the second fitting 146 is connected to cleaning fluid inlet pipe 94 of the mixer 90. The fan or pump 62 provides pressurized air via tubing 154 to an input of the concentrated cleaning fluid container 64 and by tubing 156 to water tank 48 via air port 128. The primary outlet of pump 62 is through conduit 158 to the air manifold of spray nozzle 142.
When the outlet tubing 88 of mixer 90 is totally restricted, no fluid is flowing in the circuitry of Figure 11. Once the restriction of outlet tubing 88 is removed, water under pressure leaves the tank 48 through tubing 136, nipple 134 and port 132 to raise check valve 138 and the flow through main outlet 142 and tubing 92 to the mixing valve 90. Similarly, concentrated cleaning fluid from container 64 flows via conduit 150 and fitting 146 to tubing 94 and mixer 90. In this state, very little water, if any, exists the restricted outlet 144 from the first fitting 140 into the second fitting 146. For spotting or any other condition wherein the water inlet tubing 92 is restricted, the flow in main outlet 142 of fitting 140 is reduced and therefore the flow in restricted outlet 144 is increased. Although this flow introduces water into the concentrated cleaning fluid, it does not dilute it compared to the unrestricted waterline flow mixture. It also increases the pressure in tubing 94. This allows for greater flow rate of the concentrated cleaning fluid into the mixer 90 and thus the resulting cleaning fluid mixture exiting the mixer 90 has a substantially increased ratio of cleaning fluid to water.
As can be seen from the circuit of Figure 11, the water and the cleaning fluid supply of the system are pressurized. This produces even control of the fluids such that their mixing ratio and flow rate can be assured. The system also takes advantage of the natural siphoning effect which results from the venturi spray nozzle 42.
Realizing this, the pressure provided by pump 62 via tubing 154 and 156 to the concentrated cleaning fluid supply and the water supply respectively is small compared to the overall air pressure provided via conduit 158 to the venturi spray nozzle 42. Although the pressure supply via tubing 154 and 156 is small, it is very important that it be constant to maintain the desired mixing ratio and flow rates. It should also be noted that by providing the water outlet on the top of tank 48 and the secondary passage 144 of fitting 140 being vertical, the force of gravity helps to further reduce the amount of fluid flowing through restrictive passage 144 into the concentrated cleaning fluid fitting 146.
A pump capable of producing the high air flow rate for the venturi spray nozzle as well as a uniform small flow rate for the pressurized water and cleaning fluid containers is illustrated specifically in Figures 3 and 12-14. The separator 58 includes a substantially cylindrical housing 160 with a top rim 162 which forms the housing for the fan or air pump. The pressurized air exiting the chamber formed by the wall of the rim 162 enters tangentially as illustrated in Figure 14 to a first portion 163 of primary outlet 164. The conduit 158 connected to the venturi spray nozzle is connected to second portion 165 of primary outlet 164.
A pair of secondary smaller outlets 166 and 168 are provided in a wall 169 of the primary outlet 164 and aligned parallel to the flow axis of the second portion of the primary outlet 164. The axis of the secondary outlets 166 and 168 are perpendicular to the flow axis of the second portion of the primary outlet. A ledge or wall 167 extends transverse to the flow axis of the second portion 165 of the primary outlet 164 to create a zone of relatively constant pressure compared to the remainder of the primary outlet. The secondary outlets are adjacent the ledge 167 in this zone. As is evident from the drawings, the cross-sectional area of the primary outlet 164 is quite substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of the secondary outlets 164 and 166. This particular structure provides a uniform pressure at secondary outlets 166 and 168.
An air inlet 170 to the separator housing 160 is illustrated in Figure 12 and provides a flow axis tangential to the cylindrical separator housing 160. This causes a centrifugal flow within the interior. A conical shroud 172, illustrated in Figure 3 interior the cylindrical housing 160 has interior thereto an air outlet 174 covered by screen 176. The shroud 172 and the outlet 174 are an integral part of plate 178 which is mounted to the cylindrical separator housing 160. Fluid outlet 180 at the bottom of the cylindrical housing is provided at the bottom of the cylindrical separator housing 160. The outlet 174 is displaced vertically and horizontally from the lower edge of the conical shroud 172. Dirty fluid and air enter the separator housing 160 through opening 170 and begin a spiraling down and out motion. The shroud 172 forces the air fluid mixture to the outside of the cylindrical housing or that portion having a greater radius and velocity.
