Wet extractor valve system

• US 7,945,989 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• 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): Kramer; Devon C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hamo; Patrick
• Application Number:
  US12/123,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20080276409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 417/427, 417/435, 417/442, 417/493, 137/87.01, 137/494, 239/398, 239/407, 239/412, 153/20, 153/21
• 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 valve assembly, comprising:

a flow valve chamber having a first inlet port and a first outlet port;

an actuator slideably positioned within the flow valve chamber and adapted to be moved from a first actuator position to a second actuator position by fluid pressure from a fluid comprising at least a first liquid entering the valve chamber through the first inlet port;

a priming assembly adapted to vent air from the flow valve chamber, the priming assembly comprising a float chamber, a float movably positioned within the float chamber, a vent to atmosphere, and a priming port in fluid communication with the flow valve chamber;

wherein,

the flow valve chamber further comprises a second inlet port and a second outlet port; and

,

a secondary liquid valve is operably coupled to the actuator, the secondary liquid valve being fluidly positioned between the second inlet port and the second outlet port and adapted to be moved between a first valve position in which the secondary liquid valve prevents a second liquid from passing from the second inlet port to the second outlet port, and a second valve position in which the secondary liquid valve allows the second liquid to pass from the second inlet port to the second outlet port.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator is operably engaged with a biasing member.

3. The valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the biasing member is a coil spring.

4. The valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the biasing member biases the actuator to the first actuator position.

5. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the float is movable from a first float position in which the float substantially seals the vent, and a second float position in which the float does not seal the vent.

6. The valve assembly of claim 5, wherein the float comprises a surface that seals the vent in the first float position and does not seal the vent in the second float position.

7. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the float and the float chamber are adapted to allow air to pass from the priming port to the vent.

8. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a plunger rod.

9. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the secondary liquid valve is connected to the actuator by a pushrod such that the secondary liquid valve moves with the actuator.

10. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first liquid comprises water, and the second liquid comprises a detergent.

11. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the second outlet port is in fluid communication with the first inlet port.

12. The valve assembly of claim 11, wherein, during initial operation, the first liquid comprises water, and the second liquid comprises a detergent.

13. The valve assembly of claim 11, wherein, during steady-state operation, the first liquid comprises water and a detergent, and the second liquid comprises the detergent.

14. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a sealing structure adapted to seal the actuator against an inner wall of the flow valve chamber.

15. The valve assembly of claim 14, wherein the sealing structure comprises an o-ring.

16. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising a flow control valve for a second liquid, the flow control valve comprising:

a chamber having a first bore and a second bore in fluid communication with the first bore, a second liquid inlet, and a second liquid outlet, wherein the first bore and the second bore are located between the second liquid inlet and the second liquid outlet; and

,

an assembly slideably located at least partially within the first bore and the second bore, the assembly comprising a first end, a second end, a first seal proximal to the first end, and a second seal proximal to the second end, wherein the assembly is adapted to move between a first assembly position and a second assembly position; and

wherein the first seal is adapted to prevent fluid from flowing past the first end of the assembly; and

wherein the second seal is adapted to prevent the second liquid from flowing from the second liquid inlet to the second liquid outlet when the assembly is in the first assembly position, and to allow the second liquid to flow from the second liquid inlet to the second liquid outlet when the assembly is in the second assembly position.

17. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein

the flow valve chamber further comprises a second inlet port and a second outlet port;

the valve assembly further comprises a secondary valve fluidly positioned between the second inlet port and the second outlet port, the secondary valve being operated by movement of the actuator, such that the secondary valve is moved to a first valve position when the actuator is in the first actuator position, and the secondary valve is moved to a second valve position when the actuator is in the second actuator position; and

wherein the secondary valve prevents a second liquid from flowing from the second inlet port to the second outlet port when the secondary valve is in the first valve position, and the secondary valve allows the second liquid to flow from the second inlet port to the second outlet port when the secondary valve is in the second valve position.

18. The valve assembly of claim 17, wherein the actuator is adapted to fluidly seal the first inlet port from the first outlet port when the actuator is in the first actuator position.

19. The valve assembly of claim 17, wherein the actuator is adapted to fluidly seal both the first inlet port and the first outlet port from both the second inlet port and the second outlet port.

20. The valve assembly of claim 17, wherein the second outlet port is in fluid communication with the first inlet port, and the first liquid second liquid mi.

21. The valve assembly of claim 17, further comprising a pump adapted to convey fluid from the second outlet port to the first outlet port.

22. The valve of claim 1, further comprising a direction valve located downstream of the first outlet port, the direction valve being adapted to selectively convey the first liquid to either a first distribution point or a second distribution point and including an electrical switch associated with an electric motors located at the first distribution point, wherein the electrical switch is operated simultaneously with the direction valve.

23. The valve of claim 22, wherein the electrical switch is physically operated by a part of the direction valve, and the direction valve includes a vertically depressed portion that inhibits fluid escaping from the direction valve from contacting the electrical switch.

28. The valve assembly of claim 16, wherein the intermediate chamber has an outlet through which the second liquid flows to commingle with the first liquid.

24. A valve assembly, comprising:

a first chamber comprising a first inlet port, a first outlet port, and a second outlet port;

a second chamber, fluidly connected to the first chamber and comprising a second inlet port;

an actuator located in the first chamber, the actuator being slideably engaged within the first chamber to move from a first actuator position to a second actuator position, the actuator sealing the first outlet port from the first inlet port, the second inlet port, and the second outlet port in the first actuator position and the actuator allowing a first liquid to flow from the first inlet port to the first outlet port in the second actuator position;

a secondary liquid valve positioned between the second inlet port and the second outlet port, wherein the secondary liquid valve is operably coupled to the actuator and prevents a second liquid from passing from the second inlet port to the second outlet port in the first actuator position and allows the second liquid to pass from the second inlet port to the second outlet port in the second actuator position; and

wherein the first liquid is provided into the first chamber with sufficient pressure to move the actuator into the second position; and

wherein the second liquid is different from the first liquid.

25. The valve assembly of claim 24, wherein the first chamber further comprises a priming port in fluid communication with a priming assembly, the priming assembly being adapted to evacuate air from the first chamber.

26. The valve assembly of claim 25, wherein the priming assembly comprises:

a float chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber through the priming port;

a float assembly movably located within the float chamber; and

a vent in fluid communication with the atmosphere;

wherein the float assembly is adapted to generally allow air to pass from the priming port to the vent, and generally prevent the first liquid from flowing from the priming port to the vent.

27. A valve assembly comprising:

a first chamber having a first inlet port for a first liquid;

a second chamber having a second inlet port for a second liquid;

an intermediate chamber positioned adjacent the first chamber and the second chamber;

an actuator located between the first chamber and the second chamber and moveable from a first position to a second position;

said actuator bearing a fluid valve that seals the second chamber from the intermediate chamber when the actuator is in the first position and does not seal the second chamber from the intermediate chamber when the actuator is in the second position; and

,

the first liquid creating pressure to urge said actuator towards the second position, and to urge the fluid valve to an open position, allowing the second liquid to enter the intermediate chamber; and

wherein the second liquid is different from the first liquid.