GB1601455A

GB1601455A - Cleaning head

Info

Publication number: GB1601455A
Application number: GB2015177A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: ABRA INVESTMENTS Ltd
Current assignee: ABRA INVESTMENTS Ltd
Priority date: 1977-05-13
Filing date: 1977-05-13
Publication date: 1981-10-28

Description

(54) CLEANING HEAD (71) We, ABRA INVESTMENTS LI MITED, a British Company of 21, Hall Street, Birmingham B18 6BS, West Midlands formerly of Weatheroak Alvechurch, Birmingham B48 7EG, West Midlands, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a cleaning head for use with an apparatus for cleaning floors, walls carpets, curtains, upholstery and the like, and more particularly concerns a cleaning head for use in the process of water extraction cleaning, in which a carpet or the like is thoroughly wetted by a solution containing a suitable cleansing agent, such as a non-foaming detergent and the carpet or the like is then dried by the uptake of that solution by means of suction.

According to the present invention we provide a cleaning head comprising a suction chamber adapted for connection to a source of suction and having an open mouth, and an inner compartment arranged substantially centrally within the suction chamber and having side walls defining an open mouth in the plane of the open mouth of the suction chamber, the inner compartment having associated therewith a cleaning liquid delivery duct formed with a plurality of closely spaced fine outlets adapted to allow cleaning liquid to flow substantially dropwise into the inner compartment at a position spaced from the mouth thereof, the arrangement being such that when the cleaning head is applied to a surface to be cleaned, cleaning liquid is applied to a part of the surface which is shielded from air flow arising from vacuous conditions within the suction chamber, but upon movement of the cleaning head in either of at least two opposed directions the area then wetted by the cleaning liquid is immediately subjected to suction drying.

The end edges of the side walls of the inner compartment are preferably free from local protrusions or recesses so as to engage uniformly the surface to be cleaned. Similarly, the mouth of the suction chamber is preferably also free from local protrusions or recesses, and the end edges of the side walls defining the suction chamber may be of smoothly rounded shape in transverse section.

The head may be of elongate form with the inner compartment extending medially along the length of the suction chamber, or alternatively the head may be of round form and the inner chamber may then be of circular or annular form.

These and other features of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of cleaning head in accordance with the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows the head in a half sectional front elevation; Figure 2 shows a section on the line X-X of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a section on the line Y-Y of Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows a corresponding underneath plan view.

The preferred form of cleaning head 100 includes a tubular spigot 101 for attachment to the suction hose (not shown) and a transverse housing 102 with an internal transverse rib 103 and a central hollow boss 104 for reception of a nozzle 105 at the end of the pipe 77 through which liquid is supplied. A hole 106 is formed at the lower end of the boss and communicates with a channel 107 which extends along the underside of the transverse rib 103. A pair of mouldings 108 are located within the housing 102 by engaging at their ends in slots 109 formed in the ends of the housing. Addi tionally, the two mouldings in combination are shaped to afford a pair of vertical lugs 110 which fit within apertures 111 formed in the top wall of the housing adjacent the ends thereof. The two mouldings in combination also define a channel 112 which together with the channel 107 defines a transversely extending duct 113 whereby liquid received from the nozzle 105 through the hole 106 is distributed along the whole length of the housing 102.

Calibrated apertures 114 are provided at spaced intervals along the length of the head in order to regulate the flow of liquid so as to cause it to be delivered uniformly and continuously at an appropriate rate. Typically, the apertures 114 have a diameter of 0.4 mm and are spaced on 4 mm centres.

Liquid then drips through these apertures and enters an inner compartment 115 defined between a pair of transversely extending walls 116 formed on the mouldings 108.

The inner compartment 115 is disposed centrally of an outer compartment 117 defined by the casing 102, and the end faces 118 of the walls 116 are arranged so as to be flush with the mouth of the housing 102 as defined by a rounded bead 119. The bead is of continuous and uninterrupted form so that when passed over a pile fabric, the pile is not separate or combed. In this way the outer chamber 117 can be effectively sealed from the outside atmosphere so that a strong suction is applied to the fabric being cleaned. The arrangement of the end faces 118 of the walls 116 in the same plane as the mouth of the outer compartment 17 ensures that the inner compartment 115 is likewise effectively sealed against the fabric being treated and there is virtually no possibility of liquid being drawn from the inner compartment 115 directly to the outer compartment 117 by virtue of the air flow established within the head. Instead, the liquid is constrained to drip onto the fabric being cleaned. In this way, a thorough wetting of the fabric is ensured without spraying. This in turn, makes it possible for the appliance to operate with only a low pressure gradient acting on the liquid, and without the need for any pump for the delivery of cleaning liquid to the head.

