EP0717952B1 - A device for cleaning surfaces - Google Patents
A device for cleaning surfaces Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0717952B1 EP0717952B1 EP95830533A EP95830533A EP0717952B1 EP 0717952 B1 EP0717952 B1 EP 0717952B1 EP 95830533 A EP95830533 A EP 95830533A EP 95830533 A EP95830533 A EP 95830533A EP 0717952 B1 EP0717952 B1 EP 0717952B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- steam
- collection tank
- centrifugal fan
- conduit
- cleaned
- 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 - Lifetime
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts 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
- A47L11/4036—Parts or details of the surface treating tools
- A47L11/4038—Disk shaped surface treating tools
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/34—Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts 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
- A47L11/4036—Parts or details of the surface treating tools
- A47L11/4044—Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts 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
- A47L11/408—Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
- A47L11/4088—Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
Definitions
- the present invention relates particularly but not exclusively to the field of floor cleaning.
- the invention relates to a device which on command advances on a surface to be cleaned, and comprises a steam delivery conduit which directs, on command, a stream of vapour directly on to said surface.
- the prior art teaches a device of this type, in which the steam delivery conduit is connected to a steam generator; the device is generally provided with a steam brush out of which flows a steam jet coming from the steam delivery conduit, and a rotatable roller brush for entraining the dirty liquid forming on the surface into a collection tank.
- This roller brush rotates by friction against said surface when advanced thereupon.
- roller brush constitutes an obstacle against smooth advancement of the device on the surface. This can lead to the device's being hard to push and manoeuvre, especially when operated by a single operator by hand.
- a further disadvantage of prior art devices is that at the end of the operation the cleaned surface is still wet.
- the main aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing a constructionally simple and economical device with which an operator can clean surfaces with reasonable expenditure of energy.
- the mechanical energy can advantageously be used for activating means for collecting the dirty liquid produced on the surface being cleaned, and for entraining same into a collection tank.
- An advantage of the invention is represented by the fact that said means for collecting and entraining the dirty liquid are very simple and involve low energy consumption.
- the mechanical energy made available can also be advantageously used, for example, to rotate the means for operating rotatably mounted on the device, such as, for example, a steam brush which, as well as issuing a jet of steam, scrubs the surface, or a steam brush which collects the dirty liquid from the surface.
- the steam brush can act on the surface by scrubbing energetically and continuously thereupon with only a reasonable energy expenditure on the part of the operator.
- a further advantage of the invention is that it does not require an electric motor to drive the brushes and therefore involves none of the risks usually connected with the presence of electric current near wet surfaces.
- a further advantage of the invention is that it provides a device which is fitted with means for collecting the dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned, acting while the device is being moved back and forth on the surface. At the end of the operation the surface is dry.
- 1 denotes in its entirety a device for cleaning surfaces, which advances on command on a floor 21 to be cleaned and which comprises a steam brush 3 connected to a delivery conduit 6.
- the delivery conduit 6 is passed through by a flow of steam which forms a vapour jet directed at the floor 21.
- a sleeve 2 is fitted on the steam brush 3 for attaching a steam pipe, of known type and not illustrated in the figures, connected to a steam generator, also of known type.
- the steam arriving from the pipe is slightly heated to a pressure of usually between 3 and 4 bars.
- the device 1 further comprises means for collecting and entraining the dirty liquid which forms on the floor 21 towards a collection tank 4 solidly mounted to the steam brush 3.
- These means for collecting and entraining comprise, in the embodiment of figures 1 and 2, a roller brush 7 which directs the dirty liquid towards the collection tank 4 by means of a ramp 8.
- the roller brush 7 comprises two coaxial half-brushes distanced one from the other.
- the device further comprises means for transforming part of the steam energy in the delivery conduit 6 into mechanical energy.
- the means for transforming preferably comprise an impeller 5 of a steam turbine which is activated by the steam passing through the delivery conduit 6 and which activates the roller brush 7 by means of a gear reducer 9.
- a small transmission shaft 16 is also provided, connected to the roller brush 7 axle by means of a conical gear 17 situated between the two half-brushes.
