WO2023069907A1

WO2023069907A1 - Floor cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2023069907A1
Application number: PCT/US2022/078226
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rafael DAVILA; Donovan BODE; Eric Hoffmann
Original assignee: Techtronic Cordless Gp
Priority date: 2021-10-20
Filing date: 2022-10-17
Publication date: 2023-04-27

Abstract

A floor cleaner including a housing, a suction nozzle, a fluid flow path, a suction source configured to generate an airflow along the fluid flow path, and a recovery tank disposed along the fluid flow path. The recovery tank includes a tank body configured to receive fluid drawn through the suction nozzle, a tank inlet through which the airflow and the fluid enter the tank body, and a tank outlet through which the airflow exits the tank body. The floor cleaner further includes a vent disposed along the fluid flow path in fluid communication with the recovery tank. The vent is moveable between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the vent places the recovery tank in fluid communication with atmosphere outside the recovery tank via the vent to facilitate drying the recovery tank. In the closed position, the vent inhibits the airflow from entering the recovery tank via the vent.

Description

FLOOR CLEANER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/257,785, filed October 20, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present disclosure relates to floor cleaners.

SUMMARY

[0003] In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a floor cleaner including a housing, a suction nozzle coupled to the housing, a fluid flow path extending between the suction nozzle and an air exhaust, a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and configured to generate an airflow along the fluid flow path, and a recovery tank disposed along the fluid flow path. The recovery tank includes a tank body configured to receive fluid drawn through the suction nozzle, a tank inlet through which the airflow and the fluid enter the tank body, and a tank outlet through which the airflow exits the tank body. The floor cleaner further includes a vent disposed along the fluid flow path in fluid communication with the recovery tank. The vent is moveable between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the vent places the recovery tank in fluid communication with atmosphere outside the recovery tank via the vent to facilitate drying the recovery tank. In the closed position, the vent inhibits the airflow from entering the recovery tank via the vent.

[0004] Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. l is a perspective view of a floor cleaner in accordance with one embodiment.

[0006] FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of a recovery tank of the floor cleaner of FIG. 1, illustrating a tank vent. [0007] FIG. 2B is an enlarged perspective view of the tank vent of FIG. 2A.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the recovery tank of FIG. 2, illustrating a tank lid removed from a tank body.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the recovery tank of FIG. 2, illustrating the tank vent in an open position such that airflow is permitted to enter the recovery tank through the tank vent.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the recovery tank of FIG. 2, illustrating the tank vent in a closed position such that airflow is inhibited from entering the recovery tank through the tank vent.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the tank vent of the recovery tank of FIG. 2A.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the tank vent taken along line 7 — 7 of FIG. 6.

[0013] FIG. 8 is a cross-section view of a tank vent in accordance with another embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a floor cleaner in accordance with another embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of a recovery tank of the floor cleaner of FIG. 9, illustrating a tank vent in a closed position.

[0016] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the recovery tank of the floor cleaner of FIG. 9, illustrating a tank vent in an open position.

[0017] Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a floor cleaner 10. The floor cleaner 10 includes a fluid flow path extending from a suction nozzle 14 to a clean air exhaust 16. The suction nozzle 14 is positioned on a base portion 18 that is movable along a surface to be cleaned. A recovery tank 22 is removably coupled to the floor cleaner 10, for example to the base portion 18 or a body portion 26. The recovery tank 22 is disposed along the fluid flow path, such that the recovery tank 22 is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle 14 and a suction source 30. In some embodiments, the suction source 30 includes a suction motor and a fan that are configured to generate airflow along the fluid flow path and draw fluid and debris from the surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle 14 and into the recovery tank 22.

