Cleaning machine including removable recovery tank

• US 5,655,254 A
• Filed: 04/28/1995
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Windsor Industries Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Bothun, Eugene L., Bores, Frederick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/430,823
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/321, 15/353, 15/331, 15/334
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24

Abstract

A cleaning machine is provided with a recovery tank for containing recovered liquid from a floor or other surface that is being cleaned. The recovery tank has a chamber that houses the recovered liquid and within the chamber are a recovery inlet and a vacuum conduit. The recovery inlet carries the recovered fluid for discharge into the chamber and the vacuum conduit is used in creating a desired vacuum to cause the recovered liquid to be drawn into the chamber. The recovery tank is disposed on a cleaning tank for containing a liquid cleaning solution that is applied to the surface for cleaning purposes. The recovery tank covers an access opening in the cleaning tank for receipt of the liquid cleaning solution. A vacuum motor produces the vacuum and is located next to the cleaning tank below the recovery tank. Sealing members insure a proper seal at the junctions for the recovered liquid and the vacuum when the removable tank is joined to the cleaning tank.

Claims

1. A cleaning machine, comprising:

a cleaning assembly for cleaning a surface;

a container assembly including a receptacle for housing a cleaning solution and a cavity laterally adjacent to said receptacle;

a motor held in said cavity for creating a vacuum; and

a tank assembly disposed vertically above and supported by said container assembly and including a tank removable from being supported by said container assembly so that said tank can be carried with recovered liquid in order to empty the recovered liquid, said tank being positioned over each of said receptacle and said motor in said cavity wherein said tank covers each of said receptacle and said cavity, said tank including front, back, bottom and first and second side walls that define a chamber for holding the recovered liquid, a vacuum conduit used in drawing the recovered liquid into said tank and a recovery inlet for carrying the recovered liquid into said tank and in which each of said vacuum conduit and said recovery inlet are located within said chamber of said tank.

2. A cleaning machine, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

at least one wheel and wherein said motor is disposed substantially over said one wheel so that said cavity is located between said one wheel and said tank.

3. A cleaning machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said receptacle includes an opening for receiving cleaning solution and in which said opening is completely covered by portions of said bottom wall of said tank.

4. A cleaning machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said container assembly includes a vacuum member communicating with said vacuum conduit, said vacuum member operatively connected to said motor for creating a vacuum, wherein said vacuum member extends into an interior of said vacuum conduit.

5. A cleaning machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said tank assembly includes a recovery tube disposed in an interior of said recovery inlet.

6. A cleaning machine, comprising:

a cleaning assembly for cleaning a surface;

a container assembly including a receptacle for housing a cleaning solution;

a motor for creating a vacuum;

a tank assembly disposed adjacent to and supported by said container assembly and including a tank removable from said container assembly so that said tank can be carried with recovered liquid in order to empty the recovered liquid, said tank including a chamber for holding the recovered liquid, a vacuum conduit used in drawing the recovered liquid into said tank and a recovery inlet for carrying the recovered liquid into said tank;

a vacuum member positioned adjacent to said vacuum conduit;

a recovery tube positioned adjacent to said recovery inlet;

a recovery sealing member for sealing said recovery inlet; and

a vacuum sealing member for sealing said vacuum conduit;

wherein said recovery tube has a wall and said recovery sealing member has an outer periphery, said tank having a bottom in which said recovery sealing member is compressed using said bottom and in which parts of said recovery sealing member are compressed against said wall of said recovery tube to provide a desired seal using the weight of said tank and wherein said vacuum member has a wall and said vacuum sealing member has an outer periphery and with said bottom of said tank being used to compress parts of said vacuum sealing member against said wall of said vacuum member to provide a desired seal using the weight of said tank.

7. A cleaning machine, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

a majority of said motor is disposed below said tank.

8. A cleaning machine, comprising:

a cleaning assembly for cleaning a surface;

a container assembly including a receptacle for containing a cleaning solution; and

a tank assembly disposed adjacent to said container assembly and including a tank removable relative to said container assembly so that said tank can be carried away from said container assembly with recovered liquid in order to empty the recovered liquid, said tank including a chamber for holding the recovered liquid, a vacuum conduit used in drawing the recovered liquid into said tank and a recovery inlet for carrying the recovered liquid into said tank, said tank further including front, back and first and second side walls for defining said chamber and with each of said walls being free of any connection to external hoses, said vacuum conduit having an upper end and said vacuum conduit extending a greater distance vertically in said chamber than said recovery inlet, wherein recovered liquid has a flow path into said chamber that is located vertically lower in said chamber throughout said flow path than said upper end of said vacuum conduit.

9. A cleaning machine, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said recovery inlet has an outer wall and a lower end thereof that is located at a bottom of said chamber and in which recovered liquid completely surrounds said lower end of said outer wall of said recovery inlet.