- the collection tank 4 is subdivided into two separate portions, each located at one of the half-brushes.
- the roller brush 7 is elastically journalled to the steam brush 3 by means of a pivot 18 and a spring 19.
- the delivery conduit 6 comprises a first tract 6a which supplies heated steam to the impeller 5 of the turbine and a second tract 6b which conveys the fluid exiting from said impeller 5 towards the steam brush 3.
- 21 denotes a floor to be cleaned, 1 a device for cleaning surfaces, and 2 a connection sleeve for connecting to a heated steam delivery, and 3 a steam brush, 6 a delivery conduit through which steam passes, 5 an impeller of a steam turbine actuated by steam passing through the conduit 6, and 6a a first tract and 6b a second tract of the conduit 6 which respectively supply the steam to the turbine and feed the exiting steam from the impeller 5 to the steam brush 3.
- the second embodiment of the invention comprises means for conveying, that is, collecting and entraining the liquid forming on the floor being cleaned, which means comprise a centrifugal fan 10 activated by the impeller 5 of the turbine.
- the centrifugal fan 10 is conformed and arranged such that it aspirates the dirty liquid from the floor 21 and sends it to the colection tank.
- the centrifugal fan 10 operates internally of an aspiration conduit 11 which exhibits at one end thereof an inlet mouth 12 for the dirty liquid located near to the floor 21.
- the device 1 comprises a box 13 provided with two chambers 14 and 15, separate and sealed, a first of which houses the impeller 5 and a second of which houses the centrifugal fan 10.
- the chamber 14 housing the impeller 5 is equipped with an inlet 14i and an outlet 14u for the steam.
- the chamber 15 housing the centrifugal fan 10 is equipped with an inlet 15i and an outlet 15u for the aspirated liquid.
- the aspiration conduit 11 of the dirty liquid comprises a first tract 11a which goes from the inlet mouth 12 near the floor 21 to the inlet 15i of the aspirated liquid into the box 13.
- the first tract 11a is rigid and is solidly connected to the box 13 and hinged by a pivot 20 to the steam brush 3.
- the aspiration conduit 11 is further provided with a second tract, not illustrated, which goes from the outlet 15u to the collection tank.
- 3 denotes a steam brush, in particular for floors
- 4 denotes a collection tank for dirty water aspirated from the floor
- 6 a delivery conduit 6a a first tract of conduit 6 supplying heated steam to a steam turbine
- 6b a second tract supplying the fluid exiting from the turbine to the steam brush 3
- 13 a box as in figure 5, which houses the steam turbine and a centrifugal fan 10.
- 14i and 14u respectively denote an inlet and an outlet predisposed on the box 13 for the steam passage through the turbine
- 15i and 15u denote respectively an inlet and an outlet for the air aspirated by the centrifugal fan 10 operating inside the box 13.
- 12 denotes an inlet mouth of the dirty water collected from the floor 21, while 11a denotes a first tract of an aspiration conduit of the dirty water.
- centrifugal fan 10 aspirates only air from the collection tank 4, creating a depression therein.
- the first tract 11a of the aspiration conduit of the dirty water does not enter the box 13 and therefore the centrifugal fan 10 chamber, but discharges into the collection tank 4.
- the fluid exiting from the centrifugal fan 10 through the outlet 15u is only clean and hot air, due to the temperature of the adjacent turbine.
- This outlet fluid is channelled into a drying conduit 11c which has one of its ends arranged in proximity of the surface to be cleaned. The clean hot air is thus sent on to the floor 21 and dries it.
- FIG 7 which shows a fourth embodiment of the invention, 1 denotes in its entirety a device for cleaning surfaces, which in the example is able to advance, on command, on a floor 21 to be cleaned and which comprises a steam brush 3 for cleaning surfaces.
- the steam delivery conduit 6 denotes a steam delivery conduit which is connected to a steam generator of known type and not illustrated in the drawings.
- the steam delivery conduit is passed through by a quantity of steam such as to produce a jet thereof which flows through the steam brush 3 and is directed on to the floor 21.
