Liquid extraction machine

• US 5,797,163 A
• Filed: 07/26/1996
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nilfisk, Inc. (Japan) (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Original Assignee: Clarke's Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Kramer, Michael Gerald, Deiterman, Lenard Keith, Whitaker, Emert Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): TILL, TERRENCE R
• Application Number:
  US08/686,821
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/340.1, 15/340.2, 15/340.3, 15/340.4, 15/412, 15/413, 165/47
• US Class Current: 15/413
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• 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 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4019 Fill level sensors; Security means to prevent overflow, e.g. float valves
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• 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 11/4058 for adjusting the height of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/04 for using the exhaust air for other purposes, e.g. for distribution of chemicals in a room, for sterilisation of the air spraying or atomising in general B05

Abstract

An extraction machine of this invention comprises a main housing. A vacuum pump in the main housing operates to create a vacuum to extract liquid from the surface. A motor in the main housing drives the vacuum pump, the vacuum pump having an exhaust. An exhaust duct conducts exhaust air from the exhaust of the vacuum pump to an opening in the main housing for exhaust to the environment. A constriction in the exhaust duct reduces the pressure of exhaust air flowing through the exhaust duct from a first pressure upstream from the constriction to a second lower pressure in a low pressure zone adjacent the constriction. A compartment has an inlet for entry of ambient air into the compartment and an outlet for exit of air from the compartment. A second motor is located within the compartment. A cooling duct has an inlet communicating with the outlet of the compartment and an outlet communicating with the low pressure zone in the exhaust duct. The second lower pressure of the exhaust air in the low pressure zone is less than ambient pressure thereby to cause a flow of cooling ambient air into the compartment, through the compartment and into the cooling duct, and then into the exhaust duct for exhaust out of the main housing.

Claims

1. A machine for extracting liquid from a surface, such as carpeting, said machine comprising,

a main housing,

a vacuum pump in the main housing for creating a vacuum to extract liquid from the surface,

a motor in the main housing for driving said vacuum pump, said vacuum pump having an exhaust,

an exhaust duct for conducting exhaust air from the exhaust of the vacuum pump to an opening in the main housing for exhaust to the environment,

a constriction in said exhaust duct for reducing the pressure of exhaust air flowing through the exhaust duct from a first pressure upstream from the constriction to a second lower pressure in a low pressure zone adjacent the constriction,

a compartment having an inlet for entry of ambient air into the compartment and an outlet for exit of air from the compartment,

a second motor within the compartment,

a cooling duct having an inlet communicating with the outlet of the compartment and an outlet communicating with said low pressure zone in said exhaust duct, said second lower pressure of the exhaust air in said low pressure zone being less than ambient pressure thereby to cause a flow of cooling ambient air into the compartment, through the compartment and into the cooling duct, and then into the exhaust duct for exhaust out of the main housing.

2. An extraction machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a venturi tube inside said exhaust duct forming said constriction, said venturi tube having an inlet for receiving substantially all of the exhaust air from said vacuum pump, and an outlet smaller in size than said inlet to constrict the flow of exhaust air through the venturi tube.

3. An extraction machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cooling duct outlet communicates with said exhaust duct between the inlet and outlet of said venturi tube.

4. An extraction machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cooling duct has an opening therein proximate the cooling duct outlet to allow air within the main housing to be drawn into the cooling duct.

5. An extraction machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said exhaust duct comprises a substantially rigid exhaust pipe, and wherein said venturi tube extends generally coaxially inside the exhaust pipe and is spaced from the exhaust pipe to define a space communicating with said low pressure zone, said exhaust pipe having an upstream end attached to the venturi tube and a downstream end disposed downstream beyond the outlet of the venturi tube.

6. An extraction machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein the downstream end of the exhaust pipe is connected to the main housing.

7. An extraction machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cooling duct comprises a substantially rigid cooling pipe affixed to the exhaust pipe and communicating with said low pressure zone in the exhaust pipe.

8. An extraction machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein the exhaust duct comprises a first flexible hose connecting the vacuum pump and the upstream end of the exhaust pipe, and wherein the cooling duct comprises a second flexible hose connecting the outlet of the compartment and the cooling pipe.

9. An extraction machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein the exhaust pipe and cooling pipe are integrally connected to form a single fitting.

10. An extraction machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein the cooling pipe has an opening therein to allow air within the main housing to be drawn into the cooling pipe.

11. An extraction machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second motor is a brush motor for operating a cleaning brush.

12. A cooling system for use in a machine of the type comprising a main housing having an opening therein, a motor-driven unit in the main housing, a compartment having an inlet for entry of ambient air into the compartment and an outlet for exit of air from the compartment, and a motor in the compartment,

the cooling system comprising

an exhaust duct for conducting exhaust air from the motor-driven unit to the opening in the main housing,

a constriction in said exhaust duct for reducing the pressure of exhaust air flowing through the exhaust duct from a first pressure upstream from the constriction to a second lower pressure in a low pressure zone adjacent the constriction, and

a cooling duct connecting the outlet of said compartment to the low pressure zone in the exhaust duct, said second lower pressure of the exhaust air in said low pressure zone being less than ambient pressure thereby to cause a flow of cooling ambient air into said compartment, through the compartment and into the cooling duct, and then into the exhaust duct for exhaust through the exhaust duct outlet.

13. A cooling system as set forth in claim 12 further comprising a venturi tube inside said exhaust duct forming said constriction, said venturi tube having an inlet for receiving substantially all of the exhaust air from said motor-driven unit, and an outlet smaller in size than said inlet to constrict the flow of exhaust air through the venturi tube.

14. A cooling system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said exhaust duct comprises a substantially rigid exhaust pipe, and wherein said venturi tube extends generally coaxially inside the exhaust pipe and is spaced from the exhaust pipe to define a space communicating with said low pressure zone, said exhaust pipe having an upstream end attached to the venturi tube and a downstream end disposed downstream beyond the outlet of the venturi tube.

15. A cooling system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said cooling duct comprises a substantially rigid cooling pipe affixed to the exhaust pipe and communicating with said low pressure zone in the exhaust pipe.

16. A cooling system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the exhaust duct comprises a first flexible hose connecting the motor-driven unit and the upstream end of the exhaust pipe, and wherein the cooling duct comprises a second flexible hose connecting the outlet of the compartment and the cooling pipe.

17. A cooling system as set forth in claim 16 wherein the exhaust pipe and cooling pipe are integrally connected to form a single fitting.

18. A cooling system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the cooling duct has an opening therein to allow air within the main housing to be drawn into the cooling duct.