FR2721539A1 - Multifunctional cleaning device. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a multifunctional cleaning apparatus. The apparatus is provided with dispensing equipment (20) comprising a suction orifice connected to a recovery tank and cooperating with a liquid dispensing nozzle (15), said dispensing nozzle (15) being connected by a piped to a tank (19). This contains water and a detergent substance in separate filling chambers (19a, 19b) and is associated with dosing and possibly mixing means (26) and distribution pump means (28). Said apparatus further has self-contained means (129) for heating a defined quantity of liquid which is dispensed through the dispensing nozzle (15) together with the liquid, or independently thereof.

Description

MULTIFUNCTIONAL CLEANING APPARATUS.

  The present invention relates to a multifunctional cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus capable of vacuuming, cleaning and washing all types of floor, carpet, upholstery or other surfaces, preferably

  but not only, domestic surfaces.

  The cleaning apparatus according to the invention is of the domestic or semi-professional type, and of the washing-drying type, that is to say that it can not only suck dirt from the ground, but also distribute a jet of liquid, consisting of water or a detergent mixture, and then re-aspirate it with the dirt residues on the surface

to clean.

  The cleaning apparatus according to the invention has a space and very compact dimensions that allow

  to use it in a domestic environment.

  This cleaning apparatus is also capable of dispensing a jet of water or detergent mixture, cold or heated to the desired temperature, and to dispense a jet of

steam.

  Document IT-B-1.234.176 illustrates, for example, multifunctional cleaning appliances, of the domestic or semi-professional washing-drying type, known in the art, to which reference is made in the art.

present invention.

  Said apparatuses are capable of performing a cleaning operation comprising dispensing a fluid on the surface to be cleaned together with a suction action

on the surface itself.

  For this purpose, the body of the apparatus comprises a reservoir containing the detergent liquid, which is sprayed in the nebulized form on the surface to be cleaned by

appropriate equipment.

  The equipment also includes a device for performing the suction action for absorbing substantially all of the fluid, mixed with the materials

  messy, on the treated surface.

  The suction action can be simultaneous or

  following that of distribution of the fluid.

  The distribution of the fluid, which is controlled by pump means for conveying the cleaning liquid to the point of use, is controlled by a lever placed on the

handle of the suction pipe.

  Italian patent application UD 92A000145 teaches the manner of using a tank equipped with two separate chambers, one containing water and the other a detergent substance, consisting, for example, of liquid soap, connected to a filtering device. dosage and optionally mixing. The operator can therefore vary, as desired, the proportion of detergent substance present in the mixture used for cleaning, depending on the type of surface, type and amount of dirt, or

function of specific choices.

  A disadvantage often deplored by the operators in the use of such cleaning devices is that of having, at the time of use, a liquid detergent which has a temperature too low to obtain a

  effective and correct cleaning action.

  This is because the reduced size imposed by a device for domestic or semi-professional use involves solutions that are partial and do not sufficiently solve the problem; indeed, in these devices, we are looking for more the compromise of results than

  the optimum result of each function.

  Another disadvantage is that of not being able to use the cleaning apparatus in the desired manner

  as a simple steam distributor.

  In addition, the known cleaning devices do not include means that prevent overpressure due, for example, to an operation of the pump with the dispensing nozzle closed, nor means for recovering the liquid present in the pipe when the nozzle of

distribution is closed.

  An industrial apparatus is known, illustrated in US-A-4,168. 563, which is used for cleaning large spaces and is suitable for large

work in an industrial environment.

  This apparatus has means for vaporizing the water so as to send it as a vapor at the level of

the suction port.

  This device has large locations that can accommodate all kinds of devices; moreover, the purchase price justifies the presence of equipment

sophisticated and expensive.

  This is not possible in domestic or semiprofessional appliances, where the purchase price is a determining factor, which imposes

  solutions that are not too expensive.

  To overcome these disadvantages and to obtain other subsequent advantages, the Applicant has studied, experienced

  and realized the present invention.

  An object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device of the washing-drying type mentioned above, for domestic or semiprofessional use, capable of providing both a water jet and a jet of detergent mixture, said jets can be dispensed cold or hot the

desired way.