- 30 denotes a hollow bearing structure 30 internally of which the delivery conduit 6 is arranged. The steam in the delivery conduit 6 is slightly heated.
- centrifugal fan 10 denotes a centrifugal fan which operates internally of an aspiration conduit 11 conformed and disposed to enable the dirty liquid to be aspirated through an inlet mouth 12 and send same to a collection tank 4.
- the centrifugal fan 10 is preferably coaxial to the impeller 5 of the turbine, as well as solidly connected thereto.
- a box 13 comprising two chambers 14 and 15 is provided, which chambers are separate one from the other and are sealed.
- a first of the chambers 14 houses the impeller 5 of the turbine, while the second of the chambers 15 houses the centrifugal fan 10.
- the aspiration conduit 11 of the dirty liquid comprises a first tract 11a which goes from the inlet mouth 12 to the collection tank 4.
- the first tract 11a is at least partially rigid and is journalled to the bearing structure 30 by means of a pivot 20, and can oscillate with respect to the bearing structure 30.
- the centrifugal fan 10 aspirates only air from the collection tank 4, creating a depression therein.
- the first tract 11a of the aspiration conduit 11 does not open into the centrifugal fan 10 but discharges into the collection tank 4.
- 11b denotes a second tract of aspiration conduit which goes from the collection tank 4 to the centrifugal fan 10, and which is protected by a shield 23.
- This second tract 11b does not aspirate liquid, but only air; for this reason its mouth situated inside the collection tank 4 is kept constantly above the level of the liquid collected therein.
- the first tract 11a of aspiration conduit 11 is protected by a shield 22 curved towards the bottom of the collection tank 4 and kept constantly above the level of the liquid collected therein. In this way, even where there is a considerable quantity of liquid in the collection tank 4, the power absorbed by the centrifugal fan 10 is of modest entity.
- the steam brush 3 is mounted, preferably removably by screw attachments, on a hollow shaft 24 rotatably coupled to the box 13 of the turbine, and is connected to the turbine by means of a reducer, preferably a gear reducer 25.
- the rotation axis of the hollow shaft 24 is normal to the surface to be cleaned. The steam passes through the cavity in the hollow shaft 24 and goes directly on to the surface to be cleaned.
- 26 and 27 respectively denote a nozzle for emission of steam on to the turbine and an internal conduit of the steam brush 3 through which the steam passes when exiting from the turbine to be directed at the floor 21.
- the steam brush driven by the impeller 5, is rotated with its axis normal to the surface of the floor, so that a vigorous and continuous scrubbing action is obtained without undue effort on the part of the operator, resulting in an especially well-cleaned floor.
- FIG 8 shows a steam brush 3' which is somewhat modified with respect to the steam brush 3 of figure 7, in that it has a quick-fit attachment.
- two conduits 27' for the steam are afforded in the steam brush 3.
- the device 1 is pushed by the operator on a floor to be cleaned.
- the steam head in the delivery conduit 6 supplies and activates the impeller 5 of the turbine, which then powers the various tools which can be attached thereto, according to the embodiment.
- the turbine activates a roller brush 7 for collecting the dirty water; in the further embodiments the turbine activates the aspiration means for aspirating the dirty liquid; in the final embodiment (figures 7 and 8), apart from activating the means for aspiration, the turbine rotates a steam brush 3 which then scrubs the floor.
- the roller brush 7 is elastically journalled so as to absorb the bumps and vibrations to which it is subject during functioning of the device; in the other versions, thanks to the fact that the first tract 11a of the aspiration conduit 11 is pivoted at the pivot 20 - also elastically - the inlet mouth 12 is constantly positioned near the floor 21 so that the dirty liquid is efficiently aspirated even where the floor is not perfectly flat, and the whole aspiration system assembly is protected from bumps and impacts.
- An advantage of the invention is that the group comprising the steam turbine, the centrifugal fan 10 and the box 13 is extremely compact and of very contained mass.
- An advantageous detail of the device is that it efficiently collects the dirty water from the floor during both forward and backward movements; the turbine rotates the roller brush 7 (first embodiment) and the centrifugal fan 10 (other embodiments) in a same rotation direction, so that the dirty liquid is conveyed towards the collection tank 4, independently of the movement of the device 1 on the floor 21.
