Classifications

• • 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
  • A47L11/29—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid
  • A47L11/30—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction
  • A47L11/302—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction having rotary tools
• • 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
  • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
  • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
  • A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
  • A47L5/28—Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle
  • A47L5/30—Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• • 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
  • A47L11/02—Floor surfacing or polishing machines
  • A47L11/20—Floor surfacing or polishing machines combined with vacuum cleaning devices
• • 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
  • A47L11/4013—Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
  • A47L11/4016—Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like specially adapted for collecting fluids
• • 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
• • 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
  • A47L7/00—Suction cleaners adapted for additional purposes; Tables with suction openings for cleaning purposes; Containers for cleaning articles by suction; Suction cleaners adapted to cleaning of brushes; Suction cleaners adapted to taking-up liquids
  • A47L7/0004—Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners
  • A47L7/0023—Recovery tanks
• • 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
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/02—Nozzles
  • A47L9/04—Nozzles with driven brushes or agitators
  • A47L9/0405—Driving means for the brushes or agitators
• • 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
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/02—Nozzles
  • A47L9/04—Nozzles with driven brushes or agitators
  • A47L9/0461—Dust-loosening tools, e.g. agitators, brushes
  • A47L9/0466—Rotating tools
  • A47L9/0477—Rolls
• • 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
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
  • A47L9/14—Bags or the like; Rigid filtering receptacles; Attachment of, or closures for, bags or receptacles
  • A47L9/1409—Rigid filtering receptacles
• • 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
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
  • A47L9/2836—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means characterised by the parts which are controlled
  • A47L9/2847—Surface treating elements
• • 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
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
  • A47L9/2868—Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to cleaning heads, and more particularly to vacuum cleaning heads having a roller cleaner, and vacuum cleaners comprising same.
• a cleaning head of or for use with a vacuum cleaner is disclosed.
• the cleaning head is a brush head comprising a roller brush, a motor for driving the roller brush, a washer liquid tank, a washer liquid applicator, a waste liquid collection arrangement, a waste liquid tank, control circuitry, a rigid housing and a suction inlet; wherein the control circuitry is to operate the motor to drive the roller brush into brushing rotation and to operate the washer liquid applicator to apply washer liquid to the roller brush and the waste liquid collection arrangement is to collect waste washer liquid from the roller brush and to deliver collected waste washer liquid to the waste liquid collector for storage therein during operations when the suction inlet is connected to a suction power source.
• the brush head may be part of a vacuum cleaner, for example, a detachable vacuuming head of a vacuum cleaner such as a stick-type or tower-type vacuum cleaner.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example brush head according to the present disclosure
• Figures 1A and 1 B are top perspective views of the example brush head of Figure 1 with the tank cover and the tank assembly removed respectively,
• Figure 1 B1 is a bottom perspective view of the tank assembly of the example brush head of Figure
• Figure 1 C is an exploded view of the example brush head of Figure 1 ,
• Figure 2 is a top plan view of the example brush head of Figure 1 ,
• Figures 3A and 3B are, respectively, a first, left, side view and a second, right, side view of the example brush head of Figure 1
• Figures 3C and 3D are, respectively, front view and rear view of the example brush head of Figure
• Figure 3A1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the example brush head of Figure 2 taken along a longitudinal axis X-X’,
• Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of the example brush head of Figure 1 taken from underneath the bottom surface of the brush housing,
• Figures 4A and 4B are bottom plan views, in line drawing and photographic representation respectively, of the example brush head of Figure 1 ,
• Figure 4C is a bottom plan view of the example brush head of Figure 1 with the roller brush and bottom cover plate removed,
• Figures 5A to 5F are various views showing use and operation of the example brush head of Figure 1 .
• Figures 6A to 6C are various views of a stick-type vacuum cleaner comprising a brush head of the present disclosure
• Figure 6D shows the stick-type vacuum cleaner of Figure 6A in an alternate configuration
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of another example brush head according to the present disclosure.
• Figures 7A and 7B are, respectively, top and bottom views of the example brush head of Figure
• Figure 8A is a perspective view of the example brush head of Figure 7 with the bottom cover plate removed
• Figure 8B is a perspective view of the bottom cover plate of the example brush head of Figure 7,
• Figure 8C is a perspective view of the example brush head of Figure 7 with the movable portion partly removed
• Figure 8D is a perspective view of the example brush head of Figure 7 with the movable portion and roller brush removed,
• Figures 9A and Figure 10A perspective views of the rigid housing of the example brush head of Figure 7, Figure 9B and Figure 10B are, respectively, enlarged views of portion A in Figure 9A and portion B in Figure 10A,
• FIGs 11A and 1 1 B are perspective views of the tank assembly of the example brush head of Figure 7,
• Figure 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the example brush head of Figure 7A taken along a longitudinal axis Y-Y’,
• Figure 13 is a perspective view of the example brush head of Figure 7 with upper housing portions and tank covers removed,
• Figure 14 is a perspective view of the example brush head of Figure 13 with a liquid distribution plate removed
• Figure 15 is a perspective view of the example brush head of Figure 14 with a control board further removed, and
• Figure 16 is an exemplary system block diagram of the brush head of Figure 7.
• An example brushing apparatus is a brush head 100 comprising a rigid housing 110 on which a roller brush 120, a tank assembly 130 comprising a first tank 140 defining a first reservoir and a second tank 150 defining a second reservoir, a first liquid delivery path to deliver washer liquid from the first reservoir to the roller brush, a second liquid delivery path for transporting used liquid from the roller brush to the second tank, and a suction connector 190 having a suction inlet are mounted depicted in Figures 1 , 1A, 1 B, 1C, 2, 3A-3D, 3A1 , 4, 4A, 4B and 4C.
• the brush head may be a vacuum cleaner accessory which is detachably attachable to a vacuum cleaner or an integral part of a vacuum cleaner.
• the housing 110 comprises a forward housing portion (“forward portion”) 112, a rearward housing portion (“rear portion”) 114, an intermediate housing portion (“intermediate portion”) 116 which interconnects the forward portion and the rearward portion.
• a tank receptacle 118 is formed on the intermediate housing portion and occupies substantial portion of the intermediate housing portion.
• the tank receptacle 118 defines a tank receptacle compartment which is opened on and accessible from the upper side of the rigid housing.
• the example housing has a generally T- shaped profile, having a wider forward portion and a narrower rear portion which projects rearwards from middle of the forward portion, when viewed from above.
• the housing comprises an upper housing portion (or top housing portion) and a lower housing portion (or bottom housing portion) which cooperate to define an internal housing compartment of the brush head having an upper side (or a top side) and a lower side (or a bottom side).
• the example lower housing portion comprises a rigid cover plate which is a bottom cover plate 111 attached to the upper housing portion by fastening means such as screws.
• the example rigid cover plate is a steel plate which closes the bottom side internal housing compartment and defines the bottom surface of the housing and the brush aperture when mounted on the upper housing portion.
• the housing has a longitudinal axis X-X’ defining a longitudinal direction.
• the longitudinal axis X-X’ extends along the longitudinal direction between a first longitudinal end where the forward portion is located and a second longitudinal end where the rearward portion is located.
• the longitudinal axis X-X’ is a center axis of the housing about which the housing is laterally symmetrical or substantially laterally symmetrical.
• the longitudinal direction when extending from the rearward portion towards the forward portion defines a forward direction and the longitudinal direction when extending from the forward portion towards the rearward portion defines a rearward direction.
• the roller brush 120 is mounted on a roller brush receptacle (“brush receptacle” in short) which is formed on the forward housing portion.
• the brush receptacle 122 is elongate and extends along a lateral axis which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis in this example.
• the brush receptacle comprises a first side wall, a second side wall and a peripheral wall interconnecting the first side wall and the second side wall which cooperate to define a brush receptacle compartment.
• the first side wall and the second side wall are on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal axis and are on the same vertical level above a supporting surface when the brush head is working or resting on a planar supporting surface.
• the brush receptacle peripheral wall is arcuate and curves to extend in the longitudinal direction to follow the shape of the brushing surface of the roller brush on extending along the longitudinal direction.
• the roller brush 120 comprises a rigid main body which defines a roller axis or a rotation axis about which the roller brush is to rotate during operations and a brush portion which extends around the rotation axis to surround the main body and to define a brushing surface.
• the rigid main body is attached to the brush receptacle to define an axle so that the roller brush is to rotate about the rotation axis relative to the brush receptacle during operations.
• the roller brush is mounted such that a major portion of the roller brush is received inside the brush receptacle compartment while a minor portion protrudes from a brush aperture to encounter or engage a surface to be brushed or cleaned.
• the example roller brush is substantially cylindrical and defines a substantially cylindrical brushing surface which surrounds the rotation axis and which surrounds the roller brush main body.
• the example roller brush has a felt brushing surface to facilitate contact or agitated cleaning of a surface to be cleaned.
• the brush aperture is an elongate aperture which is formed on the bottom side of the housing and is define between a first long-edge which is a forward edge and a second long-edge which is a rear edge that is parallel to the forward edge.
• the lateral extent of the brush aperture is defined by a pair of lateral edges which interconnects the first and second long edges at their lateral ends.
• Each of the example long edges extends transversely to the longitudinal axis to define a transversely extending brush aperture and a plurality of washer dispensing nozzles 142 is distributed along the forward edge.
• the washer dispensing nozzles 142 are arranged to discharge washer liquid towards a forward-facing surface of the roller brush, for example, at the forward facing surface of the roller brush near the bottom of the brushing surface which is proximal the contact surface to be cleaner.
• the washer dispensing nozzles are connected to the first tank 140 which is a washer tank for storing washer liquid and the washer liquid is delivered to the washer dispensing nozzles by a motor-driven water pump which is mounted on a pump compartment of a pump receptacle.
• the example roller brush is driven by a drive motor and operation of the drive motor is controlled by a control circuitry, for example, a microprocessor-based or logic-array-based control circuitry.
• the drive motor is mounted on a motor compartment of a motor receptacle which is in the forward housing portion and immediately behind the brush receptacle.
• the example motor receptacle is formed on a lateral side of the forward housing portion and projects laterally from the tank receptacle.
• the example pump receptacle is on another lateral side of the forward housing portion and projects laterally away from the tank receptacle and away from the motor receptacle.
• the disposing of the motor receptacle and pump receptacle on diametrically opposite lateral sides of the forward portion provides a more balanced weight to press the brushing surface of the roller brush on the surface to be brush cleaned.
• the drive motor is mounted on the left side of the forward housing portion, with the drive motor axis parallel to the roller axis
• the pump motor is mounted on the right side of the forward housing portion, with the pump motor axis parallel to the roller axis.
• the tank assembly 130 is mounted on the tank receptacle 118.
• the tank assembly comprises a first tank portion 140 defining a washer liquid tank, a second tank portion 150 defining a waste liquid tank, a waste liquid inlet duct, a liquid separator, an exhaust air duct, and a tank cover.
• the example tank assembly as depicted in Figure 1A, comprises a tank housing comprising a bottom tank surface 132 (or“bottom surface” in short) and a peripheral tank wall 134 surrounding the bottom surface.
• the bottom tank surface is also the bottom surfaces of the first and second tank portions.
• the peripheral tank wall extends upwardly along an outer boundary of the bottom surface and defines a portion of the peripheral walls of the first and second tank portions.
• the example tank assembly is molded, for example, of plastics such as clear plastics.
• the bottom tank surface is a first surface (or upper surface) of a sheet-like member which forms the bottom portion of the tank housing.
• the sheet-like member has a lower surface which is to seat in abutment with an upward facing surface of the tank assembly receptacle 118.
• the example tank housing is partitioned, vertically, into a first tank compartment defining the washer liquid tank and a second tank compartment defining the waste liquid tank, for example, by a partition wall.
• the first tank compartment is on a first lateral side of the longitudinal axis and the second tank compartment is adjacent to and abuts the first tank compartment.
• the example first tank compartment is substantially smaller than the second tank compartment and has an effective volume of 50% or less of the second tank compartment in this example.
• the first tank compartment is on right side of the longitudinal axis and the second tank compartment is on left side of the first tank compartment.
• the first tank compartment may be on right side of the longitudinal axis and the second tank compartment is on left side of the first tank compartment.
• the first tank compartment may surround the second tank compartment or vice versa.
• the second tank portion 150 comprises a first riser duct 152 and a second riser duct 154.
• Each one of the riser ducts 152, 154 comprises a tubular portion which rises from the bottom tank surface 132 and surrounds a through aperture which is formed on the bottom tank surface so that the riser duct defines a fluid passageway to facilitate fluid communication between the second tank portion 150 and the outside across the bottom tank surface when the tank assembly is closed with the tank cover 136 in due place.
• the first riser duct 152 is a waste liquid inlet duct which is located forward of the second riser duct 154 so that the waste liquid inlet duct 152 is intermediate the second riser duct 154 and the brush aperture or brush receptacle.
• An air-liquid separator (or“liquid separator” in short) 156 is disposed above the first riser duct 152 to form a ceiling of the second tank portion 150 to facilitate separation of air and waste liquid from an air stream coming in from the waste liquid collector which contains both air and collected waste liquid.
• the liquid separator comprises a baffle plate portion having a baffle surface which is disposed above and proximal the top end or outlet of the first riser duct 152.
• the baffle plate portion is located at a vertical distance above the outlet of the first riser duct 152 so that an air-waste-liquid stream exiting from the first riser duct 152 will impinge the baffle plate to facilitate air-liquid separation.
• the baffle plate portion is inclined so that the waste liquid separated from an incoming air-waste-liquid stream will move along the inclined baffle surface and be collected in the waste liquid tank.
• the baffle surface 156A is included towards a forward portion of the peripheral tank wall 134 which is intermediate the first riser duct 152 and the roller brush or the brush receptacle.
• the example liquid separator comprises a non-water permeable separator plate having a perforated region and a non-perforated region.
• the non-perforated region includes the impinging region where the incoming air-liquid stream is to impinge the separator plate and the surrounding region, especially the region which is forward of the impinging region.
• the perforated region is away, distal from and/or rearward of the impinging region so that air can freely move between the space which is below and the space which is above the separator plate.
• the example separator plate is a hard-plastic plate.
• the tank assembly 130 comprises a top cover 136.
• the example top cover is detachably attachable to the tank housing so that washer liquid can be added to the washer tank and collected and stored waste liquid can be removed from the waste liquid tank.
• the top cover 136 comprises a lid portion and a peripheral lip portion surrounding the lid portion.
• the second tank compartment comprises two sub-portions, namely a first sub-portion 150A containing the first riser duct 152 and a second sub-portion 150B containing the second riser duct 154.
• the first sub-portion 150A of the second tank compartment defines a first waste liquid tank portion which has a bottom surface 158A which is proximal to bottom cover plate 111 and below the roller axis.
• the second sub-portion 150B of the second tank compartment defines a second waste liquid tank portion which has a bottom surface 158B which is elevated above the bottom surface 158A of the first sub-portion 150A and is above the roller brush, as depicted in Figure 3A1.
