Vacuum cleaner

• US 5,613,271 A
• Filed: 10/17/1995
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Thomas Metall- und Elektrowerke
• Original Assignee: Robert Thomas Metall- und Elektrowerke
• Inventors: Thomas, Paul-Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/543,887
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 15/321, 15/322, 15/353
• US Class Current: 15/321
• 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 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4086 Arrangements for steam generation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0009 with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0028 Security means, e.g. float valves or level switches for preventing overflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0038 with means for emptying the tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0042 Gaskets; Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/06 with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0613 with means specially adapted for picking up threads, hair or the like, e.g. brushes, combs, lint pickers or bristles pads
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1427 Means for mounting or attaching bags or filtering receptacles in suction cleaners; Adapters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2821 Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2836 characterised by the parts which are controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner with a steam generator and a source of water under pressure has a suction hose connecting the suction head with the turbine and a dirt collector. Steam and pressurized water lines extend along the hose and the steam line runs to an orifice strip in a sole plate of the head while the spray nozzles are provided in a slot between a pair of brushes. The suction nozzle opens at a slot in the sole plate and sealing strips are provided along the longitudinal sides of the suction nozzle and the steam nozzle strip.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a housing;

a water tank in said housing provided with a steam generator;

a receptacle for vacuumed material in said housing;

a motor-driven turbine in said housing disposed to generate suction;

a suction hose connected to said housing;

a suction head connected to said suction hose and having a sole plate adapted to ride over a floor to be vacuumed, said sole plate being formed with;

an elongated suction passage connected by a suction nozzle to said suction hose,

yieldable sealing strips extending along opposite longitudinal sides of said suction passage,

an elongated brush having a length corresponding substantially to a length of said suction passage and disposed ahead of one of said sealing strips in a direction of displacement of said suction head transverse to said passage and said strips,

a nozzle strip ahead of said brush in said direction and provided with a row of steam orifices, and

a pair of sealing lips flanking said nozzle strip; and

a steam line extending from said steam generator to said steam orifices.

2. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1 wherein the sole plate is provided with at least two brushes between which a small slit is formed diverging toward an upper side of said sole plate and juxtaposed with at least one spray nozzle supplied with a cleaning liquid.

3. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1 wherein said nozzle strip is supplied through a control at a handle of said hose, said control being formed as part of a switching unit on said hose.

4. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 3 wherein said steam line, an electric line and pressurized water line extend along said hose to said unit, said hose being provided with extension wands running to said head and along which said steam line and pressurized water line run to said head.

5. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 4 wherein said lines are disposed in a common tube.

6. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 5 wherein said tube is disposed in said hose.

7. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of extension wands connected together and to said hose by plug-and-socket joints, said head being connectable to said extension wands by a plug-and-socket joint.

8. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1 wherein said suction nozzle is formed in one piece with said sole plate.

9. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1 wherein said suction nozzle and the sole plate are provided with a releasable connection with one another.

10. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 9 wherein said suction nozzle has a free end receivable in a groove formed in said sole plate and is retained therein by form-fitting engagement of said groove and said suction nozzle.

11. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 9 wherein said suction nozzle has a free end engageable in a groove of said sole plate by insertion in a direction normal to a longitudinal dimension of the groove and is form-fittingly retained therein by locking means.

12. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1 wherein said steam generator is an electrically-heated evaporator connected with said water tank by a feed pump.

13. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1 wherein said steam generator is an electrically-heated evaporator provided with a pressure monitor and overheating protection.

14. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1 wherein said steam generator has a valve downstream thereof and manually adjustable to control steam flow from said steam generator.

15. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1 wherein a feed pump is provided for supplying a cleaning liquid to a spray nozzle of said head, said housing being provided with a spray liquid container connected by a self-closing valve with said pump.

16. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 15 wherein said container is insertable into said housing substantially vertically at a back of said housing.

17. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1, further comprising means for selectively mounting said receptacle for a paper bag to receive vacuumed material in said housing.

18. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 17, further comprising a bag holder releasably retained on said housing with a plate with bent flanks and a U cross section.

19. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 18 wherein said bag holder has a length such that the bag can be shifted relative to the bag holder to completely expose an opening communicating with the bag.

20. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1, further comprising sensors including pressure and temperature sensors providing input to a microprocessor, and further comprising a manually actuatable switch for operating such microprocessor.

21. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1 wherein said receptacle has a suction fitting aligned with an open box and said receptacle is elongated in the direction of this box and is provided diagonally opposite a discharge passage.

22. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 21 wherein said discharge passage has a float valve which floats upon the development of a water level exceeding a predetermined water level.

23. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 21 wherein said discharge passage has a pressure sensor downstream thereof and which, upon detection of a suction exceeding a predetermined suction level, turns off a motor driving said turbine.

24. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1 wherein said receptacle is formed at a lower region with a latticework with a vertically oriented lattice.

25. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1 wherein said receptacle has a cover and a yieldable seal engageable with the cover.

26. The vacuum cleaner defined in claim 1 wherein said discharge passage is provided with a noise filter.