- the invention provides a device for cleaning surfaces, especially floors, which is particularly light and practical to manoeuvre, apart from being extremely efficient and reliable.
- centrifugal fan 10 other systems of aspiration can be used instead of the centrifugal fan 10, such as membrane systems, piston systems, and so on.
Landscapes
- Cleaning In General (AREA)
- Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)
- Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
- Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates particularly but not exclusively to the field of floor cleaning.
- In particular, the invention relates to a device which on command advances on a surface to be cleaned, and comprises a steam delivery conduit which directs, on command, a stream of vapour directly on to said surface.
- The prior art teaches a device of this type, in which the steam delivery conduit is connected to a steam generator; the device is generally provided with a steam brush out of which flows a steam jet coming from the steam delivery conduit, and a rotatable roller brush for entraining the dirty liquid forming on the surface into a collection tank. This roller brush rotates by friction against said surface when advanced thereupon. There is usually a grip for the operator, used for guiding the device.
- This device, however, presents some drawbacks.
- The first of these is that the roller brush constitutes an obstacle against smooth advancement of the device on the surface. This can lead to the device's being hard to push and manoeuvre, especially when operated by a single operator by hand.
- Secondly, in order to obtain a good result, the steam brush has to be scrubbed vigorously against the surface. To help the operator in this, the prior art devices are fitted with a motor to rotate the brush. This leads to considerable constructional complexity, as well as creating a certain danger for the operator, who is working with electrically-driven elements near a wet surface.
- A further disadvantage of prior art devices is that at the end of the operation the cleaned surface is still wet.
- Examples are available, of using an air flow pressure to drive certain accessories in vacuum cleaner units, such as in the prior documents EP-A-0 430 415 and US-A-5 184 370.
- The main aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing a constructionally simple and economical device with which an operator can clean surfaces with reasonable expenditure of energy.
- This aim is achieved by the device, having the features set forth in
claim 1, which employs means for converting a part of the steam energy inside the delivery conduit into available mechanical energy. - The mechanical energy can advantageously be used for activating means for collecting the dirty liquid produced on the surface being cleaned, and for entraining same into a collection tank.
- An advantage of the invention is represented by the fact that said means for collecting and entraining the dirty liquid are very simple and involve low energy consumption.
- The mechanical energy made available can also be advantageously used, for example, to rotate the means for operating rotatably mounted on the device, such as, for example, a steam brush which, as well as issuing a jet of steam, scrubs the surface, or a steam brush which collects the dirty liquid from the surface.
- Thanks to the invention the steam brush can act on the surface by scrubbing energetically and continuously thereupon with only a reasonable energy expenditure on the part of the operator.
- A further advantage of the invention is that it does not require an electric motor to drive the brushes and therefore involves none of the risks usually connected with the presence of electric current near wet surfaces.
- Thanks to the invention a particularly efficient and easily-manoeuvrable device for cleaning surfaces is provided.
- A further advantage of the invention is that it provides a device which is fitted with means for collecting the dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned, acting while the device is being moved back and forth on the surface. At the end of the operation the surface is dry.
- Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will better emerge from the detailed description that follows, of some preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrated in the form of non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings, in which:
- figure 1 is a vertical--elevation lateral view of a first embodiment of the invention, with some parts removed better to evidence others;
- figure 2 is a lateral view from the left of figure 1, with some parts removed;
- figure 3 is a vertical-elevation lateral view of a second embodiment of the device with some parts removed better to evidence others;
- figure 4 is a lateral view from the left of figure 3 with some parts removed;
- figure 5 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of figure 4;
- figure 6 is a vertical-elevation lateral view of a third embodiment of the device with some parts shown in section;
- figure 7 is a vertical-elevation lateral view of a fourth embodiment of the device with some parts removed better to evidence others;
- figure 8 is a brush applicable to the device of figure 7.
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- With reference to figures 1 and 2, 1 denotes in its entirety a device for cleaning surfaces, which advances on command on a
floor 21 to be cleaned and which comprises asteam brush 3 connected to adelivery conduit 6. Thedelivery conduit 6 is passed through by a flow of steam which forms a vapour jet directed at thefloor 21. - A
sleeve 2 is fitted on thesteam brush 3 for attaching a steam pipe, of known type and not illustrated in the figures, connected to a steam generator, also of known type. The steam arriving from the pipe is slightly heated to a pressure of usually between 3 and 4 bars. - The
device 1 further comprises means for collecting and entraining the dirty liquid which forms on thefloor 21 towards acollection tank 4 solidly mounted to thesteam brush 3. These means for collecting and entraining comprise, in the embodiment of figures 1 and 2, aroller brush 7 which directs the dirty liquid towards thecollection tank 4 by means of aramp 8. Theroller brush 7 comprises two coaxial half-brushes distanced one from the other. - The device further comprises means for transforming part of the steam energy in the
delivery conduit 6 into mechanical energy. The means for transforming preferably comprise animpeller 5 of a steam turbine which is activated by the steam passing through thedelivery conduit 6 and which activates theroller brush 7 by means of a gear reducer 9. Asmall transmission shaft 16 is also provided, connected to theroller brush 7 axle by means of aconical gear 17 situated between the two half-brushes. - The
collection tank 4 is subdivided into two separate portions, each located at one of the half-brushes. - The
roller brush 7 is elastically journalled to thesteam brush 3 by means of apivot 18 and aspring 19. - The
delivery conduit 6 comprises afirst tract 6a which supplies heated steam to theimpeller 5 of the turbine and asecond tract 6b which conveys the fluid exiting from saidimpeller 5 towards thesteam brush 3. - With reference to figures 3, 4 and 5, which show a second embodiment of the invention, 21 denotes a floor to be cleaned, 1 a device for cleaning surfaces, and 2 a connection sleeve for connecting to a heated steam delivery, and 3 a steam brush, 6 a delivery conduit through which steam passes, 5 an impeller of a steam turbine actuated by steam passing through the
conduit conduit 6 which respectively supply the steam to the turbine and feed the exiting steam from theimpeller 5 to thesteam brush 3. There is also a collection tank for the dirty water, though not illustrated in the figures. - The second embodiment of the invention comprises means for conveying, that is, collecting and entraining the liquid forming on the floor being cleaned, which means comprise a
centrifugal fan 10 activated by theimpeller 5 of the turbine. - The
centrifugal fan 10 is conformed and arranged such that it aspirates the dirty liquid from thefloor 21 and sends it to the colection tank. - The
centrifugal fan 10 operates internally of anaspiration conduit 11 which exhibits at one end thereof aninlet mouth 12 for the dirty liquid located near to thefloor 21. - The
device 1 comprises abox 13 provided with twochambers impeller 5 and a second of which houses thecentrifugal fan 10. - The
chamber 14 housing theimpeller 5 is equipped with aninlet 14i and anoutlet 14u for the steam. Thechamber 15 housing thecentrifugal fan 10 is equipped with aninlet 15i and anoutlet 15u for the aspirated liquid. - The
aspiration conduit 11 of the dirty liquid comprises afirst tract 11a which goes from theinlet mouth 12 near thefloor 21 to theinlet 15i of the aspirated liquid into thebox 13. Thefirst tract 11a is rigid and is solidly connected to thebox 13 and hinged by apivot 20 to thesteam brush 3. Theaspiration conduit 11 is further provided with a second tract, not illustrated, which goes from theoutlet 15u to the collection tank. - With reference to figure 6, showing a third embodiment of the invention, 3 denotes a steam brush, in particular for floors, while 4 denotes a collection tank for dirty water aspirated from the floor, 6 a delivery conduit, 6a a first tract of
conduit 6 supplying heated steam to a steam turbine, 6b a second tract supplying the fluid exiting from the turbine to thesteam brush 3, and 13 a box, as in figure 5, which houses the steam turbine and acentrifugal fan 10. 14i and 14u respectively denote an inlet and an outlet predisposed on thebox 13 for the steam passage through the turbine, while 15i and 15u denote respectively an inlet and an outlet for the air aspirated by thecentrifugal fan 10 operating inside thebox 13. 12 denotes an inlet mouth of the dirty water collected from thefloor 21, while 11a denotes a first tract of an aspiration conduit of the dirty water. - In this version the
