Method and Apparatus for Cleaning Surfaces with High Pressure Electrolyzed Fluid

• US 20120097201A1
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Field, Bruce F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,719,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/58.R
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• 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: A61L 2/035 Electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/213 Use of electrochemically treated water, e.g. electrolysed water or water treated by electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation

Abstract

A mobile surface cleaner includes a mobile body, a least one wheel, a source of a fluid, a pump, a sprayer hose connectable to a fitting on the mobile body, a high pressure spray gun connectable to the sprayer hose, and a functional generator. The functional generator includes first and second electrode chambers, which are separated by an ion exchange membrane. A flow path extends from the fluid source to the fitting and passes through the functional generator. The flow path is configured to combine all the fluid produced in the first and second electrode chambers to form a combined fluid on the cleaner. A control circuit is coupled to the pump and the functional generator and is configured to energize the pump to pump the fluid along the flow path and energize the functional generator to electrochemically activate the liquid that is passed through the functional generator.

Claims

1. A mobile surface cleaner comprising:

a mobile body configured to travel over a surface and comprising a fitting;

a least one wheel connected to the mobile body to move the mobile body across the surface;

a source of a fluid;

a pump;

a sprayer hose connectable to the fitting on the mobile body;

a high pressure spray gun connectable to the sprayer hose and having a spray nozzle;

a functional generator, which comprises first and second electrode chambers, which are separated by an ion exchange membrane and which are configured to electrochemically activate the fluid from the fluid source that is passed through the functional generator;

a flow path, from the fluid source to the fitting, which passes through the functional generator and is configured to combine all the fluid produced in the first electrode chamber and all of the fluid produced in the second electrode chamber to form a combined fluid on the cleaner; and

a control circuit coupled to the pump and the functional generator and configured to energize the pump to pump the fluid along the flow path and energize the functional generator to electrochemically activate the liquid that is passed through the functional generator.

2. A mobile surface cleaner comprising:

a mobile body configured to travel over a surface and comprising a fitting;

a least one wheel connected to the mobile body to move the mobile body across the surface;

a source of a fluid;

a sprayer hose connectable to the fitting on the mobile body;

a high pressure spray gun connectable to the sprayer hose and having a spray nozzle;

a flow path, from the fluid source to the fitting;

a pump in the flow path;

an electrolysis cell, which electrolyzes the fluid by electrolysis and comprises first and second electrically conductive electrodes, which are separated by a gap in fluid communication with the flow path and wherein the gap lacks an ion exchange membrane; and

a control circuit coupled to the pump and the electrolysis cell and configured to energize the pump to pump the fluid along the flow path and energize the electrolysis cell to electrochemically activate the liquid that is passed through the electrolysis cell.