  Moreover, the invention makes it possible, in addition, to distribute

only steam.

  Another object of the invention is that of being able to use the multifunctional cleaning apparatus as

simple vacuum cleaner.

  Another object of the invention is that of proposing deactivating means of the dispensing pump in case of

  overpressure inside the distribution pipe.

  Another object of the invention is to provide means for recovering and possibly reusing the liquid present in the pipe and / or heating means at the time of closure of the nozzle and / or the

deactivation of the pump.

  The multifunctional cleaning device of domestic or semiprofessional type according to the invention is structurally of the type described in the patent application

Italian UD 92A000145.

  It provides for two filling chambers, one for water and the other for the liquid detergent substance, which can be integrated into a

  single tank or include two separate tanks.

  Said two filling chambers are connected to a doser / mixer which makes it possible to obtain a detergent mixture

in the desired proportions.

  According to the invention, these filling chambers are connected by dispensing pump means and by means of

  rapid heating means temporarily activatable.

  According to the invention, the momentarily activatable rapid heating means are placed at least upstream of the dispensing pump means and are adapted to supply water, or a detergent mixture, heated to the temperature

desired, or steam.

  The operation of said rapid heating means can be set by the operator to obtain a higher or lower heating of the dispensed liquid, until

  also the vaporization of this liquid.

  According to a formulation of the invention, the rapid heating means have an activation state and a state

no activation.

  In this case, the selection of a higher or lower flow of liquid, under the conditions of activation of rapid heating means, determines the distribution of liquid more

  or less hot, or liquid in the vapor state.

  Advantageously, when the liquid is distributed in the vapor state, it contains a proportion of

  detergent substance low, or even zero.

  In the case of a steam distribution, the cleaning apparatus is used as a simple blower for

  special cleaning operations.

  According to a variant, the distribution line comprises valve means which intervene in the case where the cleaning apparatus is blocked, for example, because of the excessive presence of limestone in the means of cleaning.

fast heating.

  Said valve means define a bypass on the dispensing line which excludes the passage of liquid through these rapid heating means, allowing the cleaning apparatus to continue operating by dispensing only a cold liquid, until repairing or possibly replacing (the) said heating means

quick.

  According to a variant of the invention, the cleaning apparatus comprises another auxiliary tank, or

  sealed container associated with the indicated heating means.

  Said auxiliary tank is filled with water and associated with driving means connected to the dispensing equipment

liquid.

  When the cleaning apparatus is put into operation, the operator can activate these heating means and thus obtain, inside the auxiliary tank, water heated to the desired temperature or steam under pressure. Said auxiliary tank is associated with solenoid valve means which allow this heated water, or pressurized steam, to be distributed together with the

  liquid, for the purpose of heating it.

  According to the invention, the cleaning apparatus comprises pressure measuring means designed to act on the dispensing pump when an overpressure is detected.

  in the liquid distribution line.

  This condition can arise, for example, in the case where, when the pump is activated, the vapor or the liquid is not distributed, thus causing a

  overpressure in the distribution line.

  In this case, the pressure measuring means interrupt the supply of the dispensing pump, causing the deactivation. Alternatively, valve means discharge the liquid present in the dispensing line into the filling chambers, thereby allowing reuse, or within the reservoir.

recovery.

  According to the invention, upstream and / or downstream of the distribution pump means is at least one group

  desalinizer and / or decalcifier.

  Said desalting and / or decalcifying unit may be, for example, of the magnetic type, or of the type intended to magnetically reduce the aggregative capacity of the limestone and, consequently, to avoid encrustations and aggregations that are damaging to the operation and duration

  life of the cleaning device itself.

  The attached figures are given by way of non-limiting example and illustrate some preferred solutions of the invention. In the drawings: FIG. 1 illustrates a possible multifunctional cleaning apparatus according to the invention; FIG. 2 illustrates a possible operating diagram of the cleaning apparatus according to the invention; FIG. 3 illustrates a variant of the operating diagram of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 illustrates a possible variant of the selector used in the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 illustrates the rapid heating means according to the invention; FIG. 6 illustrates another variant of the diagram of

operation of Figure 2.

  The cleaning apparatus 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is substantially of the type presented in the patent application

Italian UD 92A000145.

