US3701343A

US3701343A - Steam cleaner

Info

Publication number: US3701343A
Application number: US115551A
Authority: US
Inventors: Regis D Bowers
Original assignee: CHAUSSE Mfg CO Inc
Current assignee: CHAUSSE Mfg CO Inc
Priority date: 1971-02-16
Filing date: 1971-02-16
Publication date: 1972-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-31

Abstract

A portable steam cleaner comprising a wheeled carriage, an enclosure on the forward part of the carriage defining a swirl chamber having a horizontally tangential air input and a vertically axial outlet, a heating coil having spaced convolutions disposed over the chamber such that air passes upwardly therethrough from the chamber, and an oil burner for heating the air which is driven through the swirl chamber and the heating coil by means of a blower. A float valve controlled water supply is disposed toward the upper rear of the carriage along with a soap supply. A hand-held steam gun is disclosed.

Description

United States Patent Bowers 1 Oct. 31, 1972 [54] STEAM CLEANER FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Invent r: Resis Bnwers, Detroit, Mich- 121,819 8/1946 Australia ..122/250 R 73 Assi nee: Chausse Manufacturin Co. Inc. 1 g River Rouge, Mich g Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre [22] F! d F b 16 1971 Attorney-McGlynn, Reising, Milton & Ethington 1 e e 21 Appl. No.: 115,551 [571 ABSTRACT 1 A portable steam cleaner comprising a wheeled car- [521 US. Cl. ..120/271.2 R, 122/250 R riage: f F Triage 51 1m. (:1 ..F22b 21/26 l a swrl chamber mm a mien 58] Field of Search ..126/271.2 R- 122/250 R a axial 8 having spaced convolutions disposed over the chamber such that air passes upwardly therethrough [56] References cued from the chamber, and an oil burner for heating the UNITED STATES ATENT l2.;ir which isl (given throti gh 3'16 swirl chamber and the eating coi y means 0 a ower. A float valve controlled water supply is disposed toward the upper rear 3,039 454 6/1962 Gilbenson e1; ;i----l--26/271 2 R of the can-121%; aiongdwith a soap supply. A hand-held 3,533,380 10/1970 Finger ..126/27l.2 R x 5 Cam gums 3,612,004 10/1971 Cancilla et al. 122/250 R 18 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PNEN'TEflncIauen 3.701.343

snmzurz INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS STEAM CLEANER This application relates to cleaning apparatus and particularly to such apparatus as is used to generate a stream of heated fluid, such as steam, for cleaning purposes. I

It is now well known to apply a stream of heated fluid for the removal of dirt, scale, grease, grime and other foreign material from various objects, such as automobile engines, machine parts, whitewall tires and so forth. The generation of such heated fluid is accomplished by passing the fluid, usually water with and without a detergent additive, through a heating coil which is connected to a portable spray gun by means of a hose. A heated air stream is passed over or through the heating coil by means of a blower and a burner arrangement.

Such steam cleaners as are now known in the art are often inefficient, cumbersome and, in general, poorly designed machines.

The present invention provides a relatively small,

' push-cart type steam cleaner which is highly compact,

efficient in operation as well as safe and convenient to use and maintain. In general, this is accomplished in a steam cleaner having a wheeled push-type carriage having a floor member, a raised platform over part of the floor member, a vertical-axis heating coil on the platform, and means including a blower and a burner for producing a flow of heated air through the space between the floor member and the platform, and thence upwardly through the coil. Storage and regulating means are disposed over another part of the floor member to provide a supply of fluid, such as water, which is directed through the coil and then through a portable gun device.

In accordance with a preferred form of the invention, hereinafter set forth in detail, the coil is disposed on the platform with the axis thereof substantially vertical and aligned with the central exit aperture of a swirl chamber between the floor and platform through which air is urged by means of a blower. This chamber has a horizontal, tangential input conveniently adjacent the portion of the carriage floor under the water storage and regulating means. The various convolutions of the coil are spaced apart and maintained in such spaced relationship by means of rigid spacers which are permanently disposed in place by welding or the like. The coil is provided with an easily removed combustion chamber cover which permits cleaning of carbon from the coil by the machine itself.

The various features and advantages of the subject invention will be best understood by reference to the following specification which sets forth in detail an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

This specification is to be taken with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 illustrating a floonpanel and swirl chamber; and,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with parts broken away of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the housing removed to expose internal details.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the invention is shown embodied in a push-type mobile steam cleaner 10 comprising a carriage 12 having primary wheels 14 and a swivel wheel 15. The carriage 12 includes a floor member 68 of rigid material such as steel, the forward portion of which is covered by a platform 72 to provide an enclosed swirl chamber for air as will be hereinafter described. The rear portion of floor member 68 provides a support surface for an electric motor 26 which drives a blower 28 mounted adjacent thereto, as well as a fuel pump 30 and a water pump 40. The drive shaft for pump 30 is coupled to motor 26 through the rotor of blower 28. A set of upright members 74 support a fluid supply and regulatory assembly 75 in spaced relation with the rear portion of floor member 68.

