Surface-treatment apparatus and head unit

• US 9,713,411 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kirby OPCO LLC
• Original Assignee: The Kirby Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gardner, Joseph S., Dodson, Diane L., Rennecker, David B., Lackner, John T., Crossen, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG V
• Application Number:
  US14/518,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20160106286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/292 having rotary tools A47L11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• 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

Abstract

A head unit for a surface-treatment apparatus is provided and includes a housing that includes a fluid inlet, a dispensation unit, and at least one baffle. The fluid inlet receives fluid from a fluid reservoir. The dispensation unit defines a dispensation chamber and an input port in fluid communication with each of the dispensation chamber and the fluid inlet. The at least one baffle is configured to direct the flow of fluid through the dispensation unit and out of the elongated dispensation outlet.

Claims

1. A head unit for a surface-treatment apparatus, the head unit comprising:

a housing comprising;

a fluid inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid reservoir;

a dispensation unit defining a dispensation chamber and an input port in fluid communication with each of the dispensation chamber and the fluid inlet, the dispensation unit comprising at least one wall that defines an elongated dispensation outlet for the fluid; and

at least one baffle extending from said at least one wall at a height above said at least one wall such that the baffle extends into the dispensation chamber, said at least one baffle being located adjacent to the input port and extending away from the input port;

wherein;

the housing comprises a left side and a right side;

the dispensation unit extends laterally between the left side and the right side;

the input port is disposed at one of the left side and the right side of the housing;

the fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the input port and is disposed at one of the left side and the right side of the housing adjacent the input port;

the at least one baffle extends from the at least one wall; and

the at least one baffle is disposed at one of the left side and the right side of the housing and on the same side as the fluid inlet.

2. The head unit of claim 1 wherein:

said at least one wall comprises a pair of sidewalls and a top wall; and

said at least one baffle extends upwardly from the top wall and is disposed between the sidewalls.

3. The head unit of claim 2 wherein said at least one baffle is disposed between the sidewalls.

4. The head unit of claim 3 wherein:

the top wall extends between the pair of sidewalls; and

said at least one baffle extends upwardly from the top wall.

5. The head unit of claim 2 further comprising a cover wall that extends between the sidewalls and cooperates with one of the sidewalls to define the elongated dispensation outlet.

6. The head unit of claim 1 wherein:

said at least one baffle has a length and a height; and

the height of said at least one baffle decreases over a portion of its length.

7. The head unit of claim 1 further comprising a rotary member rotatably coupled with the housing and rotatable about a rotational axis, the rotary member being positioned adjacent the dispensation unit and configured to collect the fluid dispensed from the elongated dispensation outlet onto a surface.

8. The head unit of claim 7 further comprising a collection container associated with the housing and configured to collect the dispensed fluid from the rotary member.

9. The head unit of claim 8 wherein the collection container further comprises an elongated wiper that contacts the rotatable member and facilitates removal of collected fluid from the rotatable member during rotation of the rotatable member.

10. The head unit of claim 8 wherein the collection container is removable from the housing.

11. A head unit for a surface-treatment apparatus, the head unit comprising:

a housing comprising;

a fluid inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid reservoir;

a dispensation unit defining a dispensation chamber and an input port in fluid communication with each of the dispensation chamber and the fluid inlet, the dispensation unit defining an elongated dispensation outlet for the fluid; and

at least one baffle disposed within and extending into the dispensation chamber, said at least one baffle being configured to direct the flow of fluid through the dispensation unit and out of the elongated dispensation outlet;

a rotary member rotatably coupled with the housing and rotatable about a rotational axis, the rotary member being positioned adjacent the dispensation unit and configured to collect the fluid dispensed from the elongated dispensation outlet; and

a collection container associated with the housing and configured to collect the fluid from the rotary member;

wherein;

the housing comprises a left side and a right side;

the dispensation unit extends laterally between the left side and the right side;

the input port is disposed at one of the left side and the right side of the housing;

the fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the input port and is disposed at one of the left side and the right side of the housing adjacent the input port;

the at least one baffle extends from the at least one wall; and

the at least one baffle is disposed at one of the left side and the right side of the housing and on the same side as the fluid inlet.

12. The head unit of claim 11 wherein:

the dispensation unit comprises a pair of sidewalls; and

the height of said at least one baffle decreases over a portion of its length.

13. The head unit of claim 12 further comprising a cover wall that extends between the sidewalls and cooperates with one of the sidewalls to define the elongated dispensation outlet.

14. The head unit of claim 11 wherein:

said at least one baffle has a length and a height; and

the height of said at least one baffle increases over its length.

15. The head unit of claim 11 wherein the collection container further comprises an elongated wiper that contacts the rotatable member and facilitates removal of collected fluid from the rotatable member during rotation of the rotatable member.

16. The head unit of claim 11 wherein said at least one baffle originates at the input port and extends away from the input port.

17. A surface-treatment apparatus comprising:

a body;

a motor coupled with the body;

a fluid reservoir coupled with the body and configured to store fluid therein; and

a head unit operably coupled with the motor, the head unit comprising;

a housing that comprises;

a fluid inlet for receiving fluid from the fluid reservoir;

a dispensation unit defining a dispensation chamber in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the dispensation unit defining an elongated dispensation outlet for the fluid; and

at least one baffle disposed within and extending into the dispensation unit, said at least one baffle being configured to direct the flow of fluid through the dispensation unit and out of the elongated dispensation outlet;

a rotary member rotatably coupled with the housing and operably coupled with the motor, the rotary member being rotatable about a rotational axis and positioned adjacent the elongated dispensation outlet, the rotary member being further configured to collect the fluid dispensed from the elongated dispensation outlet; and

a collection container associated with the housing and configured to collect the dispensed fluid from the rotary member;

wherein;

the housing comprises a left side and a right side;

the dispensation unit extends laterally between the left side and the right side;

the fluid inlet is disposed at one of the left side and the right side of the housing;

the at least one baffle extends from the at least one wall; and

the at least one baffle is disposed at one of the left side and the right side of the housing and on the same side as the fluid inlet.

18. The surface-treatment apparatus of claim 17 wherein the head unit is releasably coupled with the motor and the body.