Extraction cleaning with heating
First Claim
1. A unitary portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
- a fluid dispensing system including at least one fluid supply tank, a fluid distributor connected to the fluid supply tank through a fluid supply conduit for applying a cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned at a predetermined rate;
a fluid 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 tank for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and to the recovery tank to thereby recover fluid from the surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle and working air conduit and into the recovery tank;
a heater exchanger, including a heater element, associated with the fluid supply conduit for heating the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit to be applied to the surface to be cleaned;
the improvement which comprises;
the heat exchanger includes a heat storage body for storing heat energy from the heater element, and wherein the heater element and the heat storage body are designed to heat the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit to a predetermined temperature range to the extent that the cleaning fluid flows intermittently through the fluid supply conduit but not to the extent that the cleaning fluid flows continuously through the fluid supply conduit at the predetermined rate;
whereby the heater exchanger is designed to store heat energy during dry cycles so that there is sufficient heat energy to heat the cleaning fluid to a temperature in the range of about 130 to 180°
F. during a wet cycle when the cleaning fluid is flowing at the predetermined rate.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable surface cleaning apparatus comprises a fluid dispensing system including at least one fluid supply tank, a dispensing nozzle for applying a cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned, and a block heater for heating the fluid to be applied to the surface to be cleaned to a temperature less than boiling; a fluid 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 tank for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and into the recovery tank to thereby recover fluid from the surface to be cleaned.
105 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A unitary portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a fluid dispensing system including at least one fluid supply tank, a fluid distributor connected to the fluid supply tank through a fluid supply conduit for applying a cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned at a predetermined rate;
a fluid 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 tank for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and to the recovery tank to thereby recover fluid from the surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle and working air conduit and into the recovery tank;
a heater exchanger, including a heater element, associated with the fluid supply conduit for heating the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit to be applied to the surface to be cleaned;
the improvement which comprises;
the heat exchanger includes a heat storage body for storing heat energy from the heater element, and wherein the heater element and the heat storage body are designed to heat the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit to a predetermined temperature range to the extent that the cleaning fluid flows intermittently through the fluid supply conduit but not to the extent that the cleaning fluid flows continuously through the fluid supply conduit at the predetermined rate;
whereby the heater exchanger is designed to store heat energy during dry cycles so that there is sufficient heat energy to heat the cleaning fluid to a temperature in the range of about 130 to 180°
F. during a wet cycle when the cleaning fluid is flowing at the predetermined rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A unitary portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a fluid dispensing system including at least one fluid supply tank, a fluid distributor connected to the fluid supply tank through a fluid supply conduit for applying a cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned at a predetermined rate;
a fluid recovery tank for holding recovered fluid;
a suction nozzle;
a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle;
a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery tank for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and to the recovery tank to thereby recover fluid from the surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle and working air conduit and into the recovery tank;
a heater exchanger, including an electrical heating element, associated with the fluid supply conduit for heating the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit to be applied to the surface to be cleaned and a heat storage body for storing heat energy from the electrical heating element;
wherein the electrical heating element is adapted to continuously supply at least about 500 watts of power from an ordinary 120 volt line; and
wherein the electrical beating element and the vacuum source are connected to a common electrical input and are both adapted to be powered by a common 120 volt power source. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A unitary portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a fluid dispensing system including at least one fluid supply tank, a fluid distributor connected to the fluid supply tank through a fluid supply conduit for applying a cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned at a predetermined rate;
a fluid recovery tank for holding recovered fluid;
a suction nozzle;
a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle;
a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery tank for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and to the recovery tank to thereby recover fluid from the surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle and working air conduit and into the recovery tank; and
a heater exchanger, including an electrical heating element, associated with the fluid supply conduit for heating the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit to be applied to the surface to be cleaned and a heat storage body for storing heat energy from the electrical heating element;
wherein the electrical heating element is adapted to continuously supply up to about 10,000 joules of energy to the heat storage body in about 30 seconds or less; and