• the first sub-portion 150A and the second sub-portion 150B cooperate to define a waste liquid reservoir having a multi-level surface.
• the first level is defined by the first bottom surface 158A and the second level is defined by the second bottom surface 158B.
• the example waste liquid reservoir has a smaller cross-sectional area at the first sub-portion 150A between the first bottom surface 158A and the second bottom surface 158B, and a substantially larger cross-sectional area above the elevated second bottom surface 158B of the second sub portion 150B.
• the first sub-portion 150A has a cross-sectional area of about 50%-60% of the cross-section area of the second tank compartment immediately above the second bottom surface 158B.
• the second bottom surface 158B is at about half the height of the first riser duct 152. In some embodiments, the second bottom surface 158B is slightly higher or slightly lower than half the height of the first riser duct 152.
• the example second tank compartment has a stepped design and, in some embodiments, the maximum allowable waste liquid level may be set at a level which is slightly higher than the second bottom surface 158B. For example, the maximum allowable waste liquid level may be set at a fraction of the distance between the waste liquid outlet and the second bottom surface 158B, and the fraction may be between 40%-60% as a convenient example.
• the internal housing compartment comprises a first side compartment which is on a first lateral side of the washer tank receptacle and a second side compartment which is on a second lateral side of the washer tank receptacle.
• the first side compartment and the second side compartment are on different lateral sides of the longitudinal axis and both the first side compartment and the second side compartment projects rearwards from the roller brush and from the brush compartment.
• the washer liquid tank and the washer nozzles are connected by a washer liquid delivery duct (or“washer duct” in short).
• a washer pump is mounted inside the first side compartment and is to operate to deliver washer liquid from the washer tank to the washer nozzles through the washer duct.
• the washer nozzles, the washer liquid delivery duct and the washer pump collectively define a washer applicator.
• the brush head has a single washer nozzle, for example, a slot-type nozzle.
• a drive motor is mounted inside the second side compartment.
• the example drive motor is mounted with its driving shaft parallel to the rotation axis of the roller brush and is in driving engagement with the roller brush.
• the example upper housing portion and lower housing portion cooperate to define the brush receptacle, the drive motor receptacle and the pump receptacle.
• the upper housing portion is molded of hard plastics and defines the tank receptacle.
• the apparatus comprises electronic circuitry which synchronizes operations of the washer pump and the drive motor such that when the drive motor is switched on to rotate the roller brush, the washer pump will begin to operate to deliver washer liquid to the washer nozzles and vice versa.
• the electronic circuitry may be installed in the internal housing compartment between the side compartments as a convenient example.
• a waste liquid collector is disposed on the forward housing for collecting waste liquid at the rear edge of the brushing aperture.
• the waste liquid collector comprises an elongate inlet which is opposite facing the brushing surface and which extends along the rear edge to form a waste liquid suction inlet (waste liquid inlet).
• the waste liquid inlet tapers to narrow transversely to connect to a waste liquid collection duct (or“waste liquid duct” in short) for guiding waste liquid to move from the brushing aperture to the waste liquid tank.
• the waste liquid duct 182 comprises a forward duct portion which extends rearwards from the rear edge of the brushing aperture.
• the example waste liquid collector comprises a scraper.
• the example scraper comprises a flexible scraper having a forward flexible lip portion which projects from the rear edge of the brush aperture and extends into the brush receptacle to interfere with the brushing surface.
• the example lip portion is made of rubber, for example, natural rubber or synthetic rubber such as silicone rubber or other flexible, non-washer liquid permeable materials without loss of generality.
• the scraper is connected to the waste liquid suction inlet and the waste liquid collected at the waste liquid suction inlet is delivered to the waste liquid tank by moving through the waste liquid duct and the first riser duct 152.
• the roller brush rotates and the portion of the brushing portion which carries liquid is rotated into physical interference with the scraper.
• liquid carried on the brushing surface is transferred from the scraper to the waste liquid suction inlet and the suction power appearing at the waste liquid suction inlet will transport the collected waste liquid into the first riser duct and into the waste liquid tank 150.
• the forward duct portion of the waste liquid duct is inside the intermediate housing portion and extends rearwards from the brushing aperture and underneath the tank receptacle.
• the waste liquid duct joins the first riser duct 152 at its bottom end.
• the riser duct portion extends to a level which is above the maximum allowable liquid level of waste liquid inside the waste liquid tank.
• the maximum allowable liquid level divides the waste liquid tank into two portions vertically, namely, a waste liquid reservoir at or below the maximum allowable waste liquid level and an air space above the maximum waste liquid level.
• the top end of the riser duct portion is well above the maximum waste liquid level and is close to the tank cover.
• the suction connector 190 is for facilitating physical interconnecting of the brush head and a main unit.
• the main unit comprises a vacuum suction generator and a connector for making physical interconnecting with the suction connector 190 of the brush head 100.
• the example suction connector 190 is at the rear end of the brush head.
• the suction connector comprises a tubular portion having a first end and a second end. The first end is an outlet end which is for connection to a suction source such as the vacuum suction generator of a vacuum cleaner and the second end is an inlet end which is connected to an exhaust dust arrangement.
