Water extraction cleaning machine with variable solution mixing valve

• US 5,937,475 A
• Filed: 11/05/1996
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Inventors: Reed, Charles A. Jr., Kasen, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): OLEKSA, DIANA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US08/743,844
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/321, 15/322
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/03 characterised by having provisions for supplying cleaning or polishing agents A47L11/065, A47L11/085, A47L11/125, A47L11/145, A47L11/161, A47L11/1625, A47L11/185, A47L11/201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/305 the tools being disc brushes
• 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 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4058 for adjusting the height of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• 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: B01F 23/49 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/105 Mixing heads, i.e. compact mixing units or modules, using mixing valves for feeding and mixing at least two components
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/81 Forming mixtures with changing ratios or gradients

Abstract

The invention relates to a water extraction cleaning machine having a variable solution mixing valve adapted to create cleaning solution mixtures of variable constituent ratios. Clean water and detergent are provided from tanks supported on the water extraction cleaning machines. The size of the detergent inlet opening can be altered through rotation of a control knob provided on the outside of the water extraction cleaning machine. The knob is interconnected to at least one member which is adapted to vary the size of one of the detergent fluid inlet and the clean water inlet so that the ratio of constituent elements can be altered depending upon the cleaning application.

Claims

1. A water extraction cleaning machine comprising:

a housing;

a clean water reservoir mounted to the housing;

a detergent reservoir mounted to the housing;

at least one spray nozzle mounted to the housing for spraying cleaning solution onto the surface being cleaned;

a suction nozzle mounted to withdraw dirty cleaning solution from the surface being cleaned;

a vacuum motor mounted to the housing and connected to the suction nozzle for removing used cleaning solution from the surface being cleaned;

a waste water reservoir fluidly connected to the vacuum motor and to the suction nozzle, the waste water reservoir being adapted to separate the used cleaning solution and air withdrawn through the nozzle; and

a solution mixing valve fluidly connected to both the clean water reservoir and the detergent reservoir, the mixing valve comprising a valve housing having a clean water inlet fluidly connected to the clean water reservoir, a detergent inlet fluidly connected to the detergent reservoir, a solution outlet fluidly connected to) the at least one spray nozzle, a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the clean water inlet, detergent inlet and solution outlet, a variable flow rate member movably mounted intermediate the mixing chamber and one of the clean water and detergent inlets, the variable flow rate member comprising a shaft slidably received in the one of the clean water and detergent inlets and having a groove formed therein, the groove having a cross section that varies along the length thereof, the shaft being received in the one of the clean water and detergent inlets, whereby the fluid flow rate through the groove varies depending upon the position of the groove within the one of the clean water and detergent inlets.

2. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 1 and further comprising a pump mounted to the housing and fluidly connected to the solution outlet in the solution mixing valve.

3. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 1 and further comprising a spring adapted to bias the shaft into a first position.

4. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 1 and fuirther comprising an actuator interconnected to the shaft, the actuator being adapted to alter the position of the shaft within said one of the clean water and detergent inlets.

5. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 4 wherein the actuator comprises a cam member having a cam-shaped bearing surface, the cam member being rotatively mounted with respect to the shaft and adjacent to the shaft so that as the cam member is rotated, the shaft bears against the cam-shaped bearing surface, and the position of the shaft with respect to the valve housing is altered as a result of the contour of the cam-shaped bearing member.

6. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 5 and further comprising a control knob interconnected to the cam member, the control knob being positioned on an exterior surface of the water extraction cleaning machine so that the knob can be easily accessed by a user of the machine.

7. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 4 wherein the shaft is received in the detergent inlet.

8. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 7 wherein the actuator has three positions, a first position which blocks fluid flow between the detergent inlet and the mixing chamber, a second position which permits the flow of detergent therethrough to the mixing chamber at a first rate, and a third position which permits the flow of detergent therethrough to the mixing chamber at a second rate, the second rate being greater than the first rate.

9. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 1 wherein the groove is tapered along the length thereof.

10. A water extraction cleaning machine comprising:

a housing;

a clean water reservoir mounted to the housing;

a detergent reservoir mounted to the housing;

at least one spray nozzle mounted to the housing for spraying cleaning solution onto the surface being cleaned;

a suction nozzle mounted to withdraw dirty cleaning solution from the surface being cleaned;

a vacuum motor mounted to the housing and connected to the suction nozzle for removing used cleaning solution from the surface being cleaned;

a waste water reservoir fluidly connected to the vacuum motor and to the suction nozzle, the waste water reservoir being adapted to separate the used cleaning solution and air withdrawn through the nozzle; and

a solution mixing valve fluidly connected to both the clean water reservoir and the detergent reservoir, the mixing valve comprising a valve housing having a clean water inlet fluidly connected to the clean water reservoir, a detergent inlet fluidly connected to the detergent reservoir, a solution outlet fluidly connected to the at least one spray nozzle, a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the clean water inlet, detergent inlet and solution outlet, a shaft having a variable flow rate groove provided therein, the shaft being movably mounted in the detergent inlet and adapted to control the flow of detergent through the inlet into the mixing chamber, the flow rate of the detergent to the mixing chamber being dependent upon the relative position of the variable flow rate groove within the detergent inlet.

11. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 10 and further comprising an actuator interconnected to the shaft, the actuator being adapted to alter the position of the shaft and the variable flow rate groove within the detergent inlet.

12. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 11 wherein the actuator comprises a cam member having a cam-shaped bearing surface, the cam member being rotatively mounted with respect to the shaft and adjacent to the shaft so that as the cam member is rotated, the shaft bears against the cam-shaped bearing surface, and the position of the shaft with respect to the valve housing is altered as a result of the contour of the cam-shaped bearing member.

13. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 10 and further comprising a pump mounted to the housing and fluidly connected to the solution outlet in the solution mixing valve.

14. A water extraction cleaning machine comprising:

a housing including an exterior wall accessible to a user;

a clean water tank mounted to the housing;

a detergent tank mounted to the housing;

at least one spray nozzle mounted to the housing for spraying cleaning solution onto the surface being cleaned;

a suction nozzle adapted to withdraw dirty cleaning solution from the surface being cleaned;

a vacuum motor mounted to the housing and fluidly connected to the suction nozzle through a working air conduit for removing used cleaning solution from the surface being cleaned;

a waste water recovery tank fluidly connected to the vacuum motor and to the suction nozzle, the waste water recovery tank having an air/water separator adapted to separate the used cleaning solution and air withdrawn through the nozzle; and

a variable detergent/water mixing valve comprising;

a body forming a detergent/water mixing chamber;

a clean water inlet port in the body fluidly connected to the clean water tank and to the mixing chamber;

a detergent inlet port in the body fluidly connected to the detergent tank and to the mixing chamber;

a solution outlet port in the body and fluidly connected to the at least one spray nozzle;

a variable flow rate valve mounted in the body and movably associated with the clean water port or the detergent inlet port for varying the relative proportions of the clean water and detergent delivered to the solution outlet port; and

an actuating knob mounted to the housing on the exterior wall for movement about an axis generally perpendicular to the exterior wall and coupled to the variable flow rate valve through a mechanical connector for movement therewith.

15. The water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 14 wherein the mechanical connector converts rotary motion of the actuation knob to linear movement of the variable flow rate valve.

16. The water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 15 wherein the variable flow rate valve moves from a first position at which the flow of fluid through the clean water port or the detergent inlet port is blocked to a second position where the flow of fluid through the clean water port or the detergent inlet port is substantially unblocked.

17. The water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 16 wherein the variable flow rate valve is positioned in the detergent inlet port.

18. The water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 16 wherein the mechanical connector is constructed so that the actuating knob is rotatable through an angle of less than 360°

as the variable flow rate valve moves between the first and second positions.

19. The water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 16 wherein the mechanical connector is constructed so that the actuating knob is rotatable through an angle of less than 180°

as the variable flow rate valve moves between the first and second positions.

20. The water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 16 wherein the mechanical connector is constructed so that the actuating knob is rotatable through an angle of about 90°

as the variable flow rate valve moves between the first and second positions.

21. The water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 15 wherein the mechanical connector comprises a cam connection.

22. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 14 wherein the mechanical connector comprises a cam member having a cam-shaped bearing surface, the cam member is rotatably mounted to the housing for rotation with respect to the variable flow rate valve and is positioned adjacent thereto so that as the cam member is rotated, the variable flow rate valve bears against the cam-shaped bearing surface, and the position of the variable flow rate valve with respect to the valve housing is altered as a result of the contour of the cam-shaped bearing surface.

23. A water extraction cleaning machine according to claim 14 wherein the housing comprises a base module adapted to move along a floor surface to be cleaned and a handle module pivotally mounted to the base module;

the base module includes the at least one spray nozzle and the suction nozzle;

the handle module includes the clean water tank and the solution tank, both of which are removably mounted to the handle module; and

wherein the actuating knob is mounted on the handle module.