Hot water vacuum extraction machine with float sealed riser tube shut-off device
First Claim
1. In combination, a recovery tank for a hot water vacuum extraction machine subject to vacuum pressure from a vacuum source, and an automatic riser tube inlet port shut-off device,said recovery tank comprising an upwardly open cylindrical container carrying liquid in the bottom thereof for separating dirt and/or water from a return flow of at least air and entrained dirt during vacuum extraction into said recovery tank when subject to vacuum pressure from said vacuum source, said cylindrical container having an integral bottom wall,an inverted cup-shaped dome for receiving said return flow sealably mounted on the upwardly open recovery tank,an upright riser tube mounted to said recovery tank bottom wall, rising upwardly therefrom, being open to the recovery tank above said liquid and being open internally to vacuum pressure from said vacuum source, means defining a riser tube inlet port in the vicinity of said dome and above said recovery tank bottom wall, means sealably fluidly communicating the interior of said riser tube to the interior of said recovery tank for sucking a return flow stream of dirt-free air into said riser tube via said riser tube inlet port by vacuum pressure from said vacuum source, and wherein said shut-off device comprises:
- a shut-off float member;
fixed supporting means within said tank for supporting said float member in a rest position below said riser tube inlet port;
shielding means above said supporting means for maintaining said float member free of restraint and out of the dirt-free return air stream seeking escape from the interior of the tank above the level of liquid within the recovery tank;
means for contacting said shut-off float member in said rest position with said liquid upon rise of the liquid to the level of the float member at its rest position, to float said float member in the direction of said riser tube inlet port;
said float member and said riser tube inlet port being sized and shaped such that said float member is capable of sealably closing off said riser tube inlet port when in contact therewith, and wherein said float member is of a predetermined density such that;
the rise of liquid initially causes the float member to float upwardly from said rest position on said supporting means to an intermediate position relative to that of said riser tube inlet port at least partially above said shielding means, thereby placing said float member within the dirt-free return flow air stream; and
the suction pressure of said riser tube then quickly sucks the float member off the rising liquid and into contact with the riser tube inlet port to shut off communication between the vacuum source and the interior of the recovery tank, thereby preventing an air/liquid mixture from passing to the vacuum source through said riser tube due to an excessive increase in the level of liquid accumulating within said recovery tank.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steam cleaner recovery tank has an inverted cup shape dome sealed thereto. An upright riser tube mounted to the recovery tank bottom wall extends into the dome. A flat horizontal plate intersects the vertical upright riser tube and supports a float ball at a rest position below a riser tube inlet port shielded from a dirt-free return air stream. The float ball rises by contact with liquid accumulating within the recovery tank. The float ball is of a density so as to be rapidly sucked into the inlet port by the dirt-free return air stream. A perforated cup integrally molded to the flat plate supports the float ball in one embodiment and forms a shield. In a second embodiment, a cylindrical wire mesh screen is fixed to the bottom of the flat plate, to the side of the riser tube. The float ball is positioned in the filter screen and the second circular hole constitutes the risers tube inlet port. An air imperforate shrink tube acts as a shield.
28 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In combination, a recovery tank for a hot water vacuum extraction machine subject to vacuum pressure from a vacuum source, and an automatic riser tube inlet port shut-off device,
said recovery tank comprising an upwardly open cylindrical container carrying liquid in the bottom thereof for separating dirt and/or water from a return flow of at least air and entrained dirt during vacuum extraction into said recovery tank when subject to vacuum pressure from said vacuum source, said cylindrical container having an integral bottom wall, an inverted cup-shaped dome for receiving said return flow sealably mounted on the upwardly open recovery tank, an upright riser tube mounted to said recovery tank bottom wall, rising upwardly therefrom, being open to the recovery tank above said liquid and being open internally to vacuum pressure from said vacuum source, means defining a riser tube inlet port in the vicinity of said dome and above said recovery tank bottom wall, means sealably fluidly communicating the interior of said riser tube to the interior of said recovery tank for sucking a return flow stream of dirt-free air into said riser tube via said riser tube inlet port by vacuum pressure from said vacuum source, and wherein said shut-off device comprises: -
a shut-off float member; fixed supporting means within said tank for supporting said float member in a rest position below said riser tube inlet port; shielding means above said supporting means for maintaining said float member free of restraint and out of the dirt-free return air stream seeking escape from the interior of the tank above the level of liquid within the recovery tank; means for contacting said shut-off float member in said rest position with said liquid upon rise of the liquid to the level of the float member at its rest position, to float said float member in the direction of said riser tube inlet port; said float member and said riser tube inlet port being sized and shaped such that said float member is capable of sealably closing off said riser tube inlet port when in contact therewith, and wherein said float member is of a predetermined density such that; the rise of liquid initially causes the float member to float upwardly from said rest position on said supporting means to an intermediate position relative to that of said riser tube inlet port at least partially above said shielding means, thereby placing said float member within the dirt-free return flow air stream; and the suction pressure of said riser tube then quickly sucks the float member off the rising liquid and into contact with the riser tube inlet port to shut off communication between the vacuum source and the interior of the recovery tank, thereby preventing an air/liquid mixture from passing to the vacuum source through said riser tube due to an excessive increase in the level of liquid accumulating within said recovery tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification