Flow and scrubbing pressure control system and methods for surface treating apparatus
First Claim
1. A surface treating apparatus comprising, in combination:
- a tank containing a cleaning solution;
a fluid flow line in communication with the tank and supplying the cleaning solution from the tank to a supply point;
an agitating element adapted to agitate a surface, with the agitating element agitating the cleaning solution with the surface;
a flow control module in line with the fluid flow line, with the flow control module permitting flow of the cleaning solution from the tank to the fluid flow line when the flow control module is open, with the flow control module being operable to control a flow rate and an amount of the cleaning solution from the tank to the fluid flow line, with the flow control module inhibiting flow of the cleaning solution from the tank through the fluid flow line to the supply point when the flow control module is closed;
a solution sensor sensing a level of the cleaning solution in the tank;
a controller coupled to the solution sensor and the flow control module, with the controller controlling the flow control module to operate at an operating flow rate based on the level of the cleaning solution in the tank;
a chemical storage container containing a chemical;
a chemical flow line in communication with the chemical storage container and the fluid flow line, with the chemical fluid line supplying the chemical from the chemical storage container to the fluid flow line, with the chemical mixing with the cleaning solution to form a cleaning compound, with the agitating element agitating the cleaning compound with the surface;
a chemical pump in line with the chemical flow line, with the chemical pump coupled to the controller and being operable to control a flow rate of the chemical from the chemical storage container to the fluid flow line, with the controller controlling the chemical pump to operate at a flow rate based on the operating flow rate so that the cleaning compound is supplied to the supply point at a selected chemical dilution ratio; and
a display coupled to the controller, with the display displaying the selected chemical dilution ratio and the level of the cleaning solution in the tank.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surface treating apparatus (10) includes a tank (100) containing a cleaning solution (102) supplied to a supply point (SP) via a fluid flow line (106) under control of a flow control module (108). A chemical pump (144) controls flow of a chemical supplied to the fluid flow line (106). A controller (130) controls the flow control module (108) to operate at an operating flow rate based on a level of the cleaning solution (102) sensed by a solution sensor (120). The controller (130) controls the chemical pump (144) to operate at a flow rate based on the operating flow rate so that the chemical is supplied to the supply point (SP) at a selected chemical dilution ratio. An agitating element (105) agitates the surface with scrubbing pressure which is adjusted by the controller (130). A spike button (168) is coupled to controller (130) and operable to momentarily increase the flow rate, chemical dilution ratio, and/or scrubbing pressure to remove unusually dirty spots.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A surface treating apparatus comprising, in combination:
a tank containing a cleaning solution;
a fluid flow line in communication with the tank and supplying the cleaning solution from the tank to a supply point;
an agitating element adapted to agitate a surface, with the agitating element agitating the cleaning solution with the surface;
a flow control module in line with the fluid flow line, with the flow control module permitting flow of the cleaning solution from the tank to the fluid flow line when the flow control module is open, with the flow control module being operable to control a flow rate and an amount of the cleaning solution from the tank to the fluid flow line, with the flow control module inhibiting flow of the cleaning solution from the tank through the fluid flow line to the supply point when the flow control module is closed;
a solution sensor sensing a level of the cleaning solution in the tank;
a controller coupled to the solution sensor and the flow control module, with the controller controlling the flow control module to operate at an operating flow rate based on the level of the cleaning solution in the tank;
a chemical storage container containing a chemical;
a chemical flow line in communication with the chemical storage container and the fluid flow line, with the chemical fluid line supplying the chemical from the chemical storage container to the fluid flow line, with the chemical mixing with the cleaning solution to form a cleaning compound, with the agitating element agitating the cleaning compound with the surface;
a chemical pump in line with the chemical flow line, with the chemical pump coupled to the controller and being operable to control a flow rate of the chemical from the chemical storage container to the fluid flow line, with the controller controlling the chemical pump to operate at a flow rate based on the operating flow rate so that the cleaning compound is supplied to the supply point at a selected chemical dilution ratio; and
a display coupled to the controller, with the display displaying the selected chemical dilution ratio and the level of the cleaning solution in the tank.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for agitating a surface comprising:
- selecting an operating flow rate of a cleaning solution to be supplied to a supply point;
supplying the cleaning solution from a tank through a flow control module through a fluid flow line to a supply point;
agitating the cleaning solution with a surface, with agitating the cleaning solution with the surface comprising agitating the surface with a scrubbing pressure;
sensing a level of the cleaning solution in the tank;
calculating a first flow rate of the flow control module by using the level of the cleaning solution in the tank; and
adjusting the first flow rate of the flow control module until the cleaning solution is supplied at the selected operating flow rate;
sensing a condition indicative of the scrubbing pressure agitating the surface;
selecting a magnitude of the scrubbing pressure;
comparing the selected magnitude of the scrubbing pressure with the scrubbing pressure indicated by the condition sensed; and
adjusting the scrubbing pressure until the scrubbing pressure indicated by the condition sensed is equal to the selected magnitude of the scrubbing pressure, with sensing the level of the cleaning solution including sensing a static pressure head of the cleaning solution in the tank and determining the level of the cleaning solution in the tank using the static pressure head sensed, with supplying the cleaning solution including supplying the cleaning solution to the fluid flow line through the flow control module in the form of a solenoid valve, with calculating the first flow rate of the flow control module including calculating a maximum flow rate of the solenoid valve based on the static pressure head sensed, and with adjusting the first flow rate including controlling the solenoid valve to operate at a duty cycle based on the maximum flow rate of the solenoid valve and the selected operating flow rate of the cleaning solution. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
- selecting an operating flow rate of a cleaning solution to be supplied to a supply point;
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17. A method for treating a surface comprising:
- inputting an operating parameter into a controller, with inputting the operating parameter comprising inputting a chemical dilution ratio of a cleaning solution and a chemical in a cleaning compound to be agitated with the surface;
operating an agitating element to move relative to the surface under control of the controller according to the operating parameter in a normal condition;
inputting a spike condition into the controller, with the controller changing the operating parameter momentarily for a period of time to other than the normal condition, with the controller operating the agitating element according to the changed parameter in the spike condition for the period of time, with the operating parameter returning to the normal condition after the period of time;
storing in a memory a plurality of increasing chemical dilution ratio settings, with inputting the chemical dilution ratio comprising selecting one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings and supplying the chemical to the cleaning solution in the normal condition according to the selected one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings, with the agitating element agitating the cleaning compound on the surface, and with changing the operating parameter when the spike condition is inputted comprising changing the selected one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings to another of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings of a chemical dilution ratio larger than the selected one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings, with the controller supplying the chemical to the cleaning solution in the spike condition according to the another of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings for the period of time. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- inputting an operating parameter into a controller, with inputting the operating parameter comprising inputting a chemical dilution ratio of a cleaning solution and a chemical in a cleaning compound to be agitated with the surface;
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24. A method for treating a surface comprising:
- inputting an operating parameter into a controller, with inputting the operating parameter comprising inputting a scrubbing pressure;
operating an agitating element to move relative to the surface under control of the controller according to the operating parameter in a normal condition, with the controller moving the agitating element against the surface with the scrubbing pressure;
inputting a spike condition into the controller, with the controller changing the operating parameter momentarily for a period of time to other than the normal condition, with the controller operating the agitating element according to the changed parameter in the spike condition for the period of time, with the operating parameter returning to the normal condition after the period of time;
storing in a memory a plurality of increasing scrubbing pressure settings, with inputting the scrubbing pressure comprising selecting one of the scrubbing pressure settings and moving the agitating element against the surface with the selected one of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings in the normal condition, and with changing the operating parameter when the spike condition is inputted comprising changing the selected one of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings to another of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings of a scrubbing pressure magnitude larger than the selected one of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings, with the controller moving the agitating element against the surface in the spike condition according to the another of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings for the period of time. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
- inputting an operating parameter into a controller, with inputting the operating parameter comprising inputting a scrubbing pressure;
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27. A surface treating apparatus comprising, in combination:
- an agitating element moving relative to a surface;
a controller controlling the agitating element to move relative to the surface;
a first adjuster operatively connected to the controller and selecting an operating parameter of the agitating element under control of the controller;
a spike button operatively connected to the controller, with the controller momentarily changing the operating parameter of the agitating element for a period of time when the spike button is operated, with the controller resuming the operating parameter of the agitating element after the period of time, with the first adjuster selecting a flow rate of a cleaning solution to be supplied to the surface, with the agitating element agitating the cleaning solution on the surface, with the controller including a memory storing a plurality of flow rate settings, with the first adjuster selecting the operating parameter from one of the plurality of flow rate settings, with the controller providing the cleaning solution to the surface according to the selected one of the plurality of flow rate settings, with the controller changing the selected one of the plurality of flow rate settings to another of the plurality of flow rate settings of a flow rate larger than the selected one of the plurality of flow rate settings for a period of time when the spike button is operated, with the controller providing the cleaning solution to the surface according to the another of the plurality of flow rate settings for the period of time when the spike button is operated, and with the controller providing the cleaning solution to the surface according to the selected one of the plurality of flow rate settings after the period of time;
a second adjuster operatively connected to the controller, with the second adjuster selecting a chemical dilution ratio of the cleaning solution and a chemical of a cleaning compound under control of the controller, with the agitating element agitating the cleaning compound on the surface, with the controller including a memory storing a plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings, with the second adjuster selecting one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings, with the controller supplying the cleaning compound to the cleaning solution according to the selected one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings, with the controller changing the selected one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings to another of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings of a chemical dilution ratio larger than the selected one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings for a period of time when the spike button is operated, with the controller supplying the cleaning compound to the surface according to the another of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings for the period of time when the spike button is operated, and with the controller supplying the cleaning compound to the surface according to the selected one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings after the period of time. - View Dependent Claims (28)