• the exhaust duct arrangement comprises an exhaust duct portion which interconnects the second riser duct and the suction connector.
• the example exhaust duct portion is installed underneath the second sub-portion 150B of the waste liquid tank 150 and extends rearwardly to join the suction connector 190.
• a physical and electrical connector for making physical and electrical connection with a corresponding physical and electrical connector is provided on the suction connector 190 proximal the inlet end.
• the suction connector 190 is articulated to the rear portion of the rigid housing and extends upwardly and away from the rear portion.
• the suction connector is articulated to the rear portion of the rigid housing and is pivotally movable relative to the rigid housing between a first angle and a second angle which defines an angular movement range of the suction connector.
• the example angular movement range is slightly smaller than 90 degrees, for example, between a near level first angle of slightly larger than zero degree and a near vertical angle of slightly smaller than 90 degrees from the vertical.
• the exhaust duct portion comprises a flexible duct portion, for example, a bellows-type duct portion to connect the second riser duct and the suction connector.
• the suction connector 190 comprises an electrical power connector which is to electrically engage with a corresponding electrical power connector on a main unit when the brush head and the main unit is physically connected and duly engaged when the suction connector is duly connected with a corresponding connector on the main unit.
• a pair of wheels is mounted on the rearmost end of the rear housing so that a user can move the brush ahead along a contact surface.
• a user will remove the tank cover and fill the washer tank 140 with a washer liquid and/or remove waste liquid. After the washer tank 140 has been filled with a washer liquid and the waste liquid in the waste liquid tank emptied, the user is to cover the tank assembly to make it air-tight, as depicted in Figures 5A and 5B.
• the brush head is then attached to a vacuum power source (not shown) by connecting the suction connector to the vacuum power source.
• a user will operate a switch to turn on the drive motor to rotate the roller brush.
• the user may selectively activate the washer applicator to apply washer liquid to the roller brush and the washer liquid will be discharged through the plurality of washer dispensing nozzles and ejected towards the roller brush, as depicted in Figures 5C and 5D.
• the example control circuitry synchronizes operation of the drive motor and the vacuum power source such that the vacuum power source operates to supply vacuuming suction to the brush head when or whenever the drive motor is in driving operation.
• the roller brush is to rotate anticlockwise. When the roller brush rotates, the brushing portion which was in contact with the surface to be agitated and brush cleaned will be rotated to an interference position at which the scraper is in scraping encounter with the brushing surface.
• the brush head is physically and electrically connected to a main unit to form a stick-type vacuum cleaner, as depicted in Figures 6A to 6D.
• the example stick- type vacuum cleaner comprises an elongate main body having a lower end on which a physical and electrical connector for making physical and electrical connection with the brush head is formed.
• the elongate rigid main body of the main unit has an upper portion on which a handle portion is defined.
• the physical and electrical connector may comprise a control connector such that control signals can be wire transmitted to operate the drive motor and the water pump, so that the control circuit of the brush head is not necessary or by-passed.
• the control circuitry of the brush head may have a wireless frontend to receive wireless control signals to facilitate operation of the drive motor, the washer, and possible other devices without loss of generality.
• the elongate main body of the main unit comprises a hand-held vacuum cleaner receptacle and a hand-held vacuum cleaner is detachably mounted in the vacuum cleaner receptacle to provide the required vacuuming suction power.
• a cleaning head of the present disclosure comprises a suction portion, a waste removal portion and a storage portion.
• the suction portion comprises a suction compartment, a suction interface which is configured for making fluid connection to a suction power source, and a suction network interconnecting the suction compartment and the suction interface.
• the suction compartment comprises a compartment housing, an entry aperture through which waste enters the suction compartment, and an exit aperture through which waste leaves the suction compartment.
• the suction network comprises a first fluid communication arrangement which interconnects the exit aperture of the suction compartment and the second container and a second fluid communication arrangement which interconnects the second container and the suction interface.
• the waste removal portion comprises a roller cleaner having a roller axis and mounted inside the suction compartment, a cleaning-liquid applicator for applying cleaning liquid to the roller cleaner, a waste removal arrangement, a drive mechanism configured to drive the roller cleaner into rotation about the roller axis and relative to the waste removal arrangement, and an electrical interface configured for making electrical connection to an electrical power source to obtain electrical power to operate electrical parts, such as the drive mechanism and the cleaning-liquid applicator, of the cleaning head.
• the storage portion comprises a first container which is configured as a cleaning liquid container for storing a cleaning liquid and a second container which is configured as a waste container for storing waste collected by the suction portion.
• the waste container is configured to store solid waste and liquid waste and waste herein comprises waste and liquid waste unless otherwise specified.
• the waste container comprises a separator for separating waste from the air stream which carries the waste.
• the waste container comprises an air filter which is configured to block solid waste from leaving the waste container after being separated from the waste liquid.
• the cleaning liquid applicator is configured to draw cleaning liquid from the first container and to apply the cleaning liquid to the roller cleaner.
