Apparatus for cleaning surfaces with automatic water supply and drain

• US 20020129459A1
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Franc Gergek
• Original Assignee: Franc Gergek
• Inventors: Gergek, Franc
• Granted Patent: US 6,766,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/38 Built-in suction cleaner installations, i.e. with fixed tube system to which, at different stations, hoses can be connected

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning floor surfaces and the like includes a cleaning head and a vacuum head to apply water on the surface for a continuous cleaning and vacuum operation. A single water passage of the apparatus is adapted to be connected to an automatic central water supply and drain system to supply water to and withdraw used water from the apparatus alternately through the single water passage in a controlled manner. Fresh water and used water containers are provided for temporarily storing the fresh and used water respectively. A valve device is used to selectively direct the water flow from the single water passage to the fresh water container and water flow from the used water container to the single water passage. Dirt particles are separated from water and air, and are collected in a removable bin for periodic dumping. The apparatus of the invention assures a fully automatic and efficient wet cleaning and vacuuming operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a cleaning head for applying a liquid onto the surface and cleaning same;

a vacuum head for removing a mixture of used liquid, air and particles from the surface under a vacuum action;

means for separating the used liquid, air and particles from the mixture respectively and containing the separated particles;

a fan device for generating the vacuum action of the vacuum head;

a used liquid container for containing a volume of the used liquid separated from the mixture; and

a single liquid passage adapted to be connected at a first end to an external liquid supply and drain system, the single liquid passage having valve means at a second end thereof for establishing selective fluid communication of the single liquid passage with one of the cleaning head and the used liquid container, so that the liquid can be supplied to the cleaning head and the used liquid can be withdrawn from the used liquid container alternately through the single liquid passage.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a liquid supply container for containing a volume of the liquid and supplying the liquid to the cleaning head, the valve means of the single liquid passage being connected to both the liquid supply container and the used liquid container for selective fluid communication of the single liquid passage with one of the liquid supply container and the used liquid container so that the liquid can be supplied into the liquid supply container and the used liquid can be withdrawn from the used liquid container alternately through the single liquid passage in a controlled manner in order to assure a continuous cleaning and vacuuming operation.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fan device comprises an outlet directing exhaust airflow towards an area of the surface behind the vacuum head for drying the area.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a liquid pump for pumping the liquid from the liquid supply container to the cleaning head.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a drainage valve associated with the liquid supply container, the drainage valve having a first position which permits a liquid flow from the liquid supply container only to the cleaning head and a second position which permits a liquid flow from the liquid supply container only to the used liquid container.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of liquid level sensors positioned in the respective liquid supply container and used liquid container and adapted to be electrically connected to the external liquid supply and drain system.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the valve means comprise a three-way connector having a first opening connected to the liquid supply container, a second opening connected to the used liquid container and a third opening connected to the second end of the single liquid passage, a first valve being positioned in the first opening permitting liquid to flow from the single liquid passage to the liquid supply container but not in reverse, a second valve being positioned in the second opening permitting liquid to flow from the used liquid container to the single liquid passage but not in reverse.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cleaning head comprises at least one rotatable brush, an electrical motor for rotating the rotatable brush and a liquid passage for receiving the liquid from the liquid supply container and delivering the liquid to the rotatable brush.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the vacuum head comprises a sponge having at least one cavity in a bottom, the at least one cavity including a main opening, a side opening and a top opening so that the side opening forms an inlet for receiving the mixture, and the top opening forms an outlet connected to the separation means when the main opening is covered by the surface being cleaned.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the side opening of the at least one cavity of the sponge is positioned at an inner side of the sponge, towards the cleaning head.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for separating the liquid, air and particles from the mixture comprises a bin for collecting and storing the particles and permitting drainage of the used liquid therefrom into the used liquid container, the bin being in fluid communication at a first position of a top thereof with an inlet of the fan device and being in fluid communication at a second position of the top thereof with at least one narrow passage which is in fluid communication with the top opening of the at least one cavity of the sponge so that the used liquid and particles will drop down under their weight while air is being drawn up into the inlet of the fan device when a flow of the mixture enters the bin from the narrow passage and substantially loses the velocity thereof.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the bin is removable from the apparatus.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a casing structure having an open bottom, the casing structure housing the cleaning head, the vacuum head, the liquid supply container and the used liquid container, the separating means and the fan device, and exposing the cleaning head and the vacuum head at the open bottom to the surface being cleaned.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a handle pivotally attached to the casing, the handle having a hollow section forming a section of the single liquid passage, and being connected at an end thereof to a hose.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the hose is incorporated with electrical conductors for delivering electric current to power the apparatus and for transmitting electrical signals from the apparatus to the external liquid supply and drain system.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the hose and incorporated electrical conductors terminate with a combined connector for fluid and electrical connection.