GB2343738A

GB2343738A - A steam cleaning heating unit for carpets

Info

Publication number: GB2343738A
Application number: GB9920449A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Warren
Original assignee: STEAM VAC
Current assignee: STEAM VAC
Priority date: 1998-11-11
Filing date: 1999-08-27
Publication date: 2000-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 2019-08-27
Also published as: NZ337512A; GB2343738B; GB9920449D0; AUPP704398A0

Abstract

A fluid heating unit which includes a container 20 which is provided with internal conduit 25 through which a first fluid can enter and leave the container 20 and be heated by contact with a second fluid in the container 20 which second fluid is heated by either generator 30 exhaust gas passing through the container 20 or an electric heating element 50 internal to the container or both. The exhaust gas and electrical heating may be provided by an engine in association with the generator. Alternatively, only the exhaust gas may be supplied by an engine and the electricity supplied by mains power. The fluid heating unit may be mounted on a trolley device 40. The unit may be attached to a portable carpet steam cleaning unit. The electric heating element 50 can be controlled by a thermostat. The level of the second fluid can be controlled by a valve operated header tank. The invention may also include a fixedly located self-cleaning unit including a container having therein a water reservoir 10 and means for heating said water, a source of detergent and a pump means to provide a mixture of said heated water and detergent to an outlet device terminating in a delivery nozzle adapted to be automatically operated by a user.

Description

STEAM CLEANING HEATING UNIT Background to the invention This invention relates to means for carpet cleaning and in particular to the area of"steam cleaning"of carpets and a method and means whereby relatively high temperature cleaning can be achieved.

Steam cleaning is a term which is used for essentially for cleaning carpets with very hot water in the form of water droplets rather than steam as such. This is because the equipment for heating and supplying the cleaning fluid is usually not closely adjacent the site to be cleaned and is often located in a van or truck outside a building. There must therefore be delivery of this fluid along hose or other conduit to the cleaning equipment being used on site.

This then provides problems of cooling of the fluid over the distance travelled which presents a particular difficulty when work is being carried out in multi-storied buildings.

As a result, so called steam cleaning frequently results in very wet carpets after cleaning has been completed.

Outline of the invention It is the object of this invention to provide a means whereby the delivery temperature of the water used can be raised at the actual cleaning site such that much less residual moisture is retained in a carpet than when conventional means are used.

The invention is primarily a fluid heating unit which includes a container which is provided with internal conduit through which a first fluid can enter and leave the container and be heated by contact with a second fluid in the container which second fluid is heated by either engine exhaust gas passing through the container or an electric heating element internal to the container or both.

The invention may also include a fixedly located self-contained cleaning unit including a container having therein a water reservoir and means for heating said water, a source of detergent and a pump means to provide a mixture of said heated water and detergent to an outlet device terminating in a delivery nozzle and adapted to be automatically operated by a user. Preferably a generator is used in conjunction with an engine to provide a heat and electricity supply to the water heater of the invention and it is preferred that means is provided, such as a trolley device, to move both the engine and generator and water heater about.

This water heater arrangement may be connected to the output of a standard portable carpet steam cleaning unit and act to boost the temperature of water passing through it.

Although this invention will be discussed in terms of water and the steam cleaning of carpet it will be seen that the invention can actually be used to provide heated fluid for many other purposes.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood we shall describe by way of non limiting example a particular embodiment of the apparatus of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawing figures In these drawings: Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of the fluid heater unit and generator; Fig. 2 shows a view from above the heater unit; Fig. 3 shows a cross-section through the fluid heater unit; Fig. 4 shows a section through the heater unit displaying the heating mechanism; Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention The fluid heater unit 10 includes a fluid container 20 of stainless steel which is covered by an insulated layer with a Colourbond coating, although it may be constructed of any appropriate material.

In order that the system can be compact the fluid container 20 is located above an engine and generator 30 on a trolley 40 (Figure 1) the arrangement being such that both power and heat can be delivered to a steam cleaning unit at any desired location.

The combination of water heating unit, engine and generator is sufficiently small that, while it may be conveniently transported in a relatively small van, it can also be easily moved on a rack or other device which will hold the heater, engine and generator closely adjacent one and other to the site required to be cleaned. This facility avoids the problem of the heat loss which occurs when hot water is passed through a conduit from a remote site.

The heater unit 20 contains coils of copper tubing 25, with coils coaxially 3 deep being considered optimum, and having an inlet 21 and an outlet 22 through which pressurised water from the engine pump passes to effect the steam cleaning. For safety reasons the outlet 22 is provided with a pressure release valve 28.

The water passing through copper tubing 25 is heated by contact with water in the container 20 which is maintained at a required level above the coils in the container by means of a header tank 60. The water level in the header tank is controlled by a float valve 61 within the header tank and water can pass between tank 60 and container 20 by means of tub 62.