• the roller cleaner comprises a water absorbent outer layer which is configured to agitate a surface to be cleaned to perform contact cleaning.
• the outer layer of the roller cleaner may be configured to have a generally cylindrical shape, with the roller axis being coaxial with the cylindrical axis.
• the water absorbent outer layer may be a felt layer, a fabric layer or a layer of suitable liquid absorbing material, and may be configured as a roller brush or a porous roller.
• the cleaning liquid may be water, an antiseptic aqueous solution, or any cleaning liquid suitable for floor or surface cleaning and/or sanitization.
• the entry aperture is formed as an elongate aperture at the bottom of the suction compartment.
• the elongate aperture has a length which is sufficient to permit the entire length of the roller to protrude below the entry aperture.
• the length of the roller and the length of the elongate aperture are both measured in the direction of the roller axis.
• the elongate aperture may have a width which is slightly larger than the width of the portion of the roller at the entry aperture to permit suction of solid waste in the vicinity of the roller contact surface.
• the roller contact surface being the portion of the roller which is in physical contact with the surface to be cleaned.
• the outer layer of the roller cleaner may be resilient to enhance contact cleaning effectiveness.
• the roller is configured to be driven by the drive mechanism so that each circumferential portion of the roller is to repeatedly reciprocate between an upstream position which is before the entry aperture and a downstream position which is after the entry aperture.
• the cleaning liquid applicator is configured to apply cleaning liquid to the roller cleaner (or “roller” in short).
• the circumferential portion of the roller becomes an upstream portion when it reaches a position juxtaposing the cleaning liquid applicator or after it has been applied with the cleaning liquid and before reaching the entry aperture.
• the upstream portion of the roller is then driven towards the entry aperture.
• that portion of the roller will expose through the entry aperture and will enter into cleaning contact with the surface to be cleaned.
• Driven rotation of the roller relative to the surface while the roller is in contact therewith will result in cleaning agitation of the surface by the roller.
• the circumferential portion of the roller becomes a downstream portion once it passes the entry aperture.
• the waste removal arrangement is configured to remove waste from the downstream portion of the roller by physical contact therewith before the roller reaches the upstream position, that is, the position juxtaposing the cleaning liquid applicator, again.
• the waste collection arrangement may comprise a waste remover which is configured to physically interact with the downstream portion to help remove solid and liquid waste from the cleaning head.
• An example waste remover may comprise a waste scraper which is configured to be in contact with a downstream portion of the roller.
• the waste removal arrangement is in fluid communication with the suction network such that waste removed by the waste removal arrangement will be collected by suction and enters into the suction network.
• the suction network comprises a waste collection port which is a suction port formed at an upstream end of the suction network and which is in abutment with the exit aperture of the suction compartment.
• the waste collection port is configured such that suction power applied at the suction interface will appear as suction power at the waste collection port and the suction compartment.
• the waste collection port is formed on a periphery of the suction compartment and defines a waste inlet through which solid waste and liquid waste are to leave the suction compartment.
• An example cleaning head comprises a main housing having a main axis which defines a rolling direction along the main axis to perform roller cleaning operations.
• the main housing comprises a first portion defining a first end of the cleaning head, a second portion defining a second end of the cleaning head, and an intermediate portion which is intermediate the first portion and the second portion.
• the cleaning head is configured to be driven to move in a first rolling direction such that the first portion is a forward portion having a forward end and the third portion is a rearward portion having a rearward end.
• the cleaning head is also configured to move in a second rolling direction opposite to the first rolling direction such that the second portion is a forward portion having a forward end and the first portion is a rearward portion having a rearward end.
• the suction compartment is elongate and extends along a direction which is parallel to the roller axis.
• the suction compartment comprises an upper housing portion which is closed at least during operations and a bottom housing portion on which an entry aperture having an aperture axis is defined.
• the cleaning roller is mounted inside the suction compartment with the roller axis parallel to the aperture axis and with a circumferential portion exposed at and protruding from the entry aperture so that when the cleaning head is placed on a surface to be cleaned, the roller axis is parallel to the surface and the exposed circumferential portion of the cleaning head is in frictional and compressive contact with the surface to be cleaned.
• the machine compartment is configured to receive electrical and mechanical components such as the drive mechanism, parts for driving the cleaning liquid applicator and electronic circuitry.
• the machine compartment abuts the suction compartment and shares a partitioning wall with the suction compartment.
• the first portion, the intermediate portion and the second portion are disposed sequentially along the rolling direction.
• the first portion defines a suction compartment
• the second portion defines a storage receptacle
• the intermediate portion defines a machine compartment
• the storage receptacle is configured to receive the first container and the second container.
• the suction interface is connected to the main housing, and more particularly, connected to the third portion of the main housing.
• An example cleaning head comprises a suction portion, a waste removal portion, a storage portion, and a main housing, as described herein and as shown in Figures 7A to 16.
• the example cleaning head 200 comprises features which are substantially identical to that of the brush head 100 and the description thereon is incorporated by reference and applied mutatis for the benefit of succinctness, with like numerals representing like features but increased by 100.
• the example storage portion comprises a tank assembly.
