Wet extractor system

• US 5,784,755 A
• Filed: 01/18/1996
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Care Products Limited (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: White Consolidated Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Erickson, David, Luebbering, Gregory, Phelan, William, Genge, Kevin, Karr, Richard, Hanold, William
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/588,438
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/321, 15/331, 15/332, 15/334
• US Class Current: 15/334
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• 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 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4055 for lifting the tools to a non-working position
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• 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

Abstract

An upright wet extractor includes a base assembly, a manipulative handle pivotally attached to the base assembly, and a motor driven agitator brush. A cleaning solution dispensing tank is removably attached to the handle assembly by a pivotable latch member. In a floor cleaning mode, cleaning solution is selectively supplied by gravity from the dispensing tank to a spray nozzle through a supply tube controlled by a pinch valve. In an attachment hose cleaning mode, cleaning solution is selectively supplied by a motor driven pump from the dispensing tank to an attachment hose spray nozzle controlled by a trigger valve. A suction motor/fan assembly is carried by the base assembly which is selectively in fluid communication with a floor nozzle in the floor mode and hose nozzle in the attachment mode. Conversion between floor mode and attachment mode is carried out by manual operation of a knob of a multi-functional valve/switch assembly. The valve/switch assembly includes a valve member which diverts the flow of working air and a micro-switch which appropriately activates and deactivates the agitator brush motor and the pump motor. A recovery tank assembly which both separates liquid from air and stores the recovered liquid is removably secured below the suction pump and can be removed through the rear end of the base assembly. The suction motor/fan assembly includes a cooling fan which draws cooling air over both the pump motor and the motor of the suction motor/fan assembly.

Claims

1. A wet extractor comprising:

a main body;

a suction fan attached to said main body and having an inlet;

a floor suction nozzle;

an above-floor suction nozzle;

a cleaning solution dispensing tank having an outlet;

a cleaning solution spray nozzle having an inlet;

a cleaning solution pump having an inlet in fluid communication with said outlet of said cleaning solution dispensing tank and an outlet in fluid communication with said inlet of said cleaning solution spray nozzle;

a pump motor operatively connected to said cleaning solution pump for driving said cleaning solution pump; and

a converter assembly having an outlet in fluid communication with said inlet of said suction fan, a first inlet in fluid communication with said floor suction nozzle, a second inlet in fluid communication with said above-floor suction nozzle, a movable valve member adapted to block said second inlet in a first position and to block said first inlet in a second position, a moveable external knob attached to said valve member for selectively moving said valve member between said first position and said second position, and a switch, electrically responsive to the position of the knob, to de-energize the pump motor when said knob is moved away from said second position and to energize the pump motor when said knob is moved into said second position.

2. The wet extractor according to claim 1, further comprising a floor cleaning agitator brush and an agitator brush motor operatively connected to said agitator brush for driving said agitator brush, wherein said switch is electrically responsive to the change of position of the knob to energize the agitator brush motor when said knob is moved into said first position and to de-energize the agitator brush motor when said knob is moved away from said first position.

3. The wet extractor according to claim 1, wherein said switch has an actuator, and said knob has a cam which activates said actuator in one of said first and second positions of said knob upon movement of said knob into said one of said first and second positions.

4. A wet extractor comprising:

a main body;

a suction fan attached to said main body and having an inlet;

a floor suction nozzle;

an above-floor suction nozzle;

a floor cleaning agitator brush;

an agitator brush motor operatively connected to said agitator brush for driving said agitator brush; and

a converter assembly having an outlet in fluid communication with said inlet of said suction fan, a first inlet in fluid communication with said floor suction nozzle, a second inlet in fluid communication with said above-floor suction nozzle, a movable valve member adapted to block said second inlet in a first position and to block said first inlet in a second position, a moveable external knob attached to said valve member for selectively moving said valve member between said first position and said second position, and a switch, electrically responsive to the position of the knob, to energize the agitator brush motor when said knob is moved into said first position and to de-energize the agitator brush motor when said knob is moved away from said first position.

5. The wet extractor according to claim 4, further comprising a cleaning solution dispensing tank having an outlet, a cleaning solution spray nozzle having an inlet, a cleaning solution pump having an inlet in fluid communication with said outlet of said cleaning solution dispensing tank and an outlet in fluid communication with said inlet of said cleaning solution spray nozzle, and a pump motor operatively connected to said cleaning solution pump for driving said cleaning solution pump, wherein said switch is electrically responsive to the position of the knob to de-energize the pump motor when said knob is moved away from said second position and to energize the pump motor when said knob is moved into said second position.

6. The wet extractor according to claim 4, wherein said switch has an actuator, and said knob has a cam which activates said actuator in one of said first and second positions of said knob upon movement of said knob into said one of said first and second positions.