Multifunctional surface cleaning machine and method of using the same

• US 20040226584A1
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Karcher Floor Care, Inc. (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Karcher Floor Care, Inc. (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Doll, Brian J., Pedlar, Roger, Guest, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/438,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20040226584A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/36
• 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 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/0217 Use of a detergent in high pressure cleaners; arrangements for supplying the same
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/027 Pump details
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/026 Cleaning by making use of hand-held spray guns; Fluid preparations therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-functional surface cleaning machine having a fluid tank, a pump, and at least one receptacle for holding concentrated cleaning chemicals. The receptacle(s) are in fluid communication with an operator controllable selector. The selector, either alone or in combination with a metering valve, may control which chemical(s) and the amount of such chemical(s) that will be allowed to flow to an inlet of a multi-inlet mixing member. A second input to the mixing member is a fluid to be stored within the fluid tank. The fluid and chemical which may be supplied to the mixing member may be mixed within the mixing member to create a cleaning solution, which may be supplied to any number of dispensing devices. One such device could be a spray gun for dispensing pressurized cleaning solutions onto a surface to be cleaned.

Claims

1. A cleaning machine comprising:

a fluid tank having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet;

a mixing member having at least two fluid inlets and at least one fluid outlet;

a selector having at least two fluid inlets and one fluid outlet;

at least a first fluid receptacle and a second fluid receptacle, each of the receptacles being in fluid communication with a fluid inlet of the selector;

a first fluid delivery line in communication with the fluid tank outlet and a first fluid inlet of the mixing member;

a second fluid delivery line in communication with the fluid outlet of the selector and a second fluid inlet of the mixing member; and

wherein fluid may pass through the first and the second fluid delivery lines and the mixing member fluid outlet.

2. The cleaning machine of claim 1, further including a one-way valve in fluid communication with the first fluid delivery line.

3. The cleaning machine of claim 2, wherein the one-way valve is between the fluid tank and the mixing member.

4. The cleaning machine of claim 1, further including a fluid filter in fluid communication with the first fluid delivery line.

5. The cleaning machine of claim 4, wherein the fluid filter is between the fluid tank and the mixing member.

6. The cleaning machine of claim 1, further including a fluid level indicator in communication with the fluid tank.

7. The cleaning machine of claim 6, wherein the fluid lever indicator is a visual indicator.

8. The cleaning machine of claim 1, further including a fluid level indicator which may be used to drain fluid from either the fluid tank or a recovery tank.

9. The cleaning machine of claim 1, further including a one-way valve in fluid communication with the second fluid delivery line.

10. The cleaning machine of claim 9, wherein the one-way valve is between the selector and the mixing member.

11. The cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second fluid receptacles is made of plastic.

12. The cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second fluid receptacles is made of glass.

13. The cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second fluid receptacles is made of metal.

14. The cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the selector is operative to allow fluid to flow through only one selector fluid inlet.

15. The cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the selector is operative to allow fluid to flow through more than one selector fluid inlet.

16. The cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the selector is operative to control an amount of fluid which may pass through the selector.

17. The cleaning machine of claim 1, further including a valve operable to control an amount of fluid reaching the mixing member.

18. The cleaning machine of claim 17, wherein the valve is between the fluid tank and the mixing member.

19. The cleaning machine of claim 17, wherein the valve is between the selector and mixing member.

20. The cleaning machine of claim 17, wherein the valve is between the first fluid receptacle and the selector.

21. The cleaning machine of claim 17, wherein the valve is between the second fluid receptacle and the selector.

22. The cleaning machine of claim 1, further including a pump having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet, wherein the fluid inlet of the pump is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the mixing member.

23. The cleaning machine of claim 22, wherein the pump is capable of pressurizing a fluid received from the mixing member.

24. The cleaning machine of claim 23, wherein the pressurized fluid is supplied to a spray gun having a fluid outlet.

25. The cleaning machine of claim 24, wherein the spray gun includes an adjustable valve operable to regulate one of a pressure or a flow volume of fluid allowed to exit the spray gun outlet.

