Liquid and detergent mixing chamber and valves

• US 4,570,856 A
• Filed: 03/02/1984
• Issued: 02/18/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oreck Holdings LLC (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Regina Corporation
• Inventors: Groth, Hugh F., Collins, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nase, Jeffrey V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weldon, Kevin Patrick
• Application Number:
  US06/585,547
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 239/304, 239/310, 137/605, 137/607, 137/863, 137/871, 137/898, 251/9
• US Class Current: 239/310
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• 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: B01F 23/49 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87668 Single actuator operates plural flow control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 With common valve operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8778 Spring biased

Abstract

A fluid circuit for a cleaning device having a mixture with separate water and cleaning fluid inlets and fittings interconnecting a pressurized source of water and a pressurized source of cleaning fluid responsive to change the mixing ratio of cleaning fluid to water as well as to assure the degree of mixing. The outlet of the mixing device is provided to a spray nozzle wherein the mixed fluid is projected onto a cleaning surface by an air stream through the spray nozzle. A common pump provides two levels of air pressure, a high one to the spray nozzle and a lower one to the pressurized sources of water and cleaning fluid.

Claims

1. A cleaning device comprising:

a spray nozzle,

a mixing means for mixing water and cleaning fluid having an outlet connected to said spray nozzle, a fitting providing a water inlet and a cleaning fluid inlet to said mixing means, said inlets being separate from each other;

a pressurized source of water connected to said water inlet;

a pressurized source of cleaning fluid connected through said fitting to said cleaning fluid inlet; and

a passage in said fitting communicating pressurized water from said pressurized water source to said cleaning fluid inlet.

2. A cleaning device according to claim 1 wherein said sources of water and cleaning fluid each include a container, and a pump connected to both said containers to pressurize them during operation of said cleaning device.

3. A cleaning device according to claim 2 wherein said spray nozzle includes an air inlet for projecting said mixed fluids.

4. A cleaning device according to claim 3 wherein said pump includes a primary outlet connected to said nozzle and a pair of secondary outlets connected respectively to said water and cleaning fluid containers.

5. A cleaning device according to claim 4 wherein said primary outlet having a substantially greater cross-sectional area than said secondary outlets.

6. A cleaning device according to claim 1 including a variable restriction between said water inlet and said pressurized water source, and said passage between said water and cleaning fluid inlets being a restrictive passage located upstream from said variable restriction for injecting water into said cleaning fluid inlet when said water inlet is substantially restricted.

7. A cleaning device according to claim 6 wherein said pressurized water source has an outlet, and including a check valve on the outlet of said water source to prevent flow back into said water source.

8. A cleaning device according to claim 1 including a variable restriction between said mixing means and said spray nozzle to vary the mixed fluid flow rate.

14. A cleaning device according to claim 3 wherein said second fitting'"'"'s primary inlet'"'"'s axis is coincident with the axis of said secondary inlet'"'"'s axis and said second fitting'"'"'s outlet'"'"'s axis is orthogonal to said primary inlet'"'"'s axis.

9. A cleaning device comprising:

a spray nozzle;

a mixing means having an outlet connected to said spray nozzle, a water inlet and a cleaning fluid inlet for mixing water and cleaning fluid;

a pressurized source of water;

a first fitting having an inlet connected to said water source, a main outlet connected to said water inlet of said mixing means, and a restricted outlet;

a pressurized source of cleaning fluid; and

a second fitting having a primary inlet connected to said cleaning fluid source, a secondary inlet connected to said first fitting'"'"'s restricted outlet, and an outlet connected to said cleaning fluid inlet of said mixing means.

10. A cleaning device according to claim 9 including a check valve in said first fitting'"'"'s inlet to prevent flow back into said water source.

11. A cleaning device according to claim 9 including a variable restriction on said water inlet of said mixing means, and wherein said first fitting'"'"'s restricted outlet injects water into said second fitting'"'"'s secondary inlet when said water inlet of said mixing means is substantially restricted.

12. A cleaning device according to claim 9 wherein said first fitting is mounted to the top of said water source and said first fitting'"'"'s inlet has a vertical axis.

13. A cleaning device according to claim 12 wherein said first fitting'"'"'s main outlet'"'"'s axis is orthogonal to said inlet'"'"'s axis and said first fitting'"'"'s restricted outlet'"'"'s axis is coincident with said inlet'"'"'s axis.

15. A cleaning device according to claim 9 including a variable restriction between said mixing means and said nozzle to vary the mixed fluid flow rate.

16. A cleaning device according to claim 9 wherein said sources of water and cleaning fluids each include a container, and a pump connected to both said containers to pressurize them during operation of said cleaning device.

17. A cleaning device according to claim 16 wherein said spray nozzle includes an air inlet for projecting said mixed fluid.

18. A cleaning device according to claim 17 wherein said pump includes a primary outlet connected to said nozzle and a pair of secondary outlets connected to said water and cleaning fluid containers.

19. A cleaning device according to claim 18 wherein said primary outlet having a substantially greater cross-sectional area than said secondary outlets.