Disposed on the platform is a heating coil 16 having carefully spaced convolutions disposed about a common vertical axis. Coil 16 has an inlet end at the bottom convolution coupled to the outlet of water pump 40, and an outlet end 20 which is taken from the top of the coil 16 and which is normally connected through a flexible hose to a manual steam gun 82. The gun 82 has hand grips 84 and a venturi type nozzle 86. No shut-off valve is normally provided in gun 82, a continuous flow operation being contemplated.

Describing now the air flow apparatus, air is taken in through perforated panels 66 in opposite sides of the rear cover 50 which is fastened to carriage 12 during normal operation. Air is propelled by blower 28 through a short duct 88 which leads into a tangential input duct 80 to the swirl chamber 22. The chamber 22 is formed by an outer, substantially circular wall member 86 and a straight extension member 83 which lie between and perpendicular to the planes of the floor 68 and the platform 72. Thus, air enters chamber 22 tangentially and horizontally. The platform 72 is provided with a central opening into which is fit a cylindrical member 94 having internal vanes 96 to funnel the exiting air vertically upward in a helical path through the coil 16. Member 94 is commonly called a turbulator. A disc of asbestos 98 is placed on platform 72 to provide heat insulation around the member 94. The chamber 22 is completed by an outer peripheral wall 70 having a cross piece 78 to define the opening to duct 80. The scams or junctions between floor 68,

walls

70 and 78 are preferably air tight.

The air which exits the member 94 flows upwardly through and around the coil 16, being contained within a cylindrical enclosure by the combustion chamber can 42. This element fits over the coil 16 and rests on platform 72. The can 42 is provided with a cover 44 having handles 46 and a central opening 48 which exhausts the air after flowing through and around the coil 16. A front cabinet cover 56 having a screened opening 58 encloses the forward part of carriage l2 and permits the exit of air therethrough.

Describing now the burner; fuel, such as oil, from a tank 32 in assembly 75 flows through a line 90 to the pump 30 and thence through a line 92 running beneath the floor 68 to a nozzle 93 pointed upwardly within the swirl chamber 22 as is shown in FIG. 2. An electrode set 95 is disposed along side the nozzle to ignite the fuel. A transformer 98 on a bracket 100 supplies a potential to the electrodes 96 continuously after the plug on cable 62 is placed in an electrical outlet and a switch 102 on enclosure 50 is thrown. The schematic circuit for this simple circuit is not illustrated but will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Fuel pressure is monitored by a gage 64 and may be regulated by a fuel pump adjustment not shown.

The ignition of the oil pumped through nozzle 93 by pump 30 creates a plume of flame which is confined to the internal volume of the can 42 and which, thus, bathes the coil 16 in highly heated air.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the fluid system of cleaner will be described in detail. The assembly 75 comprises three separate storage compartments or tanks. Tank 32 is for fuel oil and is connected to pump 30 via line 90. A fill pipe 34 having a cover 60 is provided. An open tank 36 is provided for water and is interconnected with pump 40 via line 104. A third tank 38 is provided for soap or detergent and is preferably interconnected with line 104 via a selectively operable valve so that the unit can be operated with steam alone or with steam and soap.

The input to tanks 36 and 38 begins at a threaded pipe end 37 which extends laterallythrough the side wall of enclosure 50, and which facilitates connection to a conventional hose coupling. Pipe 37 extends laterally beneath assembly 75 to a vertical section 106 which runs upwardly inside tank 38, a suitable seal being provided at the entrance to tank 38. Vertical section 106 ends at a T-coupling 108 having outlet branch 110 to service tank 38 and outlet branch 112 to service tank 36. Branch 110 is further provided with a manual valve or cock 1 14 to regulate the filling on tank 38 with as much water as desired. Branch 112 is provided with a float-controlled valve 1 16 so that the level of water in the tank is maintained at a depth controlled by the float 118. The arm of float 118 carries a mercury switch 120 which operates to shut off the fuel to burner nozzle 94 should the water level in tank 36 become less than the level determined to be proper. As previously described, the tanks 36 and 38 feed by gravity into pump 40 through line 104, and thence through coil 16 to the gun 82. Steam pressure at the outlet of coil 16 is monitored by a gage 65 which is conveniently placed near the front of cleaner 10 where it can be easily observed by the operator.

