Gravity feed solution distribution system

• US 9,357,895 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Leifheit, Todd, Tucker, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): GUIDOTTI, LAURA COLE
• Application Number:
  US14/154,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20140196230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 15/501, 15/503
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/185 with supply of cleaning agents
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits

Abstract

A gravity feed solution distribution system for use with surface maintenance and conditioning machines includes front and rear counter-rotating brush rollers within a shroud, a manifold having delivery ports and disposed within the shroud above the counter-rotating brush rollers, an agitating blade extending from an inner surface of the shroud and underneath the manifold to contact the front counter-rotating brush roller, and a baffle extending downward from an inner surface of the shroud above the front counter-rotating brush roller to contact the front counter-rotating brush roller.

Claims

1. A gravity feed solution distribution system for a surface cleaning device, the system comprising:

a shroud defining an at least partially enclosed space;

a first brush roller disposed at least partially within the shroud, the first brush roller rotatable in a clockwise direction about a first axis;

a second brush roller disposed at least partially within the shroud, the second brush roller rotatable in a counterclockwise direction about a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel to the first axis;

a selectively removable manifold in the form of a removable tray having a plurality of fluid delivery ports spaced along a length of the manifold, the manifold being disposed above the first and second brush rollers;

an agitation member extending beneath the manifold and provided proximal to at least one of the first brush roller and the second brush roller, the agitation member provided in force transmitting communication with at least one of the first and second brush rollers to enhance distribution of a solution in the system; and

a baffle extending along substantially the entire transverse dimension of the shroud and into the at least partially enclosed space, the baffle further positioned above and in contact with at least one of the first and second brush rollers and positioned to confine sprayed solution to an area above at least one of the first and second brush rollers.

2. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a motor in operable communication with at least one of the first and second brush rollers.

3. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a wheel-driven chassis for selective conveyance of the system.

4. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 1, wherein the manifold comprises first and second substantially parallel troughs.

5. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fluid delivery ports are spaced evenly along a length of the manifold.

6. A gravity feed solution distribution system for a surface cleaning device, the system comprising:

a movable chassis comprising at least two wheels;

the chassis comprising a shroud defining an at least partially enclosed space, the shroud adapted to prevent unwanted conveyance of a fluid;

a first brush roller disposed at least partially within the shroud, the first brush roller rotatable in a clockwise direction about a first axis;

a second brush roller disposed at least partially within the shroud, the second brush roller rotatable in a counterclockwise direction about a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel to the first axis;

a clean fluid storage tank positioned at a location of greater gravitational potential energy than the first brush roller and the second brush roller;

a resilient extension member provided proximal to at least one of the first brush roller and the second brush roller, wherein the resilient extension member contacts a portion of at least one of the first brush roller and the second brush roller at least once per revolution of the brush roller; and

a baffle member extending along a transverse dimension of the shroud and into the at lest partially enclosed space, the baffle positioned above at least one of the first and second brush rollers and positioned to confine sprayed solution to an area above at least one of the first and second brush rollers.

7. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 6, wherein the shroud comprises a baffle to contain fluid and maintain the contained fluid proximal a periphery of at least one of the first brush roller and the second brush roller.

8. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 6, wherein the first brush rollers comprises a plurality of radially extending bristles, each of said radially extending bristles provided in force-transmitting communication with the resilient extension at least once per rotation of the first brush roller.

9. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 6, further comprising a motor in operable communication with at least one of the first and second brush rollers.

10. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 6, further comprising a fluid collection tray for receiving a fluid from the clean fluid storage tank.

11. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 10, wherein the fluid collection tray comprises a plurality of ports permitting a fluid to drain from the fluid collection tray under the force of gravity.

12. A gravity feed solution distribution system for a surface cleaning device, the system comprising:

a chassis comprising at least two wheels;

the chassis comprising a shroud defining an at least partially enclosed space, the shroud adapted to prevent unwanted conveyance of a fluid;

a brush roller disposed at least partially within the shroud, the brush roller rotatable about an axis, the axis being substantially parallel to a surface to be cleaned;

the brush roller comprising a plurality of bristles extending from the brush roller, the plurality of bristles defining a circumference of the brush roller;

a clean fluid storage tank positioned at a location of greater gravitational potential energy than the brush roller;

a fluid distribution and containment system comprising;

a selectively removable fluid collection tray for receiving a fluid from the clean fluid storage tank, the fluid collection tray comprising at least one flange as a support surface for the fluid collection tray, first and second parallel troughs for receiving fluid, and a plurality of ports for conveying gravity-fed fluid from the tray to the brush roller; and

a resilient extension member extending into the circumference such that when the brush roller is rotated the plurality of bristles contact the resilient extension member and a fluid on the brush roller is agitated.

13. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 12, further comprising a second brush roller rotatable about a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel to the axis.

14. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 13, wherein the brush roller is rotatable about the axis in a first direction and wherein the second brush roller is rotatable about the second axis in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction.

15. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 12, wherein the shroud comprises a baffle to contain fluid and maintain the contained fluid proximal a periphery of the brush roller.

16. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 12, further comprising a motor in operable communication with the brush roller.

17. The gravity feed solution distribution system of claim 12, wherein the at least one flange is slidable with respect to the system such that the fluid collection tray is selectively removable from the system.