Linear agitator for wet extractor

• US 7,814,612 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Care Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Care Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Reimer, Bill, Bobrosky, Vince, Sandlin, Randall, Sepke, Arnie
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding; David A
• Application Number:
  US12/123,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20080276410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 15380-381
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/307 having reciprocating 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 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0483 Reciprocating or oscillating tools, e.g. vibrators, agitators, beaters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2496 Self-proportioning or correlating systems

Abstract

A wet extraction floor cleaning device having a base assembly adapted for movement on a surface being cleaned, an operating handle pivotally attached to the base assembly, a supply tank having a supply tank outlet, and a recovery tank having a recovery tank inlet and a recovery tank outlet. The base assembly has an inlet nozzle that extends from an inlet slit proximal the surface being cleaned to a nozzle outlet. The device further includes a fluid deposition assembly that can be selectively placed in fluid communication with the supply tank outlet, a vacuum source, and first and second external pockets. The supply and recovery tanks are adapted to be selectively placed in the first and second external pockets, thereby placing the supply tank outlet in fluid communication with the fluid deposition system, the recovery tank inlet in fluid communication with the nozzle outlet, and the recovery tank outlet in fluid communication with the vacuum source inlet.

Claims

1. A wet extractor comprising:

a supply tank adapted to hold cleaning fluid;

a recovery tank adapted to hold recovered cleaning fluid;

a fluid deposition system in fluid communication with the supply tank and adapted to selectively deposit cleaning fluid from the supply tank through a spray nozzle to a surface to be cleaned; and

a vacuum source adapted to draw cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned into an inlet nozzle and through a vacuum passage and deposit the cleaning fluid in the recovery tank;

a base assembly adapted to move on the surface to be cleaned and having a longitudinal direction corresponding to a fore/aft direction of movement, a vertical direction that is substantially perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned, and a lateral direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal and vertical directions, the base assembly comprising;

a housing facing the surface to be cleaned;

an agitator having a rigid base and at least one agitating element extending from the rigid base toward the surface to be cleaned;

a first connector connecting the rigid base to the housing and permitting movement of the rigid base in the vertical direction;

a second connector connecting the rigid base to the housing and permitting a linear movement of the rigid base in the lateral direction; and

a drive assembly mounted to the housing and adapted to selectively drive the rigid base in a reciprocating linear motion in the lateral direction, the drive assembly comprising;

a motor adapted to selectively operate an eccentric drive; and

a slot operably associated with the agitator and adapted to engage the eccentric drive, wherein the slot extends in a plane defined by the longitudinal and vertical directions.

2. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the first connector connects the rigid base to the second connector, and the second connector connects the first connector to the housing.

3. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the second connector connects the rigid base to the first connector, and the first connector connects the second connector to the housing.

4. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the rigid base floats in the vertical direction, such that it contacts the surface to be cleaned without applying significant vertical force thereto.

5. The wet extractor of claim 1, comprising a biasing device operably associated with the rigid base to selectively bias the rigid base in a vertical direction toward the surface to be cleaned.

6. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises one or more clips that slidingly engage one or more corresponding holes.

7. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the one or more clips comprise a releasable snap fit connector.

8. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the second connector comprises a flexible material that flexes in the lateral direction.

9. The wet extractor of claim 8, wherein the second connector comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

10. The wet extractor of claim 8, wherein the second connector comprises ribs that extend in the vertical direction and flex in the lateral direction.

11. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the second connector is integral with the rigid base.

12. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the second connector comprises a mechanical linkage.

13. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the eccentric drive comprises a rotatable eccentric drive pin that rotates about a drive axis that is offset from the centerline of the eccentric drive pin.

14. The wet extractor of claim 13, wherein the eccentric drive pin slideably engages the slot.

15. The wet extractor of claim 14, wherein the slot has a length that is greater than the total range of movement of the eccentric pin in a direction parallel with the length of the slot.

16. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the slot extends in the vertical direction.

17. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly comprises one or more pivotally mounted rocker arms that connect the eccentric drive to the slot.

18. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the slot is integral with the rigid base.

19. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the slot is integral with the second connector.

20. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the slot is provided in a replaceable insert.

21. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly comprises a gearbox adapted to rotate the eccentric drive at a desired frequency.

22. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the at least one agitating element comprises a bristle, a foam pad, or a flexible cleaning finger.

23. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the agitator is disposed longitudinally behind the inlet nozzle and the spray nozzle.

24. The wet extractor of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a grooming brush disposed longitudinally behind the inlet nozzle, and longitudinally in front of the agitator.