[0019] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 A, the illustrated recovery tank 22 includes a tank body 34, a tank lid 38 removably coupled to the tank body 34, a tank inlet 42, a tank outlet 46, and an outlet duct 50 (FIG. 4) disposed on the tank body 34 and upstream of the tank outlet 46. In some embodiments, the outlet duct 50 is integral with the tank body 34, such as by attaching to or forming with the tank body 34. The illustrated tank body 34 includes an upper portion 51, a lower portion 52 opposite the upper portion 51, and an upright portion 53 disposed between the upper and lower portions 51, 52. The recovery tank 22 further includes an air/water separator 54 to separate water and debris from the airflow. The air/water separator 54 is downstream of the tank inlet 42 and upstream of the tank outlet 46. As such, the airflow and fluid are separated by the air/water separator 54 after entering the tank inlet 42, at which point the fluid is collected inside the tank body 34 and the airflow is discharged through the tank outlet 46. The recovery tank 22 further includes a filter basket 56 (FIG. 5) downstream of the separator 54 to further filter the airflow before discharging the cleaned air through the tank outlet 46. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter basket 56 is positioned in the outlet duct 50 on the tank body 34.

[0020] The tank lid 38 is removable from the tank body 34 when the recovery tank 22 is removed from the floor cleaner 10. With reference to FIGS. 2A and 3, the tank lid 38 is removably coupled to the tank body 34 by a securing mechanism 58. In some embodiments, the securing mechanism 58 is an over-center latch, while in other embodiments, the securing mechanism 58 is other types of quick-disconnect mechanisms or retained by friction fit between the lid 38 and the tank body 34. By removing the tank lid 38, an operator is provided internal access to the tank body 34 and internal components therein for cleaning and maintenance. [0021] The suction source 30 generates the airflow. In the illustrated embodiment, the airflow includes a first airflow path 62 and a second airflow path 66, as shown in FIG. 3. The first airflow path 62 travels through the suction nozzle 14, the recovery tank 22, the suction source 30, and the air exhaust, in that order. Specifically, the first airflow path 62 enters the recovery tank 22 through the tank inlet 42, travels along an upper and lower portion 50a, 50b of the outlet duct 50, and exits the recovery tank 22 through the tank outlet 46. The second airflow path 66 travels through a tank vent 70, a portion of the recovery tank 22, the suction source 30, and the air exhaust, in that order. Specifically, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the second airflow path 66 enters the upper portion 50a of the outlet duct 50 through the tank vent 70, travels along the lower portion 50b of the outlet duct 50, and exits the recovery tank 22 through the tank outlet 46. Thus, the first airflow path 62 and the second airflow path 66 both pass through the outlet duct 50 of the recovery tank 22 (FIG. 4). Stated another way, the tank vent 70 is configured to provide the second airflow path 66 to enter and merge with the first airflow path 62 at an intermediate position downstream of the suction nozzle 14 and upstream of the suction source 30.

[0022] With reference to FIGS. 2B-5, the recovery tank 22 includes the tank vent 70. The tank vent 70 is disposed on the tank lid 38, however in other embodiments the tank vent 70 is on the upright portion 53 or another portion of the tank body 34 or on the body portion 26 in communication with the airflow path upstream of the suction source 30. The tank vent 70 includes a vent housing 74, a closure member 78 movable within the vent housing 74, a vent passageway 82, and a vent aperture 86, as shown in FIG. 2B. The vent passageway 82 and the vent aperture 86 are both upstream of and in fluid communication with the suction source 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the vent passageway 82 is upstream of the tank outlet 46 of the recovery tank 22. Additionally, the vent passageway 82 is in fluid communication with the inside of the tank body 34, particularly when the suction source 30 is not operating as discussed below. The tank vent 70 is moveable between an open position (FIG. 4) and a closed position (FIG. 5). In the closed position, the closure member 78 substantially blocks or covers the vent aperture 86, thereby inhibiting air from entering the second airflow path 66 and from entering the recovery tank 22 along the vent passageway 82. In the open position, the closure member 78 opens (i.e., does not block or cover) the vent aperture 86, thereby enabling air to enter the second airflow path 66 through the vent passageway 82 to enter the recovery tank 22. Additionally, when the closure member is in the open position, the vent aperture 86 and the vent passageway 82 are in fluid communication with the inside of the tank body 34.

[0023] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the closure member 78 slides within the vent housing 74 between the open position and the closed position in a direction along a vent axis 90. The vent housing 74 includes a first stop 94 disposed at an upper end 98 of the vent housing 74. The first stop 94 may include an elastomeric material. The vent housing 74 also includes a second stop 102 that is removably coupled to a lower end 106 of the vent housing 74. The first stop 94 limits upward travel of the closure member 78 within the vent housing 74 and forms a seal when the closure member 78 abuts the first stop 94. The second stop 102 limits downward travel of the closure member 78 within the vent housing 74.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, the closure member 78 is automatically moved between the open position and the closed position. When the suction source 30 is activated, the second airflow path 66 enters through the open vent aperture 86 and acts on a working surface 110 of the closure member 78 with sufficient force to move the closure member 78 upward to the closed position against gravitational force. Stated another way, suction from the operating suction source 30 pulls the closure member 78 to the closed position and the suction holds the closure member in the closed position. At this point, the closure member 78 abuts and seals against the first stop 94 inhibiting airflow into the vent passageway 82. However, gravitational force urges the closure member 78 downward to the open position when the suction source 30 is deactivated because the second airflow path 66 no longer acts on the working surface 110 of the closure member 78. In other embodiments, a spring or some other biasing means urges the closure member 78 downward to the open position, and suction from the suction source 30 overcomes the force (i.e., spring constant) of the spring and pulls the closure member 78 to the closed position. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the closure member 78 is held within the vent housing 74 via the second stop 102.

[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, the working surface 110 is substantially transverse to the direction of travel (i.e., the vent axis 90) of the closure member 78. In other embodiments, the working surface 110 may alternatively be acutely angled relative to the direction of travel (i.e., the vent axis 90), so long as the suction from the suction source 30 acting on the working surface 110 is capable of urging the closure member 78 upward against gravitational force.

[0026] Generally, the tank vent 70 is in the closed position when the suction source 30 is activated, as previously discussed. However, the tank vent 70 is in the open position momentarily when the suction source 30 is first activated, until the suction source 30 creates sufficient suction throughout the fluid flow path. At this point, the second airflow path 66 acts on the working surface 110 with sufficient force to move the closure member upward against gravitational force. Once the tank vent 70 is in the closed position, the second airflow path 66 is suspended, until the suction source 30 deactivates and the tank vent 70 moves to the open position under gravitational force. In the open position, the tank vent 70 places the inside of the recovery tank 22 in fluid communication with the atmosphere outside of the recovery tank 22 to facilitate venting and drying the recovery tank 22.

[0027] In other embodiments, the tank vent 70 may be automatically moved between the open position and the closed position via an actuator or a series of actuators 114 (FIG. 8) controlled by a controller 118 (FIG. 1). The controller 118 may electrically communicate with the suction source 30, such that the controller 118 may determine when the suction source 30 is either activated or deactivated. When the controller 118 determines that the suction source 30 is activated, the controller 118 may send a signal to the actuators 114, causing the closure member 78 to move to the closed position. Likewise, when the controller 118 determines that the suction source 30 is deactivated, the controller 118 may send a signal to the actuators 114, causing the closure member 78 to move to the open position.

[0028] In other embodiments, the tank vent 70 is manually moveable between the open position and the closed position by a user. The manual tank vent includes a latch (not shown) that engages and maintains the closure member 78 in the closed position.

[0029] In operation, the tank vent 70 is in the closed position when the suction source 30 is activated to inhibit airflow through the tank vent 70 enabling substantially all of the airflow to pass through the suction nozzle 14 and the first airflow path 62 for normal operation of the cleaner 10 in a cleaning operation. After the cleaning operation is completed, the user will empty and clean the recovery tank 22, which may leave the recovery tank 22 wet with residual moisture or cleaning solution. With the tank vent 70 in the open position, the recovery tank 22 is in fluid communication with the atmosphere outside of the recovery tank 22 to facilitate venting and drying of the recovery tank 22 with the recovery tank 22 assembled to the cleaner 10. In one embodiment, the user may run the cleaner 10 in a drying mode after the recovery tank 22 is emptied, wherein the tank vent 70 is moved to the open position and the suction source 30 is turned on. When the suction source 30 is operated with the tank vent 70 in the open position, air enters the recovery tank 22 from the vent 70 aiding in drying of the recovery tank 22. In one example of a drying cycle, the controller 118 may send a signal to the actuators 114, causing the closure member 78 to move to the open position while the drying cycle runs. In another example, a latch (not shown) may be provided to hold the closure member in the open position.