A shut-off valve (not shown) may be incorporated in the pipe 77 so as to enable the flow of cleaning liquid to the head to be interrupted.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A cleaning head comprising a suction chamber adapted for connection to a source of suction and having an open mouth, and an inner compartment arranged substantially centrally within the suction chamber and having side walls defining an open mouth in the plane of the open mouth of the suction chamber, the inner compartment having associated therewith a cleaning liquid delivery duct formed with a plurality of closely spaced fine outlets adapted to allow cleaning liquid to flow substantially dropwise into the inner compartment at a position spaced from the mouth thereof, the arrangement being such that when the cleaning head is applied to a surface to be cleaned, cleaning liquid is applied to a part of the surface which is shielded from air flow arising from vacuous conditions within the suction chamber, but upon movement of the cleaning head in either of at least two opposed directions the area then wetted by the cleaning liquid is immediately subjected to suction drying.

2. A cleaning head according to Claim 1 wherein the end edges of the side walls of the inner compartment are free from local protrusions or recesses.

3. A cleaning head according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the mouth of the suction chamber is free from local protrusions or recesses.

4. A cleaning head according to Claim 3 wherein the end edges of the side walls defining the suction chamber are of smoothly rounded shape in transverse section.

5. A cleaning head according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the suction chamber is of elongate form with the inner compartment extending medially along the length thereof.

6. A cleaning head according to any of the preeeding claims wherein the suction chamber is defined by an outer housing having a medially extending rib therein and the inner compartment is defined by a pair of members which are held in assembled relation with the rib and in combination with the rib define said duct whereby cleaning liquid is distributed to said outlets.

7. A cleaning head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tionally, the two mouldings in combination are shaped to afford a pair of vertical lugs 110 which fit within apertures 111 formed in the top wall of the housing adjacent the ends thereof. The two mouldings in combination also define a channel 112 which together with the channel 107 defines a transversely extending duct 113 whereby liquid received from the nozzle 105 through the hole 106 is distributed along the whole length of the housing 102. Calibrated apertures 114 are provided at spaced intervals along the length of the head in order to regulate the flow of liquid so as to cause it to be delivered uniformly and continuously at an appropriate rate. Typically, the apertures 114 have a diameter of 0.4 mm and are spaced on 4 mm centres. Liquid then drips through these apertures and enters an inner compartment 115 defined between a pair of transversely extending walls 116 formed on the mouldings 108. The inner compartment 115 is disposed centrally of an outer compartment 117 defined by the casing 102, and the end faces 118 of the walls 116 are arranged so as to be flush with the mouth of the housing 102 as defined by a rounded bead 119. The bead is of continuous and uninterrupted form so that when passed over a pile fabric, the pile is not separate or combed. In this way the outer chamber 117 can be effectively sealed from the outside atmosphere so that a strong suction is applied to the fabric being cleaned. The arrangement of the end faces 118 of the walls 116 in the same plane as the mouth of the outer compartment 17 ensures that the inner compartment 115 is likewise effectively sealed against the fabric being treated and there is virtually no possibility of liquid being drawn from the inner compartment 115 directly to the outer compartment 117 by virtue of the air flow established within the head. Instead, the liquid is constrained to drip onto the fabric being cleaned. In this way, a thorough wetting of the fabric is ensured without spraying. This in turn, makes it possible for the appliance to operate with only a low pressure gradient acting on the liquid, and without the need for any pump for the delivery of cleaning liquid to the head. A shut-off valve (not shown) may be incorporated in the pipe 77 so as to enable the flow of cleaning liquid to the head to be interrupted. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A cleaning head comprising a suction chamber adapted for connection to a source of suction and having an open mouth, and an inner compartment arranged substantially centrally within the suction chamber and having side walls defining an open mouth in the plane of the open mouth of the suction chamber, the inner compartment having associated therewith a cleaning liquid delivery duct formed with a plurality of closely spaced fine outlets adapted to allow cleaning liquid to flow substantially dropwise into the inner compartment at a position spaced from the mouth thereof, the arrangement being such that when the cleaning head is applied to a surface to be cleaned, cleaning liquid is applied to a part of the surface which is shielded from air flow arising from vacuous conditions within the suction chamber, but upon movement of the cleaning head in either of at least two opposed directions the area then wetted by the cleaning liquid is immediately subjected to suction drying.