26. The cleaning machine of claim 25, wherein the adjustable valve is substantially infinitely adjustable.

27. The cleaning machine of claim 24, wherein the spray gun also includes a lance wand.

28. The cleaning machine of claim 27, wherein the lance wand is not straight.

29. A method for cleaning a surface, comprising the steps of:

placing a first fluid into a fluid tank having an outlet and an inlet;

placing a second fluid into a first receptacle;

placing a third fluid into a second receptacle;

providing the second fluid and the third fluid to a selector;

providing a mixing member having at least a first inlet and a second inlet and an outlet;

providing through the selector one of the second fluid or the third fluid or a combination of the second fluid and third fluid to the first inlet of the mixing member;

providing the first fluid to the second inlet of the mixing member; and

wherein the fluids provided to the mixing member may pass through the outlet of the mixing member.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one of the first receptacle or the second receptacle is substantially comprised of plastic, metal or glass.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the first fluid passes through a one-way valve prior to reaching the mixing member.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the second fluid passes through a one-way valve prior to reaching the mixing member.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the third fluid passes through a one-way valve prior to reaching the mixing member.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the first fluid passes through a filter prior to reaching the mixing member.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the fluid tank further includes a fluid level indicator.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the fluid level indicator is a visual indicator.

37. The method of claim 29, further including a fluid level indicator which may be used to drain fluid from the fluid tank or a recovery tank.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein fluids provided to the mixing member become at least partially mixed.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the fluids become mixed within the mixing member.

40. The method of claim 29, wherein the selector is operative to control the amount of fluid allowed to exit the selector.

41. The method of claim 29, further providing a valve operable to control an amount of fluid reaching the mixing member.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the valve is between the fluid tank and mixing member.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the valve is between the selector and the mixing member.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the valve is between the selector and one of the first receptacle or the second receptacle.

45. The method of claim 29, further providing a pump having a fluid outlet and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the mixing member.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the pump is capable of pressurizing fluid received from the mixing member.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein pressurized fluid is capable of being supplied to a spray gun having a nozzle.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein an adjustable valve operable to regulate the pressure of fluid allowed to exit the spray gun nozzle is provided.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the spray gun includes a non-straight lance wand.

50. A cleaning machine comprising:

a fluid tank, selector, mixing member, first fluid receptacle and second fluid receptacle all of which are carried on a wheeled platform;

means for supplying fluid from the first and second fluid receptacles to the selector;

means for supplying fluid from the selector to the mixing member;

means for supplying fluid from the fluid tank to the mixing member; and

wherein fluids supplied to the mixing member from the fluid tank mix with fluid supplied to the mixing member from the selector.

51. The cleaning machine of claim 50, further including a pump capable of receiving mixed fluid from the mixing member.

52. The cleaning machine of claim 51, wherein the pump is capable of pressurizing fluid.

53. The cleaning machine of claim 52, wherein pressurized fluid is capable of being supplied to a spray gun having a nozzle.

54. The cleaning machine of claim 53, wherein an adjustable valve operable to regulate the pressure of fluid allowed to exit the spray gun nozzle is provided.

55. The cleaning machine of claim 50, wherein the fluids become mixed substantially within the mixing member.

56. The cleaning machine of claim 53, wherein the spray gun includes a lance wand.

57. The cleaning machine of claim 56, wherein the lance wand is not straight.

58. A cleaning machine comprising:

a fluid tank, selector, mixing member, first fluid receptacle, second fluid receptacle and a pump;

wherein the first fluid receptacle and second fluid receptacle are in fluid communication with the selector;

wherein the fluid tank and selector are in fluid communication with the mixing member, which is capable of partially mixing at least two fluids to create a cleaning solution; and

wherein the mixing member is capable of communicating the cleaning solution to the pump.

59. The cleaning machine of claim 58, further including a platform with wheels upon which at least the fluid tank may be carried.

60. The cleaning machine of claim 58, wherein the pump is capable of pressurizing the cleaning solution.

61. The cleaning machine of claim 58, wherein cleaning solution may be communicated to a spray gun.

62. The cleaning machine of claim 61, wherein an adjustable valve operable to regulate the pressure of cleaning solution communicated to the spray gun is provided.

63. The cleaning machine of claim 61, wherein the spray gun includes a non-straight lance wand.

64. A cleaning machine comprising:

a first receptacle for holding a first cleaning chemical and a second receptacle for holding a second cleaning chemical;

an operator controllable selector capable of allowing a fluid to pass to a selector outlet, the selector being in fluid communication with the first receptacle and the second receptacle;

a mixing member having at least a first inlet and a second inlet and an outlet, the first inlet being in fluid communication with the outlet of the selector;

a fluid tank in fluid communication with the second inlet of the mixing member and;

a pump in fluid communication with the outlet of the mixing member.

65. The cleaning machine of claim 64, wherein fluids may be at least partially mixed within the mixing member.

66. The cleaning machine of claim 64, wherein the pump is capable of pressurizing the fluid.

67. The cleaning machine of claim 64, further including a spray gun which is in fluid communication with the pump.