wherein the electrical heating element and the vacuum source are connected to a common electrical input and are both adapted to be powered by a common 120 volt power source. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A unitary portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a fluid dispensing system including at least one fluid supply tank, a fluid distributor connected to the fluid supply tank through a fluid supply conduit for applying a cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned at a predetermined rate;
a fluid recovery tank for holding recovered fluid;
a suction nozzle;
a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle;
a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery tank for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and to the recovery tank to thereby recover fluid from the surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle and working air conduit and into the recovery tank;
a heat exchanger, including an electrical heating element and a serpentine conduit formed therein and connected to the fluid supply conduit for conducting cleaning fluid through the heat exchanger for heating the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit to be applied to the surface to be cleaned;
wherein the heating element and the vacuum source are connected to a common electrical input and are adapted to be powered by a common 120 volt power source; and
the heat exchanger includes a heat storage body for storing heat energy from the heater element, and wherein the heater element and the heat storage body are designed to heat the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit to at least 130°
F. when the cleaning fluid flows intermittently through the fluid supply conduit at the predetermined rate. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A unitary portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a fluid dispensing system including at least one fluid supply tank, a fluid distributor connected to the fluid supply tank through a fluid supply conduit for applying a cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned at a predetermined rate;
a fluid 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 tank for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and to the recovery tank to thereby recover fluid from the surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle and working air conduit and into the recovery tank;
a heat exchanger, including an electrical heating element, associated with the fluid supply conduit for heating the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit to be applied to the surface to be cleaned;
the improvement which comprises;
the heat exchanger includes a heat storage body for storing heat energy from the heating element, and wherein the heating element and the heat storage body are designed to heat the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit at least 30 degrees to a temperature in the range of 150 to 180°
F. when the cleaning fluid flows through the fluid supply conduit intermittently at the predetermined rate, the electrical heating element and the vacuum source are connected to a common electrical input and are adapted to be powered by a common power source common 120 volt power source. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A unitary portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a fluid dispensing system including at least one fluid supply tank, a fluid distributor connected to the fluid supply tank through a fluid supply conduit for applying a cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned at a predetermined rate;
a fluid 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 tank and the suction nozzle for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and to the recovery tank to thereby recover fluid from the surface to be cleaned;
a heat exchanger, including a heating element, associated with the fluid supply conduit for heating the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit to be applied to the surface to be cleaned;
the improvement which comprises;
the heat exchanger includes a heat storage body for storing heat energy from the heater element, wherein the heating element and the heat storage body are designed to heat the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit to at least 130°
F. at least when the cleaning fluid flows intermittently through the fluid supply conduit; and
wherein the fluid dispensing system includes a valve having an inlet connected to the at least one fluid supply tank and a pair of outlets, a first fluid tube and a second fluid tube connected to the valve outlets, whereby the valve is adapted to selectively control the flow of cleaning fluid from the at least one fluid supply tank to the first and second fluid tubes or a combination thereof, and the heat exchanger is connected to the first fluid tube, whereby the valve can selectively direct heated or unheated cleaning fluid, or a combination thereof, to the surface to be cleaned.
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17. A unitary portable surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a fluid dispensing system including at least one fluid supply tank, a fluid distributor connected to the fluid supply tank through a fluid supply conduit for applying a cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned at a predetermined rate;
a fluid 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 tank for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and to the recovery tank to thereby recover fluid from the surface to be cleaned through the suction nozzle and working air conduit arid into the recovery tank;
a heat exchanger, including an electrical heating element, associated with the fluid supply conduit for heating the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit to be applied to the surface to be cleaned;
the improvement which comprises;
the heat exchanger includes a heat storage body for storing heat energy from the heating element, and wherein the heating element and the heat storage body are designed to heat the cleaning fluid in the fluid supply conduit to a temperature of at least 130°
F. when the cleaning fluid flows through the fluid supply conduit intermittently at the predetermined rate, the electrical heating element and the vacuum source are connected to a common electrical input and are adapted to be powered by a common 120 volt power source. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification