Upright extraction cleaning machine with flow rate indicator

• US 6,192,548 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2000
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Huffman, Eric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/522,681
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/21, 153/39
• US Class Current: 15/320
• 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 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0004 Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners floor-scrubbing machines taking-up dirty liquid by suction A47L11/30
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0036 specially adapted for holding the suction hose
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/49 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/46 applying energy, e.g. irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0031 Carpet, upholstery, fur or leather cleansers
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/39 Organic or inorganic per-compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3905 Bleach activators or bleach catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3917 Nitrogen-containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3947 Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/3254 Esters or carbonates thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/54 with pinion and rack
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/00 Ohmic-resistance heating

Abstract

A portable surface cleaning apparatus including a base module for movement along a surface, an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module, a liquid dispensing system including a flexible bladder defining a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid, a fluid recovery system including a tank on the base module having a fluid recovery chamber for holding recovered fluid and housing the flexible bladder, and a fluid passageway between the fluid supply chamber and the recovery chamber, whereby the recovery chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid supply chamber and the pressure in the flexible bladder is equalized with the pressure in the tank as the cleaning fluid is dispensed from the supply chamber and the dirty liquid is collected in the recovery chamber. In a further embodiment, a flow indicator is mounted to the base module and has a visibility window observable to a user and the flow indicator is disposed in the fluid supply conduit and is responsive to the flow of fluid through the fluid supply conduit to visually indicate the flow of fluid through the supply conduit to the user. In a further embodiment, the base module includes an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion and an upright handle is pivotally mounted to the rear portion of the base module through at least one bearing for rotatable reception in the housing.

Claims

1. A portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a base module for movement along a surface;

an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module;

a liquid dispensing system comprising;

a liquid dispensing nozzle associated with the base module for applying liquid to a surface to be cleaned;

a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid;

a fluid supply conduit fluidly connected to the fluid supply chamber and to the dispensing nozzle for supplying liquid to the dispensing nozzle;

a fluid recovery system comprising;

a tank on the base module having a fluid recovery chamber for holding recovered fluid;

a suction nozzle associated with the base module;

a working air conduit extending between the recovery chamber and the suction nozzle;

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery chamber for generating a flow of working air from the nozzle through the working air conduit and through the recovery chamber to thereby draw dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned through the nozzle and working air conduit, and into the recovery chamber;

the improvement comprising;

a flow indicator mounted on at least one of the base module and the handle assembly and having a visibility window observable by a user;

the flow indicator disposed in the fluid supply conduit and responsive to the flow of fluid through the fluid supply conduit to visually indicate the flow of fluid through the supply conduit to the user.

2. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flow indicator further includes:

a housing; and

an indicator rotatably mounted in the housing and drivable by the fluid flowing through the fluid supply conduit.

3. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the flow indicator further includes:

a filter disposed in the fluid supply conduit, adapted to filter debris in the fluid, and visible to the user through the visibility window.

4. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flow indicator further includes:

a filter disposed in the fluid supply conduit, adapted to filter debris in the fluid, and visible to the user through the visibility window.

5. An extraction surface cleaning apparatus having:

a housing;

a liquid dispensing system mounted in the housing and including;

a liquid dispensing nozzle for applying liquid to a surface to be cleaned,

a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid,

a fluid supply conduit fluidly connected to the fluid supply chamber and to the dispensing nozzle for supplying liquid to the dispensing nozzle;

a fluid recovery system mounted to the housing and includes;

a recovery tank for holding recovered fluid,

a suction nozzle,

a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle, and

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery chamber for generating a flow of working air from the nozzle through the working air conduit and through the recovery chamber to thereby draw dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned through the nozzle and working air conduit, and into the recovery chamber;

the improvement which comprises;

a flow indicator mounted in a visible location on the housing and having a visibility window observable by a user;

the flow indicator is disposed in the fluid supply conduit and responsive to the flow of fluid through the fluid supply conduit to visually indicate the flow of fluid through the supply conduit to the user.

6. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the flow indicator further includes:

a flow indicator housing; and

an indicator rotatably mounted in the flow indicator housing and drivable by the fluid flowing through the fluid supply conduit.

7. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the flow indicator further includes:

a filter disposed in the fluid supply conduit, adapted to filter debris in the fluid, and visible to the user through the visibility window.

8. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the flow indicator further includes:

a filter disposed in the fluid supply conduit, adapted to filter debris in the fluid, and visible to the user through the visibility window.

9. An extraction surface cleaning apparatus having:

a housing;

a liquid dispensing system mounted in the housing and including;

a liquid dispensing nozzle for applying liquid to a surface to be cleaned,

a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid,

a fluid supply conduit fluidly connected to the fluid supply chamber and to

the dispensing nozzle for supplying liquid to the dispensing nozzle;

a fluid recovery system mounted to the housing and includes;

a recovery tank for holding recovered fluid,

a suction nozzle,

a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle, and

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery chamber for generating a flow of working air from the nozzle through the working air conduit and through the recovery chamber to thereby draw dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned through the nozzle and working air conduit, and into the recovery chamber;

the improvement which comprises;

means in the fluid supply conduit and responsive to the flow or pressure of fluid through the fluid supply conduit for detecting the flow of fluid therethrough;

means associated with the detecting means in a visible location on the housing and observable by a user to visually indicate to a user the detected flow of fluid through the fluid supply conduit.

10. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the detecting means includes:

a flow indicator housing; and

an indicator element movably mounted in the flow indicator housing and adapted to be movably driven by the fluid flowing through the fluid supply conduit.

11. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the visual indication means comprises a window in the flow indicator housing.

12. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the indicator element includes radial vanes which are driven by fluid flowing through the fluid supply conduit to rotate the indicator element with respect to the flow indicator housing.

13. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the indicator element includes one of a float ball, spring plunger, and gravity plunger.

14. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the visual indication means comprises a window in the flow indicator housing.

15. An extraction surface cleaning apparatus having:

a housing;

a liquid dispensing system mounted in the housing and including;

a liquid dispensing nozzle for applying liquid to a surface to be cleaned,

a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid,

a fluid supply conduit fluidly connected to the fluid supply chamber and to

the dispensing nozzle for supplying liquid to the dispensing nozzle;

a fluid recovery system mounted to the housing and includes;

a recovery tank for holding recovered fluid,

a suction nozzle,

a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle, and

a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery chamber for generating a flow of working air from the nozzle through the working air conduit and through the recovery chamber to thereby draw dirty liquid from the surface to be cleaned through the nozzle and working air conduit, and into the recovery chamber;

the improvement which comprises;

a flow detector in the fluid supply conduit and responsive to the flow of fluid through, or the fluid pressure in, the fluid supply conduit to detect the flow of fluid therethrough;

a visual indicator associated with the flow detector in a visible location on the housing and observable by a user to visually indicate to a user the detected flow of fluid through the fluid supply conduit.

16. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the flow detector includes:

a flow indicator housing; and

an indicator element movably mounted in the flow indicator housing and adapted to be movably driven by the fluid flowing through the fluid supply conduit.

17. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the visual indicator comprises a window in the flow indicator housing.

18. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the indicator element includes radial vanes which are adapted to be driven by fluid flowing through the fluid supply conduit to rotate the indicator element with respect to the flow indicator housing.

19. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the indicator element includes one of a float ball, spring plunger, and gravity plunger.

20. A portable surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the visual indicator comprises a window in the flow indicator housing.