  In the case in point, the apparatus has a recovery tank 11 of the sucked material and a cover 12 carrying the control members for the various functions. Said cleaning apparatus 10 further comprises dispensing equipment 20 comprising at least one suction port 14, associated with suction means not shown and placed inside the cleaning apparatus.

  , and which is connected to the orifice 13 by a flexible tube 16.

  The dispensing equipment 20 has, in addition, a dispensing nozzle 15 for dispensing, simultaneously or before the suction action, liquid, water or detergent mixture, or steam on the surface. to clean. For this purpose, this dispensing nozzle 15 communicates, via a pipe 18, with a reservoir 19 containing water and a liquid detergent substance, advantageously in two separate filling chambers, respectively, 19a.

and 19b.

  Said reservoir 19 is associated downstream with a doser-mixer 26 intended to form a detergent mixture in the desired proportions, and pump means of

distribution 28.

  The dispensing equipment 20 has at least one first lever 21 for dispensing the liquid or the liquid.

  steam through the dispensing nozzle 15.

  According to the invention, in the solutions of FIGS. 2 and 6, downstream of the pump means 28 are means for

rapid heating 29.

  Said rapid heating means 29 are slaved to selector means 30 which can be actuated by the operator and have, in this particular case, an activation condition

and a non-activation condition.

  According to the invention, the selector means 30 slave the dispensing pump means 28 and are intended to regulate the flow rate of the liquid according to at least a first low flow level and a second high flow rate level. This configuration makes it possible to define a plurality of options that can be identified by the different positions of the

selector means 30.

  In particular, the position 0 defines the deactivation condition of the cleaning apparatus 10, while the positions A and B determine, respectively, the condition of low flow of unheated liquid and high flow of unheated liquid, the means rapid heating 29 are not activated in these positions A and B. The positions C and D of the selector 30 correspond to

  activation positions of the rapid heating means 29.

  In particular, the position C corresponds to the distribution of a high flow rate of liquid heated to a predetermined and given temperature, while the position D, corresponding to a low flow rate of liquid, determines the

  distribution of the liquid in the form of steam.

  According to a variant, the selector means 30 comprise other switch means 31 which act

on the doser / mixer 26.

  Said switch means 31 have at least two positions to obtain, in a first case, the distribution of a detergent mixture in a defined proportion, in the other case, the distribution of water only. According to another variant, the switch means 31 make it possible to obtain a detergent mixture containing the detergent substance in a desired and adjustable proportion.

at will.

  Downstream from the distribution pump means 28, at least, the invention provides a desalting and / or decalcification group 32a, for example, of magnetic type, intended to prevent the formation of calcareous agglomerates which, over time, damage the cleaning apparatus 10 and

reduce the useful life.

  According to a variant, a desalination and / or decalcification unit 32b is mounted upstream, or, also,

  dispensing pump means 28 are mounted upstream.

  According to the invention (FIG. 2), on the distribution line between the dispensing pump means 28 and the dispensing equipment 20 there are valve means 36 intended to divert the flow of liquid if a malfunctioning condition of cleaning appliance 10

comes to be detected.

  In other words, if, after a certain operating time, the formation of limestone in the rapid heating means 29 becomes excessive and causes the interruption of the operation of the cleaning apparatus, the valve means 36 derive the flow of liquid, in

  excluding these rapid heating means 29.

  The cleaning apparatus 10 can thus continue to operate by distributing only the cold liquid until the intervention time on the rapid heating means 29. According to the variant illustrated in FIG. 6, upstream of the rapid heating means 29, is a first pressure reducing valve 43, calibrated at overpressure values included, for example, between 3 and 3.5 bar, associated with a second three-way valve 143

  placed upstream of the dispensing pump means 28.

  By reaching the overpressure setting value, the first pressure reducing valve 43 causes the

  diversion, partial or total, of the flow of liquid.

  At least a portion of the liquid is diverted in line 44 to the second three-way valve 143 to allow recovery within the reservoir 19, thereby reducing the pressure in the distribution line. In this particular case, the dispensing pump 28 is optionally slaved to a safety pressure switch 33 which causes it to be deactivated in the case where the pressure exceeds a certain value, for example, at around 4 to 4.5 bar, the pressure reducing valve 43 being unable to

  not, of itself, correct this imbalance.

  One possible embodiment of said rapid heating means 29, which facilitates rapid intervention in the event of anomalies and malfunctions, is illustrated in FIG.

figure 5.

  In the illustrated case, the rapid heating means 29 comprise a housing 37 in which the resistor 38 is housed, with the electrical contacts 39

  corresponding outputs from said housing 37.

  On said housing 37 are provided the inlet and outlet pipes of the liquid, said liquid exiting hot or in the form of steam as a function of the temperature reached by the resistor 38 and / or the flow rate of the liquid fed. Said housing 37 cooperates with a filling tank 40

  through which the liquid to be heated passes.

  Said housing 37 is advantageously made of a material with a high heat-conductivity coefficient to allow the passage of the highest heat flow.

possible.

  The cavities defined between the casing 37 and the filling tank 40 are advantageously filled with paste

  conductive which ensures a high heat transfer.

  This configuration of the rapid heating means 29 allows rapid interventions of replacement and maintenance in the case of malfunctions due to excessive formation of limescale, insofar as it is sufficient to extract the housing 37, to clean it or possibly the replace, to reactivate the optimal functioning of

rapid heating means 29.

  According to the invention, the rapid heating means 29 comprise, in addition, a safety valve 45, pressure calibrated at values of, for example, between 4 and 5 bar approximately, which discharges the liquid present inside. of the filling tank 40, in this case, inside the recovery tank 11, in the case where

  Abnormal overpressure conditions appear.

  The rapid heating means 29 are furthermore associated with thermostat means 46 which cause them to be deactivated in the case where the temperature exceeds one

set value.

  The thermostat means 46 may also be associated with hot melt means calibrated at a value of

  higher temperature, to increase safety.

  According to a variant, see FIG. 2, when the pressure along the distribution pipe exceeds a defined level, for example, under conditions of activation of the dispensing pump means 28 and closing of the dispensing nozzle 15, the pressure switch 33 intervenes by disabling the distribution pump means 28 and in

causing defusing.

  Said pressure switch 33 controls, in addition, a valve 25 so that it discharges the liquid present in the pipe of

  distribution inside the recovery tank 11.

  According to a variant, illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 2, to allow the reuse of said liquid which otherwise would not be used, the valve 25 evacuates the

  liquid inside the reservoir 19.

  As seen in FIG. 2, the valve 25 also functions when the rapid heating means 29 are

excluded from the distribution line.

  According to the embodiment of FIG. 3, an auxiliary reservoir 17, equipped with a safety cap 22, contains water and comprises its own means of

heating 129.

  The cleaning apparatus 10 in this case comprises selector means 130 which are intended to act on the

proportioner / mixer 26.

  In the example shown, the selector 130 provides a position of inactivity 0, a position E corresponding to the distribution of detergent mixture with a given proportion of detergent substance and a position F with distribution

of water only.

  Several alternative positions to the position E can be provided for the distribution of detergent mixture with

  different proportions of detergent substance.

  The selector 130 furthermore provides at least one switch 23 which controls the activation of the means of

  heating 129 of the auxiliary reservoir 17.

  In the illustrated example, said switch 23 provides a deactivation position (HIGH) and an activation position (BAS) which controls the conversion to steam of

  the water contained inside the auxiliary tank 17.

  Alternatively, the switch 23 has a plurality of intermediate positions for heating the water within the auxiliary tank 17 to a desired temperature below the vaporization temperature. The auxiliary tank 17 is connected to the distribution equipment 20 by a pipe 24 which connects to it upstream of the connection of the pipe 18 of the

detergent mixture.

  The distribution of pressurized steam, or hot water, is slaved to the activation of a solenoid valve 41,

associated with a pressure switch 42.

  In the example shown, the opening of the solenoid valve 41 is slaved to the actuation of a lever 27 present on

distribution equipment 20.

  In this embodiment, the cleaning apparatus 10 allows the liquid to be distributed in a desired manner together with a jet of pressurized steam, which determines the desired heating of said liquid, a condition obtained by acting simultaneously on the two levers 21 and 27. An action on the distribution lever 21 only allows, in addition, either to distribute water only,

  either of the detergent mixture only.

  Finally, by acting only on the lever 27, the distribution of pressurized steam is obtained only for the operation of the cleaning apparatus 10 as

simple blower.

  Figure 4 illustrates a variant 130a of the selector used in combination with the cleaning apparatus 10

  operating as illustrated in the diagram of Figure 3.

  Said selector 130a has a key 34 for activation of the dispensing pump means 28 and a

  key 35 for activation of the suction port 14.

  In addition, the selector 130a has a switch 23 for activating the heating means 129 inside the auxiliary tank 17, to produce steam therein, and a switch 127 for opening the electro -vanne 41, which allows to distribute said

  steam by dispensing equipment 20.

Claims (17)

  A multifunctional cleaning apparatus provided with dispensing equipment (20) comprising a suction port (14) connected to a recovery tank (11) and cooperating with a dispensing nozzle (15) of the liquid, said dispensing nozzle distribution (15) being connected by a conduit (18) to a reservoir (19), said reservoir (19) containing in separate filling chambers (19a, 19b) water and a detergent substance and being associated with dosing and optionally mixing (26) and dispensing pump means (28), the liquid distribution being controlled by actuation of a lever (21) on the handle of the dispensing equipment (20) , characterized in that it has means (29-129), autonomous and momentarily activatable in a manner desired by the operator, for heating, to vaporize, a defined quantity of liquid, said quantity of liquid, hot or in the form of steam, being distributed through the dispensing nozzle (15) together with the liquid, or independently of it.   2. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the rapid heating means (29) are placed in line with the liquid distribution pipe and act directly on said liquid before distribution thereof through the nozzle of distribution (15). 3. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the outlet temperature of the liquid, or its conversion to steam, is a function of the flow rate selected by the operator through means to selector (30).   4. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of   preceding claims, characterized in that means   (36) are intended to exclude from the distribution line the rapid heating means (29) in case of malfunction of the latter, for example, as a result of   excessive formation of limestone.   Cleaning apparatus according to one of the claims   previous, characterized in that bypass means (43, 143) are intended to recover the liquid present in the distribution line in case of blockage of the apparatus cleaning (10).   Cleaning apparatus according to one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the rapid heating means (29) have a housing (37) having the inlet / outlet lines of the liquid to be heated and disconnectable for maintenance and / or replacement operations.   Cleaning apparatus according to one of the claims   prior art, characterized in that the rapid heating means (29) comprise safety valve means (45).   associated with liquid recovery means (11).   8. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating means (129) cooperate with an auxiliary reservoir (17) containing water and are slaved to the actuation of a switch   (23) associated with selector means (130, 130a).   9. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the auxiliary reservoir (17) cooperates with solenoid valve means (41) associated with an autonomous distribution line (24) connected to the dispensing equipment (20). ) downstream of the connection between the dispensing equipment (20) and the detergent liquid line (18). 10. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the opening of the solenoid valve means (41) is slaved to the actuation of autonomous means to   lever (27) or switch (127).   11. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of   preceding claims, characterized in that the means   with a selector (30, 130) comprises means for acting on the doser / mixer (26) to define the proportion of detergent substance present in the mixture, said proportion being able to vary from 0 to a defined maximum value. 12. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of   preceding claims, characterized in that it presents   pressure switch means (33) associated with the liquid distribution line and intended to deactivate the means   with dispensing pump (28) under overpressure conditions.   13. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of   preceding claims, characterized in that it presents   valve means (25) for discharging the liquid present inside the distribution line under the condition of   closing the dispensing nozzle (15).   Cleaning apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the valve means (25) discharge the   liquid inside the recovery tank (11).   Cleaning apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the valve means (25) expel the   liquid inside the tank (19).   16. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of   preceding claims, characterized in that there exists,   at least downstream of the dispensing pump means (28), a   desalinator / decalcifier unit (32a).   17. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of   preceding claims, characterized in that it presents   thermostat means (46) associated with the rapid heating means (29) or the auxiliary tank means (17) for deactivating the heating means (29, 38,   129) in case of excessive temperature.