• the tank assembly 230 comprises a first tank 240 as an example of a first container defining a first reservoir and a second tank 250 as an example of a second container defining a second reservoir.
• the cleaning head comprises a first liquid delivery path which is configured to deliver washer liquid from the first reservoir to the roller brush and a second liquid delivery path which is a waste collection path configured for transporting waste liquid from the roller brush to the second tank.
• the example cleaning head comprises a suction connector 290 which is an example suction interface.
• the suction connector 290 comprises a tubular portion having a first end which is a free end defining a suction inlet and a second end which is mounted on the main housing and in fluid-tight communication with the second tank 250.
• the suction interface is hinge-connected to the main housing.
• the hinge may for example be a pivotal hinge or a universal hinge so that the suction interface can change its inclination with respect to the main housing.
• the cleaning head is configured to operate in a first rolling direction such that the suction compartment is forward of the suction interface.
• the main housing 210 comprises a first portion which is a forward housing portion (“forward portion”) 212 defining a suction compartment, a second portion which is a rearward housing portion (“rear portion”) 214 defining a storage receptacle, and an intermediate housing portion (“intermediate portion”) 216 which interconnects the forward portion and the rearward portion and defining a machine compartment 260, as depicted in Figures 9A and 10A.
• the main housing 210 comprises an upper housing portion (or top housing portion) and a lower housing portion (or bottom housing portion) which cooperate to define an internal housing compartment of the brush head having an upper side (or a top side) and a lower side (or a bottom side).
• the portion of the main housing which defines the suction compartment comprises a fixed portion and a movable portion 212A which is movable relative to the fixed portion.
• the fixed portion is integrally formed with the intermediate portion and cooperates with the movable portion to define a re-closable suction compartment to facilitate removal of the roller cleaner for replacement or for cleaning.
• the suction compartment comprises an elongate entry aperture which extends along an aperture axis which is parallel to the roller axis.
• the elongate aperture is a suction aperture which provides a suction interface between the cleaning head and the surface to be cleaned.
• the fixed portion comprises a pair of holding arms which is configured for retaining the roller cleaner in its operational position.
• the pair of holding arms comprises a first holding arm which is configured for holding a first axial end of the roller and a second holding arm for holding a second axial end of the roller.
• the pair of holding arms is configured so that when the roller is held in the operational position, the roller axis and the aperture axis are parallel and the roller is rotatable relative to the suction compartment.
• Each of the holding arms projects away from the intermediate portion of the main housing so that the roller is cantilevered above the elongate entry aperture of the suction compartment.
• the suction network comprises a riser duct portion and a suction channel which interconnects the waste collection port and the riser duct portion.
• the suction channel is underneath the intermediate compartment and is defined between a bottom wall portion of the machine compartment and a bottom cover 211 of the cleaning head.
• the riser duct extends through the machine compartment and has an inlet end which is integrally formed on the bottom wall of the machine compartment.
• the suction channel comprises a first end which defines the waste collection port 284 and a second end which abuts the inlet end of the riser duct portion.
• the waste collection port defines an elongate inlet aperture juxtaposing the roller.
• the elongate inlet aperture is a narrow slit having a length comparable to the length of the roller and a width which is very small, for example, a width equal to a small fraction of the diameter of the roller, say less than 5-10%.
• the suction channel tapers to narrow as it extends from the waste collection port towards the riser duct portion.
• the suction channel defines a suction plane which is parallel to a plane defined by the main axis Y-Y’ and the roller axis Z-Z’.
• the suction plane has a fan-shaped configuration so that suction power coming from the riser duct portion is distributed along the length of the waste collection port.
• the waste collection port has a small width so that a working suction can be maintained at the waste collection port.
• the slit of the waste collection portion should have an area which is smaller than the passage area of the riser duct portion.
• the suction channel is intermediate the machine compartment and the surface to be cleaned during vacuum cleaning operations.
• the bottom cover of the main housing which cooperate with the bottom wall portion of the machine compartment has a first end which is fitted with a scraper blade 211 A.
• the scraper blade is configured to be in compressive contact with the roller along its length to facilitate removal of waste from the roller when the roller is driven to rotate against the blade.
• the scraper blade is configured as a“squeegee” to squeeze the roller whereby waste is detached from the roller.
• a plurality of ribs is disposed on an inner surface of the bottom cover which defines the suction channel. The ribs are arranged to guide waste coming in from the waste collection port to move towards the riser duct 252.
• the ribs are arranged to extend radially from the inlet end of the riser duct portion, as shown in Figure 8B.
• the roller brush 220 as an example roller cleaner is mounted inside the suction compartment.
• An elongate portion of the roller brush 220 is exposed through the elongate opening defined between the scraper and a forward end of the main housing.
• the exposed portion of the roller cleaner is a circumferential portion of the roller cleaner which protrudes to extend beyond the elongate suction aperture defined by the bottom cover in cooperation with the forward portion of the main housing.
• the bottom portion of the machine compartment defines a recess having a forward end where the waste collection port is located and a rearward end where the riser duct portion is located.
• the recess is defined by a bottom portion of the machine compartment and a peripheral wall which defines the rearward end of the recess.
