GB2038168A

GB2038168A - Suction cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2038168A
Application number: GB7941201A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Vax Appliances Ltd
Current assignee: Vax Appliances Ltd
Priority date: 1978-12-19
Filing date: 1979-11-29
Publication date: 1980-07-23
Also published as: GB2038168B

Abstract

A suction cleaning apparatus in suitable for dry and wet suction cleaning methods includes a container 10 for the collection of solids and/or liquids, a motor-driven suction fan unit 20 for generating a vacuum in the container, and an interchangeable reservoir unit 50 for wet cleaning or, connector member 80 for dry cleaning interposed between the fan suction unit and the container. The inter-changeable reservoir unit may comprise a trough 56 from which cleaning liquid is expelled by exhaust air flow from the suction fan unit into discharge tube 65. A float valve 70 may be provided to prevent entry of liquid from container 10 into the suction fan unit. A filter element 84 for dry dust collection may be incorporated in the connector member or a separate dust collecting bag may be provided in the container. The apparatus may be used for cleaning floors, carpets, walls, curtains, and upholstery. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for cleaning floors, carpets and the like This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning floors, walls, carpets, curtains, upholstery and the like. The invention is more particularly concerned with a dual purpose apparatus suitable for both dry suction cleaning and water extraction cleaning processes.

In the process of water extraction cleaning, 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 substantially dried by uptake of the solution by suitable suction apparatus.

According to the present invention suction cleaning apparatus comprises an open-topped container adapted for the collection of a liquid and having an intake inlet for connection with a cleaning head, a detachable reservoir for a cleaning liquid adapted to be mounted across the open top of said container, a detachable connector member also adapted for mounting across the open top of said container instead of said reservoir, and a motor-driven air suction unit having an air inlet and an exhaust outlet and adapted to be mounted directly on top of either the detachable reservoir or the detachable connector member whereby when the suction unit is mounted on the reservoir the exhaust outlet registers with an opening afforded by the reservoir so as to cause liquid therein to be displaced from the reservoir through a liquid delivery pipe under the pressure of said exhaust air and the air inlet registers with an air passageway afforded by the reservoir and in communication with the interior of said container so as to place the latter in communication with the air inlet of the suction unit, and when the suction unit is mounted on the connected member, an air flow director afforded by the connector member in combination with the suction unit defines an air outlet passageway which registers with the exhaust outlet and vents exhaust air from the suction unit to atmosphere whilst an opening in the air flow director registers with the air inlet and places the interior of said container in communication with the air inlet through a dust collecting element.

Thus, when the liquid reservoir is in position on the container and the suction unit is positioned on the reservoir, exhaust air from the suction unit causes liquid to be delivered from the reservoir to a suitable cleaning head, whilst the air inlet of the suction unit is placed in communication with the interior of the container so that suction is applied thereto, and hence to a suction cleaning head. Alternatively, when the connector member is connected between the container and the suction unit, the exhaust air is diverted to atmosphere, and the air inlet communicates with the interior of the container so that the apparatus may be used with the provision of a suitable dust collection element for dry suction cleaning without other modification or adjustment.

The apparatus is thus readily convertible so as to operate in either of its modes without requiring any special setting up by the user.

These, and other, features of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:~ FIGURE 1 shows a preferred embodiment of suction cleaning apparatus in front view with a removable clean water reservoir unit in position; FIGURE 2 shows a partial transverse section on the line A-A of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a view showing the underneath plan of a detachable suction unit; and FIGURE 4 is a partial transverse section corresponding to Figure 2 but showing a connector member incorporating a dust filter assembly in place of the reservoir unit.

The suction cleaner illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes a main container 10 and an air suction unit 20 with the inter-position of either a reservoir unit 50, as shown in Figures 1,2 and 3 if the cleaner is to be used for water extraction cleaning, on a connector member 80 as shown in Figure 4 if it is to be used for dry suction cleaning.

The main container 10 is open at the top and is formed with a lateral protuberance 11 for the reception of an end fitting (not shown) of a suction hose leading to a cleaning head incorporating a suction chamber which is applied directly to a carpet or other like surface to be cleaned, in a manner well known in the art. The protuberance 11 is formed with a circular aperture 12 adapted to receive the suction hose end fitting, and an intake opening 14 is formed opposite to the aperture 12 in the upper portion of the side wall of the container 10 so that air, togetner with any dust or water entrained therein, enters from the hose directly into the interior of the container 10 in a generally radial direction.

The main container 10 also carries a pair of diametrallyspaced lugs 15 to which are pivoted retaining clips 16 for the purpose of securing the air suction unit 20 and either the reservoir unit 50 or the connector member assembly 80 to the container 10.

The main container 10 is provided with a mobile base 18 equipped with castors 19.

The suction unit 20 comprises an assembly which includes a main outer casing 21 having a carrying handle 22 centrally disposed thereon, and an ON/OFF switch 23 is mounted in the handle. A housing 24 within the handle 22 encloses an electric motor (not shown) and is covered by a ventilated top plate 25. The motor is coupled to an impeller 26 which is disposed in a circular housing defined in combination by an annular wall 27 formed integrally with the main casing 21 and a similar annular wall 28 formed on a base member 30 of the assembly. The impeller 26 is centrally located by an inner annular wall 29 formed on the base member 30 and a corresponding inner annular wall (not shown) afforded by the casing 21.

The base member 30 includes a flat central portion 31 and a frusto-conical outer portion 32, separated by an annular gap 33 and joined by radial ribs 34 at the underside thereof leading from a central ring 35 to a peripheral rib 36. A plurality of holes 37 within the central region of the base member 30 bounded by the ring 35 register with an air intake (not shown) of the impeller 26 and an apertured disc 39 fits within the ring 35 and is flush with the lower edge of the latter. This structure defines an air inlet 38 whereby the impeller draws air in from beneath the top cover assembly20through the apertures 37 and the apertured disc 39.

Exhaust air from the impeller 26 is discharged peripherally into an annular chamber 40 defined by the walls 27 and 28 in combination with the casing of the impeller 26. A sealing ring 41 seals the impeller inlet off from the outlet chamber 40 and the gap 33 in the base plate 30, which gap is between the annular walls 28 and 29 and outside the ring 35, defines an exhaust outlet which allows the exhaust air to escape from the chamber 40 to the underside of the base member 30 at a position spaced radially from the air inlet 38 of the suction unit.

The reservoir unit 50 includes a mounting ring 51 which is interposed between the upper edge of the main container 10 and the lower edge of the suction unit 20, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 when the appliance is to be used for water extraction cleaning.

The ring 51 is formed with a lateral extension 52 which is aligned with the protuberance 11 of the main container 10. A rib 53 which extends around the entire periphery of the ring 51 and the extension 52, at the underside thereof, is adapted to seat within the open top of the container 10 in a substantially airtight fashion, as seen in Figure 2. A number of vertical internal ribs 54 are disposed within the ring 51 and project slightly above the upper edge to support the base member 30 of the suction unit 20 by engagement with the rib 36 thereof.

The mounting ring 51 also has at its lower edge an inwardly directed flange 55 supporting an integral annular trough 56 which is defined by a generally cylindrical wall 57 and a frusto-conical wall or cone 58. The cone 58 supports a boss 60 which defines an air passageway 64 to place the air inlet 38 of the suction unit 20 in communication with the interior of the container 10 when the reservoir unit 50 is mounted thereon by means of the ring 51. The boss 60 affords at its upper edge a ring 61 which is so positioned as to engage sealingly beneath the central ring 35 of the base member 30.

The boss 60 also includes a funnel-shaped main portion 62 which seats on the apex of the cone 58, and a downward extension 63 which protrudes to the underside of the cone. Thus, when the reservoir unit 50 is interposed between the suction unit 20 and the main container 10, suction generated by the impeller 26 is communicated through the suction inlet 38 and the air passageway 64 defined by the boss 60 to the interior of the container 10, and in this way suction is applied to the hose which, as previously mentioned, is connected to the main container 10 through the aperture 1 2 so that the induced air flow follows the course indicated by arrows A.

The exhaust air from the impeller 26 follows the course indicated by the arrows B through the gap 33 and enters directly into the reservoir unit 50 through an annular opening defined by the open top of the latter between the boss 60 and the mounting ring 51.

As can be seen in Figure 2, a narrow gap 55 exists between the lower edge of the main casing 21 of the suction unit 20 and the upper edge of the mounting ring 51 of the reservoir unit 50 so as to allow restricted escape of air from the space beneath the cover assembly and cause the establishment of a positive air pressure overthetrough 56 of the reservoir unit 50. In this way, sufficient pressure is generated within the trough 56 to displace liquid therefrom through a liquid delivery pipe 65 which is secured by means of a clip 66 in the extension 52 of the mounting ring 51.It will be appreciated that the pressure generated within the reservoir in this way may be relatively low, but it can readily be made sufficient to initiate and maintain a syphoning action, and even to lift the liquid to a height sufficient forthe purpose of cleaning upholstery or curtains without unduly reducing the efficiency of the suction unit.

In order to prevent liquid being sucked up into the impeller 26 if the capacity of the main container 10 is exceeded, an overflow valve 70 is provided. This consists of a spherical float 71 confined between three guides 59 which extend downwardly from the centre of cone 58, and a seating face 72 formed at the lower edge of the extension 63 of the boss 60.

When the appliance is to be used for dry suction cleaning, the reservoir unit 50 is removed and the connector member 80 is assembled between the main container 10 and the suction unit 20, as shown in Figure 4, and retained by means of the clips 16. No other alterations or adjustments are required.

