Heated vacuum carpet cleaning and drying apparatus

• US 20030097727A1
• Filed: 01/10/2003
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kris D. Keller
• Original Assignee: Kris D. Keller
• Inventors: Keller, Kris D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/345
• 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 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/08 with means adapted for blowing

Abstract

A vacuum cleaning and/or drying systems having heaters which provide drying air to aid in drying or combined cleaning and drying. The system is particularly adapted and beneficial for use on carpets, but can also be used to clean other surfaces such as smooth floors or upholstery. The heaters are on a portable cleaning unit used within the room being cleaned. A support unit is preferably provided outside the room or building to generate vacuum and remove moisture from the room. The support unit is typically mounted on a vehicle and can provide compressed air or other gases and cleaning fluids. Compressed air can be used to agitate and facilitate both cleaning and drying. Compressed air can also be used to apply one or more additives, such as deodorizers and fragrances. The portable unit can also be used for drying flooded carpets and the like.

Claims

1. A vacuum system cleaning head, comprising:

a vacuum housing having a vacuum intake on a working face of the cleaning head and connecting to a vacuum conduit;

a drying gas housing including a drying gas discharge adjacent to the vacuum intake on said working face;

at least one compressed gas applicator positioned within the cleaning head and including at least one discharge opening oriented to direct compressed gas from the working face of the cleaning head.

2. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 1 wherein the working face has a perimeter wall.

3. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 1 wherein the working face has a perimeter wall and at least one dividing wall between the vacuum intake and the drying gas discharge.

4. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 1 wherein the working face has at least one dividing wall between the vacuum intake and the drying gas discharge.

5. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 1 wherein the compressed gas applicator includes a pair of discharge conduits and wherein each discharge conduit includes a number of said discharge openings.

6. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 1 wherein the compressed gas applicator includes an additive infuser which places an additive into the compressed gas being emitted from the compressed gas applicator.

7. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 1 further comprising a drying gas heater on the cleaning head for heating drying gas discharged through the drying gas discharge.

8. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 1 further comprising:

a drying gas heater on the cleaning head for heating drying gas discharged through the drying gas discharge

a drying gas blower on the cleaning head for blowing drying gas through the drying gas discharge.

9. A vacuum system cleaning head, comprising:

a vacuum housing having a vacuum intake on a working face of the cleaning head and connecting to a vacuum conduit;

a drying gas housing including a drying gas discharge adjacent to the vacuum intake on said working face;

at least one compressed gas applicator positioned within the a cleaning head and including at least one discharge opening oriented to direct compressed gas out the working face;

a cleaning fluid discharge positioned to discharge cleaning fluid from the working face of the cleaning head.

10. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 9 wherein the working face has a perimeter wall.

11. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 9 wherein the working face has a perimeter wall and at least one dividing wall between the vacuum intake and the drying gas discharge.

12. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 9 wherein the working face has at least one dividing wall between the vacuum intake and the drying gas discharge.

13. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 9 wherein the compressed gas applicator includes a pair of discharge conduits and wherein each discharge conduit includes a number of said discharge openings.

14. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 9 wherein the compressed gas applicator includes an additive infuser which places an additive into the compressed gas being emitted from the compressed gas applicator.

15. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 9 further comprising a drying gas heater on the cleaning head for heating drying gas discharged through the drying gas discharge.

16. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 9 further comprising:

a drying gas heater on the cleaning head for heating drying gas discharged through the drying gas discharge;

a drying gas blower on the cleaning head for blowing drying gas through the drying gas discharge.

17. A vacuum cleaning system, comprising:

a vacuum housing laving a vacuum intake on a working face of the cleaning head and connecting to a vacuum conduit;

a drying gas housing including a drying gas discharge adjacent to the vacuum intake on said working face;

at least one compressed gas applicator positioned within the cleaning head and including at least one discharge opening oriented to direct compressed gas from the working face;

a vacuum generator adapted for connection to the vacuum conduit to supply vacuum to the vacuum intake;

a compressed gas supply adapted for connection to the at least one compressed gas applicator.

18. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 17 wherein the working face has a perimeter wall.

19. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 17 wherein the working face has a perimeter wall and at least one dividing wall between the vacuum intake and the drying gas discharge.

20. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 17 wherein the working face has at least one dividing wall between the vacuum intake and the drying gas discharge.

21. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 17 wherein the compressed gas applicator includes a pair of discharge conduits and wherein each discharge conduit includes a number of said discharge openings.

22. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 17 wherein the compressed gas applicator includes an additive infuser which places an additive into the compressed gas being emitted from the compressed gas applicator.

23. The vacuum cleaning system of claim 17 further comprising a drying gas heater on the cleaning head for heating drying gas discharged through the drying gas discharge.

24. The vacuum system cleaning head of claim 17 further comprising:

a drying gas heater on the cleaning head for heating drying gas discharged through the drying gas discharge;

a drying gas blower on the cleaning head for blowing drying gas through the drying gas discharge.

25. A vacuum cleaning system, comprising:

a portable unit laving a frame, an operator interface connected to the frame that is operated by an operator, and a cleaning head;

a vacuum housing forming a vacuum intake leading from a working face of the cleaning head to a vacuum supply;

a drying gas housing including a drying gas discharge adjacent to the vacuum intake on said working face;

at least one compressed gas applicator positioned within the cleaning head and including at least one discharge opening oriented to direct compressed gas out the working face;

a cleaning fluid applicator on the cleaning head for applying cleaning fluids to the working face of the cleaning head;

a support unit adapted for being located at a location removed from the from the portable unit;

a vacuum generator on the support unit and forming part of the vacuum supply and adapted to be connected to the vacuum intake;

a compressed gas supply on a support unit adapted for connection to the at least one compressed gas applicator;

a cleaning fluid supply on the support unit for supplying cleaning fluid to the portable unit and cleaning fluid applicator.

26. A vacuum system cleaning head, comprising:

a vacuum housing laving a vacuum intake on a working face of the cleaning head and connecting to a vacuum conduit;

at least one compressed gas applicator positioned within the cleaning head and including at least one discharge opening oriented to direct compressed gas from the working face of the cleaning head;

an additive infuser which places an additive into the compressed gas being emitted from the compressed gas applicator.

27. A vacuum system cleaning head according to claim 26 wherein the additive infuser places an atomized additive into the compressed gas.

28. A vacuum system cleaning head according to claim 26 wherein the additive infuser is mounted upon the cleaning head.

29. A vacuum cleaning head, comprising:

a vacuum housing having a vacuum intake on a working face of the cleaning head and connecting to a vacuum conduit;

a cleaning fluid discharge positioned to discharge cleaning fluid from the working face of the cleaning head;

a cleaning fluid strike pan connected to the vacuum cleaning head along the working face so that at least a portion of cleaning fluid discharged from the cleaning fluid discharge is redirected to change the angle of incidence relative to the working face.

30. A vacuum cleaning head according to claim 29 and wherein the cleaning fluid strike pan is adjustable relative to the cleaning head to vary fluid discharge from the working face.

31. A method for vacuum cleaning surfaces, such as floors, carpets and other surfaces being cleaned, comprising:

forming a working area along a face of a cleaning head when the cleaning head is placed in an operational position facing a surface being cleaned;

applying pressurized drying gas against the surface being cleaned from the working area;

infusing a treatment additive with the pressurized drying gas and applying the treatment additive therewith.

32. A method for vacuum cleaning according to claim 31 and wherein said infusing includes atomizing a liquid treatment additive.

33. A method for vacuum cleaning according to claim 31 and further comprising discharging a cleaning fluid within the working area and applying said cleaning fluid to the surface being cleaned.

34. A method for vacuum cleaning according to claim 31 and further comprising heating drying gas and suppling the drying gas to the working area.

35. A method for vacuum cleaning according to claim 31 and further comprising:

discharging a cleaning fluid within the working area and applying said cleaning fluid to the surface being cleaned;

heating drying gas supplied in said providing step;

evacuating to remove cleaning fluid and drying gas to assist in drying the surface being cleaned.

36. A method for vacuum cleaning according to claim 31 and further defined by passing the pressurized drying d gas over at least one zone partition wall.

37. A method for vacuum cleaning surfaces, such as floors and carpets, comprising:

forming a working area along a face of a cleaning head when the cleaning head is placed in an operational position facing a surface being cleaned;

discharging a cleaning fluid against a strike pan to redirect and diffuse cleaning fluid being applied.