Scrubbing machine with water regeneration

• US 4,377,017 A
• Filed: 11/19/1979
• Issued: 03/22/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Herpers, Ferdinand J., Dodge, Paul D., Carlson, Alfred D., Kroll, Harley E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Chris K.
• Application Number:
  US06/095,466
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/352, 15/353, 15/340, 210/320, 210/522
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4022 with means for recycling the dirty liquid treatment of waste water C02F
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0012 Settling tanks making use of filters, e.g. by floating layers of particulate material
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0051 Plurality of tube like channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/2444 Discharge mechanisms for the classified liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2221/08 Mobile separation devices
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/103 in which the soiled loosening or washing liquid is removed, e.g. by suction removing liquids in general E01H1/108

Abstract

A scrubber is disclosed including an applicator for applying a cleaning solution, a rotary brush for working such solution on the soiled surface and a pick up section for removing the cleaning solution and suspended soilage from the surface being scrubbed. The scrubber includes a dirty solution chamber and a clean solution chamber. A separator is provided between such chambers to separate the dirty water into a sludge portion which is returned to the dirty water chamber and a clean solution portion which is fed into the second chamber.

Claims

1. A scrubbing device including a body portion suitable for movement along a surface to be scrubbed;

a tank chamber for storing clean scrubbing solution;

applicator means for applying scrubbing solution from said tank chamber to a surface to be scrubbed, said applicator means including means for controlling the amount of scrubbing solution applied to said surface;

means for lifting dirty scrubbing solution from said surface;

separator means for receiving dirty scrubbing solution from said lifting means for separating said dirty scrubbing solution into a clean solution portion and a solid matter portion, said separator means comprising a series of interconnected settling chambers through which the scrubbing solution may sequentially travel, said settling chambers being defined by wall means, said wall means defining openings adjacent the surface of the upper portion of the solution contained in each chamber through which solution may flow;

whereby the solution is drawn into each chamber from the portion adjacent the upper surface of solution in the proceeding chamber;

and means for conveying said clean solution portion from the final settling chamber of said series into said tank chamber.

2. The scrubbing device of claim 1 wherein said device includes means for agitating said solution on said surface.

3. The scrubbing device of claim 2 wherein said agitating means comprise at least one brush.

4. A scrubbing device including a body portion suitable for movement along a surface to be scrubbed;

a tank chamber for containing clean scrubbing solution;

applicator means for applying scrubbing solution from said tank chamber to a surface to be scrubbed, said applicator means including means for controlling the amount of scrubbing solution applied to said surface and means for agitating said solution on said surface, said agitating means comprising at least one brush;

means for lifting said scrubbing solution from said surface;

separator means for receiving dirty scrubbing solution from said lifting means, said separator means being for separating said dirty scrubbing solution into a clean solution portion and a solid matter portion, said separator means having fluid communication with said lifting means, said separator means comprising a tank, said separator means being internally divided by wall means to provide a series of interconnected settling chambers through which the scrubbing solution may sequentially travel, said wall means defining a plurality of openings, one of said openings being disposed between each pair of adjacent settling chambers, each sequential opening being disposed slightly lower in elevation than the preceding opening whereby the solution is drawn into each chamber from the portion adjacent the upper surface of the solution in the preceding chamber; and

means for conveying said clean solution portion from the final settling chamber of said series into said tank chamber.

5. A scrubbing machine adapted for recirculation of scrubbing solution, said machine comprising:

a chamber for holding scrubbing solution;

means for applying scrubbing solution from said holding chamber to the surface to be scrubbed and means for agitating said solution on said surface;

vacuum means for lifting said scrubbing solution for said surface;

means for separating the lifted solution into a reusable portion and a sludge portion, said separating means comprising a plurality of walls defining a plurality of settling chambers through which said lifted solution is sequentially passed, said walls defining openings providing fluid communication between each of said settling chambers, each sequential opening being disposed slightly lower in elevation than the preceding opening thereby drawing the solution from adjacent the surface of the upper portion of the solution in the preceding chamber; and

means for conveying said reusable portion to said holding chamber.