Method and apparatus for cleaning surfaces with high pressure electrolyzed fluid

• US 8,719,999 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Field, Bruce F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRANDALL, JOEL DILLON
• Application Number:
  US13/275,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20120097201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/21, 153/22, 153/401, 153/19, 154/01, 153/39, 153/83, 205/701, 205/746, 205/755, 205/756, 205/757, 134/3, 134/10, 134/21, 134/36
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• 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: A61L 2/035 Electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/213 Use of electrochemically treated water, e.g. electrolysed water or water treated by electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation

Abstract

A mobile surface cleaner includes a mobile body, a least one wheel, a source of a fluid, a pump, a sprayer hose connectable to a fitting on the mobile body, a high pressure spray gun connectable to the sprayer hose, and a functional generator. The functional generator includes first and second electrode chambers, which are separated by an ion exchange membrane. A flow path extends from the fluid source to the fitting and passes through the functional generator. The flow path is configured to combine all the fluid produced in the first and second electrode chambers to form a combined fluid on the cleaner. A control circuit is coupled to the pump and the functional generator and is configured to energize the pump to pump the fluid along the flow path and energize the functional generator to electrochemically activate the liquid that is passed through the functional generator.

Claims

1. A mobile surface cleaner comprising:

a mobile body configured to travel over a surface and comprising a fitting;

at least one wheel connected to the mobile body to move the mobile body across the surface;

a source of a fluid;

a sprayer hose connectable to the fitting on the mobile body;

a high pressure spray gun connectable to the sprayer hose and having a spray nozzle;

a flow path, from the fluid source to the fitting;

a pump in the flow path;

an electrolysis cell, which electrolyzes the fluid by electrolysis and comprises first and second electrically conductive electrodes, which are separated by a gap in fluid communication with the flow path, wherein the gap lacks an ion exchange membrane and wherein the flow path combines all of a first electrochemically-activated liquid produced at the first electrode chamber with all of a second electrochemically-activated liquid produced at the second electrode chamber without valving, and the flow path is configured to dispense substantially all of the first and second electrochemically-activated liquids through the fitting, upon electrochemical activation, without storing either of the first or second electrochemically-activated liquids; and

a control circuit coupled to the pump and the electrolysis cell and configured to energize the pump to pump the fluid along the flow path and, while the pump is energized, to energize the electrolysis cell to electrochemically activate the liquid that is passed through the electrolysis cell.

2. A mobile surface cleaner comprising:

a mobile body configured to travel over a surface and comprising a fitting;

at least one wheel connected to the mobile body to move the mobile body across the surface;

a source of a fluid;

a pump;

a sprayer hose connectable to the fitting on the mobile body;

a high pressure spray gun connectable to the sprayer hose and having a spray nozzle;

a functional generator, which comprises first and second electrode chambers, which are separated by a membrane and which are configured to electrochemically activate the fluid from the fluid source that is passed through the functional generator to produce a first electrochemically-activated liquid in the first electrode chamber and a second electrochemically-activated liquid in the second electrode chamber;

a flow path, from the fluid source to the fitting, which passes through the functional generator and is configured to combine all the first electrochemically-activated liquid produced in the first electrode chamber and all of the second electrochemically-activated liquid produced in the second electrode chamber without valving to form a combined fluid on the cleaner, and the flow path is configured to dispense substantially all of the first and second electrochemically-activated liquids through the fitting, upon electrochemical activation, without storing either of the first or second electrochemically-activated liquids; and

a control circuit coupled to the pump and the functional generator and configured to energize the pump to pump the fluid along the flow path and, while the pump is energized, to energize the functional generator to electrochemically activate the liquid that is passed through the functional generator.