Referring again to FIG. 3, an important part of the fluid system in cleaner 10 is the coil 16 which is of unique design and which appears to contribute significantly to the overall efficiency and convenience of operation of cleaner 10. Coil 16 comprises a plurality of spaced convolutions defining a lower substantially cylindrical portion and an upper substantially conical portion, the upper conical portion terminating at an opening 24 after which the coil 16 is extended down along the outside of itself to the outlet point which is adjacent the platform 72. Accordingly, the coil 16 is substantially bottle shaped with the inlet at the bottom and the outlet at the top. The spacing between the convolutions of coil 16 is on the order of 0.06 inches and is maintained relatively carefully by welded in shims 17, three or four rows of which occur about the coil 16 as shown. This coil spacing appears for reasons which are not completely understood to make a substantial contribution to the efficiency of operation.

Describing now some of the final details of the cleaner 10 the view of FIG. 1 shows a master power switch 122 which controls the flow of electricity to the drive motor 26 once the plug end of cable 62 is suitably inserted into a volt 60 cycle AC electrical outlet. Switch 122 is conveniently located alongside the burner igniter control switch 102. As also shown in the view of FIG. 1 a push type handle 54 is mounted on the rear enclosure 50 by means of laterally spaced brackets 52 so that the cleaner 10 can be easily wheeled about in the manner of a push-cart. In the view of FIG. 2 the floor panel 68 is shown to be provided with mounting

brackets

87 and 90 for the fuel pump 30 and motor 26, respectively. In addition, the platform 72 is provided with brackets 76 which facilitate the fastening of the forward enclosure 56 in an obvious manner. The fill pipe 34 on the fuel tank 32 is provided with a suitable cap 60 so that once the tank 32 is filled with conventional fuel oil it can be sealed against the evaporation of fuel and the inadvertant introduction of foreign matter. As a final detail the steam gun 82 is preferably fabricated from a inch diameter pipe having perforated metal hand grips 84 and a venturi type nozzle 86 having a )4; inch diameter constriction and a inch diameter final outlet.

Describing now a typical operation of the steam cleaner 10, the preparation phases are accomplished by coupling the plug end of cable 62 to a suitable outlet for electrical power and coupling the pipe end 37 to a water supply. Soap or detergent, if any, is introduced into the tank 36 and the valve 114 is turned on to dilute the soap or detergent with as much water as desired. Valve 14 is then turned off. Float 118 opens the valve 116 to permit water to flow through the branch 112 into the water tank 36 until a predetermined water level in the tank 36 is reached.

Once the water level in tank 36 is proper, switch 122 is thrown to start the motor 26. Motor 26 is commonly coupled to the blower 28, the water pump 40 and the fuel pump 30 so that all of these units begin operation at the same time. Blower 28 draws air through the perforated sections or vents 66 and directs it through the duct 88, the duct 80, the swirl chamber 22 and then upwardly through the coil 16 exhausting through the

openings

24, 48 and 58. Fuel pump 30 does not, however, actually produce a flow of fuel through the line 92 until switch 102 is thrown to operate a conventional solenoid controlled fuel valve, now shown. This valve is preferably placed in the line 92 between the pump 30 and the nozzle 93. At this point the switch 102 is thrown to permit the flow of fuel to the nozzle 93 and also to energize the igniter electrodes 96. This ignites the fuel and produces a plume of flame up through the turbulator 94 and into the combustion chamber defined by coil 16 and cylindrical cover 42. The operation of water pump 40 during this time causes a flow of water from the tank 38 through the coil 16 and through the steam gun 82. The water either with or without a soap or detergent additive is substantially vaporized and emerges at a high speed, high pressure and high temperature from the nonle 86 of the gun 82.

Should the level of water in the tank 36 drop below a predetermined level so as to cause the float 118 to lower inordinately within the tank 36, the mercury switch 120 breaks the circuit normally controlled by switch 102 thus to close the solenoid controlled fuel valve and interrupt the flow of electrical power to the transformer 98.

After the cleaner has been operated for a period of time it has been found that coil 16 tends to acquire a sooty carbon layer. This layer can be easily removed by taking off the forward enclosure 56 and lifting up the coil cover 42 by the handles 46 to expose the coil 16. The unit can be conveniently cleaned simply by turning the gun 82 on the coil 16 and effectively using the cleaner 10 to clean itself.

It is to be understood that various modifications to the cleaning apparatus 10 shown and described herein can be made and that the foregoing description is illustrative in nature and is not to be taken in a limiting sense.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

, 1. Apparatus for generating a stream of heated fluid comprising a push-type carriage having a floor, a platform vertically spaced from and overlying the floor, duct means between the floor and platform defining a swirl chamber for air, said swirl chamber having a horizontally-extending tangential input path extending between said floor and platform and a vertically-extending central exit formed in said platform, burner means disposed centrally in said swirl chamber for producing a flame extending vertically upwardly through said exit, a substantially cylindrical heater coil through which water is caused to pass to generate steam disposed on and supported by said platform, said coil having a plurality of spaced convolutions and a vertical axis of symmetry which is aligned with said exit so that said flame passes upwardly therethrough, a cylindrical cover having a central flue opening in the top thereof and being disposed about but spaced radially from said coil to contain said flame, said cover being supported by said platform so as to be vertically removable to expose the convolutions of said coil, blower means on said floor to create a forced air draft into and through said swirl chamber and upwardly through said coil, a storage unit carried by said carriage in vertically spaced relation to said floor, said storage unit comprising fuel and water storage compartments, and gun means externally of said carriage and connected to said coil to receive steam therefrom.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said platform is disposed over only a portion of the floor.

