US20080098560A1

US20080098560A1 - Motor manifold

Info

Publication number: US20080098560A1
Application number: US11/591,959
Authority: US
Inventors: Steve Williams; Greg Lloyd
Original assignee: U S Products Co
Current assignee: U S Products Co; USP Holding Corp
Priority date: 2006-11-01
Filing date: 2006-11-01
Publication date: 2008-05-01

Abstract

A motor manifold is disclosed and which includes a main body with an upwardly facing surface which supports a motor which drives an air movement assembly; and a downwardly facing surface which rests in juxtaposed relation relative to a fluid recovery tank, and wherein the main body defines an aperture which extends therethrough, and wherein the motor and associated air movement assembly are substantially aligned with the aperture, and wherein the downwardly facing surface defines an annularly shaped male member which circumscribes the aperture, and is matingly received within the fluid recovery tank.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a motor manifold, and more specifically to a motor manifold which facilitates the smooth flow of air into an electrical engine so as to increase the performance characteristics of same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Assorted floor cleaning devices and apparatuses have been developed to facilitate the cleaning of floors in commercial establishments such as businesses, hotels, restaurants and the like. Such floor cleaning devices have included assemblies that have been useful for cleaning various surfaces such as carpet, tile, linoleum, brick, and ceramic surfaces to name but a few. Still further, other devices have been developed to facilitate the cleaning of structures that have been affected by flood, fire and the like.
In all these previous devices, an electric motor is employed in order to facilitate the vacuum recovery of heated water, foaming agents, and other fluids which have been applied to a flooring surface to facilitate the cleaning of same. Such cleaning devices have typically been limited in their capacity to hold recovered fluids. This is due, in part, to the size of the tank, as dictated by the size of the electric motor which is employed with same. It should be recognized that the size of such motors are limited because such devices are typically employed in commercial buildings where electrical power is typically limited to 120 volts, 15 amp power sources. In view of the amount of vacuum, such devices can reasonably draw or create within, a typical recovery tank, the associated fluid recovery tanks have remained relatively small in size. Consequently, the prior art devices can only be operated for short periods of time before an operator must stop the device and thereafter empty the fluid recovery tank before proceeding with further work. Additionally, this reduced vacuum translates into lower fluid recovery, and less soil removal from the floor which is being treated. Consequently, a greater period of time, and work must be undertaken to clean a given flooring surface.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a floor cleaning device which could, on the one hand, clean flooring surfaces in a highly efficient manner, and utilize a larger fluid recovery tank which would facilitate increased operational times but which would employ an electrical motor not requiring a special power source to facilitate the effective operation of same.
A motor manifold which achieves the benefits of the present invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention relates to a motor manifold which includes a main body with an upwardly facing surface which supports a motor which drives an air movement assembly; and a downwardly facing surface which rests in juxtaposed relation relative to a fluid recovery tank, and wherein the main body defines an aperture which extends therethrough, and wherein the motor and associated air movement assembly are substantially aligned with the aperture, and wherein the downwardly facing surface defines an annular shaped male member which circumscribes the aperture, and is matingly received within the fluid recovery tank.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a motor manifold which includes a main body with an upwardly and a downwardly facing surface, and wherein the downwardly facing surface matingly engages a fluid recovery tank of a floor cleaning device, and wherein the fluid recovery tank defines two apertures which allows access to the fluid recovery tank, and wherein the main body further defines a pair of apertures which extend between the upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces thereof, and wherein the pair of apertures defined by the main body are substantially coaxially aligned relative to the two apertures defined by the fluid recovery tank, and in fluid flowing relation relative thereto, and wherein the upwardly facing surface defines a pair of annular shaped recessed regions which individually surround the pair of apertures which are defined by the main body, and wherein the downwardly facing surface defines a pair of annularly shaped protruding members which individually circumscribe the respective pair of apertures which are defined by the main body, and which are individually, matingly received within the two apertures which are defined by the fluid recovery tank, and wherein a pair of electric motors are individually mounted on the upwardly facing surface of the main body and are substantially coaxially aligned relative to the pair of apertures as defined by the main body.
