Carpet extractor with dual nozzles for dual brushrolls

• US 6,721,990 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zahuranec, Terry L., Latimer, Brett, Tiller, Wallace D. Jr., Kalman, Jeffrey M., Saunders, Craig M., Cipolla, Mark E., Salo, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/261,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20030024065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/21, 153/22, 153/31, 153/34, 153/35, 153/53, 153/57, 153/84
• US Class Current: 15/320
• 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 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• 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

Abstract

A carpet extractor includes a base assembly 1 including a housing 10 which selectively receives a recovery tank 22 for collecting dirty cleaning fluid. A nozzle assembly 67 is mounted to the base housing and provides a fluid flowpath 182 for dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface to the recovery tank. The nozzle assembly is pivotable from a first position, in which the fluid flowpath communicates with the recovery tank, to a second position, in which the nozzle assembly is spaced from the recovery tank to allow the recovery tank to be removed from the base housing. A second flowpath 138 is formed on the recovery tank between the tank and a nozzle plate 136. The flowpaths have openings 218, 140, respectively, at their lower ends, which are located either side of two longitudinally spaced brushrolls 60, 62. A flap valve 474 selectively closes both flowpaths during above floor cleaning.

Claims

1. A carpet extractor which applies a cleaning fluid to a floor surface and vacuums dirty cleaning fluid, the carpet extractor comprising:

a base housing;

a handle pivotally connected with the base housing for manipulating the base housing over a floor surface to be cleaned;

a liquid tank selectively mounted to the handle for holding a cleaning fluid;

a recovery tank, selectively mounted on the base housing, for collecting the dirty cleaning fluid;

a nozzle assembly, mounted to the base housing comprising;

a first fluid flowpath which carries a first portion of the dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface to the recovery tank, the recovery tank being movable from a first position, in which the first fluid flowpath communicates with the recovery tank, to a second position in which the first fluid flowpath does not communicate with the recovery tank;

a second fluid flowpath which carries a second portion of the dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface to the recovery tank, the first and second flowpaths merging such that the first and second portions of dirty cleaning fluid combine and travel together into the recovery tank;

an aperture defined in a wall of the nozzle assembly for selectively accommodating a connector of an associated above ground cleaning tool;

means for drawing a vacuum on the recovery tank; and

first and second agitators mounted to the base housing for agitating the floor surface to be cleaned.

2. A carpet extractor which applies a cleaning fluid to a floor surface and vacuums dirty cleaning fluid, the carpet extractor comprising:

a base housing;

a handle pivotally connected with the base housing for manipulating the base housing over a floor surface to be cleaned;

a recovery tank, selectively mounted on the base housing, for collecting the dirty cleaning fluid;

means for drawing a vacuum on the recovery tank;

a first nozzle, located on the base housing, which carries a first portion of the dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface, the first nozzle being fluidly connected with the recovery tank by a first fluid flowpath;

a second nozzle, located on the base housing and spaced from the first nozzle, which carries a second portion of the dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface, the second nozzle being fluidly connected with the recovery tank by a second fluid flowpath, at least one of the first and second flowpaths being defined, in part, by an upper surface of the recovery tank; and

first and second agitators mounted on the base housing for agitating the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein said first and second agitators are mounted between said first and second nozzles.

3. The carpet extractor of claim 2, further including:

a liquid tank selectively mounted on the handle and containing a cleaning fluid.

4. The carpet extractor of claim 3, further including a cleaning fluid delivery system communicating with the liquid tank.

5. The carpet extractor of claim 4, further including a cleaning fluid dispenser mounted on the base housing and communicating with the cleaning fluid delivery system.

6. The carpet extractor of claim 4, further including:

a valve which selectively at least partially closes both the first flowpath and the second flowpath when the carpet extractor is to be used for above floor cleaning; and

an above floor cleaning tool having a vacuum hose which is selectively fluidly connectable with the recovery tank.

7. The carpet extractor of claim 2, wherein the first fluid flowpath and the second fluid flowpath merge before an inlet to the recovery tank so that the dirty cleaning fluid in the first flowpath and the dirty fluid in the second flowpath enter the recovery tank as a single stream.

8. The carpet extractor of claim 2, wherein the first and second agitators are located rearward of at least one of the first and second nozzles.

9. The carpet extractor of claim 2, wherein the recovery tank includes an opening which selectively receives a filter for filtering air of residual dirt before the air exits the recovery tank.

10. The carpet extractor of claim 2, further including a vacuum source, mounted on the base housing, which draws a vacuum on the recovery tank.

11. A carpet extractor which applies a cleaning fluid to a floor surface and vacuums dirty cleaning fluid, the carpet extractor comprising:

a base housing;

a handle pivotally connected with the base housing for manipulating the base housing over a floor surface to be cleaned;

a liquid tank removably mounted on the handle;

a conduit for supplying a cleaning fluid from the liquid tank to the floor surface being cleaned;

a recovery tank, removably mounted on the base housing, for collecting the dirty cleaning fluid;

a vacuum source mounted on the base housing and communicating with the recovery tank;

a first fluid flowpath which carries a first portion of the dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface, the first fluid flowpath defining a first opening adjacent the floor surface and being fluidly connected with the recovery tank;

a second fluid flowpath which carries a second portion of the dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface, the second fluid flowpath defining a second opening adjacent the floor surface and being fluidly connected with the recovery tank, a combined fluid flowpath communicating with said first and second fluid flowpaths wherein at least a portion of the combined flowpath is defined in part by an outer surface of the recovery tank;

an aperture located in a wall defining the combined fluid flowpaths for selectively accommodating a connector of an associated above ground cleaning tool;

a first rotating agitator for agitating the floor surface to be cleaned, the first rotating agitator being mounted to the base rearward of the first fluid flowpath; and

a second rotating agitator for agitating the floor surface to be cleaned, the second rotating agitator being mounted to the base rearward of the first fluid flowpath.

12. A carpet extractor comprising:

a base housing;

a handle pivotally mounted to the base housing;

a recovery tank, removably mounted on the base housing, for collecting dirty cleaning fluid;

a motor/fan assembly mounted to the base housing in fluid communication with the recovery tank for drawing a vacuum on the recovery tank;

a first fluid flowpath communicating with an inlet adjacent a floor surface which receives dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface;

a second fluid flowpath spaced from the first fluid flowpath, communicating with an inlet adjacent the floor surface which receives dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface;

a combined fluid flowpath located downstream from the first and second fluid flowpaths and upstream from the recovery tank, the combined fluid flowpath communicating with the recovery tank;

an opening in the combined fluid flowpath for selectively receiving a connector of an associated above floor cleaning tool;

a cover for selectively covering the opening in the combined fluid flowpath; and

,

at least one rotating agitator mounted to said base housing.

13. The carpet extractor of claim 12, wherein the at least one rotating agitator comprises first and second spaced rotating agitators.

14. The carpet extractor of claim 13, wherein the first and second spaced rotating agitators are commonly driven.

15. The carpet extractor of claim 12, wherein the cover is pivotally mounted.

16. The carpet extractor of claim 12, further including:

a liquid tank, removably supported by one of the base housing and the handle of the carpet extractor, and holding a cleaning fluid; and

a cleaning fluid delivery system communicating with the liquid tank with a cleaning fluid distributor mounted on the base housing.