3. Apparatus, as defined in claim 2 wherein the carriage includes wheels rotatably disposed thereon for wheeling the apparatus about.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the coil comprises a plurality of axially distributed and spaced convolutions, and means for maintaining the spacings between said convolutions.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the spacing between the convolutions of the coil are uniform and on the order of 0.06 inches.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the coil is arranged with a cylindrical lower portion wherein the convolutions are the same diameter and a conical upper portion wherein the convolutions decrease uniformly in diameter, the fluid flow in the coil being from bottom to top.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the chamber comprises said floor, a peripheral exterior wall member havin a not 0 enin therein n interior wall member of gen era ly cir ular onfigurati on, a duct interconnecting the duct opening and the interior wall member, said platform being disposed over the exterior and interior wall members, said platform having a central aperture aligned with the axis of the coil.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 including an annular insert disposed in the aperture of the cover plate and having a plurality of helical van-es therein.

9. Apparatus for generating a stream of heated fluid comprising a mobile carriage having a floor panel and at least one wheel, wall means defining a swirl chamber forwardly on the floor panel and having an entrance duct and a circular chamber, a cover plate disposed over the chamber and having an aperture in register with the center of the circular chamber, a convoluted coil disposed on the cover plate with the convolutions thereof disposed about a vertical axis and aligned with the aperture whereby air exiting the chamber via the aperture passes upwardly through the coil, a plurality of upright frame members disposed on the floor panel rearwardly of the chamber, container means on the frame and spaced above the floor panel, means on the panel beneath the container means for urging air into the entrance duct, and burner means for heating the air passing upwardly through the coil.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the burner comprises igniter means, a fuel tank, a fuel pump, the fuel tank having a fuel line terminating in the vicinity of the aperture in the cover plate.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including means interconnecting the fluid container with the lower end of the heating coil.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including a pump in the water line between the container and the coil.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including a cylindrical cover on the coil and having an opening in the top.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including a housing of sheet material disposed over the carriage and frame and having a screen vent in the top and aligned with the axis of the coil to permit the exit of heated air therethrough.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 including a push handle on the housing.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the coil is provided with a plurality of spaced convolutions, the spacing between the convolutions being on the order of 0.06 inches.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16 including a plurality of shims mediate the convolutions of the coil.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim "wherein the coil includes a portion of cylindrical configuration wherein the convolutions are of equal diameter and a portion of conical configuration wherein the coils are of decreasing diameter, the conical portion being disposed over the cylindrical portion.

1F i I I t

Claims

1. Apparatus for generating a stream of heated fluid comprising a push-type carriage having a floor, a platform vertically spaced from and overlying the floor, duct means between the floor and platform defining a swirl chamber for air, said swirl chamber having a horizontally-extending tangential input path extending between said floor and platform and a vertically-extending central exit formed in said platform, burner means disposed centrally in said swirl chamber for producing a flame extending vertically upwardly through said exit, a substantially cylindrical heater coil through which water is caused to Pass to generate steam disposed on and supported by said platform, said coil having a plurality of spaced convolutions and a vertical axis of symmetry which is aligned with said exit so that said flame passes upwardly therethrough, a cylindrical cover having a central flue opening in the top thereof and being disposed about but spaced radially from said coil to contain said flame, said cover being supported by said platform so as to be vertically removable to expose the convolutions of said coil, blower means on said floor to create a forced air draft into and through said swirl chamber and upwardly through said coil, a storage unit carried by said carriage in vertically spaced relation to said floor, said storage unit comprising fuel and water storage compartments, and gun means externally of said carriage and connected to said coil to receive steam therefrom.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the chamber comprises said floor, a peripheral exterior wall member having a duct opening therein, an interior wall member of generally circular configuration, a duct interconnecting the duct opening and the interior wall member, said platform being disposed over the exterior and interior wall members, said platform having a central aperture aligned with the axis of the coil.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 including an annular insert disposed in the aperture of the cover plate and having a plurality of helical vanes therein.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 including a push handle on the housing.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein the coil includes a portion of cylindrical configuration wherein the convolutions are of equal diameter and a portion of conical configuration wherein the coils are of decreasing diameter, the conical portion being disposed over the cylindrical portion.