Adjustable flow rate valve for a cleaning apparatus

• US 20050144751A1
• Filed: 01/07/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Gordon, Evan A., Kegg, Steven W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,473 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 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits

Abstract

A portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface is provided and includes a housing for movement along the cleaning surface. A solution distribution system is mounted at least in part to the housing and includes a solution distributor operatively connected to the housing for distributing a solution onto the cleaning surface, a first solution tank for holding the solution, and a first adjustable flow rate valve fluidly connected between the first solution tank and the distributor for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of the valve.

Claims

1. A portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a) a housing for movement along the cleaning surface;

b) a solution distribution system mounted at least in part to said housing and comprising;

a solution distributor operatively connected to said housing for distributing a solution onto the cleaning surface;

a first solution tank for holding the solution;

a first adjustable flow rate valve having an inlet fluidly connected to said first solution tank and an outlet fluidly connected to said distributor for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of said distributor, said first adjustable flow rate valve having a rotating valve part positioned between said inlet and said outlet, said valve part having a variable flow rate groove; and

a knob secured to said valve part, wherein rotating said knob rotates said valve part and said groove such that the flow rate through said first adjustable flow rate valve is dependent on the position of said groove between said inlet and said outlet of said valve part.

2. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 1 including a recovery system comprising:

a recovery tank mounted on the housing for holding recovered dirt and the cleaning solution, a suction nozzle operatively connected to said housing and in fluid communication with said recovery tank for transporting the cleaning solution and dirt recovered from said cleaning surface to said recovery tank, a suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle and recovery tank for drawing the cleaning solution and dirt from the cleaning surface through the suction nozzle and to the recovery tank.

3. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein said housing includes a base and a handle pivotally connected to said base.

4. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 1 including a second adjustable flow rate valve operatively associated with said first solution tank and said distributor for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of said distributor, said second adjustable flow rate valve having a valve part, a coupling member operatively connected between said valve part of said second adjustable flow rate valve and one of said knob and said valve part of said first adjustable flow rate valve such that movement of said selector causes said coupling member to move said valve part of said second adjustable flow rate valve such that the flow rate of the solution through said second adjustable flow rate valve is dependent on the position of said valve part of said second adjustable flow rate valve.

5. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 1 including a motor assembly operatively connected to said valve part for rotating said valve part to selected distances.

6. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 1 including a second solution tank for holding clean water, said first solution tank holding a detergent solution, a mixing chamber connected to between said first and second solution tanks for mixing the clean water and detergent solution, said inlet of said first adjustable flow valve fluidly connected to said mixing chamber at a location downstream of said mixing chamber for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of said mixing chamber.

7. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 1 including a second solution 5 tank for holding clean water, said first solution tank holding a detergent solution, a mixing chamber connected to between said first and second solution tanks for mixing the clean water and detergent solution, said outlet of said first adjustable flow valve fluidly connected to said mixing chamber, said first adjustable valve adjusting the flow rate of the detergent from said first solution tank and thereby varying the relative proportions of the detergent solution and the clean water flowing out of said mixing chamber.

8. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said groove is tapered along the length thereof.

9. A portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a) a housing for movement along the cleaning surface;

b) a solution distribution system mounted at least in part to said housing and comprising;

a solution distributor operatively connected to said housing for distributing a solution onto the cleaning surface;

a solution tank for holding the solution;

a first adjustable flow rate valve operatively associated with said first solution tank and said distributor for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of said distributor, said first adjustable flow rate valve having a valve part;

a second adjustable flow rate valve operatively associated with said first solution tank and said distributor for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of said distributor, said second adjustable flow rate valve having a valve part;

a user operated selector operatively connected to said valve part of said first adjustable flow rate valve, wherein moving said selector moves said valve part of said first adjustable flow rate valve such that the flow rate of the solution through said first adjustable flow rate valve is dependent on the position of said valve part of said first adjustable flow rate valve; and

a coupling member operatively connected between said valve part of said second adjustable flow rate valve and one of said selector and said valve part of said first adjustable flow rate valve such that movement of said selector causes said coupling member to move said valve part of said second adjustable flow rate valve such that the flow rate of the solution through said second adjustable flow rate valve is dependent on the position of said valve part of said second adjustable flow rate valve.

10. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 9 including a recovery system comprising:

a recovery tank mounted on the housing for holding recovered dirt and the cleaning solution, a suction nozzle operatively connected to said housing and in fluid communication with said recovery tank for transporting the cleaning solution and dirt recovered from said cleaning surface to said recovery tank, a suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle and recovery tank for drawing the cleaning solution and dirt from the cleaning surface through the suction nozzle and to the recovery tank.

11. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein said housing includes a base and a handle pivotally connected to said base, said recovery tank being removably mounted to said housing, said solution tank being removably mounted to said housing.

12. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 9 including a motor assembly operatively connected to said valve part of said first adjustable flow rate valve for rotating said valve part to selected distances.

13. A portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a) a housing for movement along the cleaning surface;

b) a solution distribution system mounted at least in part to said housing and comprising;

a solution distributor operatively connected to said housing for distributing a solution onto the cleaning surface;

a first solution tank for holding a first solution;

a second solution tank for holding a second solution;

a mixing chamber fluidly connected between said first and second solution tanks for mixing the first and second solutions;

a first adjustable flow rate valve operatively associated with said mixing chamber and said distributor for adjusting the flow rate of the solution out of said mixing chamber, said first adjustable flow rate valve having a valve part; and

a second adjustable flow rate valve operatively associated with said first solution tank and said mixing chamber for adjusting the flow rate of the first solution from said first solution tank and thereby varying the relative proportions of the first solution and the second solution flowing out of said mixing chamber.

14. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 13 including a user operated selector operatively connected to said valve part of said first adjustable flow rate valve, wherein moving said selector moves said valve part such that the flow rate of the solution through said first adjustable flow rate valve is dependent on the position of said valve part of said first adjustable flow rate valve;

and

15. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein said second adjustable flow rate valve has a valve part, a coupling member operatively connected between said valve part of said second adjustable flow rate valve and one of said selector and said valve part of said first adjustable flow rate valve such that movement of said selector causes said coupling member to move said valve part of said second adjustable flow rate valve such that the flow rate of the solution through said second adjustable flow rate valve is dependent on the position of said valve part of said second adjustable flow rate valve.

16. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first adjustable flow rate valve has an inlet fluidly connected to said mixing chamber and an outlet fluidly connect to said distributor, said valve part of said first adjustable flow rate valve has a variable flow rate groove, a knob secured to said rotating valve part, wherein rotating said knob rotates said valve part and said groove such that the flow rate through said first adjustable flow rate valve is dependent on the position of said groove between said inlet and said outlet of said valve part.

17. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 16 wherein said groove is tapered along the length thereof.

18. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 13 including a recovery system comprising:

a recovery tank mounted on the housing for holding recovered dirt and the cleaning solution, a suction nozzle operatively connected to said housing and in fluid communication with said recovery tank for transporting the cleaning solution and dirt recovered from said cleaning surface to said recovery tank, a suction source in fluid communication with said suction nozzle and recovery tank for drawing the cleaning solution and dirt from the cleaning surface through the suction nozzle and to the recovery tank.

19. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein said recovery tank is removably mounted to said housing and at least said first solution tank is removably mounted to said housing.

20. The portable cleaning apparatus of claim 13 including a motor assembly operatively connected to said valve part of said first adjustable flow rate valve for rotating said valve part to selected distances.