The water in the container 20 heats the water in the coils 25 by several means. Firstly the cooling air exhaust from the engine can be used for preheating the inlet water supply while the water in container 20 is heated by passing the engine exhaust gas through inlet 23 to the container 20 and through a grid 26 of parallel pipes in the water in the container to exit though outlet 24 from the container, the container being provided with a vent 27 to the atmosphere in case of pressure build up due to steam.

The container 20 is also provided with an internal heating element 50, preferably at its base but otherwise anywhere internal to the container. The action of this heating element is controlled by a thermostat 70 in thermal contact with the container 20.

This heating element 50 may be powered by the generator and is used to pre heat the water heating unit if the water entering it is at a low temperature or in such situations as the presence of low ambient temperatures. Alternately the heating element may be switched off if not required or it may be powered by mains power if that is preferred. If mains power is available the heating element alone may provide sufficient heat without the use of a generator.

In another embodiment of the invention it is envisaged that where mains power is available there would be no need for the generator and that the heating by engine exhaust and mains power if necessary would suffice, although engine exhaust alone might provide sufficient heating.

By the means described the invention provides a much higher temperature source of water droplets than conventional steam cleaners and is therefore more efficient in its operation and has been able to reduce the residual water content of cleaned carpet by as much as 70%.

Similarly the water heating unit may be used as a stand alone system and not be used in conjunction with a conventional steam cleaning unit where there is an appropriate water supply. However where cleaners already own such equipment it can be used as a reservoir to top up the heater unit.

Clearly there are many other applications of the invention other than it's embodiment as a portable water heating unit in conjunction with an engine and generator adapted for steam cleaning carpets. For example it is envisaged that a compact portable water heating system such as this would be of great benefit to campers to provide hot water for showers and other camping activities requiring hot water. It is therefore envisaged that other embodiments of the invention will exhibit any number of and any combination of the features of the previously described.

In another embodiment of the invention a stand alone steam cleaning unit may be set up adjacent or proximate to a car wash area, in a parking lot or a service station or any location to which a car or other vehicle could be conveniently driven.

Such a stand alone steam cleaning unit may be caused to function automatically, preferably by coin operation or credit card, which unit includes a container structure with a delivery hose and nozzle at its outermost end.

The steam cleaner unit may house adjacent its lower surface a chemical or detergent source which is connected via a tube to a water supply reservoir and transport a measured dose of the detergent to the reservoir when the reservoir is being filled. The water supply reservoir is housed adjacent the upper surface of the container and is provided with a flotation device which controls the inlet of water to the reservoir. A thermostatically controlled heater is located at the base of the reservoir.

In the steam cleaning unit there is also an induction motor with a piston pump which effects the transport of the water and detergent mix to a delivery hose.

The arrangement is such that the steam cleaning machine is activated by a coin operating mechanism, and a trigger mechanism on a delivery hose, so that a user can drive a vehicle up to the machine and use the steam cleaner for a time which is predetermined according to the value of coinage inserted.

The advantages of having a steam cleaner to clean the interior of a vehicle are numerous however a significant feature is that, as the cleaner is very proximate to the vehicle the cleansing fluid can be delivered at a sufficiently high temperature to minimise residual wetness of the upholstery or carpet.

Thus in one embodiment of the invention the apparatus of the invention may be taken to a site to maximise the delivery temperature of the steam cleaning water and in another the items to be cleaned may be brought to a source where the appropriate water temperature is able to be maintained.

Whilst we have described herein specific embodiments of the invention it is to be understood that variations and modifications in this can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

The claims defining this invention are as follows: 1. A fluid heating unit which includes a container which is provided with internal conduit through which a first fluid can enter and leave the container and be heated by contact with a second fluid in the container which second fluid is heated by either engine exhaust gas passing through the container or an electric heating element internal to the container or both.
2. A fluid heating unit as claimed in claim 1 in which the exhaust gas and electrical heating are provided by an engine in association with a generator.
3. A fluid heating unit as claimed in claim 1 in which exhaust gas is provided by an engine and electrical heating is provided by by mains power.
4. A fluid heating unit as claimed claim 1 in which the first fluid entering the container is preheated by cooling air exhaust from the generator.
5. A fluid heating unit as claimed in claim 1 which is portably mounted with an associated engine and/or generator on a trolley device.
6. A fluid heating unit as claimed in claim 1 which may be connected to an output of a standard portable carpet steam cleaning unit.
7. A fluid heating unit as claimed in claim 1 in which the electrical heating element in the container is controlled by a thermostat associated with the container.
8. A fluid heating unit as claimed in claim 1 whereby the level of the second fluid in the container is controlled by a valve operated header tank.
9. A fluid heating unit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. A fixedly located self-contained cleaning unit including a container having therein a water reservoir and means for heating said water, a source of detergent and a pump means to provide a mixture of said heated water and detergent to an outlet device terminating in a delivery nozzle and adapted to be automatically operated by a user.
11. A fluid heating unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.