centrifugal fan 10 aspirates only air from thecollection tank 4, creating a depression therein. Thefirst tract 11a of the aspiration conduit of the dirty water does not enter thebox 13 and therefore thecentrifugal fan 10 chamber, but discharges into thecollection tank 4. - The tract of aspirating conduit leading from the
collection tank 4 to thecentrifugal fan 10 is protected by ashield 25 and does not aspirate liquid but not air. For this reason its mouth, internal of thecollection tank 4, is kept constantly above the level of the liquid collected therein, so that even when thecollection tank 4 contains a considerable level of liquid, the power absorbed by the pump is always limited. - The fluid exiting from the
centrifugal fan 10 through theoutlet 15u is only clean and hot air, due to the temperature of the adjacent turbine. This outlet fluid is channelled into a dryingconduit 11c which has one of its ends arranged in proximity of the surface to be cleaned. The clean hot air is thus sent on to thefloor 21 and dries it. - The constructional modifications of this embodiment, here reported only schematically, are obvious and within the ability of any person skilled in the art.
- With reference to figure 7, which shows a fourth embodiment of the invention, 1 denotes in its entirety a device for cleaning surfaces, which in the example is able to advance, on command, on a
floor 21 to be cleaned and which comprises asteam brush 3 for cleaning surfaces. - 6 denotes a steam delivery conduit which is connected to a steam generator of known type and not illustrated in the drawings. The steam delivery conduit is passed through by a quantity of steam such as to produce a jet thereof which flows through the
steam brush 3 and is directed on to thefloor 21. 30 denotes ahollow bearing structure 30 internally of which thedelivery conduit 6 is arranged. The steam in thedelivery conduit 6 is slightly heated. - 5 denotes an
impeller 5 of a steam turbine which is actuated by steam passing through thedelivery conduit 6, and which constitutes a preferred means for converting a part of the steam energy in thedelivery conduit 6 into available mechanical energy. - 10 denotes a centrifugal fan which operates internally of an
aspiration conduit 11 conformed and disposed to enable the dirty liquid to be aspirated through aninlet mouth 12 and send same to acollection tank 4. Thecentrifugal fan 10 is preferably coaxial to theimpeller 5 of the turbine, as well as solidly connected thereto. - A
box 13 comprising twochambers chambers 14 houses theimpeller 5 of the turbine, while the second of thechambers 15 houses thecentrifugal fan 10. - The
aspiration conduit 11 of the dirty liquid comprises afirst tract 11a which goes from theinlet mouth 12 to thecollection tank 4. Thefirst tract 11a is at least partially rigid and is journalled to the bearingstructure 30 by means of apivot 20, and can oscillate with respect to the bearingstructure 30. - The
centrifugal fan 10 aspirates only air from thecollection tank 4, creating a depression therein. - The
first tract 11a of theaspiration conduit 11 does not open into thecentrifugal fan 10 but discharges into thecollection tank 4. - 11b denotes a second tract of aspiration conduit which goes from the
collection tank 4 to thecentrifugal fan 10, and which is protected by ashield 23. Thissecond tract 11b does not aspirate liquid, but only air; for this reason its mouth situated inside thecollection tank 4 is kept constantly above the level of the liquid collected therein. Simiilarly, thefirst tract 11a ofaspiration conduit 11 is protected by ashield 22 curved towards the bottom of thecollection tank 4 and kept constantly above the level of the liquid collected therein. In this way, even where there is a considerable quantity of liquid in thecollection tank 4, the power absorbed by thecentrifugal fan 10 is of modest entity. - The
steam brush 3 is mounted, preferably removably by screw attachments, on ahollow shaft 24 rotatably coupled to thebox 13 of the turbine, and is connected to the turbine by means of a reducer, preferably agear reducer 25. The rotation axis of thehollow shaft 24 is normal to the surface to be cleaned. The steam passes through the cavity in thehollow shaft 24 and goes directly on to the surface to be cleaned. - 26 and 27 respectively denote a nozzle for emission of steam on to the turbine and an internal conduit of the
steam brush 3 through which the steam passes when exiting from the turbine to be directed at thefloor 21. - The steam brush, driven by the