• the recess has a depth which progressively increases on extending towards the rearward end so that the depth of the recess at the rearward end is at a maximum and the depth at the forward end is at a minimum.
• the bottom cover 211 is attached to the peripheral wall by, for example, friction fit or other fastening means such as screws.
• the bottom cover 211 has a generally triangular profile complementary to the shape of the recess on the lower housing portion.
• One side 211 A of the bottom plate has substantially the same length as the width of the opening and is to be arranged facing the roller brush to receive used liquid therefrom.
• the peripheral wall extends downwardly from the rearward boundary of the recess. The ribs strengthen the bottom cover 211 and facilitate the used liquid to flow evenly towards an angle portion.
• the angle portion is directly below the duct inlet. After the used liquid enters the bottom cover from the side 211 A, it is guided towards the angle portion opposite the side 211 A, and leaves the bottom cover through the duct inlet.
• the tank assembly 230 is configured to be mountable on the intermediate portion 216 of the housing 210.
• the first tank 240 has a water outlet 244A, which is continuous to a water inlet 244B of the first liquid delivery path inside the housing 210.
• An air pore 246 may be provided on the cover of the first tank for air to enter the tank.
• the second tank 250 comprises a connection portion for connection to the intermediate portion 216 and a container portion for retaining the used liquid.
• the container portion has a greater depth than the connection portion.
• a water inlet and an air outlet are provided on the connection portion on the side facing the intermediate portion 216.
• the water inlet is continuous to the duct inlet on the lower housing portion, and the air outlet is continuous to the suction connector 290.
• An air-liquid separator 256 is disposed on the air outlet on the connection portion to facilitate separation of air and waste liquid from an air stream coming in from the second tank which contains both air and collected waste liquid.
• a tube is provided inside the second tank 250.
• the tube extends from the water inlet of the connection portion to the container portion. It facilitates fluid communication between the duct inlet on the lower housing portion and the container portion of the second tank.
• the tube rises vertically from the water inlet and then extends transversely away from the connection portion.
• FIGs 14 and 15 show components inside the rigid housing 210.
• a control board 262 is provided inside the rigid housing 210 to control the operation of the brush head.
• the control board 262 is to operate a water pump 264 and a motor 266.
• the water pump 264 is arranged to drive liquid from the first tank 240 to the roller brush via the liquid distribution plate 268 and the associated tubing.
• the motor 266 is arranged to drive the roller brush into brushing rotation.
• Figure 16 shows the control circuitry of the brush head.
• the control circuitry comprises the control board 262, which comprises a processing unit, such as a microprocessor.
• the microprocessor receives input power from a power source of, for example, DC 15-35V.
• the microprocessor receives and processes input signal from various sensors S1-S6; and output signal to drive the water pump 264, the motor 266 and various LED indicators L1-L5.
• various sensors are provided on the rigid housing 210.
• a liquid detection sensor S1 and a dirty water tank position sensor S2 are arranged on the side in close proximity to the second tank 250.
• a liquid detection sensor S3 and a clean water tank position sensor S4 are arranged on the side in close proximity to the first tank 240.
• the liquid detection sensor S1 is located at a position close to the maximum allowable water level of the container portion of the second tank 250. It sends a signal to the microprocessor when the liquid in the second tank 250 reaches the maximum allowable water level. Upon receiving the signal, the microprocessor outputs signal to stop operation of the motor 266 and instructs LED L1 to light up.
• the dirty water tank position sensor S2 is located at a position near the bottom of the second tank 250. It detects the presence of the second tank 250, and send the corresponding signal to the microprocessor, which prevents the motor from operation and lights up LED L2 if the second tank is not in place.
• the liquid detection sensor S3 is located at a position close to the minimum allowable water level of the first tank 240.
• the clean water tank position sensor S4 is located at a position near the bottom of the first tank 240. It detects the presence of the first tank 240, and send the corresponding signal to the microprocessor, which prevents the water pump from operation and lights up LED L4 if the first tank is not in place.
• the brush head is provided with at least one safety sensor, which sends a signal to the microprocessor to stop the operation of the system, including the motor and the water pump, when the brush head is not ready for use.
• a safety sensor S5 is provided to detect if the user lifts the brush head off the floor.
• a safety sensor S6 is provided to detect if the brush head is in a slanting position, for example, is slanted for over 30 degrees.
• the liquid detection sensor S1 and/ or liquid detection sensor S3 may be a single-point photoelectric level sensor.
• the dirty water tank position sensor S2 and the clean water tank position sensor S4 may be a micro-switch.
• the safety sensor S6 may be a tip over sensor.
• the LEDs are surface mounted diode (SMD) type LEDs. The LEDs light up in the following event:-

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Nozzles For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=74192686

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (6)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2020
  • 2020-07-24 US US17/621,702 patent/US20220240736A1/en active Pending
  • 2020-07-24 CN CN202080044781.8A patent/CN114007479A/zh active Pending
  • 2020-07-24 WO PCT/IB2020/057010 patent/WO2021014416A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2020-07-24 EP EP20843051.2A patent/EP4003121A4/de active Pending

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events