Still another aspect of the present invention relates to a floor cleaning device which includes a carriage having wheels and which supports a fluid recovery tank for movement across a supporting surface, and wherein the fluid recovery tank defines an internal cavity and further has a top surface which defines an aperture which allows access to the internal cavity; a first gasket which circumscribes the aperture which is defined by the top surface of the fluid recovery tank; a motor manifold having a downwardly facing surface which defines, at least in part, an annularly shaped male member which protrudes outwardly therefrom, and which extends through the aperture defined by the top surface of the fluid recovery tank, and which is further positioned, at least in part, within the internal cavity of the fluid recovery tank, and wherein the annularly shaped male member circumscribes an aperture which extends through the motor manifold, and wherein the first gasket substantially sealably couples the downwardly facing surface of the motor manifold with the top surface of the fluid dispensing tank, and wherein the motor manifold has an opposite, upwardly facing surface which defines an annular shaped recessed region which surrounds the aperture which extends through the motor manifold; a second gasket received at least in part within the annular shaped recessed region formed in the upwardly facing surface of the motor manifold; and an electric motor which is drivingly coupled with a fan, and wherein the electric motor is mounted on the upwardly facing surface of the motor manifold, and wherein the second gasket is positioned in sealing relation between the electric motor and the upwardly facing surface, and wherein the electric motor, when energized causes the fan to withdraw air from the fluid recovery tank, and wherein the withdrawn air passes from the fluid recovery tank through the aperture defined by motor manifold by the action of the fan.
These and other aspects of the present invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective, side elevation view of a floor cleaning device which incorporates features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective, environmental view of a motor manifold of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective, exploded view of a motor manifold of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a motor manifold of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of a motor manifold of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the motor manifold of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).
The present invention relates to a motor manifold 10 which may be employed on a floor cleaning device which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. In this regard, the motor manifold 10 is defined by a main body 11, and which has an upwardly facing surface 12, and an opposite downwardly facing surface 13. As seen most clearly by reference to FIGS. 3-6, the main body is defined by a peripheral edge 14, and a plurality of fastener holes 15 are positioned in predetermined spaced relation about the main body and near the peripheral edge thereof. As illustrated in FIGS. 3-6, first and second apertures 21 and 22, respectively are formed in the main body 11, and extend between the upwardly facing surface 12, and the downwardly facing surface 13. The first and second apertures each have a diameter of about 4.3 cm. As illustrated most clearly by reference to FIG. 3, an annularly shaped recessed region 23 is formed in the upwardly facing surface 12, and substantially circumscribes the respective first and second apertures 21 and 22, respectively. The annularly shaped recessed regions are operable to cooperate with a pair of gaskets or other sealing members which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. Extending normally, outwardly relative to the downwardly facing surface 13, are individually annularly shaped projections or male members which are generally indicated by the numeral 24. The annularly shaped projections, or male members 24 substantially circumscribe the first and second apertures 21 and 22, respectively. Each of the annularly shaped male members 24 have an outside facing surface 25. The outside facing surface may, in one form of the invention, be a uniformly curved exterior facing surface, or further in another form of the invention, the annularly shaped male member may have a complexly curved exterior or outside facing surface 25. The annularly shaped protruding or male members each extend outwardly relative to the downwardly facing surface 13 at a distance of less than about 1.25 cm. Still further, each has a width dimension of about 3.5 cm. The shape of the annularly shaped male members 24 is such as to provide a substantially uniform or laminar flow of air from a fluid recovery tank into an associated fan so as to improve the performance of an associated electrical motor by at least 3%. The electrical motor and associated fan assembly and other features of the invention will be discussed in greater detail below.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be seen that the motor manifold 10 of the present invention finds usefulness when made integral with a floor cleaning device which is generally indicated by the numeral 30. The floor cleaning device 30, as seen in the drawings, includes a carriage 31 which has a plurality of wheels 32 mounted on same, and which allows the carriage to be rollably propelled across a supporting surface such as a floor, and the like. Mounted on the carriage 31 is a fluid recovery tank 33. The fluid recovery tank 33 defines an internal cavity 34 for receiving various fluids which are removed from a floor by the floor cleaning device 30, such as what is shown. The fluid recovery tank 33 has a first downwardly facing end 35, which rests in engagement with the carriage 31, and further has a second, upwardly facing end 36, which is best seen by reference to FIG. 3. The second, upwardly facing surface 36 defines a receiving or other orientation cavity 40 which is operable to matingly cooperate with the main body 11 which is received within the cavity 40. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of fastener holes 41 are formed in the fluid recovery tank 33, and are otherwise operable to be substantially coaxially aligned relative to the multiplicity of fastener holes 15 which are formed in the main body 11. As illustrated in FIG. 3, first and second apertures 51 and 52 having an outside diametral dimension which is greater than the outside diametral dimension of the respective annularly shaped male members 24 are formed therein. The respective first and second apertures 51 and 52, are spaced apart at a predetermined distance such that the respective annularly shaped male members 24 may be received within same and extend, at least in part, into the internal cavity 34 of the fluid recovery tank 33.
Mounted in sealably secure relation, and in coaxial alignment, and further in fluid flow relation relative to the respective first and second apertures 51 and 52 are individual first and second air movement or fan assemblies 61 and 62, respectively. The respective first and second air movement or fan assemblies 61 and 62 are, as seen, substantially coaxially oriented relative to the first and second apertures 21 and 22 which are formed in the main body 11 of the motor manifold, and are further secured to the motor manifold by a plurality of mounting bolts which will be discussed below. The respective air movement or fan assemblies 61 and 62 have an intake end 63 and an exhaust end 64. The respective fan assemblies 61 and 62, when energized, are operable to remove air from the internal cavity 34 of the fluid recovery tank 33 thereby creating a vacuum in same. This vacuum is operable, in part, to remove fluid, foams or other materials from a surface being treated by a floor cleaning device 30. As best seen by reference to FIG. 5, the respective fan assemblies 61 and 62, when energized, causes air to be removed in a substantially uniform, laminar flow which increases the performance of the accompanying first and second electric motors 71 and 72 by at least 3%. These electric engines are mounted in individual coaxial alignment relative to the first and second apertures 51 and 52, and in force transmitting relation relative to the respective first and second air movement or fan assemblies 61 and 62. The first and second electric motors, in combination with the first and second air movement or fan assemblies 61 and 62, are secured to the motor manifold 10 by a plurality of mounting bolts 73 which extend from the second upwardly facing end 36 of the fluid recovery tank 33 through the main body 11 of the motor manifold 10, and which terminate at each of the first and second electric motors 71 and 72. This is best appreciated and understood by a study of FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.
As best illustrated in FIG. 3, it will be seen that a pair of gaskets 80, hereinafter indicated as a first and second gasket 81 and 82, respectively, individually circumscribe the respective annularly shaped male protruding members 24. These gaskets substantially sealably mates or secures the downwardly facing surface 13 of the main body 11 with the fluid recovery tank 33. Still further, a second pair of gaskets 90, hereinafter indicated as a first gasket 91, and a second gasket 92, are received, at least in part, within the respective annularly shaped recessed regions 23 that are defined in the upwardly facing surface 12 of the main body 11 and which substantially sealably mates or otherwise secures the respective first and second air movement or fan assemblies 61 and 62, and the first and second electric motor 71 and 72 to the upwardly facing surface 12 of the main body 11.
Referring now to FIG. 1, it will be seen that a closure or cover 100 is provided, and which encloses the motor manifold 10; first and second electric motors 71 and 72; and first and second air movement or fan assemblies 61 and 62 which are mounted on the motor manifold 10.

Operation

The operation of the described embodiment of the present invention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point.
Referring now to the drawings, the motor manifold 10 of the present invention includes a main body 11 with an upwardly facing surface 12 which supports a motor 71 which drives an air movement assembly 61; and a downwardly facing surface 13 which rests in juxtaposed relation relative to a fluid recovery tank 33, and wherein the main body 11 defines an aperture 21 which extends therethrough. The motor 71 and associated air movement assembly 61 are substantially aligned with the aperture 21, and wherein the downwardly facing surface 13 defines an annularly shaped male member 24 which circumscribes the aperture 21, and which is further matingly received, at least in part, within the fluid recovery tank 33. The motor 71, and associated air movement assembly 61, when energized, induces a flow of air from the fluid recovery tank 33 and through the air movement assembly 61. The annularly shaped male member 24 creates a substantially uniform or laminar flow of air in the direction of the motor 71. As earlier described, the annularly shaped male member 24 may, in one form of the invention, have a substantially uniformly curved exterior facing surface, and in another form of the invention have a complexly curved exterior facing surface 25. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the annularly shaped male member 24 improves the performance of the motor 71 by at least 3%. It should be understood that the fluid recovery tank 33 defines an aperture 51 having a given diameter. Still further, the annularly shaped male member 24 has an outside diameter which is less than the diameter of the aperture 51 defined by the fluid recovery tank 33. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, a first gasket 81 is located between, and substantially sealably couples the downwardly facing surface 13 of the main body 11 with the fluid recovery tank 33. This gasket further circumscribes the aperture 51, which is defined by the fluid recovery tank 33, and the annularly shaped male member 24. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, a second gasket 91 is provided, and which is located between, and substantially sealably couples the upwardly facing surface of the main body 11 with the fan 61 and associated motor 71. The second gasket 91 substantially circumscribes the aperture 51 which is defined by the main body 11. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the upwardly facing surface 12 of the main body 11 defines an annular shaped recessed region 23 which circumscribes the aperture 21 which is defined by the main body. As illustrated, the second gasket 91 is received, at least in part, within the annular shaped recessed region 23. In addition to the foregoing, the main body 11 defines, in a preferred form, first and second apertures 21 and 22, respectively. A pair of motors 71 and 72 are mounted on the upwardly facing surface 12 of the main body and are individually aligned with the respective apertures.
With reference to FIG. 1 now, a floor cleaning device 30 is shown and which supports a fluid recovery tank 33 for movement across a supporting surface such as a floor and the like. The fluid recovery tank 33 defines an internal cavity 34, and further has a top or upwardly facing surface 36, which defines an aperture 51 which allow access to the internal cavity 34. As seen in the drawings, a first gasket 81 circumscribes the aperture 51 which is defined by the top surface 36 of the fluid recovery tank 33. Still further, a motor manifold 11 is provided and which has a downwardly facing surface 13 which defines, at least in part, an annularly shaped male member 24 which protrudes outwardly therefrom. The annularly shaped male member extends through the aperture 51 which is defined by the top surface 36, and further is positioned, at least in part, within the internal cavity 34 of the fluid recovery tank 33. The annularly shaped male member 24 circumscribes an aperture 21 which extends through the motor manifold 11. The first gasket 81 substantially sealably couples the downwardly facing surface 13 of the motor manifold 11 with the top surface 36 of the fluid dispensing tank 33. The motor manifold 11 has an opposite, upwardly facing surface 12 which defines an annularly shaped recessed region 23 which surrounds the aperture 21. A second gasket 91 is received, at least in part, within the annular shaped recessed region 23 which is formed in the upwardly facing surface 12 of the motor manifold 10. Further, the present invention includes an electric motor 71 which is drivingly coupled with a fan 61. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the electric motor 71 is mounted on the upwardly facing surface 12 of the motor manifold 10. The second gasket 91 is positioned in sealing relation between the electric motor 71 and the upwardly facing surface 12. In the arrangement as illustrated, the electric motor 71, when energized, causes the fan 61 to withdraw air from the fluid recovery tank 33, thereby creating a vacuum. The withdrawn air passes from the fluid recovery tank 33 through the aperture 21 defined by motor manifold 10 by the action of the fan 61. The substantially uniform or laminar flow of the air from the fluid recovery tank increases the performance of the electric motor by at least 3%. This increase in the performance of the respective electric motor permits a manufacturer to utilize a larger fluid recovery tank. As should be understood, larger fluid recovery tanks directly translates into the production of a floor cleaning device 30 which has greatly improved operational times and performance. Still further, this increase in performance additionally allows a user of such a device to remove more fluids in a shorter period of time from a flooring surface. This increase in the removal of fluids directly translates into the removal of more dirt from the floor and/or quicker drying of the flooring surface. Both of which are highly desirable characteristics.
Therefore, it will be seen that a motor manifold, and a floor cleaning device 30 which incorporates such a manifold has numerous advantages over the prior art devices which have been utilized heretofore.
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

1. A motor manifold, comprising:

a main body with an upwardly facing surface which supports a motor which drives an air movement assembly; and a downwardly facing surface which rests in juxtaposed relation relative to a fluid recovery tank, and wherein the main body defines an aperture which extends therethrough, and wherein the motor and associated air movement assembly are substantially aligned with the aperture, and wherein the downwardly facing surface defines an annularly shaped male member which circumscribes the aperture, and is matingly received within the fluid recovery tank.

2. A motor manifold as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the motor and associated air movement assembly, when energized, induces a flow of air from the fluid recovery tank and through the air movement assembly, and wherein the annularly shaped male member creates a substantially uniform flow of air into the motor.

3. A motor manifold as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the annularly shaped male member has a substantially uniformly curved exterior facing surface.

4. A motor manifold as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the annularly shaped male member has a complexly curved exterior facing surface.

5. A motor manifold as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the annularly shaped male member improves the performance of the motor by at least 3%.

6. A motor manifold as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the fluid recovery tank defines an aperture having a given diameter, and wherein the annularly shaped male member has an outside diameter which is less than the diameter of the aperture defined by the fluid recovery tank.

7. A motor manifold as claimed in claim 6, and further comprising:

a first gasket which is located between and substantially sealably couples the downwardly facing surface of the main body with the fluid recovery tank, and which further circumscribes the aperture which is defined by the fluid recovery tank and the annularly shaped male member.