The connector member 80 includes a mounting ring 81 similar to the mounting ring 51 of the reservoir unit 50, with a lateral extension 82 to fit the protuberance 12 of the container 10, and a peripheral rib 83 which engages in a substantially airtight manner within the rim of the container 10, as shown in Figure 4. A filter element 84 fits within the peripheral rib 83 and serves to separate entrained dust from the air stream, although additionally or alternatively a dust collection bag (not shown) may be provided within the container 10 and the attached directly to the end fitting of the hose.

The connector member 80 further includes a frusto-conical air flow director member 85 with a central opening 86 bounded by a ring 87 which sealingly engages the underside of the central ring 35 of the base member 30 in the same manner as the ring 61 of the boss 60. Thus, the interior of the container 10 is placed in communication with the suction inlet 37 of the suction unit 20 through the filter element 84, and the induced airflow follows the course indicated by arrows C.

Internal ribs 88, similar to the ribs 54 of the mounting ring of the reservoir unit 50, serve to support the periphery of the base member 30 and ensure that a gap 89 exists between the lower edge of the main casing 21 of the suction unit 20 and the upper edge of the ring 81 so as to enable air to escape freely. The base member 30 and the air flow director member 85 in combination define an annular air outlet passageway 90 leading from the exhaust outlet defined by the gap 33 to the external atmosphere via the gap 89. Thus, exhaust air from the chamber 40 follows the course of arrows D through the gap 33 into the annular outlet passageway 89 and is deflected to atmosphere by the director member 85.

It will thus be seen that the reservoir unit 50 and connector member 80 are directly interchangeable with one another so as to enable the apparatus to be used selectively for either water extraction cleaning or dry suction cleaning. In the one case the exhaust air from the impeller 26 applies pressure to the liquid in the reservoir unit 50so as to cause the liquid to be delivered along the tube 65 which may lead either directly to a compartment of the cleaning head orto a separate liquid application head. In the other case the director member 85 of the connector member 80 diverts the exhaust air from the impeller 26 to the external atmosphere without requiring any adjustment of the apparatus by the operator and without utilising any moving parts. If, as previously mentioned a dust collecting bag is to be used within the container 10 instead of, or in addition to, the filter disc 84, it is only necessary to ensure that such a bag is in place, as in any conventional vacuum cleaner.

The apparatus thus cannot be set up incorrectly, for example without diverting the exhaust air to atmosphere when the filter assembly is in place, and there are no moving parts utilised in the control of the air flow which might become jammed so as to lead to improper operation.

Instead of providing the gaps 55 and 89 for the escape of the exhaust air, it would alternatively be possible for the mounting rings 51 and 81 to engage sealingly with the suction unit 20 and afford outlet apertures. Such apertures could be of a calibrated size so as to afford a carefully controlled restriction on the air flow, at least in the case of the reservoir.

Claims

1. Suction cleaning apparatus comprising an open-topped container adapted for the collection of liquid and having an intake inlet for connection with a cleaning head, a detachable reservoir for a cleaning liquid adapted to be mounted across the open top of said container, a detachable connector member also adapted for mounting across the open top of said container instead of said reservoir, and a motor-driven air suction unit having a air inlet and an exhaust outlet and adapted to be mounted directly on top of either the detachable reservoir or the detachable connector member whereby when the suction unit is mounted on the reservoir the exhaust outlet registers with an opening afforded by the reservoir so as to cause liquid therein to be displaced from the reservoir through a liquid delivery pipe under the pressure of said exhaust air and the air inlet registers with an air passageway afforded by the reservoir and in communication with the interior of said container so as to place the latter in communication with the air inlet of the suction unit, and when the suction unit is mounted on the connector member, an air flow director afforded by the connector member in combination with the suction unit defines an air outlet passageway which registers with the exhaust outlet and vents exhaust air from the suction unit to atmosphere whilst an opening in the air flow director registers with the air inlet and places the interior of the container in communication with the air inlet through a dust collecting element.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the reservoir and the connector member each include a respective mounting ring adapted to engage sealingly with the upper edge of said container.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the air suction includes a base member which is adapted to be supported by either said detachable reservoir or said detachable connector member whilst leaving a gap between said air suction unit and the upper edge of the mounting ring of said reservoir or said connector member respectively.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the exhaust outlet of said air suction unit comprises an annular slot which extends around said suction inlet.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said air flow director comprises a frusto-conical member which at its upper edge engages sealingly around the air inlet of the air suction unit, and its lower end is joined to said mounting ring, the frusto-conical member serving to deflect exhaust air from said exhaust outlet towards said gap between the suction unit and the mounting ring of the connector member.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein a filter element is arranged across the lower end of the frusto conical member.

7. Suction cleaning apparatus incorporating an interchangeable reservoir and filter unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.