- an agitating element moving relative to a surface;
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29. A surface treating apparatus comprising, in combination:
- an agitating element moving relative to a surface;
a controller controlling the agitating element to move relative to the surface;
a first adjuster operatively connected to the controller and selecting an operating parameter of the agitating element under control of the controller;
a spike button operatively connected to the controller, with the controller momentarily changing the operating parameter of the agitating element for a period of time when the spike button is operated, with the controller resuming the operating parameter of the agitating element after the period of time, with the first adjuster selecting a flow rate of a cleaning solution to be supplied to the surface, with the agitating element agitating the cleaning solution on the surface, with the controller including a memory storing a plurality of flow rate settings, with the first adjuster selecting the operating parameter from one of the plurality of flow rate settings, with the controller providing the cleaning solution to the surface according to the selected one of the plurality of flow rate settings, with the controller changing the selected one of the plurality of flow rate settings to another of the plurality of flow rate settings of a flow rate larger than the selected one of the plurality of flow rate settings for a period of time when the spike button is operated, with the controller providing the cleaning solution to the surface according to the another of the plurality of flow rate settings for the period of time when the spike button is operated, and with the controller providing the cleaning solution to the surface according to the selected one of the plurality of flow rate settings after the period of time;
a second adjuster operatively connected to the controller, with the second adjuster selecting a scrubbing pressure of the agitating element agitating the surface under control of the controller, with the controller including a memory storing a plurality of scrubbing pressure settings, with the second adjuster selecting one of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings, with the controller controlling the agitating element to agitate the surface according to the selected one of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings, with the controller changing the selected one of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings to another of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings of a scrubbing pressure magnitude larger than the selected one of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings for a period of time when the spike button is operated, with the controller controlling the agitating element to agitate the surface according to the another of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings for the period of time when the spike button is operated, and with the controller controlling the agitating element to agitate the surface according to the selected one of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings after the period of time.
- an agitating element moving relative to a surface;
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30. A surface treating apparatus comprising, in combination:
- an agitating element moving relative to a surface;
a controller controlling the agitating element to move relative to the surface;
a first adjuster operatively connected to the controller and selecting an operating parameter of the agitating element under control of the controller; and
a spike button operatively connected to the controller, with the controller momentarily changing the operating parameter of the agitating element for a period of time when the spike button is operated, with the controller resuming the operating parameter of the agitating element after the period of time, with the first adjuster selecting a chemical dilution ratio of a cleaning solution and a chemical of a cleaning compound to be supplied to the surface, with the agitating element agitating the cleaning compound on the surface, with the controller including a memory storing a plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings, with the first adjuster selecting the operating parameter from one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings, with the controller supplying the cleaning compound to the cleaning solution according to the selected one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings, with the controller changing the selected one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings to another of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings of a chemical dilution ratio larger than the selected one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings for a period of time when the spike button is operated, with the controller supplying the cleaning compound to the surface according to the another of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings for the period of time when the spike button is operated, and with the controller supplying the cleaning compound to the surface according to the selected one of the plurality of chemical dilution ratio settings after the period of time. - View Dependent Claims (31)
- an agitating element moving relative to a surface;
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32. A surface treating apparatus comprising, in combination:
- an agitating element moving relative to a surface;
a controller controlling the agitating element to move relative to the surface;
a first adjuster operatively connected to the controller and selecting an operating parameter of the agitating element under control of the controller; and
a spike button operatively connected to the controller, with the controller momentarily changing the operating parameter of the agitating element for a period of time when the spike button is operated, with the controller resuming the operating parameter of the agitating element after the period of time, with the first adjuster selecting a scrubbing pressure of the agitating element agitating the surface, with the controller including a memory storing a plurality of scrubbing pressure settings, with the first adjuster selecting the operating parameter from one of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings, with the controller controlling the agitating element to agitate the surface according to the selected one of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings, with the controller changing the selected one of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings to another of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings of a scrubbing pressure magnitude larger than the selected one of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings for a period of time when the spike button is operated, with the controller controlling the agitating element to agitate the surface according to the another of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings for the period of time when the spike button is operated, and with the controller controlling the agitating element to agitate the surface according to the selected one of the plurality of scrubbing pressure settings after the period of time. - View Dependent Claims (33)
- an agitating element moving relative to a surface;
Specification