8. A motor manifold a claimed in claim 7, and further comprising:

a second gasket which is located between, and substantially sealably couples the upwardly facing surface of the main body with the motor, and wherein the second gasket substantially circumscribes the aperture which is defined by the main body.

9. An engine manifold as claimed in claim 8, and wherein the upwardly facing surface of the main body defines an annular shaped recessed region which circumscribes the aperture which is defined by the main body, and wherein the second gasket is received, at least in part, within the recessed region.

10. An engine manifold as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the main body defines a pair of spaced apertures, and wherein a pair of motors are mounted on the upwardly facing surface of the main body and are individually aligned with the respective apertures.

11. A motor manifold, comprising:

a main body with an upwardly and a downwardly facing surface, and wherein the downwardly facing surface matingly engages a fluid recovery tank of a floor cleaning device, and wherein the fluid recovery tank defines two apertures which allows access to the fluid recovery tank, and wherein the main body further defines a pair of apertures which extend between the upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces thereof, and wherein the pair of apertures defined by the main body are substantially coaxially aligned relative to the two apertures defined by the fluid recovery tank, and in fluid flowing relation relative thereto, and wherein the upwardly facing surface defines a pair of annular shaped recessed regions which individually surround the pair of apertures which are defined by the main body, and wherein the downwardly facing surface defines a pair of annularly shaped protruding members which individually circumscribe the respective pair of apertures which are defined by the main body, and which are individually, matingly received within the two apertures which are defined by the fluid recovery tank, and wherein a pair of electric motors are individually mounted on the upwardly facing surface of the main body and are substantially coaxially aligned relative to the pair of apertures as defined by the main body.

12. A motor manifold as claimed in claim 11, and wherein a fan is mounted on each of the electric motors, and is driven by the respective electric motors, and wherein each of the fans, when driven by the respective electric motors removes air from within the fluid recovery tank, and wherein the annularly shaped protruding members each causes air to flow from the fluid recovery tank into the respective pair of electric motors in a substantially laminar fashion so as to increase the performance of the respective electric motors by at least 3%.

13. A motor manifold as claimed in claim 11, and wherein the pair of apertures defined by the main body each has a diameter of about 4.3 cm., and wherein the annular shaped protruding members each extend less than about 1.25 cm. into the fluid recovery tank.

14. A motor manifold as claimed in claim 11, and further comprising:

a first pair of gaskets which individually circumscribe the respective annularly shaped protruding members and which substantially sealably mates the downwardly facing surface of the main body with the fluid recovery tank; and

a second pair of gaskets which are received, at least in part, within the respective annular shaped recessed regions that are defined in the upwardly facing surface of the main body and which substantially sealably mates the respective electric motors to the upwardly facing surface of the main body.

15. A floor cleaning device, comprising:

a carriage having wheels and which supports a fluid recovery tank for movement across a supporting surface, and wherein the fluid recovery tank defines an internal cavity and further has a top surface which defines an aperture which allows access to the internal cavity;

a first gasket which circumscribes the aperture which is defined by the top surface of the fluid recovery tank;

a motor manifold having a downwardly facing surface which defines, at least in part, an annularly shaped male member which protrudes outwardly therefrom, and which extends through the aperture defined by the top surface of the fluid recovery tank, and which is further positioned, at least in part, within the internal cavity of the fluid recovery tank, and wherein the annularly shaped male member circumscribes an aperture which extends through the motor manifold, and wherein the first gasket substantially sealably couples the downwardly facing surface of the motor manifold with the top surface of the fluid dispensing tank, and wherein the motor manifold has an opposite, upwardly facing surface which defines an annular shaped recessed region which surrounds the aperture which extends through the motor manifold;

a second gasket received, at least in part, within the annular shaped recessed region formed in the upwardly facing surface of the motor manifold; and

an electric motor which is drivingly coupled with a fan, and wherein the electric motor is mounted on the upwardly facing surface of the motor manifold, and wherein the second gasket is positioned in sealing relation between the electric motor and the upwardly facing surface, and wherein the electric motor, when energized, causes the fan to withdraw air from the fluid recovery tank, and wherein the withdrawn air passes from the fluid recovery tank through the aperture defined by the motor manifold by the action of the fan.

16. A floor cleaning device as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the annularly shaped male member has a curved exterior facing surface which facilitates substantially laminar air flow from the internal cavity of the fluid recovery tank to the electric motor to improve the performance thereof.