[0030] FIGS. 9-11 illustrate a floor cleaner 210 in accordance with another embodiment. The floor cleaner 210 is similar to the floor cleaner 10, with like components being denoted with like reference numerals, plus 200. The floor cleaner 210 includes a recovery tank 222 having a tank vent 270 that is manually moveable between an open position and a closed position by a user, as described in further detail below.

[0031] With reference to FIGS. 9-11, the suction source 30 generates the airflow to draw the airflow and fluid into the recovery tank 222. The airflow includes the first airflow path 62 and the second airflow path 66. The first airflow path 62 travels through the suction nozzle 14, the recovery tank 222, the suction source 30, and the air exhaust, in that order. The second airflow path 66 travels through the tank vent 270, a portion of the recovery tank 222, the suction source 30, and the air exhaust, in that order.

[0032] With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the tank vent 270 includes a closure member 278 pivotably coupled to the recovery tank 222, a vent aperture 286 that is selectively covered by the closure member 278, and a latch 288 that engages and maintains the closure member 278 when the tank vent 270 is in the closed position. In the closed position, the closure member 278 substantially blocks or covers the vent aperture 286, thereby inhibiting the second airflow path 66 from entering the recovery tank 222. In the open position, the closure member 278 opens (i.e., does not block or cover) the vent aperture 286, thereby enabling the second airflow path 66 to enter the recovery tank 222. The open vent aperture 286 is in fluid communication with the inside of the tank body 34.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 11, the tank vent 270 further includes a seal 294 that is disposed on the outer periphery of the vent aperture 286. In other embodiments, the seal 294 may alternatively be coupled to the outer periphery of the closure member 278. Still, in other embodiments, the seal 294 may be coupled to the closure member 278 and the vent aperture 286. In either case, the seal 294 includes an elastomeric material and forms a seal between the vent aperture 286 and the closure member 278 when the tank vent 270 is in the closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the tank vent 270 is disposed on the upright portion 53 of the tank body 34, however in other embodiments the tank vent 270 is on the tank lid 38, on another portion of the tank body 34, or on the body portion 26 in communication with the airflow path upstream of the suction source 30.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the tank vent 270 is manually moveable between the open position and the closed position by a user. In the case where the tank vent 270 is inadvertently in the open position when the suction source 30 is activated, the second airflow path 66 enters through the open vent aperture 286 and passes through a whistle 300 to audibly alert the user that the tank vent 270 is in the open position. In other embodiments, the whistle 300 may alternatively be another type of audible alert device, or may be omitted as desired for the application. The whistle 300 is disposed within the recovery tank 222 adjacent the vent aperture 286. The audible alert generated by the whistle 300 is to prompt the user to move the tank vent 270 to the closed position.

[0035] In operation, the tank vent 270 is in the closed position when the suction source 30 is activated to inhibit airflow through the tank vent 270 enabling substantially all of the airflow to pass through the suction nozzle 14 and the first airflow path 62 for normal operation of the cleaner 210 in a cleaning operation. After the cleaning operation is completed, the user will empty and clean the recovery tank 222, which may leave the recovery tank 222 wet with residual moisture or cleaning solution. With the tank vent 270 in the open position, the recovery tank 222 is in fluid communication with the atmosphere outside of the recovery tank 222 to facilitate venting and drying of the recovery tank 222 with the recovery tank 222 assembled to the cleaner 210. In one embodiment, the user may run the cleaner in a drying mode after the tank 222 is emptied, wherein the tank vent 270 is moved to the open position and the suction source 30 is turned on. When the suction source 30 is operated with the tank vent 270 in the open position, air enters the recovery tank 222 from the vent 270 aiding in drying of the recovery tank 222.

[0036] Various features and advantages are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A floor cleaner comprising: a housing; a suction nozzle coupled to the housing; a fluid flow path extending between the suction nozzle and an air exhaust; a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and configured to generate an airflow along the fluid flow path; a recovery tank disposed along the fluid flow path and including a tank body configured to receive fluid drawn through the suction nozzle, a tank inlet through which the airflow and the fluid enter the tank body, and a tank outlet through which the airflow exits the tank body; and a vent disposed along the fluid flow path in fluid communication with the recovery tank, wherein the vent is moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position, the vent places the recovery tank in fluid communication with atmosphere outside the recovery tank via the vent to facilitate drying the recovery tank, and wherein, in the closed position, the vent inhibits the airflow from entering the recovery tank via the vent.

2. The floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein the vent is automatically moveable from the open position to the closed position when the suction source is activated.

3. The floor cleaner of claim 1 or 2, wherein the airflow from the suction source forms a suction that moves the vent to the closed position when the suction source is activated.

4. The floor cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vent is automatically moveable from the closed position to the open position when the suction source is deactivated.

5. The floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein the vent is manually moveable between the closed position and the open position by a user.

6. The flow cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vent is upstream of the tank outlet.

7. The floor cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vent includes a vent aperture, and a closure member movable to open the vent aperture when the vent is in the open position and close the vent when the vent is in the closed position, wherein the vent aperture is in fluid communication with the inside of the recovery tank and the tank outlet in the open position, and wherein airflow through the vent aperture is inhibited in the closed position.

8. The floor cleaner of claim 7, wherein the vent includes a vent housing, a closure member movable within the vent housing, a vent passageway, and a vent aperture, and wherein the vent passageway and the vent aperture are both in fluid communication with the recovery tank and the tank outlet.

9. The floor cleaner of claim 7, wherein the closure member is pivotably coupled to the vent to selectively cover the vent aperture in the closed position.

10. The floor cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the airflow adjacent the vent when the vent is in the open position acts on the closure member with sufficient force to move the closure member toward the closed position against gravitational force.

11. The floor cleaner of claim 10, wherein the closure member includes a working surface that is acted upon by the airflow adjacent the vent, and wherein the working surface is substantially transverse to the direction of travel of the closure member.

12. The floor cleaner of claim 10 or 11, wherein the suction source is configured to generate a first airflow path that travels through the suction nozzle, the recovery tank, the suction source, and the air exhaust, in that order, and wherein the suction source is configured to momentarily generate a second airflow path that travels through the vent, the suction source, and the air exhaust, in that order.

13. The floor cleaner of claim 12, wherein the second airflow path and the first airflow path pass through the tank outlet of the recovery tank.

14. The floor cleaner of claim 12, wherein the second airflow path becomes suspended when the airflow adjacent the vent moves the closure member to the closed position.

15. The floor cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein gravitational force moves the closure member toward the open position when the suction source is deactivated.

16. The floor cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vent further includes a first stop at an upper end of the vent housing to limit upward travel of the closure member and a second stop at a lower end of the vent housing to limit downward travel of the closure member.

17. The floor cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the recovery tank further includes an upper portion, a lower portion opposite the upper portion, and an upright portion extending between the upper portion and the lower portion.

18. The floor cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the recovery tank further includes a tank lid removably coupled to and substantially enclosing the tank body.

19. The floor cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vent includes a latch that engages and maintains the closure member in the closed position.

20. The floor cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vent further includes a seal disposed on at least one of the closure member and the vent to inhibit airflow through the vent when the vent is in the closed position.

21. The floor cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a whistle that audibly alerts a user via the airflow passing through the whistle when the vent is in the open position and the suction source is activated.

22. The floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein the vent includes a vent aperture, a closure member that selectively covers the vent aperture, and an actuator that moves the closure member to cover the vent aperture when the suction source is activated and moves the closure member to open the vent aperture when the suction source is deactivated, wherein the actuator is controlled by a controller.

23. The floor cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller operates a drying cycle, wherein the controller operates the suction source when the vent aperture is open.

24. The floor cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vent is disposed on the recovery tank.

25. The floor cleaner of claim 24, wherein the recovery tank further includes a tank body and a tank lid, and the vent is at least partially disposed on the tank lid.