17. A carpet extractor which applies a cleaning fluid to a floor surface and vacuums dirty cleaning fluid, the carpet extractor comprising:

a base;

a handle pivotally mounted to the base;

a recovery tank, supported by the base, for collecting the dirty cleaning fluid;

a suction source in fluid communication with the recovery tank for drawing suction on the recovery tank;

a first fluid flowpath which receives dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface;

a second fluid flowpath spaced from the first fluid flowpath which receives dirty cleaning fluid from the floor surface;

a combined fluid flowpath extending between the first and second fluid flowpaths and the recovery tank, such that dirty cleaning fluid traveling through the first fluid flowpath merges with dirty cleaning fluid traveling through the second fluid flowpath and the combined flow travels to the recovery tank through the combined fluid flowpath, wherein the combined fluid flowpath is defined at least in part by an outer wall of the recovery tank;

a first agitator rotatably mounted to the base; and

a second agitator rotatably mounted to the base.

18. The carpet extractor of claim 17, wherein the combined fluid flowpath is defined between an outer wall of the recovery tank and an inner wall of the recovery tank.

19. The carpet extractor of claim 17, wherein the recovery tank is removably mounted to the base.

20. The carpet extractor of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the first and second fluid flowpaths remain on the base when the recovery tank is removed.

21. The carpet extractor of claim 17, wherein the first and second agitators are commonly driven.

22. The carpet extractor of claim 17, wherein the first and second agitators are located rearward of the first fluid flowpath.

23. The carpet extractor of claim 17, further including:

a liquid tank, detachably mounted to the handle, and holding a cleaning fluid.

24. The carpet extractor of claim 17, further including;

a nozzle assembly, removably mounted to the base at a forward end of the nozzle assembly, the nozzle assembly communicating with the first fluid flowpath.

25. A carpet extractor which applies a cleaning fluid to a floor surface and vacuums dirty cleaning fluid, the carpet extractor comprising:

a base housing;

a handle pivotally mounted to the base housing;

a recovery tank, removably mounted on the base housing, for collecting the dirty cleaning fluid, the recovery tank including an inlet through which the dirty cleaning fluid enters the recovery tank;

a suction source carried by the base housing and in fluid communication with the recovery tank for drawing suction on the recovery tank;

a nozzle assembly removably mounted to the base housing and including;

a lower member and an upper member which define a fluid flowpath therebetween, the flowpath having an inlet slot and an outlet, wherein the lower member of the nozzle assembly includes flanges which selectively engage the base housing whereby the inlet slot is positioned adjacent the floor and the outlet selectively communicates with the recovery tank inlet.

26. The carpet extractor of claim 25, wherein the nozzle assembly includes an opening which selectively receives a connector of an associated above floor tool.

27. A carpet extractor which applies a cleaning fluid to a floor surface and vacuums dirty cleaning fluid, the carpet extractor comprising:

a base assembly including a cleaning fluid distributor and a suction source;

a handle pivotally mounted to the base assembly;

a cleaning fluid tank mounted to one of the base assembly and the handle and being in fluid communication with the cleaning fluid distributor;

a recovery tank, removably mounted on the base assembly, for collecting the dirty cleaning fluid, the recovery tank including an inlet through which the dirty fluid enters the recovery tank when the suction source draws a vacuum on the recovery tank;

a nozzle assembly, removably mounted on the base assembly, the nozzle assembly defining a fluid flowpath having an inlet adjacent the floor and an outlet adjacent an upper end thereof, wherein the nozzle assembly is movable between a first position in which the outlet is in fluid communication with the recovery tank inlet, when the recovery tank is mounted on the base assembly, and a second position, in which the nozzle assembly is spaced from the recovery tank inlet, the nozzle assembly defining a hose opening; and

an above floor cleaning tool which includes a connector configured for selective receipt in the hose opening.

28. The carpet extractor of claim 27, wherein the nozzle assembly includes a lower member and an upper member which define the fluid flowpath therebetween, the hose opening being defined in the upper member.

29. The carpet extractor of claim 27, further including:

a second fluid flowpath defined in part by a wall of the recovery tank which communicates with the first fluid flowpath when the recovery tank and nozzle assembly are mounted on the base assembly.

30. The carpet extractor of claim 27, further including:

a cover which selectively closes the hose opening when the above floor cleaning tool is not in use.