Automatic carpet cleaning machine

• US 4,196,492 A
• Filed: 12/14/1978
• Issued: 04/08/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minuteman International, Inc. (L. Possehl & Co. mit beschränkter Haftung)
• Original Assignee: HB Fuller Company
• Inventors: Johnson, Richard C., Todd, Mike J., Kafer, Otto R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Christopher K.
• Application Number:
  US05/967,831
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/321, 15/322, 15/353, 15/340, 15/50 R, 15/50 C
• 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 11/4022 with means for recycling the dirty liquid treatment of waste water C02F
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• 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

An automatic self-propelled carpet cleaning machine comprises a body movably mounted by a drive wheel. The body is powered by a drive motor which may be selctively connectable either to an AC power source located separately from the body or to a DC power source contained in the body. In addition, the body includes a first storage chamber for receiving fresh cleaning solution therein and a second storage chamber for receiving spent cleaning solution therein. The first and second storage chambers are provided by a flexible membrane which divides an enclosed cavity into two parts. A scrubbing means is also carried by the body in back of the drive wheel on the body. The scrubbing means includes means for applying the fresh cleaning solution to the carpet, a brush roller for agitating the carpet fibers contacted by the cleaning solution to remove foreign material therefrom, and a vacuum shoe for removing the spent cleaning solution from the carpet and placing that solution in the second storage chamber.

Claims

1. A carpet cleaning machine, which comprises:

(a) a body movably supported by at least one drive wheel for movement over the carpet;

(b) storage means carried by the body for carrying a supply of the cleaning solution therein;

(c) scrubbing means carried by the body for cleaning the carpet, the scrubbing means comprising;

(i) means for applying the cleaning solution to the carpet; and

(ii) means for agitating the cleaning solution in contact with the carpet to remove foreign material therefrom; and

wherein at least the carpet agitating means includes a motor which is driven during a cleaning operation by an external power source which is located separately from the body;

(d) an internal power source carried by the body for movement therewith;

(e) powered drive means carried by the body and operatively connected to the drive wheel for moving the body at least in a forward direction, and wherein the drive means is connected to the internal power source such that the drive means is powered independently of the external power source.

2. A carpet cleaning machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the cleaning solution applying means includes a pump means for pumping the cleaning solution onto the carpet, wherein the pump means is operatively connected to the external power source.

3. A carpet cleaning machine as recited in claim 2, further including storage means carried by the body for storing a supply of spent cleaning solution therein which spent cleaning solution is fresh cleaning solution which has been applied to the carpet to remove foreign material therefrom;

and wherein the scrubbing means includes means for removing the spent cleaning solution from the carpet and placing the spent cleaning solution in the storage means, wherein the removing means includes means for drawing a vacuum in the storage means for picking up and transporting the spent cleaning solution thereto; and

wherein the vacuum drawing means is operatively connected to the external power source.

4. A carpet cleaning machine as recited in claim 1 or claim 3, wherein the external power source is an AC power source located separately from the body and the internal power source is a DC power source contained in the body.

5. A carpet cleaning machine, which comprises:

(a) a body movably supported by at least one drive wheel for movement over the carpet;

(b) a powered drive means carried on the body and operatively connected to the drive wheel for moving the body at least in a forward direction;

(c) storage means carried on the body for storing cleaning solution therein, the storage means comprising an enclosed fluid-tight cavity in the body which is divided into first and second storage chambers by means of a flexible bag located in the cavity, wherein the first storage chamber is defined by the area inside the bag and the second storage chamber is defined as the area inside the cavity which is external to the bag, and wherein the volumes of the first and second storage chambers are inversely related to one another such that the volume of the first storage chamber is at a maximum when the volume of the second storage chamber is at a minimum, the first storage chamber being suitable for containing fresh cleaning solution therein and the second storage chamber being suitable for containing spent cleaning solution therein;

(d) scrubbing means carried by the body for cleaning the carpet, the scrubbing means comprising;

(i) means for applying the fresh cleaning solution held in the first storage chamber to the carpet, the applying means including pump means for withdrawing the fresh cleaning solution from the first storage chamber;

(ii) means for agitating the fresh cleaning solution in contact with the carpet to remove foreign material therefrom, whereby the fresh cleaning solution is converted into the spent cleaning solution; and

(iii) means for removing the spent cleaning solution from the carpet and placing the spent solution in the second storage chamber, wherein the removing means includes means for drawing a vacuum in the second storage chamber for picking up and transporting the spent cleaning solution thereto; and

(e) control means for simultaneously activating the pump means and vacuum drawing means, whereby spent cleaning solution is placed into the second storage chamber as fresh cleaning solution is removed from the first storage chamber.

6. A carpet cleaning machine as recited in claim 5, wherein the bag has a substantially open mouth forming an entrance opening into the bag for the purpose of filling the bag with the fresh cleaning solution.

7. A carpet cleaning machine as recited in claim 6, wherein the body has an opening which coincides with the shape of the mouth of the bag, and further including means for affixing the mouth of the bag to the body adjacent the opening.

8. A carpet cleaning machine as recited in claim 7, wherein the mouth affixing means comprises a detachable strip which engages the opening in the body to pinch the mouth of the bag between the opening in the body and the strip to detachably retain the bag on the body.

9. A carpet cleaning machine as recited in claim 5, wherein the storage means is defined by a pivotably mounted tank which is carried on the body and which may be tilted from a substantially horizontal position to an upwardly angled position for the purpose of draining the second storage chamber and for gaining access to a portion of the body normally hidden by the tank.

10. A carpet cleaning machine as recited in claim 9, in which the tank is made of fiberglass.