Wet/Dry Floor Cleaning Device

• US 20080148512A1
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AB Electrolux
• Original Assignee: AB Electrolux
• Inventors: Beskow, Jonas, Vines, Brian, Haegermarck, Anders, Sepke, Arnie
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/350
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls

Abstract

A cleaning device with an elongated housing having a grip at one end and a cleaning head at another end, a dirt collection device and a vacuum source. The cleaning head has a rotary agitator, a first inlet opening having a first cross-sectional area, and a second inlet opening having a second cross-sectional area. The second cross-sectional area may be substantially less than the first cross-sectional area. The second inlet opening may be above the first inlet opening. There also may be a fluid supply tank and an associated pump, and the pump and agitator may be driven by the same motor.

Claims

1. A cleaning device comprising:

an elongated housing having a handgrip located at one end;

a cleaning head located at a second end of the housing and being adapted to be moved over a surface to be cleaned;

the cleaning head comprising;

a rotary agitator adapted to rotate in a first rotational direction and contact the surface to be cleaned,

a first inlet opening having a first cross-sectional area, and

a second inlet opening having a second cross-sectional area, the second cross-sectional area being substantially less than the first cross-sectional area;

a dirt collection device associated with one of the elongated housing and the cleaning head; and

a vacuum source associated with one of the elongated housing and the cleaning head, the vacuum source being adapted to generate a working airflow through the first inlet opening, the second inlet opening, and the dirt collection device.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the elongated housing is pivotally attached to the cleaning head.

3. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the rotary agitator comprises a foam roller.

4. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the first inlet opening is adapted to remove debris at least from the surface to be cleaned, and the second inlet opening is located adjacent an outer surface of the rotary agitator and adapted to remove fluid from the rotary agitator.

5. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second inlet opening contacts the outer surface of the rotary agitator.

6. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein:

the cleaning head further comprises an agitator chamber at least partially surrounding the rotary agitator;

the first inlet opening is located at least partially within the agitator chamber at a first position with respect to the first rotational direction; and

the second inlet opening is located at least partially within the agitator chamber at a second position with respect to the first rotation direction, the second position being beyond the first position with respect to the first rotational direction.

7. The cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising a valve adapted to move between at least a first valve position in which the valve allows at least a portion of the working airflow to pass through the first inlet opening, and a second valve position in which the valve substantially prevents the working airflow from passing through the first inlet opening.

8. The cleaning device of claim 7, wherein the valve substantially prevents the working airflow from passing through the second inlet in the first valve position.

9. The cleaning device of claim 7, further comprising a valve actuator adapted to move the valve between the first valve position and the second valve position.

10. The cleaning device of claim 9, wherein the valve actuator moves the valve to the first valve position when the cleaning head is moved in a first direction, and moves the valve to the second position when the cleaning head is moved in a second direction.

11. The cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the valve actuator is operated by contact with the surface being cleaned.

12. The cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the cleaning head further comprises a wheel, and the valve actuator is operated by the wheel.

13. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the dirt collection device is a recovery tank.

14. A cleaning device comprising:

an elongated housing having a handgrip located at one end;

a cleaning head located at a second end of the housing and being adapted to be moved over a surface to be cleaned;

the cleaning head comprising;

an agitator chamber;

a rotary agitator located at least partially within the agitator chamber and adapted to rotate in a first rotational direction and contact the surface to be cleaned,

a first inlet opening having a first cross-sectional area, the first inlet opening being located at least partially within the agitator chamber, and

a second inlet opening having a second cross-sectional area, the second inlet opening being located above the first inlet opening;

a dirt collection device associated with one of the cleaning head and the elongated housing;

a vacuum source associated with one of the cleaning head and the elongated housing, the vacuum source being adapted to generate a working airflow through the first inlet opening, the second inlet opening, and the dirt collection device.

15. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein the second cross-sectional area is substantially less than the first cross-sectional area.

16. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein the rotary agitator comprises a foam roller.

17. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein the first inlet opening is adapted to remove debris at least from the surface to be cleaned, and the second inlet opening is adapted to remove debris from the rotary agitator.

18. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the second inlet opening contacts the outer surface of the rotary agitator.

19. The cleaning device of claim 14, further comprising a valve adapted to move between at least a first valve position in which the valve allows at least a portion of the working airflow to pass through the first inlet opening, and a second valve position in which the valve substantially prevents the working airflow from passing through the first inlet opening.

20. The cleaning device of claim 19, wherein the valve substantially prevents the working airflow from passing through the second inlet in the first valve position.

21. The cleaning device of claim 19, further comprising a valve actuator adapted to move the valve between the first valve position and the second valve position.

22. The cleaning device of claim 19, wherein the valve actuator moves the valve to the first valve position when the cleaning head is moved in a first direction, and moves the valve to the second position when the cleaning head is moved in a second direction.

23. The cleaning device of claim 22, wherein the cleaning head further comprises a wheel, and the valve actuator is operated by the wheel.

38. The cleaning device of claim 18, wherein the second inlet is adapted to move to remain in contact with the outer surface of the rotary agitator.

24. A cleaning device comprising:

an elongated housing having a handgrip located at one end;

a cleaning head located at a second end of the housing and being adapted to be moved over a surface to be cleaned;

the cleaning head comprising;

a rotary agitator adapted to rotate in a first rotational direction and contact the surface to be cleaned,

a first inlet opening having a first cross-sectional area, and

a second inlet opening having a second cross-sectional area;

a supply tank associated with one of the elongated housing and the cleaning head and being adapted to contain a fluid therein;

a pump adapted to convey the fluid from the supply tank to the surface to be cleaned;

a motor adapted to simultaneously drive the rotary agitator and the pump;

a recovery tank associated with one of the elongated housing and the cleaning head;

a vacuum associated with one of the elongated housing and the cleaning head, the vacuum source being adapted to generate a working airflow through the first inlet opening, the second inlet opening, and the recovery tank.

25. The cleaning device of claim 24, wherein the pump is located on a first side of the cleaning head, and the motor is located on a second side of the cleaning head, and a driveshaft connects the motor to the pump.

26. The cleaning device of claim 24, further comprising a speed reduction device interposed between the motor and the pump and being adapted to drive at least the pump at a slower speed than the motor.

27. The cleaning device of claim 24, further comprising a fluid distributor, the fluid distributor being adapted to receive the fluid from the pump and distribute the fluid substantially across the agitator.

28. The cleaning device of claim 24, wherein the second cross-sectional area is substantially less than the first cross-sectional area.

29. The cleaning device of claim 24, wherein the rotary agitator comprises a foam roller.

30. The cleaning device of claim 24, wherein the first inlet opening is adapted to remove debris at least from the surface to be cleaned, and the second inlet opening is adapted to remove debris from the rotary agitator.

31. The cleaning device of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the second inlet opening contacts the outer surface of the rotary agitator.

32. The cleaning device of claim 24, further comprising a valve adapted to move between at least a first valve position in which the valve allows at least a portion of the working airflow to pass through the first inlet opening, and a second valve position in which the valve substantially prevents the working airflow from passing through the first inlet opening.

33. The cleaning device of claim 32, wherein the valve substantially prevents the working airflow from passing through the second inlet in the first valve position.

34. The cleaning device of claim 32, further comprising a valve actuator adapted to move the valve between the first valve position and the second valve position.

35. The cleaning device of claim 32, wherein the valve actuator moves the valve to the first valve position when the cleaning head is moved in a first direction, and moves the valve to the second position when the cleaning head is moved in a second direction.

36. The cleaning device of claim 35, wherein the cleaning head further comprises a wheel, and the valve actuator is operated by the wheel.

37. The cleaning device of claim 24, wherein the a motor drives the rotary agitator and the pump through a single drive shaft connected to the pump and to an agitator drive gear.