By using a conical shroud, the area at the entry port 170 is not diminished to retard flow of the mixture into the separator chamber while directing the downward moving mixture to the highest velocity portion of the flow thereby maximizing separation of the air and the liquid. The heavier fluid moves towards the cylindrical housing 160 and continues down through outlet 180. The lighter air turns a sharp angle and exits through screen 176 and outlet 174 into the fan or pump 62. The position of the outlet 174 should not be too close to the outer edge of the shroud, otherwise the exiting air will not be completely separated from the fluid. Similarly, if the outlet 174 is displaced too far from the edge of the shroud, the system will choke. The liquid outlet 180 of the separator 58 is connected to the waste fluid tank 50 by a conduit 181.
The tank assembly including fresh water tank 48 and waste fluid tank 50 is illustrated in Figures 3, 15 and 16. The clean water tank 48 includes a U-shaped keyway 184 extending along its length. In the top portion of the keyway as illustrated in Figure 15 lies the conduit 181 connecting the liquid outlet 180 of the separator 58 and the inlet to the return or dirty fluid tank 50. In the bottom of the keyway mounted to the frame 30 are received air conduit 158 providing pressurized air to the spray nozzle and return conduit 173 bringing waste fluid back from the suction nozzle 46. Thus, the air and fluid conduits 158 and 173 respectively form the key for the tank assembly or unit keyways. Similarly, as illustrated in Figure 16, the return tank 50 also has a longitudinal U-shaped keyway 185 receiving conduits 158 and 173.
The conduit 181 is flared at 182 at its upper end to provide a funnel and includes a flange 183 extending therefrom to engage the top of the fresh liquid water tank 48 and provide the handle 52 for carrying the tank units. The lower end of conduit 181 includes a rim 191 which is received in an indenture 188 in the neck 190 extending from the return tank 50 into the keyway 184 of the fresh water tank 48. The base 193 of neck 190 is rectangular and is received in rectangular shoulder 195 in the bottom of water tank 48. The fresh water tank 48 has an inlet 186 covered by cap 187 which is secured to the handle 52.
To assemble the tank unit, the waste fluid tank 50 is inserted onto the lower end of the clean water tank with the neck 190 extending into the keyway 184 and base 193 in shoulder 195. The conduit 181 is then inserted from the other end snapping ridge 191 into indenture 188 to mount the conduit to the waste fluid tank and securely mount the clean water tank and the waste fluid tank together. It is evident that the neck 190 and base 193 of the waste fluid tank extending into the keyway and shoulder of the clean water tank 48 stabilizes the tank assembly.
A portion 192 of keyway 185 of the waste fluid tank 50 is inclined to receive a conduit 194 between the fluid return conduit 173 and tube 44 leading to the suction nozzle 46. The bottom of the tank 50 includes a recess 196 (Figure 1) having a camming surface 198 therein. As illustrated in Figure 3, the cam latch 54 lies in the recess 196 and rests against the camming surface 198 of the return tank 50. As will be explained more fully, the cam latch 54 will be rotated into recess 196 to initially align and ride on camming surface 198 to move the tank assembly along the keys formed by conduits 158 and 173 into alignment with the upper housing 56. This mates the flared portion 182 of conduit 181 with the outlet 180 of the separator 58 as well as nipples 132 and 134 into port 128 and 130 respectively of block 126.
As illustrated in Figures 3 and 17, the cam latch 54 includes a substantially L-shaped handle 203 having a camming surface 201 and a lever portion 203. The camming surface 201 engages the camming surface 198 in the bottom of the waste fluid tank 50. The handle 54 is pivotally mounted at its lower end at 205 to the block 207 of the frame 30. An L-shaped latch 209 is pivotally connected at 211 the juncture of the legs to the L-shaped handle 203. A spring 213 engages the interior of handle 203 and one of the legs of latch 209 to bias the latch counter-clockwise relative to the handle as illustrated in Figures 3 and 17. A ridge or shoulder 215 in the block 207 forms a catch for a leg of latch 209 which acts as a detent to lock the cam latch in the position illustrated in Figure 3. The unlatch position, allowing removal of the tank assembly from the cleaning device, is illustrated in Figure 17.
In order to release the cam latch 54 from the position illustrated in Figure 3, the latch 209 is rotated clockwise against the spring 213 with the handle 203 stationary allowing the detent and the latch 209 to ride out of the cam latch or ridge 215 on block 207. The cam latch 54 may then be rotated counter-clockwise. To mount the tank assembly to the cleaning device, the tank assembly is mounted with the keyways 184 and 185 on the keys formed by conduits 158 and 173 and 194. The cam latch 54 is rotated back into recess 196 in the bottom of return tank 50 and engages camming surface 198. The detent portion 20 of latch 209 rides along the exterior edge 217 of block 207 until it exceeds the top thereof and falls into the catch 215.

Claims

1. A cleaning device comprising a suction nozzle, suction means for removing fluid from a surface to be cleaned through said suction nozzle, separating means between said suction nozzle and said suction means for separating liquid and gas from said said removed fluid, outputting said gas to said suction means, and retaining said liquid, and said separating means having a fluid inlet, a gas outlet displaced from said fluid inlet, a vertically increasing conical shroud, said fluid inlet being adjacent to the top exterior of said shroud and said gas outlet being interior of said shroud.

2. A cleaning device according to Claim 1 wherein the axis of said fluid inlet is tangential to said conical shroud to produce a spiral flow.

3. Apparatus for use in cleaning device having a spray nozzle for spraying cleaning fluid onto a surface, a suction nozzle for removing fluid from said surface, separator means for separating air from said removed fluid having an arrangement of cleaning and waste fluid tanks for said cleaning fluid and said removed fluid characterized in that said cleaning fluid tank has an outlet connected to said spray nozzle, said separator means has an inlet connected to said suction nozzle, an air outlet and a fluid outlet, said waste fluid tank has an inlet, and connector means mechanically connecting said cleaning fluid and waste fluid tanks displaced along a common axis together as a unit and fluidically connecting said separator means fluid outlet to said waste fluid tank inlet.

4. The apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein said connector means includes a conduit having at one end a flange transverse from its flow axis engaging the top of said cleaning fluid tank, traversing the length of said cleaning fluid tank and connected at said other end to said waste fluid tank inlet.

5. The apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said flange extends beyond said cleaning fluid tank to form a handle for said tank unit.

6. The apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said cleaning fluid tank includes a longitudinal recess and said conduit lies in said recess.

7. The apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein said connector means includes a conduit, said waste fluid tank inlet includes a neck extending into said longitudinal recess of said cleaning fluid tank and receiving said conduit.

8. The apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein said conduit is flared at the end thereof opposite to said neck to form a funnel, said funnel extending to the fluid outlet of said separator means.

9. The apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein said cleaning fluid tank, waste fluid tank and connector means comprise a tank unit removably mounted to said cleaning device at said separator means fluid outlet.

10. The apparatus according to Claim 9 further comprising latch means for releasably securing said tank unit to said cleaning device, said waste fluid tank including a recess to receive said latch means.

11. The apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein said latch means comprises a cam movably mounted on said cleaning fluid device engaging the bottom of said waste liquid container for moving said tank unit into said separator means by moving said cam from a first to a second position, and means engaging said cam to lock said cam in said second position to retain said container in said separator means.

12. The apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein said recess in said waste fluid container is in the bottom wall thereof, a camming surface in said recess, said cam lying in said recess and engaging said camming surface in aligning said container.

13. The apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein said means engaging said cam includes a catch on said cleaning device and a detent movably mounted to said cam to rest in said catch when said cam is in said second position.