impeller 5, is rotated with its axis normal to the surface of the floor, so that a vigorous and continuous scrubbing action is obtained without undue effort on the part of the operator, resulting in an especially well-cleaned floor. - Figure 8 shows a steam brush 3' which is somewhat modified with respect to the
steam brush 3 of figure 7, in that it has a quick-fit attachment. In figure 2, two conduits 27' for the steam are afforded in thesteam brush 3. - Other rotating tools can be operatively connected to the
impeller 5 of the turbine. - In all of the embodiments described, the
device 1 is pushed by the operator on a floor to be cleaned. The steam head in thedelivery conduit 6 supplies and activates theimpeller 5 of the turbine, which then powers the various tools which can be attached thereto, according to the embodiment. - In the first embodiment the turbine activates a
roller brush 7 for collecting the dirty water; in the further embodiments the turbine activates the aspiration means for aspirating the dirty liquid; in the final embodiment (figures 7 and 8), apart from activating the means for aspiration, the turbine rotates asteam brush 3 which then scrubs the floor. - In each case the steam exiting from the turbine is sent to the
steam brush 3 to carry out the cleaning action. - In the device of figures 1 and 2, the
roller brush 7 is elastically journalled so as to absorb the bumps and vibrations to which it is subject during functioning of the device; in the other versions, thanks to the fact that thefirst tract 11a of theaspiration conduit 11 is pivoted at the pivot 20 - also elastically - theinlet mouth 12 is constantly positioned near thefloor 21 so that the dirty liquid is efficiently aspirated even where the floor is not perfectly flat, and the whole aspiration system assembly is protected from bumps and impacts. - An advantage of the invention is that the group comprising the steam turbine, the
centrifugal fan 10 and thebox 13 is extremely compact and of very contained mass. - An advantageous detail of the device, in all embodiments, is that it efficiently collects the dirty water from the floor during both forward and backward movements; the turbine rotates the roller brush 7 (first embodiment) and the centrifugal fan 10 (other embodiments) in a same rotation direction, so that the dirty liquid is conveyed towards the
collection tank 4, independently of the movement of thedevice 1 on thefloor 21. - The invention provides a device for cleaning surfaces, especially floors, which is particularly light and practical to manoeuvre, apart from being extremely efficient and reliable.
- Obviously, other systems of aspiration can be used instead of the
centrifugal fan 10, such as membrane systems, piston systems, and so on. - Where the technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims, and accordingly, such reference signs have no limiting effect on the scope of the elements identified by way of example by said reference signs.
Claims (10)
- A device for cleaning floors which is movable onto a surface (21) to be cleaned and comprises a steam delivery conduit (6) shaped and arranged so as to deliver steam at said surface, and various tool means (3, 7, 10) characterized in that it further comprises a steam turbine provided with an impeller (5) which is driven by the steam delivered by said conduit (6), said turbine being operatively connected to said various tool means of the device for the actuation thereof.
- A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said tool means comprises means (10, 11) for conveying dirty liquid which forms on said surface (21) to a liquid collection tank (4).
- A device as in claim 2, characterized in that said means for conveying the dirty liquid comprise a centrifugal fan (10) which operates internally of an aspiration conduit (11) in such a way that the dirty liquid is aspirated from the surface (21) by an inlet mouth (12) of the aspiration conduit (11), and is sent to the collection tank (4).
- A device as in claim 3, characterized in that said aspiration conduit (11) of the dirty liquid comprises a first tract (11a) which connects the inlet mouth (12) and the collection tank (4), and a second tract (11b), which starts internally of the collection tank (4) and leads to the centrifugal fan (10); said second tract (11b) having a mouth located internally of the collection tank (4) which is kept constantly above a level of the dirty liquid collected therein.
- A device as in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a drying conduit (11c) connected with an outlet of the centrifugal fan (10) and has itself an outlet arranged in proximity of the surface to be cleaned.
