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Method and apparatus for cleaning and maintaining carpet

  • US 4,595,420 A
  • Filed: 10/29/1984
  • Issued: 06/17/1986
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A self-contained industrial type carpet cleaning and maintenance machine for cleaning low pile carpets in a single pass as the machine is propelled over the carpet in a selected direction comprising:

  • a mobile frame structure having a cleaning undercarriage;

    a supply tank secured within said mobile frame structure above said undercarriage wherein said supply tank acts as a reservoir for a carpet cleaning solution;

    a cylindrical brush operatively secured to said undercarriage such that said brush is in contact with said carpet;

    drive means for rotating said brush;

    a plurality of jets operatively secured to said undercarriage adjacent to and directed towards said cylindrical brush;

    a pump communicatively connected between said supply tank and said jets for directing cleaning solution from said supply tank through said jets onto said cylindrical brush which in turn transfers the cleaning solution to the carpet as the carpet cleaning machine is propelled over the same;

    vacuum means associated with said carpet cleaning machine for removing the cleaning solution applied to the carpet by said cylindrical brush, said vacuum means including a vacuum head secured to said undercarriage adjacent to and rearwardly of said cylindrical brush so as to engage the carpet as said carpet cleaning machine is propelled thereover, and a blower communicatively connected to said vacuum head for generating a system of moving air and inducing the same into said vacuum head wherein said moving air tends to lift the cleaning solution from the carpet and transfer the same into said vacuum head, said vacuum means further including a recovery tank secured with said mobile frame structure above said undercarriage and communicatively connected between said vacuum head and said blower for receving the system of moving air passing from said vacuum head and for holding cleaning solution separated from the system of moving air as the same passes therethrough to said blower;

    mounting means for movably securing said vacuum head to said undercarriage such that said vacuum heat can freely move upwardly and downwardly independently of and relative to said undercarriage in response to the undulations of the underlying carpet; and

    carpet drying means for drying the carpet after the cleaning solution has been removed by said vacuum head, said carpet drying means including an outlet secured to said undercarriage adjacent to and rearwardly of said vacuum head and means for heating the system of moving air after the same has passed through said recovery tank and directing the heated air through said outlet onto the carpet for drying the same as said carpet cleaning machine is propelled over an area of the carpet such that the carpet cleaning machine sequentially applies a cleaning solution to the carpet, removes the cleaning solution and associated dirt and debris from the carpet, and dries the carpet in a single pass as the machine is propelled in the selected direction.

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