- A device according to claim 2, characterized in that said liquid conveying means comprise a roller brush (7) which is rotatable for collecting from the surface (21) to be cleaned and for directing to said tank (4) the dirty liquid.
- A device according to claim 3, characterized in that said centrifugal fan (10) is actuated so as to create a depression into the collection tank (4).
- A device as in claims 7 or 3, characterized in that it comprises a box (13) provided with a sealed first chamber (14) and a sealed second chamber (15), which first chamber (14) houses the impeller (5) of the steam turbine, and which second chamber (15) houses the centrifugal fan (10).
- A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tool means comprise a rotatable steam brush (3)which is operatively associated to the surface to be cleaned, and which is actuated by said impeller (5).
- A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means (10) for conveying dirty liquid which forms on the surface (21) to be cleaned to the liquid collection tank (4) are constituted by membrane or piston aspiration systems.
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT94MO000170 IT1269283B (en) | 1994-12-21 | 1994-12-21 | Portable hand operated floor cleaning apparatus - with portion of steam supply, directed to rotating steam brushes, is bled to drive turbine connected to centrifugal fan arranged to draw dirty liquid into collecting tank |
ITMO940170 | 1994-12-21 | ||
ITMO950023 IT1279361B1 (en) | 1995-02-20 | 1995-02-20 | Portable hand operated floor cleaning apparatus - with portion of steam supply, directed to rotating steam brushes, is bled to drive turbine connected to centrifugal fan arranged to draw dirty liquid into collecting tank |
ITMO950023 | 1995-02-20 | ||
ITMO950090 | 1995-06-16 | ||
ITMO950090 IT1279819B1 (en) | 1995-06-16 | 1995-06-16 | Portable hand operated floor cleaning apparatus - with portion of steam supply, directed to rotating steam brushes, is bled to drive turbine connected to centrifugal fan arranged to draw dirty liquid into collecting tank |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0717952A1 EP0717952A1 (en) | 1996-06-26 |
EP0717952B1 true EP0717952B1 (en) | 2000-08-23 |
Family
ID=27274121
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP95830533A Expired - Lifetime EP0717952B1 (en) | 1994-12-21 | 1995-12-21 | A device for cleaning surfaces |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0717952B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE195642T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69518496T2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2360201A (en) * | 2000-03-17 | 2001-09-19 | Duplex Cleaning Machines | Steam cleaning for surfaces |
NL1020598C2 (en) * | 2002-05-14 | 2003-11-17 | Usf Ebe B V | Floor cleaning machine. |
GB2392826A (en) * | 2002-09-12 | 2004-03-17 | Drysteam Cleaners Ltd | A method and apparatus for steam cleaning a surface |
EP1498063A1 (en) * | 2003-07-18 | 2005-01-19 | WALSER & CO. AG | Method and device for cleaning of surfaces, in particular floor surfaces |
CN113522374A (en) * | 2021-07-04 | 2021-10-22 | 曹奕哲 | Chemistry experiment uses waste water collection device in room |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3502064C1 (en) * | 1984-03-21 | 1986-06-19 | Karlheinz Dipl.-Ing. 8721 Michelau Meidel | Nozzle for household or industrial vacuum cleaners |
EP0430415B1 (en) * | 1989-12-01 | 1994-02-23 | William Hendrick Williams | Wet and/or dry vacuum cleaning unit |
KR920004078Y1 (en) * | 1990-05-16 | 1992-06-20 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | An electric vacuum cleaner |
CH684994A5 (en) * | 1991-10-02 | 1995-02-28 | Radwulf Sa | Apparatus for cleaning a surface by spraying steam (vapour) |
-
1995
- 1995-12-21 AT AT95830533T patent/ATE195642T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1995-12-21 DE DE69518496T patent/DE69518496T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1995-12-21 EP EP95830533A patent/EP0717952B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0717952A1 (en) | 1996-06-26 |
DE69518496D1 (en) | 2000-09-28 |
DE69518496T2 (en) | 2001-01-04 |
ATE195642T1 (en) | 2000-09-15 |
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